Hopes and dreams
Liriel just stared at what had to be yet another copy of herself and then she shook her head.
I assume these are insane. Liriel said quietly. After all, when you clone people like me, it doesn't end well.
I am not a clone, you arrogant- The red and black Kavat paused as Stalker laid a hand on her neck. Master! I won't go!
"Do not anger the Queen of Cats, Sarabi." Stalker said slowly. "I know you are upset. Heaven knows, I agree. But she can help you. I can't."
I won't go! The other hissed at Liriel and sat at Stalker's feet, starting to clean her fur. You cannot make me go. That was hurt in her tone, not just defiance. Liriel glanced from her to Stalker and back.
I would like an explanation. Liriel said quietly. A quick one since the cats are likely finalizing the demolition charge placement even without Matril.
The calico cat was the demolition specialist of the Corps, but he wasn't the only one capable of making them. He was the best at choosing how much to use to make just enough bang for the job and not too much, but in this case? Such was not as important. This place needed to go and if a bit of overkill happened? No one would object except some crazy Corpus, so Liriel couldn't care less.
"I make no excuses for what I am." Stalker replied. "I have hunted and slain Tenno for uncounted ages, using tactics both fair and foul. I am not a good being, nor will I ever be one. I swore what I did and I have not looked back. Now, with the revelations of what Ballas did? My oaths are likely dust and my life? Meaningless." He slumped a bit. "I will continue what I do, it is all I know. But I know now that I will never find the true perpetrators of the end. Those who brought down Orokin. I cannot break the blood oaths I swore. I want to find out if Ballas survived what the Zarimon child did to him, take steps if so, but I am bound by my oaths to slay Tenno."
I thought he was killed. Liriel said slowly. Slain by his former slave and a Zarimon child.
"You know how hard high caste Orokin were to kill. About as hard as you will be now. Nearly impossible." Stalker replied. "Even before he was taken by the Sentients he helped during the Old War, he was damned resilient. He betrayed us all. For love." He mused and shook his head. "I thought high caste Orokin were beyond such human things. I was wrong."
They probably thought the same. Liriel said dryly and Stalker nodded. Right up until Ballas' manipulations tore them asunder.
"I had no idea." Stalker replied. "I was a lower guardian, not a high rank in the Royal Guard. What I saw was bad enough, but..." He trailed off and slumped as Liriel gave a sniff. "You don't care."
No. Liriel replied. Such does not concern me. The Kavat at Stalker's feet hissed at her and Liriel shook her head again. This is odd to say the least. The clones they made of me were insane.
"Yes, all of them." Stalker replied. "That is why they killed the kittens. They were too dangerous to release and nearly impossible to hold when they started showing odd powers. I know you do not want to hear it, but it was mercy, not murder."
Mercy or no, I hear their screams when I sleep. Liriel said flatly. I have enough trouble remaining sane with these powers that were tossed onto me. This? You know vengeance. I will not forsake mine.
"I do not ask that." Stalker bent down to scratch the head of the Kavat at his feet who purred. "Such would be quite hypocritical of me. What I ask is that you take Sarabi and her kin in." The red and black Kavat stiffened, but Stalker wasn't done. "I cannot protect them. Not from what will come after them."
Why would I attack them? Liriel asked reasonably. I have no intention, ever, of demanding that any companion leave their chosen ones. Even yours. However this one or her kin were made, she seems… reasonably sane. That was dry and more than one of the onlookers snorted as the red and black Kavat hissed at her again. Not very smart, but young. I will give her some slack for that. I don't kill kittens if I have any choice. They rarely know what they are doing. I will not attack them for that.
"You would not, no. Hunhow would." Stalker said quietly and just like that, the tension in the room soared. "It doesn't know about Sarabi and her kin. At least..." He slumped a bit. "I don't think so. You need to blow this place before it realizes that this enthrallment center is intact. Without the one who ran it, it will be far less efficient, but still incredibly dangerous. Can you destroy it entirely?"
What kind of a question is that? Liriel demanded. You do know who you are speaking to, no?
Stop! The red and black Kavat was on her feet, fur spiking under her armor. No one talks to my Master that way!
"Sarabi! No!" Stalker begged as the red and black Kavat stalked forward.
Your master, huh? Liriel said slowly, not moving from where she lay. And what do you really think of him? Hmmm?
