Warframe Beyond the Origin
ESKK: Well, a new chapter let's get this started.
(Start Pantora)
The trip was not a long one, but the pair arrived on Pantora without much struggle due in part of the Orbiter and Landing Crafts cloaking functions. Akin and Riyo had departed from the Landing Craft as Akin was holding Riyo's suitcases while using Frost Prime for the Warframe of the day. If anyone had asked perhaps Zed should have been the one to guard Riyo since he had the Drifter who could cover his tracks. Still perhaps this was better as to now arouse suspicion.
"So, this is Pantora." Akin said as he walked with Riyo while leaving the Space Port. "It's cold." Akin commented as he walked with the Pantoran Senator.
"Well of course we are a moon after all." Riyo said as she led Akin to the streets.
"Huh cool." Akin said as he followed after Riyo.
(Later at the Pantoran Assembly)
"This is most troubling." The new Chairman of Pantora Baron Papanoida said as he sat behind his desk with his son and daughters nearby. "To think this, Shadow Stalker you called him?" Baron said as he looked to Akin who nodded. "Yes, this Shadow Stalker would target you and he hails from your system, correct?" He asked looking to Akin.
"Yeah, but he never actively targets anyone that isn't a Tenno." Akin said as he found it strange that Drifter would Target Riyo Chuchi of all people. "It just doesn't add up." Akin said as he felt like something was missing from this messed up story.
"You know of this assassin the most do you suppose he is trying to initiate some sort of war between your system and Republic Space." Baron asked as he was concerned for the Republic and his people.
"Honestly I'm not sure." Akin confessed as he knew they deserved the truth. "This is out of character even for him." Akin said as he knew how the Stalker operated and he knew close to nothing about Somnus to variables he didn't have information on... that's probably why Zed was the leader he could handle the unknown better than most.
"Do you suspect foul play then?" One of the Senators daughters asked as Akin shrugged a bit.
"Hard to say, we Tenno have only been part of the ongoing war for a brief amount of time and normally took part from the background." Akin said before crossing his arms. "Hardly enough time for the Stalker to set up a power base and even less for him to find allies who would want the Tenno dead." Akin said as it was clear he had no clue why Stalker had marked Riyo Chuchi for death.
"Most concerning." Baron said as he then gained his resolve on the matter. "Perhaps it is for the best that you remain on Pantora until this assassin has been dealt with." Baron said as Akin agreed with the Chairman.
"I concur." Riyo said as she looked to the Chairman.
"Well, I know I'm head of security, but this is your home." akin said before looking over to Riyo. "You know it better then I." Akin said as Riyo nodded to the Tenno's desire to user her knowledge.
"Of, course Tenno." Riyo said and thus on Baron's approval they began to depart to get Riyo into hiding.
"Then it is settled." Baron said and thus they began to head out to work on the Riyo Chuchi's protection.
(Meanwhile with the Tenno)
Translating into Real Space three Orbiters appeared and from them the Landing Crafts detached and made their way to the location the coordinates had pointed to. Mari was leading this mission as it would be just the three of them for now as they made their way to the coordinates.
Mari was currently using her Mag Prime for this job as the sharpshooter Tenno had her Vulkar Wraith Sniper Rifle equipped. Of course, when it comes down to melee combat Mari went with Fang Prime and for her side arms, she had the AkLex pistoles for this and was ready for battle. "Ok if the coordinates Lotus provided us is in anyway accurate our intended destination should be... woah." Mari gasped at the end as she saw what laid outside her Landing Crafts window.
(Space)
The Orbiters flew towards a massive structure that rivaled the Zariman in terms of mass. As it floated near a star it seemed to be drawing the energy from the star inward not enough to cause serious harm but just enough to keep itself sustained. The Orbiters entered the massive structure as they had never seen anything like it before.
(Titus)
"Ok Orokin architects' you guys just lost your top rank." Titus said as he saw the massive structure. Titus had Chroma in use with the Gram Prime for his melee weapon. For his side arm he currently had the Athoni pistol ready while also equipped with the Gorgon Wraith since he hadn't used this particular gun in a good while.
(Aya)
It's gigantic almost as big as the Zariman." Aya said as she saw the fortress before her. Using Mirage Prime Aya saw that the structure before her was massive and had no doubt carried a heavy history in it. For her melee weapon she had the hand-to-hand weapons Kogake Prime which were a set of gauntlets and grieves equipped to her Warframe. Her Side arms were the AkBolto Prime that were signature use of the Mirage Prime Warframe. Her Main arm weapon was the Tigris Prime Shotgun which was currently attached to her back waiting to be used in the coming battle if there is one.
(Mari)
Just then as they flew around it, Mari found what they were looking for and in turn went to look into it. "Look there's an insertion point." Mari said and thus the Tenno's Orbiters locked onto the hanger and flew towards it.
Mari's Orbiter lead the other two as they made their way to their destination. What none of them were aware of was of what waited for them inside the derelict vessel.
(Inside the Landing Pad)
The Tenno arrived at their destination and began to demagnetize from their Orbiters. Once they were free, they had their weapons out and ready for battle as Mari lead the trio for this. Once they were sure the area was clear Mari motioned for the other two to follow her and thus, they began their mission.
Carefully making their way through the old space station the group got to a sealed door and saw it was locked tight. Taking charge Aya used her Parazon to slice into the system and began hacking in. "Wow this data is old, maybe even older than the Republic." Aya said as she was slicing into the system in question.
