Warframe is owned by Digital Extremes
Warning: This chapter and future ones will include spoilers and references to "The Sacrifice". Well, actually, it doesn't since all the information about those "reveals" have been around since Rhino Prime and Ember Prime were out, but apparently, I'm one of, like, 7 people who read the codex entries for lore.
"No! No! No, no, no, no!" Ria tore herself from Sindr's embrace, eyes widening by the second.
"Hey, what wrong?" The Grineer asked carefully as the Tenno began pacing desperately.
"This has to be wrong!" Ria pleaded "This can't be… please, I… let me be wrong!" Her pacing sped up, data scrolling down and up again "No! No! NO!"
"Ria! Hey, don't freak out on me!"
The Tenno stopped. She looked at Sindr. She looked over to her chair. "I have to test this!" She said with trembling hands "This has to be wrong!"
"What? Hey, if I'm gonna croak, I can take it… just… calm down!"
"Shut up!" Ria yelled, clearly holding back her tears. Sindr flinched visibly and Ria felt a whip crack on her conscience "I… sorry… Sit down… I have to… verify this…"
Sindr bit her lip and nodded. Her heart was speeding up.
Ria sat down in her chair. "Sicarius, privacy mode off!" She said quickly.
"Operator, did you recei-"
"Not now! Activate the Somatic Link, power down Exaclibur and disconnect. I want all frequencies clear!" she said quickly.
"Of course, Operator, may I inquire-"
"No you don't!" Ria hissed "Start transference! Broad scan on all frequencies."
A soft hum filled the room as the link began to calibrate.
"Operator? This is… strange. All Warframes besides Excalibur are deactivated or not yet assembled, but I am receiving a second-"
"Shit!" The Tenno groaned.
"Ok, seriously, Ria, what's-"
"I'll tell you when I'm sure!" Ria said and shook her head "Sicarius, focus on the unknown target… begin transference!"
"Operator, are you-"
"Do as I say!"
There was no further discussion. Ria felt the transference begin. She went slow, careful, and methodical, much more so than usually. Quietly, she was still begging, hoping that she was wrong. Her self began to penetrate the veil and fill the object. There was just a little resistance. She didn't notice how Sindr began to scratch her forehead. All she felt was an anchor. Reflexively, she continued, just like she would when she slipped into her Warframe. But suddenly, there was something in the way, something big, red, hot and pulsing. Not the docile, simple golem but a complex weave that seemed to pull-
Sindr screamed.
Ria's eyes shot open. "Sicarius , cut all links!" She felt a strong pull and her stomach fluttered as her self was fully torn back into her body. For a moment, the room was quiet with only Sindr panting heavily. Finally, Ria let out a whimper. "No… not like this…"
"What the fuck was that?" Sindr yelled "That felt like something was squeezing my brain!"
Ria looked over to her, tears dripping from her eyes. "Sindr, that wasn't something… that was me…"
"What?"
"Those silicate weavings… I thought that I saw them before and I was right. They are comparable to the reception nodules. That's the parts that stabilize transference."
"What? Like… you can… operate me?"
"No, worse! The…" Ria shook her head and took a deep breath "I've been wondering why you were corrupted the way you are… not just mechanically improved, but also aesthetically and even de-programmed from the Grineer basic indoctrination. I thought it was a mistake from an infected drone… but it's even worse…"
The Grineer bit her lip.
"It didn't want to turn you into a slave, it turned you into a vessel!"
"What?"
"To retain their immortality, the Orokin used technology and the power of the void. But even the most advanced implants and stem cell infusions couldn't keep their bodies alive forever… So they used their connection with the Void to create "Continuity". A way to transfer their self into another body and leave the old behind. That's why they bought children in the first place!" Ria shook her head in despair "And that's why it left you separated and hidden! That's why it released you when it was done! It wasn't because it was damaged! It was because it followed a different program!" Her hands moved up and she pressed her palms against her temples "That's why the other drone tried to reconstruct the ship into an escape vessel or something!"
"Operator, I would not dismiss the idea of malfunction. Keeping in mind that there are no documented Orokin survivors. Creating a vessel like this seems highly wasteful. Especially since the implants are not even entirely necessary."
"They are if you don't have a sceptre or a Continuity device. With those implants in, all you need is a swig of Kuva and a transference enhancer!" Ria groaned "And all Orbiters in the system have those! And it's not even hard! I caused her pain by simply approaching. That web is a funnel!"
Sindr blinked a few times and took a deep breath. "So… what would happen to me if we found someone with that?"
