My arrival at Cetus was...well, not exactly subtle. Of course, that was intentional - I wanted the Ostrons to trust me, and sneaking into their home wasn't going to help me with that goal. At All. Thus, I had arranged to arrive at the town in a repainted XCOM skyranger (apparently, they'd upgraded to using the one in XCOM 2 some time ago - maybe Asaru looked at that universe and decided that he liked the design?), which I maneuvered over the pad you arrived at in game, before setting it back on auto and jumping off. True, I could've just controlled it mentally all the way in, but I felt that learning how to pilot it on my own would be a nice skill to have. Also, I had been bored, and needed something to do.
Following my arrival, I took a brief moment to throw off any tails I might have had and began looking at a few of the merchants' wares. While part of this was an attempt to seem normal, another part was an actual desire to see what was available and set up a wishlist for the future - I did, at the very least, have an interest in catching some fish and picking up gem crafting (mostly because it would have been a valid excuse for how I was so wealthy), so I made sure to check with Suumbaat and Hai-Luk to see how much they wanted for the most basic of Ore Cutters and Fishing Spears. I also briefly examined zaw parts at Hok's, if only because I really liked their looks and thought that one would make a nice melee weapon for my avatar.
Eventually, after examining a few more vendors (including Nakak), I made my way over to Konzu's Bounty Board, where he was busy sending off another group of Tenno. HIs eye's widened in surprise at me, but overall, he didn't make much of a fuss about my appearance. That made me smile with relief - I'd been getting really exasperated with all of the stares I got from the Ostrons, so having someone who more or brushed it off for a change was rather nice. After he sent the last of his current hires off, he motioned for me to come closer.
"Greetings, Offworlder! I'm hiring combat talent. You wanna talk rates?"
"I would, but right now, I have more pressing matters?"
"Aye yo, what do you mean?"
"Well," I whispered, "someone said that they wanted to meet with me here. They also said that I was supposed to ask you where they wanted to meet at Cetus."
"I see...Did they offer any way to prove this claim, friend?"
Rather than speak to him, I pulled up a handheld holo-projector and projected a Symbol in front of him. One that looked oddly like a feather, and familiar enough that I could guess who had sent it, but I needed to see Konzu's reaction to be sure. The symbol was provided as a sort of passcode, so I assumed/hoped Konzu knew what it meant.
"Ah, I see," was his response. Then he pointed toward a path that I recognized form the game. "Head over there, Surah. That's where you will find your...acquaintance."
I nodded respectfully, and briefly dipped into my pocket to offer him something...then realized I had no idea what to give him. I thought for a moment, before taking out a tiny piece of firaxite I had brought with me from my ship. "Here," I said, "as a token of my appreciation."
Konzu was surprised by my kindness, but he quickly recovered and, with some reluctance, accepted my gift. "Well, that was...unexpected. Thank you, Surah."
I merel nodded, before departing down the path he had indicated.
XXXXX
A few moments later, and I had arrived before a large stone door, which quickly opened before me. As soon as I was inside, the doors sealed, though I was not surprised by that. Whatever was about to be said, it needed to be done in private.
All over the room I was in, mystical objects were strewn about. Cuirasses and helmets were and display stands, while shelves were stacked high with parts for weapons. Amps, if I remembered right. At the back of the room, though, lay the target of my interests: a counter top and, behind it, a man wearing clothing that would not be out of place on the displays.
"Greetings, honored quill."
"Greetings. I would introduce myself, but I believe that unnecessary."
"You assume I know who you are?"
"Correct."
"...Well, you are not wrong. I assume you are Quill Onkko Primary?"
"Indeed. In turn, I assume that you are Commander Flameal15k of the Infernum Federation."
...what...
"...Um...uh...how do you-"
"I am an instrument of the Unum. She knows much about you. Much about your instruments. Memories of a time long past. She tells us that there are differences between the tools that were wielded in her memories and the ones you use now, but it matters not. What she told us was enough to learn the truth about you."
"And What is that truth?"
"That, were we to take away all of you tools and make all of your instruments fall silent, you are merely a young man, a child even, taken far from home."
"..."
"Do not take this as a threat, for none are meant. No harm is desired upon you."
"I see...so, why did you contact me?"
"The Unum is...curious...about your presence. Where you go, the future ebbs away."
"...I'm confused."
"Where you act, possibilities become...uncertain. Where you go, the future cannot be seen. The Unum is troubled by this, and desires us to watch you."
"...really?"
"Correct. No harm is meant...for now. Yet we cannot ignore this ripple forever. Now, though, all that can be done is watch...and wait. If you prove to be a accompaniment to our song, we shall leave you be, AIs you, even. But should your actions prove to spur the Unim's music, we will act to remove you. Is this understood?"
"Of course it is."
"Excellent. Now, please, separate from this node. There is much that must be examined. First, though, a gift." Before he could elaborate on that, Onkko removed a small parcel from beneath his counter and handed it to me. After some prodding, I opened it, and found myself staring at a void key, as well as what appeared to be a void trace. "The Unum has told us that you do not hold any sympathy for the Eidolons, even if you are very similar to them, so we will assist you in trying to hunt them. Know, however, that this will be our only gift to you. The right to more assistance must be earned."
For a moment, I was stunned. The fact that I was holding void energy in my hands was enough to leave me unable to think. I mean, I literally held the Sentients' weakness right between my hands, and I had gotten it for free.
"...Thank you...I understand this is a gift, but...is there any way I could repay you?"
"...If you must, there is. The Grineer have been sending more spy's into Cetus of late, trying to find relics of the Orokin. We have already located one and sent Konzu a request to deal with them. Speak with him and he will direct you in hunting our foe."
"Understood...and thank you."
"Farewell."
XXXXXXXXX
Once I left the Quills' 'stall', I quickly approached Konzu, who knew better than to ask about what had happened, though when I offered to deal with the spy, he seemed to nod approvingly at me, as if understanding that I owed the Quills something. One destroyed armored vault and hacked drone later, and the spy had been caught and sent back for questioning, while the Artifact was back in the Quills' hands. I used what I had earned to purchase a spear from Hai-Luk and the basic ore cutter from Suumbaat, and I was able to batter off some of my spoils to Nakak and Master Teasonai for an Excalibur mask and a caged Condroc and Kuaka, while still having enough left to gain the design for the Ooltha blade from Hok. I briefly returned to the Plains after that to go and gather a few more things I wanted (among them a mawfish) and disrupt a Grineer supply drop, before finally returning to my base.
Despite my glee from my recent excursion to the Plains, though, something was still bothering me - the Unum knew what I was. So did the Quills. How eluded me.
Somehow, though, I knew that it involved the Progenitors.
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AN: Read and Review! This is Flameal15k, signing off!