Woah boy! This chapter itself is 2'492 words long according to Word, and that's not including the A/N here at the top! Really trying to push my limits for this. As I've said before, thanks for all the reviews and follows. As of writing this chapters A/N, I have 732 views! That, for me, is staggering. I'm really happy that I could have so many people read and, hopefully, enjoy this story. Shoutout to "Mpopl2", "Slim A Lou Prime" and "jordanlink7856" for the latest reviews, and "razer666l" for being the first named reviewer! And even a shoutout to you, beloved "Guest", I may not be able to thank you personally but I still love you. As before, leave a review for me because it keeps me inspired and wanting to write. Also, little background to this story, in the planning and run-up stages of this story, the WIP title was "Are you Alright?" and all the save files for MC Word are all "Are you alright" followed by the chapter number. Thought you might like to know. Enjoy!
My frame of choice didn't exactly blend in with the general populace, but only a few gazes were caught. Obviously, they were used to seeing strange things walking around, which wasn't much of a surprise from the look of those teenage (in-training) hunters in the woods. Ordis had found a lot of useful information on what people called the internet. It was like the Weave, but simpler and didn't have sophisticated artificial intelligence to watch over it and collect, correlate and record data. Either way, nothing impeded my movement toward the large tower. Except one incident with a man that I bumped into, but I simply passed him off as a drunken, dusty old crow. I passed a small shop with the "Police" outside, a peacekeeping force that didn't use lethal means. Supposedly anyway. How they got anything done or made a difference to everything was beyond me. Surely it would be best to simply eliminate any of societies dangerous deviants? Anyway, new planet, new rules. Rules that, for now at least, I or Ordis couldn't change.
Coming up to the gates of what was known as Beacon Academy, there were a people milling around, talking and laughing. Some shared foods, whilst others played on their devices called "scrolls". Some of the children looked toward me; some intrigued and a few were scared by the Aureolus Helmet, otherwise dubbed as the Plague Doctor helmet. Nobody made any movement towards me, that was, until I was almost at the doors. A young girl, a rabbit Faunus, came up to me.
"Excuse me? Can I help you?" She asked politely, her ears standing to a point. Just about to say something, someone else came over that I assumed to be a friend or comrade.
"Don't worry Velvet, I'm sure the guy's fine." He told her, whilst gesturing towards their group of friends. I recognised one of the group. The boy from the forest. I didn't like the look of him, so I spoke up.
"Actually, Velvet, was it? I could use some help. I have an appointment with a Professor Ozpin. Unfortunately, I'm new to the area. Could you escort me to his office, please?" I asked her.
"Of course! This way," she opens door and holds it for me. The boy who I suspect was trying to harass her for being a Faunus look downtrodden, sad, that their victim was gone. If it were up to me, I'd have made an example of the boy. But, again, new planet with new rules.
"Thanks for saving me there." She spoke up, after a few moments of walking.
"I was scared they'd get me back over there." Velvet told me, continuing her light pace towards what appeared to be an elevator shaft.
"My thanks to, miss Velvet. I'd be lost without you." I told her.
#I could have lead you there Operator, but you insisted.
The Cephalon told me through the communicator, to which I replied
-yes, but then it'd look strange. Like I did research. How is an unknown being supposed to know anything about this place?
The Cephalon grumbled through the communicator, but didn't have anything else to say.
"It's no problem. Like I said, you saved me from those bullies. I'd best go find my team. Thanks again mister…?" Name. Velvet, the Faunus, wanted a name. I'd mostly been referred to as 'Tenno' or 'Operator' but not a name. Not sure of my own name, I blurt something out;
"Blight. Blight Falsweir." It seemed right. Then a memory pops up, something Margulis said.
"You will be called, Blight Falsweir. Where many have fallen to their foes, you are like a blight upon yours and have fallen in many places but never twice in the same. Thus, I name you Blight Falsweir."
Recoiling slightly, I put a hand to my face from the sudden shock of memory.
