Obfuscation

"You... were the son... of Vlad Tepes..." Janet said slowly.

"Yes." The odd machine man said quietly. "I was. My mother did not survive my birth. I had... suspicions that she had been disposed of by my father or others. I was young. Foolish." He shook his head. "It was stupid of me. They came to my father's court, clad as boyars. Nobles." He clarified at Janet's puzzled look. "But they were not. They took me and changed me. It took me over four hundred years as humans tell time to escape. By then? My father's legacy was a title of horror. He did what he had to. He was far less cruel than many of his contemporaries."

"So... they took you..." Janet said slowly. "But...that was hundreds of years before Orokin even existed. The Sentients were around then?"

"I do not know, Oracle." Vladimir replied calmly. "I was a slave. To different owners. My constant attempts to escape grated apparently. I do not know if I am a machine with Vladimir's memories or Vladimir himself. A question for a more learned priest, not one such as I. I think I am Vladimir, son of Vlad III. That is enough for me."

"And the darkness..." Janet mused.

"The blood hunger clouds many senses." Vladimir replied. "I did a great deal of research into my father's supposed crimes. Bram Stoker had much to answer for." He said with a hint of reproof. "But the Orokin scientists who tried to make a vampire had more." Janet's eyes went huge and Nikis nodded.

"I was called in to help clean up the mess." Nikis said quietly. "Imagine my surprise when one of the monks I was rescuing turned out not to be human."

"Monks?" Janet asked, clearly confused.

"The Orokin research facility was next to the monastery where I had hidden for a few decades." Vladimir said softly. "The holy fathers... had no chance against the horror that was unleashed. We fought, such dark forces must be opposed after all. But we were overmatched and being slaughtered. Then Nikis came." Vladimir shook his head. "I expected him to kill me. Instead, he took my oath and kept my secret."

"He is the foremost expert on Earth folklore I have ever met. One of the most devout beings I have ever met." Nikis said quietly. "He made the stakes."

"Melodramatic, I know." Vladimir said with sigh. "But effective."

"No kidding." Janet said, relaxing a little. "So... why tell me?"

"You were going to keep looking." Vladimir replied calmly. "The hunger... is very dangerous to people with powers of the mind. It can corrupt you without warning. Nikis is my friend. You are his mate. My friend has lost enough." Janet looked from the machine to Nikis and back. Then she shook her head.

"The Convent where... the Reverend Mother was tested... is also blacked out to my sight." Janet said slowly. "Is there another one of them there?"

"I do not think so." Nikis said quietly. "But I bet I know who is. Vlad, can I ask a favor?"

"What do you need?" The machine asked.

"A diversion." Nikis replied with a smile in his voice. Janet stared at him and then she smiled. It was not a nice smile.

"Nikis..." Vladimir sighed. "You know I do not wish to fight. I will not kill."

"You won't have to kill anyone." Janet's smile turned downright vicious. "Tell me... Do you have any oaths about scaring people?" Vladimir stared at her.

"You are not serious..." The machine man said slowly. "Are you?"

"You don't have to fight or kill." Janet nodded to the machine. "Just send a message."

"I cannot act in any way except virtual." Vladimir replied uneasily. "My true form is entombed and will be forever. If they find me... I will not go back to their torments."

"Virtual is all we need." Nikis promised." And we just need you to scare someone. Think you can do that?"

"Nikis..." Vladimir protested. "If I show up, the Sentients will know I am here. They will come, search."

"They are coming anyway, Vlad." Nikis said sadly. "Sooner rather than later. But...we don't want you to show up as you." Vladimir made a confused noise and Nikis snorted. "What better way to scare a moron than to use bad history and stupid folklore against him?" Nikis said with glee.

"Bek won't know what hit him."

Neptune

She had been asleep. Stress 'had been'. One of the downsides of the job was that she had no fixed hours. She had to be available to anyone at any hour. That made for... rough times. Her augmentation helped. The other Clergy helped. Sister Kieko in particular was a godsend. But now? Kieko was trying to wake her.

