"Operator," Questioned Ordis, "was it right for us to give the Commander access to Umbra? As well as all of the other equipment we offered him? He isn't even a Tenno, for Void's sake!"

"I know, but we owe him that much, for their assistance."

"...their assistance?"

"...I apologize, but have you recovered your memories from the Old War?"

"Yes, but I do not like to remember them, nor do I see their importance to this-"

"Then I want you to think back to the Hall of Conchordance, specifically the Union of the Void."

"Operator-"

"ORDIS, DO IT!" Shouted Etran, patience finally worn thin.

"Understood Operator. Though how this relates to our actions...is...oh."

Even as Ordis finally seemed to realize why exactly the offerin had been made, Etran himself felt the memory flowing back to him. This was why they were helping the Commander. Why they were giving so much to a complete stranger.

Because while this Commander was a stranger to them, his kind was not.

XXXXXXXXXX

Etran watched as the Golden Creatire approaches Ballas. Behind him were strange machines, some humanoid, some more insectile in appearance, and the remainder were too mechanical to compare to the rest. Before both golden overlords was a piece of paper of all things, with some writing on it. All of this was meaningless to the Excalibur wielding Tenno. Only the golden lords were concerned with the paper, and what it embodied.

"So," spoke the Executor, "do we have an agreement?"

"My apologies," intoned the Golden Monster, "but is it okay if we go over the terms one more time? For the record."

"Of course. In truth, I'm surprised you did not ask this earlier, or more often. The Council tends to have an...unhealthy obsession with repetition of statements."

"My fellows seem to share that problem."

"Ah, someone who understands! How wonderful. But that is for a later time. Now, to the terms.

"In exchange for an increase in trade, and our intervention in your expansion, you have offered to assist us in repelling the Sentients, as well as provide us with more of your technology."

"Specifically, this," replied the Golden Beast, extending its armored right hand. A moment later, an emitter emerged from the armor and began spraying the ground before it with some kind of blue substance, which soon resolved itself into an Ayatan.

"Such rapid construction. Even our forms derived assembly systems pale in comparison to the speed your technology has displayed."

"Flattery will get you nowhere, Executor."

"The Council seems to think differently. But I digress, that is irrelevant. But may I ask you two more questions before this agreement is signed?"

"I will allow it."

"Thank you. First, are you sure that the Sentients will not be able to subvert this new innovation? All we have sent to slay them has been turned back into us. I would not like to know what would happen if they had this power in their hands."

"I have tested our counter measures against all of the samples of these Tau-based foes that you have provide me. The results have been the same in every experiment - the sample is destroyed long before it can subvert our machinery. Give it ten thousand years, and perhaps your fears shall hold water, but with our technology, and your Tenno, that will never be a concern."

"Excellent."

"Now, what is your other question?"

"I do not mean to sound ungrateful, but is your technology and your wares all you will offer us in exchange for our help? This war has taken much from us, and you are helping my people win this conflict in exchange for help in another, one with fronts that exceed anything that we have ever fought in before."

"If you assist us, you will be rewarded handsomely."

"How so?"

"When we win this conflict, we will divide up the universes we conquered among ourselves and our allies. I can assure you that the Orokin will be among the first to receive spoils when the war been won, and our march home begins."

"Hmm...I see no problem with that."

"So we are in agreement, Executor"

"If you are willing to change the terms of the agreement to reflect the new concessions you have offered, then yes. I want these offering to be held to memory."

"Of course."

A few minutes later, and the modified contract was signed, making the Orokin, and these makers of wonders, both allies and brothers in arms. Only the second really held any meaning to Etran. Peace was...not his place. Not now.

"May I ask you a question about your silent guardian, Executor?"

"What do you wish to know?"

"Is your guardian one of the fabled Tenno, masters of the Warframes?"

"...Yes, it is..."

"I apologize. I had forgotten that this mastery came from, what did you call it, Void Devilry?"

"That is the term."

"I see. Do you mind if I could observe it for a moment? In private? I assure you, I have no intentions of trying to steal its secrets for myself - biotechnology is of little interest to me, and few of my compatriots who specialize in the field would want something so...twisted to study."

"I can agree to that, though you will forgive me if I can only oblige you five minutes with this void demon. Trust goes both ways."

"Of course."

"Very well then. Your time starts now."

With that, the Executor left.

Turning to the Tenno, the Golden Beast's head tilted in thought, watching as the void demon watched him.

"...You don't like him, do you? The Executor."

Etran gave no indication that he acknowledged the question - at this point, he didn't even know how to speak.

"...The Executor did something to wrong you, didn't he? Something horrible, I presume."

For a moment, Etran remained impassive. After a moment, though, he nodded in agreement to the Beast's remark.

"I thought so. I take it that you eventually plan to seek vengeance on him, will you not?"

Again, Etran nodded, albeit with some reluctance.

"I can assure you Ballas is not watching. Know that, should you seek revenge on Ballas and his fellows, I will offer you no assistance...nor will I offer you any resistance. My only request is that you do not completely set the Orokin's Enpire to the torch. Not all of them are evil."

Etran didn't even hesistate to nod at this - already, his siblings were making plans for that little eventuality.

"Well, then, I believe there is only one thing I have left to tell you, or rather, ask of you."

Etran gestured for the beast to continue.

"The Orokin are already preparing to send Dax soldiers to assist us, but other than that and a few ships, I doubt they will provide us much aid before you seek repayment for the injustices inflicted upon you. So this is what I ask: when we win, will you help us rebuild? I promise to help you rebuild first."

