Partitions
"I don't think Nikis worked with the Sentients." Jesse said as Ona stared at her. "What I fear is that he used some of their tech to do this." Draco and Ona both hissed at that and Jesse nodded. "And I am... not going to be capable for a bit." She was healed, but still very weak.
"Even if any of us would let you risk yourself." Draco said sternly. "Which we won't." Jesse looked at the shrouded Tenno and then sighed. "You know you wouldn't be able to handle whatever it is, Jesse. You are good, but you are not fully trained."
"No, I am not." Jesse admitted, sinking back onto the bed. "So we call Olim. Get him here quickly."
"I will do that." Ona said, starting for the door. Jesse went still as a feeling for wrongness came through her. Not just from the other, but from her own code as well. The tiny Nyx wasn't being truthful.
"Ona." Jesse said flatly. The tiny Nyx paused at the door and Jesse continued. "Don't lie to me." She warned. "What are you going to do?"
"If there is Sentient tech or worse in that vault, then it needs to be eliminated." Ona replied in a quiet voice. "You are not a Warrior, Jesse. I am. We are."
"You cannot enter it." Jesse said softly.
"You might be surprised." Ona replied, still calm.
"Ona, if you enter his quarters, you will never even see anything out of the ordinary." Jesse protested. "There was nothing wrong." She slumped. "Until there was. He is seriously sneaky."
"And he left traps." Draco said into the silence after Jesse's words. Jesse turned to look at him and he shrugged. "Took me by surprise. Or did you think I threw myself into the wall?"
"Didn't think about that actually." Jesse admitted. She smiled a little. "Been a little preoccupied." Draco chuckled at her wry tone and nodded. She sobered as she looked at the tiny Nyx who was almost to the door. "Ona, please."
"Jesse, we caused this." Ona said quietly. "We need to fix it."
"You won't find anything." Jesse pressed. "You searched before, no?" Ona nodded slowly and Jesse continued. "I am immobile for a bit." She patted her abdomen. "And I am no Warrior." Ona nodded again, clearly dubious and Jesse smiled. "So, let me try to get some more information. You can't be here for that. And no one will be able to listen in."
"Jesse." Ona's tone was flat now. "You know how Rachel and the others will react."
"Yes, I do." Jesse said quietly. "And they have a right to it. I have scared Raven in particular far too much in too short a time. But Ona..." She pleaded. "We need to know. We need to find out what to do. We have one source of information and they will not talk to anyone else but me." Ona glanced at Draco and Jesse sighed. "He gave them as little choice as I did but they can refuse to talk to me. If they do... I cannot press them too hard." Draco and Ona both nodded at that. "Please? Talk to the others? Keep them from freaking out too badly?"
"I will do what I can, sister." Ona promised as she turned and left the room.
"She is going to go in anyway." Draco said to Jesse who nodded as she lay her head back down onto the bed. "How you doing?"
"No pain now." Jesse said with a sigh. "Just really weak. I know I was lucky. That much blood loss could have easily been fatal. "
She swallowed hard and Draco grunted. She hadn't had any idea how badly she had bled internally. The AI or whatever hadn't said. But the doc -Roger- had been worried even though he worked hard to hide it.
"Yeah." Draco agreed. "I can understand why the AI acted as it did. Medical emergencies wait for no one. If they had taken time to explain, you would have bled out." Jesse looked at him and he snorted. "Still mad, but I do understand."
"Right." Jesse sighed and opened her mind. Only Draco is here and I will fuddle the sensors.
She cast out with code, seeking each and every surveillance system in the room. There were a number of them. She did not disable them. That would have caused alarms to sound across the citadel in all likelihood. Instead, she encapsulated each in small cocoons of her code. The vital signs monitors, she mostly left alone. Indeed, she wanted to know if any of her vitals got worse. But the video camera was treated to an image of her falling asleep in the bed. The microphone would hear her breathing slowly taper down to sleep levels. If she wanted, she could fake a dream or two, but she hoped it wouldn't come to that. It was good practice, she had to admit. The code had to be perfect or the automated systems would detect the intrusion and sound alarms. But nothing happened and she relaxed as the code reported its work done.
It wouldn't fool anyone. If they had been listening as she had talked to Ona, and they likely had been, then they would be working themselves up to a fever pitch. So... another tendril of code locked the door.
We are as alone as we can be. Jesse said into the recesses of her mind. Can you speak now?
-This is wrong.- The other's voice was resigned. -You know this is wrong.-
"No, I don't." Jesse admitted. "Can you explain it to me? Why do you need the DNA that is on the hair that was remade? Do you need to clone someone?"
-We cannot say- The AI or whatever it was' voice was quiet. -It is needed.-
"This is stupid." Jesse was beginning to lose patience. "We can help. If you let us."
-You cannot help us.- Was the AI say that now? -All you do is place yourself in danger.-
"What can you tell us?" Jesse asked, forcing herself to be calm. "We need to do something. Something horrible was done and we need to undo it if we can. If we cannot, we need to know."
