Horror
Mei ran.
It wasn't supposed to be like this. She had just arrived for goodness sakes. Healer Iriana and the staff of the hospital had all been welcoming. She still wore her warframe, but the hospital's rule of 'no weapons' was one she had taken seriously. Not that she really needed a weapon normally, even in a Trinity warframe. Geared for healing the frame might have been, but it was as all of the others, a living suit of armor that she alone could wear. A weapon in human form despite her wishes to just be a simple medic.
Iriana had just dropped her off for the newly come Tenno's first shift, promising to come by and see how she was doing when all hell had broken loose. The first warning anyone had received was when unprotected humans started dropping. Mei had hit the alarm of course. Nothing had happened. No one came to her screams for help. No one responded when she called over the com. That made no sense at all. But it got worse.
A few scans had shown that everyone in the area was affected by some kind of sedative gas. It wasn't in any of her warframe's databanks and nothing in the ones she had access to. When she tried to query the Tower systems, there hadn't been a response. She had heard a muffled cry in her mind on the way to the tower, but it hadn't repeated and nothing else had happened so she forgot about it in the rush to get acquainted with her new job. But now?
There was an aching silence in her mind. A hole. Until she focused on it, she hadn't noticed it. But now? She did. The Lotus was gone. This was no coincidence. Not the guide of the Lotus and the Tower systems suddenly going silent at the same time. Add to that the gas, which seemed just to have put everyone to sleep and that equaled an attack. But by who? Who would dare? Who would be capable? She corrected herself grimly. The Corpus, Grineer and Infested would attack if they could find the tower. But they couldn't. Frankly? This wasn't their style. Grineer or Infested would flood the place with clones or biological monstrosities, respectively. Corpus would send swarms of proxies. She had seen none of that.
She had been checking each patient in the ward, making sure none had complications from the gas when a new voice sounded in her mind. Not the Lotus. Another woman. Not one she knew, but the feel was familair. The message was short and to the point.
Mei, get out of there!
Mei had paused for just a moment and then a pair of... She wasn't sure what they were. They looked kind of like warframes. Sort of like a Rhino and Ember. But they were not Tenno even though they carried Tenno style weapons. They had seen her and immediately opened fire. Her frantic evasion had saved her life. The patient she had been tending... hadn't been so lucky. Maybe, if Iriana could get to the man in time, the Healer could do something. Maybe not. Mei had other worries. She was being pursued and she had no idea where she was going.
The good news was that she was far, far faster than any of her pursuers. She had always preferred modifying her warframe for speed rather than durability. She preferred to avoid enemies while setting up attacks of her own. So she left them in her dust.
The bad news? She had seen at least a dozen of the not-Tenno who kept trying to surround her. Her mobility was keeping her ahead of them for now, but that couldn't last. She was unarmed. They were not. She had been hit a few times, but her powers kept her healed. That would only last so long however. She hadn't planned for battle. She didn't have an aura artifact equipped. The one time she had tried Energy Vampire on an enemy it hadn't had any effect. So they were protected somehow. She was running out of power.
The only good news about all of this was that her pursuers seemed just as confused as Mei was about the layout of the place. And while it was unfamiliar, it was an Orokin tower. Before she had become involved with Oracle Janet, she had spent time with Tenno strike teams assaulting some of the forgotten places in the Void. So some of the architecture was familiar. Matter of fact...
Mei paused as she ran into a long, rectangular room. She stared from side to side and an unseen smile curved her lips under her Meridian helmet as she saw the long energy filled tube that ran the length of it. An elevator stood at the far end and a pair of doors were visible on the right side, down a set of stairs. She turned to the right and ran up an incline, taking a sharp left and throwing herself into space. The area was hard to navigate. It hadn't been designed for any normal person to run through. But then again, Mei wasn't a person, she was Tenno. As she had hoped, one of the grates far above the floor was open partway. But it was so far. She shook her head, she had little choice. Sooner or later she would be surrounded. Without the ability to use her powers and with no weapons against foes who were armed, her chances were slim. Add to that, if the Tower systems had been subverted, then any portal would be unusable. She had not brought her ship. She hadn't planned on needing it. She froze as the door she had passed opened again and a horde of things swept out. She swallowed hard. None of them looked like Tenno. All looked wrong. A few of them were humanoid in form, but as she watched from her high vantage, some of them were morphing. Shapeshifters of some kind? She had never heard of anything like that. Or, if she had, she didn't remember. Cryo had taken its toll on Mei just as it had taken its toll on most Tenno, the long term effects of being frozen destroying much of the being's memory no matter how well stored.