"Can you open it?" Mari asked with concern that they came all this way for nothing.
Just then the door slid open after untold centuries of disuse. "Done." Aya said and thus the group looked into the darkened halls where suddenly lights began to flash on. Once the lights were on the Tenno began to make their way into the ship and look around a bit.
"I have a bad feeling about this." Titus said as they already dealt with TWO haunted ships and didn't feel like adding a third to the list.
"Our mission is to investigate and see if this place may be a viable based point for a Relay Station." Mari said as she led the mission.
"Let's just take a look around and see what we'll find." Aya said calming Titus down a bit who nodded and followed Mari's lead on this. But as they entered the old vessel the creeping feeling that they felt around Palpatine began to return 10-fold. It was like... something was here, and it knew they were here but could not see them yet wanted the Tenno Gone.
(Meanwhile back on Pantora)
Akin and Riyo arrived at an estate out in the country with Akin once more carrying her belongings. The two began to walk into the location that would serve as Riyo's safe house while the others hunted down Stalker and Somnus. Apparently, it was small and humble in comparison to her Coruscant Apartment as the duo entered. Guards kept an eye on the perimeter as the two entered with Riyo now in more protective gear yet came off as calm and casual to the unobservant.
As they made their way into the location Riyo recognized this place from her childhood. "My family and I used to visit this place a great deal when I was a child." Riyo said as she walked with Akin close behind her. They were in the warmth interior of the home as Riyo removed a warmer coat and hung it nearby. "I remember hiking down the path with my father carrying small slays so we may slide down the snow-covered hills." Riyo said as she led Akin to a window that showed the trail in question.
"Though I often wish I could spend more of my days in warmer climate. My first time on Naboo I experienced the warmth of the sun and the sand at my feet as the waves pushed and pooled to cool my toes." Riyo commented as Akin looked to Riyo and wondered why she brought this on.
"You know... I used to hate Sand. Always felt it was rough, course, uncomfortable and got everywhere." Akin said as he remembered Mars when he used Inaros long ago. "But after I spent so long between worlds fighting battles, I never truly appreciated it until one particular mission I had." Akin said remembering when Baro Ki'Teer hired the Tenno to help him raid the Temple of Inaros which was when Akin was reunited with that Warframe. "But now I have a new respect for it." akin said as he looked to Riyo. "It has its own beauty in the form of stories carrying through the winds of ages." Akin said as he looked to the nearby tree. "It's only if we're willing to listen that we learn the story to pass on through to the modern ages." Akin said and thus Riyo chuckled a bit.
"I dare say if you were not my protector then I would suspect you to be a philosopher or even an archeologist." Riyo said with a smile over Akin's words.
"Yeah..." Akin said and thus with a stretch he used Transference and departed from Frost Prime. Once Akin was free he and Riyo walked over to the house deck and saw the snow outside. Akin picked up a small handful of Snow and smiled at how it felt on his hand. "Like water smooth and cold yet oddly refreshing as well." Akin said as he saw his hand turn slightly red from the cold of the snow.
Akin then saw Riyo's hand and opting to take a dive into the unknown he took her hand in his surprising her a bit. Looking to the Tenno she saw that even if he looked younger his eyes oddly enough carried a certain strain that made the boy seem far older then he appeared. As the two stood there the two were looking to each other in the eye as Akin had wondered if this was what Anakin felt around Padme.
For a moment time seemed to come to a halt between them as Riyo felt a sort of energy flow between herself and Akin. As they stood there a moment longer Riyo chose then to sit down on the chair nearby. It would seem that some if not most of her prior arguments to avoid anything like this with Akin were being ignored as the two grew closer for but a moment. Just then Riyo and Akin's lips met as the Tenno of Origin and Senator of Pantora shared a kiss together.
It felt like sparks flying for Akin as just then Riyo's eyes widened over what she was doing. Stepping away Riyo before she parted from Akin and stepped away. "Sorry I... should not have done that." Riyo said and thus with a nod Akin agreed somewhat. "I don't know what came over me." She said and thus left to clear her mind a bit with Akin staying close in case of trouble.
As Riyo Chuchi walked off she had a mantra in her mind scolding her for that. 'I'm not a pedophile he may claim himself to be older due to this Void Power of his, but he still possesses the looks and body of a child.' Riyo mentally scolded herself for her action just now. She knew she must not allow for it to happen again and thus began to take her leave to clear her mind of what she just did. Yes, it was a kiss for now but if she allowed herself this and let it continue it would only destroy both herself and Akin in the end.
(Back with the Tenno)
The trio manage to download a map from the abandon station's system which were barely working as it were due to the minimal power it was holding, and so the three Tenno gotten to work on restore the power.
They found the main power was coming from the lower area where the forge was absorbing the sun energy at, as they learn and tinker a bit around, they got something put together as Titus was putting in a part as he welded it in before stopping as he said, "Well that should do it."
"You think it will work?" Mari said from her end as she was going through the systems with Aya, as Titus said to her, "No sweat, this place was built to withstand the sun radiation and heat otherwise this place would have been melted down or at least blow to pieces by the energy itself, all I did was give it a patch job on one of its power station connectors."
