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[Fanfiction] Motherhood

Kalenath

By Kalenath,
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Kalenath

Kalenath

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Do you have like a spreadsheet with all the names, warframes, affiliations/clans to keep track of everything?

Or do you keep it all in your head?

 

I have a list of character names, but most of everything else is in my head.

 

I will PROBABLY break down at some point and make a spreadsheet, but that seems a bit too much like 'work' most of the time.

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Kalenath

Kalenath

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Hot but not

 

Cathi was stuffed. She didn't remember the last time she had eaten so well. She didn't remember the last time she had enjoyed herself so thoroughly. Jesse, Mishka and Iriana were good company. Mishka and Iriana apparently had no idea what else was going on. Iriana probably suspected something, the Healer was too sharp by half, but Cathi and Jesse stayed upbeat and relaxed through dinner. Kori hadn't eaten of course, -hard to do in a warframe- but she was there, a watchful presence. When she spoke, she sounded sad to Cathi, and the others were working to cheer her up. Draco just lurked.

 

Mishka was singing something softly as she and her mother finished their meal. Cathi looked at her plate and then at Jesse who grinned.

 

"No rations or half portions here." Jesse said with a smile after she swallowed a bite of her pasta. The noodles were not old earth spaghetti. The sauce wasn't tomato based. It didn't matter. It was delicious. Cathi had nearly forgotten what real food tasted like after so long in her warframe. Cathi herself had eaten two plates of it and Jesse was on her third.

 

"You two..." Iriana smiled good naturedly as she finished up her own plate. "I swear, it is a good thing they don't charge us for this."

 

"Good food." Cathi said with a small contented burp.  Jesse grinned and shoveled another mass of pasta into her mouth. "Jesse, we do want the hot tub, right?" Jesse made a face around her chewing but nodded. "Healer? How long?"

 

"Ah..." Iriana looked thoughtful. "The old truths still cling because they are true. Give it half an hour to start digesting. We will stay with you." There was more to her words than simple courtesy and Cathi fought to keep her face as it was. The Healer knew something. Suspected something.

 

"It is appreciated, Iriana." Jesse said after she swallowed. "Draco, Kori, can you make sure no one else can hear us?" The bodyguard and the Kubrow looked at each other and then nodded. Draco did something and then nodded again. "Cathi is here to help me with my problem, Iriana."

 

"There is no 'Cathi' that meets your description in any files I can access." Iriana said suspiciously.

 

"There won't be." Cathi said evenly. "I report to Interrogator Sun." At that, everyone stopped what they were doing. "Jesse is in danger, but the main threat comes from inside her own subconscious mind. You cannot find the injury to fix it, Healer Iriana." The Tenno Healer looked stricken and Cathi shook her head. "Were you there when Sun arrived, Healer?" Iriana nodded, her mouth set in a grim line. "Did he explain?" Iriana nodded again. "Good. Then we are all on the same page."

 

"Who did this to her?" Mishka asked, her eyes scared. "Your mom is gonna flip, Jesse!"

 

"She has." Cathi agreed. "That is one reason I am here. As to who...?" She took a deep breath and shook her head. "I cannot say."

 

"No one has found that Horat liar." Iriana said sternly. "I hope they do soon."

 

"'Horat' did not actually lie, Iriana." Jesse said slowly and carefully, ignoring Cathi's worried look. "'Horat' did not tell the whole truth and what he/she/whatever did to me did start this, so I bear bit of animosity for that one myself.  But we need to know what they will do. Cathi?"

 

"I can surmise potential plans, Jesse." Cathi warned. "But anything I guess will be just that, guesses. They will need to remove you from here." The others all tensed and Cathi shook her head. "They will be gentle and as discrete as they can. They will work to avoid any collateral damage. Renegades they may be, but they are not wanton murderers. They will not engage with non-combatants in the danger zone if they have any choice whatsoever. And for what it is worth? I bet they will disengage if non-combatants are threatened. They think they are the 'good guys' so they have rules.  They follow those rules."

 

"Portal or ship?" Draco asked and Cathi thought about that for a moment.

 

"They have access to the portal nexuses." Cathi said after a moment. "But those can be tracked and they know it. They also know that any successful snatch will immediately garner a response. So whatever they do will be low key, as gentle as they can manage and swift. So probably a ship. A modified Liset could handle it."

 

"Why take Jesse?" Mishka begged, reaching out to her friend. Jesse gave her hand a squeeze and then held it. "Hasn't she suffered enough?"

 

"She has." Cathi agreed. "The problem is, they think they are going to be helping her. Easing her pain. Healer?" She looked at Iriana. "How far would you go if you thought  a patient would refuse treatment for a mortal ailment and was not capable of understanding the consequences of the refusal?" Iriana grimaced and Cathi nodded. "I am not saying that is what is happening. But they think it is."

