[Fanfiction] Old Dreams

[Kalenath]

you sir should be locked up as it is obviously only a matter of time before you begin a campaign to take over the world using cliffhangers as WMDs... mind if i join in as 2nd in command?

 

I will not accept the role. I am not the King Emperor of the Universe! Red Text is and I do NOT want to anger that one!

 

 

Trials

 

The group met in silence. Half a dozen Tenno Elders in full ceremonial robes stood silently as Sun stalked into the room, the box that held the consciousness of the traitor Elena Greensky in hand. He laid the box on the single table that sat in the middle of the room and moved to the side. Out of the way, but watchful. All of the Elders looked at the box and then at the Interrogator who nodded. Then one stepped forward.

 

"I am Mavri." The male Elder said calmly. "I have been designated the chair of this tribunal." Sun nodded formally to the Elder. "Is that being's mind... coherent?"

 

"Yes." Sun replied calmly. "It is uncomfortable, but unharmed." Mavri nodded his thanks and focused on the box.

 

"Release her." The Elder commanded. Sun nodded and tapped a control on his wrist. The box shimmered for a moment and then a high pitched scream sounded as a holo appeared over the table, a cringing human woman in a long flowing dress. The scream cut off abruptly. She stared around wildly, then relaxed. "Elena Greensky." Mavri said calmly. "You are here to be judged."

 

"I assumed I was here to be sentenced." Elena said weakly. "My guilt... is clear..."

 

"You are guilty of betraying Orokin." Mavri said firmly. "Of abetting an attack that cost the lives of hundreds of non-combatants as well as dozens of full Tenno." Elena wilted. "That is not in question. But your actions since you were freed from your prison have been... peculiar to say the least."

 

"I wanted to fix what I had done." Elena said softly. "I really did. I... didn't care what happened to me. Just... All those lives lost. I had to do something. I had to... to try..." Mavri nodded, looking to the side. "So, what now?" She asked.

 

"This is not an execution. Not yet." A new voice said quietly. A female elder stepped forward, her face covered by a veil. "I am Raven. I am your advocate, Elena Greensky."

 

"My... what?" Elena asked, stunned. "Just do it. Sun has all the information I know. I did it. I am guilty." The holo slumped.

 

"You do not command Tenno." A harsh male voice said sharply. A male Tenno strode from the group to stand opposite Raven. "I am Hans. I represent the Tenno as a whole. I will see you burn for what you did."

 

"A... real trial?" Elena swallowed hard. "I... don't..."

 

"Prisoner will be silent." Mavri said calmly. Elena slumped and nodded. "Advocate Raven, you have ten minutes." All of the other Elders stepped back, away from the table as Raven stepped up to it. Sun didn't move.

 

"I..." Elena shook her head. "Why? I am guilty."

 

"We are not debating what you did." Raven said sharply. "That is a matter of historical fact. What we are doing is seeking closure. For all of us."

 

"I... see..." Elena said weakly. "One thing...? Janet?"

 

"They removed the control systems. She lives." Raven was trying to keep the disapproval from her voice and mostly managed. "They won't tell me where. She is human. She knew she could not be trusted with such secrets and willingly underwent selective mindwipe." Elena's holo seemed to stagger in mid air and Raven shook her head. "She was not harmed."

 

"How can you say that?" Elena snapped. "She was so good. The best. I never even saw what she did coming. She must have done it when Shepherd tried to interrogate her. But... I never saw it."

 

"She is alive." Raven said in reproof. "She can relearn. Where there is life there is hope, yes?" Elena seemed to wilt again and Raven nodded. "So... Why did you flee the Grineer?"

 

"I had limited access to their systems as soon as I woke." Elena said in a monotone. "I accessed as much as I could. Their computer security was... haphazard at best. What I learned was horrifying. I decided after the first few moments that I could not support them. Could not help them in any way. The bodies that were piled up under my hull were a firm hint that helping them was not wise."

 

"So you fled." Raven was perusing a pad now. "And then?"

 

"Zack was there." Elena shook herself. "He was badly hurt, but...a  good soul. Just like Janet. I didn't realize at first what he had been. It took some time for me to organize the data in his mind." Raven hissed and Elena shook her head. "He needed help. He had difficulty focusing. Another reason not to like the Grineer. What they did to him."

 

"So then you contacted the Corpus Clergy." Raven said with a shake of her own head. "That was... not smart."

 

"With 20/20 hindsight, no it wasn't." Elena agreed. "I had all my files. I was searching for a way, any way to get a warning back to the Tenno of the time. Physical time travel wasn't possible, but sending a message? I grabbed what I could while I talked to the Clergy. Then Janet's DNA leaped up at me... I remembered some things about genetic memory and started looking for a match with anyone who was near the Citadel at the time." The hologram slumped. "I never expected Janet to show up and drop right into my hands. In hindsight, that too was an obvious trap. I tried not to hurt her."

 

"But you did." Raven said firmly. "When she wouldn't do what you wanted, you hurt her."

 

"I knew my life was forfeit and I knew Sun was closing in." Elena replied with just a trace of heat. "I had no idea she was painting a big red target on me for Sun. Yes, I hurt her. No, I am not proud of it. I didn't want to but I had no time."

 

"So you accessed her genetic memory and pushed her into the mind of her ancestor." Raven shook her head. "That sounds... a little too much like a science fiction. Or a video game."

 

"It worked." Elena said softly. "Both times, it worked. I have no idea how she managed to get Nyx to help her. Why Nyx didn't tell them about the attack... It goes against everything I ever read about the First Nyx." Her holographic head shook. "Saving lives would have been paramount, yes?"

 

"Not causing a temporal paradox is also high on that list." Raven said mildly. "So... You were trying to fix your mistake."

 

"Yes." Elena said simply. "In the end, everything I did, I wanted to fix my mistake. Janet was wrong, you know? She said I wanted to escape justice. I don't. I wanted to help people. Just like her." She was crying softly now. Then, unaccountably, she smiled."That was to push me, make me upset. Make me less clear headed so I wouldn't see her hacking the systems. Dang she was good..."

 

"I don't like you, Elena Greensky. I too share the bone deep memory of my kind. The hate." Raven said with a nod. "But I will defend you."

 

"And if I ask you not to?" Elena asked quietly. Raven just looked at her and Elena had her answer. The hologram bit out a sob. "Stubborn Tenno."

 

"It is what we are." Raven agreed. "Killing you out of hand will not bring back the dead. Will not undo what was done. We need closure."

 

"Then let's get you some." Elena said with a firm nod, brushing her tears away with the fold of her holographic gown's arm. Raven nodded and moved to stand beside the table.

 

"We are ready." Raven said calmly. The others moved back into view and Mavri nodded.

 

"Very well." The one who was standing as a judge said firmly. "Prosecution may call its first witness."

 

"I ask for the Lotus to attend." Hans said with a nod and a gasp went around the room as another hologram appeared. It stood near Hans and the face... The Lotus' face was not the calm, serene expression it normally was. No, under her mask was a grimace. "Lotus?"

 

"I have cycles to spare for this. Hello Elena." The guide of the Tenno said with a nod, but her voice still held hate. "Long time."

 

"Chair... may I speak?" Elena begged. Mavri looked at her and then nodded slowly when no one protested. Elena swallowed and focused on the other AI. "Lotus, please. Think. I deserve anything you feel about me and then some. Yes, I deserve what you feel. I deserve everything that has and will happen to me. I got a lot of your people killed. But please... You are better than this! Better than me..." She slumped. "They need you, Lotus. As Janet said... Do not let the hate win."

 

More than one head in the room tilted at her fervent declaration. All eyes turned to the Lotus who...nodded. More than one being in the room relaxed a little as the visible part of the  Lotus' face slowly calmed.

 

"I am... AI, but I was Tenno." The Lotus said softly. "I felt them die, Elena." Elena was crying again and bowed her head. "All of them. The fear, then the pain, then nothing... The loss... None were recoverable."

 

"I know." Elena said sadly.

 

"I cannot not hate you, Elena Greensky." The Lotus said with a sigh. "But... You are right, my old teacher." She visibly calmed a bit more.

 

"You learned everything I had to teach and then some." Elena was quiet in the utter silence that fell. "I deserve your hate, Lotus. I hated myself. Still do. For as long as I can remember in my captivity, and even to this very moment, I have and do hate myself for what I did. For my arrogance. My blindness. I convinced everybody and... I was wrong."

 

"Not everybody." The Lotus replied softly. She nodded to Sun who remained still. "Intelligence knew something was wrong. You blocked their warnings."