"Which will restore the power to this place," Aya said as Titus said to her, "At least 10 percent of it, there is a lot more down here than we thought and would take an entire relay crew to fix everything here within a day or two, we were lucky to find one power station that fully operational, and another that was mostly intact that just had a hole in it. whatever happen to this place really got hit hard, we may just get minimal system working with life support running again at least."
"Got it, I'll reboot the system now, hopefully that will reactivate this place," Mari said on her end as Aya said to her, "I keep checking for any abnormal fluctuation in the life support and power grid itself."
"Reboot system in 3...2...1," Mari said as she hit enter on her display and soon enough the entire station went dark as the three Tenno waited in the dark for a time as Titus ask, "How long does this take again?"
Before anyone could answer, lights on machine were seen turning on, and the power station were working again as they transfer power throughout the forge again.
A notification was heard as the Tenno check their display as they saw life support was coming back online and the station had more steady flow of power now as Mari said, "That did it."
"Everything is reading normal. We aren't getting full air pressure but dealing with the condition of this place is expected to have holes I suppose" Aya said as she was going over the system check as suddenly, she was getting a strange notification on her screen as the map pop up and said, "We have a problem."
"What's going on?" Titus asked as he join the girl with Mari look over Aya screen and said, "It seem something is drawing the power to a location of this station, something may have reactivated when the reboot happen."
"What does that mean?" Titus asked as Aya said to him, "If this power drainage keep up, this entire station will shut down again and we will have to reboot the systems all over again unless we can get another power station working again."
"Which won't be happening anytime soon with just us, Let's get this power drainage thing shut it down," Mari said as Aya already on it as she looked through the program and said, "I can't, whatever is draining the power, it's not within the main control system of this station."
"Then we have no choice, but do it manually, where is the source?" Mari said as Aya pointed to the map where the source of the power drainage is happening at as she said, "If I have to guess, the command deck itself."
"The heart of the ship itself," Mari said as Titus soon added in with a sarcasm tone as he didn't like where this was going, "Well that not Ominous at all."
(later)
The three Tenno walk down the halls of the forge station as they got a good look at everything around them as they walk through everything, with massive droid parts were scattered all over as if a massive fight happened down the path they were heading as Titus said, "I seriously don't like where this is going."
"Regardless of what you or I think, this entire station has been abandoned for Void Knows how long now, and we need to secure this place to use as a Relay station." Mari said making it clear that the Tenno had a job that needed to be done. "If this place can become our new relay station, then every Tenno will have a foot hold in the new galaxy, as well have a fighting chance against Somnus and his army of sentient" Mari said as Aya soon ask, "This place may seem abandon, but it does feel like something is still here."
Unaware to them, something was following them from behind, keep their distant until it was the right time to strike, as the trio of Tenno soon came to a room before the command Deck as they saw an image of the system itself with a borderlines around it with how it flash a bit, no doubt it was radar of some sort as Aya said, "Whoa."
"Man, if I didn't know any better, this place seems more like a fortress than a space station that in the middle of dead space," Titus said as Mari soon said, "No doubt this will give us an edge, but until we figure out the function of this place, this is just dead station."
"We're close," Aya said as she checked the maps to see where the energy drainage is at, she points to a door on the other side of the room and said, "The command deck should be down that way."
"Let's move then," Mari said as she takes the lead with Titus and Aya following behind her.
The trio march over to the next set of doors which lead out into a large hallway, as they walk through it, with the chilling feeling within them seem to grow but they didn't falter as they keep walking, Titus was getting a bit paranoid as they keep going to him they could be walking into a trap with Aya keep her guard up as well but didn't let the dark feeling affect her.
Mari remain strong throughout this time as they gotten closer and closer to the last set of doors before them, the ones that would lead them to the command deck, as they got into position as Mari look to her teammate as they held up their weapon, Mari did the same as she went to the command pad on the side of the door, she plug into it before unlocking it, with the doors soon open as the trio rush into the room.
What they found was… nothing, as they lower their weapon and said, "Was… something supposed to be here?"
"Look around, something got to be here," Mari said as they walk into the room as they search around while sticking together unaware something is watching their movement, as a ghostly hand came forth and wave a bit as a shift of the force was heard.
The door into the Command deck suddenly shut behind the group, as they all turn and pointed their guns at it as Mari said, "What was that?"
"Did the doors just shut themselves?" Titus asked as Aya said to him, "No, something else did."
"Bu who?" Mari question as something walk up behind them as a ghostly voice spoken out to them, "Who are you?"
The Tenno quickly turn around as they soon freak out what they saw before them a dark shadow like figure that stood before them as Titus accidentally fire his Anthodi pistol, which missed the figure thankfully, as the two lady Tenno turn to Titus while they glare at the Chroma user as he said, "Sorry, my finger twitch."
Mari shake her head a bit as she turn back to the figure as she got a good look at him, with the noticeable thing about him was his pale skin with his bald head, wearing some sort of dark red outfit and a black cape on his back, and had some metal brace around his head that cover his lower face, as Mari saw a person before them, but there was no life support so no one should be alive here but them as Mari question the figure, "Identify yourself, who are you?"
"You came here to the star forge and not know who I am?" the dark figure ask as Mari soon said, "We discover this place by chance. We weren't expecting anyone to be here, let alone to be alive as the life support was shut down, so tell us who you are, what are you anyways?"
