Chapter 11: The Void, Part One
"They're devils, Margulis. They're devils in the bodies of gods."
"They're just children! You can't blame them for what they are. Even if they are devils, they need guidance. For what is faith without a figure to follow?"
"The council will be the judge of that."
"No! I won't let you take them from me! They need a mother!"
"Mama? What's happening?"
"Daresh, go back to your room ok? Mommy has grown up things to do right now…I love you my sweet angel, I always will…"
"No! Get away from him, you bastards!"
"Mama!"
"Sweety, run! Run and don't turn back!"
Location: Scout headquarters, Wall Rose
Daresh woke up in a cold sweat, panting and gasping for air. Another nightmare had plagued his sleep. However, this one was different. It felt too real for his taste, far too real to be just a dream. He got dressed, and went out into the dining hall. It was still dark out, the sun just rising over the horizon. Hange and Eren were at the table, Hange blabbering away and Eren looking just about ready to blow his brains out. Daresh lumbered in, and slumped down in a chair with a heavy Thump.
"Morning, sunshine. Sleep well?"
"Eren, do you ever have nightmares?"
"Sure. Pretty often, actually."
"No, not the weird, fantastical nightmares, I mean the ones where you watch horrific events unfold again and again."
Eren was dumbstruck, unsure of what to say.
Daresh looked at him with pleading eyes, almost on the verge of tears.
"Yes...yes I do."
"Then you now know that even the Tenno have psychological torment."
"Is there any way we can help?"
Daresh crossed his elbows on the table and put his head down. Hange mimicked him, their eyes meeting. Daresh described his dream in detail from what he saw. Outside, people were pressing their ears against the door and walls, trying to listen.
"Margulis was like a mother to us Tenno. They took her away from us. We fought back. It was a violent uprising against the orokin. From what I remember, the orokin massacre was led by Inaros, king of the sands. I remember being among those in the fight, I still remember the blood that covered my hands…I remember their screams, I tore children from mothers, brothers from sisters, mothers from fathers. I remember those countless Tenno fighting and dying for their freedom, much like the scouts."
Erwin had taken a seat. He stared at Daresh, eyes filled with sorrow and anguish.
"I still remember the aftermath. Bodies everywhere, littering the ground. We were without guidance, bloodied hands in search of a new purpose. A figure rose to calm our cries, the great sentient queen, Lotus. The Lotus taught us; sent us down a new path. The Tenno founded five great schools: Madurai, Varazin, Naramon, Zenurik, and Unairu. We studied these principles to perfect and control our power to protect the innocent."
Daresh had glistening tears streaming down his cheeks. Other soldiers came inside to comfort him, trying to resist breaking out into tears themselves.
"If I've been asleep underground all this time, the Tenno might be extinct, save for me. I...I need to visit the void. I need to know if there are others. Perhaps they still live, perhaps not. Either way, we should also be able to get some extra supplies."
The room was silent, only the faint sound of crickets outside the window remained. The scouts exchanged glances, nodding to each other.
"Daresh, what is the void?" Erwin asked him.
Daresh sat for a moment, staring blankly at the wall.
"I...don't know how to describe the void...it's beyond my comprehension. Even the orokin didn't understand it. I doubt we could. From what I DO know is that a Tenno's power comes from the void. I don't know much else. Since there's only one somatic link on the ship, we could only have one Warframe active at a time, not including me. All Tenno are connected to the void, and I'm curious as to how your bodies will react to it. One way or another, the Tenno will live on."
Eren shifted his eyes around the room, then back to Daresh.
"Eren, how would you like to wield the power of the Tenno legacy?"
Eren's eyes shot open, the emerald green orbs focusing on him. Mikasa held Eren's arm, her protective side rearing its head.
"Do you really think I'm capable of doing that?"
"I'm a bit reluctant. The void acts differently for everyone. I'm not sure what it might do with you. However, if Armin could learn how to use a completely foreign piece of technology in less than an hour, I have a good feeling you'll be fine."
Erwin leaned back in his chair. "Then it's decided. Daresh, you will take a team into whatever this void-place is, and look for Tenno survivors."
Location: Base courtyard, 2 hours later
Daresh and Armin were sparring in the courtyard while Sasha, Jean, and Connie were hauling supply crates into Daresh's ship. Eren, Mikasa, Levi, and Erwin were inspecting the arsenal of various guns, blades, and strange combinations of the two.
Mikasa lifted a weapon off the rack. It appeared to be an orange grip with a cylindrical mechanism on the top of it. At the press of a trigger, the mechanism opened to reveal spinning blades and a long, flexible cable. A smile spread across her face like wildfire, a small hint of mischief in her expression. Daresh and Armin entered the ship to enjoy the air conditioned interior. Air conditioning was a luxury for them, since sophisticated technology like this was far out of their reach. The two sat on the floor, panting and wiping the sweat from their foreheads.
