Fuzzy things
Cathi slowly and carefully moved the quiver form her back and stepped back from the tiny device. She laid the quiver down beside the bow and shook her head. It hadn't been Karen or Janas who set that device. Neither the Banshee nor the Atlas moved.
Did you enjoy watching me? Cathi asked in her not audible way. Did you hope to see me shower? Aeron had stepped out of his booth and now held a Boltor ready. Karen and Janas were both also on edge. Or just find something to sell?
Instead of answering, the Atlas slowly raised a hand and held up something. Cathi stared at it and felt her entire world suddenly fall to pieces. A badge. That changed everything. He wasn't a spy! He was a cop!
There were not many Tenno police. Most Tenno handled such things themselves with occasional input from an Elder if a problem got beyond the ability of the people involved to solve. The trade off was that there were times when having a dedicated security establishment was a good thing. Cathi had never met a Tenno policeman before, but... she knew what was coming. What she had to do.
"Catherine Gata." The Atlas said quietly. "I did not want to do it this way, but it seems I must. I hereby place you under arrest." The Banshee -Rica- jerked and spoke sharply.
"Are you out of your mind?" The female Tenno snapped. "We are in the middle of her clan's dojo and you are trying to arrest her? What are you, stupid?" She stilled as Cathi raised a slow hand and shook her head.
Stand down, Tenno. Cathi said mentally. He is just doing his job. I am glad you are not actually a spy, Killian. I have seen far too many dead kin already.
"This clan has too many secrets to be comfortable." Killian replied, still not moving. Wise as keyed up as Aeron, Karen and Janas were. "Far too many. Their security is the best I have seen and I wasn't able to get past it except for short periods. Very good security." He shook his head. "I did not want to do this. I wanted to find a time to speak to you privately. You are not what I expected when they told me who you were. I expected an information thief. Not a repentant sister."
I knew I left tracks. Cathi said sadly. So, the vault I mined was discovered. Killian nodded. But I do not wear a Mirage anymore. If it doesn't violate trade secrets, how did you know it was me?
"You missed a scanner." Killian said quietly. "It wasn't overt, but it took a snapshot of your energy pattern." Cathi nodded and then slumped. Killian nodded. "I am sorry, but I do have my orders."
"She wasn't in control of herself!" Karen said flatly.
"Be that as it may, I have my orders." Killian was still calm. "I came here, hoping to find a fresh start. I have been...drifting a bit. Karl's call for more people seemed like a good idea. When you arrived Sister Cathi, I was curious. I sent up a search. It came back flagged. I wanted to find out all I could about you. When I did, they ordered me to arrest you." Cathi nodded. "I was trying to figure out a low key way to do it. Not like this. I need your word, sister."
You have it. Cathi shook her head. I will not resist. I don't fight the Law.
"This is wrong." Karen said slowly.
Right and wrong do not come into it, Karen. Cathi said softly. I broke the law. I was in violation of the Code. I can -mostly- accept that it wasn't my fault what I did. At least intellectually. Emotionally? I am still rocking. But I stole from Tenno, Karen. I knew there would be punishment. I just hoped it wouldn't splash on this clan. I am ready, Brother Killian.
The Tenno cop nodded and the badge in his hand flashed golden. At least it didn't hurt.
The Valkyr warframe collapsed in a haze of energy, said haze being pulled into the object in the Atlas' hand. Cathi's physical form converted to energy and sucked into it. Karen gave a sharp cry and moved towards the door. Rica didn't move. Nor did Janas. The Atlas hadn't moved. Wise, since Aeron hadn't lowered his rifle.
"I haven't hurt her and I won't." Killian replied evenly. "She in custody, no more."
"You are not leaving with her!" Karen declared as she blocked the door.
"Tenno Karen,..." Killian said quietly. "My orders are to take her back to stand trial for her crime." Karen snarled at him and he shook his head. "Look, sister. I don't like this any more than you do. But she did break the law. She stole from kin."
"She wasn't in control of herself!" Karen protested. "You know this!" Killian did not answer, he looked at Aeron.
"You could have come to us." Aeron said slowly. "Explained."
"Your clan has the reputation of bending the rules into pretzels to suit their needs." Killian said quietly. "Now, I will admit, sometimes the rules do get in the way. But if I had announced myself openly, she would have likely been sent out on missions and kept out there for weeks or months. This needs to be settled."
"You do not know what you are doing." Karen's tone was savage. "You have no idea how many people -powerful people- will come out of the woodwork for this."
"That doesn't matter, sister." Killian said quietly. "She broke the law. She has to account for that. I have not hurt her and I will not. As you say, she is a hurt, broken sister who is seeking redemption. A good thing. But she broke the law. Justice must be served."
"The law has nothing to do with justice." Janas said slowly. Killian looked at him and the Ash Prime shook his head. "So many people equate the law with justice. They are not the same thing. The law is about order. Not justice."
