Betrayal hurts
Psamathe, Neptune- 3 Years prior to Present Day
When his Burston had run out of ammo, the Judicator- or Howard as he was once called- knew he was in trouble. The Tennos's target was resilient and a pain in the butt. The Hyena was and is still a prototype proxy for the Corpus. Its armor is incredibly thick, armed with Gatling machine guns, and can knock down any obstacle in its way; which was the Tenno.
However, something was different about this one- normally Howard could disable a proxy like the Hyena within five clicks of his trigger. It wasn't down nor was the armor plating even scratched. Howard had back-flipped away from the target right as it was sending a tremor through the floor, but he was still caught in the blast. He smashed into the wall bodily and groaned with a sudden pain in his back. An alarm flared yellow in his helmet as his shielding dropped dramatically. His allied Frost just stared at him amused from the deck above. His armor gleaming blue and pale grey with his Boltor held loosely in his arms.
"What was it you said about how shameful it was to be beaten by a proxy?" The Frost chuckled through the static in his helmet-mic.
"Shut up," Howard snapped as he struggled to stand up, "I'm not through with that piece of crap yet."
"If you say so," his friend shrugged turning his attention back towards the Hyena.
Howard threw his Burston aside and drew out his Lex whose silver paint gleamed in the light. Its grip fell comfortably in his right hand and the reflex-action of pulling the slide back felt nice- it was one of his favorite weapons. Don't fail me now, Howard said to his weapon.
Thankfully, the gun didn't reply.
He raised it up and aimed at the proxy with concentration with both hands on the grip. The Hyena had many exploitable weak spots along its sides and legs. Usually it could shut it down in a few well placed shots. All Howard needed now was a distraction to keep it from facing him.
As if it were a coincidence, the Ember threw a ball of flame at the proxy and was followed up by a wave of ice rushing towards it. The proxy's shields gave way to the powers of the two Tenno and it howled with a metallic voice as it honed in on its new target.
BLAM!
The proxy's left side was now scarred by a massive bullet hole and it stumbled to a stop. Howard thought it was over and he holstered his Lex gratefully. The Frost and the Ember gave each other high-fives before realizing it was getting back up again. Although a robot programmed without emotions, it seemed quite angry.
"Enemy Proximity: Immediate… Defensive Systems…Employed: Dismemberment", its voice box screeched as it stomped a shockwave through the ground once more. All three of them were instantly knocked down to their chests, but the proxy did not stop there. Two large rectangular panels began to open up on the flanks of its body revealing two missiles that were directly aimed towards Howard's friends. Again these were different and the Judicator held his breath. He recognized them from what the Jackal had and was not too happy about it.
"Move it!" Howard screamed at the top of his lungs, "Those are heat seekers!"
The Frost, still recovering from the tremor, tried to run away while leaving the Ember unconscious on the second deck. The first missile whistled out of the Hyena with lightning speed. Howard attempted follow the smoke trails it left behind and looked away as the projectile hit home- square on his friend's back.
The Tenno was flung into the air like a doll and hit the ground with a loud clunk. His body at an awful angle without his left limbs, Howard forced himself not to vomit. Instead, he turned to the attention of the Ember that was still where she was hit by the Hyena's attack. The next missile will be directed to her unless I get its attention, he thought while gripping his pistol tightly in his fist, I have no choice.
He opened fire wildly at his target and hit it a couple times before it was facing him. Sure enough, the second missile squealed towards him and was coming in fast. Howard ran as fast as his legs could take him and dove over the railing. The heat seeker missed him but only just. It exploded against the floor of the room only feet away from where Howard stood.
His sensors were blaring and indicated that his shields were almost drained from the blast. Annoyed he turned them off and quickly made for a charge towards the proxy. It let loose a burst of rounds at him, and then it went ballistic and fired at will. Howard felt the bullets smack against his armor and his body began to burn from the wounds he was sustaining. Still he kept charging at it and drew his sword.
The Hyena backed away as the Tenno jumped up in the air with his Skana held two-handed above his head. He yelled a battle cry as he brought it down upon its back. The entire body shuddered from the impact and shook the Judicator off with a spasm. He hit the floor besides his fallen companion and grimaced from the pains of his wounds. He took a glance at the Frost that lay lifeless below and then looked at the Ember that beginning to stir.
"Illogical," screeched the Hyena as it swayed from side to side spraying black oil-like blood from the wound, "Enemy…Defensive Systems…Offline…Illogical…Cannot be…Defeat…"
The robot fell to the ground and did not move. Howard sighed in mixed relief and pain, "You lose…bastard."