"That was a good match. You're...hah...getting better...phew...You still need to work on your stance. You leave yourself open." Daresh was about ready to collapse when he heard the whirring of blades coming from the armory. He saw Mikasa holding the whip, dangling it close to the ground. Daresh took a deep breath before talking to her.
"Careful with that. The Atterax is about as painful as it looks. It's frighteningly efficient at slicing and flaying skin from the bone. I wouldn't advise swinging that around unless you have experience using whips." Mikasa's eyes shot open and she dropped the whip, reeling her hand back.
Author's Note: For now, I'm going to try a new type of dialogue format so it's easier to understand who's talking and when. Sorry for the spontaneous structure change, but I think it's for the best. I don't want to have to keep putting meaningless expressive bits at the beginning of a single sentence. (Also it gives me a chance to use witty one liners.)
Eren: You Tenno have some very...interesting weapon designs.
Daresh: you should see the redeemer. Half sword, half shotgun.
Eren: That is so stupid.
Daresh: But it works. If it's stupid and it works, it's not stupid.
Erwin walked to Daresh and gestured him outside. Daresh followed him back outside to the courtyard.
Erwin: So, what's the plan for the void? Should we use the long range formation?
Daresh: No, the Void is in space. You know, beyond your planet's atmosphere? The void is open space. We'll need the liset to navigate.
Erwin: Chances of survival?
Daresh: Eh, pretty good. The Orokin towers are probably still operational. However, that does mean there are probably corrupted soldiers there.
Erwin: Corrupted? Please elaborate.
Daresh: I will address everyone at once. Just know for now that we should expect a fight on arrival.
Erwin: The supplies have been loaded onto the ship. Shall we head off?
Daresh: Indeed we shall.
Back on the ship, 5 minutes later
Daresh gathered everyone onto the ship, and saluted in front of the group.
Daresh: Scouts! Today, you will be the first people of your kind to explore space. It will be dangerous, almost as dangerous as beyond the walls. Almost. Upon arrival to our destination, we should expect a fight. Corrupted soldiers will most likely be swarming the place. That is why I highly suggest you grab a gun or other weapon of choosing from the armory and prepare yourselves. When everyone is ready, we shall depart. I salute you!
The scouts saluted back, and went off to the armory.
Levi chose the dual ethers, Mikasa deciding to try the atterax, Jean chose the Ack and Brunt, Sasha instantly took interest in the Daikyu and the Ballistica.
Erwin decided the Destreza rapier would be a fine choice. Armin chose to use two simple Lato pistols, while Eren found two orange and black grineer sub-machine guns. (We all know what I'm talking about.) Hange used the Latron, Petra with the Vectis, and Oluo using his standard ODM gear.
Location: Planet's orbit
The scouts were awestruck at the vast world in front of them, staring out the window into the blackness of space. The stars twinkled in their eyes, while Daresh sat back with a soft smile. He was happy that that his friends finally got a taste of freedom.
Daresh: Kenos. How long until we reach the void?
Kenos: Approximately 7 hours, 42 minutes, and 37 seconds and counting.
Daresh: Great. You guys might want to take a nap or something. We're gonna be here a while…
3 Hours later
Daresh turned around in his chair to look at the scouts, sound asleep on the floor and against the wall. He looked down, and tried to recall the nightmare the night before.
Kenos: Is something troubling you, operator?
Daresh: Hm? Nothing you should be concerned about. I just had a nightmare last night.
Kenos: Oh. Do you wish to discuss?
Daresh: It was...The death of Margulis.
Kenos: O-Oh. I...won't pry any further.
Daresh: I'm just worried about losing them too...They're so fragile, so young. Perhaps the void will give me some form of closure.
Kenos: I understand. You were alive during the uprising, correct?
Daresh: Yes. If you don't mind, I think I might want to go to sleep as well.
Kenos: Certainly. Autopilot engaged. You are now free to do as you please.
Daresh slowly drifted off to sleep, letting the hours pass by.
4 hours later
The Liset had reached the void's edge and was flying towards the nearest orokin tower.
Sasha stirred, her eyes slowly opening and adjusting to the light. She looked to the front of the ship to see a sleeping Tenno and a teal, hazy, fog outside.
Sasha: Guys, wake up! We're here!
Levi: Ugh...stop yelling, you brat.
Hange: Huh! What? Oh, I must have fallen asleep…OH MY GOD WHAT IS THAT?!
Jean: I'm guessing that's the void. Weird.
The rest of the scouts had woken up, stretching and yawning.
Kenos: Operator. Orokin tower in range. Shall we land there?
Daresh: Yes. Set a course for the tower.
The soldiers grabbed their guns and gear and prepared for landing.
END OF CHAPTER 11, PART ONE
Well, this has been an emotional rollercoaster, hasn't it? This chapter was pretty long and it wasn't finished, so I decided to make it a part one. Expect the next part to be just as long if not slightly shorter. I procrastinated so much when writing this chapter, so it was like "Ugh, I wanna, but I don't wanna."
Anyway, this chapter was a bitch to write.