Power flared from her to the red and black Kavat who gave a screech and batted at it, but her paw went right through it. She dodged, but it curled around her and then sank into her as if made of insubstantial lavender claws. She jerked and then slowly sank to her haunches and then to the floor, tears starting to fall.
Please… No… Sarabi begged as Liriel's power flew through her. But she wasn't in pain. Liriel was being gentle as she probed the kitten's mind. She didn't need to be. She chose to be. Please!
Two days. Liriel said softly. Stalker nodded his head gravely. You got the imprints two days ago and you made five. You planned to let them loose on Tenno companions. Insane or no, they would act as decoys, distractions. Isis hissed, but Liriel was unmoved. They are not insane. How? She inquired.
"They are not clones of you." Stalker admitted. "They are clones of your kittens." Her went still as Liriel was on her feet, lavender energy scorching everything around her. Isis shied away but remained silent. Rage sang in every motion as the Kavat took a long, slow step towards the red and black boogeyman. Considering what she had just done to a Zarimon child? He was smart to freeze. "I thought the imprints were from you!"
Who? Liriel snapped as she stepped up to where Sarabi was still crying. Who did this? Who violated my kittens?
"I don't know! I received them via a dead drop!" Stalker pleaded as Sarabi looked up at Liriel through tear streaked eyes.
Please! Sarabi begged. He was kind to me! To us!
Maybe he was, but I cannot trust him, kitten. Liriel slowly shook her head. That means I cannot trust you. You may very well be in earnest, but I have far too many lives riding on me to take any chances with a known liar and oath-breaker. I will not slay you, but I cannot take you in either.
"I see." Stalker said quietly. "Then they are doomed. Either the Tenno or Hunhow will kill them. Pity." He sighed. "I hoped in vain. I understand, Your Majesty. I could wish otherwise, but I do understand. Die well, Sarabi."
With that, he knelt and vanished in a puff of black energy.
NO! Sarabi begged, darting to where he had been. Master! Don't leave me! She darted around, seeking some trace of Stalker, but he was gone. No. She said in a tiny voice. He couldn't have just… No. She lay down where he had been and cried.
Liriel looked at the red and black Kavat for a moment and then turned her back on the crying kitten. Her power faded as she walked to where Isis stood, staring from Liriel to Sarabi and back in shock.
"We cannot leave her here, Liriel." Isis was calm, but firm. "She will die."
Everything dies, Isis. Even I will eventually. Liriel said flatly. You know we cannot trust anything he does or says. I did not see any programming in her mind, but I am no Healer. If she has a tracker embedded… Then she will lead him or his acolytes straight to us no matter where we hide. I am responsible for all of us. I cannot take the chance.
"Liriel..." Isis said very softly. "We do not agree on much. That will likely never change. But I know you. If you leave her here to die, Queen or no, it will tear you apart. I can get her somewhere secure where I can determine if she has been programmed. The holding method won't be gentle, but it will disable any trackers. It will take some time to vet her properly, time we do not have at the moment. Liriel, I cannot leave her here to perish." The white cat paused and then spoke formally. "I take responsibility."
Very well. Liriel replied, turning to the pair of warframes. If she turns out to be a threat, I expect you to act on said responsibility. If not? She clearly needs education. Either way? She is your problem.
Liriel did not move as Isis nodded and stepped towards the crying red and black Kavat.
Stay away from me! Sarabi snapped as she sniffed the floor. He will come back! He has to come back!
"No, he doesn't, girl." Isis said calmly as her power flowed in barely visible gray bands to Sarabi. The Kavat relaxed against her will as Isis' empathy worked its magic. "Either this is a trick or it is not. If it is a trick, he will use you to find us. Maybe attack us or just to track us. We cannot allow that, so I will take steps to prevent it. If it is not a trick, then he has sacrificed you. Such would not be out of character for him."
He was nice. Sarabi begged on the edge of sleep. Then she gave a tiny scream as Isis held out a paw and Sarabi's form was digitized. Warframes were not the only ones who could do that.
"Maybe he was. We shall see." Isis turned back to Liriel and nodded. "She will sleep in my collar buffers until I can vet her." She shook her head. "They never ordered me to do such. I didn't take any genetic samples from the kittens, Liriel. You and Matril, yes. Not from your kittens by Matril. If someone else did..." She shook her head. "We need to get to the kittens. Now."
Right. Liriel looked at the pair of warframes. They both bowed to her and vanished. Liriel scoffed. And here I thought portals didn't work to here. Silly me.
