Copies

"What were the idiots thinking?"

Liriel was numb. She could barely move. Matril was beside her, his warm mass comforting to the stunned Kavat. They had moved into another room and other had joined them. Some physical, some virtual. Abigail had come in, seen Liriel distraught and immediately picked up the Kavat to hold her. To comfort her. She had sat on a convenient bench and Matril now sat in her lap beside Liriel, purring every so often. Trinity stood beside the trio, her own posture furious. But that paled beside the other person who had joined the group virtually.

Jesse was somewhere beyond furious. The young Cyberlancer had taken quite a shine to Liriel and Liriel returned it. To find out that someone had not only violated the Kavat, but had made copies? Oh dear. Jesse wasn't quite as bad angry as her adopted mother, but she was no slouch as many had found out to their cost.

"Liriel?" Brianna Executor hadn't said much. Her own face was calm, but she had her emotions under tight control. She was angry, that was clear from what little she had said and how, but she was in control of herself. A good thing. In her own tower? She was just as dangerous as a Tenno in a warframe if not more so.

"She is in shock." Trinity laid an insubstantial hand on the shuddering Kavat and energy played out, soothing Liriel a little. "Hard to blame her after all of this."

"I can help her." Brother Caddasif said quietly. Everyone glared at the Clergyman but Liriel who was too drained to move. He subsided.

"Haven't you Corpus done enough?" Jesse demanded. "Whose bright idea was that? Our kind don't clone any more than we brainwash! It doesn't work!"

"No one knew what she was until much later." The Clergyman was calm, but sad. "None of us had any idea she was a Cyberlancer until she acted to protect Abigail."

"How do you know about that?" Matril snarled. The Clergyman did not reply and Matril tensed. "You are going to answer." That was not a question. More a threat.

"I cannot answer you." The human replied. "I can only answer her." He nodded to Liriel who jerked a little, but was too spent to speak even mentally.

"We can make you talk." Brianna said quietly. Again, not a threat. But dangerous enough anyway.

"Yes, you probably could while I am here." Brother Caddasif was oddly calm despite being surrounded by angry powerful people. "But I would likely die in the process before you have any information. I have several anti-interrogation protocols in my head. I cannot answer you."

"But you can answer her?" Matril rubbed up against Liriel. "That makes no sense. You serve your Company and the Clergy. Not in that order."

"I do." Caddisif agreed.

"So, what?" Matril demanded. "You hurt her again? I won't let you!" His growl when he finished was pure threat.

"No." Caddisif said softly. "As Cyberlancer Jesse said, she has been hurt enough. We owe her a debt of pain and blood. Said debt will be paid."

The only reason you would say that is… If you did it. Liriel's soft, pained mind voice had everyone staring her. The Clergy did it. Didn't they? Cloned me? Caddisif's bowed head was all the corroboration everyone needed but before anyone else could speak, Liriel did again. Why?

"We thought we had killed you." Caddisif said sadly. "We didn't know what you were, just that you were unique. Beautiful and deadly and all that. An utterly unique breed of Kavat. The Reverend Mother was trying so hard not to hurt you further and then, your mind just shut down. We all..." He shook his head. "We hurt you. We didn't mean to. We were trying help, but we did hurt you. We made you wipe your own memories and we thought you were gone forever. We destroyed a beautiful thing and we had to try and make it right."

"By cloning her?" Matril and Jesse both barked that.

"We are fully aware that such was a mistake. Now." Caddisif said flatly. "If my life be the atonement she desires, it is hers. Not yours." That was to everyone but Liriel who slowly and painfully shook her head.

I do not kill humans who do not attack me or mine. Liriel said weakly and Abigail stroked her side gently. You have not attacked me or mine. You have made a hell of a mess. That was biting.

"We are aware." The Clergyman agreed. "The robotic teams we sent to destroy the facility stopped responding. The sheer depth inside Jupiter's atmosphere precludes most normal methods of destruction."

And you don't want to ignite the gas giant with weapons of mass destruction. I know. Liriel replied and Caddasif stared at her. Don't ask how I know that tactic would work. She warned.

"I won't." Caddisif sighed and then slumped. "No, we don't. There are far too many Corpus facilities that reside inside the atmosphere of Jupiter to be evacuated. We are contemplating a deep strike by Special Forces, but it would be a one way trip. We have no means of getting any conceivable force capable of destroying a Sentient facility out of that deep in a gravity well as massive as Jupiter's. We do have volunteers. Special Forces are nothing if not brave and this is a massive risk to the entire system. But..." He broke off and shrugged helplessly.