"Has it been so many years sense anyone has spoken my name, that they forgotten about me?" the figure said as the Tenno keep their guns on him as the figure soon went on saying, "But now that I think about it, you three don't look like you belong in this part of the Galaxy, with your present… is hidden from me yet I can see you before me, interesting."
"Last warning," Mari said as she pointed her gun at the figure as he gave a laugh to them as he said, "I suppose I can tell you. I am Darth Malak; I am the master of the star forge that you stand within."
"And what is exactly is this… star forge?" Mari question Darth Mari with Titus soon question, "And what up with that name. Darth… sound stupid."
"It is a title that are given to the Sith as true masters of the dark side you whelm," Malak said as he sounded angry by Titus commit with Aya hit Titus upside the head, as she and the other soon agree that anytime Titus say something stupid himself they will hit him over the head, as he move his head forward and said, "Ouch, sorry, I didn't know."
Mari thought back to the word, 'Sith' and wonder what it meant, but there were more important questions that needed to be answer as she said, "Forgive our moron of a friend, he doesn't think first before he speaks."
Malak just laugh at that as it seemed entertaining to him that he ever witnessed in a long time as he said, "I suppose so, but I have told you who I am, now tell me, who are you and why cannot I sense you?"
"Should we tell?" Titus question as Aya said to her two friends, "Well he has been cooperating with us."
"We are Tenno, more than human but once a child, like any other," Mari said as Malak question, "Once a child?"
"We became slave and forced to grow, but no longer as now we stand as warriors with honor, which is who we are," Mari said as Malak just laugh at this as he said, "You are very interesting, very different from the jedi."
"Well, we are like the opposite of them, they use the force, we use the void," Titus said as Malak pause in his thoughts as he turned to Titus and said, "Void… that make much sense, unseen by the force as there is nothing but a void where you stand, I see."
This time Mari hit Titus in the head as he held his forehead and said, "Ow, seriously why do you guy keep hitting me for?"
"For not keep your mouth shut," Mari said as Malak just laugh at their antics as he soon said to them, "As much I am enjoying this, you want to know about the star Forge do you, and what I am?"
"That would be nice of you, if you tell us" Mari said as she had her guns pointed at Malak again, as the forgotten Sith soon said, "The star forge was once a weapon of great power, creating an army at my fingertips, ships, droids, anything I desire it shall create."
"Until it was blasted apart it seems," Titus said as Malak pause for a moment as he said, "I suppose so, but back in the time of the old republic the star forge was an unstoppable force."
"So, what happen?" Mari question as Malak give a laugh to that sounding almost like a joke as he said, "My old master Revan, once a Jedi and become a Sith who I once try to destroy, turned away from the dark side to join the light once again, we fought against each other in this very place, he cut me down while his allies bombardment the forge, tried to destroy it, they had succeed shutting it down but did not fully destroy it."
"You said you were cut down, as in… you died?" Titus question as Malak turn to him as he said, "That is correct."
"But how are you still here?" Titus questioned the Sith Lord as he soon said, "Before my death came, I had Transfer my very essence into the star forge itself."
The Tenno were surprise to hear such a thing that force users are able to do such a thing, but unexpected to them as something was coming up behind the door into the Command deck as Malak went on saying, "AS my body dies my spirit still lives, coming one with the forge itself, slowly I had the forge repair itself, slowly but surely, the power of the dark side that lay within here fuel me but it had dwindle, barely enough to keep me here… as well achieve one last thing for me."
Jumping into action the three began to get to work fighting off their foes as they came. Titus swung Gram Prime about as the Droids were torn apart by it bit by bit. As he did this Titus switched out his elements and thus roared out sending a flurry of toxic acid from his maw hitting the Droids and melting through their chaste. As he did this, he grabbed two of the droids and held them before the acid melting through them before crushing their necks and deactivating the ability.
Nearby Mari used the Fang Prime to fight through her foes keeping them at a distance before she started cycling through her abilities. She started by using Crush to pull one Droid towards her before following the ability up with Bullet Attractor. The foe began to have laser flying its way as they came in one after the other much to Mari's joy. Soon the poor droid fell as its body soon blasted apart sending the lasers back at the ones who fired it to begin with.
Jumping to the sky Mari used Crush on a wide area crushing the Droids in her way. Once she was high above, she pulled out Vulkar Wraith and began firing the Sniper Rifle off at the foes down below. She continued this for a bit as she wiped out her enemies one after the other. Taking out the droids with heads shots she saw that even if they were considered dated, they were smarter than the Battle Droids the Separatists were known to use.
Nearby Aya was shooting her foes with her AkBolto Prime as she even used the ability Hall of Mirrors to better stem the tide. As the ability went on Aya jumped back and fired off her weapons easily clearing the bored of her foes. Once she was done, she proceeded to use hand-to-hand combat showing she was skilled with or without weapons. Punching and kicking through the droids Aya let Mirage seep into her a bit as she was almost playful with her foes. Seeing a large group of them Aya sent forth Prism and saw as the orb fired off lasers all over the place hitting each Droid and killing it.
"Is that all you got!" Titus taunted as he glared at the ghost.
"No." Malak said and thus suddenly the three Warframes were pushed to the wall and pinned to it which caught them completely by surprise. "It's only the beginning." Malak said as he proceeded to use the Force to keep the Warframes pinned down. Hovering over them like a specter Malak looked over the three wanting to see which of them would be most ideal as his host and which as his apprentice.