"Well, thank you, Blight Falsweir, for saving me. I'll be sure to let my team know. I'm sure they'll try to treat you in some way!" Velvet smiles cheerfully as she ducks around a corner. Shaking the memory and any related thoughts from my head, I step into the elevator and press the highest floor number I could which was, strangely, marked with a Tower symbol.
Reaching what felt like the top of the tower took a few minutes, indicating that the tower sat at about seven thousand feet or roughly two kilometres tall. A feat of engineering, by any standards.
Your choices make you, Tenno. Remember that.
Margulis' voice rang inside my head once more, the draw to Dream rushing back. Fighting the tide of uneasiness, I make my way forwards out of the elevator towards yet another set of doors.
#Operator, are you alright? Your brain activity dipped for a second there. Does Margulis' ~EvIL DoINg~ actions still haunt your thoughts?
-i'm fine, Ordis. Just make sure to keep an eye on the perimeter, I don't want to look as though I'd died in front of this man only to stand back up. If you have to, use some Specters.
#Of course, Operator. As you wish.
I knock on the large doors. Wooden. Strange for my eyes to perceive in contrast to the spartan and militaristic settings of the Corpus and Grinner respectively, even the ethereal beauty of the Orokin style could not compare to see wood used as a material; it looked strong. The dark polish of refined oak left me in awe. Clearly these people lived in safety, if they could use such a display of power.
"Come in." The voice shook me from my stupor. Not wanting to keep the person I would be meeting, I pushed through the heavy oak doors. The wide, circular room was sparsely decorated. A few rugs spattered across the floor, a painting here or there, and a desk. Two seats on one side, and one on the other. However, what caught my attention this time was not the continued use of wood, but the person sitting across the table was an elderly looking gentleman. As I walked towards the desk, he took yet another sip from his mug. His lack of suspicion and continued easiness kept me on edge. Putting down his cup when I was a few steps away, he gestured to one of the chairs. I wouldn't sit down, couldn't sit.
"One of my students said you looked like a woman in the woods. But now you look rather like that of a gentleman. But enough of that, why do you not sit? Are you alright?" He asked, gesturing to the seat once more.
"I… I cannot sit." I say cautiously, the feminine voice that so confused many other Tenno coming from the gentlemanly frame.
"So you are a woman? And why can you not sit?" He asks, his head most likely swimming with questions. Questions which I am I unlikely to be able to answer, due to personal reasons or simply not having the knowledge.
"Yes, I am female. And I cannot sit, I fear I would dishonour myself and my kin." I tell him. I doubt he wishes me harm at this point, I would expect more weapons to be present if that were the case.
"Why would you dishonour yourself? It's simply a chair." Yet another question, one of many I suspect.
"To tell you would be to reveal parts of my history, and where I am from." I state matter of factly.
"I promise you, I won't be offended if you sit." Gesturing once more to the chair. Deciding to take him up on the offer of seating, I pull it backwards slightly and rest the frame against it.
"You know, you managed to set off every single security scanner we have. Metal detectors, electromagnetic sensors amongst them. Care to explain?" Jumping straight to questions. I doubt this would be over quickly, unless I told him the truth.
"I am here, whilst also not here. My physical body is located somewhere else, somewhere safe. To me, at least. With technology, my consciousness is projected into this suit which has been dubbed as a Warframe. Every frame is a like a suit. It remains inactive until we use it. I can even transport my body here in one of three ways. The first would to simply move it here physically. The second is to send a surge of energy through myself and the frame, which causes an explosion of energy; whilst temporary, it is also devastating. However, it can be controlled. This is called Focus. The third, and final, way of coming here is Transference. I do not care to explain Transference, as it is a rather… personal thing to do. I will add that I have only used this once or twice, and only in great need." I explain to him a basic understanding of how the frames work, not enough to reproduce them in any way. Even if he could figure out how to deactivate my frame, it would only require me to repower it to regain control.
"I… see. Please tell me about where you are from. What is your kingdom's name? I doubt you're from Atlus as I have no word from General Ironwood, but they are the most advanced. So, again, I'd like to know where you are from." Taking my answers in his stride, his questions continue. And they get more annoying to answer.
