Fear
The Prime did not move. Kori knelt where she was, still shuddering. Two stood frozen against the wall and the pitch black Nekros who had caused this stood in the doorway, obviously not going to make the first move.
"I don't remember a lot." The Prime said softly. "But I do remember you, Nikis. You are memorable."
"Karl said you don't remember your name." Nikis said quietly. The Prime shook his head, but his hands did not move from where they hung by the Castanas. "It was Richard." The Prime did not move. That felt… both right and wrong. The gunfighter sighed. "Come on, say something. Do something, drat you."
"I am not your enemy, Nikis." The Prime said quietly. "I don't think either of us wants to be the other's enemy. Especially now. I don't remember what lay between us." Nikis shook his head slowly.
"Cryo-nesia sucks." The Nekros said after a moment. "I didn't get it as bad. Part of me wishes I had." For a moment, a sad and sick old man sounded in his voice. Then it hardened. "What happened to Mavri?"
"I don't know." The Prime said quietly. "He told us to flee and not to attempt any rescues." Nikis snarled and the Prime shook his head. "Nikis…" He warned.
"No, I ain't going to run in, guns blasting to cut down unarmed women and children who happen to get in my way. I know about people in the wrong place at the wrong time." Nikis snapped. "Mavri was a dumb kid when I knew him, but he grew up. They all did. But… Not many were left. You know?" His tone was sad now.
"I know." The Prime voice gentled. "What can you tell me?"
"Richard…" Nikis sounded as if her were picking his words with care now. "If you don't know… then I can't say." The Prime went still and Nikis sighed deeply. "I gave my word."
"Crap." The Prime –he couldn't quite think of himself as Richard- said with feeling. What little he remembered… Nikis didn't give his word often. When he did? A planet would move out of its orbit before the stubborn Tenno pistoleer would budge. "Then, for whatever it is worth, I am glad you are still around, you blasphemous fart."
"Never thought I would say this." Nikis sounded amazed now. "But right back at ya, ya silly paladin." He laughed a bit sadly. "I will be around."
"Don't do anything rash, Nikis." The Prime said quietly. "If Mavri is alive, he will need help. But not foolish help."
"Teach your grandma to suck eggs, Richard." The Nekros spun, deposited his pistols in a locker that was open behind him and then vanished from the room.
For a long moment, no one moved. Then the Prime walked to where Kori lay sobbing and knelt beside her. He touched her shoulder and she jumped. She stared up at him, her armored faceplate retracted and tears were falling like rain. Two stood back, shaking her head.
"He… he hates me…" Kori sobbed.
"It's not personal, Sister Kori." The Prime said quietly. "He hates everybody, including himself." He laid an arm around her as she sobbed. "It's okay, sister. It's okay."
"He said I was worthless…" Kori bawled. "Stupid, worthless dross…"
"Are you?" The Prime asked. Kori bowed her head and he shook her a little. "Sister, answer the question. Are you?"
"I think so." Kori curled up tighter. "Can't… Can't do better…" She gave a squeak as the Prime rose quickly dropping her on her rump. Her squeak turned to a cry of fear as his hand went up and back and his Scindo came to his hand. He held it easily one-handed.
"If that is all you believe…" The Prime ignored Two's sudden intake of breath. "If you believe that nothing can save you…that you are doomed and nothing you do matters…then why are you still here?" His voice was… odd. Gentle, but… like a sudden rain shower, it was everywhere. "If you truly believed you were useless, why fight? Why keep trying? Why not give up?"
"You know." Kori said weakly, but then screamed as the axe came down, slamming to the ground beside her. She shied away from it as his huge arms lifted it easily to ready position again. "What?"
"Are you just a drain? A leech? A waste?" The Prime's voice was thunderous now. "What are you?" His voice was not a scream. Not quite. But the sheer intensity was appalling.
"A failure." Kori bent her head as if to invite the deathblow. Instead, the flat of one of the blades slapped her upside the head. "What? Ow!"
"Try again." The Prime sounded quiet and contemplative now, but his axe was up again. "Depression lies, sister." Kori stared at him, eyes wide. "Fight it."
"I don't understand." Kori nearly begged. "What?"
"Your guilt is telling you one thing." The Prime said quietly. "Your heart another. Which way will you go, sister?" Kori stared at him, eyes wide, then down at herself. The axe returned to its place on the Prime's back and he sidled closer beside her. "Sister… You are not alone. You do not face this battle alone." Two had been frozen in place while the tableau played out, now she knelt on Kori's other side. "Any Tenno can err. Any Tenno can fail. Any can be misled." He reached out and his hand was gentle, but irresistible as he turned her crying face to look at him. "Nikis was trying to help you, sister Kori. His way. He kicks people until they get better or fall apart completely. It works sometimes." His tone spoke volumes of how he felt about the Nekros' methods.
"It hurts." Kori said weakly. "Why does it hurt so bad? I… I was getting better…"
"I don't know what happened to you, sister." The Prime said quietly. "But you are strong to have survived your ordeals. Whatever you did to earn this clan's wrath, you survived. It is time to move past your grief and fear, sister. Time to move on."