"I stand before you and I look you each in the eye yet even now I cannot sense you." Malak said as he looked to the Tenno.
"Yeah, get a good eye full jerk you're going to regret trying." Titus said as he knew Akin didn't have any access to the Force due to being a Tenno.
"Am I now?" Malak asked and in turn much to his shock Titus slipped under the restrained via Transference and in turn fired off a void beam at the Sith Lord Spirit. The Sith Lord by instinct alone dodged the beam as he vanished to the shadows in order to avoid it.
"Yeah, it will be a Cold day in Hell before any of us become a Yuvan." Titus said remembering how Zed nearly got made into the Grineer Queen's own Yuvan.
As Malak reappeared, he saw the Tenno standing there clearly surprised to learn they were being serious about being children. "Interesting." Malak said and just then Force Lightning came forth causing the Tenno to scatter in order to avoid it. Once it came, they fired off their Void Beams only for Malak to once more vanish from sight.
"Dammit every time we try to nail him, he just vanishes." Titus said as Aya looked around for Malak to appear once more.
Aya then saw Malak and fired her Void Beam only for him to vanish again. Looking around Aya looked for Malak only to stumble back to look. Once she did Malak was there and grabbed Aya by her throat and with his free hand, held it at her face. As he began to use the Force to burrow into her mind Aya was wide eyed in shock as he dug in. "Now show me the power of this Void." Malak said as he glared at Aya. But as he tried to forcibly reach into her, he went wide eyed as Aya had her hands free and fired a Void Beam at Malak forcing him back against the wall from the show.
The Tenno glared and saw Malak phase in and out almost like he was glitching. Aya glared at Malak and adjusted her glasses showing her contempt against the Sith Lord. "Stay out of my head." Aya said as she glared at her enemy.
"Uh-oh." Mari said as she heard the way Aya spoke and saw the glare she was giving. The glare Aya had was not the one this normally kind and near pacifistic girl was known for. No, the glare she had now was not the one of a gentle soul but of a ruthless killer a huntress and Malak was stepping a bit too close to the beast's cage. But even gentle souls have a dark side that they keep hidden away. During the Old War Aya was forced to embrace her savage side a side of her she abhors with a fierce passion. Her chief Warframe during these more brutal times had been put under lock and key and made into a display in her room in her Orbiter.
She stood there for a moment as she focused with her power and instincts on where Malak would appear. It wasn't hard he was relying on hit and run tactics to try and get close to them. Of course, she began to see a pattern as she coldly looked to Malak waiting for him to reappear. But she had an idea as she knew of something that would make him hold still long enough to blast the ancient Sith Lord to oblivion. Malak got close again only for Aya to summon her Warframe via Transference and jumped away from him. Aya then jumped upward before throwing down a tether trap modified to catch Rell so long ago. It would seem the concept matched up as once the trap was set Malak found himself unable to escape from it. Once Aya landed on the ground she exited her Warframe and glared at him with a cold look.
Acting fast Malak sent Force Lightning at the Tenno who went Void Mode but allowed her Glasses to be hit as they flew off her face. The landed on the ground as it even showed that Aya's entire persona had changed from a kind and pacifistic girl to a cold and ruthless huntress.
"Are you scared?" Aya asked as she glared at the shocked Malak. "No need to answer I already know." Aya said before she entered into her Operator form. Once that was done, she opened fire upon Malak and in turn caused the Force Ghost a great deal of pain that he never could imagine. "Oh, I'm sorry does that hurt?" Aya asked with a cold tone as Titus and Mari got worried that Aya the Blood Jewel may be making a comeback. "Don't worry I'll make it better." Aya said and thus she sent another Void Beam at Malak causing him to cry out in pain once more. As the Tenno watched his body begin to fade away and in turn began to put the pieces together on this situation.
Seeing their chance Titus and Mari both fired off their Void Beams hitting Malak with it causing him even more pain. "What are you doing we need to make him suffer!" Aya said as she looked to her friends with a cold look.
"Yeah, but we also need to capture this place." Mari said as she looked to Aya knowing this was one of the reasons she locked up that killer instinct of hers.
Aya then growled a bit but was cut off by Titus. "Aya remember this is why you locked up the Blood Jewel." Titus said and in turn Aya sighed and regained her composure.
"Alright." Aya said and thus with a sigh she and her friends increased their attack on their foe. Malak was no match for the power of the Void even with the Force. He was clearly facing a power he had no knowledge of and no understanding for any hope of controlling it. As the Void blasted through him, he let out one last roar of defiance and agony as eventually his soul was cast out. But it was not to become one with the living Force no the fate of those who die by the power of the Void is to be erased completely and entirely.
Not even a body was left behind as Malak was cast off from life and cast away from even death. Now all that awaited this once Dark Lord of the Sith is eternal emptiness and indifference an eternity into the Void. Once Malak was dealt with Aya walked over to her discarded glasses and put them back on. She didn't really need them anymore since after the Void Jump incident her eyesight had returned to working order.
"Aya." Mari said with concern for her fellow Tenno.
"I'm fine I just... I just lost my control is all." Aya said as she put her glasses back on. "Now then let's complete the mission ok." Aya said wanting to forget about the breach in her persona that was her more savage past.
