Ashes of Pride

"How is that?" Alicia asked as she finalized the connections. "Better?"

"I am not sure 'better' is going to be in the cards any time soon, Alicia." Jesse shrugged a little where she lay. But she nodded, it was more comfortable. "We need the scans. I have time. But..." She trailed off as Alicia looked at her.

"But?" The female Tenno medic prompted the young Cyberlancer.

"I don't know." Jesse admitted. "I am feeling weird. Not bad." She hurried to say as Alicia's face turned professionally blank. "Just weird."The other medic in the room also turned, looking worried. "I am okay! I am okay!" Jesse said sharply. "I just...feel off."

"Off how?" Mei asked softly, her eyes going to Alicia who nodded and moved to a set of scanners. "We have to be sure you are okay, Jesse. After everything."

Jesse nodded soberly. Mei was still not comfortable here. A few alterations to her face and she was not freaking people out as badly as she had at first. Her skill with medical equipment and her downright focused need to help others were both solid reasons for Karl to invite her to the clan. But it made for some very tense moments. Karen and Miguel both refused to have anything to do with her. If she was on duty, they refused to even enter Medical. If she entered a room when they were there, they never spoke to her. She did not press. She would not.

Cora -the Tenno who Mei had been- had not personally been involved in what had happened to Karen or Miguel. She had been gone before Nicholas had tried to steal the nuclear weapons that Miguel's Marines had died to the last man to keep him from. She had not been involved in what had been done to Karen. She had been gone before the other renegades had brought Karen back with them. But that did not change the fact that she had been a member of Nicholas' clan. A founding member. She had tried to help, tried to fix things. But they had been beyond fixing.

Cora had fled when Karl had called for the clan to surrender. She had gone to Karl who had taken her to the Elders. Jesse didn't know all of the particulars, just that it hadn't ended well when Nicholas' renegades had found her. From what little she knew, she was glad she knew only a little.

The insanity that Jesse had gone through had been bad. From what little she knew about Mei? The older female Tenno's trials had been far, far worse. Even Raven, as badly traumatized as she had been, had been dismayed. At least Raven was finally getting some sleep. The Elder had pushed herself way too far in tending Jesse during her infirmity.

"It's not any of the urges that everyone is so worried I will have." Jesse said after a moment's thought. "It is not physical. Nothing is off in my body that I can detect." Both female medics nodded but the other medic in the room spoke up.

"Can you define the anomaly?" Jesse turned her head to look at the speaker.

A human torso stood up from a tracked assembly that served as his locomotion. She might have been creeped out by the cyborg form. If she couldn't feel the worry that it exuded. Worry for her. Jimmy was... better than he had been. Mei's reaction on seeing him had been heartbreaking. The newest medic for Karl's clan had essentially demanded to help the man since she had saved his life only to have him enslaved by Nicholas like so many others. The renegades had rebuilt Jimmy as a medical robot. A slave in all but name. Jimmy was odd, but he was still partly human and he was slowly relearning what it was to be human.

"I am not sure." Jesse said, thinking hard. "There seems to be no physical component. If I was feeling the need to procreate, there would be some kind of physical component, no?"

"Ah, Jesse..." Alicia was obviously fighting to keep a smile off her face. "I don't know if it is who you were, or what you are, but that sounded so wrong coming from someone who looks so young." Jesse had to smile at the laughter in the medic's voice. But then Alicia sobered. "We are trying not to be overprotective. It wouldn't help."

"I know." Jesse said with a sad smile. "I guess we should start the scan cycle? See if anything can be detected."

"It is going to hurt, Jesse." Alicia said quietly as she checked the fit of the heavy garment that Jesse wore. Said garment was needed to keep the energy from damaging Jesse's body.

The scanner that they were using was an ancient Orokin design. It was incredibly accurate, able to scan down to the genetic level. The downsides were that it used a great deal of power, was difficult to maintain -hence why the clan had let it languish when Cora had been killed- and last but not least, the energy it used caused intensely painful feedback in any life form with a functioning nervous system. With Mei's help, the clan had refurbished it. But Jesse was the first to try it. She had volunteered. She had several reasons.

They needed her medical records as detailed as possible, and despite several people pressing her to, she refused to go to where there was more advanced technology. She was needed here. She might not be combat personnel, but she had already managed a significant improvement the clan's one-use Cipher Decoders. To the point that no Grineer or Corpus system could hope to keep them out if the Tenno in question managed direct access. Regular Tenno Cipher Decoders -or Ciphers for short- were good. Jesse's were so good that all it took was one to reset the entire alarm system for an entire ship or base. Olim was impressed and he was hard to impress.

It had been a challenge and she had thrown herself into the challenge wholeheartedly. Part of that was to keep from worrying about her mom. Oracle Janet was recovering. But the damage, both from her previous injuries and from more recent harm, had been extreme. Jesse did not want to think about how close she had come to losing her mom. So, she needed distractions.

