Good catch, Renleech. That wasn't a retcon. It will make some sense shortly. Some.
Truths
"And the portal that Eliza opened sent us across the reality barrier." Cathi Gata said slowly when the dragon in human form finished talking. Something about the story was wrong. She was sure of that. But at least, the pair of incredibly scary and dangerous beings in front of her were not threatening each other now. That was a win. Anything else could wait.
"Yes." The woman had banished her staff and now stood, her head bowed. "It wasn't Elizabeth's fault."
"I remember that idiot prince pushed her into a fight that he lost, but... He shot me? Tried to shoot her?" Cathi Gata asked, shaking her head. "Even he knew better than that!"
There had been very few things that had been capital crimes for the Royal Family. Murder or attempted murder had been one of them. Even Eliza's mother hadn't killed other members of the Royal Family. What she had done was worse in some ways, but in the end? Eliza was alive and her mother wasn't. A win.
"The Emperor was most displeased with him." The dragon said quietly. "He was one of the eldest, but there are limits for a reason. He passed those limits and he paid for it. We immediately started tracking you both, but the power flares blinded us for quite a while. No one expected her to do that. To be able to do that. Least of all her."
"She wouldn't have had any idea how to focus a portal. Even now, that is not something to do lightly." Cathi Gata said weakly. Both the dragon and the Bladeborn nodded. "She jumped blind?"
"Yes." Raviine said softly. "We were very worried that she and you were lost forever. We did not find you until you came here. You had managed to hold onto her, keep her safe through the journey. Then when you landed far from your home, you and she started back. She was hurt but healed under your protection. She was terrified of using her power again."
"Hard to blame her." Cathi Gata looked around at the forbidding black stone walls. "So… Here?"
"Here." The dragon said sadly. "We were tracking you, but you moved so fast it was hard to try and figure out where you were going next. Our trackers were a day or so behind you when you arrived here to ask for information. You know what happened here."
"I was hurt. Eliza let her power loose." Cathi Gata said softly. Everyone nodded. "And… I do not understand. Is she one person or three?"
"Such descriptions do not work for a being such as your ward became to save you and herself." Raviine said sadly. "She is both one person and many. Luckily, only one of those was driven insane."
"By you." Nia Korr hadn't spoken for some time. Now she was glowering at the dragon in human form again.
"We erred, yes." The dragon replied. "I freely admit that we erred." She met Cathi Gata's stunned look with a sad expression. "We arrived just after the Horsemen cleared this area. We tried to send Eliza home. She refused to go without you and you were a mess. We insisted. She resisted."
"What did you do?" Cathi Gata felt faint. Falcon laid a hand on her arm and she felt a bit better.
"I can make no excuse for our actions." Raviine was still so very quiet. "We often have to act swiftly, without hesitation or far more than one life will be lost. This is often seen as evil, or at the very least pragmatic to the point of evil. There is some truth to that." She admitted. "Good and evil are such fluid concepts but when she refused to go, our agent tried to confine her. In retrospect, that was a serious mistake. Her love for you was all that was keeping her sane with such sudden omnipotence and when she broke out of her confinement, she wasn't sane."
"She is not insane." Cathi Gata said weakly.
"And you are the reason." Nia Korr stepped to the shuddering warframe and took Cathi's right hand in both of her own. "My own power of Mirrors is incredible, but what you did… I am in awe." She gave the former Guardswoman's hand a squeeze. "My brother who found you thought you were a droid at first. Just a machine who resonated oddly in the Force. Then you lashed out at those Empire fools who thought to take him. Even with your mind half destroyed, you knew the difference between good and evil. You saved him and we took you in. We liked you and you liked us. We did not understand what you were until Elizabeth arrived. Until she appeared out of nowhere, hugged you tight enough to hurt you even in your armor and would not stop crying. Would not stop begging you to forgive her."
"What did I do?" Cathi Gata begged.
