Electric Dreams

Liriel didn't dream very often, so it was always memorable when she did. Cyberlancers rarely dreamed at all, their minds were far too ordered for such random subconscious things. Liriel's powers had been blocked for so long that she had dreamed every so often, but still, it was rare.

She didn't mind. This dream was not bad. Some of it was quite pleasant.

"How you feeling?" Matril was walking beside Liriel through halls that were gray and blue. Every so often, he would brush up against her and it felt good. He was not a nice being, but he was a good being, as odd as that was. Liriel liked him and more.

"The soreness has faded." Liriel heard herself say. "It um, it worked." She had a smile in her voice. "I still don't like Isis, but she was right." The Kavat felt herself slump. "Maker help me, it worked. Eighteen and all furred, not scaled. The Corps will continue."

"I am so very proud of you, love. The organic augmentation passed to them, male and female alike." Matril said very quietly. "We will need to train them from the moment they can hear. The augmentation won't activate for a year or so, but we need to make sure they are disciplined before that happens. Kittens are kittens after all. The last thing anyone needs is them acting out with our kind of power."

"Then it is a good thing we have a drill instructor here and now, isn't it?" Liriel felt her smile grow wide as Matril shifted, a bit embarrassed. "Matril, I… I don't want to do this, but I must. I want to explain how I know about Abigail and I can't. There is so much I cannot say."

"We understand about secrets, love." Matril brushed up against her again and this time, stayed close. She was cold and would be. Her energy had faded so far that she felt cold no matter what anyone did. It wasn't physical, it was mental and she knew it wasn't real, but it felt real. So did Matril. His warmth soothed her as it always did. "I will try to get them to understand or at least to check the records you pointed out. I would dearly love to know how you know so much about Cyberlancers, but if you knew Trinity personally, I guess it makes sense. And while I may be a cat and curious, I do know not to pry into some things. I will try to get them to back off or at least think about it some more, ask more questions."

"That may be the best we can do. The first Cyberlancer was an incredibly good teacher in every discipline she taught." Liriel was careful in what she said. "Trying to push Abigail into a path won't work. All it will do is drive her mad. It happened a couple of times that I remember and I could see how much it hurt Trinity to put them down." She felt her head shake. "I am stalling. I don't want to do this."

"We don't want you to go, Liriel." Matril said sadly. "Even Isis doesn't want you to go. You are needed here and now. Even with eighteen new kits, our future is not secure. We… We need you." He begged. "I need you. I can do it. Let me."

"You cannot do all of what I can and you would likely get killed trying. I do not want you to die, love. I am not a cat, Matril." Liriel said quietly.

"I don't care!" The male cat snapped. "You are the being I love and the mother of my kits. No matter how they were made, you are their mother and they will miss you." He slumped a bit. "So will I."

"It needs to be done, Matril and I am the only one who can do it." Liriel said quietly. She rubbed her head against his. "Without the Lotus running things here, things got complicated. She set it all up to be automated, but you know as well I do that cats, Kavats and others will not simply sit and let others be in control. Certainly not the Grineer." That was sour and angry. She had never fought Grineer herself, but Matril had told her stories and she hated them secondhand for what they had done to her love and his family. Even Isis.

They came to a large golden door marked with a huge silver Lotus symbol and both paused as two hulking forms rose from sitting positions beside it to stand in front of it. Barring the way. The Kubrows were in full armor. Not quite warframes, but close. Liriel looked at Matril who bowed his head and stepped back.

"I do not wish this, but it must be done." Liriel said quietly. "With the Lotus gone, there must be one in charge. One to take responsibility. The cats chose me and you others accepted me despite my misgivings. I know my duty. I will lead the Grineer away."

You? The Kubrow on the left demanded, her tone both aggressive and worried. You would do this?

