Fresh

Cathi gave herself a shake as she rose to her feet. Sun and Carlos were both eyeing her and she shook her head.

"I was told to tell you that was rude." Cathi glared at the Loki Prime who nodded. "But it helped. I am not who I was. I can accept that. I need to figure out who I am. That will take more than one day."

She would not ask about where he had sent her. He wouldn't answer. She wouldn't ask about what else he had done. Again, he wouldn't answer. Or he might. She really didn't want to know. She knew far too much about his methods already and they gave her enough nightmares as it was.

"Indeed it will." Sun replied. "But now, you do not walk alone." He nodded to the side. Karl, Quais and Rica appeared from wherever they had gone. "There is one more thing." Cathi nodded.

"We still need that sample." Cathi agreed. "Karl?"

"We came to help you." Karl replied evenly. Rica and Quais did not move. "We are not done yet."

"Right." Cathi gave herself a final shake as Rocco moved to stand by her, nuzzling her arm gently. She smiled and gave him a scritch.

Sun, Carlos Killian and the other Limbo who had never introduced himself nodded to Cathi as she moved to stand by Karl.

"Nothing special or flashy." Cathi said firmly. "We get the sample and we leave."

"Fair enough."

Battle

It was incredible.

Karl, Rica and Quais stayed close to Cathi as she fought her way through the mass of the Jordas Golem. The other four were ranging further afield, but all stayed close enough to concentrate fire, to protect each other. The mass was as insane as Cathi remembered, two voices speaking through the cacophony of radiation that pervaded this part of space.

Cathi spun her Odanata in three axis, cleaving a pair of Attack Mutalists that were trying to blindside her. Using parts of the huge mass' own form against it, the team was guiding spores from where they were gestated to impact parts of the mass. The transfer of kinetic energy form the impacts was powerful enough to stun the mass temporarily, especially since it's shields were tuned not to harm itself. They were using the spores to clear biomass from the way they had to travel.

The inside of the ship was a nightmare. Once, it had been a Corpus spacecraft. Now? Parts of said spacecraft still remained but submerged in nasty pink and red metallic flesh. Cathi had hoped that Quais would manage some kind of Cyberlancer magic to get some of the defenses out of the way, but he was unable to for some reason. So, they were doing it the hard way. The good news? All of the Tenno on the team were on the same page. They were not here to kill the-

Help me...

Cathi froze in mid-swing and then bisected another Mutalist. She knew the voice. It wasn't either of the voices of the Jordas Golem, it was another mass. Her eyes went huge as a much larger form appeared in the hallway ahead of her.

Tenno. The voice of the being the Caretakers called the J-3 begged her. It... We cannot stop ourselves. Stop us!

No. Cathi begged as the J-3 aimed something large at her.

STOP US! The other screamed in Cathi's mind. They are... accessing... We cannot stop them. You must stop us.

The other Tenno had paused on seeing the new mass. Sun seemed to be scanning it. The other Tenno were aiming. Cathi dodged to the side as something tore through where she had been. That... wasn't Infested flesh. It wasn't a stream of spores. It was a beam of energy! Not bright like Corpus laser fire. No. Dark.

SENTIENT! Cathi wasn't sure who had spoken. She was busy.

The beam was following Cathi as she dove and spun through the limited confines of the large corridor. Her path took her towards the J-3 which remained in place, fire from it's weapon seeking, trying to track her. She was fast enough to evade it. For now. She didn't know what such a thing would do to her, but it likely wouldn't be good. Behind her, she caught glimpses of the other Tenno firing their weapons. The projectiles and energy simply bounced off the large Infested form.

Cathi swallowed hard and started to dance as she had rarely danced in her life. This time, every motion was literally about life and death as she tore through the corridor, dodging this way and that. Behind her, she saw Rica stop firing and spin to the spore that hung in space, waiting for them to impel it, but Cathi was rapidly running out of corridor to dodge in.

Then an inhuman scream sounded. Cathi spun, but the mass was disintegrating. As was the spore that had impacted it. Rica's Banshee warframe couldn't quite do 'smug' in the weightless environment, but somehow, she managed as Cathi dampened her momentum to bring herself to a halt beside the other female Tenno. Rica had kicked the spore so it impacted the mass. Kinetic energy transfer did the job again. In moments, the mass was gone. In its place was a small blue object. It looked... broken. The others opened fire as Cathi stared at the thing. Their fire bounced off. Cathi hefted her sword, but Rica shook her head.

Another spore had gestated behind them and was tumbling towards the group. Cathi flew to it, gauged the momentum and distance with care and then sent the spore flying with a swat of her Veritux. The other Tenno moved out of the way as the spore flew true. It slammed into the broken blue thing and another inhuman scream sounded. The blue thing didn't seem to be any more damaged, but it flew into one wall of the corridor. It impacted a blue of Infested flesh and stuck there. Energy started playing over it.

Well done. The soft voice in Cathi's head was grateful. Thank you, Tenno. That will be a bit more of a mouthful than even Jordas can stomach. We go to our rest free.