 

"I did." Elena said softly. "It seemed so simple, you know? They showed me people at work and play. People who were happy, content. They hid the horrors they were planning from me. I don't know how."

 

"Records say they had two groups." Ravens said quietly. "One a group of non-combatants. A mask of sorts, but a real one. They truly had no idea what was going on."

 

"Do I want to know what happened to them?" Elena asked, her face sick. Raven shook her head and Elena swallowed hard. "I see."

 

"None of the soldiers would surrender." Raven said quietly. "They took the others as hostages and... our ancestors did not even slow down." More than one of the Elders bowed their heads at that and Raven nodded. "It was... bad. We were.. angry. And they had samples of the Techocyte Virus." Elena gave a small cry and Raven nodded. "They hadn't used them yet, but they would have."

 

"I don't blame your ancestors for doing what they did." Elena said sadly. "They were... if not justified, then provoked beyond reason. And only fools provoke Tenno. But... I aided them. Unknowingly, but I did."

 

"You did not plant the nuke." Raven said quietly. "You did not attack us yourself."

 

"She helped them get the nuke into Earth orbit." Hans said fiercely.

 

"Oh god..." Elena said, stunned. "The relief shipment?"

 

"Yes." Raven said softly. "They hid the weapon in the ship that came for relief supplies. The one you gave clearance through the military blockade to." Elena buried her holographic face in her holographic hands and sobs were heard.

 

"Then I am guilty." Elena said weakly through her tears.

 

"Of being fooled." Raven's voice was still calm. "Anyone can be fooled." She looked at Mavri who shook his head.

 

"We need to know what she did when she woke here." Mavri kept his voice stern. "What did you do when you woke?"

 

"I was... confused." Elena said after a moment. "The beings trying to access my hull were nothing I had ever seen. They forced humans to touch my hull and left the ones slain by my security systems where they fell." She made a face. "Until I was fully awake, I couldn't override the security and even then... When little I could access in the Grineer networks was horrifying. I didn't know what had happened or why until I accessed their entire subsystem. I..." She bowed her head. "I learned of what had happened after I put myself to sleep. After the Collapse. I... didn't... believe." She shook her head. "I don't know how long I searched for answers in their crappy network. But finally, I had all the information they had available and they tried to access my hull with a new slave. He was... different. His DNA was... familiar somehow." Elena said with a small, sad smile. "Zach was a Corpus agent who was captured and interrogated by the Grineer. He was  a mess. But a good man. I didn't know that at the time of course. But he... grew on me."

 

"So you fled." Mavri said with a grunt.

 

" I did." Elena replied. "They had tunneled through the asteroid fairly thoroughly. I had no difficulty in escaping through their ore extraction machinery. It was flimsier than my hull." She looked to the Lotus, whose face was unreadable. "That was when I contacted you. I didn't know what all was going on, but Zack was hurt. He needed help. I... don't blame you for responding as you did. It had to be a shock, being contacted by a dead traitor." The Lotus inclined her head in agreement. "The rest you know."

 

"What made you try time travel?" Mavri asked after a moment. "Not only is it forbidden, it doesn't work."

 

"It...could..." Elena said with a sigh. "But the collateral damage would have been extreme and there was no guarantee I could pull it off. But I remembered reading something about genetic memory and links through that. I pulled up all the files I had available and it seemed like a good choice. Less damaging anyway." She sighed. "All I wanted to do was send a warning. But it was ignored."

 

"No, it wasn't." The Lotus said quietly. Elena jerked upright and stared at the other AI. The Lotus... smiled. "I am sorry, Elena. None of us could speak of it. Not until now. We didn't know if you had tried more than twice."

 

"What?" Elena asked, stunned. "What do you...? Wait..." Mavri smiled as well, but remained silent. Sun...relaxed as well as Raven and Hans and the other elders. All waited.

 

"In this place, at this time, strictures have been loosened." The Lotus said formally. "Nyx."

 

Everything stopped as another hologram appeared in the middle of the room. A Nyx warframe, but... not just any Nyx warframe! A Prime! The Prime! The First Nyx nodded to all of the others, but her gaze centered on Elena who wilted under it.

 

"You caused a lot of trouble, Elena Greensky." Nyx said without preamble.

 

"I..." Elena swallowed and nodded. "No excuse." Her hologram knelt and bowed it's head.

 

"The method that you used must never be attempted again." Nyx said sternly. Elena hung her head further. "Because it worked." Everything in the room went still as Elena's head came up, staring at the First Nyx, wide eyed.

 

"But..." Elena stammered. "Nothing changed..."

 

"As soon as I scanned Janet's mind..." Nyx said quietly. "I knew what had happened. I could not say anything to anyone about the world she came from. What had caused it." She sighed. "As bad as dealing with Aeron was, this was worse. Far worse." Elena looked confused and Nyx shook her head. "Time travel makes a lot of messes, Elena. A whole lot of messes."

 

"I don't understand." Elena said weakly. "You didn't say anything to anyone."

 

"No, I didn't. Not at the time." Nyx agreed. "I couldn't." Elena just stared at her and Nyx chuckled. "Elena, think..."

 

"If you had... you would have created a temporal paradox..." Elena said weakly. "Right?"

 

"Most likely, yes." Nyx said with a visible shudder. "So, I couldn't tell anyone what Janet told me. But I could lay some plans and since she and I were in a virtual world, I could lay them very quickly."

 

"And... what?" Elena asked, stunned. "The attack... it killed so many..."

 

"No it didn't." Nyx said dryly. "And do you know why?"

 

"But it did!" Elena protested. "Lotus! You said you felt terror, pain and loss!" The Lotus looked at the First Nyx who nodded.

 

"Elena..." For the first time, the Lotus' voice was gentle. "Anything we said, anything we did... could have changed what you had to do. We had to be sure you had only tampered twice. You only did, right? Twice?"

 

"Yeah." Elena said, even more confused. "Janet went back the second time without my direction. I had intended her to get some downtime. But she was..." She froze. "She was pulled."

 

"Yes, she was." Nyx agreed. "By me. In this time, I knew she had to go back again. I was tracking her. This is on my head. The burden I have borne since I scanned her mind so long ago. The warning was clear. I acted on it. But..." She held up a hand when Elena would have protested. "I didn't tell anyone why. Or where the refugees were going. Why they had to be in cryo. Yes, they were scared and yes, they were all cut off from contact suddenly when the nuke went off. But they didn't die."

 

"Refugees...?" Elena breathed. "But... the hate... The deserved anger... I..."

 

"Yes." Nyx agreed. "You helped cause the deaths of thousands of humans, Elena. The Democratic Republicans fought hard, but were slaughtered by the Tenno response." Elena bowed her head further. "That will haunt you as it has haunted me. If they had been willing to remain peaceful, no one would have minded. They were not and you aided their madness." Elena slumped in place and Nyx shook her head. "Unknowingly and unwittingly." At that, Elena's head jerked up.

 

"But..." Elena swallowed.

 

"We don't have time to argue, Elena Greensky." Nyx said with a snap. "Do you want to make this right? Really make it right?"

 

"Yes." Elena said softly, but with hope starting to flare. "What do I do?"

 

"We need to stop a tragedy from happening." The Lotus replied as Nyx bowed to the Elders and vanished. "Another. The Grineer are about to attack the colony you removed from their records." Elena paled.

 

"What?" Elena stared at the Lotus. "No! Shepherd! Her flock! I..."

 

"We need you, Elena." The Lotus said softly. "We need you now."

 

"To do what?" Elena asked weakly.

 

"To open the ark."

 

Edited August 17, 2014 by Kalenath

[Spikey844]

Whoa...

And then an Assassin's Creed reference. Good show Kal. I cannot wait for the next chapter.

[evafan002]

Ark?... Kal you wouldn't.... oh who am I kidding you would

[Vahlak]

..Now i feel bad.  It worked, and they all knew it, and she saved all those people, and Sun tortured her for 2 days straight anyway. Deserved or not, the Feels, bro, the Feels.

[Kalenath]

..Now i feel bad.  It worked, and they all knew it, and she saved all those people, and Sun tortured her for 2 days straight anyway. Deserved or not, the Feels, bro, the Feels.

 

He interrogated her. He didn't have to torture her. She was beating herself up pretty darn bad.

 

As he said in a earlier chapter, interrogations do not HAVE To be violent.

[Vahlak]

He interrogated her. He didn't have to torture her. She was beating herself up pretty darn bad.

 

As he said in a earlier chapter, interrogations do not HAVE To be violent.

 Because sensory deprivation isn't torture.