"They don't unless someone has the coordinates." Kanaah's worried voice preceded the Sentient into view. The other cats were following her or escorting her or guarding her. Or something. "Or has been here before. I wasn't aware of Tenno ever being here before."
More mysteries, joy. Liriel sighed and shook her head. Well. This one at least is about to become irrelevant. Demo? She inquired.
"Demo is set." Grisha said with a nod to Liriel. "We can blow it anytime. Are we going after Matril?"
You better believe it. Liriel replied. If they get away with such once, they will continue to do it until stopped. Even if they don't hurt him, I won't let them make any more kittens from me and Matril. It won't end well.
"No." Kanaah said sadly. "It won't. Where to, Your Majesty?"
Bastet? Liriel inquired as the red furred cat looked at the ceiling. Where is he?
It wasn't known to any outside the Corps that Bastet could sense all of them from anywhere she was. It was most definitely not a gift. It was psionic and it drove her absolutely crazy on occasion. She jerked and Liriel went to her side, offering support as only the Kavat Elder could. Restoring the red cat's energy. Bastet nodded her thanks.
"He is on the derelict connected to the asteroid where we hid, Your Majesty." Bastet said softly. "I can't sense anything but that. Why there?" She asked, confused. "The others will have fled by now with our kittens."
"Maybe that is why?" Grisha asked. "Are they going after the kittens again?"
If so, we will make them regret it. Liriel snarled and all the felines echoed her. She paused as Jumper made a soft noise. What?
She didn't like Jumper and she certainly didn't trust him. The cat had no concept of the meaning of the word 'no'. His ultrasonics had turned any number of female felines into goo around him. More than one of those had woken up knocked up. None of the Corps trusted him unsupervised around females. The one time he had tried such on Liriel while she was fully aware, she had knocked him unconscious and the less said about what Grisha, Bastet and Isis had done to him after, the better. He had healed, but still. Less said.
"They don't want him dead, whoever they are. Or you." Jumper was thoughtful, but then again, he was an intel specialist and such was his forte. "The only reason for such that makes any sense at all is that they think to make more Cyberlancer kittens. Not that such does makes any sense at all! Idiots." His sour face spoke for them all. "It didn't work!"
"It did, sort of." Isis said weakly. Everyone looked at her and the white cat was shaking in grief. "They did have power, but they were uncontrollable. The staff ordered me to soothe the kittens and I tried, but they couldn't be. The Oracle fled and the others? You know what happened."
They killed them. Liriel said flatly. Isis nodded. If they try such again, it will likely make a worse mess.
"Agreed." Isis gave herself a shake and stood up. "Orders?"
Liriel looked around and then her power flared. Lavender energy flowed out in waves that passed by all of the beings in the area to sweep each and every cranny. In moments, she knew where each demolition charge was laid and approved of the placements. Three near the power supply, four near key several structural supports. Without those, Sentient metal or no, this place would go splat from the pressure of Jupiter's atmosphere. She keyed the charges live and nodded to Kanaah.
Can you take us to where Bastet senses Matril? The queen asked. Bastet made a motion and a series of number appeared in mid-air. Holographic coordinates.
"I can get you close, but then I need to rest again." The silver Sentient sounded worried. Then again, this place was about to implode. Sentient or no, it would likely hurt to be here. "I won't be good for much, after."
Just get us there. Liriel commanded as the cats moved with her to cluster around the Sentient who gathered them up in gentle energy. Don't overdo it. If you hurt yourself, your mother won't be happy and neither will I.
"Geez, I thought one Mother was bad. Now I have two?" Kanaah said snidely and more than one of the cats snickered as Liriel sighed dramatically.
Don't make me spank you, young Sentient. Liriel's quip startled a laugh out of Kanaah and then they were elsewhere. A familiar Orokin derelict. Kanaah wilted a bit, falling a little towards the floor. Liriel looked at the metal form, worried, but the Sentient recovered.
"I am all right. I am just tired. No need for spanking." Kanaah quipped back and the felines all chuckled softly. She settled onto an outcropping and her form wavered a bit, holo emitters acting to camouflage her. In moments, an Orokin container sat there instead of a Sentient, glowing red with dangerous energy. She was mimicking an unstable container. Only a fool would approach such. They were know to explode with enough force to kill unshielded humans. Kanaah's voice came from nowhere. "I will be here."
