New paths

"I am going."

No one spoke. No one dared to move as the Mag warframe moved to stand in front of the Saryn Prime warframe who led the group. In form, it was as normal as any warframe got, but its outer skin was an icky mess of ichor and nastiness. That was totally planned. The inhabitant of said warframe was only a reluctant warrior, unlike most of her peers, but she was well trained and as well equipped as any Tenno could hope to be. Especially now.

"Elenia." Rachel, the leader of the small group of Tenno who called the ancient Tenno Citadel home paused in what she was going to say and then she sighed. Before she could speak, someone else did.

"Elenia, Deimos isn't a place we can help." Elenia's mate Jasmina was sitting, her head in her hands. She had just returned and exited her warframe. It had needed some significant repairs. Physically, she was okay. Psychologically? Spiritually? Not okay. "We are powerful, but it is an entire ecosystem! They cannot hear us over the din that the two massive ones make even when not fighting. I… I tried!" Jasmina was halfway to tears and Elenia slumped a bit, but then shook her head.

"I can accept that, Jasmina, much as I do not wish to." Elenia said. Everyone stared at her and she shrugged. "I am not stupid, contrary to popular belief. I know I have been pushing things. I know I have been out of sorts. Hoping, praying to make some kind of difference for some time." She slumped. "Ever since Mishka died." She snarled when several people started talking. "And yes! I know it wasn't my fault, Jasmina's or anyone else's but Stalker's! I just have to do something. Make something right in all this wrong."

"I know the feeling." Rachel said softly and Elenia turned to the leader of the First. "Or do you think I don't know grief? 'I' want to go. I want to tear that place apart looking for answers. I want to make some kind of decent legacy. I wanted it to be different. But it isn't. We lost Mishka. We lost Jac. And now, Iriana of all people has vanished! We can't lose you too, sister."

"You won't." Elenia's tone was flat and everyone looked at her. "You forget. I was a researcher first. I helped enforce the quarantine, which means I went into Infestation zones regularly to gather information. Research was my job as well as gathering specimens in adverse conditions. I know what to do in an Infestation environment and what not to. Can anyone else here say that?" She looked around, but none of the Tenno outside of warframes would meet her gaze. "Rachel I can do this. I can get more information. Find out more of what is going on there. Otherwise, you will have to nuke the whole moon. None of us want that."

"True. I would rather not." Rachel agreed slowly. "There is life on Deimos that is not infested and the last thing we need is to give anyone information on some of our more powerful choices for dealing with such large outbreaks. Eris was and is bad enough, but it is too spread out to hit all at once. Deimos is a large area, but we could carpet bomb it. That said? I don't want to. If we do, the Entrati will die along with all other life there."

"I know about such things." Elenia said very quietly. "I helped deploy such weapons on four different occasions." At that, everyone went still. It was easy to forget that Elenia had been doing a really nasty job before and during the Old War.

"They couldn't hear me, Elenia." Jasmina tried again. "If they see you, sense you…"

"...they will attack." Elenia cut her mate off. "I know. I dealt with such before. I don't think Dust remembers, but I bet the mass mind does."

Mind of Light The voice of the mass mind that the Caretakers warded was audible to everyone. The Caretakers and First had worked hard to be hospitable. It was a basic courtesy to allow guests the ability to talk. And now? The mass mind was worried. Yes, you were the main field operative. Yes, you did such many times. You were seriously injured on three different occasions doing such.

Everyone heard that and everyone tensed, but Elenia just nodded.

"Yes." Elenia didn't try to hide the facts. "I was. I survived. I had no backup in all three of those cases." She snorted. "I doubt Rachel will let me go to Deimos without backup."

"You got that right!" Rachel snorted right back. Then she shook her head. "Elenia. As you say, you are not stupid. You wouldn't have brought it up if you were not prepared. What is your plan?"

"Recon and maybe some discrete sampling. Other Tenno are working with the Entrati, trying to beat back the masses." Elenia gave Rachel a nod of appreciation. The Leader of the First could have just said 'No'. Elenia would have obeyed, if not happily. "But that is a delaying tactic at best. There is a lot of stuff there that is different. Not anything that has been seen anywhere else. Not in any records, even the ones here. Was it exposure to the Void? Or something else? We need more information." She laid a hand on Jasmina's shoulder and her mate was shaking. "Thank you for trying to get through to them, Jasmina, but we all knew it was a long shot. I have learned my lesson about the large masses. I regret the loss of life, but I regret the pain I put you through far more."

"You are who you are, Elenia." Jasmina covered the warframe's hand with her own. "I wouldn't change you for all the platinum in the universe, but the thought of losing you does scare me." The distraught Tenno took a deep breath and then turned to Rachel. "Speaking of losing- Is there any word on Iriana?"

"No." Rachel said heavily. "She went off shift in the dojo two days ago and vanished between her med lab and her quarters. No traces, no nothing. They are very upset."

