What price love?
The two Kavat entered a larger room and Liriel was not at all surprised to see at least a dozen Corpus troops milling around, working on things. All looked the same as Diego. Mind controlled. Whoever was doing this was powerful. She jerked a bit as a Hyena mech stalked into view, but it moved away, obviously patrolling. It vanished into another room, but Liriel did not relax.
That was not a cat. Liriel said softly to Diego who made a face.
"No." The kitten agreed. "It is a machine. The bad men made it and hurt it. Orina helped it and it promised to help her." Liriel stared at the kitten who shrugged. "I don't understand all of that, but she promised it would help us and it has."
I see. Liriel didn't understand at all, not really, but she was calmer. She felt no threat nearby and her armor would be proof against almost anything the Corpus could throw at her. Tenno would be problematic, especially if a Nyx was involved. Mind control might or might not work on Liriel. She wasn't sure and didn't want to find out. Where is Orina?
"She is with Father." Diego started towards another door, passing armed Corpus troops as if they were inconsequential. Maybe they were. "Um, I better tell you. She is not here. We will need to go somewhere else." Liriel looked at him and he winced. "There is a hidden place attached to this messed up place. The passageway to it is here. It has all kinds of cool things that are made for people with paws and fur." He almost gushed.
I know. Liriel said dryly. I own it.
"It is yours?" Diego said softly, incredulous. "I um… We um, we came here hoping to find help, but no one was here. The bad men wanted to hurt people but Orina stopped them."
Did she stop you? Liriel asked and Diego seemed to wilt.
"I don't know. Maybe? I was confused." Diego admitted. "I was hurting and I didn't understand anything. There was another kitten there. He tried to help, but then the bad men hurt him too and he vanished. I don't know what happened to him."
He died. Liriel felt grief rise and the kitten rubbed her side. I couldn't help him. Maybe I can help you. I hope so.
"Me too, Mother. Orina is in the hidden place with Father. She is… not like us." Diego said weakly as Liriel stopped short and looked at him.
What do you mean 'not like us'? Liriel inquired. Is she a kitten?
"Yes, but…" Diego slumped. "You have to see it and you will be mad. Please don't be mad at Orina. She has helped. Even when she is mean, she helps."
Is it just you and Orina? Liriel asked. Diego nodded. And these are the bad men? She nodded to the Corpus who ignored them.
"Yes." Diego shivered a little. "Orina made them hers, but she doesn't… She says she doesn't know what she is doing. She was trying to find help. She found some, but they couldn't help but so much. They said we needed you. Can you help us, Mother?"
I don't know, kitten. Liriel said sadly. I give you my word, I will try. Have you hurt anyone?
"No." Diego said quickly, a bit too quickly and Liriel looked at him. "I haven't! Even the bad men! I haven't hurt anyone!"
If you hurt the bad men, I won't be angry with you or Orina. Liriel replied. They have made me very mad. Did you do something to them or someone else? He would not meet her eyes. I need to know what happened, Diego. If I know what happened, I may be able to help. I may not. She cautioned when the kitten perked up. Either way, I need to know, Diego.
"Then you need to talk to Orina and the door is hard to get past. Neither of us can open it." Diego started forward, but Liriel was at his side before he took two steps.
It will open for me. Liriel promised. The defenses are not live, are they?
"The bad men broke a bunch of stuff before Orina could free us and stop them." Diego said weakly. "They made a mess."
Then we will get them to clean it up, right? Liriel smirked as Diego chuckled but the kitten was wary, so wary it hurt. As if he had been beaten too often to trust anyone.
Liriel knew when they approached the door that led to the Feline Corps' hideaway. The area was littered with broken Corpus mechs and destroyed sentinels. Dozens of mechs and at least four sentinels had fallen. From the looks of it, the mechs had walked right into a well executed ambush. Liriel stared at the mechanical carnage for a moment and then followed Diego towards the door. The kitten moved towards a small, dark tunnel that was meant for sentinels, but Liriel shook her head and code flew from her to touch the door. It groaned and Diego's eyes bulged as it opened.
"How did you do that?" Diego asked, awed. "That was very cool."
We moms have a few tricks. Liriel replied offhand, but she was wary. She was glad she was. Movement just inside the door made her react with the speed of thought.
Diego cried out as Liriel barreled into him, throwing him to the side as two Corpus troops stood up out of cover, Flux rifles aimed at the pair. She readied herself to fight, but then, both raised their weapons to a salute!
"Your Majesty." The one on the right said quietly. "The Reverend Mother said you would come. We hoped and prayed it would be in time."
What the hell is going on? Liriel snapped, careful to keep herself between Diego and the pair.
"Mother! No! These are the good men!" Diego begged, not rising from where he lay. Wise. Liriel was glowing. "They have helped us, helped Orina! They freed us from the bad men, but then were trapped! Orina helped them, they helped us! Please, Mother!"
