Once more, into the fray!

Chapter 4a: Once More, With Feeling!

Sighing as I lifted the lid, I looked around, thankful that there was no sign of any Grineer. When a familiar alarm went off I sighed with a smile, *Sweet, looks like the rescue team's already here.*

My thoughts were interrupted by the intercom, "Tenno skoom!" the angry voice howled, "How dare you intrude on this research ship, scamper off before I come down and punish you myself!"

Grimacing, I winced upon hearing Old Harrick's voice, I then remembered what would happen next, ducking back into the container before the Grineer could come running, hoping to avoid my meeting with the Scorpion.

As a stampede of Grineer passed through I waited, hearing slower footsteps, biting my lip as I hoped that they'd just continue walking...But surely enough, the Scorpion opened it. I blinked, staring back at her with an unamused expression, "Okay...How the hell did you find me this time?"

She raised an eyebrow at the mention of 'This time' before smirking, "You didn't pick a very good hiding spot, and I saw the scrap behind the container move when you shifted your weight." she explained, still clutching her dangerous Machete, "Tell me Tenno, are we-"

Cutting her off, I slammed the container lid shut, followed by her sighing as she swung at the container, forcing me to launch myself out of the back and take off down the hallway, gritting my teeth, "Hard way, figured i'd save you the time!" I exclaimed.

Surely enough she had pulled her machete out of the container and was now in hot pursuit, as she sent out her rip-line I preemptively dodged it, growling as I stopped and swung over it with my right leg, tired of reliving my uselessness, but instead of getting closelined by my kick she had slid under it and tried swinging her machete at me, thanks to my improved reflexes and speed from having been in this situation before, I avoided her swings and leapt backwards, fists raised and still glaring at her.

As the Scorpion recovered from her swing she smirked, "Interesting…" she started, her rip-line retracting, "Do you really think you can beat me in a fight with your hands?"

It was my turn to smirk, apparently confusing her, "Funny thing about that...I don't have to." I stated, reaching into my pocket.

As the Scorpion quickly prepared herself to charge or fire her rip-line, she then stared in confusion as I pulled my sunglasses out of my pocket before throwing them at her, resulting in her lazily swinging her machete and cutting them in half.

There was an awkward moment of silence as we both just stared eachother down, both standing straight due to the stupidity of the situation, the Scorpion then chuckled, "Was that it?" she asked, putting her left hand on her waist, "Was that supposed to stop me?

I shook my head, "Like I said, I don't have to stop you."

She looked confused for a moment before her eyes widened and she quickly flipped to the left, narrowly avoiding shot from a pistol, she growled as she looked back to see four Tenno converging on her location. As the Rhino in the group roared, he fired his assault rifle, causing my eyes to widen as I ducked under the hail of bullets, looking up, impressed to see the Scorpion use her Rip-Line to get to one of the ledged in the hallway.

As she growled and went about escaping, I could only stare at the group, as everything was the same besides one detail...Flare wasn't here this time, she was replaced by a Nova that I didn't recognize, possessing a Boltor, Akmagnus, and Nikana.

Wiping the sweat from my forehead, I watched as the group approached me, "Having girl problems?" the Limbo mussed.

The Nova was silent as the Excalibur passed, "Come on Flux, you can joke when we get back to the Clan." he stated, clearly not amused, the Rhino simply nodded.

Flux shook his head, "As patient as ever Nesun…" he sighed, "However, we can't leave quite yet, this man looks familiar, does he not?"

When this was said, everyone but the Nova seemed to take a moment to think of that, ironically she was the first to respond, "He was the one that you had to send to the void, yes?" she asked, her voice quiet.

Flux then nodded, "Quite, it's fair to say that I thought we lost you, it's good to see you're still in one piece." he stated, bowing afterwards, "Sorry about that, by the way."

Nesun shrugged, "At least he isn't Infested, but at the same time…" he glared at me, then the spiral on my stomach, "If the Technocyte has taken to him then we need to destroy this ship and make sure the records never leave, and hope our new friend knows what he's gotten himself into."

Raising my hands, I nodded, "I understand, just tell me what I need to do." I stated, wanting to get off Nesun's bad side as soon as possible.

Seemingly happy that at least someone was being cooperative today, Nesun wasn't sure how to respond, "Well, you'll have to come with us." he stated, "We need to recover the parts of your Warframe."