"I would rather not." Liriel admitted. "This is going to cause all kinds of problems, but in the end, I know my duty. To the Tenno, to the Lotus, to humanity who use us, abuse us and then forget about us. To all of us who were made. I will serve as the sacrifice. They will see me as an oddity, as a treasure to be taken. I can lead them away. I will try not to let them take me, but if they do capture me alive, they will take me and use me. They will not pry further into these halls if I can keep them away long enough for the others to reactivate the defenses that shut down when I arrived. I am just an animal, the Grineer won't mindscan me. With any luck, by the time they return, the others will have the defenses awake and any conceivable assault will perish swiftly or be driven away. I do not wish this. I wish to stay with my kits, but I am needed. I go."

Both Kubrow looked at each other and then, as one, they bowed their heads.

We honor you, Elder. They are coming. The female Kubrow said softly. They are four halls away. Can you lead them away? Save our puppies and kittens?

"Yes." Liriel snarled that and both Kubrow barked in acknowledgment. She looked to where Matril had been, but he was gone. "Lock the door after me and tell the others to get the defenses working as soon as they can! The neural sentry will defend you along with the sentinels if you can get them online again. I will buy you what time I can. I don't know how long that will be."

Yes, Elder Liriel.

She was past the door and it clicked closed and locked behind her, but… Something was wrong. The halls ahead were golden. Orokin décor instead of the Lotus' subdued designs. The ancient ways resounded with gunfire and screams. Someone was attacking the Grineer? That hadn't been planned for.

The halls hadn't changed much since she had first arrived. After waking from the virtual world where her life had turned upside down, she and the cats had come here, to find a new way. They had hoped to get advice from the Lotus but the Lotus was gone and all of the other animals who had been consigned to her care had been left to themselves. None lacked for food or a place to sleep, but metal halls were not comfortable even for genetically engineered animals. They needed space to run, to play and the Lotus had provided that. Until she had vanished, taken by Ballas.

Liriel had done what she could, but it didn't feel enough. She needed to buy time for the others to get the defenses back online. Defenses that had been shut off as unneeded with so many Kubrow and Kavat living here. Strong defenses that would-

Her world shimmered.

Liriel… A familiar voice spoke in her mind and Liriel stiffened. Trinity! Focus.

This… This wasn't a dream! This was a memory! She fought to hold to it, but it shifted in her grip and vanished. The halls wavered and turned into dusty, dirty, overgrown Orokin derelict halls that she had heard about. She had wiped her mind. Matril said she had wiped her own mind. Why? Isis hadn't done that. The white furred witch didn't know how and besides, such rarely worked on Cyberlancers.

Liriel jerked as her memory wavered again and then dissolved completely into a haze of lavender code. She was standing on an empty plain composed of lavender code. A representation of her mind.

What? This? No! Liriel snapped. I have to-

"Liriel." Trinity appeared nearby, but she wasn't in her warframe. The human looking woman smiled at the Kavat, but it was melancholy. "I had no idea."

What have I done? Liriel begged as she curled up on the ground that wasn't ground, but a solid seeming bit of her own mind given form by her power. Trinity, what have I done?

"I don't know." Trinity said sadly. "I saw bits of what you just did. I was very worried about you. You were very badly hurt breaking your oath. For the transgression of tapping your mind, I apologize."

Apology accepted, but not needed. I can't blame you for trying to heal me. Liriel reassured the other. You are who you are, Trinity. She rose and walked to the Tenno, twining herself around the female's ankles as Trinity reached down to pet her. Normal rules did not apply to Cyberlancers in their own minds. Asking you not to be empathetic would be like asking me to become human. It is not going to happen.

"The cats turned you into something more." Trinity said quietly as she continued to pet the distressed Kavat. "An Elder?"

I think so. Liriel sighed. That shouldn't be possible, but… She scoffed. The impossible is what Tenno and their companions do, no?

"Many times, yes." Trinity smiled and sat, letting Liriel climb up into her lap to curl up. "That Matril cat really cared for you."