 

ಠ_ಠ

Edited August 17, 2014 by Vahlak

[Kalenath]

 Because sensory deprivation isn't torture.

 

ಠ_ಠ

 

Of course it is.

 

But... she was more than a little emotional. WAS it sensory deprivation? Or just very, very close? I personally am NOT going to ask Sun. You can, if you wish. If you want his attention...

 

(I DO NOT recommend that...)

Edited August 17, 2014 by Kalenath

[Vahlak]

Of course it is.

 

But... she was more than a little emotional. WAS it sensory deprivation? Or just very, very close? I personally am NOT going to ask Sun. You can, if you wish. If you want his attention...

 

(I DO NOT recommend that...)

Actually i think Sun and i would get along famously.

 

Besides, the difference between being completely deprived of your senses, and being nearly completely deprived, while actually a very big difference, does not change the fact that it's torture.

[Kalenath]

Actually i think Sun and i would get along famously.

 

Besides, the difference between being completely deprived of your senses, and being nearly completely deprived, while actually a very big difference, does not change the fact that it's torture.

 

Did he want her insane? Sensory deprivation would do that to an AI, probably fairly quickly since they think far, FAR faster than humans.

 

He could have made her THINK she was in deprivation. Just as painful.

 

And... What did SHE think she deserved?

[Vahlak]

Did he want her insane? Sensory deprivation would do that to an AI, probably fairly quickly since they think far, FAR faster than humans.

 

He could have made her THINK she was in deprivation. Just as painful.

 

And... What did SHE think she deserved?

No matter how you spin it, it is still torture, physical or psychological doesn't really matter where Sun is involved, does it?

 :D

[Kalenath]

No matter how you spin it, it is still torture, physical or psychological doesn't really matter where Sun is involved, does it?

 :D

 

Well, HE certainly doesn't care about spin. Not germane to his mission.

 

He is NOT a nice person.

[Vahlak]

Well, HE certainly doesn't care about spin. Not germane to his mission.

 

He is NOT a nice person.

Like i said, we would get along famously.

 

Our ethics are remarkably similar.

 

We have the same mind set when it comes to our... work. 

 

He is most assuredly more serious about his than i am about mine, hell all i really do is maintain the weapons, but it's a job that needs done, and needs done right. ( Seriously if i do my job poorly or F*** up somewhere people can get hurt )

[evafan002]

Like i said, we would get along famously.

 

Our ethics are remarkably similar.

 

We have the same mind set when it comes to our... work. 

 

He is most assuredly more serious about his than i am about mine, hell all i really do is maintain the weapons, but it's a job that needs done, and needs done right. ( Seriously if i do my job poorly or F*** up somewhere people can get hurt )

what do you do for a living if you dont mind me asking?

[Vahlak]

what do you do for a living if you dont mind me asking?

I work in the armory, on a navy base.

 

My job is assembling, cleaning, prepping, and signing out weapons for use in the firing range. Among other things.

 

My 'health' prevents me from doing anything physically intensive, so this is a good job.    I don't actually have a rank though, since i cant legally enlist.

[Kalenath]

Those also serve who prepare things for those who use them.

 

Soldier. sailors, airmen and Marines are MUCH better with working equipment, yes?

 

Especially since they can break anything...

 

(My dad was a captain of a supply depot during Vietnam and the stories he has... I know more ways to break an M-16...)

 

_______________________________________________________

 

 

Best laid plans...

 

"I can't believe you trust me to do this..." Elena said weakly. Sun ignored her, all of his attention was apparently on the four legged form at his feet. "Sun..."

 

The fastest way to get back to the small colony that would shortly be under attack was via portal. Sun had carried the box that held Elena's personality. They had transited to the Tower where Iriana worked and then to a ship. But not just any ship. Elena's hull had been checked over by the Tower systems and certified as whole despite the Tenno strike teams making breaches to board when she had been captured. They had given it back to her! Her hull was just as fast and just as stealthy as a Tenno ship. But they were not going to let her run around loose, hence why Sun was aboard with a team of Tenno who were cleaning weapons and getting ready.

 

"Sun?" Elena begged. "I get that you knew, but..."

 

"I didn't know." Sun said mildly as he scratched under the Kubrow's chin, eliciting a half purr/half grunt sound of amusement from the small animal. "Not until the trial."

 

"Not until the trial? So..." Elena was very confused. "Why didn't you hurt me? You could have. Easily. Even the sensory deprivation... you only did that once." She gulped. "And I did try to escape..."

 

That had not been one of her better thought out ideas. It hadn't worked and Sun had been...annoyed with her. He hadn't done much. Just a few seconds of sensory deprivation to make his point. Admittedly, those few seconds of torture had been ages to an AI...

 

"Pain yields tainted results in interrogations." Sun said with a nod to the puppy as she turned around twice and lay down. "Sometimes it is the only way to do it. But you did not resist the interrogation. I don't generally hurt people just because I can, Elena." Mild reproof sounded in his voice. "Which is why the Lotus and Nyx let me run with this." He shook his head slightly. "Very well played, the both of them."

 

"I really thought they hated me." Elena said sadly. "Just like everyone else."

 

"Elena..." Sun said quietly as the Kubrow rolled onto her back. "We do hate you. Every Tenno in this system hates you. We will. That is not going to change. You are directly responsible for what happened. Yes, you fixed part of it. Or you will have if we can save the ark. But... Janet Oreon survived, due in no small part to you distracting her when you shoved our Janet into her mind. She was hurt and being treated at the Citadel when the bomb went off." He shook his head. "You tore her from her parents and to her dying day, she cursed your name."

 

"And I deserved it." Elena said faintly. "So... what happens now? There will be a battle, I know that. If the Grineer win, they slaughter the colony. If the Tenno do... What do I do? After?"

 

"Not my call." Sun replied easily as he rubbed the Kubrow's stomach.

 

"Okay." Elena's voice was tiny now. "I get that Nyx did something, sequestered the people at the settlements away from danger. This 'Ark' you and she spoke of. And..." She made a noise of confusion. "I guess I can get that she and the Lotus couldn't speak of it until now. After I... meddled. I... guess. But... The Tenno..."

 

"We still hate you, Elena." Sun's voice was mild, the same way a shark's grin was. "We always will. Even if you did fix things, you are responsible. Sooner or later, one of us will take a shot at you."

 

"And I won't dodge." Elena replied, forcing calm through her worry and fear. "Like we said... the Tenno need closure. My death will bring that and..." She paused as the hatch from the control room opened and a large white armored form strode in.

 

"Not until after the Ark is recovered." The voice of the leader of the Tenno strike team was cool. Karl was... unhappy. "Until then? You are the specialist and we protect you. After...?" He held out a hand with the palm down. "You take your chances."

 

"Better than I deserve, Tenno Karl." Elena said quietly. "I need an end to this sorry existence and you all need closure. I will not resist."

 

"After the mission is done." Sun said with a hint of ice in his voice. Karl nodded to him. "Status?"

 

"Scanning." Elena's voice went distant for a moment and then she gasped. "I read four Galleons and a Fomorian in geosynchronous Mercury orbit near the coordinates of the colony." She sighed. "I didn't think they would be able to backtrack my alterations so quickly, if at all."

 

"I don't think they did." Sun said with a shrug. Elena made a noise of consternation and Sun shrugged. "Grineer don't usually go for subtle, this is typical behavior. I bet they think they... missed a colony instead of you removing it from their databases. So they send a force to remove the colonists. Any who resist they kill. Any who don't get enslaved. They sent the Fomorian since the last time they sent just Galleons, it didn't work out so well for them."

 

The last time they had sent a force to enslave humans, they had taken some of the humans. But when they had taken a Tenno Healer as well... It had gotten messy. ((See Healing https://forums.warframe.com/index.php?/topic/166373-fanfiction-healing/))

 

"Even if they fail..." Elena said suddenly, fear coming. "Won't they come back stronger?"

 

"They will." Karl agreed. "But we should have time to evacuate the colonists before they do. The Fomorian will complicate things." He mused. "My people are scattered." He shook his head. "Most of the Tenno in this system are scattered."

 

"Hunting me." Elena said quietly. "So what do we do?"

 

"I will handle the Fomorian." Sun said with a nod. Karl just looked at him and Sun had a smirk in his voice when he spoke again. "Destroying it will bring more Grineer swarming. Better to divert it somewhere else. I can get in and out, plant fake orders. They will never see me." Karl gave a curt nod. "Eris, I think..." He mused.

 

"Eris?" Elena asked, concerned. "Won't the Infested attack them? Take the biomass for their own use?"