 

"Oh dear." Iriana shook her head. "Me and Mishka? We would be useful as hostages."

 

"Healer, you know Jesse." Cathi said with a snort. "Is there anything more guaranteed to make her mad?" Iriana had to smile as Jesse looked smug "I don't want her mad at me, and I bet they don't either. From what I understand, they want Jesse to join them. Willingly." Jesse looked a bit sick and Cathi nodded. "Over my dead body, Jesse."

 

"Why cannot we just alert security? Other Tenno?" Iriana asked carefully.

 

"I am not sure why they pointed you at  this colony, Healer. It makes no sense to me." Cathi admitted. "The colony is under martial law. Any deviation from the norm will be noticed, dealt with. If it cannot be handled by them, a response team of Tenno will come. Fast."

 

"Maybe they want us to feel safe before they strike?" Mishka asked, her face worried.

 

"Honestly?" Cathi said after a moment. "I think they really wanted Jesse relaxed. She has been so stressed, so upset, so hurt..." She shook her head." The thing is, they want to be benevolent. They want to act kindly. They are not terrorists, Mishka. Fanatics, yes. Terrorists, no."

 

"Thin line there." Mishka said flatly and Cathi nodded. "So why not call for help?"

 

"Healer. Is Jesse getting any better?" Cathi asked quietly. Iriana stared at Cathi and then bowed her head. "That is your answer, Mishka. If Jesse calls for help, if Tenno descend in droves -which they will if she calls- the renegades will vanish. How long can you keep from using your code, Jesse?"

 

"Code?" Mishka asked, confused.

 

"My code reacted to what they did to me before." Jesse admitted. "I hurt myself."

 

"Jesse, stop." Cathi said firmly as the others looked worried. "They stole you. They took your mind and dragged it away from your body. Of course you were going to try to find a way out! Of course you were. This is on them, not you." Jesse frowned but nodded. "The point is, Mishka, Jesse is okay for now. But eventually, she will have to code. She cannot hold it in forever. And when that happens, if she is not ready for it... If the psychic wound in her subconscious mind is not healed..." Cathi broke off and swallowed.

 

"Jesse?" Mishka begged fearfully, her eyes wide and glistening. Jesse gave her hand another squeeze.

 

"The only piece of good news here..." Jesse said quietly. "...is that the ones who want me also want to help me. They can, right?" She asked Cathi who nodded.

 

"They can." Cathi said flatly. "But it will involve... more than them. That is all I can say, Healer." She said as Iriana started to question her further. "They will try to help, but in the end, they are renegades. They cannot be trusted. They have another agenda. A bad one that they need Jesse's help with. Getting Jesse help is one thing and I will work even with them to do so. But that other agenda cannot come to fruition, or we haven't seen bad yet."

 

"So what do we do?" Iriana asked.

 

"You, Mishka and Kori have the hardest job." Cathi replied evenly. "You have to act like nothing is wrong. Finish your vacations and go back to work." A chorus of 'like hell!', 'No way!' and an angry growl answered her. She didn't move and eventually, those denials petered out and as all three looked at Jesse and Draco.

 

"You cannot heal it, Iriana." Jesse said calmly. "Mishka, you are still vulnerable."

 

"Less than I was." Mishka patted an odd looking thing that clung to her belt and Jesse shook her head.

 

"Mishka, don't." Jesse warned the other young female Tenno. "You have duties of your own now. You needed to relax, recover and so you shall. You and your mother. Kori..." The armored Kubrow poked her head up and Jesse gave it a pat.

 

If there is battle on a mental plane... Cathi was still getting used to a Kubrow that talked, even if she did so oddly. Then you may need me. I am trained for such. Jesse looked at Cathi who shook her head.

 

"That is what Siri thought, Kori." The former Royal Guardswoman said with a frown. "She was a top flight mental specialist and she was subverted." The others went still and Cathi continued. "It wasn't swift, but it was remorseless. With her... subverted, you will be the most in danger I believe. They do not know about you. Not really. If they do... they will add you to their list of 'potential recruits'."

 

How many on this list? Kori demanded.

 

"Lots." Cathi replied. "They will start small and work their way up. They started with one Guardswoman and then they took another. Each time they took one, it added to their power. Nikis tore their plans apart, but they will likely follow the same pattern. It worked."

 

"Why did Nikis-?" Iriana started to ask and froze as Cathi turned a sorrowful face her way. "Cathi?"

 

"Please don't ask me that." Cathi begged. "Please? You do not want to know."

 

Iriana swallowed hard and nodded. Then again, she knew Nikis well. She was one of the few people he called 'friend' unreservedly. One of the few who could -and would- talk back to the ancient hard bitten gunfighter to his face and he loved her for it.

 

"For right now however." Jesse broke the silence that fell. "They do want to help me. Right Cathi?"

 

"They do." Cathi agreed.

 

"And...after?" Jesse asked carefully.

