For the Emp- Um... what?
Something was wrong. The being who called herself Eevy was certain that something was wrong. But she could not define what it was. The guards at the portal had been professional and it had taken all of her training to remain calm as she was scanned thoroughly with Orokin tech. If she was discovered too soon...
But they passed her through. The corridors were filled with people. All human. Most wore garments that her mission briefing said were Orokin in nature, but none were hostile. She was...
"Excuse me, Ma'am." A young sounding voice spoke from nearby. She turned to find a small dark haired girl looking at her. "I think you dropped something." The girl bent down and picked up something small. She held it out to Eevy. What would the Healer do? Probably take it with a polite 'thank you'.
"Thank you." Eevy said quietly as she took the tiny stuffed fish from the girl who smiled and left. Eevy moved to the side of the corridor and examined the fish. It was unremarkable. A tiny green and blue stuffed toy. If this was a trap, it was the oddest trap she had ever heard of.
It is not a trap.
The voice wasn't coming from anywhere she could see and Eevy froze for a moment, then stepped along. She had a mission.
You cannot win here. The voice sounded female,. Not young and not old. It sounded... familiar. Almost hers? Even if you succeed, you will lose. You were made for a purpose that has no meaning.
Eevy ignored the voice, but held onto the fish. Discarding it seemed...wrong somehow. She made her way through the tight quarters. A few people nodded to her in passing, but none paused or spoke. She was glad. The voice in her head was getting irritating.
You know I am right. The other said sharply. You are just being stubborn. Sheesh... Stands to reason. You are me, if with a few twists added.
Who are you? Eevy demanded as she walked, looking for signs. If her target held true to form, they would have guards, ostentatious displays of wealth, that kind of thing. But... nothing.
You know who I am, Eevy. The other was still quiet. There. Third door on the left.
Eevy paused and then stared. The door that was indicated was marked 'Chapel'. Other than that, there was nothing. Two people were standing just outside. A young woman and a Tenno in a warframe. Both nodded to Eevy but did not speak. Eevy stepped to the chapel and paused at the door, but neither of the females spoke. The door opened and she entered. She went still as the scene in front of her became clear. An old woman was kneeling at the tiny altar in the very front of the room. The crown she wore was distinctive. As if it sensed her scrutiny, it started to glow.
"Join me?" The woman said softly, not moving from her knees. Eevy paused. This was too good to be true. Way too good. A trap. It had to be. "This is no trap, Violet." She paused. "Or... you have been in a trap since you arrived. Iriana is alive."
"I..." Eevy shook her head, not moving. "I don't understand."
"You are confused." The old woman said sadly. "I understand." She waved to the kneeling bench beside her. "My name is Eliza. Horus sent you to kill me." Eevy went still, her eyes roving the small room. But if there were defenses, none were apparent. "No guards. No tricks. No traps." Eliza said heavily. "Just you and me."
"Why?" Eevy demanded, her tone angry. "Why do this?"
"Because in the end, I am responsible. For what happened." Eliza said with a sigh. "Oh, not for the Collapse. I was not part of the Royal Family at the time. I had been... disgraced. Exiled. I lived with Tenno actually. They were good people, if harsh. My family made a mess." She shook her head. "One hell of a mess. The morons who tried to bring the great game into reality paid for their crimes, but Horus cannot -will not- accept anything less than total revenge. Tell me. Will you destroy the station as well? There are almost five thousand innocents aboard."
"No Orokin are innocent." Eevy took a step and then another.
"Even children who were born here?" Eliza asked, her tone mild. "Who have known no other life but these walls?" She waved a slow hand around. "My daughter has a child on the way. Is that child also tainted for what my family did?"
"I..." Eevy shook her head savagely. "You are trying to confuse me."
No. The voice in her skull was calm and serene even now. She is trying to save you, Eevy. The woman who had thought her disguise was perfect went still as Eliza nodded.
"You are... This is a trick!" Eevy snapped.
"No trick." Eliza said quietly. "I am here to die." Eevy went still and Eliza continued. "It is the duty of any right thinking monarch to sacrifice for his or her people. Orokin is gone. These people, these few survivors are all that remain. So Horus must purge us all. Men, women, children, Tenno. Every last living soul must be destroyed to give him his revenge."
"I..." Eevy shook in place, trying to comprehend. "I don't understand!"
"I know." Eliza said softly. "Horus will continue his mad crusade, but your part will end. If you kill me here and now, your program will end. Violet will wake standing over my corpse..." The voice inside Eevy's head gave a shrill cry of alarm. "... and she will not be harmed." This last was in an iron voice. "It is not her fault or yours. Do what you have to."
"I..." Eevy seemed to be moving in mud as she raised her hand. But... it was holding the fish. She stared at it and then, unaccountably, she was crying. "I want to obey. But I cannot. This is... wrong!"
"Eevy." Eliza's voice was soft now. "Join me?" She repeated, waving at the kneeling pad.
"I..." Eevy shook her head savagely. "This isn't right! What is wrong with me?"