"As are we." Jasmina said weakly. "After Mishka… I…"

"It wasn't your fault or mine, Jasmina." Elenia reassured her mate. "The girl tried to do something beyond her. We all knew there was something very wrong with that 'Arlo' guy but we had no real idea. What happened after was just miscommunications. I bear some responsibility for that, but so did Mishka and according to Brianna, she accepted our apology. This is different. I know my limits. I know what I can do. I can get in and get readings and get out. You know I can defend myself. Even better now." Her tone was dry and several people chuckled at her wit.

Then again? The First had access to everything Tenno had even made. Including many things that no one sane used. Ever. Just the stories were bad enough, but the First had access to world breaking weapons. They had needed such many times to defeat outbreaks of the Techocyte virus in the past. They didn't want to use such things, but would if they had to. Rachel was-

Why was Rachel suddenly shaking her head? Not in negation, but as if possessed of a sudden insight?

"I had forgotten." Rachel said slowly. "I don't think I ever asked your name, but I do remember you now." Elenia looked at the Sayrn who led the First and Rachel nodded. "We worked together in that mess on Xindi." Elenia jerked and then she nodded. "You were brave."

Jasmina stared from one ancient Tenno to the other, her face a study of shock and awe. It was easy to forget how old and experienced Rachel and Elenia actually were when they acted so normal most of the time.

"It was the job." Elenia replied, but she was clearly pleased by Rachel's praise. "Not a fun job, but a job."

"Yeah." Rachel slowly shook her head. "You can do the job just as you did there. You do not go alone. Jasmina?" She asked the sitting Tenno.

"Janas and I need to stay." The de-facto leader of the Caretakers said after a moment. She wasn't the eldest, but everyone deferred to her for many reasons. "Since it is just the three of us now, we need two to mind the biomass. I… I am sorry, Elenia. I have been stifling you, haven't I?"

"We are all grieving, Jasmina." Elenia gave the sitting Tenno's shoulder a soft squeeze. "You bear responsibility for us just as Dust once did. I took no offense."

"That is because you are better than-"

Everything stopped as Elenia slapped Jasmina across the face! Everyone froze. Jasmina had a temper that was legendary. Her preferred Ember Prime warframe only gave physical credence to her rage, which had to be seen to be believed. No one dared move as Jasmina put a hand to the cheek that Elenia had struck and Elenia spoke in a very calm, but very firm voice and everyone else stared at the Mag in horror.

"What did I tell you about putting yourself down?" The Mag was standing ready as Jasmina stared at her.

"Not to. Than you would slap me if I did." Jasmina said very slowly.

"Well?" Elenia demanded, her tone tight.

"I love you, Mind of Light." Jasmina said very softly. "Please come back." With that, she put her head back in her hands. At least she wasn't crying.

"I will, Fire Heart. I love you too." Elenia nodded to the other shocked Tenno and left the room.

She was Tenno. She prided herself on being prepared for almost any eventuality. In a solar system filled with war, research was rarely atop priority, but she was still a researcher at heart. She knew what to do. She had her gear packed in a matter of minutes and was out the door before anyone could block it. Not that anyone was. Th halls seemed particularly bare today. Only one warframe approached, but Rachel was not trying to stop her. This time anyway.

"None of us can go. We are all busy." Rachel matched her steps as Elenia made her way towards the portal chamber. "Head to the dojo of Karl's Shadow. They are allies. Do you want me to ask for an escort?"

"No." Elenia shook her head. "Better it come from me. Less chance they think you are throwing your weight around." She had a smile in her voice now. Rachel sort of defined the term taciturn and she didn't like ordering other people round even if she did have the authority to at times.

"You are not stupid, Elenia. None of us think that." Rachel said heavily as they approached the portal. "You are driven. Grieving like the rest of us. Worried sick for Iriana." She moved to the control console and Elenia stepped onto the platform. "We will worry, but you are Tenno and you are the best choice for such. I had forgotten but now that I remember? You can do it and you will." Elenia bowed to the leader of the First and Rachel returned her bow. "Come back to us, sister. Get what you seek and come back. If you need help, call."

There was no command in Rachel's tone, more worry and Elenia nodded.

Then the world was a flash of gold and Elenia was elsewhere. There was no one in the portal chamber, so Elenia called out. She knew better than to step out of the room with her weapons. The clan who owned this dojo guarded many secrets that could never see the light of day.

"Hi, guys. It is Elenia. I need to see whoever is available."

"Elenia?" Janna's voice preceded the young Tenno running into the portal chamber. She had been crying but wasn't at the moment. "I…" She stared at the Caretaker and then slumped. "Any word?"

"Not to us." Elenia gave herself a shake and stepped off the platform, opening her arms. Janna ran into them, the girl's brave front collapsing as Elenia's innate kindness came through. The much younger Tenno was fighting hard not to cry and Elenia gave her a hug. "It is okay, Janna. It is okay. Tenno are not robots and no one expects you to have full Warrior control already. Go ahead and cry, girl. It is okay."

"I have to be strong." Janna said weakly as Elenia held her. "The clan needs me. Kat needs me."