"Aya..." Titus said worried for her knowing full well that back in the Old War Aya wasn't always the sweets person in the system. Titus then sighed as he knew the past was a sour subject for Aya and thus they proceeded to get to work on reactivating the facility. Mari went over to the consoles as did Aya and in turn began working on reactivating the facility.
"By the looks of it this place was put into Stasis mode so it can focus on repairs and keeping itself afloat." Aya Mari said as she had her Parazon plugged into the system once she summoned her Warframe to her.
"It won't take long but we'll need some help undoing whatever it was that Malak did." Mari added and thus all eyes went to Titus who nodded in response to this.
"Got it." Titus said and thus with his Chroma Prime equipped got ready to head down to where he was needed. "One long case of Heavy Metal surgery coming right up." Titus said as the builder knew what to do in this task.
"I'm working on getting communications up and running but it might take some time." Aya said as Titus then saw the droids and had an idea.
"What about these guys?" Titus asked and thus Mari looked to the Droids and knew there were plenty more where they came from.
"Hmm... Titus this is why we keep you around." Mari said as she saw what Titus was stepping in with this idea.
"It should cut down the time by a large margin." Aya agreed as she knew this meant they'd be done sooner than originally. "I'll get the foundry working on mass producing these guys and create a program to keep them from going off on us." Aya said as she got to work if my math is right, we should be done within the next five hours." Aya said as she kept up on what she was doing.
"Good I'll start patching up the things that need patching." Titus said and thus went off to get to work.
(Meanwhile back with Akin and Riyo)
Akin and Riyo sat around a small fire pit as they had some snacks cooking over it. The two were sharing a laugh together as it was clear that Akin had told something funny. "So, there I was stuck in a headlock by Mari while Titus had a few bruises, Zed got stuck in the net somehow and all the while Aya and Rell saw the whole thing and laughed." Akin said as the pair shared a chuckle.
"How did Zed end up in the net?" Riyo asked between chuckles.
"That's the kicker we still haven't figured it out." Akin laughed and in turn Riyo chuckled clearly finding the story humorous.
"So, the Orokin..." Riyo began as she had heard them mentioned a few times. "You're not overly fond of them, are you?" Riyo asked and thus Akin grew quiet for a bit.
"No... I'm not." Akin said as he took the stick from the fire and saw the bit of food was safe to eat now. "They had a system of sorts, but it was a system that only benefited them they were cruel... in more ways than one." Akin said as he looked to the fire. "If people openly claimed it was wrong or they didn't like it the Orokin made them disappear and in return they get a new Cephalon instead." Akin said as he looked to the fire. "The worst of it all was their Continuity that part I can never forgive them for." Akin said as he seen what Continuity does to the Yuvan.
Of course, Riyo saw Akin was holding back a lot as he spoke about the Orokin. It was strange that for someone to claim they died out yet not know how left much to suspect. "Did something happen?" Riyo asked suddenly and in turn Akin gained a dark look.
"It's complicated." Akin said as he looked away which got concern from Riyo on this.
"Akin I... I won't push it out of you." Riyo said as she turned away as her mind began to run through the worst-case scenario. 'This doesn't seem good I may have pushed it earlier.' Riyo thought as she considered what may happen. 'Did I push it with that kiss, or did I cause some sort of mental damage that would affect him for time to come?' Riyo wondered as she began to fear the worse.
Akin seemed to sense her concern and in turn sighed as he looked to the Senator. "If it's about that kiss from earlier then don't worry you were not the cause." Akin said as this got Riyo's attention on him. "It's just old bitter memories from the past." Akin said while sitting next to the Senator.
"I see..." Riyo trailed off a bit, but the tone she used also carried an edge that she may be the cause of those memories coming back.
Akin seemed to sense this as he knew his Operator Form tend to put people off. More so it made it impossible for him to ever hold a relationship of a romantic origin and seeing as Riyo was a political figure it also put some hurdles. Honestly Akin can accept if he got turned down it would not be the first time after all and it would not be the last time either. They didn't have much in terms of politicians in the Origin System just scattered towns and settlements nothing like what Lua used to be.
"Honestly it wasn't the kiss it was more of what happened when the Orokin had fallen so long ago." Akin said as he sat there on the blanket staring at a lone flower remembering that day. "Don't tell the Jedi but the truth is all of us Tenno have a general knowledge of what happened yes for a time we did forget but an incident forced us to remember." Akin said as he knew what happened that day. The Day the Orokin Empire had fallen not by their enemies but by their own creations. "We had just won the war with the Sentient and the Orokin capital of Lua was in celebration." Akin began to tell as he knew this against the rules, but he had to get it off his chest.
(Flash Back End of the Old War Lua)
Lua in its prime was in celebration at their victory against the Sentient invasion. The Tenno were up on a podium through their Warframes as they were being celebrated and honored by the Orokin these 'Golden Lords,' of the higher caste. Among them Ballas was seen but had to excuse himself for what none of them knew at the time. For the Tenno they were in some sort of lucid dream awaken but unable to control their actions. In their most private of moments, they had planned and schemed in the shadows of how they would end the Orokin. Vengeance was of course what drove them at this point and each of them knew that this entire celebration to 'retire,' them was for the citizens.
The Orokin had every intention of killing these 'devil children,' once this prostration came to an end. They wanted to keep quiet about it portray themselves as benevolent leaders, but the truth was as Margulis called it. They were rotten to the core, and would no doubt lead the System to ruin with how much they strip from these worlds. But they were unable to move unable to speak save for doing so when asked and even than it was only on what their Orokin, 'masters,' wanted. They were slaves unable to break their chains and unable to fight back against these monsters.