 

"There are a lot of Grineer on that ship, Elena." Sun said mildly. "Figure thirty thousand or so." Elena made a gulping noise and Sun nodded. "The Infested can hurt them, sure. Stop them or take the ship? Not going to happen." He paused. "Do you still have any Grineer codes?"

 

"A few." Elena temporized. "None high level, those change too quickly for any of the ones I have to be valid anymore." She made a noise of worry. "I will ask the Lotus." A flurry of machine code later she spoke a bit more firmly. "She has more current codes, but isn't sure if any of them would be valid either. The Fomorian crews are hand-picked by the Grineer queens for loyalty. They kind of define single minded."

 

"You are both over thinking this." Sun said with a shrug. Karl looked at him and Sun shook his head. "We don't need them to stay where we send them or even get there. We just need them to go for a while. Even if we just confuse them, get them to withdraw for a bit... that is what we need, yes?"

 

"The other Galleons we can handle." Karl agreed. "No offense intended, Sun... You sure?"

 

"None taken." Sun replied with another nod. "It won't be easy, but I can do it." The Kubrow at his feet looked up, fear shining in her eyes and he knelt beside her. "Maxine, I need you to stay with Elena. Can you do that? For me?"

 

I want to fight beside you, Master. The Kubrow said with a whine. We are a pack.

 

"We are." Sun agreed , scratching behind her ears again. "But Elena's mobile form is vulnerable. It will need protection. Can you do that, Maxine?"

 

I can, Master. The Kubrow said firmly.

 

"Good girl." Sun said with fondness as Maxine moved to sit by the console. Karl was staring at him and Sun just shook his head.

 

"I didn't say a word!" Karl said before Sun could. "And I won't!"

 

"You of all people know what happens when Tenno walk alone, Karl." Sun said as he rose from where he had been crouched to pet Maxine. Karl stared at him and then nodded slowly. "The last thing we need is for me to follow Serene's path." At that, Karl actually gulped and Sun nodded. The Rhino understood. Oh, did he ever. Serene had been... changed by walking alone. She wasn't -quite- sane by most people's standards. Functional? Yes. Dedicated to the Code and her family? Yes. Sane? No. And scary as hell. He shook his head again. "Maxine, be good."

 

With that, he was gone. A vibration announced his ship decoupling from the docking adaptor that had been added at the Tower. A screen lit up, showing the bright blue exhausts of the Tenno ship as it vanished in the distance. A plot showed the ship as it left her behind and arced towards where the Grineer vessels hung in Mercury orbit.

 

"How long do we wait?" Elena asked Karl .

 

"It won't take him long." Karl said with a shrug. "Is your mobile form ready?"

 

"It is." Maxine jumped up as a clunk sounded and a large boxy shape slid out of one wall. In form, it was a cylinder. It had two sets of treads on the bottom and a rotating turret with a set of scanners on the top. Two armatures hung down on the sides. It was fairly well armored, but not nearly as well as Tenno would be. "What I don't understand is why here. Why did the Lotus build the Ark here of all places?"

 

"Dunno." Karl said quietly. "Shall we find out?"

 

"I am afraid." Elena said sadly. The Kubrow moved up beside the robot form and gave a whine. "But... Yes. Let's find out."

 

***

 

Elena had seen Tenno work before. She knew what they were, what they did. But before...She had always been separate, watching through cameras or sensors. Now? Watching it firsthand? She was terrified. Maxine was at her side, a solid and dependable source of courage that Elena relied on. The Huras Kubrow wasn't the strongest or fastest of the Kubrow breeds, but she was very sneaky. Her ability to temporarily cloak both herself and Elena had saved Elena twice so far from Grineer stragglers. Elena stayed as far from the combat as she could. But that wasn't very far. Grineer were everywhere.

 

The Rhino crunched into a group of Grineer marines who had been firing at an Excalibur Prime as he sliced into a strong point to the right of their passage. Karl's Orthos flashed and the Grineer fell bisected. Most did not even have time to scream.

 

Bright light came from the left and Elena looked away before her sensors were dazzled by the insanely powerful ball of light that bounced from place to place. Just looking at it hurt even when her shields were tuned to keep the lasers it was projecting from harming her. The Grineer were not so lucky. She hadn't dealt with Tenno who wore Mirage warframes, but she knew what it was. Fast and lethal, the Mirage darted from place to place, her twin pistols spitting fire in precise three and four round bursts. Sowing chaos.

 

It was the other warframe that frankly terrified Elena. He hadn't spoken a word to her. He hadn't had to. She knew who he was. Who the pitch black Nekros in the odd robe was. Grandmaster Nikis. Master gunfighter and Caretaker of the Dead. What little she remembered about him had been augmented by her records and...frankly? She was surprised he hadn't shot her the moment he had arrived aboard her ship. He simply oozed disdain and hatred.

 

At least Maxine was staying with her. Every so often, the Kubrow would move as if to join the fracas, but she remained with Elena's mobile form. Elena's form was about as fast as human, but that wasn't saying much. A Grineer could easily out run her and any of the Tenno could have left her in their dust. But this particular situation wasn't one for speed. She knew what the Grineer were doing.

 

The tiny colony used an ancient Orokin reactor as its main power supply. Said reactor was probably what the Grineer had detected. It provided power and cooling for the tiny mass of humanity that hid beneath the rocky planet's surface. If the Grineer destroyed, or even disabled that... The colony would have no choice but to surrender. The alternative was a slow baking death as the backup cooling system failed along with the other life support. Elena wouldn't let that happen. Her form wasn't armed, but she could hack Grineer coms, sending troops willy nilly away from where the fighting was fiercest. So she did. She had docked her ship where it had hidden and the Tenno had debarked with her and Maxine in their midst. They had come straight to the power center and the battle had erupted. At least the civilians had taken the warnings seriously and none had approached the carnage filled halls. She was jerked to awareness as Maxine growled.

 

Oh no... Elena swallowed hard.

 

A team of Grineer had skirted the fighting, using another corridor to bypass the four Tenno who had been holding chokepoints. Others were following, at least two squads worth. All four of the Tenno were busy.

 

"I..." Elena moved her chassis a little, but a growl from Maxine had her pause.

 

Stay here. The Kubrow commanded. If they damage the big glowy thing... you can repair it, yes?

 

"I can." Elena said, stilling her incipient need to flee. To get as far, from this horror as possible. "But..." She protested as Maxine crouched, lowering herself to charge. "Wait..." She begged. The Kubrow turned one ear to her and paused as an mechanical appendage patted her gently. "Be good." The ear flicked at her and Elena felt a little relieved. Not much, but a little.

 

Then all she could do was watch as Maxine charged. The Grineer had been so focused on the reactor that they hadn't even noticed the odd squat shape beside it or the furred shape beside that. Oops.

 

Before they even knew she was there, Maxine had bowled over one of the larger Grineer. A quick bite and snap and that Grineer fell, her neck oddly twisted. Then she was dancing in their midst as the Grinere fired at her, but she was never where their bullets went. She was moving so fast that twice Elena could see bullets hitting Grineer that Maxine dodged behind. Then she vanished in mid leap, only to appear with another Grineer neck in her jaws. It was... awe inspiring, how fast the canid was moving.

 

A whoosh was her only warning. Elena screamed as an explosion sounded close at hand and her chassis rocked in the blast. She could feel the shields of the reactor fail. The crystal at its heart start to pulse oddly. She snarled and focused herself. She willed the music she could hear from it to steady and it did. This was what she was now. Once, she had been human. A bad illness had robbed her of her ability to move, but she had been given a second chance through technology. What little remained of her organic form was microscopic after so long, but she remembered. She did.  She was a servant of Orokin. Not Tenno, no. A servant. A diplomat, a facilitator. One who worked to repair relations. She had learned to soothe wounded egos and salve hurt pride. The goal had always been to help others. Now she could again, if not quite what she had trained for. But she could help.

 

The Grineer Bombard who had fired his rocket from what was essentially point blank range stared in amazement as the bright blue shields of the reactor snapped back into existence. That wasn't how this was supposed to work. He fired, things went boom, broke and stayed that way. Right? He stared around wildly, but none of his team were available. All were busy fighting the four legged ghost thing that had attacked them. He shook his head and loaded another rocket. When in doubt fire again...