"Yes?" The Reverend Mother asked as she brushed sleep from her eyes. Kieko smiled at her, but she was wary. They all knew what the Reverend Mother had been and all knew not to wake her by touch. "How long..."

"Two and a half hours, Reverend Mother." Kieko said with a sigh. "But he is most insistent. And there is...another matter..."

"Emergencies are rarely at convenient times." The Reverend Mother said with a yawn as she sat up. Somehow she had gotten from the sofa to the bed and her attire had been covered by a sleeping robe. She glanced at Kieko who flushed. "I could have hurt you in my sleep, Keiko. You know this."

"You needed the rest." Kieko said sadly. "But Bek is demanding to talk to you and there is another..."She shook her head. "His credentials check out, but I do not know..."

"Whoa." The Reverend Mother sat up and took her sleeping robe off. Her habit was a bit rumpled, but she smoothed it. "Bek I get. Still stupid. But what else?"

"A historian." Sister Kieko said with a shrug. "His name is Nicholas I-5. He says he is from some group called 'The Society for Creative Anachronism'?" She sounded the odd words out.

"The SCA?" The Reverend Mother asked, curious. "Wasn't aware they were still around. They were... odd. But not harmful. What does he want?"

"He has a set of scanners." Kieko said with a frown. "He says he wants to document the events that happened. He is petitioning to access the Convent." The Reverend Mother stiffened and Keiko nodded. "It has been done. Just not recently. He is unarmed and his credentials check out. A small group, but dedicated."

"Yeah, they were." The Reverend Mother rose and sighed as she looked longingly at her bed. "Ah well. What does Bek want now?"

"I do not know." Sister Keiko said with a wince. "He is... less coherent that usual. He is raving about ghosts and 'children of the night'."

"Joy." The Reverend Mother said with a sigh. "Okay. If there is precedent, then we can let this historian in. But escorted at all times." She shook her head. "I would do it, but... I assume Bek is demanding me?"

"Yes, Reverend Mother." Kieko nodded.

"Joy." The new Clergywoman repeated with feeling. "Ah well, no time like the present. I better talk to him."

"I will guide and ward our guest." Kieko promised. The Reverend Mother looked at her and Kieko flushed a little. "I have been practicing and will remain in contact." The Reverend Mother just looked at her and Kieko flushed. "I have!"

"Keiko..." The Reverend Mother said kindly. "I will not allow you to handle a loaded weapon. So forget it. Not until Harriet clears you." Keiko had cause to be...depressed at time. But she tried. She tried so hard to remain upbeat. The Reverend Mother used her oft wayward charge while at the same time keeping a close eye on her. She wasn't suicidal, per say. She was just sad. She had cause. Kieko gave a squeak as the Reverend Mother embraced her. "Be well, my daughter."

She kissed Kieko's cheek, then left the room. The com room was nearby. At this hour, only the com tech was on duty and he nodded to the Reverend Mother.

"How bad?" The Reverend Mother asked sourly.

"It is odd, Ma'am." The com tech said quietly. "He is actually... far more polite that usual." The Reverend Mother raised an eyebrow and he nodded. "He is just... insistent."

"Oooookay..." The Reverend Mother drawled the two syllables out. "Let's see what he has to say."

She moved into the pickup's range and nodded to the tech. The wall came alive with Bek... Wait a moment... was the Board Member praying?

"Board Member Bek." The Reverend Mother asked calmly. "I was on my downtime. I apologize for the delay. What do you need?"

"You say these vampires... never existed." Bek sounded funny. Not angry. Not scared. Something... more. The Reverend Mother had to fight not to gape at him. It was very hard.

"No." The Reverend Mother said firmly. "Folklore and myth. Why?" She asked.

"Because I think I just met one."

Of all the things the Reverend Mother might have expected... "And...what did this vampire do?"

Instead of answering, Bek tilted his head up and his neck showed. Two small red marks were visible over his carotid artery.

"He... bit... you...?" The Reverend Mother asked. That was utterly unlike the kids. So totally unlike what the boys had done. They had not left neat bites.