If you have touched Matril, you know what I will do! Liriel snarled.
"We have not. We know better." The spoke man said firmly. "We are detailed to guard the door. There are four others of us in this facility and I have just updated them that you have arrived. Hurry, Your Majesty. You are needed." Was he begging her?
You think I am just going to walk in here and let you do god knows what to me? Think again, you- Liriel demanded, only to break off as a hologram appeared nearby. The Reverend Mother had been crying, but her face lit up on seeing Liriel. Liriel, for her part, growled. You.
"Yes, Queen Liriel." The Reverend Mother said softly. "I did not tell you the whole truth before. Too many ears were listening for the whole truth to be known. Now? Here? I can explain, but Orina needs you. Your daughter needs you." She pleaded. "Please, she can explain, but she needs you! I hope and pray you can help her!"
A cry of pain sounded from further along the hall. A young female Kavat in pain! Oddly mechanical?
"Orina!" Diego took off at a run. Liriel stared at the two soldiers for a moment, but both were aiming at the door, ignoring her. For a moment, Liriel was torn. Kittens in pain, but obvious, clear danger in the Corpus troops.
The Reverend Mother made a slow, deliberate gesture. An odd symbol appeared in front of her. One Liriel knew. From the Feline Corps augmentation. Liriel's eyes narrowed as she recognized it. 'Danger' not 'Death'.
What did they do to her? Liriel demanded. The Corpus who made her?
"I have no words. You need to see." The Reverend Mother said sadly. She slumped a bit. "Maker knows, I have seen evil far too many times to ever think that I know all of its faces. But this? You need to see her, Queen of Cats. She didn't mean to do any of this! It is not her fault! Please! The troops I sent in there are to guard her and you. Order them to leave and they will, but that will leave your kittens vulnerable even with all of what Orina has suborned and the rest of the Corps no doubt shadowing you. Diego and Orina are your kittens. The only survivors of what that idiot Shawneeia did. I only wish Jules hadn't shot her when he finally traced the theft of your DNA to her, had left that moronic executive to face your wrath, because your wrath will be kindled anew. With me among others. This is partly my fault. When Trinity came to me with the idea, I was torn, but we did need more Cyberlancers." She shook her head. "I do not expect forgiveness. I hope for understanding someday, but forgiveness will not happen. Please." she waved towards where Diego had vanished. "Hurry."
The holo vanished and the troops ignored Liriel to keep watch on the door. Liriel gave them a long look, but they completely ignored her. Very well trained or very stupid, that. Neither of them saw small shadows that seeped past them in a dark tunnel that was meant to allow sentinels access to the outside. Liriel started off, but the soldier spoke again.
"Can you close the door?" He asked without looking at her. "Those guys outside may or may not remain if Orina's power fades. Would rather not give them access to this place."
Liriel thought for a moment and then heaved a sigh. She sent code to the door and it closed. She started off, aware of the soldiers returning to concealment in places by the door. She was aware of four shadows pacing her in the dark tunnel as she stalked down the hall. The closest room had been set up as a school, a place to teach young kittens what it was to be Corps. She stepped in and her heart plummeted as she saw a bunch of medical gear and Matril lying silent and still in the middle of it. That paled beside the four legged thing that lay on the floor beside the medical gear and the sobbing kitten that knelt beside it.
"Orina, get up!" Diego begged. "You gotta get up! Mother is here! You can get up now! Please, Orina!"
Liriel stared at the robot feline in horror. It was far larger than a Kavat. Its head had a transparent dome on its top and in the dome, a small form floated in some kind of gel. A tiny, furless, female kitten. Metal things had been connected to her skull and went into the machine. She jerked in her gel filled prison and the machine's legs jerked.
I am sorry, Mother. A tiny voice, so like Alejandro's had been sounded in Liriel's mind. I didn't mean to be bad. I didn't mean for him to hurt Father. I didn't think a star child would be so stupid as to attack you!
You? You sent that stupid boy? What have they done to you? Liriel breathed in scents of Matril, Diego and machinery. Nothing else was in the area. Orina, is it?
"The Reverend Mother called me 'Orina'. Called him 'Diego'. Good names. I think." The voice came from a speaker on the machine now, a bit stronger, but still weak. "I woke like this, Diego was crying. All of the others were dying! I cried for help and soldiers came. They called themselves Special Forces and they were angry. They freed us. They helped. So I helped them when they were trapped. I made a mess here and so any humans and machines died. They wanted to help but they can't save me. Can you help Diego?" The tiny kitten begged. "I can't hold it back! It is too strong! I can't! Mother help!"
Liriel felt an odd pull on her mind. It came from Diego. It felt wrong, mechanical. She slapped at it with code and the feeling recoiled and then her code dove into the feeling, almost of its own accord.
What she saw made the monstrosity in front of her pale.