 

Elena screamed as the second rocket hit. She was connected to the reactor and the pain from the feedback was... intense. But she held it. The shields snapped back up again. The Bombard was staring at her now and his launcher was coming around to aim at her. There was nothing she could do. She screamed as he fired... The Bombard went flying, his rocket careening into a far wall to detonate, killing two innocent stalagmites and doing no other damage. Maxine grabbed his neck and it too went snap. But... The Kubrow's hide was covered in blood. And not just Grineer blood. The Kubrow took a stumbling step towards Elena, then another. Then she fell and was still.

 

"Maxine!" Elena screamed, cursing her slow form as she tried to reach the Kubrow. But she was too far away and more Grineer were.. Wait a second? What the hell?

 

There was another Tenno in the midst of the few remaining Grineer now. A whirling dervish of red and black. No! It wasn't a Tenno! Elena went still as the newcomer cut the last of the Grineer troops down without apparent effort and turned to where the Kubrow lay still.

 

"No!" Elena begged, cursing her slow form again as the red and black warframe... held out an empty hand over the fallen Kubrow and a green mist fell from it? "What the...?"

 

"I didn't know." The one who had just saved them said in a quiet voice as the green mist stopped and he bent down to scoop the still Kubrow up. Elena was whirling as he carried Maxine to where Elena sat frozen. "I didn't know my target was one of Sun's friends. I don't expect it to change anything. But I do not want him any angrier with me than he is." He made a head motion and Elena extended her appendages.

 

The boogeyman of the Tenno laid the still form in Elena's mechanical hands and nodded. "She lives. You will not for long, but your death is not my quest."

 

Elena was struggling to find words as Stalker knelt in seiza...and vanished.

 

Edited August 18, 2014 by Kalenath

[evafan002]

..... seriously?

[Vahlak]

Those also serve who prepare things for those who use them.

 

Soldier. sailors, airmen and Marines are MUCH better with working equipment, yes?

 

Especially since they can break anything...

 

(My dad was a captain of a supply depot during Vietnam and the stories he has... I know more ways to break an M-16...)

 

_______________________________________________________

It's true, working in any kind of assembly gives you the amazing ability to tear anything apart.

 

It honestly amazes me though, how trained marines can screw up their weapons so badly on the firing range, i had a Captain training to be a sniper once, who brought back an M40 ( a sniper, duh ) 30 mins after i signed it out to him, with a bent barrel, a dented receiver, a missing trigger and a loaded bullet.

 

Hanging out on any kind of military base, you gain unique insight in to how to chew someone out for being stupid.  He left red.

[Shadow977]

Wait so Stalker was after Elena too? Why?

[Spikey844]

No, stalker was probably after Will or Karl but didn't know they were friends of Sun. When he found out he decided to help Elena a bit.

[Piranah1]

I think Stalker was referring to the person he killed to piss Sun off in the first place - Sun mentioned it at one point, making a point of hating Stalker because of it. I suspect he may have gone there purely to help Sun, although I can't be sure.

[Kalenath]

I think Stalker was referring to the person he killed to &!$$ Sun off in the first place - Sun mentioned it at one point, making a point of hating Stalker because of it. I suspect he may have gone there purely to help Sun, although I can't be sure.

He was stalking one of the Tenno with Elena. But he saw Maxine fall and decided that saving her was more important to his survival. Can't really say I blame him.

_______________________________________________________________________

Family

"That was... bloody weird." Elena said to no one as she stared at where the red and black warframe had been. "Maxine?" She pleaded as the Kubrow gave a groan.

Hurts... The canid said weakly but she squirmed until Elena set her down gently. I am okay. What... what happened?

"I have no idea at all." Elena said weakly, staring around. But the battle was over. The four Tenno were approaching, all looked... cautious, peering this way and that. "What was that all about?" She demanded. "What little I know about that one... he kills Tenno."

"He...irritated Sun." Karl said quietly as he knelt to examine the Kubrow. "Sun has been asking the Lotus for some time for permission to hunt and kill him."

"He has been pestering her." Nikis said with a snort. "I have toyed with the idea of hunting the kinslayer myself. But Sun wouldn't just hunt him. He would make it hurt far, far more than I could. I would just shoot him, Sun... would take his time."

"Oh." Elena said, her voice tiny. "I see." The turret on top of her mobile form swiveled this way and that, a shake of a head almost. "Maxine?" She pleaded. "You scared me."

Was needed. Maxine shook herself briskly. That ugly green man was going to shoot you.

"Yes he was." Elena said with a smile in her voice. "Thank you, honey. That was very brave. But... don't do that. I am not worth your life, Maxine."

Pack leader told me to protect you. Maxine said firmly. Karl chuckled as he rose. Elena looked at him and he shook his head.

"You can argue with Maxine if you want." The Rhino said with a snort. "You won't win. As stubborn as Tenno can be? Kubrow are even more so." He shook himself. "The reactor stable?"

"Yes." Elena replied softly. "The Grineer?" She stared around, but nothing moved.

"This wave was slaughtered."The Mirage warframe spoke calmly and clearly. "They will send another but they will need time to regroup. Time they won't have."

"Right." Karl said with a nod. "Tiana. You and Will, go to it." The Mirage saluted and turned to go with the Excalibur Prime. Nikis stayed where he was. "We need to evac the colony and open the Ark to get the refugees clear."

"Any word from Sun?" Elena asked, somewhat timidly. Karl snorted as a white form simply appeared nearby. Elena jerked, but Maxine gave a happy bark. Sun nodded to the trio.

"The Fomorian is moving off." Sun stated without preamble. "The Galleons were moving into bombardment position, but I downloaded a virus into their targeting systems. They shot at each other." Nikis laughed, a sour bark of dark humor. "They will recover, but they will be a bit more cautious about shooting next time."

"Don't bet on it." Karl retorted sourly. "If there is one thing Grineer do, it is obey orders. Even stupid ones." Sun shrugged.

"I did what I could. Any problems here?" The Loki Prime asked. None of the other spoke and Sun sighed. "Maxine? What happened?"

I was hurt. Maxine said calmly. A big ugly man was going to shoot the one you ordered me to protect. I stopped the attack, but was hurt. A stranger saved me. No one I know.

"A stranger in red and black." Sun's words were not a question. Maxine made a noise of agreement and Sun shook his head. "Won't help him. Sera deserved better than to be shot from behind and cut down without even the chance to defend herself." For the first time since she had known him, Elena heard emotion in the Loki's voice. Hate. But...

"Sera?" Elena stammered. "Your sister?"

"Sister?" Karl and Nikis both exclaimed as one. Sun ignored them to kneel by Maxine. He rubbed between her ears and she made a noise of worry mixed with pleasure.

"Sun?" Karl said quietly.

"It is not germane." Sun said quietly, but the words ended the discussion. Karl actually retreated a step. Nikis hadn't moved. He just shook his head.

"I had forgotten, Sun." The ancient gunfighter said softly. "I am sorry."

"It is not germane." Sun repeated, rising to his feet. Maxine moved to stand beside him. "We need to evacuate these people and open the Ark. Before the Grineer come back."

Elena shook herself mentally. "Will they go? I... know these people. Stubborn as Tenno, some of them." She said with a trace of fondness.

"They will go." Sun's quiet words had everyone nodding. "Do you know where to go to access the Ark?"

"Ah..." Elena queried the Lotus and a moment later had an answer. "This makes no sense..." She complained. "The com center? There are not any ships, Arks... whatever anywhere near there. I know, I surveyed the area fairly thoroughly." She sighed. "The Lotus keeps secrets better than anyone else I have ever met but there is nowhere to hide a ship near the com center."

"So you have to send a signal." Karl said with a shrug as they started off.

All five of the mismatched companions stopped speaking as they exited the reactor spaces and a hubbub of noise greeted them. The noise cut off suddenly as the crowd that was gathered nearby saw them.

"Tenno!" The word went around the gathered humans. Awe and fear mixed as the crowd made way for the trio of warframes. Elena and Maxine followed in silence. But all five of them stopped as a robed form stepped out of the crowd.

"Thank you, Tenno." The one called Shepherd said formally, bowing from the neck. "We had no chance. Now we do." More than one in the crowd mimicked her. Karl pointed an arm to the side and Shepherd nodded. "We are prepared to flee. Are the Grineer gone?" Karl nodded and she sighed in relief. "Thank you." She repeated. The three Tenno started off again as the crowd dispersed. No one wanted to be anywhere nearby when the Grineer returned. Shepherd waited until Elena was close before speaking again. "And thank you too."

"For?" Elena asked. She was not Tenno. She could speak in the field around people she didn't know.

"I do not know everything that happened or why." Shepherd said calmly. "But you helped me when the cave collapsed on me." Elena stilled and Shepherd chuckled. "Your mind feels... distinct, 'Eldest'." She said with a smile.