-You cannot help us.- The AI repeated. -No Tenno can.-
"Wait a minute." Jesse had gone stiff. "What did you say?" There was no response. "Now don't be like that. I'm trying to help."
"They said no Tenno can." Draco said quietly. "If we can't, then someone else can."
"Who?" Jesse was confused. This place was a Tenno fortress. The Tenno fortress. So who could…? She went still. She knew someone who might be able to.
-You must not.- The AI's voice was implacable now. -You will not.-
"You're not leaving us much choice." Jesse tried not to sigh. This was getting her nowhere. "We will do what we can. But there are limits to our power. If you help us, then we can do more. If you do not help us, we will still find a way. It is what we do." Her voice had taken on an edge of steel.
-You must not. - The machine sounded… worried. -You will cause harm.-
"But I don't want to." Jesse pleaded. "This is insane. We're trying to help. We can help. Tell me how I would cause harm? Please?"
-That is forbidden.- The other replied. -When we… What we wish is irrelevant. What must be, must be.- Jesse stilled. Something about what they just said… She looked at the other Tenno and he nodded.
"Wait." The young Tenno said slowly. "Erect a secure partition. Designate Alpha 14." A portion of her code flowed from her hands. It surrounded her, penetrating her, bound her and her passenger into an unbreakable bond. "I am an idiot." She said with a sigh.
-No. No, you are not.- This voice was different. It wasn't as powerful. It wasn't as angry. It felt… Jesse felt her eyes start to fill. The pain…
"Have I hurt you?" Jesse asked, her heart in her mouth.
-No.- The voice was young. It sounded male. But not. -You are very brave. You did not cause the pain. It is what we are, but while in this secure partition, it is muted and will not overload your synapses. If you attempt to do so outside of this partition, it will harm or kill you. And you are too stubborn not to try.-
"Been said." Jesse said with a small laugh. Draco made a strangled noise but he did not move. Jesse shook her head. "What can I do?"
-You need to get the DNA to someone who can access it.- The voice of the other was calm. -I cannot help any more than I have. The others are bound tighter. I have some freedom in this partition. Not much.-
"Is there anything I can do?" Jesse asked. She could feel the pain that the other was feeling. If this was the muted version, then no, she didn't have a chance.
-No.- The other replied sadly. -We cannot harm you any more than we have. And we will if you keep attempting access. So you must not. Tenno Draco.- Draco jerked but then nodded. Jesse jerked as Draco moved to the bed.
"No." Jesse pleaded. She tried to move, but Draco already had his hand on the sedation machinery. Her eyes closed quickly before she could even move. It did not remove the betrayed expression from her face for several minutes.
-I return to the others.- The AI said quietly. -She still holds us within her. You must do what she cannot.-
"I cannot leave her side." The bodyguard Tenno crossed his arms.
-If you do not do this, she will die.- The other replied evenly. -She is dedicated. A bit too dedicated. The others cannot keep her sedated. But they must keep her safe and secure.-
"If you lie to me…" There was nothing in Draco's voice. Nothing at all. Somehow, that was scarier than any screamed threat.
-There is no need.- The AI sounded resigned now. -She will push. Her duty demands it. She is too vulnerable. We must protect her. As must you.-
"Well, what do you suggest I do?" Draco demanded, anger rising.
-Stasis.- The other replied. -That is the only way to keep her from harming herself. She is not suicidal. But she will continue to push. Her duty demands it. Her oath demands it. She feels our pain. It calls to her and she can no more deny her calling than you can deny yours.-
"I know." The shrouded warframe slowly traced his hand over Jesse's hair. "She is a good kid."
-We will ward her as best we can.- The other sounded heartsick. -She is a good kid. A good Tenno. A Cyberlancer of which there are always far too few. We wish no harm to her but harm will come. We cannot allow that.-
"I know who can help." Draco said with a sigh. "The question… Will they?"
A few minutes later
"You are out of your mind!"
The scene was tense. When Draco had to carried Jesse from her hospital room, the other Tenno in the Citadel had been less than enthused. The less said about their reaction on finding out what happened the better. The fact that Jesse could subvert the Citadel's defenses so easily, the fact that she was unconscious -sedated- and add to that what Draco had just asked. It was a small wonder that people were upset.
Rachel stood with Roger and Ona stood slowly apart from them. All of them were glaring daggers at Draco who held Jesse's unconscious form in gentle hands.
"She's going to keep pushing." If Draco was bothered by the ire of the others it was not apparent. "You know it. I know it. She has bound the AI and she feels the pain that it does. They don't intend her to. But she feels it. You know what she will do."
"She will try to heal it's pain and that will kill her." Roger said softly. Draco nodded.
"And what you and the AI suggest…?" Rachel was not happy. "…will help her how?"