But you do not want to sacrifice them. Liriel said flatly, her strength slowly returning. So, the copies of me?

"The Corpus have been experimenting with various breeds of Kavat and Kubrow." Caddisif said quietly. "Bek's obsession sparked a massive run on anyone or anything who might have Kubrow or Kavat DNA. Hence why the doctor hurt you stealing your DNA."

I hope she is still alive. I want to have some words with that one. Liriel's cold tone had everyone nodding.

"She is and will be until you can have some words with her. We are all in agreement about that." Caddisif's smile was just as cold as the Kavat's tone. "We did recover all of the stolen DNA samples. We did not use them all."

"Why?" Matril demanded. "Why clone her? What possible use is a mad Kavat?"

"We didn't know such would drive the clones mad." Caddisif sighed. "The Executive in charge of the facility recovery project wanted a Kavat. We gave her the DNA to make one."

Mine. Liriel said softly and Caddisif nodded. Why? She demanded.

"We were trying to gain influence with her and..." He frowned and then nodded. "And at the same time, we gave her an Orokin design harness that has a tracker as well as video and audio recording devices hidden inside."

You are talking to others. Am I talking to you or the whole Clergy? Liriel demanded.

"Both." Caddisif replied evenly as everyone else stared from one to the other. "We are all shamed by what we did, Elder Liriel. We had no way of knowing, but we did harm. We must do what we can to atone."

And you don't want to antagonize potential allies or enemies. Liriel snapped and Caddisif bowed his head.

"We have enough enemies, Elder Liriel." Caddisif replied. "We know trust will take a long time to form, if it is possible at all. This situation though… If the Kavat or Kavats are mad, then we need to stop them."

"Easier said than done." Jesse muttered. "Why can't the Corpus stop the ship? I thought that was what the Clergy were for, to stop silliness from destroying humanity."

"We have been, Cyberlancer." Caddisif sounded tired for a moment. "We thought we could sabotage the work or at the very least get more people to realize that playing with Sentient tech is a very bad idea. But too many see Profit here and that is all that matters to them." He looked away, his face falling. "Profit above all, no matter the cost to everyone. Idiots."

So, what do you want? Liriel was angry, but subsided a little as Abigail's hand stroked her head.

"There is, potentially, one way to get to the lab and back." Caddisif said quietly. "But it is not a way that any human can take." Liriel was hardly the only one to stare at him and he shook his head. "We know what else calls this facility 'home', Brianna Executor and while we are very nervous about it, we have no choice but to accept it unless we wish to launch a full scale assault which would probably fail." He shook his head. "Not that the truth would go over well with anyone if it were to come out."

Liriel stiffened as she realized he was talking about Tanah!

Leave him alone. Liriel snapped. He is trying to keep his word to his sister. Nothing more. Do not push him.

"We have no intention of doing so." Caddisif held up empty hands when everyone tensed. "Such would be counterproductive and fairly stupid, all said. But, Elder, we cannot travel as he did. You can."

So you want me to do what? Liriel demanded, still angry. Sacrifice myself? Sacrifice those who look to me? They are not human, so they do not matter?

"I didn't say that." Caddisif said quickly. "What I am asking is that you look into options that do not include suicide. That is all." He shook his head. "I have given the information I had. What you do next is up to you. I will go sit with Kieko while she prays. I will try again to get her to reconsider her choice. It is her choice, but none of us want to lose her." Abigail choked back a sob and Liriel rubbed the girl's thigh with a furred head. "The Clergy do owe you, Elder Liriel, and we will pay the debt if we can." That was a promise. He nodded to the Orokin and left the room. Brianna nodded to everyone and did the same as as everyone else looked at Liriel.

"You need sleep, Liriel. Real sleep." Trinity broke the silence when it turned uncomfortable.

This is not a decision I can make alone, Trinity. I may be an Elder, but this defines dangerous and potentially suicidal. Liriel said slowly. I need to talk to the other cats. Matril? She asked as he nuzzled her.

"I am not going anywhere, love." Matril promised. "Sleep if you can. Princess?" The calico cat asked Jesse who frowned.

"We can get them here, undetectable." Jesse promised. "It won't be fast. Liriel, you are not alone in this. Please, don't do anything rash."

Me? Liriel scoffed. I am not Matril.

Everyone laughed as the calico cat recoiled, but then smirked as only a cat could. Jesse smiled and vanished. Trinity shook her head and vanished as well, leaving Matril and Abigail with Liriel who sighed and relaxed.

I am sorry about Kieko, Abigail. Liriel said as sleep came for her. I know about losing loved ones.

