Unknown
She ran.
It was hopeless. Cathi knew that. She didn't know the dojo. All that she knew was that Infested had somehow managed to gain a foothold here. Which made no sense. And... why were they not attacking her? Why were none of them even chasing her? Indeed, she managed a glance here and there and realized...
They were moving out of her way.
She was running through an Infested hive and they were moving out of her way! Then her day got odder. She was still running, but her feet were not touching the deck. She was still upright, but floating in mid-air. She jerked and flailed, but she could not reach the deck. All around her, the masses of Infested... moved away.
"No one will hurt you." A voice came from the side and Cathi stilled as a Mag warframe came into view, hand slightly raised. That explained her floating. "You did tell Mishka to 'hit you with it'. But she should have explained further. She is mortified."
"In.." Cathi forced her voice to work properly, ignoring the squeak that came out first. "Infested."
"Yes." The Mag said softly.
"Why are they not attacking?" Cathi managed.
"They haven't been given a reason." The Mag said as if such were perfectly normal.
"That doesn't make sense!" Cathi declared, trying to reach the floor with her toes. It was just out of her reach.
"Sense took a long jump out an airlock a long time ago." The Mag said with a small chuckle. "My name is Elenia." Cathi froze in place. One of the Caretakers. In the middle of an Infested hive? This made- She shook her head savagely and the Mag nodded. "There is an explanation. You are not infected and you will not be. We are very careful about that even though we shouldn't push it. If I let you down, will you come with me to a place that we keep decontaminated? Let me -us- explain?"
"Do I have a choice?" Cathi asked, snark on full.
"Ah, sister..." Elenia chuckled, but there was no humor in it. "There are always choices. There are always alternatives. If we have to, we will remove your memories of this encounter. Gently, but permanently. There is simply too much at stake. We would rather not."
"At least tell me why they are acting the way they are!" Cathi demanded. "I don't know much about Infested but I know this is not typical behavior."
"No, it is not typical behavior for most Infested." Elenia replied as she moved closer to where Cathi hung in midair. "But as to why they are acting that way? They are more civilized than I am." Cathi stared at the Caretaker, jaw hanging loose and Elenia nodded. "They are sentient."
"That... is not..." Cathi froze as one of the Infested, a Charger is she was not mistaken, -she had never fought them so she wasn't sure- rose from its crouch and moved to stand by Elenia who looked at it.
"No, Curtis. She is just scared. With reason." The Caretaker said calmly. "Yes, we need to explain and no, she... oh... good point. She might be able to. Thanks." The Charger nuzzled the Mag warframe and then went back and sat down. Elenia looked at Cathi who was staring. "He is a good kid."
"I...cannot believe this." Cathi said slowly.
"I know." Elenia shook her head. "I could be tricking you somehow. Using some kind of mind control." A growl came from the Charger and Elenia's tone turned sharp. "Yes, I know. I wouldn't do that, but she doesn't know that, does she?" She demanded of the Charger. It shook it's misshapen heads and Elenia turned back to face Cathi who was gawking. "Do you know the Lotus, Cathi?"
"We met." Cathi tried to keep her tone level. It was hard.
"Can you contact her or should she contact you?" Elenia asked, still calm. Cathi just looked at her and Elenia sighed again. "Come on, Sister. I don't want to hold you up there all day. Would you trust her word? If she told you we mean you no harm?" Cathi did not move and Elenia slumped a bit. "I see. No, I won't order you to obey. Kind of defeats the purpose of explaining things to you if I do such. Hold on." She looked at the ceiling.
Tenno Cathi. The Lotus' mind was gentle in Cathi's. They could have handled that better but they do mean well. They will not harm you.
This is not possible, Lotus. Cathi protested. She was not expecting the Lotus to chuckle.
And how much of what has happened since you woke from cryo has been possible, hmm? The guide of the Tenno asked gently. A mental caress soothed Cathi's frayed nerves. Be well, daughter. Then she was gone.
Cathi stared at the Mag and then around at the Infested who were watching her. She slumped a bit. "Hell of a story?"
"Oh, Sister! You have no idea." Elenia said sourly. "Sometimes I wonder if my life is a soap opera." Cathi chuckled at that and Elenia snickered. "You know... you are the first person to get that joke. None of them know what soaps were. If they did, they forgot it and no one today has time for such ancient silliness."
"Probably just as well." Cathi replied, calm returning. "All that forced drama... ick." She mock shuddered and then nodded to Elenia. "I give my word, Caretaker. I will not resist."
"Well, don't be stupid!" Elenia said snidely. "Of course you are going to resist. It is what Tenno do. But here?" She lowered her hand and Cathi felt floor under her boots. "There is no need." She held out her hand to Cathi who took it slowly. "I don't bite, Sister."
"Why do I get the feeling..." Cathi said with a grin. "That is not entirely true?" Elenia couldn't be seen to blush, but it was in her body language.