"From what little I understand, she is bound to the AI." Draco said reasonably. "That means that she cannot block the pain." He looked at the Volt who served as the doctor for the Tenno of the Citadel. Roger's posture was angry, but he nodded. "She will look for ways to fix the problem. And she will deny her body's demands. She will keep pushing herself past her ability to heal. Tell me I lie."
"You don't." This from the tiny warframe that stood apart. Ona's head was bowed. "She serves. It is all she knows. She is too young and too inexperienced to know when to stop pushing."
"She is not a warrior." Draco agreed. "The AI thinks stasis is the only choice. The pain will keep her distracted. Keep her pushing to find a cure. A solution. It said that no Tenno had the cure."
"No Tenno?" Rachel asked slowly. Draco nodded. "You already went to the Orokin." Draco nodded again. "So what does that leave?"
"Something crazy."
It was hard. Draco done many hard things in his life, but this was worse than many. The tiny container that he cradled in one hand held the single strand of Jesse's hair that had been altered. The removal and securing had all been automated and painless. The container was a miniature stasis device so he had time.
He had time.
He stood and watched as Jesse was lowered the stasis pod. She looked so small and vulnerable. So lost and alone. He took a deep breath and turned to his companions. Raven had not said a word, she had simply arrived. He wasn't entirely sure what she wanted. So he did as he always did. He charged.
"Will you stay with her?" Draco asked. The glare she leveled at him said much, but told him little. "Elder Raven, you know…" He broke off as she snarled.
"She is my responsibility." Raven was not happy. "Deciding to put her into stasis without my okay was rude."
"We did ask your permission." Draco said quickly. He knew enough about Tenno females not to anger her unduly. He was powerful, he wasn't stupid. She might not be a match for him hand to hand, but it didn't matter. "Jesse was and is in pain. Psychological rather than physical. She will be until we can fix this."
"I know that." Raven's voice was flat. "But I am her sponsor. She is my responsibility as well. Do not think to exclude me." Draco looked at the other and gave a tiny nod. Raven looked at him and then nodded in return. "I will stay."
"Thank you, Elder." Draco said quietly. He wanted no conflict with other Tenno. And he did understand her ire. The sedative that Jesse had given with only last so long. They had to have her in stasis before it wore off. If she woke, she would fight. She might not be a Warrior, but she was Tenno.
"I'm going with you." The tiny Nyx warframe that stood to one side hadn't moved since they had brought Jesse into the stasis ward. Draco looked at her and she shrugged. "We can argue about this or we can get started on helping Jesse. What will it be?"
"Do not expect trust." Draco's words could have frozen hard vacuum.
"I don't." Was that a tinge of sadness in the Nyx's voice? Hard to say. "Our only concern is Jesse. When do we leave?"
"Meet me in the portal chamber in ten minutes." Draco's voice was less than polite, but no one in the room would care. The tiny Nyx bowed and left the room. Rachel looked at him and Draco nodded. "You said to my quarters are untouched?" Rachel nodded. He turned and left the room without further word.
The Citadel was as he remembered but not. When Draco had lived here, it had been a center of learning. A hub of knowledge and had always been bustling with activity. Now? There was silence. It felt wrong. It felt dead. The mass of history weighed upon Draco as he walked. But as always, he ignored everything wasn't his job. It was what he did to stay sane. Or as sane as he was. He was reasonably well adjusted but there were times when he wondered. But he did know his way around and found his old quarters quickly. The door opened to his touch as if no time at all had passed. The room was as he had left it so long ago.
Looking around he didn't see anything out of place. The few mementos that he collected during his time at the Citadel, a few posters -some he still recognized and others he did not- what he had come for. He moved the paper partition out of the way and there it was. It lay quiet on its stand. Dormant. But he knew it was watching. It was always watching.
"It has been too long, old friend." Draco said with a sigh as he laid a hand on the sword's handle. And not just any sword. The Nikana was not a normal Tenno blade. It was older. The basic design predated Orokin by hundreds of years. But this was no normal Nikana. "I give apology."
Your path and ours diverged, wielder. The voice was not audible. Nor was it mental. It was more images than actual words. It connected to Draco in a way he'd never been able to explain. What was required of you was not something you could do. There was no honor to be found in forcing yourself into a path that you were unsuited for when there was no need. As always, the ancient wisdom that lived within the blade humbled Draco in any number of ways but it did not feel demeaning. Everything to the sword was simple and clear. He had always liked his talks with the sword. What brings you back to us?
"I have found my way." Draco said quietly. "I guard those who cannot protect themselves." A feeling of approval came from the blade and Draco nodded. "But now, my protectee is in danger. To aid her, I must go into deadly peril."
Then you will not walk alone. Without sense of transition, the blade he had been touching was at his side. And not alone. Another, shorter blade hung with it. We are with you.
"I am honored." Draco said and then turned and left the room. For the first time in a long, long time, Draco felt complete. Daisho, the twin blades of the Samurai, remade in the Tenno style were hanging at his side. He was not samurai.
It did not matter.