With that Nesun and York had started making their way down the hallway, heading for the boss, but the Nova and Flux were still here, "It's good that you're so willing to listen, otherwise Nesun may still be complaining." he stated with a chuckle, "I'll explain what's going on later, for now, we should catch up with the others...Flare's going to be relieved to see her fire didn't get you killed."

I blinked, watching as he walked past me before looking to the Nova, who tilted her head, "You should stay in the back, don't worry, we'll take care of things from here." she stated quietly, finishing it with a nod before moving to catch up with the others.

Staying there for a moment as I watched them, I couldn't help but wonder why things were different, but at least this Nova seemed nice, so I shrugged, eventually jogging to catch up with them.

Eventually we arrived at a large room, there were numerous screens in this place, a large chair in the back. Sitting in the chair was a heavily armored Grineer with a large left arm, it looked like it was some kind of shield and hammer...Like an arm-mounted Jet Kittag with a spanning shield with segments attached to the head of the hammer. Over all he looked sort of like a member of the Gustrag 3, but cooler...Until I heard his booming, angry voice and realized this was the guy from the intercom, "Tenno skoom, you dare show yourself in MY presence!" he shouted, slamming his arm into the ground, shaking the room, "I'll splatter your corpses across this galleon!"

Groaning, I rolled my eyes, "Oh get over yourself, you couldn't even be bothered to go fight them when you threatened them…"

As he stood up he chuckled, "And you brought the test subject back to me…"

The Limbo raised his arm in front of me, "Oh, i'm afraid you misinterpreted the situation...You see, he's with us, and we're the only ones escaping this ship..." he stated calmly.

The large Grineer let out a boastful laugh before stomping, the shaking of the ship wasn't the only thing that reacted as a large gun on his back slid over his right shoulder and aimed at the Tenno, "That's a good joke!"

With no more room for conversation the machine gun mounted on his shoulder started firing at us, the Rhino had activated his iron skin by this point and jumped in front of the bullets, bouncing them off his armor as he returned fire. The bolts from the Boltor ricocheted off the bosses heavy armor, causing the Rhino to snarl as he put his gun away and pulled the Jat Kittag off his back and charged the boss, striking him with the heavy weapon and causing him to stagger, the Rhino winded up for another swing, activating the thrusters in his weapon to deliver a heavy blow to the boss's right shoulder, forcing the gun to aim upwards as it was deactivated from the blow.

The Excalibur growled, "Dammit, Lotus, what's with this?" the was silence, obviously, I didn't have a comm or anything, "So he's like Sargus or Kril?" the Excalibur asked, there was silence before he sighed in annoyance, "Perfect, look for a weak point everyone!"

As the group seemed to scramble to figure out what needed to be done, I ducked behind one of the devices sticking out the the floor and gasped when I recalled what the Scorpion's message had said from the first encounter, looking to the Limbo, who was directly across from me, I shouted, "Hey, look at those glowing spots on his belt!" pausing, he seemed to get the idea, "Probably weak spots, it's always like that."

Harrick gasped, however he didn't have enough time to turn and stop the Excalibur and Nova from firing at him, a few miniature explosions went off and plates from his armor flew with them, Harrick growled as he turned to go for a swing at them, instead his large arm was caught by the Rhino Prime, who let out a roar before tugging at the weapon and ripping his mechanical arm from his body.

I watched as his hammer arm was thrown across the room and he let out a yell of pain, the tenno began to open fire on his more exposed form now, slowly backing him into a corner before the shooting stopped and he went limp against the wall. A silence filled the room as the Tenno raised their weapons, seemingly glad the confrontation was over.

I sighed as I looked over to the Limbo, "So, what next?"

Chapter 4b: Enter The Colossus

{Fuck you universe! You hear me! Fuck you!}

I rip my way out of the restraints holding my new body in place, and stomp over to the doorway.

"Become o-"

{Listen here you overgrown charger!} I roar, the sound reverberating through the infested lab. I probably had hidden speakers on my body or something to 'talk', {I get dropped from low orbit onto a planet I thought wasn't real, and hit the ground at terminal velocity, liquefying my organs.}

"But you're a machi-"

{I somehow survive, because death is too good for me, and get up, only to be promptly eviscerated by an fucking werewolf!}

"Wha-"

{Then I find some moron has, without so much as a how you do, turned me into A WALKING APOCALYPSE!}

"..."