"It is not supposed to be that way." Killian wasn't arguing. "But..." He broke off as the door behind Karen opened. It didn't slam, but it sure seemed that way as a furious Rhino and a barely less angry Oberon charged in. Neither had weapons in hand. It didn't matter. No one sane was going to try and fight those two.
"Tenno Killian. You lied to me. Fine, you may obey your orders. But you will leave this dojo immediately and you will never come back. If you do, you will shot on sight." Karl said with a growl worthy of an Infested. "Carlos here has demanded to act as Cathi's representative. Unless you deny her that."
"She has that right unless she gives it up." Killian wasn't moved by the rage of the two newcomers. At least, not outwardly.
"Oh, don't give me that!" Carlos snapped. "The only right she has to be screwed by anyone with more authority that she has." Killian shook his head and Carlos snarled. "Don't even try, policeman! I know how the system is supposed to work. I also know how it does work."
"Her guilt is proven.' Killian said quietly. "She has not denied it."
"SHE WASN'T IN CONTROL OF HERSELF, JACKASS!" Karen shouted. "She cannot deny the fact that she was slave!" Karl moved to stand beside her, the Rhino almost quivering in fury.
"You have abused our hospitality." Karl said softly, rage seeping through every pore. "You have spied on a hurt sister. And now you will take her. All to toe the line with your precious 'Law'. Fine. I refuse to kill over this. Cathi wouldn't want that. Get out of our dojo and know this... if anything, ANYTHING at all happens to Cathi, I will find you and the ones who sent you." The Rhino laid a hand on Karen's shoulder and she jerked, but moved. "You know what I will do."
"There is no need-" Killian started, only to freeze as Karl unlimbered his Hek. The Rhino didn't aim it, but...
"We are taking my ship." Carlos said in a tone that brooked no argument. "And you better be gone before Brianna gets here. She will kill you. She isn't Tenno and you just hurt one she was trying to help."
"I haven't hurt her." Killian protested as he started for the door. The Oberon matched his pace.
"If you do..." Janas' voice was a terrible thing. "You can run. You can hide. It won't do any good. You have no idea how many people will be looking to 'talk' to you. Karl is the merciful one of that that group."
"For what it is worth?" Killian said as the Atlas left the room, Carlos at his heels. "It wasn't a lie, Karl." The Rhino ignored him, the Hek not -quite- tracking the Atlas. He slumped a bit as he walked, his badge vanishing back wherever he hid it. "I won't hurt her." He promised Carlos who ignored him. "I am not your enemy, Tenno Carlos."
"Nor are you my friend." Carlos retorted as he keyed the elevator for access to the landing bays. "I guess it is a good thing to be reminded that Tenno can be lying, cheating pieces of crap just like humans." Killian winced at that, but did not respond.
"Aw shit..." The cop swallowed hard as the elevator opened to a hallway that was not empty. An Ember Prime, a Mag and an unarmored female Tenno stood watching the pair as they exited the elevator. None of the three spoke. None had weapons ready, but the hostility was palpable. Their eyes did not leave the pair until the hatch of the landing bay closed behind them. "They don't understand. She is a criminal."
"They understand just fine. You are a liar." Carlos replied as he led the way towards a Liset that was docked nearby. "You repaid our trust with lies. Cathi didn't want to fight. She wouldn't want us to fight kin. Especially not for her. That is the only reason you are leaving with her." He scoffed. "Or leaving intact."
"We won't hurt her, Tenno Carlos!" Killian replied as he waited for the airlock to cycle. "She didn't hurt anyone when she stole the data. Indeed, she avoided conflict. We didn't know what had been done for days." Carlos stepped into his ship and the Atlas followed. A scream of female rage was cut off as the airlock closed, but then the ship gave a 'clunk' as it disconnected from the dojo.
It was a standard Liset. Not new, but newly refurbished. Killian did not move as the ship's thrusters pushed it away from the hidden space fortress.
"Where?" Carlos demanded. "And make it quick. When Jesse finds out about this..." The Oberon actually shuddered. "You don't know anger until you have seen an angry Cyberlancer. You better pray they can calm her down. Cathi died for Jesse. And Jesse understands honor even if you wouldn't know it if it slapped you upside the face."
"Her name is Catherine Gata." The police Tenno said calmly.
"No, her name is Cathi." Carlos retorted. "Where?" He repeated.
"Colony 5-Aleph Sin." Killian replied."That was where I was to take her. They will set up the trial there." Carlos did not respond, instead, he keyed controls and the speedy little ship hummed as power flowed through its thrusters again. "I am just doing my job."
"That doesn't make what you are doing right." Carlos retorted. He finished keying controls and turned to face the atlas. The rage had lessened a little. Only a little. "I am going to say this as often as I have to. Cathi has classified information inside her skull. There will be no mindscans, monitored or otherwise." The cop stiffened and Carlos shook his head. "I don't care what your precious regulations say. She will suicide if you try to mindscan her. If that happens? You don't know bad."
"We will need to scan her." Killian said slowly. "If just to see what she did with the information she took."