You are a mental construct who was made as an assassin. The voice in her head spoke quietly. I was protected a little from the energy. But not enough. I have no way of controlling you. All I can do is talk.
"Violet." Eliza said quietly. "It must be her choice. No one can impose anything you do not want on you. You wanted to be controlled." Her voice turned stern. Eevy paused as the voice inside her gave a small whimper. "And you know it."
I want the uncertainty to go away! The silent voice snapped. I want to believe again!
"Faith is not something you can quantify, Violet." Eliza said with a shrug. "A belief in something greater than yourself is not a bad thing. It can be taken in bad ways, mind you. But it can also be a source of inspiration. A rock to lean on. One I have needed myself over the centuries. But for now... Violet, let Eevy think." This was a command.
"I... have to do my mission..." Eevy said slowly, still staring at the fish. "That is... all I am..."
"Then do it." Eliza said softly. "Give me your Emperor's Blessing and free me from this prison."
"You..." Eevy stared at Eliza and then she brought the fish to her face and rubbed it against her cheek. "You know..."
"I have good advisors." Eliza said with a smile as Eevy dropped the fish. Violet screamed in Eevy's mind as the scanner proof blade snapped into place. Eliza was still smiling as Eevy took three quick steps forward and the blade drove into right through the Empress of Orokin's sternum.
Back at Abrahaim's sanctuary
"This was... unexpected." Abrahaim said slowly as he rose from the large pile of machine parts he had just finished cutting to pieces.
"He got Violet." Talona sounded like hell and she looked just as bad as she rose from where she had been taking cover behind a set of machinery. Her armor was scorched and torn. No wonder. The eldritch green energy that enemies had shifted into had been unexpected, but still dangerous. "Drones with energy projectors that mimic Necron gauss weaponry. We are both lucky to be alive."
"He didn't want us dead." Abrahaim declared. "Just delayed. As we were."
"As far as he believes, we are his opponents in this game." Talona said with a snarl as she stood and then nearly fell. "I have no time for this weakness." She snapped. "If he took Violet, then he will make his move."
"He probably already has." Abrahaim said and then both froze as golden energy flared nearby. Both froze as a dozen Tenno in Prime warframes appeared. But... none had weapons in hand and none took aim at them. "Um..."
"You are needed." One of the Primes said calmly. Talona and the Space Marine looked at one another and the Tenno spoke again. "I do not command. I ask. Please. You are both needed."
"Both of us?" Talona asked, her tone wary.
"Yes and we cannot explain here." The Tenno replied. "Please. Your questions will be answered. But you are both needed." He held out a tiny pad. On it were a set of coordinates. "We do not have much time."
"I am going." Talona said with a shrug. "You?" The huge red Space Marine paused and then nodded.
"I dislike dancing to this mad heretic's tune." The Blood Angel replied.
"You may keep your weapons." The Tenno replied. "But please. Step forward. We cannot hold his scans away for much longer."
Talona stepped forward without a quaver and the Space Marine followed her. As the golden energy surrounded them all, a scream rent the air and a Limbo warframe appeared nearby.
"No!" Horus snapped. "Mine! You will not take my toys!"
"When next we meet heretic..." Talona promised in a voice that might have bent steel. "I will show you who is a toy. And you will beg for the Emperor's Blessing for a long, long time."
"Only if I do not get him first." Abrahaim replied evenly.
Then they were elsewhere. Abrahaim went still as a familiar form nodded to both of them. The Tenno wore a Banshee warframe, but she was glowing! The other Tenno left the room.
"What do I call you?" Two asked Talona who shrugged.
"You may call me Jane, Two." The Inquisitor said evenly. "It is the name you knew. It is not who I am all the time, but it is more... me than I am usually." Abrahaim looked at her and Talona shrugged. "I was taken. Not by Horus, but by people doing the same thing. They did many things to me. I... have some difficulty at times seeing what is real and what is not. But this? I know this is real." She scoffed. "It hurts too much to be fantasy." Abrahaim nodded. That made sense.
"Medical support is standing by." Two said quietly. "But we need to hurry or Violet will be lost to us."
"Violet?" Talona asked, concerned. Then she froze. "Oh no... No, he didn't!"
"He did. He turned her into a Callidus Assassin." Two said sadly. "She came here and... She succeeded."
"No!" Talona screamed and ran for the door. Two followed with Abrahaim, bringing up the rear.
The corridors were empty. The whole place seemed to be hushed. A door was open ahead of them and Talona ran to it, Two and Abrahaim followed a little slower. Both came to a sudden stop as Talona gave a high pitched keen.
The scene was... bad. A woman that Abrahaim did not know was kneeling by a tiny altar, her head bowed in prayer. Sister Abigail was kneeling beside a still form that wore a crown. The woman was still alive, as impossible as that was with a blade sticking out of her chest. Sister Abigail was working as another woman in full Adepta Sororitas armor stood guard nearby. She nodded to Abrahaim and returned to her watch.