 

"They want you to solve a very complicated code problem." Cathi said quietly. "One that must not be solved."

 

"I see." Jesse gave herself  a shake and looked at the Healer who was shaking her head. "Healer. Please. I need you, Mishka and Kori out of the line of fire. Kori, I need you to protect them. If I...fail. If this doesn't work, then Olim and Quais will be working like madmen. Do not let them work themselves to death. You know that is possible for us." Iriana nodded.

 

"Always for others." Mishka pulled Jesse's hand, squeezing it for all she was worth. "What about you? You need to relax too!"

 

"She is right." Cathi said quietly when Jesse looked like she was going to get stubborn. "You need rest too, Jesse. I stand with you. Now and always. So... enough gloom and doom?" She smiled at Iriana who chuckled a bit ruefully.

 

"Yeah..."

 

Cathi was in motion before her brain caught up with her body. She slammed into Jesse and Mishka, throwing both out of their chairs to the deck as a shadowed form appeared nearby, a long thing outstretched in hand, aimed at Mishka. The male Tenno wore no warframe, and the long weapon in his hand looked makeshift, but no less deadly. Kori was between him and Iriana, but the target was Mishka! Cathi was too far away to stop him from firing, but she needn't have worried.

 

The attacker hadn't seen Draco. One slice and the assailant was left holding the short and stubby end of what had been a makeshift weapon. Everything stopped as Mishka screamed.

 

"NO!" All eyes turned to the Bard, but she was staring at Draco!

 

Cathi looked at Draco and paled. The weapon had been disabled by Draco's second strike. Draco's first had been a thrust that had taken the would be assassin in the side. Cathi had no doubt that the wound would be lethal. All Draco had to do was twist his wrist a little and at least two major blood vessels would be cut. Impressive skill to strike with such precision while disabling a weapon at the same time. Then again... she did know who Draco was. Sun had been clear. She hadn't -quite- believed. Now she did.

 

"Mom!" Mishka snapped, trying to rise, Cathi held her down, shifting little so that she was covering both Jesse -who wisely did not struggle- and Mishka who had no leverage but was trying hard to get up. "Draco! No!"

 

"Spawn of... evil..." The male Tenno's voice was soft and incredulous as he stared down at the long Nikana blade impaling him. "Seducer! Corrupter!"

 

"Draco, don't kill him!" Mishka begged. "Please!"

 

"He would kill you." Draco replied calmly, not even breathing hard. "And your mom."

 

"You know who my dad is!" Mishka said firmly as she rolled out from under Cathi. Cathi stayed atop Jesse. She did not want Draco angry with her. "He has a right to his anger!" She knelt slowly in front of the stricken Tenno. "How are you different from Stalker?" She asked the would be assassin calmly. "I am Tenno. I follow the Code. My mother is my only parent that I acknowledge. But I must die. Why?"

 

"He..." The stricken male tried to pull the blade from his side but stopped as Draco coughed.

 

"You move, you die." The bodyguard's voice was calm and cool. Utterly devoid of emotion. Terrifying. "Right now the only thing keeping you from bleeding out is the Bard's wish that I not kill you. You came here with murder on your mind. Why?"

 

"Her...father... killed my mother." The male Tenno said with a growl that bubbled wetly.

 

"And killing a girl who has never taken a life will bring your mother back?" Jesse demanded. "How is that honorable?"

 

"Jesse... no." Mishka's voice was odd. Calm. Resigned even. "Draco, can you release him without killing him?" The shrouded bodyguard looked at her and she sighed. "Fighting a fanatic just makes them more fanatic. Killing him solves nothing."

 

"If you let him go, he will come after you again." Draco wasn't arguing, simply stating fact. "Security is on its way."

 

"Draco, I am my mother's child." Mishka's tone was odd. Calm, firm, clear, sad, all of these. More. Cathi did not dare to move as she slowly reached out to the bodyguard. "I have no father. If I start slaying Tenno or letting them die... No." She shook her head. "I will not BECOME him."

 

This last came out with dreadful force. Iriana stared at her daughter and then slowly nodded, tears in her eyes. Draco looked from mother to daughter. Then he scrutinized the pale Tenno he had skewered.

 

"Do you understand what she is doing, boy?" Draco asked the would be murderer. "She is better than you. Better than me."

 

"Draco." Mishka said softly. "Let him go."

 

The bodyguard drew his sword from the impaled Tenno with a sudden yank. The would be assassin fell, only to be caught by Mishka. Draco did not sheathe his swords as Mishka slowly laid the gasping Tenno out straight. No one else dared to breathe as Mishka started to sing.