Wait! Cathi demanded. You are not feral!

We were. The other sounded sad now. The others could not break our resistance, so they took physical control of our form and managed use us to catch that...thing. Distaste sounded in its tone. A Sentient device of some kind. Warn the Caretakers. The Sentients are seeking to understand the Infestation of this time.

We will. Cathi promised. But... You...

You cannot save us. The voice replied evenly. Cathi was moving forward slowly and now, she saw a tiny mass of Infested flesh floating in the corridor. You are a bright light in the darkness, Tenno. But you cannot save us.

I have been infected. I need a biosample from the Jordas Golem. Cathi said quietly. For a long moment, there was utter silence in the corridor. You are not evil. Was it her imagination that the voice sighed?

'Good' and 'evil' are such limited concepts, Tenno. We have always preferred 'us' and 'them' instead. The other sounded tired now. We are Infestation. You are Tenno. There is no room for anything else in our existence. Either of our existences. The Caretakers have an awful burden, but they meet it well. We are tired, Tenno. This is... too much. We have been corrupted by the Jordas Golem and then by the Sentient machine. Please. Cleanse us.

None of the Tenno so much as moved. An Infested begging to die was not something they encountered every day.

I need a sample. Cathi begged. Why can it not be your mass?

Because we are not Jordas. The J-3 sounded reasonable. We were part of it originally. It was and is too big. Pieces of itself spread everywhere it travels no matter if it wishes to or not. We traveled elsewhere, changing, evolving. The Caretakers found this mass and helped us. We became more than a mindless ravening beast. But as in all things, Tenno... Nothing lasts forever. We knew the moment that Caretaker Elenia saved us from our inner darkness that our time was limited. Please? Do not let Jordas win.

I... Cathi swallowed hard and moved her Archwing forward.

There is a node ahead where you can land. The J-3 said softly as Cathi readied her blade. There are several spots where you can access the main hub's biomass. Fare thee well, Tenno. It paused and when it spoke, it was firmer. No, this last time, we will call you by the name you trusted us with. Fare thee well, Cathi.

Cathi was crying as her blade did as it had been designed.

The rest of the mission was a blur. Cathi fought. It was what she did. What she had been born and raised for. But if not for her kin, she likely would have fallen. As it was, she barely noticed when the mission was accomplished and the team exited to the waiting ship.

"Cathi. You okay?" Karl's voice was concerned. "Cathi!" He snapped when she did not respond. Something warm nuzzled her arm.

The mistress is sad. Rocco's words were worried. So sad. She cannot seem to speak.

Cathi didn't resist as armored hand led her to the side and sat her down. She didn't move as an arm encircled her. As a warm mass settled beside her, Rocco's breathing calming as the Kubrow did.

"Come on, Cathi." Karl's bass rumble sounded from nearby. "You did what you had to do."

"I... am infected." Cathi managed to stammer out. "That... is my fate."

"Not if we can help it." Rica's voice was firm. "Come on, girl. Buck up. You did good and we got the sample. Come on, you are better than this. Calm yourself." Cathi slowly bowed her head and nodded.

There is no emotion... there is peace.

It took most of the trip back to the dojo for Cathi to regain her calm. But when she and the others arrived, said calm shattered the exited the ship.

"Where are the Caretakers?" Elder Hans stood with three cells of Tenno in the landing bay of the dojo. Will, Alicia, Tiana, Aeron, Karen, Li and to Cathi's amazement Magda stood blocking the exit from the bay, all with weapons drawn. Oddly, Hans wasn't hostile. He wasn't even smug. He was...worried? None of the Tenno with him had weapons ready. None. An odd invasion.

"You are not welcome here." Karl said with a scowl firmly visible in his voice as he strode to stand in front of his kin. Cathi moved with the others of her small group to stand with her clan. She did open her faceplate and remove her mouthguard. She prayed this wouldn't end in violence.

"Karl, your clan has been in the forefront of action for some time. You have proven yourselves over and over again." Elder Hans wasn't the blustering fool that Cathi had seen at her trial. "But you of all people know that you cannot do this alone. We want to help."

"You are not welcome here." Karl snapped, his Hek coming to his hand.

"I came to give an apology." Hans didn't seem fazed at all by Karl's hostility. "You have a right to your anger. I was... in error and I nearly caused strife between Tenno. As angry and bitter as I am, Karl, that is why I exist as an Elder. To keep such things from happening." He shook his head. "Or to fix them when they do. Tenno Cathi." Every eye went wide as he knelt. "My life is yours."

"No." Cathi managed to grate out past clenched teeth. "No... Not... right."

"Right and wrong don't come into it, Sister." Hans said quietly. "I made a mistake. I caused hurt to a sister who was blameless. I offer restitution."

"I was guilty." Cathi said weakly.

"So am I." Hans replied. "Of being a pigheaded stubborn old fool who thinks with his mouth instead of his brain. Sometimes I think my brain to mouth filter got turned off when I took this job." He shook his head. "Sister. It was not your fault."

