Pure

"This is... not a good idea."

The woman who spoke looked a bit uncomfortable in the armor she was wearing. No one blamed her at all. It was not every day that a half healed member of the Corpus Special Forces was asked to wear armor from a game. The Imperial Guard flak armor fit her well enough, but it did not hide the bandages that she still wore and would for some time. Violet had been very badly hurt. The armor was functional enough, Violet had to admit that, if not vacuum resistant or as strong as her normal Special Forces armor.

But it was what else was in the room that had everyone's undivided attention. Two Tenno stood by the sole door, both armed. Neither had weapons ready, but both were on edge. Abrahaim slept. The Blood Angel lay on a metal slab that was reinforced to hold his mass. His wounds had been tended and his armor was repairing itself.

The room itself was huge and airy. Gothic in style with stained glass windows and high flying buttresses holding up a painted ceiling. Abigail had directed the construction and decoration of the 'Apothecarion' to Sister Abigail's memories. The huge image of the golden armored figure who stood in the main window was either protective or prohibitive. It was hard to tell which. According to Sister Abigail, that was the point. The Emperor was both a father figure and a guardian for the Imperium of Man in the game.

"You insisted on being here, Violet." Abigail said with a small smile. But then she frowned as her hands flew over odd looking controls and machinery worked on the still red armored form. "This feels... very strange. Not to be in control." She paused and grimaced. "Yes, yes, I know..." She said sourly to someone who could not be seen. "All right. Your turn, Sister Abigail."

Violet tried not to jerk as the woman in armor in front of her seemed to swell a bit. No. She simply stood up straighter, firmer. More confident.

"Operative Violet." The voice coming from Abigail now was...different. More melodic? Or at least older and wiser. Maybe sadder. "You are a witness only. Do nothing or he will take it wrong. If that happens, there will be nothing for us to save. And your injuries are still there, if healing. Do not make me sedate you." She warned.

"That is so wrong." Violet said with a shiver. "Three of you in one body. And a body I don't really know. And then... this..." She nodded to where the huge red form lay.

"None of us know how this came to pass." Sister Abigail said, a frown furrowing her features. "And you will not ask." She commanded. Violet made a face, but nodded. "He will not take it well if you do." She paused and then stepped back. "He is waking. Back. Now." The Sister put words into action, taking three steps away from the table as one huge red armored fist clenched a little. "Brother Abrahaim? Your wounds have been tended."

"Sister Abigail?" The Space Marine asked slowly as he turned his head from side to side. "Where am I?"

"You are in an Orokin Tower." The Sister replied. "And yes, they helped the girl. We are finding our way with the Emperor's light as our torch."

"Not my concern." Abrahaim said quietly as he sat up, armor servos whining. He looked down at himself and then around. "Your work?"

"Some." The Sister replied calmly. She nodded to where Violet stood frozen. "This is Violet, an operative of the being known as the Lotus. She decided Imperial Guard armor would be less threatening than her normal attire." Abrahaim nodded as his gaze landed on the two Tenno who watched him. "They keep tight security here." She said quietly.

"Wise in these dark times." The Space Marine said as he slid his legs from the table and stood slowly. He stretched a little, the armor moving easily. "So... now what?" He asked.

"Now that you are awake..." The sister said calmly. "Any impairment?" She asked clinically. The Space Marine shook his head and she nodded. "Then you are free to go."

"Just like that?" Abrahaim asked as both Tenno moved away from the door.

"They would like answers." Sister Abigail said quietly. "But no one is stupid enough to try to interrogate you."

"I do not have any answers, Sister." The Blood Angel replied just as quietly. "I have a mission. No more, no less."

"I know." Sister Abigail said sadly. "May I ask...?"

"What do you wish to know?" The Marine replied as he stood.

"What happened to you?" The Sister Hospitaller asked carefully. "You seem... off."

"I am. I was a clone before the Emperor found me and chose me." The Marine said calmly. Both Tenno stilled and he nodded to them. "Yes, a Grineer. An aberrant one. Useless dross to be thrown away. I was sent into the Void to scout. What I found...was not what I expected."

"You were found." Sister Abigail said, her voice reverent and the Space Marine nodded to her.

"Found. Weighed. Measured and judged worthy. Torn down and remade." Abrahaim agreed. "I do not know if it was real or a fever dream or some kind of psyker vision. But it happened. The Emperor chose me to be Adeptus Asartes. I accepted the burden. I was remade into who I am now." Both Tenno nodded to him and he looked at Violet who was shaking her head slowly. "Yes?"

"I am trying to wrap my head around this." Violet admitted. "It is obvious to anyone with eyes and ears that you believe what you do. That your mission is to help save this system. But..." She shook her head again. "I want to believe. But my faith has been abused."

"I am not a chaplain, Operative Violet." Abrahaim said quietly. "All I am is what you see. A weapon. A tool of the Emperor to defend humanity. No more, no less."

"I disagree." All eyes turned to a door that opened and small dark haired girl stepped in, a covered tray in her hands. "Adeptes Asartes are more than mere weapons. More than human."

"And less." Abrahaim replied and waited.

"I am Cecelia." The young woman said quietly. "A... seeker of knowledge."