"You need you." Elenia gave the girl a gentle shake, but her touch was tender as she held the disconsolate female. "Janna, let yourself cry. I won't think the less of you for it. We are all scared for your mother after all the other times." Janna hiccuped and then she was sobbing quietly in Elenia's hands. "That is it, girl. That is it. Let it out."

"Janna?" Elenia did not move as another Tenno entered the room and came to a sudden stop. Grina was not one of the people that Elenia trusted. The mess with the being who had become Shadow had very nearly put the former Elder back into lockup. Elenia wasn't sure why Grina hadn't been locked up. She knew that Rachel had been, well, not happy with the outcome, but content with it. "Caretaker?" Grina asked carefully.

"No word." Elenia said quietly as Janna sobbed in her arms. "We would likely know if she perished. We have some contact with the new Grandmaster of the Dead and he is watching for her energy."

"We all know the limits of that." Grina said softly. "Janna?" The girl did not react. She might not have heard the Tenno woman's soft query as distraught as she was. "I tried to help, but I am no mental specialist. No Healer. Iriana gave me a chance when no one else would and I wish… I feel so helpless."

"Yeah, me too." Elenia heaved a soft sigh and then gave Janna a squeeze. The girl hugged her tighter. "I need an escort. Are any of the clan available?" Janna tensed, but Elenia spoke again. "No. Not you, Janna. You are doing very well for a new sister, but where I go, you cannot."

"I… I can accept that." Janna said weakly as she managed to stem the flow of her tears. "I… I just… She almost died for me and I can't…"

"I know." Elenia hugged the girl again and did not react as Grina stepped close and laid a gentle hand on Janna's shoulder. "No greater love hath a being than she will lay down her life for her fellows. Janna, it is okay. This is hard for all of us. Hence why so many Tenno retreated back to the routine, the mechanical. Just doing what they do is hard enough without emotions added to it. I might have done that myself, if the mass mind had let me." A nudge from within had Elenia smile inside her helmet. "Janna. I am going tell you what they told me. 'You are not alone. Not now, not ever'."

"I try to be strong." Janna all but blubbered that.

"You are strong, Janna." Elenia reassured the girl. "Let no one say otherwise. To be Tenno is hard. To be thrown into it with no warning whatsoever, to be made into it all but against your will…" Janna started to protest, but Elenia hushed her. "No. What happened was wrong. Everyone agrees that. And it... Was. Not. Your. Fault." With each word, she gave Janna another squeeze. "Those of us who have lived so long, who spent so long in cryo, we forget." She looked away, her tone husky with emotion. "We forget what it is to feel. You humble us, Janna." Janna stared at the Caretaker, clearly shocked, but Grina was nodding. "Fighting, maybe dying is easy when you are trained for it all your life. When you have the tools and skills to be a weapon. You are better than that, Janna. Better than us. Iriana is proud of you and so are we."

"But I mess up so much." Janna protested.

"So do I." Elenia sighed deeply again. "But now? I have a chance to do what I am good at. I need the clan's help though." Janna stared at her and then the girl nodded. "I learned my lesson about going into things alone. I need backup for a research run into a very nasty place. The First are all busy and the other Caretakers are as well. I was free. I can go, but not alone."

"I…" Janna focused herself and then nodded. She gave Elenia one final squeeze and then released the warframe, retreating a step. "Where?"

"Deimos." Elenia said and both of the other female Tenno hissed. "Yes, I know and no, I won't."

"That place is a hellscape." Grina said softly and both of the others nodded. "Why go there? You cannot think to…" She broke off as Elenia shook her head savagely.

"Jasmina went on her own." Elenia wasn't very happy about that. She wasn't supposed to act that way, but her mate could? She knew it wasn't rational, that Jasmina was far better at fighting than Elenia could ever hope to be, but it still stung. "She tried to get the attention of anything sane and she came back hurt."

"Is she all right?" Janna begged and Elenia nodded. "Okay. That is good. So what do you need?" Elenia looked at the girl who shrugged. "I am the only clan member here at the moment, but I can call the others." Elenia tilted her head in query and Janna slumped. "Everyone is out looking for Iriana."

"I see." Elenia sighed. "This isn't an emergency. I need to go into some warrens to get samples. We need to find out if Void exposure did something to the Infestation there. It didn't affect Infested like that in my time, but things have changed."

"And… if you cannot get samples… Find out what is going on..." Grina said very slowly. "The First will have to act, won't they?"

Janna stared from the former Elder to the Caretaker and back, her face slowly etching towards horror. She had cause. Every Tenno was taught the histories. The successes and the failures.

"They would rather not, but yes." Elenia agreed. "If that mass gets off that ruined world, we have major problems. That is why it was shifted out of phase to begin with. It was too much to deal with conventionally. Now?"

"It is back and no one else can handle such. The First may have to go nuclear." Grina said in flat tone and Janna winced.

"Let's try to avoid that, shall we?" Elenia inquired mildly and both other Tenno nodded vigorously. "We have had enough nukes dropped in this system recently." Two really big ones very recently had shaken up a lot of stuff.

"And I bet the First have bigger ones." Janna said weakly.

"No comment."