Another reason for the scans was that Jesse was different. Her body had been altered in the womb in which it had been grown. Genetic modification was not an exact science even for Tenno at times. The medical expertise that had been focused on Jesse had been unreal, but even then, there were limits.

All that said? She was not looking forward to it.

"I know it will hurt, Alicia." Jesse lay back on the scan surface. It was surprisingly comfortable. "And I will not try to keep from screaming." Alicia nodded as she checked the readouts again. The medic had been downright blunt about that. Trying to keep from screaming would cause her to hurt herself. The scans did not actually do damage, but the reactions to said scans had been known to. "But it needs to be done. We need the scans. And we need the machine tested on someone who is not a Warrior. I will not send out code while it is in operation."

"It shouldn't have any effect." Mei said, a little worried. "But better to be sure."

"Right." Jesse sighed and looked to the final person in the room. "Draco."

"I do not like this." Her bodyguard said with a sigh. "Your arguments were cogent, but I do not like it."

"Well, I do not like it either." Jesse said as she lay back and let Alicia activate the restraints. Those were more for her protection than to keep her in place. Sending energy along a being's nervous system was never safe. It had unpredictable effects at times. "But it needs to be done and I can do it. So please?" She looked at him. Her bodyguard sighed and nodded. "Thank you." Jesse said quietly.

"I am not leaving the room." Draco said in a no nonsense tone and Jesse nodded.

She still had no idea what warframe he wore. She had no idea how he had managed to fight the Lotus to a standstill and beat her, when the other had been half holographic. She could tell he was armed, but not with what. Sometimes it drove her absolutely crazy with curiosity. Sometimes -like now- she was just glad to have him close at hand. He made her feel safe.

"Wouldn't ask you to." Jesse said with a smile that faded as Mei held out a mouth guard. Jesse nodded again and opened wide. Mei slid it in carefully and Jesse clamped down. The older female Tenno frowned slightly.

"Not too tight, Jesse." Mei cautioned and Jesse grunted but relaxed as best she could. "Good girl." Mei smiled and stepped back.

Jesse closed her eyes and waited. She did not have to wait long.

"Powering up." Alicia said quietly. "Remember. Don't fight it. You are not Warrior trained, you won't be able to." Jesse grunted an acknowledgement and focused on relaxing her body as Trinity had taught her. It was hard. She knew what was...

She jerked as power flared around her. She closed her eyes, waiting for the pain. But... it never came. She jerked again and Alicia spoke sharply.

"Don't fight it, Jesse!" The healer said with a half snarl. "It will hurt you. Ride it. Let it flow around and through you." Jesse grunted in confusion and Alicia stared at her.

Doesn't hurt. Jesse said across the odd mental wavelength that all Tenno shared. Shouldn't it hurt?

"Ah... Mei?" Alicia turned to the other female medic who was staring at Jesse in shock. "Power readings are consistent. Is it scanning?"

"It is scanning..." Mei said weakly, staring at her own controls. "Scan is processing. Maybe... your code...?" She asked Jesse who shook her head a little.

No code. Jesse said, confused. No nothing.

"Okay." Mei swallowed hard. "This is odd. We need to be very careful, but we cannot stop the scan. Nineteen minutes, twelve seconds now. If it starts to hurt, let us know."

Oh you will know. Jesse promised. I haven't had the practice of ignoring pain that you Warriors get.

"You have your own strengths, Jesse." Alicia reassured her. "We complement each other's strengths and buffer each other's weaknesses. That is what a team is supposed to do."

I know. Jesse smiled around the mouth guard. And I do appreciate it. But I know I am going to get poked and prodded a lot more.

"Oh yes." Mei and Alicia chorused. Jesse grimaced, but relaxed.

Joy But she was smiling as she lay back.

A long ways away

The room was dark. It was cold. Neither of the occupants noticed. For a long time, there was silence. Then it was broken.

"I don't know if I can do this anymore." The voice was soft, sad. He sounded tired.

"You are the only one who can do some of it." The other voice was male. Older, harder but a hint of compassion underlay it as well. "Do you need a break? The others would be willing to assist, you know that. Give you time for a vacation."

"I have my duty." The first voice said firmly. "I still believe in it. But I do not like lying to people. I never did."

"No, you never did." The second voice sighed. "That was why we trusted you with the burden. You never wanted it. You chose it. And you were always so scrupulously honest." He chuckled. "I despaired of you so many times, my friend."

"You got me in a lot of trouble." The first one laughed sourly. "Then again, I returned the favor."

"That you did." The other chuckled. "Serious question: Do you want some help?"

"I..." The first speaker sighed deeply. "I don't know." He admitted. "I mean, I feel good. Better than I have since..." He broke off.

"Hey." The other said gently. "No one blames you for being off. No one."

The figures resolved into a Nekros warframe and an Ash warframe. The Nekros was colored pitch black. Both kneeling. The Ash... looked odd.

"I blame me, Ash." Nikis said sadly. "So many lives. So many deaths. So many lies."