She saw it all. Every little bit of what had been done to these kittens. They had been turned into half kitten, half robot monstrosities. Orina's changes were visible, Diego had nanites flowing through his bloodstream. Both of them had energy warping and twisting inside their minds trying to program them to serve the Corpus. She felt an incredibly powerful young female mind forcing the programming back through sheer force of will and she shook her head. A telepath! Orina was a telepath. Powerful, but untrained. Poor kitten had no idea what she was doing.
Not like that, Orina. It will drive you mad and him as well. I can help. Liriel said quietly. Isis, I need you.
Two voices gasped as one as the Healer of the Corps appeared beside Liriel, her white furred face grave.
"My Queen..." Isis said softly. "What can we do? Are they Cyberlancers?"
No. Thank god. Diego doesn't have any powers I can sense, but he is augmented. Liriel stepped close to the robotic form. Orina is a telepath and a very powerful one. She is holding the Corpus programming in both her and Diego at bay by sheer power, Isis. That is all that is keeping them both sane. She needs help. I am going to give it.
"My queen-" Isis started to protest, but then shut her mouth. When she spoke, it was soft. "What can I do?"
Monitor them both. Liriel commanded. What will happen will be a shock. It may stop their hearts. If so, revive them.
"You know what to do?" Isis inquired only to grimace as Liriel shot her a look. "Never mind. Of course you don't. Silly question." She muttered the last not quite under her breath.
Actually, I have seen this done. Liriel admitted and Isis stared at her, wide-eyed. Nyx dealt with human telepaths a few times. A couple of whom had been 'adjusted' to attack Tenno. I saw Trinity stop one that had pretended to befriend us. Even now, the betrayal hurt, but Liriel pushed the feelings aside. It wasn't pretty.
"Betrayal never is." Isis replied, her own pain at being forced to betray Liriel coming through loud and clear. Liriel did not reply to that. She focused on the kittens.
I don't know if I can save you kittens, but I have to try. Liriel stepped close to the machine, Isis at her side. You didn't deserve this. I might deserve such horror, someday, but you. No. You don't. It is just the two of you, yes?
"I sometimes hear a voice crying in my head." Diego admitted when Orina gave him a nudge of mental power. "She is sad. So sad and scared. She never talks, even to me."
A little mental instability can be excused after such a horrible thing, kitten, but you are still getting a bath after this. Liriel had to smile as Diego made a face and Orina chuckled. Isis radiated amusement as well, but the Healer was focused as Liriel sat and then reached out to touch both forms. Physical contact heightened the feelings of wrongness in both of them.
"What do I do?" Orina asked. "I don't know what to do."
I only saw it the once. Liriel admitted I was fairly busy trying not to die at the time, so I was a bit distracted, but I do know the basics. The program that is running in your minds is at war with your psyches. You know it is wrong, what they demand. So, you fight it. Let me see if I can- WHOA!
The world fell away.
Liriel snarled a battle-cry as three tiny terrified furred forms appeared on a golden floor at her feet. She stood over them protectively, growling. Her armor was glowing lavender and her claws were fully extended. Ready to fight even here. Maybe especially here.
"Whoever did this better have a damned good reason!" Liriel snapped aloud. All three of the kittens curled up under her, terrified of her rage as well as whatever had happened.
But who answered her…
"We do." A calm and assured voice spoke and Liriel stilled as the Khora warframe that held her partner Ariana appeared in the virtual world. The ancient Tenno shook her head as she looked from Liriel to the kittens and her faceplate retracted. She smiled at the suddenly unsure Kavat. "Carlos delivered your message, dear heart." She shook her head. "Oh dear. Trinity made a hell of a mess, didn't she?"
"She… You.. I..." Liriel swallowed hard and shook her head. "How do I know this isn't a trick?"
"It could be." Ariana allowed. "Proving a negative is always hard. But I can prove to you that I am the one who you once called 'Madre'." Liriel stilled as Ariana grinned. She hadn't called Ariana that but once. Ariana had corrected her, gently, but firmly that one time. Her eyes went huge as Ariana tapped her wrist and music started. Familiar music.
"No..." Liriel swallowed. "No! Anything but that!" All three kittens were staring as Ariana held her hand in front of her as if holding a microphone and started to sing!
'We built this city, we built this city on rock and roll
Built this city, we built this city on rock and roll
Say you don't know me or recognize my face
Say you don't care who goes to that kind of place
Knee deep in the hoopla sinking in your fight
Too many runaways eating up the night'
Liriel felt her rage melt as Ariana held out her hand and the Kavat stepped forward to join her best friend as they had so many times after so many horrors. The years, centuries, melted away with her rage and she was the music! As bad as the song was, it had never stopped cheering her up. She came back to herself to find all three kittens singing the chorus as the song ended. All had goofy grins on their faces that she knew were matched by the one on Ariana's and her own.