"I have no idea what you may be..." Elenia started to say primly and then broke off as an odd sound came from all around. Sort of laughter. Sort of, as if from throats that were not quite capable of human speech anymore. "You all-! Hush!" She ordered, but none of them so much as looked at her. Cathi had to grin, which was probably the idea. Elenia gave a long, deep -utterly fake- sigh. "See what we have to put up with?" She demanded. "Geez, bunch of naggy relatives have nothing on these beings."
"I think I might be getting a glimmer." Cathi fought the grin that was trying to cross her face. Albeit, not very hard. "Now... about that story?"
"Ah yes." Elenia's tone turned somber. She gave Cathi's hand a twitch. "Come. While we walk, I will start to tell you a story about a very brave Tenno who called himself Dust..."
Thirty minutes later
Cathi shook her head, stunned out of speech by Elenia's story. She had followed Elenia into another room where Mishka sat, her face ashen. It was set up for human occupation, a table and several chairs surrounding it. A smile from Cathi had the girl perking up a little, but the bard was still worried. They had sat and Elenia had told the story of the Caretakers. Of Dust and the evil that had befallen him. Of the final sacrifice the one called 'Sword of Silence' had done to save Elenia, Lisa and all of the Tenno.
"So you were with them.. . all this time." Cathi said softly. Elenia nodded. "And you all went into cryo...with them. Only to wake when the Lotus sent out her call. And the others woke with you." Elenia nodded again. "This is... I don't know what to say." She shook her head. "They are Infested."
"Yes." Elenia said softly.
"Sentient, civilized Infested. And you are trusting me with this secret?" Cathi demanded. Elenia and Mishka both nodded. "In the name of the First! Why?" Cathi demanded.
"Because Jesse is an excellent judge of character." Elenia said quietly. "And you died for her." Cathi made a face and the Mag warframe nodded. "Karl's clan is small. They just lost two of their number. They need more people, but they need people they can trust. Jesse says we can trust you."
"I don't know if I can trust myself." Cathi said in a tiny voice. "Interrogator Sun and the medics did what they could. I don't feel any of the feelings that I knew for so long. But if they come back, I don't know if I can resist them." Elenia and Mishka looked at each other and Cathi heaved a sigh. "I know that is my fears talking. I know that it is a residue of what I endured. But I am afraid." It hurt to say that, but here, now? Mishka and Elenia understood about fear.
"Hey everybody." A new voice had Cathi perking up as a young human walked into the room. She wore a garment like Mishka's and she was carrying a baby. "Hello Cathi. I am Lisa."
"You stood as surrogate for Jasmina and Dust." Cathi said softly. Lisa nodded. "That was brave. To carry an Infected child... You, Ma'am, are brave or foolish. Mostly brave I think."
"There have been times I have cursed myself for a fool. But I watched Champion die for me." Lisa said quietly. "That was brave. Me? I just do as I can. Jasmina is busy, but she said to come by." She smiled at the bundle in her arms. "This is Dustin." The little boy murmured in his sleep but did nothing else.
"A beautiful child. A hope for the future." Cathi shook her head. "As dark as this world we live in is, there are rays of light." She gave herself a shake. "I still think Karl is crazy for taking me in. But I will serve. I am Tenno. I know my duty."
"Hail Tenno." Mishka, Elenia and Lisa all chorused.
"We need to finish your tour and get you a new warframe." Mishka said with a smile that froze as both Elenia and Lisa glared at her. "What?"
"You have homework." Elenia said firmly. Mishka groaned but nodded. Lisa smiled and rocked the sleeping bundle in her arms. "I will see Cathi to the ship bays and then we shall see who can get her to the barracks. If need be, I can."
"You have duties of your own, do you not?" Cathi asked. Elenia nodded. "Then I can find my own way."
"We want you to get there today." Elenia said with a snort. "And if you fall in a hole and vanish... Karl would a bit upset with us. Once was enough." Her tone was somber again.
"Is that what happened to Jesse?" Cathi asked quietly. "The records we had access to never said where it happened."
"She was focused on a repair she was doing, didn't see the floor was weak under her." Elenia said with a soft sound of dismay. "We heard her scream and then all hell broke loose. Draco was not happy. She was okay. Is okay. But..." The Mag shrugged.
"Better safe than sorry." Cathi agreed. "I still need to swear to Karl, Caretakers. But... if he allows, I would aid you if you have need."
"We are pretty much self sufficient." Elenia said with a smile in her voice. "We have worked hard to get that way. But it is appreciated, Sister." She rose and Cathi did the same. Mishka smiled at Cathi but reached for a datatpad instead as Lisa sat beside her.
"If I have time... Can I visit?" Cathi asked carefully as she followed Elenia out of the room. "I like Mishka and Lisa is nice."
"We will likely be moving out in the near future." Elenia shrugged. "Our being here was needed, but it is dangerous, to both us and Karl." Cathi looked at her and Elenia growled. "We didn't have much of choice, our haven was attacked by Grineer. We had to flee and the place we were going was being scouted by Corpus."
"Ouch." Cathi made a face and Elenia nodded. "So you wound up here."
"Karl offered hospitality and we accepted." Elenia stretched a bit as she walked. "But if the other Tenno discover we are here... it will not go well for him."