"She is not dead yet." Abigail said weakly, but her voice held little hope. "But…" She bowed her head as Liriel's purrs soothed her.

Lay me on the bench. Liriel commanded. Go be with your friend. If these are her final hours, you will want to be there. As hard as it will be, you will hate yourself if you are not there when she passes. If you believe nothing else I say, please believe that.

"You need me too." Abigail said weakly, but Liriel just closed her eyes. Abigail heaved a sigh and then Liriel felt motion. She was laid on something firm but soft. One final pet and then Matril's warm mass settled beside the almost asleep Kavat.

Matril… I… Liriel begged weakly.

"Rain check, love. Sleep." Matril's tone was soothing and the Kavat fell into sleep soothed.

Something was wrong!

Liriel felt her body's rhythms slowing, but her mind was flying free. That wasn't supposed to happen. Even Elders of the Feline Corps had limits to what they could do. In that, at least, the ones who had made them so long ago had been wise. If very little else.

But...

Someone was crying. Someone young. Liriel felt her heard break to pieces as she heard small, male sobs. A kitten was crying.

Hello? Liriel asked in her mind and a gasp heralded her mind being pulled somewhere else. She was suddenly in a warm place, but it was dark. Fear came from somewhere, but Liriel wasn't afraid. Not now. She knew what to do, if not why. Don't be afraid, kitten. I won't hurt you. My name is Liriel. What is yours?

I... The male voice was subdued, scared almost beyond reason. I don't know. Everything hurts! Help! He begged.

I will. Liriel focused her mind and a virtual world grew around her. It arced into a small room composed of lavender code. Liriel felt her virtual self materialize, but another form as as well, this one tiny and clearly male. It was easy to see since the barely born kitten had no fur yet. He was shivering even though virtual worlds had controlled temperature. Liriel shook her head. This won't do.

The Kavat lay down beside the shivering kitten and he relaxed a little as her warmth seeped into him.

Who? The little one begged as Liriel started to purr soothing him as best she could. What?

"It is all right, little one." Liriel said aloud, able to verbalize as humans did in this place. "It is all right. You are cold. Let me warm you." He jerked, but then relaxed a little.

"Something is wrong!" The kitten pleaded. "Everything hurts! My skin, my head, my tail! It all hurts!"

"Easy." Liriel focused on the small form and somehow was not surprised to find that 1) He had her DNA and 2) He had Feline Corps augmentation. Augmentation that was at war with his mind. He wasn't just augmented. He was psionic! And just from touching his mind? Powerful. "I do not understand." Liriel said weakly.

This wasn't possible, was it? A clone of Liriel would go mad. Cyberlancers had a lot of problems reproducing after their powers were live. If she chose to keep her powers, Abigail would have a lot of problems if she ever wished children. It was possible, but incredibly hard.

"Mother?" The kitten asked, stunned as Liriel purred harder, trying to keep him calm. "I see… You… No! They hurt you! The humans in blue! They hurt you!"

"Easy, easy." Liriel reached out with a paw to pulled the shuddering kitten in close. "Let it go, kitten. You are not ready for this. Focus on my voice, hold tight to me. Let it fall away. Do not-" She paused as the kitten screamed.

"NO!" The kitten cried out. "NO! MOTHER! NO! No, no, no, no, no, no… Lousy stinking Tenno! Lying! No! Mother! Father! No!" He was crying and screaming both.

"Easy. Easy." Liriel felt even more helpless than watching Mary have her seizure. She couldn't do anything but sit there and, wait… She could do something. She started to sing. Her voice was rusty, disused, but she pulled the lyrics up from the recesses of her memory and sang from the heart.

La nieve brilla esta noche aquí más
Ni una huella queda ya
Soy la reina en un reino de aislamiento y soledad
El viento aúlla y se cuela en mi interior
Lo quise contener pero se escapó
No dejes que sepan de ti
Que no entren, siempre me dijo a mí
No has de sentir, no han de saber
¿Ya qué más da?

Suéltalo, suéltalo, no lo puedo ya retener
Suéltalo, suéltalo, ya no hay nada que perder
Qué más da, ya se descubrió
Déjalo escapar, el frío a mí nunca me molestó

Ariana had always loved that song. Suéltalo It had soothed her even in her worst moments and Liriel had learned it from her. The kitten beside her gasped and then, he was singing softly with her. His eyes turned to her, but they could not see yet. By the time the words ended, he was relaxed.

"Mother?" He begged, his voice hearse from screaming.

"I am here." Liriel said softly. "I don't know how I am here, but I am here. It is all right. You are going to be all right." She hoped so anyway.

"She said… I had to die." The kitten said sadly. "But if I do, you and dad… I can't… Mother! Help!"

