Fire was all he could feel, ash was all he could taste, foreign tropical air was all he could smell.
"...okay..."
The blurry vision of shadowy trees to be given a filter of orange begin to become clear.
"...wake..."
A familiar voice of a young man.
"Ro..."
Who?
"Please..."
Now a young girl's voice became noticed, along with the shaking of his body.
"Roman..."
Him?
"ROMAN PLEASE WAKE UP!" The two voices shouted in unison.
Green eyes open up as to slowly take in his surroundings. A simple apartment located in the industrial part of Vale for him and his partner after a recent spree of crimes. All he could do was lay there and let the feeling of sweat run down his face. The only other thing that he could do was look over at his clock that told him the time was a little past eleven at night. Removing the cover he slept with he stood up and made his way to thee bathroom. Flicking on the light he forced himself to look in the mirror. It wasn't the void scar that covered his face, the black mark that ran down the left side of his nose up to the eyebrow, made himself hate it. It was the man. The man, who was once a hero to a place far from here. A weapon of destruction and savior to humanity and allies. Now a thief, murderer, a criminal. Once an honorable Tenno, now just a bastard man. Tenno Roman, now just the adopted name of Roman Torchwick. Looking away and leaving the bathroom momentarily, he gathered his clothing and took a moment to start the shower. Stepping in a second later, he felt the cold water hit him. To him the water calmed him every time he had that dream, when he relived the moment when he found himself and his team stranded on this world.
His team, his brother and sisters, his family. Here because of him, because he couldn't wait for backup at the Kuva Fortress, so they came to his rescue only to get blown up in a solar rail that sent them rocketing into the deep void of space. To end up on a planet that supported life very similar to them. Two destroyed Orbiters, one nonoperational Orbiter and one unable to break orbit. Stuck in the land known as Menagerie. That was when they stuck out of luck. Neo, Hei 'Junior', and Kali and him, now lost to the Lotus. As the water ran from the shower head, he could still hear the voice of the Lotus, telling him not to chase Teshin into the fortress. But of course, he didn't listen. So focused on answers he forgot what he was dealing with.
Shaking his thoughts he turned off the water and stepped out of the shower. Dressing himself in his normal attire except down to the jacket and signature bowler's hat, he set to his mirror once more. Opening and closing the mirror he held a makeup box. For some time he set himself to cover his blackened scar. Years of practice helped him master the cover up and match the face paint to his skin tone, easily covering it up. When Roman finished, he took off to retrieve his partner in crime.
When he walked into the living room he took notice to the black leather couch. The small form of Neo was asleep across it. In her form, her scroll was clutched tightly to her. No doubt another late night of talking with Kali, or writing those...exotic books. She was the first partner in his fire team, the Titania and Mirage user met him after he 'accidentally' sent a Grineer command ship on a collision course into the sun. They quickly became best of friends when the common interest of causing mayhem for both the Grineer and Corpus was one of their interests. Roman reached over and shook Neo gently, just enough to cause her to stir. The pink and brown haired woman looked up through tried eyes that only asked why he had awoken her.
"I know the couch is comfortable, but I think the bed is a better place for you to sleep." Roman said. Neo stood up and stretched out. Popping the joints and letting out a silent yawn as she made her way to her room. Roman took a seat in now emptied leather seat and pulled out his scroll. Checking the news for any form of criminals, that wasn't him, that needed to be brought down. He may have dishonored himself, but there is always a chance for redemption. As he read he could only see events of previous days. Faunas rallies turning into riots, White Fang causing trouble, Roman Torchwick still at large, and decline in dust sales.
"My my, lovely Miss Lavender. You certainly do get around to keep everyone informed." Roman spoke to no one. He couldn't draw too much attention, not to him, no. He didn't want his warframes to be discovered. Of all the years they have lived here, if there was one thing that they were good at, was keeping their warframes from public eye. Well almost. They had one trusted man, and he was the husband of Kali.