 

'Friends all tried to warn me but I held my head up high
All the time to warn me but I only passed them by
They all tried to tell me but I guess I didn't care
I turned my back and left them standing there

All the burning bridges that are falling after me
All the lonely feelings and the burning memories
Everyone I left behind each time I closed the door
Burning bridges lost forevermore'

 

 

The Mike Curb Congregation Burning Bridges

 

Cathi was hardly the only person who was staring as Mishka finished the odd, somewhat sad tune. She was not the only one to gasp as Mishka drew a small knife from her belt and placed it in the fallen Tenno's hand. Then she bared her neck, well within reach. Draco jerked, but froze as a gesture from Jesse.

 

"I have no father." Mishka said softly. "If my brother need my life, then he may have it."

 

"I..." The fallen Tenno stammered. "This is a trick! A lie! You lie!"

 

"No." Mishka said sadly. "Kill me if you must. Leave my mother alone. She is as much a victim of his evil as you are. He tricked her. He tricked everyone. You think you know hate? You do not. The only sentient being I will kill is him." Calm certainty sang in her tone.

 

Cathi looked at Jesse and both of them looked at Iriana who looked worried. The stricken Tenno stared a Mishka, obviously stunned beyond words.

 

"Mishka." Draco finally broke the stillness. "Step back."

 

"Don't kill him." Mishka begged as she rose and stepped away. Draco kicked the knife out of the fallen Tenno's hand. He didn't seem to notice, just stared at Mishka as if he hadn't a clue what had just happened.

 

Then security bustled in and it was all chaos. Iriana and Kori moved to flank Mishka as the heavily armed response team took charge. Draco's swords had vanished. But Cathi saw Mishka's face. She saw the single tear that fell.

 

***

 

"Is... Mishka... okay?" Cathi asked when the security forces had finally finished their work and left with the would be assassin. Mishka, Iriana and Kori had gone already, hopefully to relax themselves after such stress. Hopefully, they would be safe from whatever was coming.

 

"I don't know." Jesse admitted. "She has had some hard knocks. She is a good kid, tough, kind. But her dad..." She shook her head. "Her dad has hurt and killed a bunch of people. The survivors see her as a target. Iriana too, but she can defend herself. Mishka is more vulnerable."

 

"I am sorry." Cathi said with feeling. "She is a nice person."

 

"That she is." Jesse agreed. "But she and Iriana can handle it. So... hot tub?"

 

"Yeah." Cathi smiled as Jesse led the way into a large room that had a steaming tub against one wall. "And if we fall asleep?"

 

"Draco will ward our bodies." Jesse said firmly and the bodyguard did not move from where he stood. "If they try to take me physically, it will hurt."

 

"They may use the argument that they need to move you." Cathi said quietly as Jesse tried the water and nodded. "Asleep in water is not safe."

 

"He will stay with our bodies." This was a command and Draco snarled. "Draco. You cannot help me. Cathi can."

 

"He cannot trust me, Jesse." Cathi retorted as she dipped a toe in the water and hissed. It felt scalding. "Are you sure this is the right temperature?"

 

"No." Jesse replied without heat. "But Iriana said it has to be hot. Hence the name 'hot tub', huh?"

 

"There is hot and then there is hot." Cathi said sourly as she eased her way in. "Me first." She exhaled in shock as she found a seat underneath her. Her body adapted quickly and it was suddenly... heavenly. She moaned in pleasure as Jesse sat herself. The young Cyberlancer gave a matching moan of pleasure.

 

Cathi had a bare moment to see golden energy flash around her and Jesse. Then her world went black.

 

Edited by Kalenath
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Kalenath

Kalenath

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So the fact that Mishka is Stalker's kid went public? That's bad...

Also i deeply despise people who think kids are exactly the same as their parents.

 

Yeah, Mishka will probably wind up staying with the Caretakers full time for a bit until the hubbub dies somewhat. THEY will protect her. (and they are NOT happy with her about what she just did)

 

As for the assassin? He didn't care if she was the same. He just wanted to hurt Stalker. And it would. But then Stalker would go on doing what he does.

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Kalenath

Kalenath

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any who would harm Mishka, will most likely be found torn apart in an alley or something.

He may be an Kinslayer, but he still loves her. even if she doesnt love her back

 

The thing is... she knows that he loves her. But she cannot forgive him for all the horrible things he has done. And what he did FOR her...

 

No, she cannot forgive. Which is why he stays FAR way from her. He knows what killing one of his copies would do to her.

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The thing is... she knows that he loves her. But she cannot forgive him for all the horrible things he has done. And what he did FOR her...

 

No, she cannot forgive. Which is why he stays FAR way from her. He knows what killing one of his copies would do to her.

Hey stupid question... Was it one of stalkers copy's that did the deed with Iriana or was it the original?

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Kalenath

Kalenath

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Hey stupid question... Was it one of stalkers copy's that did the deed with Iriana or was it the original?

 

Ah...

 

No comment.

 

I do NOT want him or Iriana mad at ME.

