Author's notes:
NORA NIGHT: "You know it."
ME: "I know what?"
NORA NIGHT: "Shh, you know it."
ME: "What do I know?"
NORA NIGHT: "I said you know it."
ME: "WTF I KNOW?"
I never received the answer.
Hey guys! How's going star-children? Have you eaten some good pizza these days? (Don't you dare with pineapple! Nope, don't! Bad boy!) I've been more like sushi-eater in this weekend. Now, let's get back to business: I have info just for you, readers.
I am facing loads of exams in these months, so probably I will slow down a little in publishing during June and July. This is really an overwhelming boss fight, guys. Forget about the Eidolons, forget about the Profit Taker or the Wolf. THIS IS WORSE.
Chekchek? Good. Have a nice day, Tenno. Hope you'll enjoy this chapter.
The Empire Game
Chapter 16.5 – Satisfaction
The Sun shone down upon the lands. A green forest of tall trees, grown from the toxic soil, ended under the feet of the mountain where there was a blue lake. One of the few sources of clean water on the planet.
The lake wasn't of pure water naturally. Powerful filters worked day after day to maintain the water clean. Such machines, installed in a structure hidden among the trees nearby the lake, had been a specific request by the owner of the great manor that stood on the side of the mountain.
It was there, hundred and hundred meters above the lake: a remarkable structure of white marble. Doors and windows were signed by curved designs made of golden lines. On the front of the structure, there was a long canopy, sustained by thin white columns with golden accents that ended on the first field of the manor. There, was a rounded fountain, where a white statue of a woman was standing, holding a vase between hand and shoulder.
The water of the fountain fell from the vase to the pool, beneath the statue's pedestal. Part of the water rose from the fountain as spheres of water, slowly dancing in the air all around the statue before gently falling again in the pool. The water that wasn't involved in such dance was collected into two channels of stone that led down to the lower fields, like two streams.
The fields were split on more levels, connected to each other by stone stairs adorned with precious stones leading the way at the sides and two golden railings. Many colorful flowers adorned the fields, growing around stone ruins of an ancient past. Those had been collected by the owner of the manor as decorations.
The artificial streams passed by all the fields, twisting around the ruins, and meeting each other on the edge of the last one, the one closer to the lake. There, the channels let the water falling down into the lake, creating a small rainbow due to the drops of water.
That was one of Executor Ballas' property on Earth. Well cared, and protected by an invisible shield that surrounded the whole manor and its fields.
Now, the owner was home. He was in the higher field, with Executor Lares. The two of them, holding golden chalices in hand, were talking with the projection of a young Orokin. Nearby, there was a small rounded table, with a glass pitcher, and two chairs.
The young Orokin in the projection was Lady Ilsia, daughter of Executor Lares. The brightness of the projection made her look like a young goddess. Her pale skin and white dress shone as if it was made of pure light, her silver hair sparkled like diamonds under the Sun.
ILSIA: "Mother told me to not contact her until she has not returned. She doesn't want to risk to leave traces about the location."
LARES: "Ah, what a shame."
Lares shook the chalice in his hand, looking at the few dark red fluid that remained in it. On his face a weak smile, like he wasn't ashamed at all.
BALLAS: "Lady Salea made a wise choice."
LARES: "Of course. She is my wife after all. What about you, Ilsia? How is it going at home?"
ILSIA: "The usual, father. I am taking care of the affairs as you taught me."
LARES: "Good. Remember your..."
ILSIA: "Studies and training. Yes, father, I never forget."
Lares closed his eyes and nodded, pleased by knowing that his daughter didn't need help to remember what had to be done.
BALLAS: "Try to not push yourself too much, Lady Ilsia."
ILSIA: "Thank you for your kindness, Lord Ballas, but I had a great master. I am well trained. The situation is under my control, here."
Ballas placed a hand on his chest and bowed a little.
BALLAS: "I never doubted it, Lady Ilsia. I am sure you are doing a fantastic job."
Ilsia smiled, revealing two lines of perfectly white teeth, like the pure marble of the manor. She bowed her head to Ballas, responding to the compliment.
LARES: "Anyway, don't forget to take some breaks for yourself."
ILSIA: "Surely, father."
Ilsia bowed to the Executors, making her face disappear under her hair. Then, the projection vanished, leaving the Executors alone.
Ballas, looked at the horizon. Enjoying the view that could be seen from the manor. Far away, beyond the forest's border, there was a series of Orokin towers. White and gold, they were connected by large bridges to each other. Beneath them, the citadels could be barely seen.
Lares sat on one of the chairs and filled his chalice with the drink contained into the glass pitcher.
LARES: "Ilsia has great respect for you, oh magnificent Executor Ballas."
Ballas kept looking at the horizon, passing from the Orokin towers to the green mountains that were even further.
BALLAS: "Yes, I know."
LARES: "She will become a wonderful mistress very soon."
BALLAS: "I know what you are trying to say, but my answer is still the same."
LARES: "Inflexible as always. Well, I do not have the intention to bother you too much. Just consider the fact that one day she could make you some serious request."
Ballas didn't respond. He remained silent and still. Looking at the endless sky ahead.
LARES: "So, returning to our discussion: you worked on the creation of a new variant of Infestation and now you have an infested Warframe that should function like a... captain, or something like that? How... interesting."
Ballas sight left the horizon and he turned back to Lares. He rose an eyebrow.
BALLAS: "Somehow, I notice your doubts about the success of such project."
A malicious smile appeared on Lares' face, like he was having fun in annoying his friend. He got up, rotating the glass in his hand and walked around Ballas like having a careless stroll. Then, he spoke with a clearly remarked accent of sarcasm.