Yes. Liriel was all but sobbing as Trinity petted her. I don't really remember this, Trinity. It will all come back, won't it?

"Yes, your memories are backed up many different ways. Chemically, electronically, hard coded DNA, the list goes on and on. No matter how well you wiped them, you cannot have wiped them all. Heaven knows, I tried to forget things myself and never could. Your memory would have eventually recovered anyway, but now that your powers are live again?" The First Healer and Cyberlancer heaved a deep sigh. "Sooner rather than later and fast."

I don't think I want to know. Liriel begged and Trinity put her other hand into play, scratching under the Kavat's chin until Liriel relaxed, but continuing to pet with her other. The motions were soothing, calming. Loving.

"Probably not." Trinity agreed. "I won't leave you to face this alone, Liriel." Liriel stared up at her and Trinity shook her head. "I am and likely always will be angry with Ariana. Both her crimes and my inability to help her. I am not angry with you. I never was."

Part of me wishes you were. It might be easier to deal with anger. Liriel admitted, her head drooping back to Trinity's thigh as the shade continued to pet her.

"Yes, usually. But you are family, Liriel. You were a very good student and a very good friend, both to Ariana and to me. I..." The long dead Tenno swallowed hard. "I was angry when you went with Ariana into cryo, but I understood then and understand now. I never really blamed you for that. Now? You want to be with her, even if she can never leave her prison, and I can understand that. You bonded to her. Part of you is missing and you want your other part back."

Yes. Liriel said, miserable. I don't really understand all of the rules and laws and things you and the others spoke of. Those are human matters and they didn't always make a lot of sense to me. Trinity nodded and continued to pet.

"Want to know a secret, Liriel?" Trinity's voice was odd, cheerful, but melancholy at the same time. "They didn't make a lot of sense to me when I was human, sometimes. When I became Tenno? Less."

So, such is normal? Liriel asked, confused.

"As normal as anything gets around Tenno." Trinity laughed lightly but there was little humor in it. "You need to face what happened, Liriel. If you don't, the memories will overwhelm you when they finally break free. Do you want me to stay with you while you do so?"

Please? Liriel begged. I don't know what happened, but I bet it is bad. Whatever it was, Isis and the other cats, they didn't do it.

"No." Trinity sighed deeply. "Jesse just sent a basic report to us. Bare bones only with more to follow." Liriel stiffened a bit, but relaxed as Trinity continued to pet her. "They were trying to help you after you were found in such a horrible state. They didn't know you were a Cyberlancer of course, so they were rightly shocked when you wrested control of the virtual world from Isis and pulled each and every one of them into it with you. Even without your powers, such things obey our kind." Liriel stared at Trinity again, shock twisting her feline features. "Then their augmentation acted, treated you as their Elder."

But I am not a cat! Liriel protested.

"Their augmentation didn't care." Trinity shook her head. "Reproduction has always been a genetic imperative, Liriel. You were powerful and you refused to bow to Isis, that made you her superior. Their augmentation decided that such made you their Elder. They had no choice but to accept it. From what Jesse says? It wasn't easy, especially for Isis."

Oh, that cannot have gone well with that white furred witch. Liriel snerked.

"No, it didn't." Trinity's smile was just as wicked. "She didn't take it well at all. She didn't want the job, but you just appearing and snatching it out of her paws without apparent effort was a hell of a shock."

My heart bleeds. Liriel snapped and then heaved another sigh. So, they… She shook her head. What? I was asleep for two months according to them, but I wasn't, was I?

"No. You were asleep for a day and half before they pulled you into the virtual world and everything changed." Trinity continued to scratch and pet. Liriel was turning into putty from Trinity's expert ministrations. "When you woke, you were their Elder and they acted to protect you from everyone. Including the Tenno who they liked, but could not trust entirely with such a thing. They took you somewhere they refuse to speak of even to the Empress. Only you can speak of it, apparently. Just like only you could find it."