"I can't." Kori pleaded. She did not move, but both others turned their eyes as the door hissed open. Another warframe stood there. Not one the Prime had seen before. A Vauban. He nodded to the Prime, an odd gesture. Stylized and formal. Archaic and… right.
"Oh Kori…" The sadness in the male Tenno's voice was palpable.
"Ric…" Kori keened and only the Prime's grip on her shoulders kept her off the floor. "I can't… I tried… I can't… I can't do this. I tried so hard. I am not good enough."
"Kori." The Vauban went to his knees in front of the sobbing Nyx and reached out to hold her. The Prime released her when the Vauban had a good grip. "The only one who thinks that is you." The Prime glanced at the Vauban and then back to the Nyx. Kori shook her head savagely and the Vauban sighed. "We will be waiting for you in the garden, Kori. Brianna and I."
"But… I…" Kori gave a squeak as the Vauban embraced her. Then he rose and, quick as thought, was gone. "I don't understand." She wailed. Then she made a sound somewhere between a squeak and a muffled scream as the Prime rapped her shoulder and rose. He walked to a locker, stowed his weapons and then moved to stand in front of her. Then he bent down and gathered her up as easily as if the warframe clad Tenno were a child! "No…"
"You need help, sister. It's not weakness to need assistance against overwhelming enemies. And depression is an overwhelming enemy." The Prime said gently as he held her gently but firmly despite her struggles. "The garden?"
Two rose silently and led the way into the hall. The Rhino Prime moved easily despite his burden, Kori sputtering protests that both ignored. The halls were empty, eerily so. Kori's struggles became stronger as they walked, but the Rhino held her easily. Finally, Two led them through a hatch into an open sand garden where two forms waited. Only a stone lantern marred the simple perfection of the sand as it lay in tiny dunes all around the room. Medic Brianna knelt on the sand by the lantern, clad in an archaic looking silver gown. Tenno Ric stood near her, his posture still.
"The Order thanks you." Ric said formally to the Prime. "Our sister needs help."
"Indeed she does." The Prime agreed as he set Kori down on her feet. She immediately tried to run, but Two had shut and locked the door. The black Banshee leaned against the control panel, blocking access. Kori fled to the far corner of the room, panting with fear and anger. "Depression is no easy foe, sir knight." Where had that come from?
"Indeed. The demons within the psyche cheat and lie and connive to sap the will of even the strongest of souls." Ric agreed, his eyes on Kori who flinched under his scrutiny. "Lady Kori, stand easy. No harm will come to you this day."
"Ric… I can't…" Kori shook herself. "I can't do this. I can't. I have tried and tried and tried. I can't be this. I thought I could. I was wrong!"
"That is not for you to judge, sister." Ric's voice turned stern. "Or do you usurp powers that are not yours by right?"
"I…" Kori jerked and retreated a step, only to collide with the wall and freeze again. "No… I…" She started to cry again. "I don't know…"
"Sir Knight…" The Prime had no idea where these words were coming from. "May I be of assistance?"
"You have already been of assistance, Brother." Ric said with a nod. "Nikis meant well, but his methods are brutal." He waved permission.
"No less brutal than life at times." The Prime said sadly. "Sister Kori…" He took a step towards the sobbing Nyx. "What is happening is not your fault. Your mind is tricking you." His voice turned deep and solemn. And… something else. "Be calm… Be still…" Kori stared at him, eyes wide. A long rattling breath escaped her mouth and then… she went still. "By the Code, I see…" His voice soothed her and she relaxed slowly. "By my oath… I act." He took another step and somehow was at the frozen Nyx's side. A hand on her arm and she was eased down to kneel. The Rhino knelt before her. "For my kin, I serve. Easy, sister."
"You…" Kori stared up at the towering form. "I know you… I…think." A single tear fell. "It's so… gray… I can't… feel…"
"Yes, you can." The Prime's voice was melodic and soothing. "It is a wall. A wall of evil in your mind. You created it, you alone can pass it. You can see the truth, sister. All you have to do is look." The final word resonated oddly. Two, Ric and Brianna were all staring at him now, Brianna's mouth was hanging open as Kori shuddered a moment and then relaxed more fully.
"I… see…" Kori took a deep breath and then another. "I… Oh my god…" She started to cry again. "I…" Then, like a switch had been thrown, her tears stopped and her eyes cleared. She stared up at the Rhino who was kneeling before her with wide eyes. "Master… I…"
"No Kori." The Rhino said gently. "I am no Master. Just a traveler. A seeker of knowledge. A guide at times, but no more. No grand titles for me."
"But…" Kori shook her head as if bothered by a fly. "This is… I was smothering in gray. Your voice came and I…"
"Kori." The Prime's words were stern now. "I calmed you. That is all I did. You did the rest yourself. You saw your depression's lies for what they are. Lies." He patted her arm and rose. "Even Tenno cannot fight all foes alone, sister. Especially when those foes come from within their own minds." The Rhino Prime moved to the door as Brianna and Ric moved to stand beside Kori who was staring at him, obviously trying to understand. "Be well, Sister Kori."