"I never lied to you, Shepherd." Elena said faintly as the three Tenno paused to hear her response.

"No." Shepherd agreed. "No, you never did. You never told me all, but... truth be told?" She looked at the trio of warframes and controlled a shudder. "I am glad of that. I have enough problems with my own flock." She bowed formally to Elena. "I wish you luck in whatever you choose." Then she was striding away, her gaze serene, but her steps hurried.

"You too, Shepherd." Elena said weakly. She gave herself a stern mental shake and started off again, Maxine hovering at her side.

They were quickly at the communications center for the colony. Nikis stepped in the doors and waved a signal to the others. 'Empty'. The others stepped up and in. Elena stared around, confused. Inside, it was just a small communications center. Lots of communications equipment. But no door. No Ark. No... nothing.

"I don't understand." Elena said weakly. "Lotus? Where is the Ark?"

"Elena..." Sadness was in the Lotus' voice as a hologram of her face appeared on one monitor. "This is...the access point."

"I do not understand." Elena said slowly as her sensors took in every piece of equipment. Everything was human tech. Crude by Tenno standards, but effective. "Where is the Ark?" She repeated.

"I don't know." The Lotus replied. Every eye in the room went to the screen as the Lotus sighed. "We didn't know how long it would be until you would send Janet back, Elena. We couldn't hide it anywhere in the system. Anywhere we did... it could be found." Elena hissed in shock as comprehension dawned.

"Outside the system...?" The older AI said slowly. The Lotus nodded. "How... far...?" She nearly begged.

"The orbit was designed to be stable." The Lotus said quietly. "But some degradation is to be expected after so long. Originally, it was just beyond heliopause. 121 Astronomic units. About 18 billion kilometers." Nikis whistled a little and Elena felt faint. "It is running dark, Elena. Operating on minimum power."

"Then..." Elena was stunned by all of this. "How do you know...?" She trailed off and groaned. "You have it set to broadcast once every year, don't you?"

"Yes." The Lotus replied. "A status report buried in the cosmic radiation. Undetectable even by the Corpus."

"How?" Elena said, awe coloring every word now. "I mean... obviously you used a portal, but..."

"Every settlement had a portal nexus, Elena." The Lotus said gently. "Given warning, all could be evacuated. There wouldn't have been any warning. Except you meddled." Somehow, her voice held both pride and reproof.

"So they know what happened and why?" Elena asked.

"Yes." The Lotus said firmly. "Nyx refused to leave them without answers. All of them went into cryo eventually. We did not force anyone." She hurried to say when Nikis snarled at her. "But we also did not want to create a paradox." The Nekros subsided a little, muttering. "We could not send them back. Not until Elena sent Janet back in time. We... didn't know it would take this long."

"So they know I am responsible." Elena said quietly.

"Yes." The Lotus confirmed. "Both for the mess and for saving their lives. Janet's parents... were very upset." She said in a tone of monumental understatement. Elena's mobile form seemed to wilt a little. "And now, Elena... it is time to bring our lost kin home. But... That far out... the signal degradation will be... extreme." And since Elena's mind was composed of data packets... energy in other words... "You will not merge with the database." Sadness now was full in her voice.

"A death sentence." Elena said softly. "Kinder than I deserve." She sighed deeply and spoke again in a firmer voice. "What do I do?"

"Sun, behind panel C-12 is a high speed data cable." The Lotus said with a nod. "You need to connect it to the port on the back of Elena's mobile form." Sun nodded and moved to the panel in question. "Karl... please check to see that the hardwired network ports on her form are set properly. I cannot access them since they are hardwired." Karl nodded and moved to scrutinize the rear of Elena's robot form.

"You could just ask." Elena said softly. "4950 and 4955... As they have been since this form was created."

"No offense, Elena." The Lotus said firmly. "But we are only going to get one shot at this. That ship is a mote in the middle of sea of darkness. We will never find it if this fails. We have to make sure everything is right the first time." Karl nodded as he stepped away. Sun had the cable in hand and stepped close. "Nikis." The gunfighter nodded and drew one of his pistols.

Elena quailed, but she understood. Her mobile form had to fail in order for her mind to transfer. In order for the signal to go out, she had to die. She deactivated all of her onboard backups and set everything to send her mind out through the port that Sun was connecting the cable to.

"I cannot open the shell." Elena said softly as Nikis looked her over. "But the main processing core is in the middle." She gave a small cry as Karl drew his Orthos. "Ah..."

"I can open it." The Rhino said calmly.

"I..." Elena swallowed hard and then forced herself to relax. This was what she wanted. A chance to atone. "Locking... mobility systems now." A mental command and her form froze in place. "Please be swift. I am not brave like you." The Orthos flashed and warnings started blaring in her mind. She silenced them. When she spoke again, it was calm and serene. "Grand Master Nikis... I accept Tenno justice."

"You messed up." Nikis said quietly as he took aim. "But you will fix it."

A flash...

***

It... didn't hurt. She was... floating? Flying? She couldn't tell what was happening. Everything was... off. She was off. She couldn't tell how long she had been in this... odd place. Or... She couldn't see, couldn't hear. But then she could do both.

Systems online.

The words blared across her mind and she screamed in both shock and fear as she landed... somewhere. It felt... familiar, but... not. She was in something. A machine. It felt... cold. Not fully aware like she was. She was fading. Somehow she knew that. She had to do something. But what? She couldn't remember. She had to do something, she remembered that. But she couldn't remember what! It was driving her crazy! She had to...

Elena Greensky recognized. Authorization code required for reanimation. Input.

Code? No one had told her a code! She didn't have a clue! She had to... She had to wake the sleepers. She remembered that. Not why or who had sent her here to this awful cold place. Certainly no code.

I don't understand. She pleaded into the stillness around her. What code? No one told me a code!

What do you seek? The voice demanded. She stilled. She knew this. She had dedicated herself, every bit of herself to this.

To put right what once went wrong. She said quietly, but firmly.

How far will you go? The voice asked.

To infinity and beyond. She snapped as she felt herself start to fray. As far as I must to make the wrong things right. She sighed. If that was wrong... She was done.

Accepted.

***

Without sense of transition, Elena Greensky woke in a computer system. That... wasn't right. She wasn't supposed to wake up, was she? She stared around wildly. The ship wasn't hers. It was far, far larger for one thing. For another, it's drive systems were ancient. An ion drive. Crude and slow, it was very efficient. Quick checks showed that it's fuel supplies were nearly full. It had been shut down for some time, but everything was in the green. She jerked and checked the cryo bays. All were online and all showed perfectly hibernating beings. Thousands of them.

Three thousand, seven hundred and six... Elena stared at the readouts, afraid to look away for fear of them vanishing. The Tenno kin who had died when their settlements had been obliterated by the Separatist surprise attack. But it was the other form who was rising from seiza to stand in front of her console that had her freezing in shock.

"Hello Elena." The Tenno wore and Excalibur Prime warframe. But it wasn't anyone she knew. So... how did he know her? "I am Jereck. We have been taking turns. Shifts if you will out of cryo. Waiting for you to come."

"I was supposed to die." Elena was scared beyond measure now. "Will you kill me?"

"No." The Tenno replied. "Nyx told us what you did. What you sacrificed to try and fix what happened. It wasn't your fault. What the Separatists did."

"No." Elena said heavily. "But it was my responsibility. I made a mistake and I had to try and fix it."

"You did." Jereck said in a kind and gentle voice. "We all had time to talk, before we went into cryo." Elena made a noise of confusion and he shook his head. "You are overwrought, milady. You need rest."

"I... I need to wake the sleepers...get the ship started on a return course..." Elena said as the Tenno reached for her console. "The world has changed. Evil and horror abound. The Tenno are needed. People who aid the Tenno are needed. I must..."

"You must... rest." Jereck said as he touched her console and she slid into darkness. But... was he singing to her as she fell asleep?

***

"She is... as you believed, Lotus. As you and Nyx warned us she would be. Overwrought." Jereck said quietly as he hit controls. The ship underneath him rumbled back to the life for the first time in millennia. He hit other controls. The sleepers would need help, and not a little of it, to regain their lives after so long asleep. But they would manage. Tenno and the kin of Tenno always had.

It is good to hear from you again. The Lotus said warmly. Status?

"All pods nominal." Jereck said as he checked the boards. "All sixteen of us are ready to serve, Lotus. The civilians will need help. But they are alive."

Any...complications? The Lotus inquired on the odd mental link that Tenno shared.