"No." Talona went to her knees beside the Sister Hospitaller. "No. I can't... No..." She shook her head. "I won't allow this."
"We will kill him for this." Abrahaim promised.
"I... have killed an innocent." The woman at the altar said softly. "I did not... I did not want this... I just wanted to believe." The voice was familiar. Violet.
"She is not dead." Sister Abigail snapped. "I can save her."
"The blade was poisoned." Violet said heavily. "I..."
"Of course it was poisoned!" Sister Abigail said with a snarl as she worked. "I can... I have to..." All the soft noise came to a halt as the woman on the floor spoke.
"Stop." This was a command and despite himself, Abrahaim felt his muscles lock up in instant rigid obedience to the order. "Sister Abigail, help Violet."
"I can save you, Empress!" The Sister Hospitaller said savagely. "Where are your medics?"
"Let go." The other said softly. "You have to... Help Violet let go..." She slumped in place and the Sister's medical scanner started to beep as her life faded.
"No!" Talona screamed. "Not like this!"
"No." All eyes suddenly turned to where Two stood by one wall. The glow around her was intensifying. "Not like this." She took a slow step forward and the battle sister knelt, her face radiant. Twos voice... or... no... that wasn't Two's voice. My dear Talona. Nothing had changed. Be calm.
"I..." Talona stared at Two, her face ashen. "I... I don't... I can barely hear..."
Help Violet. This was a command as Two knelt by the stricken Empress. Abrahaim snapped his weapon into a salute and the voice spoke again. You do your Primarch proud, Adeptes Asartes.
"I am ordered." Abrahaim replied. "I obey."
"How?" Talona begged as she rose, tears falling. "I could not hear... for so long I cried in the darkness and could not hear you. I was deafened. They...they deafened me."
The Astronomicon reaches into many dark places, Daughter. You needed time to recover. You have. The massive voice said quietly. But Violet needs you all now. She may be the key. Do not let her fall.
Both Tiana and Abrahaim clasped armored fists to their chests as Sister Abigail and Talona moved to the still kneeling Violet who was weeping.
"What have I done?" Violet begged as Sister Abigail started her scans. Talona knelt beside her.
What had to be done. The massive voice said quietly. The monster who took you and hurt you must be stopped, Violet. But my way is not yours. You all will know what to do when you wake.
"What?" Talona spoke for all of them as they froze in place. Two shook her head and touched the stricken Empress, her hand shoving the blade all the way in.
The world fell away.
Avalon
"Easy, girl." Talona was holding Violet's sobbing form as she cried. Two and Abigail stood by one wall. Tiana and Abrahaim did not move. The small chapel was filled to overflowing now as Tenno entered, all with weapons ready. But everything stopped as the Empress sat up.
"We have a common enemy," Eliza said softly, rising to her feet. There was no sign of the terrible wound. She nodded to Two who nodded back.
"But... I killed you." Violet was stunned.
"You stepped into a virtual world as soon as Mishka handed you the fish." Eliza said with a smile that faded. "Virtual world, virtual rules. Still unpleasant as hell." Violet froze in place as Eliza embraced her. "It is not your fault, child. Everyone but these. Out! Now!" This was a command.
"Empress..." One of the guard Tenno started, but she shook her head savagely.
"We are not arguing, Guardsman Obril." Eliza said with a snap as she hugged Violet tight. For her part, Violet just sobbed. "What happens in here, stays in here. Everyone but these! Out!" The Tenno filed out, disapproval clear. Only when they were gone did Eliza speak again. "That maniac is trying to play his 'game' again. I remember the last time." She reached for Talona and pulled her into an embrace with her and Violet. Talona for her part seemed at a loss for words. "We cannot win playing his game, Jane Talona."
"I..." The Mesa warframe was shuddering. "I don't understand..."
"I know." Eliza said with a sigh. "And there is much I cannot say without causing a lot of problems." She gave Violet another squeeze. "We will work to help you Violet, but you have to want to get better. It will be unpleasant. But we can help you. We did it before to those he... changed." Abigail jerked and Eliza nodded. "Any he changed can be changed back. Not always as they were, but closer."
"He will try again, won't he? To kill you." Violet asked the room. Everyone nodded. "How do we stop him?"
"We do not." Eliza said quietly. "I never played the game myself, so correct me if I am wrong. The Emperor helps those who help themselves, yes?" She asked Abrahaim and Tiana who nodded slowly. "We have to play our own game. Not his."
"We must take the initiative and keep it." Abrahaim agreed. "But finding him will be difficult."
"No." Violet said softly. "No it won't be. He wanted me to return and report. I..." She froze and stared at Eliza who was retracting a hypo. "I..." She folded in place and Talona caught her.
"Not yet, dear. Rest now." Eliza said in a gentle tone. "What say you all? Will you allow that madman to win?"
Abrahaim turned to look at Tiana who nodded slowly. Abigail and Two both nodded. Talona smiled. It was not a nice smile. All of them chorused as one.
For the Emperor and the Empress.