"You forgave her." Nia Korr smiled as Cathi Gata choked. "She knew on some deep, instinctive level that you were safe. That you were her friend. She hurt you. She didn't mean to. She certainly did not mean to cast you back across realities and almost certainly not to our reality." She shook her head. "The Force must have guided you to us. That is really the only explanation that fits."
"I do not remember you." Cathi Gata said weakly and Nia squeezed her hands again. She stared at the dragon. "Did you do that?"
"No." Raviine said quietly. "Elizabeth did."
"What?" That came from several people. Not from Nia Korr, the former Guardswoman realized.
"I do not see the future." The dragon was still so very quiet. "I did not know what had happened to you. All I know is that when you and she came back, she was still insane, but she was very subdued. Then she split into three versions of herself. Only one was insane. One to stay here. One to go back to Nia Korr's reality. One to go with you. She wiped your memories of the your travels and the last copy of her had no memories of the travels. She refused to say why and our agent refused to press her." Her smile was more than bit forced.
"That at least was wise." Cathi Gata snapped. Then she slumped. "Why? Why not just stay here? She is needed here. Even if part of her is insane, then you can tend that one?" She all but begged the Bladeborn.
"She asked us to ward that version of her and our Grandmaster at the time promised her we would. We have. As for why? You know the answer to that, Cathi Gata." Nia Korr said softly and Cathi Gata stared at her. "You just do not want to admit it."
"No. I don't." Cathi Gata shook her head. "This makes no sense!" She stilled as the dragon stepped to her and laid a hand on her shoulder.
"It does." The brown haired woman who wasn't one sounded close to tears. "It makes horrific and beautiful sense. 'No greater love hath a being', Guardswoman, 'than she will lay down her life for her fellow'." Cathi Gata stared at her and the former Guard's world was crumbling underneath her.
"No." Cathi Gata inhaled as terrible realization dawned. If Eliza loved her… And Cathi had been a slave… "Oh no. No, no, nonononononono!"
She had loved Eliza and had sacrificed for the girl several times. Maybe far more than she remembered. That love hadn't been programmed in like obeying Eliza's mother had been. If Eliza had loved her, then the girl would not have wanted to leave Cathi in such dire straits! No matter the cost to herself!
"She went back to save you." Falcon was hushed, awed. "She let herself go through all of what she did to save you."
"NO!" Cathi Gata screamed and suddenly everyone was holding her as she fought fruitlessly to get loose. "NO! Eliza! No!"
"Cathi Gata! Eliza needs you!" Falcon snapped and the words cut right through Cathi Gata's almost hysteria. "Eliza needs you now!"
"I AM NOT THAT IMPORTANT!" Cathi Gata screamed and then her face rocked. She stared at the Nova Prime warframe who was withdrawing her hand. Sera had slapped her.
"If you get hurt again, or if you even lose control, our version of Eliza will react badly." Nia Korr said with a sigh. "You are that important. Calm. Down." That was a command and Cathi Gata felt herself relax. She knew this woman on some deep level beyond memory. Nia Korr nodded. "Yes, we knew each other, called each other 'sister'. Fought beside one another against many threats. I can't stay but there is one thing I can do."
Cathi Gata stilled as Nia Korr drew a sword, but that wasn't the sword that hung at her back. The one that hung there looked like a single handed blade. The one that Nia flipped easily and held out to Cathi Gata handle first was an odd sword. It was almost like a Glaive, but not. It had two short curved blades that arced around the handle, each with a single razor sharp edge. The sword bore no marking except an oddly stylized sword etched into each blade near the handle and as tone that sat the exact middle of it. The stone on the pommel flashed red as Cathi Gata extended her hand to the sword. Everyone let her loose as she took hold of the handle and the stone flashed blue.
"I give you back your sword, Masterblade." Nia Korr said quietly as she released the sword and stepped back. "Be true to the Code, sister. The Tenno Code and ours are not in conflict and never will be. All else may be a Mirage, but you know the Code and you will abide by it."