"That path is dangerous." Abrahaim said, her posture still. "Dark things lurk in such."

"Secrets are hidden for a reason in many cases." Cecelia agreed. "I am no inquisitor, to ferret out the truth by any means fair or foul. I would say I am a scribe. A historian."

"History can be marvelous or dangerous." Abrahaim said slowly. "Too much information can kill as surely as too little."

"That I know far too well." The girl replied as she set the tray on the floor. "Your sword was destroyed. We could not repair it." She slid the cover off the tray and his pistol and boltgun lay on it. Along with something else. "We have repaired what we could and leave them with you. We will not leave you unweaponed."

"Scribe Cecelia..." Abrahaim stared at the gauntlet with its five long curved talons. "I cannot accept that." Adeptes Asartes could not, would not, take gifts from just anyone.

"I know." Cecelia agreed. "Will you accept the plans and resources to make one of your own?"

"Why?" Abrahaim asked, not moving.

"Because you have made a difference." Cecelia said quietly. "Space Marines are defenders of man. We may not always agree on what must be done or how, but we do know when we meet fellow defenders."

"You...are Tenno...?" The Space Marine asked carefully, looking at the two warframes.

"Not exactly." Cecelia said sadly. "I am partnered with one and a member of a clan of Tenno. But my own circumstances are odd as well. They do not speak in the field. It is a matter of tradition as well as a weapon against their foes."

"Ah." Abrahaim nodded.

"I have no such traditions, so I can make a good go between." Cecelia said with a nod of her own. "The Tenno would honor you with a gift to help defend this system against the enemies of man. You cannot accept the weapon itself, but can you accept the wherewithal to make one? To bear with the knowledge that you do not stand alone against the enemies of man here?"

"Sister Abigail?" Abrahaim asked slowly. "Do you vouch for these?"

"They have been far kinder than they needed to be." Sister Abigail said formally. "Far, far kinder than the Inquisitions would be. They have acted with honor in all of their dealings with me. I do not know if they would do as well with you."

"Fairly said." Abrahaim shook his head. "But I cannot-" He paused as Abigail bent down to pick up the gauntlet. "Sister..." He said mildly as she staggered under it's mass.

"I sense no traps or trackers." The Sister said quietly. "My... other parts have an affinity for such things. They concur. This is a gift." She bent down on one knee and offered it to him. "For the Emperor."

The Blood Angel stared at her for along moment and then slowly reached out and slid his hand into the gauntlet's opening. As energy started to crackle, she released the lightning claw and he hefted it to stare at it.

"This will fare well against heavy armor." Abrahaim said with a nod. "Thank you, Tenno. The Emperor's foes will rue this day."

"You are free to go, Brother Abrahaim." Cecelia said as both of the Tenno bowed to him and left the room. "There are no blocks or trackers. Feel free to teleport wherever you wish. You will not be followed."

"Why not?" Abrahaim asked as Sister Abigail rose to stand with Violet and Cecelia. "Tenno have abilities that I do not. Why not track me?"

"Because Tenno have enough enemies." Cecelia said with a nod. "The Grineer are massing and we will respond. It is what we do. Those of us who are not warriors will support those of us who are."

"Well thought." Abrahaim said after a moment. "And me?"

"You do well enough on your own when not ambushed by overwhelming numbers." Violet said with a shrug. "We know better than to get in your way."

"I am not one for double talk." Abrahaim said quietly. "What do you wish?"

"I wish for us not to work at cross purposes." Violet said formally. "So far, we have done well to stay out of each other's way. But you have acted very circumspectly on occasion when you did not need to. We need to coordinate our efforts. At the very least, to keep from hindering each other."

"Coordination can be a deadly danger." Abrahaim disagreed calmly. "If two disparate elements attempt to coordinate, things often go amiss."

"I agree." Violet said with a nod. "Hence why I am offering myself as a conduit." Abrahaim froze, looking at her and she nodded. "Just so we understand one another. I am a soldier, if not your equal or theirs..." She nodded to the Tenno. "I know the enemies of this time and place. I serve the Lotus, and I serve humanity." She bent to one knee. "Use me if you will."

"You know not what you ask." Abrahaim said slowly, looking around. Cecelia would not meet his eyes but her face was sad. Abigail met his gaze calmly. "She... You... What have you told her, Sister Abigal?"

"I have told her what will happen if she becomes a Sister." Abigail said sadly. "She seems to wish it."

"No." Abrahaim snapped, his voice stern. "She is not of our faith, Sister. She cannot know what it is she seeks."

"I want to believe." Violet said softly. "I see your faith and the Sister's... and I am reminded of what I was once. Before..." She shook her head. "I want to believe."

"I cannot impose belief." Abrahaim said firmly. "Only the Inquisition uses such tactics and they are beneath an Adeptus Asartes. I found my own way. So must you." Violet looked at Abigail who shook her head.

"I am... who I am, Operative Violet." Abigail said sadly. "I serve the Emperor. But I cannot hear him anywhere except in my own mind. My own faith. I cannot give you my faith. All I can do is try to show you the way. Brother Abrahaim's way is not for us." Violet bowed her head slowly.

