Assymetry. An adjective that denotes the lack of equality– of a balance that the rest of your kind seems to uphold. It is fraught with dangers, all of which mostly stemming from the Orokin mindset of perfection, yet the fact that the Orokin Empire fell should be enough proof of the validity of their claims.

The Operator sighs, pressing a cool hand amidst the glass of the Liset. There had been no alerts from the Lotus as of late, and are already beginning to feel the mental strain that comes from keeping up Transference. Music from a long-gone past filters through the Liset's systems, and sometimes even Ordus hums along a tune or two, following the beat.

Yet still, the Operator keep a vigilant watch on the navigations. A couple of their brethren are still awake at this hour, choosing to spend their time in more creative pursuits like trading, but the Operator doesn't see the appeal of it– at least, they acknowledge that trading with fellow Tenno is a good outlet for interactions with others. The Liset is stifling in size, yet it is also a perfect fit for infiltration. A balance of both want and need, like the Orokin way.

Somehow, the Operator couldn't help but snort. Symmetry, indeed. How outdated.

The Operator leans away from the glass, their mental clock going off at the same time as Ordis' message rungs throughout the Liset. The ramp leading to the other parts of the landing craft opens with a soft hiss, and the Operator sees Umbra staring at the newly-finished Warframe on the Foundry bed, a hand on its– his, the Operator mentally corrects – nikana. The Operator's lips purse, blinking in Umbra's direction before a switch in their head flipped, and the two are connected by a link.

'What's wrong?' The Operator asks, and Umbra turns toward the child of the Void, its thoughts laced with annoyance.

'I knew the origin of the person whose Warframe this prototype was based on.' Umbra replied, 'A real trickster, that one, yet an ally nonetheless. To think that the ravages of time would not even spare him...A sad fate for an Executor.'

"An Executor?" The Operator asks out loud, with genuine curiosity in his tone. Even the music in the Liset stops, and Ordis chimes in with his signature tone, ready to record what was said for future perusal. "You mean to say that an Orokin Executor was stuffed into a Warframe?"

'Aye, if you're willing to word it in such a crass manner', Umbra replies, fingering the hilt of its– his – nikana, 'One could not call us friends, but we did work on the same goal: Exposing Ballas' lies.'

The fate of Umbra' s acquaintance didn't need to be mentioned, considering the fact that the Operator was staring at the completed Warframe. 'Child', Umbra says, causing the Operator to glance towards the sentient Warframe, 'Where did you find him?'"An expedition in the Derelict", the Operator replied, a frown on their face, "It was surrounded by a host of Infested Ancients...Was it trying to protect the Orokin inside?"

'I do not know', Umbra replied with a shake of his head, 'What I do know for sure however, is that he might still be conscious.' The Operator blinked at Umbra's words, and the sentient Warframe tilted its head towards the completed frame. 'I would advise you to begin communications with him immediately.'

A wave of apprehension crossed the Operator's face, along with Ordis' frantic ways to dissuade them of going through with the idea. The Cephalon was therefore surprised when the Operator reached out to the newly-christened Warframe, their last stimuli being of Umbra's approving nod and Ordis' frantic screams.

--

The Operator opened their eyes, a glint of steel shining in the expansive space around them while a young man in their prime held a nikana to their throat. "Who are you, and who sent you here?"

Despite the potentially life-threatening situation, the Operator could only sigh. Was this going to be a recurring pattern in the near future?