"I do not remember yours!" Cathi Gata begged as the sword in her hand lightened. It seemed part of her. Just like her Glaive.
"Yes, you do." Nia's smile was kind as she started to speak and then Cathi Gata was speaking with her in a language that the Tenno was unsure how she knew. [Loyalty. Duty. Honor. Respect. Vigilance. Prowess. Humility. Courtesy. Valor. Service. Sacrifice.]
"We are Bladeborn." Cathi Gata said very softly as Nia Korr bowed to her.
"We are Bladeborn." Nia Korr smiled once more and vanished. But her voice spoke once more out of nowhere. "We know our own. May Ashla be with you, sister."
Cathi Gata stared at the blade in her hand and then concentrated on her other hand. Her Glaive manifested from that hand and she held two hand held saws that morphed to look like Prime Glaives. She slowly shook her head as both Glaives spun in opposite hands. Everyone stepped back from her as they did, but she had them under control. She stared at her hands as the Glaives slid back into resting position. Then she chuckled a bit ruefully.
"Oh, this is going to take some getting used to." The newly armed Tenno jerked as a symbol appeared on her left arm. From one angle, the image appeared to be a stylized sword just like the one on the blades of her new (or old) weapon. She shook her head. "I do not remember, but I have my duty. Eliza is in trouble."
"Yes." Gemina Horati had been silent throughout the whole recital of the past.
"And you cannot come." Not a question.
"You are needed, so the Creator sent me and the Horsemen to recover you before you perished." Gemina said quietly. "Falcon and Sera can go. I cannot. The other me did horrific things there. She was punished but there is too much baggage. I can do more good here with fewer complications. I want to help you, Cathi Gata, but me going back would not end well."
"No." Cathi Gata shook her head and then reached out to embrace the Equinox warframe who stood as if frozen. "It was good to remember that not all of what I went through was bad. Gemina was a good commander. She thought about the mission first, her soldiers second and herself last. You are as she should have been all along. I hope you find..." She paused and shook her head. "I don't know. Something? Warrior Tenno do not die in bed, but..." She sighed as Gemina slowly reached up to return her hug.
"Whatever happens, know that you are not alone, Cathi Gata." The Equinox gave Cathi Gata a squeeze, then released her and retreated a step. "I am needed here." She leaned close. "Be wary. Life is filled with illusions when you least expect it."
Mirrors. Mirage. Illusions. Cathi Gata felt her world shift yet again! She hadn't worn a Valkyr warframe as a Royal Guard! She had worn a Mirage! The story the dragon had spun hadn't been true! About that at the very least. Had any of it been true? She remembered some, but it was hazy. Could she trust anything the dragon had said? Gemina shook her head minutely, following her fellow Guard's thoughts as only a warrior who had been at her side for a very long time could.
"I do not know what I can do." Cathi Gata said softly. "I will help Eliza if I can, but I do not know what I can do that her own people cannot."
"You will find a way." Gemina said as she stepped back and the others stepped close. "You always do. Be well, be wary and beware ambush." She wasn't looking at Cathi Gata! She was looking at Stalker who nodded slowly.
"If you all are done bonding, we need to save your Empress." The dragon said with a snap.
"Yes, we do." Cathi Gata turned to Falcon whose posture was unsure. "Falcon? What can you tell me?"
"Um, me?" The squeak from the Revenant warframe almost eclipsed the growl of annoyance from the dragon in human form.
"Yes, you." Cathi Gata turned to Sera whose inclined head said much. The Nova Prime moved to stand beside the Revenant as Cathi Gata moved to stand with them. Stalker moved as well, totally by accident standing between them and the dragon. Of course it was. "Did your mother bring you here or did you come on your own?"
"I came. She didn't come back." Falcon said weakly as the dragon growled louder. "She told me to find you if she didn't come back."