As the Tenno were being 'awarded,' for their efforts they soon felt something was off... like they had awoken somehow. Glancing around with only their eyes the Tenno felt the sudden feeling they had nearly forgotten. Each of the Tenno suddenly felt a voice speak to them as they knew who it was. "Tenno, listen." The voice of the Lotus spoke to them as the Tenno stood still and paid attention. "Long have I guided you, but now I must do what I must for this system." Lotus spoke as she made it clear on what the Tenno's mission was. "The Orokin may have created you and I but their grasp on this system must end and with it their penance for their countless numbers of crimes against you and their citizens." Lotus spoke as the Tenno all knew what this meant for them.
"From now on you, and I are no longer under the command of the Orokin. We are free." Lotus spoke and to test this Zed in his Excalibur flexed his hand a bit and smiled when he felt it move on his command. "We have a major task at hand: Our former masters chokehold on the Origin System must end." Lotus spoke and thus the Tenno knew what this meant.
They all did, and they had all dreamed of this moment ever since Margulis had been killed. The time had come for the eradication of the Orokin. "Now I shall bestow upon our heroes their just rewards." The Orokin official said as he began to 'present,' the Tenno with there, rewards before retiring them unaware of the Demon that had been freed of its chains.
Once the 'award,' was given Zed began their rise. "Thank you." Zed said aloud much to the official's shock and the next thing he knew was his head severed from his body curtesy of Zed's Nikana. This of course shocked and horrified all those who saw this and from there the domino effect began. Mari jumped forward and with her Mag's ability began using Crush to break the Orokin one after the other. Chances are they were going to make the Tenno into their Yuvan's to take the Void Power for themselves. Regardless they had no intentions of letting ANY Orokin live this day.
The Orokin tried to escape but the exits were blocked off by the Tenno own foresight. The Orokin were killed as they tried to escape, others tried to call out to the Dax but go no response. With this they had quickly found their communications were dead. No doubt that it was the Tenno's doing showing that they had been planning this for a long time. With no way of getting a message out to earth or to any other planet within the Origin system.
It was a massacre as no one was safe, not even the women as the Tenno were killing them as well. Even with the Dax soldiers doing what they could against the Tenno to protect the Orokin they to found out how easily outclass they were. Zed and his Excalibur were leading the charge as he cut down many of them before pulling out his side arm, the Kunai, and throwing the blades at the Orokin that were running away. The Blades hit the Orokin in the heads killing them instantly and staining the streets with their blood. More Tenno came forth as they came up to the Orokin that Zed attacked, but were still alive, as they tried to crawl away. They were soon shot up by the Tenno as the burst of light from their weapon flash through the windows.
Some try to run away on what vehicles they but only find themselves being follow by another Tenno that were using the Yareli and Gauss Warframes. The Tenno followed behind before blasting at them, hitting the vehicles causing them crash and explode while Tenno just keep going without stopping.
Some Orokin thought they could escape with their ship, only to find it nearly impossible. The Tenno with their archwings were able to follow them and were able to cut their ship down or blast it out of the sky. It seemed that none of them could escape the Tenno's wrath with only 3 ships that was able get away and leave Lua. It would later be known that at least one of them was used by Ballas as he escaped leaving the others behind while he would no doubt be the Tenno enemies in the near future.
After that the Tenno marched up to the capital area of Lua and kill all Orokin that were there. The way they moved was like soldiers… no like the monsters the Orokin made them to be. With Zed he was seen going up to a building that was large enough as a daycare as he opened the door. Zed was greeted by the site of Orokin children that were hiding and didn't have any idea what was going on, with one came up to him with arrogant saying, "You Tenno, what is happening out there?"
Zed knew this had to be done to make absolutely certain that the Orokin would not rise from the ashes. Zed didn't answer as he put his hand together and drew forth his sword as he preparing to end them. He took no pleasure in what he was about to do but he also knew the others would hesitate hence why he came to do this. Zed could not blame these kids they were simply products of their upbringing. But he reminded himself of Continuity the horrid method the Orokin use to continue their immortality. Zed and the other would not let the Orokin rise again even if they have to destroy their offspring as well to make sure it stuck. No doubt it was already too late to save them, but with what the Orokin did to them after the Ten Zero incident, what they did to Margulis and taking her work to make them as they are, and what they made them do during the war, this was the punishment that the Orokin deserved, this is their retribution to the Tenno.
Upon that day, Lua was taken by the Tenno, but they did not stop there. They gather up all the weapons, all the supplies they needed, and all the Orbiters that belonged to the Orokin, that they plan on using to take their claim Tenno with them. They in turn headed off throughout the system to destroy the rest of the Orokin empire down to the last child.
(Earth)
Dax had gotten word of what was going on moments too late as they were attempting to secure what supplies they could. The Orokin had ordered them to secure fallback resources for them to use as some had gone off to eliminate a rogue Arch-Meridian. At least that was their plan before something began to happen. One of their soldiers was silently killed by Zed and his Excalibur before from nearby a Soldier saw it. But before the Dax could call it in Zed's Kubrow at the time charged and began mauling the Dax silencing him. This gave Zed the opening he needed to kill this Dax and move on to the rest.