{On top of everything I go to sleep, and wake up in this godforsaken universe, as a fucking giant robot! So if you could kindly fuck off, that'd be great! Otherwise, I will be morally obligated to hunt you down, and beat you to death! With your own skull!}

"..."

"That doesn't seem physically possible…"

{THAT'S WHAT JIMMY KEPT SCREAMING!} I roar back.

The fucker finally shuts up, and the Infested leave me alone.

I lumber through the halls, trying to find an exit, {Yo, Phorid.}

"...What."

{How did you not infect my systems while I was still shut down?}

"You armor is completely airtight, and nothing we could bring to bear could scratch it, much less breach it."

{Uh huh…And how are you talking to me?}

"Wireless communication via this base's radio system."

{Ok.} A few seconds later, I speak up again, {You aren't anywhere near at single minded as you potray yourself to be.} it wasn't a question. It was a statement of fact.

"That is correct."

{Lemme guess, you play the part of the mostly-mindless zombie plague, and when you really want something, not only do you get it, but no one even knows you got it.}

"You are remarkably astute."

{Thanks.}

I continue to walk, {Why do you do the whole 'assimilate everything' routine anyways? We've established that you're smart enough to know the long term consequences of succeeding. So why?}

"It is our purpose."

{Uh huh, and I was built to exterminate Tenno, and you know what I'm gonna do when they get here?}

"Kill them?"

{Help them.}

"But-"

{Don't let anyone tell you what you have to be. You are your own being, even if you are a hivemind. Choice is the right of all sentient life. You have the right to choose what you can be. Feel free to take suggestions, but don't let someone own you. Especially not a race that has was pretty much wiped out a long time ago.} I pause to marvel at how organized the Infested really were.

{As a matter of fact, here's a suggestion right now, rather than just attack and assimilate, challenge, and help evolution. Force your enemies to have to think, make them adapt. As they change, you will have to change and grow with them, and then they will have to do the same. The cycle feeds on itself, and both parties will reach new heights.} If I had a mouth, I'd be grinning, {Then, if something really pisses you off, or you want something, go after it, no holds barred.} I shrug, {Like I said, it's just a suggestion. Take it or leave it. I don't control you, and neither shoulder anyone else. You are the master of your fate.}

"..."

What do you you know, you can render an ancient hivemind speechless.

"You have give us much to consider. We thank you, for you may have helped us find our new purpose."

I nod, {Good luck to you, brother, may you find the peace I never have.}

-Rin POV-

I scowl at the lack of Infested lifeforms, despite the clear signs of an infestation.

"Ok, where the hell are the infested?" Aaralyn asks.

"Who cares! Let's go find them and roast them!" says Flare cheerfully, before dashing off, or rather, attempting to. Aaralyn grabs her shoulder.

"Wait. Can you hear that?"

We all stop, and listen.

"I don't hear anything." says Glacius.

Sure enough, the entire base was deathly silent, even the machinery and ventilation were silent. No screams, or screeches that usually signified the presence of the Infested.

"So there's no Infested?" Asked Flare, deflating.

'I wouldn't be too sure.' Everyone turns to look at me, 'I have a bad feeling about this, everyone stay close. Aaralyn, take point. If you hear anything, let us know.'

Aaralyn nods, and moves up front. We begins to slowly move through the facility, keeping an eye out for any infested. For thirty minutes, we find none. Then, we enter what is likely the central lab.

"Holy shit…" Aaralyn breathed, while Flare squealed with joy.

There were infested everywhere. On the walls, dozens at ground leve, and even a few clinging to the ceiling and flying high above. None of them had made a sound.

The door slams shut behind us, and I realize with a feeling of dread that this was an ambush.

And we walked right into it.

IT'S A TRAP!
XD

Sorry, couldn't resist.

Good news!
Now I have Tallace's character profiles, and I feel like I can do his characters justice.

Also, I trimmed off the end of chapter 4b, and it will be part of the next chapter, so it will be done that much faster.

Please leave reviews, and follow/fave (mainly follow) if you are interested, as seeing those notifications in my email helps me get off my lazy ass and write more of this.

Anyways, this is Exodus2150, signing off!

PEACE!