Scout the area. Liriel commanded. Find Matril. Be careful. They have to know we are coming. Whoever they are.
The other cats vanished and Liriel started off, every sense hyper-alert. This was where she had brought the Corps after they had tried to wake her and she had… Well, it wasn't enslavement no matter what her psyche deep in the darkness that resided inside her soul whispered at night. They had choice, the Feline Corps did. They chose to follow. Just as Grisha had jerked her up short when she had wanted nothing more than to keep hurting that arrogant little brat, they all had choice. Feline Corps Elders were not slavemasters or mistresses. They were guides and protectors. Much like the Lotus had been before Ballas had returned, come think of it.
Liriel stepped into a shadow and froze as a sound came to her ears. Someone was laughing quietly. Not madly, or manically, but in actual glee. Someone young. She didn't move. Whoever these were, they likely knew her responses. So, it had to be a trap. Probably for her and maybe for the rest of the Corps. They also felt fairly strongly about kittens in danger. Orokin derelicts pretty much defined the word danger even when they were not under threat from people who had-
"Ate you going to stand there all day?" A very young voice asked form nearby and Liriel turned her head to see a small Kavat looking at her from under a bench. The small male kitten was smiling and he spoke like the cats could! He was augmented! "You found me, Mother. Can we play some now?"
This is not a very safe place to play. Liriel said slowly. Is there a safer place nearby?
"Sort of. The bad men are all under Orina's spell. But she is so mean sometimes. She is scary when she is mean." The kitten came out from under the bench and Liriel fought to keep from reacting. He had been experimented on. Patched of fur had been shaved and his bare skin showed signs of injections. The kitten stilled as Liriel did. "What is wrong, Mother?"
I failed you. Liriel said softly. Didn't I?
"They hurt you, Mother." The other said quietly. "You didn't want to do what they wanted you to do. Even asleep, I could feel your pain and fear. I feel your fear now." He shook his head. "Mother, why are you afraid? Why are you afraid of me?" Hurt sounded in his tone as he curled up, trying to make himself small.
I don't know. You haven't done anything to me to make me afraid. I don't know why I am afraid of you, but I am. I mean no offense. Liriel admitted. Then she smiled a little. You want to play? We can play, but I think I need to talk to Orina. She is like you?
"Sort of." The male kitten said with a wince. "She is being mean though."
Has she hurt you? Liriel demanded, stepping forward to give the kitten a once over. He gave her a long suffering look.
"She is my sister. She is not always gentle, but she does mean well." The male kitten said with a smile as that turned into a frown as Liriel gave him a lick. "That tickles, Mother."
You need a bath, kitten. Liriel smiled wide at his horrified expression. How long have you been alone here?
"Orina brought us here from the cold place." The kitten said slowly and then he paused. "Oh, you were not awake. You don't remember me, do you?" Liriel shook her head. "I, um… Orina will want to talk to you too. She has been expecting you ever since Father arrived."
Is your father all right? Liriel asked.
"I don't know." The kitten admitted. "He won't wake up. Orina wasn't happy when he arrived. She hoped to see you too. I don't understand why she is upset. You are here now."
Things are complicated at the moment. Liriel said softly. What is your name? I don't remember you and I wish I did.
"The nice lady in blue said you wouldn't know us, but she called me 'Diego'. Is that a good name?" The kitten asked, worried.
Yes, it is a good name. Liriel said softly as she moved to stand by the kitten. Can you lead me to Orina, Diego? We need to talk, her and I.
"Please don't be mad!" Diego begged. "Orina is mean sometimes, but she tries to protect us!"
I am angry, but not with you. Liriel promised as she licked him again despite his sputtered protests. Come on, let's go talk to your sister and try to clean up this mess before it gets any more out of hand. Then you get a bath.She had to smile at his horrified expression. You say Matril is not hurt?
"He is asleep and won't wake up. She took control of all the bad men." Diego said softly as he started off, Liriel following. "They were going to hurt him. She wouldn't let them. She said you would be mad if he was hurt. She is taking care of him herself."
Smart girl. Liriel smiled but did not react as four silent shadows followed the pair deeper into the derelict to find some answers. She could hope for good answers, but Liriel feared what she was walking into more and more with every step. It didn't help that she saw the telltale signs of mental control on the kitten.
Someone was mind controlling Diego and it looked an awful lot like a Nyx warframe's power.