Later while disembarking from their ship three Dax soldiers were at work only for Zed to kill two of them. He came in like a shadow killing them both instantly using the same training they had forced them through in the past. Following it up the third hearing something turned around and was in turn met with a Kunai to the head. Of course, this let the others know what was going on and in turn Zed knew it was time to act. The battle began as Zed avoided attacks from the Dax with ease while moving to get to cover. Using one of them as a living shield, he made sure to keep his foes attention on him.
The Kubrow meanwhile pushed down a barrel forcing the Dax to react and accidentally hitting a volatile barrel causing it to explode. Seeing his chance Zed moved to the nearby wall which he began to run across before jumping off it. As Zed was airborne, he drew his exalted Blade while spinning in the air. He then hit the ground and stabbed the weapon using Javelin to hit most if not all of the Dax soldiers. Once that was done his Kubrow came in and returned one of his Kunai's that he threw at a soldier earlier.
In the sky Mari with the Mag Warframe was flying via her Archwing as she was being chased by a ballistic rocket. Flying away from the weapon she knew she could not avoid it forever no matter how much she tried. When the inevitable happened and she was hit the Tenno began to freefall to the ground all the while having bullets fly at her. Mari easily avoided them for a bit until she started gathering the bullets coming her way. Eventually Mari hit the ground and glaring at her foes she sent the bullets back to the ones who shot them in the first place. Once this was done Mari then took out Braton and began firing at several other Dax who came at her.
Nearby Titus was running across the battlefield as he was faster than the average Tenno when using Volt. As he swung his staff Weapon, Bo he saw that Zed left himself opened and thus putting a shield up he covered Zed's blind spot while sending out a current of electricity from his Warframe's hand. This continued on as the three Tenno began to reunite with each other. Clearly, they were overpowering the Dax Soldiers who tried in vain to stop the monsters the Orokin helped create. The burning Empire sent out the best they had to offer to eliminate the Tenno but the weapons they lost control of were unbound. The Orokin could do nothing as their once mighty empire burned to the ground.
(Mars)
The three Tenno on Mars were having similar victories against the Dax. Akin was on a ship with Aya using Titania and Rell using Horrow as they were fighting off Dax Soldiers left and right. Swinging Tondo around Akin slaughtered the Dax as he attempted to take out as many of them as he could if not all of them. Nearby Aya was slaughtering Dax who were unable to fight back against the Tenno who was currently the size of a pixie.
Nearby Rell fired off his weapon as he glared at the Orokin who stole so much from him and his friends in the past. As he fought, Rell grazed his head from a slight headache he felt almost like he sensed something. Looking nearby Akin saw a lone child from the planet bellow cowering as he was covered in sand. Walking over to the child Akin offered the boy his hand despite the child being covered in the spilled blood of Dax and Orokin alike. With some hesitation the boy took the hand of his savior as the other Tenno saw this. Picking the boy up in his arms Akin looked to his fellows and nodded to them which they returned before they parted ways each with their own mission.
In less than a month the Orokin's empire had fallen not by the hands of the Sentient but by their own hands. They created monsters only those they had abused could control. Now that pain had been repaid by the Tenno and the Empire had fallen in that atonement. One by one Tenno began to enter their deep sleep ensuring that everything was cleaned up. The Infestation had a surge in this time, but the Tenno dealt with them before moving on with their mission. In a few short years the once mighty Orokin Empire had fallen with absolutely no hope of ever rising again.
(End Flashback)
"By the end of it the Orokin were gone, and the last remaining stragglers could do nothing to make their empire rise again." Akin said as he recounted the events to the shocked and slightly horrified at what she heard. "After I took care of the Infestation Plague on Mars sleep never sounded so welcoming." Akin said revealing so much to Riyo in this moment. "The worse part of it for all of us, as children made to fight a war, we reveled we enjoyed every second of the massacre and I'm honestly ashamed with how much I enjoyed it." Akin said as he looked to Riyo with tears coming from his eyes.
"Men, woman; children to us all we saw were Orokin targets." Akin admitted as Riyo felt sorry for the child. He had been put through so much a failed jump to a new system to begin colonization, being experimented and abused by their 'rescuers,' turned into soldiers after the only person who cared for them, and finally lashing out when their chains were cut. "We lost so much and even our innocence was taken from us." Akin admitted as he looked down a bit. "I always liked to fix things but how can you fix something that is beyond repair?" Akin asked as he looked at his hands.
"One step at a time." Riyo said suddenly surprising Akin. "You all suffered a great deal long ago that I cannot fault you for." Riyo said as she looked to Akin. "And the system the Orokin had in place was meant to benefit those of the higher caste alone so legal means of changing them would not work either." Riyo said with a sad tone as she saw a system fail the people it was made to protect. No perhaps it was never made to protect its people to begin with.
For a moment Akin sat next to the Senators and that moment was all he needed before he smiled. "Thank you." Akin said as the two sat there in silence looking longingly to each other. As the Tenno and Senator sat together it begged to wonder what sort of future awaited them. But then again that was the question that were asked by all people in the Cosmos. But unaware to them Somnus was very much on the move still and the question remained on what was going on what the Sentient's end game goal against the Tenno was.
(TBC)
ESKK: Well, here you go everyone a finished chapter 8. I hope everyone enjoyed it and will leave a review before leaving. Now then as I always saw to everyone that reads ja-ne.