Ghira Belladonna, the man who fell for an alien who could kill him easily. When a Grimm invasion threaten to take over the land. Their original mission was to survive and hide all traces of them, it changed to saving people. As years went by and before he knew it, Kali was pregnant. And for the first time, Roman wouldn't have regretted killing someone who wasn't infested, Corpus, or Grineer. Ghira was an honest man, trying to change the world for the better. But when a former friend made him step down and watch what he built turn in to a nightmare, he was welcomed with open arms. Sienna Khan, Ghira's childhood friend, took over the White Fang and turned them into monsters. Something they wouldn't let go. But to protect Kali and his new unofficial niece he could only watch and get exiled from their new home.
Roman once again shook the memories from his head and focused on his task. Finding criminals and shutting them down, permanently if need be. As he looked closer he finally found what he was looking for.
Search continues for eight missing teenagers.
As he began to pour over the information he began to formulate possibilities of finding them Junior was a good source, keeping his ear to the ground for him. But when Roman uprooted the criminal empire and made himself king. New comers were often hard to find, the only equal power was the White Fang. As he read there was a interesting line he read.
Possibility of human and Faunas trafficking gangs. Last know location was Industrial Vale.
"Right here in my backyard huh? Can't believe I didn't see this." he grumbled. He got up from the seat and made his way to his room. Flinging open his closet, He moved the ridiculous collection of the same style jackets out of the way and flipped open a panel. Pressing the combination into the keypad, the wall slid open. In the small space stood the metaphorical hand to his will. A golem, with a capability to manipulate and disrupt the space-time continuum. One machine that takes after a gentleman appearance. A long tail coat with a top hat. Black as the main color and white as the detail with blue energy flowing through it. Limbo, the master of the Rift.
"Let's go make something right." If one would look close enough, they would see the warframe surge with power as a reponse. A moment later Roman focused himself into it. Transference, something he learned when Teshin threw him into the Second Dream. Closing his eyes and letting himself into the warframe, he could feel the sudden influence of power crash around him. Opening his eyes a second later he could see the world, through the eyes of his warframe. Now he armed himself, leaving behind Melodic Cudgel. He grabbed his Sybaris rifle, his silenced Lex and his first ever weapon, a simple staff by the name of Bo. Walking back to the living room he grabbed his scroll. Checking it, he turned around and stopped. Only to see Neo there with her arms crossed and an eyebrow raised. Roman simply pulled up the news on his scroll and showed it to Neo. The short woman let out a huff and gave the scroll back to him.
"I'll be fine Neo." Roman said in an attempt to reassure her. She pulled out her scroll and typed
'I know that,I wish you would let me know when you would do things like this. I want to help.'
"This is just a simple scouting mission, I am going to head out and attempt to get some scroll interceptions or see if something is up." Roman said. "Besides, you're tired. I can see it. You spend so much time talking to Kali, or writing that smut. You're losing sleep."
'It is not smut, it is a new generation of stories for a forgotten genre!' She stomped angrily.
"I'm teasing you, you're an adult. But get some rest Neo. I'll be back." He finished. Before he could move his way to a nearby window he felt Neo hug him. He wrapped the warframes arms around her. They let go and Roman moved to open the window. Which then he leaped out into the night.
/*/
Alone in a large house in the Faunas lands of Menagerie, sat a cat faunas, peaceful and kneeling down in front of two golden and beautiful pair of golden claws. Three bladed weapons were the Venka Prime, a signature weapon of Valkyr Prime which stood across from her in it's white and golden glory. One would think she was sleeping, but in truth was meditating. She focused to find a sense of void in the world, not to travel back to where she came, but to protect the husband that accepts her true nature and misguided daughter. The void was weak, but there, only to be out done by the amount of Aura that surrounded the land she now called home.
Kali Belladonna, a caring mother, a friendly person, and a viscous killer if need be. When they crash landed in Menagerie, she was the only one at the time who was able to fit in due to her mutation from the Zariman Ten Zero, her feline ears. It was a mystery to the Tenno why certain ones received these mutations while other had void scars or nothing at all.
With Ghira away at a meeting with Council of Menagerie, she had her privacy. She sighed, same result, a different day. Always the same, no matter where she is, the void was weak. That was good, no fissures to allow Orokin drones through. She once again focused on the golden white warframe in front of her. Unlike the other warframes she had, this one was her commonly used one for her own reasons. Valkyr was the one that survived the damn Shadow Stalker, the one that help Roman escape the fortress, the one that Ghira discovered. While Ghira might not be able to truly understand what she had been through, he understood enough to not dig deeper than what her and the others were comfortable with. Suffice to say, he got that when Kali announced that she was carrying Ghira's child.