He turned his attention to his allies and inspected them for a pulse. The Ember was alive and was stirring from unconsciousness. His other friend, however, he could not say the same. Indeed he was dead. Howard quickly gave him his last rites and undid the Frost's armband. It bore a white phoenix with its arms spread outward in triumph and a bright light shining behind its form.
"Father to one…brother to our family…Warrior to all," Howard muttered as he gripped the piece of cloth tightly in a fist. What am I going to tell his friend's wife and daughter? Howard thought desperately looking at the Ember for an answer.
"Howard," She said calmly, "We have to go. The Corpus Security will be here in a matter of moments."
"I'm not leaving his body behind," Howard answered starting to pick the carcass up by its right arm.
"It will slow us-"
"I DON"T CARE!" Howard shouted, "I'm not leaving him to the mercy of the Corpus surgeons and morticians. I can at least give him that much."
Her emotions were hidden behind her helmet, but he knew that she was thinking- calculating a way to escape this damned cruiser. She gave a defeated sigh and waved him to carry on.
…
The alarms were blaring in the intercom, but no one opposed the Tenno as they made way for the ships. It was ominously dark and quiet all throughout. Howard glanced around the corners and would find the occasional dead crewman sprawled mutilated on the ground. His eyes narrowed as he inspected the wounds of one of the corpses.
Clean cuts throughout- not the work of the average blade.
Suspicion filled his mind as they reached the docking bay. Howard laid the body of his friend on the deck and hailed his clan on the communication link, "Hawk, this is Falcon, requesting immediate evac over."
"Roger that, Falcon," answered the voice of the clan leader, "We're sending a cruiser in to dock with your pods- ETA 5 minutes."
"Understood," Howard sighed as he shut it off.
THWACK!
Howard instantly whirled around and his face melted into a look of horror. The Ember had taken her helmet off and he could see her blue eyes widen as she looked down as the large arrow pierced her chest. Her mouth twitched violently and she dropped her weapons. Blood was flowing uncontrollably as she fell voiceless to the ground- her eyes rolled up behind her head.
Howard looked down at the deck below just in time to dodge the second arrow. The assassin was wearing a strange suit of armor similar to the Warframe he had on but was wearing a different helmet- an ugly one. Howard lunged for the man and grabbed him by the neck. He smacked the assassin's bow away and pressed his Lex into the man's chin.
"Who the f*ck are you, huh?!" Howard yelled, "You f*cking piece of sh*t! I'm gonna kill you, but first, what the hell is your name?!"
"Howard-san…what are…you doing?" the assassin said through a choked voice.
He froze and asked, "Hirako? Is that you?"
The assassin nodded slightly, but that made Howard only angrier. He growled as he smashed the butt-end of the pistol fiercely into the Tenno's helmet until it finally cracked in half. As the helmet fell, Howard saw the horrified look on the man's face and the blood streaming down from his forehead.
"Why did you kill my friends- our friends?" Howard asked with a barely-controlled voice.
"I'm only…following orders." Hirako rasped as Howard started pushing him towards the docking area. Howard cracked his pistol on Hirako's shoulder, but held him up firmly after the blow. Forcing him up the stairs, Howard shoved him to the ground. As Hirako lay coughing, Howard was reloading his Lex.
"You dirty rotten traitor," Howard snarled throwing the empty clip downstairs which echoed against the steel floor.
"I told you, Sensei," Hirako wheezed, "I didn't want to…she-they told me to do it."
"Oh, I'm sure they did," Howard snapped sarcastically pulling back the slid of the gun.
When the Tenno assassin finally got up, finally facing his old teacher, he stammered, "H-Howard-san…what are you-"
BLAM!
A shot ricocheted off Hirako's armor and pushed him further back. He nearly lost his footing, but stood firm.
BLAM!
Another shot bounced off his breastplate and sent him slamming into the pod.
BLAM!
The ship suddenly undocked and the air was being vacuumed out to space as it departed to an uncharted position. Hirako made a run for something to grab unto, but Howard didn't give him the chance.
BLAM! BLAM! BLAM!
Now he was clinging on the frame of the airlock looking at his former mentor with mixed fear and horror as Howard raised his pistol for the final shot.
"Go to hell," Howard sneered as he fired the last round into Hirako's forehead sending him flying out into space-lifeless as a doll.
Fifteen Days Later in the High Council Court…
"…Howard Reagan," boomed the Court Judge, "You are charged for the murder of two Tenno- Miss Myers and Mister Hanamura-"
"Murder?!" Howard yelled struggling through his bindings in the middle of the room. Guards stood next to him on either side with grim faces looking down on him with disappointment and disgust. Howard couldn't believe this- he didn't kill his friend; Hirako did it.