 

____________________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

Breaking Points

 

She never fully lost consciousness. It was dark and then it was light. Cathi was warm. She felt good. She was sitting in something that was wet and warm. Her body was floating, but her mind... it wasn't working right.

 

She felt hands on her. She was pulled from the warm and she was cold. It was wrong even when something soft was drying her gently.

 

"Oh my god!" The voice... did she know the voice? It was familiar. Male. Scared. "What did he do to her? Cathi? Cathi, can you hear me?" A hand was shaking her now, urgently. It was too much effort to reply and she felt movement. "Gem!" The voice begged. Another voice answered. Neither male nor female.

 

"We need to focus on... oh my god." The new voice was just as scared. "Siri, Cathi needs you! Give Jesse something to help her sleep."

 

Jesse.

 

That name percolated through Cathi's brain. It felt... right. Or not. It wasn't clear. Nothing was. Everything was gray shades of gold.

 

"Gem, Jesse is worse." Another voice. Female. Sad. Cathi didn't like that voice sad. "I don't think... I don't know what I am doing here, Gem." She gasped and a hand touched Cathi's head. "Oh no... No..."

 

"He broke the connection." The male was crying. "We can't touch her now! He broke it! I hate him! He broke her!"

 

"I can fix this but it will take time. A lot of time." The one who was apparently named Siri said slowly. "Jesse needs help now, Gem."

 

"Damn it." The one called Gem was angry, but not with Cathi. "Okay. Set them both up, pull them both in."

 

"Gem, Cathi will be very angry." Siri said softly. "We may not be able to help her. We need to focus on healing Jesse."

 

"I... I know." Gem sounded defeated and sad. "If it comes to it, I will do it." A hand traced Cathi's cheek. "If it must be done, at least it will come from a friend and I will make it as quick and painless as I can."

 

Hands were moving Cathi again and it was wrong. She struggled weakly.

 

"Easy, Cathi." The one called Siri said as a hand was moving her hair, cold things were adhering to her scalp and other parts of her body. Uncomfortable things invaded her, her ears, her nostrils, other places. "We will bring you in, try to help you and Jesse at the same time. I think I know what he did. But... ancestors...I didn't think even he could be so cruel." Cathi was trying to get away from the cold things that kept sticking to her and the voice sighed. "Sleep now, Cathi. Stay with us, sister. We will help you."

 

"I hope..."

 

Something stung Cathi in the neck and she was falling.

 

***

 

Cathi became aware of two things. One, she was on the dreamscape again. She was wearing robes instead of a warframe but had energy restraints on her wrists and ankles. Two? She was not alone.

 

"DIE, YOU *@##$!" Cathi was on her feet and rushing Gemina before the other knew she was awake. The energy restraints fell off as her own power surged to her furious call, her robe changing to a Valkyr warframe. She knew how to manipulate this place too. A skana appeared in her hand and she sliced, only to be driven back by the Equinox's Ninkondi as Gemina rose.

 

"Cathi, calm down." Gemina replied as she defended herself. "I know you are angry..."

 

"Angry? ANGRY?" Cathi screamed louder as she pressed her attack. "YOU MAY BE WILLING TO BE A SLAVE FOR ETERNITY! I AM NOT!" She connected once, twice, her skana art a match for Gemina's Ninkondi art, if just barely. Gemina did not attack, she only defended herself. "Go ahead, *@##$! Kill me! You know you want to! I am not your puppet now!"

 

"You are wrong, Cathi." Gemina protested as she backpedaled. "I do not want to kill you. You are my sister!"

 

"Am I?" Cathi demanded as she focused her mind and a Bronco Prime appeared in her hand. Gemina dodged to the side as Cathi fired. She was quick enough that none of the pellets as much as grazed her.

 

"Yes." Gemina said sadly.  "I want to help. I can help, Cathi. Let me help." Gemina froze as Cathi did.

 

"Help...?" Cathi said softly. "Just like you helped last time." Gemina evaded another blast from the hand held shotgun. "I REMEMBER NOW, YOU *@##$!"

 

"We were afraid he would do that." Gemina replied softly, as if in pain. "Make you remember. It... Cathi, we needed you. We need you still."

 

"YOU DRUGGED ME AND HAD ME VIOLATED WHILE SHE WATCHED!" Cathi screamed. "YOU WERE MY SISTER AND YOU BETRAYED ME! TO HER!"

 

"From one point of view... yes." Gemina said sadly. "I am sorry, Cathi. We needed you. You were... resistant."

 

"So now you do the same to Jesse." Cathi's tone was low and dangerous. "Over. My. Dead. Body!"

 

She discarded her skana. It vanished before it hit the ground and Gemina backpedaled again as a Glaive Prime appeared in Cathi's hands. The Bronco Prime went to her hip and she held the saw shaped blade ready.

 

"Cathi, don't be stupid!" Gemina begged. "You cannot beat me here! I do not want to hurt you!"