"To find me." Cathi Gata took Falcon's hand in her own. "You have, sister. Now!"
Sera and Stalker grabbed hold of her as Falcon shimmered with power and suddenly the quartet were elsewhere. A large room that had an upright metal disk with odd symbols around the edge of it shone nearby on a raised platform. Nothing else but some tarp covered things were in the room. From the dust on said tarps, this room hadn't been used in quite a while. A roar of rage sounded, more felt that heard, but then the world shimmered again and again in rapid succession and Falcon wilted, her power fading. Cathi Gata pulled her close, offering of her own power to the struggling girl who nodded gratitude.
Now, they stood on a metal deck and many Sentients flowed from all around to surround the group. Cathi Gata stiffened, but Falcon called out as she fell.
"Grandmother!" The Revenant warframe fell to one knee and Cathi Gata held her up, pouring her power into the faltering being. Her legs refused to hold her up. Cathi Gata eased her down and then all the way down to the floor. "Help!"
"Falcon! Silly bud! What have you done?" A huge green Sentient swept close, energy flaring to cover the warframe and Falcon relaxed. Cathi Gata continued to try and pour power in and it seemed to help. The green Sentient turned so that its front was to the newly come group, all of whom remained very still since every Sentient in the room had appendages raised and aimed. The voice from the huge one was calmer now. "I have her, Tenno."
"Is she going to be all right?" Cathi Gata pleaded as she cut her flow and all of the Sentients seemed to be staring at her.
"In time, yes." The huge green form morphed and suddenly an old woman made of silver metal stood in front of the Tenno. Old from the wrinkles on her face, but unbowed. "I should have known she and Natah would do something crazy, but this..." She made an all too human noise of disgust. "This, I did not expect at all." She nodded to Sera and Stalker before focusing on Cathi Gata. "Do I know you, Tenno?" She inquired. "Your energy seems familiar, but your warframe is not."
"I met Galah." Cathi Gata said softly. The metal woman was impassive but the Tenno continued. "You have my condolences. I know what it is to lose family. I am Cathi Gata and you are Natah's mother."
"I am. I learned a few Tenno names during that mess. Cathi Gata." The Sentient who had borne the being who had become the Lotus in the universe said very slowly. "You are the Royal Guard who took Galintra prisoner."
"That did not work out as planned." Cathi Gata stared as the Sentient made a noise that had to be humor of some kind. Odd, but clearly recognizable as humor.
"Tell me Tenno. Does anything ever work exactly as planned for you?" The Sentient inquired as she turned to scrutinize Stalker who knelt before her, laying his sword on the deck. For her part, Sera was frozen. "It does not for me. I always have to change plans after I start implementing them."
"Me too." Cathi Gata agreed. "I do not know what is going on here, but I do know I have been lied to."
"Oh, my dear, you have no idea." Cathi Gata was hardly the only being to jerk in surprise as the Lotus stepped out of nowhere in her blue armored human form to stand beside Falcon, then knelt beside the fallen Revenant warframe. "Easy, Falcon."
"Mom… I tried to hide my tracks… But they will follow..." Falcon pleaded.
"Sleep, Falcon!" The Lotus said sternly as she poured power of her own into the warframe and Falcon lay still. The Lotus laid a hand on the Revenant's helmet and then bowed her head. "Rest well, daughter. I fear we will need you." Then she rose and nodded to Cathi Gata. "This is not what I hoped for. They refuse to let her go. They think to save her and all they will do is drive her mad. I managed to get her loose last time by trickery, but this…? I fear I have failed Eliza. My one, true human friend."
"Failed? Not yet, you haven't." Cathi Gata said with a growl. "Eliza is strong. She won't give up."
"That is what I am afraid of." The Lotus replied and her visible face was bleak. "That is what the wardens are counting on."
"What do the wardens want with her?" Cathi Gata demanded.
"They want her, and you, back."