Ria sniffed. "The attacker would drown you in your own despair… make you walk through your own worst memories until your self is shattered and you beg for the relief of nothingness. You'd see your best friends turn on you, your failures come back again and again and even the ones you love-"
"Operator, why are you so well versed in-"
"BECAUSE SOMETIMES TWINS JUST KNOW WHAT THE OTHER IS GOING THROUGH!" Ria screamed with wide eyes.
Sindr let out a sigh and got up. "Hey… it's fine… I know, you won't let that happen to me." She said gently.
The Tenno sobbed loudly. "No, I won't!" She shook her head "Sicarius, give me a rundown on the implant's structure."
"Operator, the weave is not just grafted on. It is integrated into several neural nodes and while it is most prominent on the spinal cord, it goes up into the brainstem. The whole structure around the vertebrae can be seen as an antenna. There are traces of intercerebral linings, but the medulla oblongata is the last connected structure." Sicarius explained.
"So, removal would kill the patient?"
"No, not immediately. It would leave the higher brain functions intact, yet leave the patient in what is colloquially called "locked-in syndrome"."
Sindr grimaced. "That sounds bad, if it is what I think it is…"
"Even cuts at the very end would probably lead to paraplegia from that point downwards." The Cephalon continued "I see no way to successfully remove the weave without doing massive damage, Operator. Maybe on a relay, we can-"
"We have to think of something now, Sicarius!" The Tenno said quickly "Any relay is busting with Tenno and somatic links. If one stumbles into that new and weird frequency… they could kill her on accident."
"But Operator, I can't see any short term solutions! Our Orbiter certainly does not have the technology for full spinal replacements!"
"The Steel Meridian might!" Ria pleaded "They are running on recycled parts after all. If we instantly change course after our engines are back on, we could get to Earth. They might have implants and-"
"None that would interface with the advanced Orokin augmentations, Operator." Sicarius answered.
Sind let out a groan. "Fun! I survive Corpus, Tenno, fucking Infested… and now I might buy it at any time because-"
"INFESTED!" Ria said and a grin spread.
"What about them?" Sindr asked carefully. She didn't like the glint in Ria's eyes.
"Sicarius, the silicates. I assume they are the same elemental compound as Void crystals?"
"With very slight variation, Operator. They are just as reactive and-"
"Sindr, go and take a shower. Sicarius will set it to disinfection. Then come and join me in the room opposite yours… we're going to do something incredibly stupid." Ria said and got up.
Sindr groaned. "Sure, why stop now? Can you at least tell me what you're going to do?"
"We can't remove the structure, but we can modify it. The Infestation can reorganize and twist the thing in a way that would make it borderline impo-"
"Wait a minute!" The Grineer interrupted "You want to INFEST me?" A hint of panic invaded her voice "I've seen our doctors lob of arms and legs and it still spread! That shit never stops!"
"We're not going to use the hazardous strain!" Ria answered and walked past Sindr "We'll use the same that is forming Warframes. It's docile and-"
"You know how often I've heard a Hyekka tamer tell us how cute and well trained her monster is? Right after they fitted the survivors with a new set of fingers!" Sindr shot back.
"Sindr, this isn't a joke, you are highl-"
"NO, this isn't a joke!" The Grineer yelled "You jump up, tell me a bunch of confusing shit and now you want to put Infection into me! INFECTION! The shit that kills entire colonies! I've been drilled to off myself and everyone around when someone says that they hear the voice! And you want to pump that into me! Do you know how fucking scary that is?"
Ria froze. The Tenno's gaze dropped and her eyes moistened. "Sindr, I… I'm sorry!"
Sindr sighed and scooped closer. "Good… now, you're going to tell me exactly what all that means-" She said firmly and reached out to touch the Tenno's cheek. "-and THEN we do whatever you say..."
Ria looked up and found a bit of courage in Sindr's gaze. "Those crystalline shapes back there-" she said and pointe over her shoulder "They are highly receptive to all kinds of energy. The Orokin used them as amplifiers, power conduits, cables… basically anything. The drones implanted a weave of them into your spinal cord. It makes it a receiver for continuity."
"Ok, I get that. And you're worried that some Orokin or Tenno or whatever accidentally jacks my brain…"
A shiver went through the Tenno. "Yes… that thing makes it easy. You couldn't even fight back, no matter how strong you will is."
"Good, what next?"
"Did you ever enter the Derelict?"
"No, not really… I was mostly stationed as backup and defence."
"Well, the Infestation can infect and twist the crystalline structures. They turn black and jagged but they retain most of their capabilities. They are still conductive, that's why the towers still have energy." Ria explained "Even if we can't remove it, if we adjust it so far, it would function more like a Warframe's receptor. That would give you a fighting chance."
"You sure?"