 

"Yeah." Cathi snapped. "What good are dead slaves?" Gemina recoiled as Cathi stalked forward, blade held ready. "Come on, you half person! What are you waiting for?" Then she dove to the side as a staff sliced through where she had been. Her instinctive block caught the Bo in between two of the blades of her Glaive and a deft twist tore it from the hands of the Oberon warframe who had appeared beside her. She gave the saw in her hand a shake and the Bo fell free to vanish before it hit the ground. "Ah, that. And hello you too, Samuel. Violated any kin today?" Her tone was etched with acid.

 

"I didn't have a choice, Cathi." Samuel said sadly. "You know that. You were not the only one violated that day." A pair of Kronen appeared in his hands and he assumed a ready stance. "Don't make us do this, Cathi."

 

"Go play with your partners!" Cathi snapped, her focus on both at once. "If you touch me again, kin or no, I will kill you. And if you touch Jesse? I will make it slow!"

 

"Cathi, stop." Siri appeared nearby, the female Tenno in robes. "Calm down." Her voice was calm, soothing. "You want to calm down now. Easy, girl... Easy."

 

"Shut up!" Cathi screamed, blowing Siri's mental energy away with her rage. "I WILL NOT LET YOU DO TO JESSE WHAT YOU DID TO ME!"

 

"Cathi, we are not- LOOK OUT!" Siri screamed as Cathi threw the Glaive, but not at her. At Samuel! The Oberon dodged and the Equinox did the same as Cathi fired a series of shots from her hand cannon. "Cathi stop!" Siri begged. "We want to help! We need your help!"

 

"Go **** yourselves." Was Cathi triumphant?

 

All of the others jerked but then it was too late. Cathi had enough power that she had siphoned clandestinely. The world turned red as she activated her most powerful ability. The Valkyr power Hysteria was frankly terrifying for anyone facing it. Berserk didn't begin to cover it. Faster speed, incredible durability, and every hit drew vitality from the target to sustain the user. It had its downsides of course, but here? In a dreamscape? Ouch. Her Warcry split the air and she as in motion.

 

"BACK!" Gemina screamed as Cathi threw a Ripline and then flew at her, blood red claws extended to rend and tear. Siri threw mental energy, her robes fading into her warframe, but none of the power affected the furious Valkyr in the slightest. Samuel as well threw power, and the radiation bolts might as well have been spitballs.

 

Cathi slammed into the Equinox warframe, her claws flashing. Gemina screamed in pain and then she was fighting for her life as Cathi pressed her attack. Parts of the Equinox went flying. Her Ninkondi were essentially useless against a ball of sheer rage. She hit Cathi over and over and all it did was make the Valkyr angrier.

 

Then a roar sounded and Cathi was tossed away from the fallen Equinox. She rolled to her feet and looked at where it came from. The Excalibur held a Boltor Prime and was firing it full auto. His aim was perfect, but... None of the bolts as much as scratched Cathi's rage enhanced armor. The bolts hammered Cathi, but she stood there under the onslaught and slowly, ever so slowly raised a hand with her index finger held up, red claws all around it. She wagged her finger from side to side slowly, an age old chiding gesture as she took a step towards the Excalibur through the golden hail. Then another. Then his weapon stopped firing.

 

"What a time to run out of ammunition." Cathi's voice was...wrong. Calm. Cold. Merciless. "Eh, Fred?"

 

"Ah..." Fred swallowed hard as Cathi looked at him. He started reloading. "Cathi... don't..."

 

"You all hurt me." Cathi said with a snarl that was far more animal than sentient being. "You all lied to me. You all violated me. Gave me to her! Laughed while she hurt me! Made me a monster!"

 

"Cathi!" Gemina begged from where she lay. "She freed you!"

 

"From free will!" Cathi screamed. "Show yourself, you lousy Orokin! I know you are here! Show yourself!"

 

Another form appeared out of nowhere. This one was a luminous form made of golden energy. She wore Orokin style robes and her face was sad.

 

"What is the point of this, Cathi?" The voice was majestic. Calm, serene. So sad. "You know none of this is what I wanted. I only want the best for my children." A wave of her hand and the four warframes stood behind her, pristine. Gemina's wounds vanished as if they had never been.

 

"Yeah." Cathi said sourly as she relaxed. Her weapons and warframe would do her no good here and she knew it. "Just like you wanted the best for Eliza. The best for you, not her." This last was cold and hard. "If your evil had only been focused on me? I could maybe have handled that. But no. You had to pollute everyone and everything around you. It is what you do. I will not let you do the same to Jesse!"

 

"Good and evil are such limited concepts, Cathi. You just do not understand now. We will talk. I can help you understand again." The energy form said quietly. "Come. We will help you. Lie down. I will make it better." Cathi made a rude gesture at the energy form and the luminous woman sighed. "Cathi, don't be difficult."