When the sudden rush of power came to a stand still, Kali opened her eyes to see through Valkyr. Void power came to her command through the vessel to only wait in dormant stasis. The power calling out in bottled rage to be released, a negative emotion that served for a greater good. She simply picked up the venka gauntlets, equipped them. Then set to her destination.
Chieftain of the village was known for his slightly larger than usual house. This house was built by the four tenno and Ghira, not to display his importance, but to hide their secret. Passing through the estate, she made her way to the office. The office held a simple heavy desk surrounded by bookshelves clutter with papers, books, and past trophies accumulated over the years. Simply lifting up a small panel a key pad waited for her. After putting in the correct code, two bookshelves shifted to reveal a elevator door. Stepping into the small compartment, the elevator began to drift downwards. It came to a stop, then the doors opened.
Upon entering sat the Jerry rigged dojo. A very big cavern with the foundries, modding station, weapon storage, somatic links and several makeshift laboratories for research on specific topics. Most importantly, where the others had stored the remaining warframes. These were the parts scavenged off the crashed ships. To move these items here took a while, but paid off when Ghira became the leader of Menagerie . While two remained intact, one was unable to break orbit and the other was grounded. To have these things still working was a great blessing, they were lucky. Very, very lucky. But only so much could be done from the resources that they had when they crashed.
In the middle sat four desks, each one for them to plan out their own missions and pour over any information they deemed a necessity. Her desk sat alone along with others not used in very long time, gathering dust in the gray and pearl white alien building.
Quickly deciding to store the Valkyr to her rightful place along with her others, Banshee Prime and . She walked to her desk, on it sat pictures. Kali smiled, there sat several. one of each person in their younger years. Roman, Neo, Junior, Ghira, and a baby Blake. Surrounding one larger photo of them all, with Kali holding a sleeping Blake embraced by her husband, surrounded by her fellow Tenno, her family before they painted themselves as criminals. She would always visit these when she needed a wishful reminder.
She may play the innocent mother, but she had shed enough blood of White fang and racist humans to protect her family. They would never hurt anyone in a warframe though. A hard pill she swallowed every day. She wish she could explain to her daughter who she was, but she is long gone. Blake labeled her and Ghira as cowards and ran off with Sienna Khan.
"Operator! I did not hear you! I was busy scanning for void like you requested. Please forgive- mY useleSs SeLF- me." an electronic voice broke through.
"Ordis it is fine, did you find anything?" she chuckled to him.
"Zero spikes of void energy, Operator Kali."
"No news is good news Ordis."
"Of course Operator."
She staired at the photos a little longer, mainly at the small portion of Blake. Kali wasn't mad at Blake, she wasn't disappointed either. That would be hypocritical, she did the same exact thing to the Lotus when she was younger, trying to save Roman from the Kuva Fortress. Leading to a malfunctioning solar rail, and on a beautiful planet known as Remnant. A potential lost world of Orokin void experiments if the Faunas were any indication. After all some of the children from the Zariman Ten Zero were mutated with animal parts.
Blake's mind was poisoned by Sienna's ideology of humans A]and what was right and wrong.. So Blake ran with him calling Ghira and her cowards. She didn't like that, so the mother hunted for her daughter, and by the time she confronted Sienna, Blake was long gone. Kali made sure Sienna would remember the ire he had instilled on himself, with three long scars across the face, cutting from the top right down to the bottom left. A reminder if he ever showed his face around Menagerie again. A reminder about what she would do to him because he took Blake away.
She wondered what was happening her her right now. But she would need a lead.
/*/
Hei 'Junior' Xiong didn't enjoy being his mask, none of them did, except Kali of course. When Ghira found out everything, Junior was ready to kill him, then to discover she was pregnant with his kid. It took Roman and Neo to beat him down to stop his rampage. For a man that was tanner than Junior, he sure looked a little paler that day. But as the years grew on and Neo, Roman and himself became more well known in the underground, they distance themselves from her. It was a price to pay, Junior and Ghira grew to respect one another. Kali even had him babysit Blake every now and again. That once ended when Junior tried to go for a normal life and ended up helping Roman out of a tight spot with Atlas.