Ric and Brianna were kneeling beside Kori now as the Nyx slowly bowed her head. Two looked at the Prime and shook her head, but hit the controls and lad the way out of the room. Neither spoke as she led him into another Zen garden space. This one was a water based garden. A walkway that looked like wood ran over the water that hung with lilies and other old Earth plants. A central platform was larger, anchored to an island around which small Koi fish swam. Two led him to the platform and knelt. The Prime paused.
"May I meditate with you, brother?" Two asked softly.
"I did not intend to interfere with Sister Kori's rehabilitation." The Prime said as he knelt on the platform across from the Banshee. Synchronicity aided in focus. "I don't know where that came from." He said quietly.
"She needed help." Two sounded cautious. The Prime looked at her and she shrugged a little. "You did help."
"So did Nikis in his own way." The Prime retorted. "He pushed her into the breakdown she fought her way past with my assistance."
"You did help.' Two pressed gently. "She is better."
"Perhaps." The Rhino sounded cautiously hopeful. "But for now? I need to settle myself. Think about what I want and why. And maybe figure out how I knew that Tenno was a knight." Two did not react and the Prime snorted. "I don't know him. I don't have a clue who he is. Just the name, Ric. Not anyone I remember. But somehow, I know he is a knight."
"So are you." Two said softly. The Prime went still and Two shook her head. "Not the same way. His Order is small and all accounted for. But that was a knightly act. Helping Kori like that."
"I don't know why I did that, Sister." The Prime retorted. "For all I know, this is some kind of long buried fantasy of mine. To save damsels in distress." Two burst out laughing at that and he chuckled. "Doubt it, but maybe. I remember Nikis and he knew me. But… he gave his word not to speak of it. He won't break it. Come hell or high water, sundering or supernova, he won't break his word."
"You knew him well." Two agreed. "He taught many. Were you a student?" The Prime thought about that for a moment and then shook his head.
"I don't think so." The Rhino sounded perplexed though. "But… It kind of feels right." He mused. "Not his student. But… a student?" He asked nobody.
"Well, you have already said you do not believe yourself the First Rhino." Two said with a nod. "So, take it from there."
"No, there were others who bore Rhino warframes." The Prime said quickly.
"Bore?" Two pounced on the word. "Not 'wore'?"
"Bore." The Prime said after a moment. "As in a burden. Which it is."
"Oh yes." Two agreed. "With great power comes great responsibility." She paused as the Prime stared at her and then laughed. "What?"
"I remember that as a quote from a comic book." The Prime managed to get out through his laughs.
"A what?" Two demanded, deeply confused.
"Ah…" The Prime paused in his mirth. Memory came and he plowed into it. "I think… Yeah… Ancient printed media. Small captioned pictures of characters doing things were called comics. A 'comic book' was a collection of such things put together in a book format, usually small and cheaply printed to make them easy to sell. They came in all kinds. Mystery stories, comedy stories, documentary stories, horror stories, and superhero stories among others."
"Super… hero?" Two asked carefully.
"Yeah." The Prime sounded uncomfortable now. "Hey, I was a kid!" He defended himself, but Two just shook her head.
"I am honestly curious now." Two tilted her head. "What made a hero super?"
"Ah… Geez, hard question." The Rhino said with a snorted laugh. "Um, from what I remember… The characters possessed extraordinary talents, supernatural phenomena, or superhuman powers and were usually dedicated to protecting the public." He paused and then chuckled as Two did. "Yeah, kind of like some Tenno."
"Some, not all." Two's voice had turned darker. "Anyway… That quote?"
"Yeah." The Prime shook himself. "Can't remember if it was Super-Spider or Captain Spider who said it, but he had the quote 'With great power comes great responsibility.' The basic gist was that the character, whichever it was, believed that if a person had superhuman abilities they had a duty to act rightly with them." Two inhaled sharply and the Prime nodded. "You can see the appeal for some of us."
"And that character faced others who felt differently doing what he did. Protecting." It wasn't a question.
"Oh, lots." The Prime said with a snort. "I remember a dozen entertainment holos made about that character. Most were kid's shows, but a few had deeper connotations." He shook his head, the memories faded. "Drat. Lost the thread of memory."
"Meditation should help." Two said with a nod. "But…before we start… Thank you. For helping Kori. She is a mess. And she messed up. But it wasn't entirely her fault."
"It never is, sister." The Prime set himself and took a deep breath. "It never is."
Neither the two now relaxing Tenno nor the dojo's impressive security systems noticed the shadowy form that materialized against one wall to stare at the odd pair for a moment.
The human woman was insubstantial. Her face was stricken as she reached out. For which? It couldn't be said. But then, her face contorted in apparent fear and she was gone. The plants where she had been… had moved. A golden mist wafted over the area and then every vestige of her presence faded. Then the mist vanished as if it too had never been.