"I have no kingdom. The only safe havens I and my kin have been the ships and relays we call home. Even then, we have lost relays and ships to the enemy. Now tell me, what is your name?"
"My name, traveller, is Ozpin. I am the headmaster of this school for hunters and huntresses to train in. There are four other main schools like this one, where we take children and finish their training. What about yourself?"
"My name is Blight Falsweir. Like you, we have schools of a kind. Clans, we call them. Each clan is separate from the other, but most of my kind belong to one. Some form alliances, some choose not too. Some are small, with less than fifty of them. Some are huge, at a thousand strong. We fight with two, power hungry factions. The Grineer, and Corpus. The Grineer are militaristic, seeking power and to subjugate my people and the Corpus. The second faction, the Corpus, are masters of commerce and science; praising profit as a religion. They fight us for money, or to protect their damned robotic creations." I sneer, my hatred for the two factions showing in my voice. Glad he can't see my face; I wait for any more questions this Ozpin has for me.
"Miss Falsweir, where is this kingdom located? I have never heard of the Corpus nor the Grineer, and I have travelled most of this land. Where are you from?" His last question the hardest to answer, emotionally and morally. Hard because I might never see my friends again from the clan. Maverick, DP, Matt. I'll miss them all. Morally, because I know I shouldn't intervene in this world's events. Yet, against my better judgement and warnings from Ordis I shall tell him.
"I come from beyond the stars, Ozpin. I have fought with a sentient virus that consumes all in its path. I have fought and defeated that which my forefathers could not, the Sentients. A race of machines hell bent on destroying their makers, and able to adapt to anything. The plague and Sentients were created long ago by said forefathers. To combat these threats my kin and I were given gifts. The frames, much like the one you see before you. There is much debate as whether the original Tenno were actually inside the suit, or not. Originally planned to be killed, we were forced into a war that was not ours. Our gifts were the frames and ancient weapons, weapons I see children here use to defend themselves and their people." I pause for breath, Ozpin's eyes widened.
"I have engaged in countless missions. Defence, Assassination, Exterminate, to name a few. I have seen many foes fall to my blade, bow and gun. Fewer still amongst the dead are my kin. Ozpin, I have no wish to harm the people of this world. I do not know if I can return to my home amongst the stars. All I can say is this: I will not harm your people, but if any of those peacekeepers come for me I will not be accountable for my actions." I stop speaking, and take a few breaths to wait for Ozpin to say something. Instead, he simply smiles.
"Miss Falsweir, whether you are from a place I have not seen and have an overactive imagination or truly are from beyond the stars, I think I can certainly see that no one attacks you officially. How about instead of living in the woods, I offer you a job here at my school? You can teach my pupils your skills, history, and culture. I assume what you know is not limited to firing a bow?" I nod in response.
"Whilst here you can earn money for anything you should need and have a place to safely rest. I am certain I can keep the other kingdoms away from you should you stay, otherwise I do not know if I can for certain."
#Operator, his heart rate has barely increased. He is not sweating profusely. Either he is telling what he believes is the truth, or ~A nO gOOd~ a very good liar.
Ordis spoke wise words, hinting that it would be good to stay here. It would be good to have access to information, and even comrades to help me; even if they weren't my clan.
"I agree to your proposal, professor Ozpin. I will need a few things for now. First, a place to store my things which includes my the Liset, my ship. A small amount of money, this could be an advance on whatever I would earn here. I assume food here would be free for me, whilst I teach. And access to information." I tell him my demands, to which he nods.
"Alright, I'll see what I can do. How large is your ship?" He asks. I let out a sigh of relief, glad that he accepted my terms. I go over the details of the size of my ship, and a brief explanation of the kingdoms is given to me by Ozpin.
"Thank you, Professor Ozpin. I should begin preparing my ship for movement." I stand from the sturdy wooden chair, and make my way back towards the elevator.
"Of course. Should the preparations for your ship not be ready by the time you arrive, simply land somewhere on the grounds or keep it gliding." Ozpin calls out from his desk. Turning to face him as I step into the elevator, I send him a nod.