"I don't know!"! Bek nearly screamed. "I woke from my own downtime and he was there! My security wasn't operational.! He said 'the children of the night would feed well' and then he turned into mist and vanished! I... Please tell me I am not going to turn into one of these vampire things! Please!"

A chorus rang through the Clergy's massed mind. It mixed amusement with shock.

Oh... boy...

The Reverend Mother sighed. She could tell this would be a long night. But she suspected. This kind of twisted joke had 'Nikis' written all over it. She shook herself.

How far can we push this? Gertrude demanded. She was also not very nice.

As far as we can. The Reverend Mother replied with savage amusement that everyone else shared. None of it showed on her face as she nodded to Bek.

"Okay, first things first. Get yourself checked out by a flesh and blood doctor. If you have lost blood, they can tell even if your augmentation has been tampered with. Then... do you have any holy objects...?"

She was glad her augmentation allowed her to hide her grin as the arrogant and annoying Board member hung on every word. She -and the Clergy- would truly enjoy this.

Close by

"Is this a bad time?" Nicholas I-5 asked as Kieko led him into the elevator that would take them both to the depths of the planet. To the tiny isolated habitat called 'The Convent'. "I can wait."

"No." Kieko reassured him. "It is all right. We have had... some ups and downs."

"Understandable." Nicholas I-5 said with a sigh as the elevator started to descend and increased in speed. "The upheaval the last time was... considerable."

"Yes." Kieko agreed. "This time, we were better prepared in some ways. Less in others. It evens out. We will endure."

"You do." Nicholas I-5 said calmly as the elevator stopped and the doors opened. The gloomy halls illuminated. "If I may? I would like to see the murals. I have heard much about them."

"This way." Kieko said with a nod. She did not see him reach out and touch her head. She went still, her eyes far away.

"Don't hurt her!" The anguished female scream came from everywhere. Kieko did not react. Her lips were moving as if she were talking, but no sound came out.

"You know me better than that, Katerina." The historian changed to a warframe. A familiar Nekros. Nicholas I-5. Nik I-5. Nikis. "Where are you? We got to talk."

"I surrender!" The other cried. "Don't hurt her! She lost everything! She... Don't hurt her!" She begged.

"I won't." Nikis promised. "As far as she and the Clergy are concerned, she is giving me a tour. No more. We have time to talk." He stepped away from the motionless sister and towards the end of the hall where one door opened.

"Straight ahead." The female Tenno said in a monotone. "Just... straight."

"Good." Nikis replied. "The parts I have want to return." The hallway wasn't that long and he was past the door in moments.

"You...are good." Banshee said sadly as another door opened ahead of the Nekros. "I didn't think even you could get past the security without tripping some alarms." She snorted in dark humor. "Then again... You always excelled at anything Master Hayden and the others came up with to test you with."

"Yeah." Nikis said in fond memory. "Was always fighting myself. Harder than any test." The final door lay ahead and he walked to it, not surprised when it opened for him. Inside was lit. The female shade knelt in seiza, her head bowed. "Oh Katerina..." Nikis said sadly. "It has been... far too long."

"I... accept your judgment... Guardian..." Banshee said softly. "I violated the Code. I violated my Oath. I destroyed beings..." She broke off as Nikis coughed.

"You destroyed insane beings who were trying to drain Excalibur of all his energy." Nikis corrected her gently. "But before we go any further. Here." He held out a hand and dark spots flew from to Banshee who stared at him as her shade... reformed. Became whole again. "Serene wasn't the only one looking, darling."

"I... Thank you." Banshee said sadly. "I feel... whole. It has been... a long time." She bowed her head again. "I am ready."

"I am not." Nikis said sternly. "So stop trying to rush me."

"You always were a jerk, Nikis." Banshee said with a snort that the Nekros shared. "Nice to see that some things haven't changed." She shook her insubstantial head. "Okay, I have to ask... what the hell did you do to Bek and how the hell did you do that to Keiko?"

"You know I cannot answer those, darling." Nikis said softly. His eyes bored into her. "How long have you hungered?" The only way for the blackness that Janet hadn't been able to pierce to be here too... was for someone or something to have the same hunger.