 

"Go **** yourself." Cathi replied evenly. "It took you a month to break me before. How long do you have until Jesse self destructs?"

 

"I know you now, Cathi." The energy form sounded gentle. Kind even. "It won't take that long."

 

"No?" Cathi was smiling as she pointed her Bronco Prime at her own head and pulled the trigger.

 

***

 

"You stupid little..." Siri was cursing nonstop as Cathi came back to consciousness, aware of a splitting headache.

 

Cathi tried to open her eyes. They wouldn't. She tried to speak. She couldn't. She was lying in something, surrounded by fluid of some kind. It felt warm, but she was wet. She felt things attached to her. In her. Things were on her scalp, tingling, burning. It felt...wrong.

 

"Siri!" Gemina's voice was scared. "What the hell?"

 

"She caused a feedback loop!" Siri snapped. "Idiot child! That could have fried every synapse in her brain!"

 

"Probably her intention." Gemina sounded tired. "Any change?"

 

"No." Siri was tired too. "Jesse just lies there, Gem. She won't acknowledge me or anyone. She just lies there. She... I can't push too hard. If I hurt her, then we are screwed."

 

"Okay, Siri." Gemina sounded defeated. "Time for an alternative form of persuasion. Get them ready."

 

"Gem, no..." Siri sounded horrified now. "If we do that... Jesse won't forgive us. Cathi won't forgive us."

 

"We can alter their memories, after." Gemina sounded nearly in tears. "I didn't want to do this, Cathi. I know you can hear me. Us. I didn't want to do this. Damn it girl..." Was she crying now?

 

It took far more effort than it should have, but Cathi managed to get the fingers of her left hand to move in a rude gesture.

 

"Defiant to the end." Siri was crying too. "I am sorry, Cathi."

 

That was the only warning. Energy tore into Cathi and she could do nothing but scream as her mind was ripped from her body.

 

***

 

 

"Hello." A voice that Cathi did not know had her jerking. She sat up and stared around wildly. Was she in the dreamscape? She stared down at herself and froze. Her body was composed of golden energy.

 

"No." Cathi breathed, horrified. "She didn't... No! Jesse!" She screamed as she jumped to her feet.

 

"It won't help." The voice was male, coming from nearby. Cathi spun to see... She stared at the form who sat under the tree nearby. He too was composed of golden energy. And... She knew him. "She is nothing if not thorough in her plans. Like a spider in her web."

 

"Emperor..." Cathi knelt slowly. "I am sorry. I failed."

 

"So did I."The last vestiges of the last Emperor of Orokin nodded to the former guardswoman. "Do I know you? It has been...a long time. She takes a little more each time to keep herself together. Soon, I will fade completely. Be gone. It cannot be soon enough."

 

"My name was Catherine Gata. I was..." Cathi broke off as the Emperor chuckled.

 

"Ah, yes. I remember. Little girl, big sword." He grinned and Cathi found herself sharing it. "She got you?" Cathi nodded. "Ah, the memories are fading but I remember. She took a dozen of the Guard. I don't know what I ever saw in her, but Eliza sure did me proud. Running away like she did may have egged my face, but it spiked her plans good."

 

"Eliza rules now." Cathi said softly The Emperor stiffened and Cathi smiled. "She does well."

 

"I... Thank you, Guardswoman." The Emperor said quietly. "That is...good. She will know what to do and she never shied away from hard choices."

 

"Where are we?" Cathi asked. "This isn't...the database, is it?" This was nothing like she had been told the energy forms of fallen Tenno and Orokin went.

 

"No." The Emperor shrugged. "This is her prison for her 'special' projects. I expected to go to the database, have eternity to know how badly I had screwed up. Instead, she pulled me here." He shook his head. "And now you? Did you displease her?"

 

"I..." Cathi shook her head. "Begging your pardon Emperor, but..."

 

"Oh. Yeah." The Emperor made a face. "I-" uh..." He jerked upright as energy coalesced around him. Cathi ran to his side and tried to free him, but the energy tossed her back. "No! Guardswoman! Back!"

 

"What?" Cathi begged. "No!"

 

"Submit, Cathi and I will spare him." The voice of the evil woman who had hurt her so badly came from nowhere. The Emperor shouted.

 

"Guardswoman, this is an order! Do nothing she says!" He screamed as energy flared over his form.

 

"It doesn't need to be like this, Cathi." The voice was sad again. "Submit again. You enjoyed it after you did." Cathi did not take her eyes from the screaming Emperor. "Come on, girl. Just let go. You know you want to." Pleasure and arousal wafted through her. She ignored them both.

 

"No." The Emperor grated out. "You... are Catherine... Gata! Champion of Orokin! You do not serve her!" Cathi slowly knelt, her eyes meeting the Emperor's. Her sorrow matching his. "Remember me! Tell Eliza I love her!"