"Whoa, who, whoa. Slow down." Liriel commanded. "Who said you had to die?" She demanded. "No one is killing you! Not on my watch!"

"A human in white. She was crying. She didn't want to tell me, I could see that, but she did and she is right. Every time. Every single time I have seen. I mess it up!" The kitten was crying again. "I can't control this!"

"Psionics are a mess, true." Liriel admitted. "The whole idea is insane. Almost as insane as the people who thought to breed the ability into humanity. Morons." The mild insult had the kitten smile for a moment. "That said, it is not the end of the world, kitten. You can live with such things, you just need to focus on controlling what you can and enduring the rest. Let's start slow. You say don't have a name?"

"No." The kitten said weakly. "In all of my visions, I am just a thing or K-1456."

"Dehumanizing." Liriel said softly. The kitten stared at her with blind eyes and she shook her head, a wasted gesture with him not able to see. "Never mind. You can call me Mother if you wish. But I do not understand. I have not born kittens since the Corps made some. None of them were psionic. We would have realized fast and helped them." The kitten started to protest, but Liriel nuzzled him and he quieted. "I am not saying you are wrong. I just don't have all the information. Where were you born?"

"A big white room. It was cold, sterile. A lab?." The kitten said weakly. "You were there. You were hurt. Your mind wasn't working right. They wanted to make more of you and they couldn't. So they called in people. Weird people in funny suits."

"'Funny suits'? Show me." Liriel said softly, horror dawning, and then she screamed as images deluged her mind. "Slower!"

What she saw took her beyond horror.

Then it made her mad. She slowly shook her head when it ended. When she spoke, it was as if all the fires of hell spoke through her.

"Kitten, you have a name now. Your name is Alejandro. I am your mother and we have work to do."

A bit later.

Liriel woke to find Matril lying beside her. They were not alone.

Isis sat by the wall with Jumper, Grisha and Bastet. All looked tense as Liriel looked at them. The Kavat shook her head.

Come here. Liriel commanded and they rose to their feet. The four were reluctant, but jumped up on the bench to sit beside the pair. She looked at Isis and the white furred cat would not meet her gaze. She knew. Isis knew and couldn't say. Only one being could deny her the ability to speak of such. The Empress herself. Only one being could allow Isis to speak. An Elder of the Corps. But not here.

"Enough."

That was aloud and all five of the cats jerked as Liriel's power swept them up and into a virtual world. Liriel scrambled the settings. It wouldn't keep Trinity out for long, but it would for long enough. Hopefully.

"I know what happened and it is not your fault, Isis." Liriel said when Isis opened her mouth. "I forgive you. You had no choice."

"You can't." Isis curled up, her entire posture one of misery. "I couldn't stop! I tried, Elder! I tried!"

"I know." Liriel moved to Isis and lay down beside the distraught Healer, purring. "I may never like you, but there are limits. What they did passed those limits. It is not your fault. It is theirs and I will call the debt due. Vengeance will be ours, but first, we have innocents to make safe."

"What is going on?" Matril demanded, shocked. This was not the usual behavior between the two female cats.

"We have been betrayed, Matril." Isis said weakly through her tears. "All of us."

"More than just us." Liriel corrected and all five of the others stared at her. "This is going to ignite a firestorm. We need to get the kittens out of the dojo and everyone we can save off that derelict. Now. We must not leave any to the non-existent mercy of the ones who did this to us if we can help it."

She jerked as power beyond belief slammed into the wards around her virtual world. She couldn't hold the other out and truth be told? Right now? She didn't want to. She was furious. Before her wards finished shivering, Liriel was between the others and the newcomer as the Tenno shade formed. She wore no warframe and her posture was resigned.

"Liriel..." Trinity was tired and sad. "Don't do anything dumb." She warned even as Liriel focused on resetting her controls, holding Trinity at bay for the moment. The Kavat's firewalls wouldn't last long against the First Cyberlancer's power, but maybe long enough.

"Screw you, Trinity." Liriel gritted out and everyone stared at her. "You do not get to claim the moral high ground today, Tenno. Not after this." She nodded to Isis but her focus never left her old teacher. She had no chance against Trinity power to power, but she did have advantages. Liriel was a Kavat and knew full well how to cheat.

"A mistake was made." Trinity said quietly. "We will correct it."

"You can say it, Tenno." Liriel snapped.

"But killing us all will be a great deal harder."

Suéltalo Is 'Let it Go' from Frozen in Castillian Spanish. A very good translation of a very good song by Disney. Not my work.

Ariana's favorite tune, for many reasons.