LARES: "Oh. You became a master in reading inside the others!"
Ballas laughed weakly, slightly moving his head to one side and another. He guided the golden chalice to his lips, tasting the fine drink before giving a last look to the Orokin towers in silence. After a pair of seconds, he spoke again.
BALLAS: "If this project succeeds, we will have our deserted army back under our command. A reprogrammed Infestation, controlled by the improved virus that Nidus will spread in the infested lands of the Empire."
LARES: "Surely, your new virus will have to win against the old one, first."
BALLAS: "Indeed. That's my goal. Converting the majority of the Infested will not be a simple task, but it will give us great benefits, and the end of this war will be far closer than now."
LARES: "Hmmm. Something tells me that you are investing more in the virus than in the very Warframes."
BALLAS: "A Warframe is the vessel of the Tenno devil. Without the contorted mind, the Warframes would be of no use to our cause. Or worse, they could be a new enemy to fight. We had them under our control for years... But now..."
LARES: "... Now they are the thorn in your side."
Lares pointed the chalice to Ballas, emphasizing his words.
BALLAS: "Yes, now, I am continuously receiving reports about strange actions. Inexplicable habits, low efficiency on the battlefield, instant changes of behavior, loss of control. And even the Corpus noticed that something's wrong. I already told the others that we had to keep such profit prayers under a vigilant eye."
LARES: "Do you have any clue about the reason for such inconvenience?"
BALLAS: "I received information about unusual errors in the Transference system. The squad I ordered to investigate is still searching."
LARES: "Hmph. So, maybe that's what Suvar's team saw in the Transference signal. Only a mere error in the system. Even our little experiment is showing itself as a failure."
BALLAS: "Talking about that, I have the intention to retire the little concession I gave to you two. I can't allow a Tenno out of the Reservoir now that the situation must be treated with even more caution."
LARES: "Do as you wish. This game has gone for too much time without any kind of satisfaction."
BALLAS: "And Suvar? Did he finally show himself?"
LARES: "No, still nothing."
BALLAS: "Hm, well, you don't look worried, for sure."
LARES: "Worried? For him? Why should I? Suvar possesses immense strength. The only thing that could stop him is the incompetence of others. I am sure he is stuck on Uranus due to the miners."
BALLAS: "I would have said due to the Sentients."
LARES: "Oh yes, those too."
BALLAS: "I know you and Suvar defeated some Sentients in the past, but facing an entire army of those blasphemies is something else. Until now, only the Tenno proved capable of such actions."
LARES: "Exactly. Until now, Ballas. But that was before we locked them into the pods. I exposed my objection about it, and not only about that. I am talking about the restrictions. They would have been far more useful, submissive and grateful if they were allowed to go wherever they wanted. Those dogs would have been more loyal if free to live outside their cage."
BALLAS: "It is due to the others' rejection that we consigned them to Lua. I had no intention to let them live in the first place."
LARES: "I know. But, I am more and more sure about my own convictions. Who is so weak to have fear of a bunch of foolish children hasn't the right to be seen as a god."
BALLAS: "Those are not children, Lares. Those are devils, Void monsters bearing dark powers and destructive madness."
LARES: "Yeah yeah, whatever you say. But tell me, Ballas: if they are so dangerous, is it safe to let a Tenno take control of that infested Warframe now that you have this Transference issue?"
BALLAS: "It is not, that's exactly why I already commanded the Archimedian to send the data about the virus research to a highly secured server and to isolate Nidus away from the Tenno. The Warframe will be kept in a safer place until the situation is solved."
Ballas was going to drink what remained of the liquor inside his chalice when he saw someone coming towards their direction. A tall Dax soldier was approaching rapidly. The Dax wore a black tunic, mostly covered on chest and legs by a light golden armor that shone brightly under the Sun. The golden helmet on the Dax's head was opened on the front, revealing the face of a young man.
The Dax was at just a pair of meters from the Executors when he stopped. The Dax kneeled, bowing his head and placing a hand on the ground. The Dax suddenly didn't look so tall. He was just a small obedient dog.
BALLAS: "What is it, Dax?"
DAX: "Executor Ballas, we received reports about the Nidus project. The research camp has been destroyed, the data archives have been greatly lost. No traces of the Warframe, the Archimedian or the rest of the team. And there is more: Lua had been attacked. The security forces declare that three Tenno have been taken away."
A moment of silence fell upon the three. Lares moved his eyes from the kneeled Dax to Ballas, waiting for some reaction. Ballas was still, looking in the direction of the Dax with a face emptied of any expression. The arm, half risen, holding the chalice tight.
Ballas' hand started to vibrate. The muscles of his arm contracted. The golden chalice deformed under the pressure of his fingers, and the liquor fell on the marbled ground, painting it of a dark red color, almost like blood. Ballas' eyes were suddenly wide open, the inexpressibility changed in a raged glance of disdain.
He made a step forward, in the direction of the kneeled Dax. His voice boomed like a powerful explosion and echoed in the lands making groups of birds flying away from their refuges among the trees.
BALLAS: "What?!"
Lares smiled softly. He rose the chalice towards the sky, like cheering, then he swallowed all the drink that had remained inside it. Once the last drop had fallen into his throat, he closed his eyes and took a long breath, enjoying the moment. He knew Ballas didn't care about the team or the Archimedian. Lares wondered what was really bothering his friend: having lost the Warframe and its virus? Or maybe the Tenno?
LARES: "Satisfaction's rising."