"I give apology." Violet said quietly. "So many betrayals. So much death and destruction. I... I wish I was who I was once. When I was young and the world was a simpler place. But that girl is long gone." She went still as Abrahaim laid a hand on her shoulder. It was gentle, that huge armored hand.

"You will find your way, Operative Violet." The Space Marine said quietly. "Be true to yourself and hold your own counsel. Look within, not without." He patted her shoulder and then knelt to retrieve his pistol and rifle. "I thank you for your assistance. And Scribe Cecelia...?"

"Yes?" Cecelia asked.

"Be wary of what you seek." The Space Marine warned her. "You just might find it."

"I know my limits." Cecelia said with a nod. "And I do not walk alone. But your warning is taken, Brother Abrahaim."

"Fare thee well." The Space Marine said as he keyed his teleporter and vanished in a haze of golden energy. Only after he was gone did both of the other female turn on Violet who wilted under their gaze.

"I..." The former Corpus Special forces operative started to speak and then cut herself off. She slumped a bit and took off the helmet.

"You need rest, Violet." Cecelia's voice was neutral. "Or the docs will get annoyed with you. Again." Her last word was sour and Violet cringed a little. It was really no laughing matter. She chafed under the restrictions that had been placed on her. She pushed herself far too hard and far too fast. It was who and what she was. She held out a hand that Violet eyed.

"I want to help!" Violet said sharply. "That is all. Help! I am stuck here until this crap heals. All of my compatriots are out fighting. I want..." She broke off as Abigail stepped forward. "No..." She stepped back from the armored healer who had a hypo in hand now. "Don't."

"Violet." Cecelia took another step forward and Violet retreated another step. "You hurt yourself every time. We will not allow you to keep hurting yourself. And asking Abrahaim to alter you... Violet..." She scolded. "He knew you were not sincere."

"I was." Violet's voice was tiny and both women advancing on her paused. "I want to believe, okay?" She demanded. "I see your belief..." She waved at Cecelia "I see her belief..." She waved at Abigail. "And I remember who I was... once. So long ago. I want to be good. I want to believe. But... I can't anymore."

"Violet..." Sister Abigail's voice was sad now. "What I believe doesn't make sense. I am a construct. A mental overlay. Nothing more. My faith was imposed on me. I know no other way to be. You... have the choice." She reached out to slowly touch the hypo to Violet's neck and caught the now crying woman as she fell.

"I...wanna... believe..." Violet managed to croak out as consciousness fled. Sister Abigail hefted the unconscious human woman easily and carried her towards the door. Cecelia followed. Both Tenno had vanished.

Outside of the room they had tended Abrahaim in, the decor was pure Orokin. Sister Abigail carried Vioelt through another door and laid her on a bed that was surrounded by medical equipment. Cecelia followed and waited while Sister Abigail ran some scan. Then the sister sighed.

"She hurt herself again." The Hospitaller said with a half groan, half snarl. "It is times like this I wish I was a chaplain. A Canoness maybe." She complained as she worked. "Aid her body? I can do that. Mend a soul? I know not the way. My own faith I cannot give her. It is not real."

"It is real enough for you." Cecelia said quietly. The Sister Hospittaler paused as Cecelia stepped up and slowly wrapped her arms around the frozen medic. "If there is one thing Tenno have learned, it is not to trample on other people's beliefs. We have no one creed that we follow and we still have trouble occasionally."

"If there is one thing Man can do, it is find causes that divide us, tear us from the Emperor's light." Sister Abigail patted Cecelia's shoulder and turned back to the sleeping operative. "I will do what I can, but Abigail and Ab'gal'ui are needed as well. Abigail needs training."

"There is a teacher available." Cecelia said quietly. Sister Abigail looked at her and Cecelia nodded. "Not here. She has another student. One who is ill but recovering. She cannot come, so you must go."

"Will I know where?" This was Abigail's voice. Cecelia shook her head and Abigail slumped a bit. "You... shouldn't take the chance."

"You are vouched for." Cecelia said with a shrug. "But security will be very tight. Step out of line and they will shoot first and probably not ask questions later."

"I understand." Abigail said with a slow nod. "Do I get her name? This teacher?" Cecelia smiled.

"You know of her. The girl wore an urchinlike grin now. "Her name is Lis."

Titan, Moon of Saturn

Oh...dear...

Oracle Janet lay in her pool of healing fluid and tried not to fret. Her attendants were dutiful, tending her, keeping her company in her infirmity. She was recovering, if nowhere near as quickly as she had hoped.

"Juliet?" Janet said quietly.

"Yes, Oracle!" The response was immediate and Janet tried not to sigh. She was trying to get them to call her by name, but it was an uphill battle.

"I need a quick communication to someone on Mercury. As untraceable as you can make it." The Oracle said as others of her white robed attendants perked up. She hadn't wanted them to dress that way either, but they had taken to the roles as if born to them. She thought it... amused them to play the parts of 'prophetesses'. If only they knew...

"Of course." Juliet said with a nod. As a former Clergy operative, she had access to all kinds of secure communication systems. "Who?"

"I need to talk to Shepherd."