She was...
Without warning, Mei was catapulted from her vantage point. A dim part of her mind saw one of the forms below lowering a Vectis. She had been so fixated on the others that she hadn't seen the sniper scanning the area. Mei fell. She scrabbled for the edge, but another shot hit her and she was falling. Tenno in warframes had a great advantage when falling. Their energy could be used in a number of different ways to slow the descent or to dampen the impact with whatever surface they hit. But that presumed that there were no enemies tracking said Tenno as he or she fell. Mei felt multiple impacts, pain erupting as her armor was breached. She snarled and focused, trying to alter her descent, but it was no use. A closer range blast threw her to the side. She landed on her feet on top of the tube filled with energy, but she was surrounded by the things. At least two dozen of them. She didn't bother to talk. As the armed ones took aim, she threw herself into the area between the energy tube and the railing. The area below was dark and filled with machinery that she did not recognize. But if it was the choice between maybe dying by her own hand or letting these odd beings kill her, she would take her chances elsewhere.
She startled them. That was the only explanation why half a dozen weapons missed as she threw herself into the blackness. She was about to exult when another stunning impact drove consciousness from her. She never felt the impact when she hit the first pipe. It was a mercy that she didn't feel the other dozen things she hit before striking bottom.
"Pity." The Vectis armed infiltrator shook it's head as it stared down into the pit. "That one was strong. It would have made a good slave."
None of the others replied and the mass of beings who had joined the pursuit of the fleeing Trinity broke up. They had much to do and not a lot of time.
"Tower systems." The sniper said quietly. "I want to know how far down the thing fell. Can we recover the warframe?" The materials would be useful when recycled. The biomass likewise. The mind within was useless and would be discarded if it could not be enslaved.
A burst of static answered the query and the sniper sighed and pressed a control. A metallic scream sounded and then a voice.
-Negative.- That was all the voice said and the sniper paused, it's hand halfway back to the control.
"Why not?" The sniper demanded as two others turned back to listen.
-Unable to comply- The machine sounded reluctant.
"The Healer still resisting." One of the others said quietly. "Even clamped into a converter, she is resisting. She is telling the systems to resist as well."
"Fine." The sniper pressed the control and held it down, listening to the scream that came from the speaker. "We need the Healer. We need her codes and her knowledge. The rest? Convert them all." It shook its head. "Get one of our slaves to check the area below. If we can find the warframe, we can recycle it even if it is in pieces." Both of the others nodded and a golden skinned form approached. It stood stiffly, awaiting instructions. The sniper looked into the pit and nodded. "Find the warframe and bring it back for recycling."
It picked up the slave and tossed it into the chasm. The corrupted mech did not even have the volition to scream. Then the sniper turned and left the area. They had much to do and little time.
Mei woke with a scream that she strangled with the skill of long practice. Loud Tenno usually did not live very long in the field. She jerked and stared around. She was lying on some kind of platform. A tiny thing that hung over the depths of blackness that arched all around her. She took stock. She was alive but her warframe was battered. Pain flared as she tried to move and she stared down at the piece of metal that extruded from her left leg. The warframe had kept her alive but it hadn't been able to stop the sharp end of the pipe from skewering her. Armor was all well and good, but even warframe armor had limits. A sharp enough object driven -or impacted- at high enough speed could penetrate. And it had, pinning her leg in place. That meant she was stuck. She tried to focus, to pull herself off the pipe, but she could not. As strong as she was in the warframe, she had no leverage.
Lotus! Mei called, pleading. But it wasn't the Lotus that replied!
Mei! The unknown woman who had warned her came over the com. Her voice was kind. Soothing and gentle. Despite her fear and pain, Mei felt herself relax a little. How bad is it?
I am alive, but I am stuck. Mei said with a grunt as she tried to pull herself off again. Who are you?
The Lotus is incapacitated for a time. I am Mariposa and I am her surrogate for a bit. The other replied. What happened?
Couldn't get away. Mei said with a sigh. Tried to run, tried to hide. I was hit and fell into a chasm. I am not at the bottom, but I hit a pipe and it penetrated my leg armor. I am stuck.
Do they know where you are? Mariposa's voice was taut with worry now and Mei could relate.
I don't- Mei broke off as a golden form came into her view. It was floating on some kind of antigravity field. Oh crap. Then she relaxed. It was one of the Tower's mechs. One of the Tower mechs just found me.
Probabilities say they are all likely subverted. Mariposa said quickly. Play dead!