Thus him becoming a black market informant, mainly for Roman. Despite the many rumors about Roman and Neo's spree. It was tame to what the people they took down did.
"You try your best Roman, but the Zenurik way isn't for you." he grumbled. He could feel his power flow through him, the reflection of a glass reveled his gray eyes shine a bright reddish orange. A few breaths later he calmed down, he hated when people would threaten his so called family. He came close to a single man genocide when the White fang threaten Kali, Ghira and Blake, only to be pacified when Ghira passed leadership to a much more aggressive leader with a hell of a more violent approach. He could feel sympathy for the Faunas though, when he was still a slave for the Orokin, there was only so much abuse they could take. He may not be disfigured or mutated by the void, but the scars he received were enough to remind him of his origin.
He was responsible for building his bar from the ground up. To hide the only capable Orbiter and what ever else they needed. He learned why the building was so cheap later, when he discovered that it was located in a shady part of town. Thus allowing more info to flow to him. Junior didn't mind it too much when it was criminal after criminal to be targeted. But it soon just became rumors about Roman and the White Fang, much of which he had history with. Personal history.
Currently the bar was running at full swing right now. With guests with their hot or handsome dates dancing widely on the floor and his men keeping an eye out for people causing trouble and skipping tabs. The night slowly dragged on with occupants leaving and coming in it was quiet peaceful until a little blonde kid came in. The kid wore a black hoodie with his hood pulled up, Junior assumed he was just another junkie or a wanna be thug.
"I'm looking for Junior." the kid said. Junior put the glass he was cleaning down. The music and people drown out as he focused in on his figure, he noticed his sword and sheath.
"Who wants to know?" Junior asked as he leaned in a little closer to him. "If you're here for drugs or service...get out."
"What! No, no it's- it is not like that I swear. I just need something else." He frantically replied back. Junior eyed him suspiciously for a moment, he was gonna humor this. "I just need some forged transcripts. I hear- I know you can do it. I can pay you." The blonde boy finished as he fumbled at his pockets. Where he pulled out a really thick wad of lien and placed it on the bar top with a satisfying thud. "Transcripts to Beacon Academy." Junior looked at him with a raised eyebrow.
"Why?" was all he could ask.
"I want to be a huntsmen. I want to help people." " was all he replied. A naieve goal in this world, but a pure one at most. Junior took notice that the kid finally looked at him back. Piercing blue eyes and a mop of blonde showed no fear or regret. Just a pure sense of determination. The same as green eyes that he saw a long time ago from a brother.
'I am going to Beacon, I'll become a huntsmen to help the people of this world.'
Junior snapped back to reality when the boy waved a hand in front of his face. Junior slapped it away and the boy flinched.
"Is that it?"
"Yes. So is this enough?"
Junior hummed and laughed a little as he picked up the wad. He unfurled it and began counting. He stopped when he hit a thousand. He could take all his cash and lessen the pain of being jumped, but the school doesn't start for another month. This kid obviously was prepared to bribe his way in. Junior decided to take nothing. He handed the wad back. The kids eyes looked defeated .
"Not enough then? I can do some work for you, I'll do anything please." The blonde kid begged.
"Stop. Look I'll help you, you remind me of a friend, same look of determination to do the right thing." The kid's eyes shined as his smile began to grow. "But, I don't care for any reason you may have, personal, metaphorical or any of that bullshit.", Junior went on. "I am owed a favor by the gy who does it, and he is rolling in cash."
"Thank you so much, I'll find a way-"
"Shut up." Junior told him. The blonde haired kid stopped talking. "What's your name?"
"Jaune Arc."
"Okay Jaune, be back here by next week. I should have it then."
"Thank you."
"And one more thing." Jaune looked at him one more time. "Get out."
Jaune scrambled from his seat and hurried for the exit. The kid was smart enough to keep his hood on and know he was not welcomed back until he was required to. While Junior maintained a stoic face on the outside, he had a very big soft spot. Kids like Jaune who were willing to go so far to become someone for a greater good wad admirable. Junior and his family were like that, when they crash landed in Menagerie. After having to steal food from those people to survive, they did all they could to make up for it. Essentially turning the settlement from a colony to a functioning city. Granted it struggled, but it was in much better condition than what they once found it.