 

"I will." She watched as his form was slowly torn apart. His screams lasted far longer than they should have, but then...they faded with the last bits of his energy. "I will. You always were evil. But that...? Pity Nikis did not destroy you." Cathis screamed as energy flared around her now.

 

"Do not speak that name." The voice of the one who wanted to own her again was sharp.

 

"Why?" Cathi asked when she had the breath. "Scared of Nikis? You should be!" Agony ripped through her again. "Nikis... scares.... everybody!"

 

"I will have my revenge." The voice of her tormenter was fierce now. "But for now? I have a better way to gain your compliance. Jesse. Attend us."

 

Another energy form appeared beside Cathi. A Trinity Prime warframe. Cathi stared and then gasped as the faceplate opened. Jesse was crying.

 

"Jesse... No." Cathi begged. "No..."

 

"She is still resisting. Girl is as stubborn as you are." The other said with what had to be glee. "Two problems can often cancel each other out."

 

"Don't you dare!" Cathi snapped. "Don't you dare! She is a Cyberlancer! Don't you dare!"

 

"You do not command me, girl." The other said with a snort. "Jesse. Take off your warframe."

 

"This... isn't a dream, Cathi." Jesse managed to grate out as her warframe split and she stepped out of it. Her bodysuit vanished.

 

"No." Cathi bowed her head. "Jesse. Do you trust me?"

 

"Yes." Jesse said softly.

 

"Take my hand." Cathi said softly as the watcher chortled in glee. Jesse did. "This will hurt."

 

"She made me watch my parents tortured to death. Over and over." Jesse said softly. "Not real, but...still..."

 

"She is an evil witch." Cathi agreed. "But she doesn't know everything."

 

"Jesse, hold Cathi down so that one of my males can take her." The voice spoke. Jesse jerked and staggered. Cathi held her hand. "Don't make me do the same to you."

 

Instead of answering, Cathi opened herself up to Jesse. Every facet of her being. Every corner of herself. Every single iota of her power, her drive, her will to win. It all flowed into Jesse who stared at the guardswoman's energy form, stunned as it... faded.

 

"No!" Jesse screamed even as pain started to flare. It came from her head. It came from her chest. But... She spoke and it was not just her voice!

 

We deny you your prizes.

 

A female scream of rage ushered both into oblivion.

 

***

 

"Are you insane, Cathi?" Siri was screaming now. "Twice! Twice you nearly short circuited your brain! And this time, you tried to take Jesse too?" Cathi made the rude gesture again. "Damn it girl! Enough!"

 

Without sense of transition, Cathi was kneeling in the dreamscape again. But this time, she was fettered. Large shackles made of incredibly hard material bound her hand and foot in her kneeling posture. Jesse knelt beside her, restrained the same way.

 

"You refused the easy way." The luminous woman said with a growl of annoyance. "Now we do it that hard way. Siri, prepare them both for the implantation."

 

"Do I want to know?" Jesse asked Cathi conversationally.

 

"No." Cathi said softly.

 

"You don't."

 

Edited by Kalenath
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evafan002

evafan002

Posted
Posted (edited)

Jesse and Cathi may not leave anything for you to do.

And gods help any survivors when Nikis finds out..... this time there ain't no emperor or orokin politicians to stop him from finishing the job... if he can get to the surviving idiots before I do that is.....

Edited by evafan002
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Spikey844

Spikey844

Posted
Posted

And gods help any survivors when Nikis finds out..... this time there ain't no emperor or orokin politicians to stop him from finishing the job... if he can get to the surviving idiots before I do that is.....

You are forgetting Sun, Karl's Clan, the Keepers....

 

I think Nikis might almost be pissed enough to ask Hayden's help.

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Kalenath

Kalenath

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Posted (edited)

You are forgetting Sun, Karl's Clan, the Keepers....

 

I think Nikis might almost be pissed enough to ask Hayden's help.

 

Caretakers, not Keepers. But yeah. They are NOT happy about this. They LIKE Jesse.

 

That's a VERY good point......

 

I am more afraid of what Mag and the other female Tenno shades might do.

 

There is a very old saying:

 

'Do NOT let them give you to the women. Save your last bullet for yourself.'

 

Mag is the worst by far. She is not the ONLY vicious one.

 

Seashells were used before spoons...

Edited by Kalenath
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evafan002

evafan002

Posted
Posted (edited)

Caretakers, not Keepers. But yeah. They are NOT happy about this. They LIKE Jesse.

 

 

I am more afraid of what Mag and the other female Tenno shades might do.

 

There is a very old saying:

 

'Do NOT let them give you to the women. Save your last bullet for yourself.'

 

Mag is the worst by far. She is not the ONLY vicious one.

 

Seashells were used before spoons...

EEEEEEPPP THAT DOESN"T GO THERE!!! that sound like something these poor fools might be thinking once mag and the others get hold of these guys?

Edited by evafan002
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