"Ever since they held me down and tried to drain Excalibur." Banshee said sadly. "And yes. I know what that means. With the help of the monks and nuns here... I learned to focus. I can use the power generators here to stave it off. That is the only energy that feeds it. These ancient generators. It doesn't last long, but I will not leave. I cannot. You must end this, Grandmaster Nikis."

"Do not presume to dictate my duty to me, girl." Nikis said firmly and Banshee wilted a bit. "What you did demands judgment, but everyone agrees you were in the right. Tenno and Orokin alike. The insane ones had to be stopped. You did."

"And I broke the rules and was infected in the process." Banshee said sadly. "Excalibur?" She begged.

"Madder than hell." Nikis reassured her. "But no hunger."

"Good." Banshee said sadly. "That is... good. So... what now?"

"Now we talk." Nikis said quietly. "Then I act."

"You have already made up your mind." Banshee protested. "Why drag it out?"

"Because I haven't made up my mind." Nikis said firmly. "You were -are- a sister. A hurt, sick sister. You did something awful, had something awful done to you. But this..." He waved a slow hand around the room." I mean... really, who would have thunk? Banshee started the Clergy... It boggles the mind. You were the least religious of any of us."

"How long have you known?" Banshee asked softly.

"Only since Jennifer H-10 was interrogated." Nikis said calmly. "Sun got it all. Your block was strong. Not strong enough."

"Most Reverend Mothers died and were replaced." Banshee said a bit forlornly. "None were taken captive by Tenno as far as I know until Jennifer. Is... she...?"

"Coping." Nikis reassured her. "Serene, the first one, needed someone to take care of her kids." Banshee's head shot up and her amazement was clear even through her closed helmet. Nikis snorted. "Surprised the hell out of us too. But Jenni seems to be fitting in."

"I... wouldn't have thought of that." Banshee said softly. "Then again... I was never a mother." She slumped a bit. "I do not know what to do. If... if you do destroy me, the Clergy will go on. I made some allowances, some preparations. None of them know I am here."

"What you did demands some kind of punishment." Nikis said softly. "But... What kind? That is a gray area. It was never done before or since. None of the Orokin shades have dared to attack any Tenno shades since then." Banshee perked up a bit at that and Nikis nodded. "Add to that... You do good work here." He shook his head again. "I do not like some of your methods."

"Neither do we." Banshee murmured.

"So... here is what I am going to do." Nikis held out a hand. It came to rest on Banshee's insubstantial head as it bowed again. "Banshee is dead." The warframe vanished and the woman gasped as a nun's habit surrounded her instead. "Sister Katerina serves the Clergy."

"I..." Katerina swallowed hard. "Nikis... I can't... The hunger."

"You will never leave this place." Nikis said firmly. "You will be entombed here forever. Your hunger can never be sated. Eased, but never sated." Katerina was shaking her head as metal bands appeared on her neck and wrists. "You are bound here, sister. If you attempt to leave, the bonds I have placed on you will destroy you as surely as my sword would." The metal flared and vanished.

"But... I..." Katerina was crying now. "I can't... Nikis, please..." She begged.

"We will need you." Nikis said firmly as he stepped back. "The Clergy will need you. You are still Tenno and still my sister. But Banshee is dead."

"I see." Katerina said forlornly. "And..." She froze as Nikis suddenly wavered and his form was shifted back to the historian. "Nikis...?" She asked. "What?"

"Nicholas I-5?" Sister Kieko asked, her tone worried as she appeared in the door. "I... What in the name of Profit?" She demanded as she stared from the historian to the holographic woman and back. It took no effort to realize that the shock was resounding through the whole Clergy with her.

"I was looking for a place to empty my waste receptacle." Nikis said in his reedy historian voice. "And..." He waved at Katerina who swallowed hard.

"Um... Hi." The shade said a bit lamely.

"Who are you?" Keiko was one step away from fleeing in fear.

"Have no fear, Sister Kieko. I will not harm you. I cannot. I am bound here. My name is Katerina." The holographic woman said quietly. She smiled a bit forlornly as she looked at the nun.

"I serve the Clergy."