They would've like to see it grow and help, but Sienna had different plans. Sienna threatened Kali and Ghira with his followers of extremist, essentially putting Blake in danger. Unless Ghira passed leadership to him, there would be consequences. Sienna changed the very foundation that Ghira had founded, all torn apart by a friend turn enemy. The now faunas extremist group exiled the three humans off the island, resulting in the younger tennos to find a way to survive. Thus beginning the hope that Roman would do good for the world by being a huntsmen, thus beginning his downfall. Many mistakes were made but they were in too deep, so they just embraced it.
First riding the gangs from vale that plagued the underground, then to keep them powerless as Roman held the spot of king. Nobody made a move, nobody said a word, and nobody did anything if they did value their life. There were those who did challenge them, eventually succumbed to Neo. Sadly having to take the hard pill of dog eat dog.
Junior shook the memories fro his head and carried on with his business. Soon enough the night became a blur, occupants leaving till the club became empty, counting money and handing out payments, saying goodbye to the twins, and locking up. His finish was far from over. As he closed he went for a cellar, which held the Vale dojo branch, if it were to be called that.
Hidden beneath the club, only accessible by code lies the make shift base. An enormous room that expands Just long enough to hide the only Orbiter capable of flight. Where the other warframes of Roman, Neo and his wait, collecting dust until they are used. They waited in a single line, like statues to show power. Starting with Roman's Chroma, followed by an empty space where Limbo would sit. Next in the order was Neo's. Her Mirage warframe equipped with a Lucra syandana that she ripped off a high ranking Corpus board member. Then stood her Titania, mischievous to match her own personality. Next came his only warframe, the only one to survive the crash. Rhino Prime, standing with its glory. With the Champion Sigil of the Steel Meridian over the left part of the chest plate.
For now Junior did not occupy the time reminiscing over the frames and the memories they held. For no he occupied that time working on the boy's forged transcripts. The reason why they worked so well wasn't that they held any outstanding achievements, but the fact there were actual records to be backed up. He was currently working with the Cephalon Monty of the ship. They spent several minuets creating a false back story for Jaune, about which combat school he went to, where he grew up and what his noticeable traits were. And they would be backed up, fake records planted into the school he 'came' from. That was the glory about everything being digitalized.
It was over as soon as it began, tenno technology being superior in the form of hiding and hacking. Everything the hidden tennos held had a form of tenno technology in it. Even down to their scrolls. Allowing them to do much more things than regularly possible. Junior was about to call it a niht when his scroll went off.
"This is Hei." he said
"Hei, it is me Tuskon." A male voice came from the other side.
"Hello Tuskon, are you calling about the favor I owe you?" Junior asked. He didn't have time for a casual conversation, sleep was calling
"Yeah, look I need some forged transcripts," Really again?! "It isn't for me, I have a family member that ne-wants to get into Beacon, she is a real good fighter and everything. The problem is..." Tuskon trailed off.
"Yes,spit it out Tuskon, use your words."
"She doesn't exactly have a past, she is a survivor of the wilds.," Tuskon finished. Doesn't Beacon have exams for kids like those, and placement programs or those who can't make it? But the favor is a favor.
"Alright, I need her name, it is a she right?"
"It is, she's got the equipment and everything," weird way of putting it but okay. "Her name is..." For the next second, became the longest moment ever perceived by anyone's mind "Blake Belladonna." Junior froze in his tracks. Kali's daughter? No this is all a coincidence.
"Hey, Junior you still there?" Tuskon interrupted.
"Wha- yeah yeah, just got distracted with something, what was her name again?"
"Blake Belladonna, need me to spell it?" Tuskon asked,the small hint of curiosity in his voice.
"No, no. But I do need a picture of her, for the transcripts of course." Now Junior was usually to be the one to be calm and be the longest to anger, despite the way he presents himself. But now he was sweating and his heart was racing a mile a minuet. It was no secret that when Kali contacted them about Blake's disappearance, they searched frantically for her but never found her. Only for Kali to tell them that Sienna had taken her with him to train her. And they couldn't do anything, Sienna would kill Blake if they came after him. A second later a picture message popped up on his screen. He opened it. For him the world stopped, and then it spun up. The picture held Blake, long black hair, a little black bow, she was so much bigger than when she once as when she was a baby.