"Hirako tried to kill us! I was defending myself!" Howard argued.
"Hirako was being sent to you to help you get the wounded back on the cruiser," The Lotus said calmly, "I have evidence from the autopsy that your Lex killed him- you fired seven rounds and fired two arrows; one of which slew Miss Myers."
"I don't even own a bow!" Howard exclaimed.
"Excuses!" scoffed the Judge, "The evidence proofs you guilty. This case I believe is quite finished."
"What should he be charged with?" the Lotus asked folding her hands on her lap.
"Death!" cried out a female who he recognized as his friend's little girl. No, Howard thought with a pained expression, not you too. There were numerous agreements and just as many disapprovals until finally the judge silenced them.
"So be it," the Judge said firmly, "Death is his punish-"
"Wait," the Lotus interrupted, "It'd be a waste of manpower to get rid of a warrior such as he. I vote that he should live."
There were several sighs of relief and many mutters of disagreement.
"He won't go unpunished, however," she continued giving him a look of pity, "I say, make him wear the armor of judgement for the rest of his life."
Howard gaped slightly and was suddenly taken away. His judgement had been decided.
…
The procedure was painful and would forever be seared into his brain as long as the Judicator lived. He was hung from the electric cords that were surging energy into the suit. He would be banished to do constant 24/7 active duty for quite a while, but at least he could still help the Tenno in their fight against the evil- even if it meant to never return from the field without permission.
He looked up towards the sound of footsteps and looked away for he knew who it was. A female wearing a blue and white Nyx warframe approached him slowly with her helmet tucked under her arm. Her brown eyes were brimming with tears as she suddenly broke for a run and hugged his dangling body. Howard wished he could return that love, but he couldn't.
She placed her hand on his face and whispered, "I'm glad you're alive."
"Really?" he laughed bitterly, "That's a relief."
"What's wrong?" She asked with a slight frown on her face.
"You hanging around me," he answered pointing his chin at her armband, "You could lose that if you're not careful."
"What does that matter to you?" she scowled, "I don't care that my reputation is at risk."
"But I do and so do the rest of your family," he argued miserably, "I am a disgrace to the Tenno, and I don't want that to cling to you too."
"So what are you saying?"
"Let me go," Howard answered with difficulty.
Irene looked at him with a look of shock and smacked him hard. She scoffed, "What is going on with you? Do you really think feelings can be dropped like that- over such a small thing?"
"That small thing can get you killed, "Howard argued with a raised voice, "Look- you have better things to do than to talk to me. You should go."
Irene opened her mouth to say something, but then closed it knowing that his mind has been set. With sadness in her eyes, she kissed him on the cheek and left the room. She didn't even look back.
To his surprise another figure entered the room- the Lotus.
"My, my," She sighed, "What a lovely pair you were… too bad that it was never meant to be."
"What do you want?" Howard asked with a tension suddenly going through his body- danger, it was saying.
"I see you have already gotten your neural connection online, "the Lotus remarked ignoring his question.
"I said, 'What do you want?'" Howard asked again.
"Straight to the point," the Lotus chuckled but it sounded more like a hiss, "Maybe I chose wrong, but then again you are a useful pawn."
"I don't like being used," he growled leaning forward with a malignant gleam in his eye.
"Whether you like it or not, you will always be a pawn," She smiled with no trace of humor, "That's what your teacher told you, isn't it? Respect the chain of command?"
He froze for a second and then realization dawned to him, "You killed him."
"More like 'honorably died with honor intact'," She answered, "After all, you are his student who became a murderer. It brought shame upon him for he had failed to do his duty-to train you properly. You should have seen the disappointment and anguish in his eyes…and the straight face he had when he was ordered to commit Hara-Kiri in your former clan hall by the Council. It was fun decapitating him and spilling his red blood all over the floor at the rate of a fountain."
Howard lost control of his temper once again and lashed out at her, but she was too far away to strangle her neck. The Lotus licked her lips and began to walk to him.
(A/N: Yeah…I made her a sadist…)
She whispered in his ear- her breath warm on his face, "You'll get used to orders soon enough. Whether you like it or not, you will follow chain of command. Just like your friend- what was his name? Hirako, I believe?"
Howard's anger burst and he lunged for her neck. But she disappeared in a cloud of black mist with her laugh echoing in the room. His screams and curses filled the entire Clan Dojo for the rest of the night- echoing his feelings of betrayal and hurt.