"How many know about you?" Cathi asked. "Outside of Karl's clan?"
"Eliza's people. Elder Raven." Elenia said softly. "Jesse. Draco. Iriana. And that is it. Others know we exist and most of them are ambivalent. But if they think that Karl is hiding something like an Infested hive in his base... It would not end well."
"No." Cathi agreed. "I can see that." She relaxed a little as the pair entered the elevator. "Are you sure I am not contaminated?" Instead of answering, Elenia took her hand and was obviously concentrating. Cathi waited.
"You are not." Elenia reassured her after a moment, giving Cathi 's hand a squeeze and releasing it. "We have spent a great deal of time working on ways to keep from contaminating others. The mass of mind that we protect are incredibly smart. So many minds all focused on one objective can be daunting at times."
"Is it a hive mind or-" Cathi broke off as another warframe appeared nearby. It wasn't one she knew. The Atlas frame nodded to them, but did not speak. He watched as they walked. "Who is that?"
"One of Karl's potential recruits." Elenia said softly. Cathi looked at her and then Mag shook her head slowly. "I don't like him and neither do we. He doesn't know about us yet and he won't if we can help it."
"Why?" Cathi asked. The Caretaker seemed a open minded sort. Not the kind for irrational prejudice.
"I am not sure." Elenia replied softly. "Something about him rings false."
"Would Karl take a liar into his clan?" Cathi asked, confused.
"Not knowingly." Elenia shrugged. "But he isn't perfect. No Tenno is. Ah, here we are." She paused as they entered the ship bay. Ships hung attached to refueling and power supply points all around the area. No one was around. "Ah... Hello?"
"Caretaker." A new voice called from the side and both women turned to see a human in a flight suit shimmy out from under something that gleamed oddly dark. It didn't look like a Liset. It looked... insect-like. "Miguel was called away to another problem. I was checking the secondary conduits on this Mantis. Looks weird, but she will fly."
"A Mantis landing craft?"Cathi asked slowly, scrutinizing the ship. It looked sleek and fast. "I heard of those, but never saw one."
"Systems check out." The man replied. "I am Mitchell."
"Cathi." The Tenno bowed and the human returned it a trifle awkwardly. "They want me in the field as soon as possible. I am supposed to get a ship, but I haven't even gotten a warframe yet."
"This one will fly." Mitchell replied equably. "And yes, lots of people will be talking to Mishka about her choice of introduction method." He said with a grin.
"Well, provided that bonding to the warframe doesn't kill me, I-" She broke off as Elenia hissed. "What?"
"It won't kill you." Elenia said with a frown in her tone. "The binding won't. It is designed not to."
"I...seem to recall stories of Tenno trying and failing. Dying as a result." Cathi said after a moment's thought. "They are fuzzy though."
"It has been some time since you merged with your last one, Cathi." Elenia said kindly. "There were advances, especially during the war. It won't kill you."
"I will take your word for that." Cathi said and then she grinned. "With the caveat that if it does, I will haunt you for eternity." She made a scary face at Elenia who recoiled in mock horror. Mitchell smothered a laugh with a totally unconvincing cough.
"They know what they are talking about, Ma'am." Mitchell said with a nod. "Don't know Tenno stuff at all, but they do know what they are talking about. One thing... Caretaker... Li is supposed to be by again." Elenia groaned and Mitchell's face was sympathetic. "She won't take 'No' for an answer. That hasn't changed since I knew her."
"Li?" Cathi asked. "If that is any of my business."
"Li is a Tenno who we helped recover after a rather bad injury." Elenia said after a moment. "She had to have both legs regenerated." Cathi winced and Elenia nodded. "She seems to think she owes us a debt and is determined to pay it. Which we don't mind. But she just won't stop. How many times must she pay? She was a sister in need. We helped, end of story."
"Not to Li." Mitchell's face held sympathy. "I will see this one is serviced and ready for you, Ma'am."
"Don't call me Ma'am." Cathi replied evenly. "I work for a living." Mitchell and Elenia both chuckled at that. "If the binding takes, then yes. I can use this. What operating system?" She was not expecting Mitchell to shuffle his feet. 'What?"
"We had no extra Cephalons." Mitchell said with a frown. "Olim installed the old Ordis Cephalon and..." He broke off as Elenia gasped. "It was all we had."
"You are not going to inflict that thing on Cathi!" Elenia said with a snarl that was not amused. "That Cephalon is insane after so much time alone."
"Olim and his sister worked with it. On it." Mitchell protested. Then he slumped. "But yeah, it has some... quirks."
"Are these quirks likely to kill me?" Cathi asked. Mitchell shook his head. "Then I can handle it."
"Cathi..." Elenia trailed off, grumbling. "Silly girl. You will need downtime and that thing is nuts."
"I will take it." Cathi said with a nod to Mitchell and another long glance at the Mantis. "I have done weirder things than babysit a Cephalon."
"You say that now..." Elenia was not amused as she led the way from the bay, Mitchell chuckling in their wake.
None of them noticed the small form made of stone that stood in a secluded corner. So none of them saw the remote observer device attached to it.