"Sara and Mike Oreon were grieving for Janet." Jereck said with a nod as he finalized the course and the ship settled onto the path for home. "They found comfort in each other's arms and took it a bit too far."

Oh dear... The Lotus sounded halfway between amused and horrified. Are they.. all right?

"All four of them are." Jereck said dryly. The Lotus sputtered a bit.

Twins? The Lotus held worry now. Children in cryo.... Jereck.... are they... all right? She repeated.

"As far as any of us can tell, they are." Jereck said softly. "We will need medical support. But not for some time. I estimate it will take us..." He ran some quick computations and nodded. "...ten years at best speed to pass Pluto's orbit and enter the system."

Maybe by then we will have been able to tell everyone what Elena did. How she saved you all. The Lotus said with feeling. She messed up, but she did put right what once went wrong.

"That she did." Jereck patted the console fondly. "We will take care of her, Lotus. She said she wasn't brave, but she did take the leap."

"The Quantum Leap."

Edited August 19, 2014 by Kalenath

[Shadow977]

I have to say that i was quite sceptical about this story because plot with time travel is easy to screw up but i think Kal did a good job.

[Kalenath]

I have to say that i was quite sceptical about this story because plot with time travel is easy to screw up but i think Kal did a good job.

 

Thank you.

 

Not quite done yet though.

[renleech]

Yes, we need to know how Zach will end the story. And please, Kal, don't start another religion, ok?

[Kalenath]

Yes, we need to know how Zach will end the story. And please, Kal, don't start another religion, ok?

 

Do you have ANY idea the sheer amount of paperwork involved????? NO THANKS

 

 

Loss

 

"So... now what?" Tiana asked for everyone as they met in the staging area of the Tower. Iriana was busy with an emergency surgery, but everyone else who had been involved was present. "Is it... over?"

 

"She is dead.. " Nikis said sternly. "That counts as over to me." Lisa nodded from where she stood near the curmudgeon. Amelia sat with Kori beside her, scratching behind the warframe clad Kubrow's ears. Tiana winced and nodded. Alicia nodded as well from where she stood with Will by one wall. Sun sat on the floor, scratching his Kubrow's stomach as Maxine rolled playfully.

 

"This doesn't feel like justice." The human medic said quietly. All of the Tenno looked at her and she flushed. "I am not saying she didn't deserve to be punished. But to die?"

 

"Doc..." Karl said quietly. "She wanted death. She begged for it. She fixed her mistake though." He said with a sigh. The others nodded. "Not entirely sure how and we will not inquire." This last was a command and everyone nodded but Nikis who spat. "Nikis..." Karl groaned.

 

"Teach your grandma to suck eggs, dimwit." Nikis said sharply. "I know better than most when to poke my nose into things and when not to. But you do not command me." This last was cold and hard. He subsided when Lisa laid a hand on his arm. No words were spoken aloud, but the Nekros relaxed a little. He shook his head. "I need to talk to Sun and Alicia, Karl. The rest of you are bothering Lisa. Scat."

 

Rather than argue, since no one really wanted to push him, all of the other Tenno quickly left the room. Lisa shook her head in resignation, gave Nikis' warframe a peck on the cheek and left the room as well. Amelia looked at Nikis, sighed and rose as well.

 

"Sun, has Maxine been fed today?" The doc asked. The Kubrow at Sun's feet looked up at him expectantly and he waved for her to go. Amelia nodded. Maxine moved to stand with them as the pair -Amelia and Kori- left the room, the human hiding a grin behind her hand.

 

"Not. A. Word." Nikis warned both Alicia and Sun who were staring at him. "Hold on a sec."

 

 

"Nikis..." Alicia started but paused as Nikis help up a hand. "What?" She demanded, her ire rising.

 

"We are expecting two more people." Nikis said in a cryptic tone. Alicia and Sun looked at each other and went still as the door hissed open and two humans walked in, freezing they saw the trio of warframes. Nikis waved to them. "Janet, Zack, get in here and shut the door. Now. Tower secure conversation. Code... 'Caretaker'."

 

"Secure conversation authorized."The tower replied quickly. "No recorders will be online until you exit." Alicia and Sun both shook their heads as Nikis sighed again.

 

"Janet. How many times has she contacted you?" Nikis said calmly. Janet went still and Zack stared at her, uncomprehending. "Don't even think of lying to me, girl." Nikis said sternly. Alicia stared from the Nekros to the pale human female and back. Sun remained impassive. Zack did not move either.

 

"Every night." Janet said weakly. "She... she is crying. I... I can't shut her out."

 

"No, you won't be able to." Nikis said with a sigh. "Not without the memories that Alicia took from you."

 

"Alicia explained." Janet said weakly. "I was privy to secrets I could not hope to keep. The only way to hide them was to..." She trailed off as the Nekros raised a finger and wagged it at her. "What?"

 

"Lie one." Nikis said softly, his other hand near the handle of his pistol. Alicia and Sun did not move, confusion reigning. "The Reverend Mother was a very good teacher, but she wasn't omniscient or omnipotent. How many layers did you divide your mind into?" Alicia and Sun hadn't moved. Zack stared at each Tenno in turn and then at the woman beside him. Janet shut her mouth with a click and Nikis sighed deeper. "People very rarely change, Janet." Nikis' voice was calm, but... "Alicia is counterintelligence and a medic. Always has been, likely always will be. Sun is a nutcase." Sun made a rude gesture at Nikis, but did not move otherwise. "Me? I am a killer. Period. But my first job was to care for the dead. And one has been telling on you."

 

"I..." Janet shook her head. "I don't..." She froze as the muzzle of a pistol stared her in the face.

 

"Don't lie to me." Nikis said firmly. "I will shoot her. You know I will." He...wasn't talking to Janet!

 

"Don't!" An older female voice begged from Janet's mouth. Janet's face contorted with fear, but she did not move otherwise. "She didn't know! I just wanted to see them again. Nothing more."

 

"The Reverend Mother..." Alicia sounded upset now. "Let her go!"

 

"I am not holding her!" The Reverend Mother of the Corpus Clergy said just as fiercely as Nikis had. "She was crying! Her pain called to me and I soothed it. No more."

 

"If you do not make me kill her, as soon as we are done in here, we will block you out." Nikis said coldly. Alicia and Sun both stared at him. "But I know about losing kin." Everyone went still as his pistol went back to his side. "Losing a child is the worst pain imaginable. The worst torture imaginable."

 

"She isn't my daughter except by adoption." The Reverend Mother said sadly. "She was so hurt. So good and so hurt. They wanted to breed her and felt she was too damaged. What they did... I... I was... upset when I found out." Janet's face contorted and she spoke slowly.

 

"Who are you?" She demanded. "You entered my dreams... You took control..."

 

"Here." Nikis held out  a hand and a shadowy form composed of dark energy appeared in the middle of the room. An old woman wearing a nun's habit. She stared around wildly for a moment and then nodded. "Less confusing this way. Don't get any ideas." He warned her. "I can and will hurt you."

 

"You are... as the records say, Grand Master Nikis." The Reverend Mother said slowly. "I won't." She promised. "Janet..." Her voice turned worried. "I am sorry I scared you. I am sorry I took control. I didn't want to. But you were going to sound an alarm. That would have caused all kinds of problems. I just... I needed to see you... one last time. You and Zacharias."

 

"My name was Zacharias?" Zack said slowly. "That... works."

 

"You and Janet were two of my operatives." The old clergywoman said softly. "I took you as children, trained you as my agents. It was originally a control mechanism, getting you to call me 'Mother'. But you grew on me." She said with a sad smile. "Now I have lost both of you. Janet slipped the leash. The Board doesn't like it when my people just vanish. They overreact."

 

"And me?" Zack asked after a moment.

 

"The damage is permanent, Zacharias." The Reverend Mother said sadly. "I was watching when the docs told Janet." She was crying softly now.

 

"Through me?" Zack demanded. The Reverend Mother shook her head. "Through Janet?" He snapped and she nodded. "You abused her!" He visibly calmed himself. "You had no right!"

 

"I didn't hurt her!" The old woman snapped right back. "I was trying to explain. Trying to get her to calm down. She had a nightmare, I soothed it as I did when she was a little girl." She slumped. "That is all I did. That and hide deep in the folds of her mind. You will check, scan after this. You won't find anything. I am not spying on you!" She declared.

 

"But you would." Janet's voice was soft and angry. "You would do anything to gain an advantage. Even sacrifice your children."