"You need a break, Nikis." The Ash shook his head a little and it... was transparent. "You do not have to do it all. And what did I tell you about calling me that?" He demanded. He raised a hand. It wasn't clear if the threat was in jest or not.

"All right, all right, Conner..." Nikis said with a sigh. "Geez, you are still a jerk."

"Well, duh." The First Ash chuckled. "Takes one to know one, Nikis." Nikis chuckled at that but nodded. Then Ash sighed. "Nikis, you need a break. A vacation. A real vacation. Spend some time with Janet." Nikis just looked at him and Ash sighed. "Yes, I know your sister did something dumb. But Janet is better."

"Yeah." Nikis sounded both sad and fond. "Yeah she is. But I can't touch her anywhere except virtual, Conner."

"I know." Conner's voice held no amusement now. "Jesse is in the scan right now. Nikis, you will want to be gone for what they will find. You know it. I know it. Spend time with Janet. She knows too." Nikis nodded. "Go talk to your Caretaker friends. Just get away from the Tenno for a while."

"I know." Nikis' voice cracked and he bowed his head. "I just- I wanted to make it right."

"I know." Conner's voice held matching sadness. "But Hayden put it best. Not our fault and there are some things even Tenno cannot fight. She has to find her own way and you know Draco will not leave her side." He paused. "Wait. You didn't..." A mix of awe and worry sounded. Nikis would not meet his gaze and Conner nearly exploded. "Have you lost your freaking mind?"

"I honestly did not think about it." Nikis admitted. "He is the best bodyguard I have ever met, bar none. She needed him. And frankly? I think he needed her."

"A knight fights better with a cause." Conner spoke slowly, carefully. "But you of all people should have known how he would react to a damsel in distress." He paused as Nikis burst out laughing and then Conner chuckled as well. "Bad choice of words." He admitted.

"Jesse is anything but a damsel in distress." Nikis agreed. "She is no wilting flower. She is good with the nunchaku, despite her lack of formal training. Will says she might make a decent swordswoman in a few decades."

Not really a problem for Tenno. Even Tenno who did not wear warframes often lived for more than twice a normal human span. Of course, Tenno in warframe were functionally immortal unless killed as Nikis proved.

"Will would know. I have seen him, in training and in battle." Conner admitted. "I would put him up against anyone. Even Master Hayden."

"Hayden would eat him for breakfast." Nikis protested. "You know it as well as I do."

"That is because Hayden cheats." Conner retorted and then both froze as the sound of a throat clearing came from the side. Both turned to see a man in armor standing there. The warframe... wasn't quite one.

"If you are not cheating, you are not trying hard enough." The shade of the First Tenno said mildly as both of the others froze like deer in headlights. "And frankly? When I was corporeal? He probably could have taken me. Excalibur did a couple of times, and Will is better. According to Excalibur anyway."

"He would know." Nikis replied uneasily. The First Excalibur had devoted his life to the study of the skana. Sword work had been his thing for as long as he had been alive and even now, he was an invaluable resource for any Tenno seeking to understand the simple blade that all Tenno -Warrior or no- started with before going on to more exotic weapons. "Hayden... I..."

"Nikis, you are tired." Hayden said gently. "We all know it. We can hold it for a time, my friend. And yes, you better make yourself scarce before they realize what those scanners really are."

"It wasn't supposed to be like this." Nikis protested. "It wasn't. They wanted to help."

"And they have." Hayden replied. "They keep the Balance just as we do. They have never crossed the line." He paused and Nikis nodded. "Except with Serene and she doesn't remember. Can't really blame them for that. Naked Tenno throwing herself between the scans and her daughter? Oh yeah, I might have stepped in myself."

"Yeah." Nikis agreed. "By all accounts, that was spectacular."

"At least she didn't break it." Hayden agreed. "Karl's people are going to open the one they have."

"I know." Nikis said sadly. "And as soon as they do, it's components will fuse. It...promised me."

"Jesse will hear and feel it, Nikis." Hayden said sadly. Nikis nodded. "We will do what we can for her without violating the Balance."

"In all things, there must be Balance." The Nekros and the two shades said in unison.

The Dojo

Jesse sighed as she tried to relax. The bed was comfortable, but the docs had been thorough in poking and prodding her. She felt... good. Nothing hurt. She was...

"Jesse?" Draco sounded wary from where he stood by the door. "You okay?"

"I..." Jesse shook her head, looking around. "I hear someone crying." The sound or whatever cut off. "That was odd." She said slowly. "I heard someone crying and then it stopped. You didn't hear anything?" Draco shook his head. "Odd." Then she jerked. "Oh my god! No!" She screamed she swung out of her bed, running for the door despite the fact that her sole garment was a patient gown. "Stop them!"

"Jesse?" Draco blocked the door and she ran into him. He held her despite her struggles. "What?"

"It is... no..." She froze and then she sagged in his grip. "It was an AI." She sagged further and he held her up as she started to cry.

"Was."