"We know what she did with the information she took. You do not get the other information in her head." Carlos said savagely as he stepped to another console. "If you try, I will have you and your entire force up on charges." The Oberon shook his head. "That may the only way to save your lives."
"You would kill kin?" Killian asked, his voice soft, disbelieving.
"No." Carlos replied, not looking at the cop. "I wouldn't do a damned thing. Nikis and Sun now..." At that, the cop recoiled a bit and Carlos chuckled without mirth. "What? You thought Janas was bluffing?"
"Nikis... and Sun." Killian swallowed hard. That was a pair no one sane wanted to face. Ever.
"Cathi was the reason that they managed to end the evil woman who had enslaved her." Carlos said quietly. "She and Jesse stopped the evil woman in her tracks. Sun freed Cathi from the controls that bound her and Nikis brought her back after she sacrificed herself for Jesse. Both have reasons to dislike Cathi. But they also know her. Both also have secrets that they will kill to protect. Secrets Cathi is privy to and you are not cleared for. This is your only warning. I will warn whoever else you bring in, but you?" Carlos shook his head. "If you or any of your people try to access information you are not cleared for, I will let you explain to Interrogator Sun why."
"I am not your enemy, Tenno Carlos." Killian said quietly.
"Could have fooled me."
Outside of time and space
Cathi was floating. It was fairly restful actually. She hadn't been sure what to expect. She had never dealt with police before. She knew they had existed of course. Not every Tenno was a straight up paragon of virtue after all. Add to that the fact that Tenno had always been forced to police themselves and, well... It made a certain amount of sense. In Cathi's case, there hadn't been anyone else involved in her escapade. There hadn't been an aggrieved party to take it to an Elder. She had worked hard to stay unnoticed, so no one had been hurt or killed. No one to seek vengeance on her. That had been the plan anyway. But she had missed a trap, so...
"Prisoner 87654-1-F." The voice was gender neutral.
Cathi jerked, but she couldn't move. She didn't try after a moment. She cleared her mind, focused on her training. Whatever this was- Pain lanced through her and she bit her lip to keep from crying out. Whatever this place was, she could still feel pain. She was likely doing damage to herself, but she would not betray Karl's clan.
"Prisoner 87654-1-F, you are to be processed." The voice spoke again, still calm. Probably an AI. "Do not resist." Cathi ignored the voice and another pulse of pain snapped through her. She fought to ignore that. "Name: Catherine Gata."
That is not my name. Cathi forced the errant thought back into her mind, focusing on nothing. On emptiness. On darkness.
"Prisoner 87654-1-F. You have been accused of espionage. Theft of classified material from a secure repository." Cathi stiffened at that. She hadn't stolen classified material. Everything she had taken had been open source, historical records. One of the others had acquired Jesse's records. Cathi hadn't been involved in that. "You will return the material that you stole."
Cathi scoffed. She couldn't. The one who had absorbed the information was dead and gone, her energy scattered, deleted and reformatted. Nikis was not one to anger and Cathi's former slavemistress had angered the Grandmaster of the Dead. A fatal mistake.
"You will be processed, Prisoner 87654-1-F." The voice said again. "Resistance is futile. You will be prepared for scans." Cathi went still. Mindscans? No, she couldn't. There was too much... She was privy to too much. Avalon, the Caretakers... So much more. She didn't dare let them into her head. "You will be asked questions. Respond with truth and be rewarded. Respond with falsehoods and be punished."
Cathi shook her head, focusing her mind as she had been taught so long ago. She would not betray Eliza. She would not betray the Caretakers. She would not betray Karl. Suicide wasn't a good choice, but in this case? It was her only choice.
"Prisoner 87654-1-F." The voice spoke again. "You are required to respond."
Cathi ignored the voice, focusing her mind on the biofeedback technique that she had been taught by her first masters. She had never thought to need it, but... it wasn't working, Why wasn't it working?
"Prisoner 87654-1-F." The voice repeated. "You are required to respond." Pain lanced through Cathi, but it barely touched her.
Cathi braced herself and focused as never before. She would not betray her oaths. If she couldn't kill herself, then...
Without sense of transition, Cathi was lying on something hard. She coughed as air forced its way down her throat despite her wishes. Despite her demands that she not breathe her body had other ideas and her lungs drew a deep breath.
"Cathi." Carlos' voice was tense from close beside her. "Can you hear me?"
No. Cathi begged silently although her mouth was free. Don't...
"Cathi, it is okay." An armored hand was on her arm now, easing her to the side, another hand was on her wrist, checking her pulse. "They cannot be told what you know. They are not happy about it, but I find I don't care much." He hissed as a hand touched her face. "You idiots."
"What the hell?" Killian. This was Killian's voice. The cop who had arrested her. "How did that happen?"
"She reacts to pain by biting her lip so she doesn't cry out. Ever." Carlos said as soothing numbness arced through Cathi's face, quenching the fire she barely noticed.
"So much for not hurting her."