It took running a hand through my hair and finding a twig to realize how absolutely filthy I had gotten. Why hadn't anyone else told me I stunk of dead leaves and river water? Regardless, I made personal hygiene a priority and began searching for Beacon's fitness room, as I remembered passing by restrooms on my way there from the Infirmary. It made sense for areas designed for physical fitness to have public showers available to people who want to get cleaned after exercising.
My memory served me well, but they were locker rooms instead of restrooms. I entered the female section and was immediately assaulted by a strong wave of sterilizing agents. Even though the smell was unpleasant, I could trust the showers to be clean enough.
As I made my way through the rows of lockers, I noticed that no one else was here. All of the lockers were empty and open as well. No free credit pickups for me.
The showers themselves had two variants; communal, which were open, and private, which were individual faucets each behind a thick curtain. Unfortunately, I had no soap, so I would need to make do with just hot water.
I chose the middle communal faucet and turned the single knob as far as it would go. The faucet sputtered for a moment as it purged air from the pipes, ran cold for a minute as it circulated water, then gradually increased in temperature. I dialed back the knob to a temperature I felt was just right, then stepped under the stream.
I ran my fingers through my hair to keep it from clinging to my face. Bits of leaves, dirt, and even another twig came loose in my hand. I should have felt annoyed at myself for leaving loose debris in my hair, but the hot water just felt so soothing. My Tenno jumpsuit grew darker as the dirt and dust washed away under the stream.
Speaking of which… how do I remove this thing?
I felt around my chest for a seam of some sort, but found nothing. My back and sides also lacked a seam of any description, but my spine had an extra ridge that did not feel like bone. Tracing that ridge up to my neck, I felt a metallic protrusion where the spine met the skull. Perhaps this suit was never meant to be removed? Considering I was never supposed to leave a transference pod, it made some sort of sense.
While feeling around the metallic protrusion, I inadvertently pressed a button.
In the span of two seconds, my Tenno jumpsuit came alive and retracted from my limbs, over my torso, and into the ridge on my spine, layering the material as it moved.
The newly revealed skin was paler than Weiss' hair. I could plainly see dark blue veins along my arms and legs. Sudden exposure to open air and hot water was shocking, but not unpleasant. My bare hands were thin and bony, ligaments popping out as I flexed my fingers.
Looking down, my chest was smooth but vein-y, heart beat clearly visible on my skin. My lower torso was just as smooth and pale with no body hair at all. My thighs were thin and laced with dark blue veins. My knee caps were very prominent and scrunched up the skin around the joint. The lower legs and feet told the same story as the arms and hands.
I looked more like a starved corpse than something alive, and it disgusted me. This was not the body of a greatly respected – feared – warrior. How could I call myself such if I looked like a victim of starvation? I wanted to change it, make it stronger, make it my own.
Warframes were not me. This was me, and I had nothing to call myself Tenno. What good would the Void's power do for me if I couldn't keep myself physically functional?
'Beacon Academy does not discriminate against one's race or ethnic background. All are welcome to attend. Even you.'
'We make very powerful individuals, Miss Tenno. I believe you have what it takes to become the greatest huntress Remnant, or your world, has ever seen.'
By the stars, was it really that simple? I looked over my sickly body one more time, and made my decision. I shut off the faucet, redeployed my jumpsuit, shook my head to clear it of water, and left for the combat training facility.
"Energy shell is stable and shows no signs of degradation." Ordis reported through the transmission link. "Lotus, while I have many, many questions regarding what just happened, I know you won't answer them. For now, I will remain silent – AND PLAY PONG – for the five months it will take to reach this star system."
The Lotus walked down the Liset's ramp and into the Orbiter, content with Ordis' report for the moment. She knew the Cephalon had a soft spot for conversation, and would gladly provide company when asked. For now, her task resided at the very back of the Orbiter's interior.
Passing by an inert Infested hatch, the Lotus stopped in front of a double door with a glowing yellow symbol. She waved a hand over it and the symbol disappeared, unlocking the room. Long unused lights flickered to life, revealing a transference pod connected to rough crystalline tubes. Upon approach, the transference pod opened with a hiss and whir, revealing an empty seat.
The room itself was bare and spacious, ready to receive memorable achievements and trophies. The Lotus sat in the transference pod and leaned back, but the device refused to close around a non-Tenno occupant. For now, she would rest. Then, she would prepare the transference pod for a Tenno occupant.
The Origin System could do without her guidance for a brief while.
The hypnotic, muffled clash of steel rang through Beacon's hallways as I approached the combat training facility. It was around mid-afternoon, so I assumed most students had been dismissed from their classes. I pushed open the heavy door to the facility's interior.
The room was very large. Large enough to comfortably fit two Lephantis with plenty of room to move. To my left and right were two rows of large octagonal pads with a terminal at each one, presumably arenas for multiple teams. Each side had six of these pads, with a total of twelve for the whole room.
One of these arenas was in use, judging by the sound of steel scraping steel and the occasional shimmer of a force field. Two students were watching another two on one of the platforms mid way down the length of the room. I couldn't make out who they were from my position, but I really didn't care. The heavy door closed with an echoing clack, no doubt announcing my entrance.
I approached the closest arena's terminal, which asked me to authenticate myself with some kind of personal multipurpose communication device. Regardless of what it requested, I didn't have it. I made a few experimental presses on the rectangular screen, but it wouldn't respond.
Then someone shoved their hand between me and the screen. It was holding a rectangular object, and the terminal beeped in acquiescence, changing the screen. I glanced up at the limb's owner.
"There you go, kid," The obnoxiously tall male student smugly said. "You need a Scroll to operate these things, but they don't just hand them out to children."
"What did you call me!?" I snarled back at him. I recognized him now. Cardin Winchester of Team CRDL.
He didn't flinch from my retort, smirking down at me, "Aw, kid. Did I hit a sore spot? How about you go back to your mommy and daddy and let the men go back to their training?"
I already hated him. "I'm more of a warrior than you could ever hope to be, coward!" By the stars, why did I have to be so short?
He laughed at me. "Yeah, sure kid. Whatever. If you think you can defeat me one-on-one, then why not try to prove it?"
I glared at him, then turned to walk onto the octagonal platform. After reaching the far end, I turned back around to face Cardin's amused expression.
"You got guts, kid," Cardin chuckled as he took his position opposite mine. He hefted a ludicrously large mace over his shoulder from his back. "Just so you know, I've never hit a human girl before."
'They are called Faunus, Miss Tenno, and they have just as much a reason to be here as anyone else.'
Ozpin, you blind, arrogant fool.
The rest of CRDL had abandoned the other arena to watch their leader fight me.
"Since you don't have a Scroll, I'll let you decide when to forfeit. If I drop below 15% Aura, which won't happen, you will win." Cardin fell into a loose combat stance. I followed suit.
A holographic '3' appeared between us, shortly flickering to '2', then to '1'.
'BEGIN'