"Yes… No Tenno would try to connect to a full sentience. And Orokin would never inhabit a body with a hint of Infestation."
"And you have a kind of Infestation that won't turn me into a terrible mutant monster?"
Ria paused. Something seemed to scratch at the back of her brain, but the memory was fuzzy. Finally, she nodded slowly. "It's the same as my Warframe. If we control the Infestation, we can modify the receiving abilities without hurting you."
"And you are sure? Your friends don't exactly look all that much like people either…"
"I'll be there at every step of the way, I promise, I won't let anything bad happen to you!"
Sindr nodded and bit her lip. "This is really fucking scary, you know…"
Ria reached up and grabbed the Grineer's arm with both hand. "Yes, it is…"
"Ok…" Sindr said with a deep breath "Let's not fuck before. Too much tension and it would feel like a goodbye… better wait for when it's over…"
The words hit the Tenno like a brick and she let out a confused laugh. "Huh?"
"You know, victory fuck over good-luck fuck. Now, let's get this done…"
Ria seemed to deflate and her forehead hit Sindr's collarbone. "You're so dumb, dumb, dumb and I like you sooooo much!"
Sindr just padded the Tenno's head. "Then I'm sure you'll take good care of me…"
The two embraced once more before Ria went to prepare the special room and left Sindr with her thoughts.
"I have prepared the shower." And Sicarius apparently. Sindr let out a sigh. "So, you going to take the opportunity and have me die on the table?" She asked humourlessly.
"As much as it would please me, your survival is the Operator's wish and I follow the Operator's wishes." The Cephalon answered coldly. But suddenly his tone changed a bit "I also see only positive outcomes from this endeavour. As much as I dislike the Grineer's culture, mentality, physiology and you in particular, you would make a decent Warframe."
"What?" Sindr asked coldly.
Silence.
"Hey, what do you mean by that?" The Grineer asked again, this time louder.
"Advance to the shower. I have prepared a gown for you as well. The opening goes on the back."
Sindr looked up and shook her head. "He's fucking with me, he's just fucking with me!" she said as she marched into the shower. She re-emerged later, squeaky clean and clad in a long, light greyish gown that opened on her back. The path to the unknown room was more taxing than it should have been. When she reached the door, it remained closed. Sindr raised her hand to knock. Suddenly, there was a something.
(Your demand… it pains us, Void Demon)
Sindr felt her teeth ache at every noise. And it was noises! She understood what it meant, but there were not words in it. Just NOISE!
(Our beauty… rejected… and yet I serve, Void Demon…)
Suddenly, the door opened. Sindr froze, eyes wide, mouth halfway open. That room… it was… Infection!
Her eyes darted around. She saw infested plants, slowly waving on the sides. There was fleshy, metallic growth covering pillars and beneath a glass plate, strange, alien fish were swimming in circles. A horrible seat-like thing was stationed in the middle, sharp talons extended at the headrest and weird techno-organic panels and bolts were held next to it. It all moved, obviously alive.
Sindr took a step back. Infestation! Infestation everywhere! Her breath sped up. She couldn't! No… this wasn't real! This was a sick joke!
"Sindr?" Ria's voice called out from the back and the Tenno appeared besides the chair.
The view was surreal. The little Tenno, frail and waifish, walked amongst the twisted abominations of flesh and iron, as if she was skipping through the flowers. Gloomy flowers, if you judged her expression, but still, flowers.
"Come here, I've set up everything for the procedure. Even if the dumb Chungus is playing the diva!"
Sindr took a deep breath and forced herself to take a step forward. "What is a Chungus?" she asked carefully.
"Technically, it's called Helmith, but I just call it Chungus… chunky fungus…"
(Your mocking tongue is just one sting among legion…)
"See? It's a total crybaby!" Ria finally groaned and began fiddling with the console next to the chair "Could you sit down here? I'm putting in the last details for the operation."
(She would not reject our unity… why do you force me into loneliness, Void Demon?)
"What is that thing talking about?" Sindr said through gritted teeth.
"I'll be using its hive mind to guide and limit the infestation…" Ria said and took a deep breath "And it's weird. I didn't know it was this… giddy. Usually it's not talking about infesting anything."
(Despair and loneliness)
"You sure we can trust that thing?" Sindr asked again. This day… it was getting comically terrible.
"Yes, I am. It is directly connected to the Orbiter and it has no choice but to follow the programing." Ria said with a hint of annoyance "But it's not connected to Sicarius, so I have to enter the procedure by hand."
A certain degree of relief went through the Grineer. Her Tenno was too thorough to overlook a trap by the Cephalon. Sindr let out a sigh. "Fine, then let's get this over with…"