What? Liriel asked, stunned. Because I was an Elder according to the augmentation?

"According to Isis, yes. You were and are their Elder. Their leader." Trinity agreed. Liriel tried to stiffen, but she was so limp from the wonderful feelings that Trinity was giving to her that she couldn't move. "Their augmentation had a lot of information buried deep within it that only their Elders could access. Can access. You are the only one who can access that information, currently. Not even the rest of us Cyberlancers can without causing harm. Which makes you incredibly powerful and incredibly valuable."

Or incredibly dangerous. Liriel said weakly. Trinity nodded. What do I do, Teacher? She begged.

"Any power can be dangerous, Liriel. You know this." Trinity chided the distraught Kavat gently as she finished petting and just held the Kavat. "Hell, petting you can be dangerous as Abigail nearly found out."

I wouldn't have hurt her, Teacher. She didn't know what she was doing. Liriel said, stung by Trinity's words.

"And if she had known what she was doing and did it anyway?" Trinity inquired, an edge to her voice. Liriel looked away. "You would have taken strips out of her at the very least. Cyberlancer or no. You did it to me." Her tone was amused rather than angry.

I apologized for that, many times. Must I do it again? Liriel wasn't angry either, she was tired. So very tired. Most of that was from the overwhelming pleasure that Trinity had given her. She would recover quickly. She always had.

"No." Trinity pulled Liriel up so that her warm energy suffused the all but sleeping Kavat. "What I did was wrong. I knew that the moment you clawed and bit me. I had no right to do that without asking you. Ariana warned me that you were awake, aware and intelligent. I didn't believe her. You showed me the error of my ways and I will never try to stick a thermometer in you again. I learned my lesson." Liriel had to smile at the pained look that crossed Trinity's face. "We are who we are, Liriel. You are a good soul and a good friend who has been abused. Some of the abuse was unknowing and unplanned. The rest? You need to face it."

On my terms. Liriel agreed, her lethargy fading as Trinity's power eased into her, revitalizing her aching soul. And… You will stand with me? Don't you have to go back to the database? Trinity glared at her and Liriel had her answer. No one smart would push the First Cyberlancer on this. Never mind.

"Smart Kavat." Trinity smiled and gave Liriel's head a final caress. "Ready?"

No. Liriel sighed and rose to step off the Tenno. But it needs to be done. If there are kittens, then they are likely in danger.

"Jesse says that Isis says they are not, but frankly? After all the lies, who will trust her?" Trinity asked reasonably as she rose and suddenly, she was clad in her warframe, its golden colors shining oddly in the lavender light. She hefted a long staff that glowed with her golden code.

I want to trust Matril. Liriel said weakly. Can I?

"If what they say turns out to be true and you are their Elder, then none of them will be able to lie to you." Trinity reassured the Kavat. "That said, they are masters and mistresses of misdirection."

And the truth can take so many forms. Liriel said softly. So many resonances in that simple statement. Trinity just nodded, probably remembering Ariana having to not speak the entire truth so many times to cover her extracurricular activities. What did you see?

"I saw you walking with Matril. I could tell just from looking that he loves you as much as my human husband once loved me. As my Tenno mate did." Trinity replied. "I saw the Kubrow call you 'Elder'." Liriel fought not to react but Trinity was very observant. "Liriel, if that is your duty..."

Then I must do my duty. Yes. Liriel nodded to the elder Cyberlancer and then focused herself. Her mind formed into the halls she had seen before. She stared around and nodded. This looks the same, but I do not remember it. Do I?

"Part of you does." Trinity warned. "Are you ready? I doubt this will be fun for either of us. I am here. I won't let you fall, sister. I can protect us both. These are memories. They can hurt, but they cannot kill unless you let them. So don't. I am here, sister. You are not alone."

Thank you.

The Kavat and the Cyberlancer strode off into the murky corridors of memory together.