"Thanks Tuskon, I'll be on it."
"Thanks, you helped out a suffering kid very much."
'No Tuskon, you helped out a suffering family very much.'
He would kiss Tuskon if he could, this- this was a long time search that was closed on them, re opened and solved. By a good man who wante- wait.
"What did he mean by family member?" Then another thought struck him "What the fuck did he mean by 'right equipment' ?"
He had to let everyone know immediately.
/*/
A dark night in an oriental house, as every light was off the wind blew against the structure oh so steadily. The shadows from the trees poured in through the windows, casting shapes of grotesque claws threatening to rip through the house like paper. Alone in a small room sat a bed with a cover in the shape of a ball. Through a small cavern made from the occupant, two golden amber eyes watched in fear, not of the shadows but of what it masked. The eyes stared ever so shaking at what it saw. In the corner masked by shadows, a creature stood. The white skin and golden jagged crown looked back, only reflecting the moonlight. A mask of darkness was over its face as it stared back. It stood menacingly, it's sharp claws at it's side posed a feral threat. The threat of absolute dismemberment if she moved. She was scared for her life, her eyes dotted over to the door and back at the thing that occupied the room with her. Her parents would protect her, wouldn't they?
Bolting from the bed to the door she quickly slid it open and slammed it closed behind her, hoping that it was enough to slow the monster down. She ran, the sound of her tiny feet pattering against the wooden floor accompanied by her heavy breathing. She ran, her cat ears folded against her head as she made her way to mommy and daddy's room. She dared not to look back, in fear of that she was not fast enough, she would be gobbled up by the white monster. The halls held no salvation as they made the perilous trek much longer than she liked.
She didn't slow, she didn't stop, she she didn't look behind. She could feel the monster's presence on her back but she still ran. Running until she made it to the room, a sanctuary of comfort. She threw open the door and climbed into the bed. Hiding underneath the cover as she was surrounded by her guardians. She felt her parents stir.
"Blake…?" her mother said, droopy eyes fluttered open as she sat up. She turned and flicked on a nearby desk lamp. She turned back at the curled up girl. Her head was buried into her knees in a fetal position. Blake felt a warm and gentle hand run through her hair.
"Blake, are you okay?" Blake only responded by looking up through watery eyes. Sniffing and holding back choking sobs. She was pulled in close to her mother. She felt her warmth as she rested her head on her lap. "What wrong dear?"
"The monster was there again...This time it was in my room." Blake said through teary eyes. Blake looked over and saw her father had been woken up through the commotion.
"Kali...Blake...what's going on?"
"Blake had another nightmare." Her mother said, she doesn't know why she put so much emphasis on the word nightmare. Her father stood up and picked Blake up. He held her close. Blake buried her face into his shoulder and started to silently cry.
"I'll go check it out." she heard her mother say. Time dragged on slowly, as Blake feared the mobster may have gotten her mother. All Blake did was close her eyes and cry.
"There there little one, daddy is here. There aren't any big bad monsters around." He heard her father's voice boom. Her tears faded away as her mother returned. Smiling ever so like she has always done around Blake. Kindly and lively with enough warmth to survive the cold winter nights. Her father put her down and let Blake lead them to back to her room. When she got there, she saw everything in it's exact place. Every toy, every book, even the covers were still there when she threw them. Not a single scratch or smudge on the floor from where the monster stood.
Her parents tucked her in and kissed her goodnight.
"Now remember Blake, dream." her mother started
"Not of what you are, but of what you want to be." Blake finished
"Very good, now rest." her mother said. She leaned in and kissed her forehead. She then turned and left the room along side her father. As her parents left and the lights went out she could hear them talking in a hushed whisper.
"Kali, this is the third time Blake has seen her. Should we be worried?"
"No, dear, it's just...Valkyr thinks Blake needs her protection. A constant watching eye."
"How do you know, is it the...you know...the magic trick?"
"No, I can feel it. Valkyr and the other. They may seem like golems to you...but they are alive."
"They won't hurt her, will they?"
"No, I am sure of it."
'Who were they talking about?'