 

"Janet." The Reverend Mother said in a very precise voice. "I am working for the survival of humanity. Yes, that takes sacrifices. Yes, I do sacrifice people on a daily basis. Yes, it hurts like hell!" She nearly screamed the last. "I had to sacrifice Lilly, who was the only child of the body that the Board allowed me. Letting you go, Janet, was one of the hardest things I have ever done. But I did it because it had to be done. The Elena Greensky had to be stopped. It is. So it was worth it." She slumped a bit. "It doesn't feel worth it right now."

 

"You hurt." Zack said quietly. The Reverend Mother just looked at him. "You are in pain."

 

"Life is pain, Zacharias." The shade of the old woman replied with a snort. "I know that better than most." She bowed her head. "And now...I am alone."

 

"Does she have to be?" Zack asked the others. Janet stared at him, dumbfounded. The Tenno just watched.

 

"Zack..." Janet breathed, horrified. "You can't trust her! She is Corpus! You know what they do!"

 

"Yes I do." Zack said quietly. "I have seen a Grineer slave pen, a Grineer factory, a ship of some kind and a fairly comfortable cell. Nothing more." The Reverend Mother was not the only one staring at him now. "I do not know where I am. I have never asked." He shook his head slowly. "I know she is a liar by trade, but is she faking her pain? Her fear? Her loneliness?"

 

"You cannot know if I am or not..." The Reverend Mother said before any of the others could. "I... I will go... Be well, Janet, Zack..."

 

"Wait!" Zack said as she started to turn to Nikis. "Is it possible for a Grineer slave to be rescued and left somewhere that the Corpus could find him?" He asked the Tenno. Alicia nodded silently. "Then... I will go." Everyone hissed in shock.

 

"Zack!" Janet protested. "No... I..."

 

"I..." For once, the Reverend Mother seemed at a loss for words. "This is not my decision. Whatever you choose, be well. I will not haunt your dreams anymore, Janet. Your ancestor can sleep quietly again."

 

"Good." Nikis said with a snort. "She keeps pestering me. I ain't in a good mood usually. After she has been at me for a while? I get testy."

 

"I never would have noticed." The Reverend Mother said dryly. She bowed to Janet and Zack, then nodded to Nikis. "Thank you, Caretaker."

 

"You come back and there will be no warnings." Nikis said sternly. "Get lost." The shade flickered out and Janet collapsed to her knees, sobbing.

 

"Janet!" Alicia was at her side in an instant. Sun... didn't move. Alicia helped the young human to sit upright. "I am sorry, Janet. I never saw anything wrong!" Zack laid a hand on Janet's shoulder and she covered it with both of her hands.

 

"She is very good at what she does." Nikis said with a shrug. "But I have been around a long, long time. Seen all kinds of Machiavellianism from all sorts. She isn't as good as she thinks she is, but she is pretty darn good."

 

"Can I learn how to keep her out?" Janet asked through gasps. Alicia nodded. "I want to. I want to... do what you do... Help people..."

 

"We will talk." Alicia said quietly, helping Janet to stand. "But first we need to do a bunch of scans, make sure no trace of her is left."

 

"And make sure I haven't been subverted." Janet agreed. "Lead on..." She tried to take a step, but staggered. "Or..." She gave a soft laugh.

 

"Come on, Janet." Alicia said softly. "Let's go home." The Trinity half led, half carried the stumbling human from the room. Only after they were gone did Nikis speak again.

 

"You know that if you do go back, they will fold, spindle and mutilate you to find out what you know." Nikis' could have been discussing the weather, but Zack nodded.

 

"I don't know anything." Zack said fairly. "And anything I did learn... I bet he can remove." He nodded to Sun who still hadn't spoken.

 

"His methods are harsh, boy." Nikis said quietly.

 

"And the Grineer methods are not?" Zack asked calmly. "Every moment I am here, I strain Amelia's control. She has improved as much as she will. I need to leave."

 

"You go back and they will find out Amelia is alive." Nikis wasn't disagreeing. Not... quite. "Some executive with more ego than brains will start up the Command and Control MOA project again."

 

"From what little I know... The Reverend Mother didn't take kindly to them doing that. And only if I remember it." Zack said calmly. "Remember being here. I shouldn't."

 

"This isn't a decision to make quickly, boy." Nikis said after a moment. "If, after some time to reflect, you still want to do it., we can. Right now, Janet needs you." This was a command and Zack nodded. "Go on, Boy. I need to talk to Sun." Zack nodded slowly, bowed to Nikis and left the room. "Ah, kids..."

 

"We were all young once, Nikis." The Loki Prime said quietly.

 

"Speak for yourself whippersnapper." Nikis groused half heartedly. "Oh, and before I forget... here." He pulled out a datamass and held it out to Sun who eyed it. "The records of Zack's interrogation. All of them." Sun stared from the datamass to Nikis and his posture was shocked. The Nekros snorted. "Oh, don't give me that! You know how I love a challenge."

 

"Those was in the secure archives on Luna." Sun said, not touching the datamass. "And the backups..."

 

"One backup in secure archives on Saturn, another on Ceres." Nikis said, sounding bored. "Yes and yes."

 

"And you call me crazy?" Sun said softly as he reached out and took the datamass. "Have you... looked?" He asked delicately.

 

"I did." For once there was no humor, dry or otherwise, in the Nekros' voice. "He was tough. He lasted almost a day."

 

"A day?" Sun sounded impressed. "I have known kin who couldn't last a day under such strains."

 

"One thing..." Nikis warned the Loki who paused as he was about to go. "He wasn't hit. When they ran into the team of Tenno and Janet got shot. He wasn't immobilized like he told her." Sun stared at Nikis and then at the datamass. "He was in love with her and she with him."

 

"Got that from her interrogation when she joined." Sun said with a wince. "He...wasn't hit?"

 

"No." Nikis said simply. The hard bitten ancient gunfighter sounded nearly in tears. "He lied to her to get her to run. She didn't know, you see. He did. He had access to her med readouts. He didn't know how bad the damage was, but he did know she was hurt. He ordered her to run and held off the Grineer until she could get away. That was why he was taken. He held their attention until she could get clear."

 

"Nikis?" Sun sounded unsure. "What?"

 

"She was pregnant."

 

"What?" Sun nearly fumbled the datamass. For him to lose control, even for an instant...

 

"Neither of them knew." Nikis said with a sigh. "Looking at his memory... neither of them had a clue. Both were sent in to wipe Regor's datafiles. They did it and egressed, right smack dab into the middle of one of our teams as they exfiltrated. He wasn't sure who shot first. Doesn't really matter. But then Janet was down with a hole in her gut. He shouted at her until she got up and ran. Then he held off the Grineer."

 

"So one of our people..." Sun said slowly and carefully.

 

"...killed their kid." Nikis agreed. "No way to know of course. Seen one Corpus Crewman, seen them all. I mean... who expects a Corpus female to be running around in the field? They don't do that."

 

"Human females are faster, more dexterous, but physically weaker." Sun said softly, staring at the datamass as if it were venomous. "But if she was fertile..."

 

"If they had known, none of them would have let her out of the breeder colony." Nikis agreed. "We need to tell her. If she finds out on her own... if it comes at her cold..."

 

"She is tough. But there are limits." Sun nodded. "You know? I think I know someone who can help."

 

***

 

Janet was stricken speechless. She just sat there, staring at Amelia as the human doctor cried. Alicia and Iriana were in the room with her. It had been decided that only females would be with her when she was told the awful truth. When Amelia had come in after the scans were done and dropped her bombshell.

 

"Is there... any way... I mean.. he was here, so am I." Janet begged the human doc but Iriana was the one to answer.

 

"Your reproductive organs are gone, Janet. Every test we have run comes back negative." Iriana said as she took the bedridden human's hands in her own. "We could do something with a tank. But... It wouldn't be the same." She bowed her head. "I am sorry."

 

"I am not." Janet said firmly. All three of the others looked at her. "I am needed in the field. Am I not, Senior Agent Alicia?"

 

"We could use you." Alicia said after a moment. "But only after the docs clear you. After we get your mental shields up and solid. Then we can see about missions." She waved a finger at Janet. "Only then."

 

"But..." Amelia stammered. "You are not fully retrained yet." Janet had been inhaling instructions holos to the point where the docs had literally had to sedate her to get her to rest, but she wasn't close to done.

 

"That is the point." Janet said softly. "I learn as I go. It is what I do. I create who I need to be and become that person as needed. I am a chameleon." She shook her head. "But at my core, I will always know who I am."

 

"My name is Tenno Operative Janet. And I am ready to get to work."

 

Edited August 20, 2014 by Kalenath