Etran thought for a moment on this, before nodding.

"Good. We still have thirty seconds of time left to 'talk', so make of that what you will."

XXXXXXXXXX

Indeed, the Golden Beast and its technology had helped to defeat the Sentients, but after the Orokin had been purged, the Tenno found that they could no longer contact it, not evening to leave it a message. Much time had passed, but they had not forgotten the Beast's bargain. One the Tenno had yet to fulfill.

Then the Commander had come. The Tenno knew what he was, the golden beasts had already told them that secret. This one, not even knowing about the bargain made so many eons ago, had chosen to start helping the Tenno free the Origin System, out of his own free will, no less. The technology offered to him had merely been a token of their appreciation.

Except Umbra. That had only been given at the behest of Onkko and the Quills. The Tenno were already hedging bets on how long it would take for that to backfire.

XXXXXXXX

"What do you MEAN that the forces have been UNABLE to CRUSH this MACHINE?"

Sergeant Nork'tal shuddered as Vay'Hek verbally tore into him, demanding answers on why his unit had failed to defeat this new force that had arrived in the Origin System. Normally, Nork wouldn't be the one delivering this news - usually a higher ranking officer would be the one to do so. Unfortunately, all of his superiors had been either killed or incapacitated in the various assaults they had launched on the machine's forces, leaving him as the current highest ranking officer among his division.

Swallowing in resignation, Tal offered his response.

"Councilor, with all due respect, we failed to repel the machine and its armies because my superiors attempted to take it head on, without exception. Even when we were repulsed, at no point did they attempt to try a different strategy other than a frontal assault...I take that back. We did attempt to requisition the usage of the Grustrag Three to infiltrate one of the machine's bases, but Tengus was in the middle of healing them. I...apologize for our lack of success."

The Councilor stared at him for a moment, no doubt deciding on how to punish him-

"VERY WELL. For you FAILURE, you are to be sent to CERES to REBUILD the FLEET your SUPERIORS have cost us."

Well, not the worst punishment imaginable, so that was a plus. Sure, he was likely to die, but at least he wasn't trying to catch infested specimens.

"IF you survive to see the fleet rebuilt, then you are to REPORT BACK TO ME...AT ONCE...LIEUTENANT!"

...Lieutenant?!

"Sir?"

"You have a POINT about how your SUPERIORS were clearly to IGNORANT to launch an effective assault on this pile of SCRAP, so while you must be PUNISHED for failing to even scratch this machine, you are ALSO to be ACKNOWLEDGED for your INSIGHT! DO NOT EXPECT SUCH LENIENCY AGAIN!"

"...Yes sir."

XXXXXXXXXXXX

"So, in summary, Ms. Armas, an unknown party has shown up and begun assisting the Tenno in defanging the Grineer, raiding our own, pruning the Infested, recovering void artifacts...and getting away with it all unopposed?"

"Y-yes, Mr. Anyo."

"...Why, exactly, have we not received payment, with interest, on our stolen wares?"

"We've been trying to bait them into the Index, then attempt to, for lack of a better term, hustle them. The results have been...embarrassing. Evidently, they were expecting foul play."

"By the Void, this cannot be allowed to continue. Stop them, or you will be relegated to head of waste disposal. AND TELL EUDICO TO PICK UP THE PACE ON DISMANTLING SOLARIS UNITED! HOW ARE THEY STILL ABLE TO BE SUCH A THREAT FOR THIS MANY YEARS!? IT IS RIDICULOUS!"

XXXXXX

"So, new friend of yours is putting the hurt on the Grineer?"

"Indeed, Ms. Eudico. The Grineer have actually had to role back elements of their forces on the plains to deal with them. My people have become more active of late - not too much, but when the Grineer aren't constantly trying to attack the Unum, or us, we can afford to stand taller."

"Can't fault your logic there. You think he might help us?"

"Well, he's no friend of the Corpus, so I would say yes."

"Thank you, Konzu."

"A pleasure, Surah."

XXXXXXX

"So, an old foe has returned at last."

"Shouldn't we destroy them, mother?"

"Patience, Natah. Your father and I know the threat this foe possesses, and he shall be broken, in time, but we both know to be cautious, for now."

"I see. So you intend to leave him be, for the moment?"

"Of course not. Zen'Hurros, come."

"Yes, my lady?"

"Gather your shards. Follow the tool of the golden beast. Do what you can to hinder him, and capture any technology he leaves behind. While destroying him will be enough to achieve our goals, subverting his strength will make defeating the Tenno that much easier."

"Of course. Your will be done."

"Good. Now, daughter dear, could you check on Ballas? I need to be sure whether he is healing properly."

"Understood."

Though Natah complied with her orders, internally, she was worried - why were they leaving such a powerful foe to grow stronger. Shouldn't they nip this one in the bud? Leaving it be only allowed it time to build strength.

Worse still, a traitorous part of her was fine with it getting stronger and aiding the Tenno. Maybe the Star Children could use to defeat her kin and...and...and make her the Lotus again. This thought revolted Natah, yet at the same time, it also made her gleeful. Part of her wished to destroy all her ties to the Lotus...but another part wished to destroy all ties to Natah. Which would be stronger?

Natah was not sure she wanted to find out.

XXXXXX

AN: Read and Review! This is Flameal15k, signing off!