"I know." Cathi said softly. "I feel it was and I will for the rest of my life. Emotions don't have to make sense, do they?"

"They rarely do." Hans agreed. "I tend to hide behind mine."

"Get up." Cathi begged as she took several steps forward, ignoring Karl's warning cough. Hans rose to his feet, a sad smile on his face. "So... the bluster is an act? Dangerous to do that around people like Nikis and Sun."

"Don't need to tell me that." Hans agreed. "I feel strongly. Most Tenno do, but like I say, I tend to blabber a lot. I think with my mouth engaged. I wronged you. I apologize."

"Apology accepted." Cathi bowed her head in acknowledgement. "But the Caretakers are not here." If they had been, there was nothing that would have kept Jasmina from joining the clan in the bay.

"Tenno have wronged them as well." Hans said with a frown. "I do not know what they are doing now, but whatever it is, they will need help."

"They are doing fine on their own." Cathi said firmly. "We shouldn't interfere. It would make a hell of a mess."

"Usually does." Hans agreed.

"You are trespassing." Cathi said after a moment.

"Yes, we are." Hans agreed calmly. Cathi stared at him and the Elder chuckled without mirth. "We were worried. At the trial, we saw all three of the Caretakers here." Cathi did not react and the Elder nodded. "That means that what they care for was also here."

"And your point is?" Cathi inquired.

"If there is infestation here..." Hans started and paused as Cathi shook her head.

"I am going to give you a free piece of advice. Take it or leave it." Cathi said mildly. "However strongly you, me or any other Tenno may feel about the Technocyte Virus, nothing we feel is a patch on how the Caretakers feel about it." Cathi had to smile at Han's expression. The Elder understood that. "They were here. They are not now."

"And they didn't tell you where they went, did they?" Hans' question was to Karl as much as Cathi. She didn't see Karl's response, but the Elder seemed to deflate. "Damn."

"Why?" Cathi asked. "Leave them alone. They do best when no one is bothering them."

"I know that." Hans agreed. "The rest of the Elders know that. And we don't want to anger Jasmina." He mock shuddered and Cathi had to grin. Said grin faded at his next words. "We are not the problem."

"Then who is?" Karl demanded.

"We don't know." Hans looked like he wanted to spit now. "The idiot boy who tried to kill Mishka recently was interrogated. It wasn't just random act of revenge. He was a member of a group that we have had our eyes on for some time. They were part of the Red Veil, but apparently..." He swallowed. "They were too extreme for the organization."

"Too extreme... for the Red Veil?" Cathi asked carefully. Considering that said organization was dedicated to purging the entire system with blood and fire, punishing everyone they considered guilty... Ouch.

"Yeah." Hans looked sick now. "They focused their efforts on the Corpus and Grineer at first. But now? They are also targeting Infested. They planted a nuclear weapon in a hive recently."

"How?" The incredulous question came from several throats.

"We are not sure." Hans shook his head. "But we are pretty sure they sent in a suicide bomber."

"Oh crap." Cathi swallowed hard and Hans nodded.

"You and I both know that won't stop the Infestation." Hans shook his head. "Indeed, all it does is mutate it. Add to that the fact that even Tenno cannot access that hive now and will not be able to for some time." Cathi nodded. Warframes were tough, but radiation did odd things to them. No, they wouldn't be able to beat that hive down for some time. It would grow.

"We have another problem." Karl said quietly. "While out on our last mission, we encountered a Sentient Oculyst in the middle of an infested mass." At that, every figure in the bay stiffened. "It was damaged, but impervious to our weapons."

"Oh dear." For the first time, Cathi saw fear in the Elder's eyes. It was gone quickly, but she couldn't blame him.

"I do not know the Sentients." Cathi said quietly. "I haven't had time for more than a cursory study of the histories. I looked at what I took from the archives, but it was vague on a number of counts. But I do know this..."

She stepped into the middle of the bay, equidistant between the two opposing forces of Tenno.

"No matter the darkness that is rising, no matter the foes within or without that beset us, no matter the hour, no matter the danger, we stand." She held up her hand and her Glaive spun to life in her hand. She speared her hand to the ceiling, showing the evil looking weapon in all of it's nastiness.

"WE CAN DO NO OTHER!" Cathi shouted into the suddenly silent hall. "WE ARE TENNO!"

"WE ARE TENNO!" The reply from every throat was thunderous. Hans nodded to her as she lowered the Glaive and it vanished back to its hardpoint.

"We stand with you." Hans said into the silence that fell. "All of you."

"Thank you." Cathi said with a nod. "But there is... one last thing..." Hans looked at her. "I need closure on my old life. I sought it and will continue to seek it. But for now?" The Valkyr held up the Glaive again. "I am more than the sum of my past. More than the sum of my parts. I am Tenno. My name is Cathi Gata. Who I was from both lives. My own... inner monster."

Hans bowed formally and nodded.

"Well met, Cathi Gata."