'We built this city, we built this city on rock and roll
Built this city, we built this city on rock and roll
Built this city, we built this city on rock and roll
Built this city, we built this city on rock and roll'
Ariana went to her knees, holding out a hand and Liriel stepped forward, her posture hesitant.
"Ariana?" Liriel begged. "But… You couldn't… I don't understand." She accepted the pet that Ariana gave her and oh my god! It was Ariana! Her armored hand felt so familiar.
"I was always going to be caught and punished, Liriel. That was never in question. What I did was wrong and I knew it. I just couldn't stop. I forgot all about you in the mess after the convocation and that is my fault." Ariana allowed as she continued to pet. "Besides, you wouldn't like it here. There is a lot of water here." Liriel had to nod to that. She was enough of a feline that she really didn't like water.
"But..." Liriel was aware of the kittens approaching, hesitant, but hopeful.
"Liriel, if I go near humans, the programming will kick in again. For now? With me nowhere near any, it is in remission." Ariana reassured her friend. "It won't ever go away. I don't want to kill them. I never did after I became Tenno. You know that."
"I do." Liriel slumped. "I just- I love you."
"And I love you, dear heart." Ariana pulled Liriel up into a gentle hug. "You keep saying you are a simple creature, but you are not and never were, Liriel. Now? A Queen." She smiled a bit ruefully. "Not that you were ever anything less to me."
"Well, of course!" Liriel nuzzled the ageless face that lay under the plate of the warframe. "Can you help these, Ariana?"
"I am afraid not, Liriel. What was done to them is too pervasive, too controlling. I saw the Clergy's reports on it and it is bad. The only thing keeping them sane right now is the programming and the telepath fighting it. If you remove that? They will go mad." Ariana sighed as Liriel stiffened. "You can save them. You know how."
"But..." Liriel swallowed hard. "It is not right."
"Right and wrong don't come into it, Liriel." Ariana said quietly as the Kavat jumped down to stand protectively by the kittens who stared at the Tenno with wide eyes. "I will not harm you, kits. I am Ariana. May I know your names?"
"I am Diego." The male kitten stepped forward and accept a pet from her.
"I am Orina." The larger female said softly, looking at the other kitten who cringed. "I won't hurt you." Orina promised.
"No one will hurt you again." Liriel promised. Then she nodded. "Any of you. You are mine now and any who dare to harm you will answer to the Queen of Cats." She smiled at the smallest kitten. "You don't have a name, do you?" The little one shook her head. "Then I will call you 'Elena'."
"Still with the Zorro?" Ariana asked, with a chuckle as Orina stepped forward to accept pets. "You know he didn't actually exist, right?"
"Neither did Robin Hood." Liriel said as she lay by the tiny kitten. "Such never stopped him from being a legend. It is all right, Elena. It will be all right." She nuzzled the kitten who seemed too scared to speak. She pulled the tiny cat partly under her, softening her armor in that area, to warm her a bit and Elena relaxed just a little. "You are right, Ariana. I can. You know what I am going to do to the ones who did this." Her voice was harder now.
"Yes, dear heart." Ariana was using both hands now, one to pet Diego, the other to satiate Orina. "I know what you are going to do and no one will argue. Your lives will change, kittens, but know that no matter what happens, your mother will always love you. As will I. I may or may not see you again. This method of communication is odd to say the least. I am being bounced through six different communication relays to talk to you. It won't happen often if ever again."
"What will happen?" The voice from the tiny kitten was barely audible. Liriel just started washing her and the poor kit relaxed. After a moment, the Kavat spoke again.
"Something both wonderful and terrifying. I am here. You are not alone." The Kavat smiled as some of the fear left the tiny kitten's eyes. "You will be powerful, Elena. Not immortal but powerful. No matter what though, you are mine. My kitten. My responsibility. My love."
"But what will happen?" Elena begged. "I don't even have a body!"
"You will." Ariana and Liriel chorused and shared a grim smile that none of the kittens saw.
Then Liriel snickered. "Okay. Enough serious." All of the others stared at her. "You wanted silly, Ariana. I will give you silly!"
"Not in front of the kittens, Liriel!" Ariana groaned as Liriel cued music into her code. It started softly and built in volume. She started to sing. And what she started to sing.
'We can dance if we want to, we can leave your friends behind
Cause your friends don't dance and if they don't dance
Well they're no friends of mine!'
All three kitten grinned as Ariana groaned, but then all were singing. None of the kittens saw the look that passed between Ariana and Liriel. Ariana knew what was coming and approved. She was not a nice person sometimes any more than Liriel was. Especially when her loved ones were hurt.
Liriel nodded and focused on the silly.
Time enough for the pain later.
Music- We Built This City by 'Starship' and Safety Dance by 'Men Without Hats'. Not my work and most definitely silly.