Mei did not argue. She remained limp as the mech scrutinized her. The mech hovered closer, it's hands grabbing for Mei. Despite everything she could do, a scream tore from her throat as it yanked her free of the pipe. It looked at her and a beam of energy played from its face. She squirmed, trying to avoid it, but it hit her and she quailed as her warframe suddenly powered down.
That isn't possible! Mei screamed into the darkness she was consigned into as all of her senses failed. Total darkness. Total silence. For a long, terrible moment, there was no response. Then Mariposa's voice sounded like thunder in the stricken Tenno's mind.
Mei, listen to me. You are only going to have one shot at this. Mariposa's mind was distant, but there and Mei grasped it with all of her might. Can you open your faceplate?
I don't... Mei felt madness start to seep in, but she squashed it ruthlessly. I don't know.
She forced her brain to move in a neural sequence that every young Tenno learned. Emergency override. She waited an eternity and then a click sounded. She fought back a gasp as light seared across her eyes. She was flying. No, she was being carried. She lay still in the golden arms as the dark walls flashed past. Then light beckoned. She forced her mouth to remain closed as the mech jolted to a landing and then started off, every step agony to her hurt leg.
What do I do? Mei begged as the mech continued. She could see a bit around her. The Tower was still. No noise. No nothing. It was as creepy as any of the abandoned Orokin towers. She halfway expected... Mei coudl not restrain a gasp as she saw a human woman lying on the floor nearby. She recognized the woman Pat. One of the medics in charge of the hospital. But a silver thing was enclosing the woman's face as Mei watched. Her eyes flicked her and there. She was alive! She was paralyzed or something.
Mei! Mariposa snapped as Mei tried to struggle to no avail. Her warframe was an inert mass of metal. A biotech straightjacket. If they realize you are alive, they will kill or convert you. Your only chance is to hide.
They have the Tower. The immobile Trinity pleaded. What can I do?
They have the Tower. Mariposa said quietly. But they do not have you. We will need real time intelligence inside the tower. So, you need to get away from them in a way that they think you are gone.
And how am I supposed to do that? Mei demanded with a mental snarl. I can't move!
I know. Mariposa's voice soothed Mei's fear. It will be dangerous These things are just as dangerous as Tenno if not more so. Most Tenno have honor. These do not.
What are they? Mei asked as she saw a group of the things carrying still human forms. One of them looked at her, but did nothing else as it carried the unconscious human to where a line of them lay. Another of the odd forms was placing small silver blobs on each human's head. Mei tried not to gag as each blob grew to encompass a human's head. Man, woman, child, injured, hale, it made no difference. Each was treated the same.
They call themselves 'The Forgotten'. Mariposa said softly. And they were. They kept to themselves until they felt they had a decent time to strike. Their first attack critically injured the Lotus and may have cost us Oracle Janet. We do not know.
Why are they doing this? Mei begged as a door head opened. She quailed as she saw a recycler open wide. Wide enough to receive her warframe and all.
History later. Get ready, Mei. Mariposa said firmly. To your left, low down. A panel. Is it open? Mei looked and yes, the panel was there. Behind it, a small tunnel gaped.
Yes. Mei replied, steeling herself as energy started to coruscate inside the recycler.
The recycler has a tray on which the mech will lay you. As soon as it does, you need to exit the frame and get into the duct. Mariposa instructed. It will be narrow, but you should be able to fit.
But... the mech... Mei protested as she started the unsealing sequence. It will see me.
The mech was ordered to recover your warframe and recycle it. Mariposa said softly. Nothing was said about the occupant. The Tower systems are still fighting the control, but they are losing ground. The systems will delay the recycler dumping the warframe in, but it can only do so for a few seconds, be ready!
I am ready. Mei swallowed hard as she finalized the commands and her warframe opened down the back. The mech set her warframe down on its face and she slid out of it. She rolled away, arms up in a warding gesture, but the mech just stood back, eyeing the warframe as it plunged into the recycler. Mei gasped as pain fared across her neural link. She hadn't know that would happen. She shook herself firmly and slid into the duct. She glanced behind her and stared as the mech turned and left the room without even looking at her. Slick.
We do not have lot of time, Mei. Mariposa said sternly. Follow that duct three junctions and then turn left. The access ways should all be open.
Where am I going? Mei asked. And does Karl know about this?
Remembering Karl always warmed her heart He was so many things. A peerless warrior and paragon of honor. A legend in so many ways. Her cheeks burned as she remembered other things, but now was not the time.
In reverse order, yes Karl knows about this and he is very unhappy. Mariposa's tone conveyed worry. And...
You are going back in time.