My communion with Umbra left me feeling...actually, I don't really know how to describe how I felt? Serene would probably be the best word. After seeing what the old Dax had gone through, I felt that I had a sense of kinship with him. Just like me, he had had his life ruined for the amusement of a greater being, who cared nothing of how they felt.

….Okay, maybe I was being too hard on Melissa there - she, at least, had proved herself to be more than a self serving snake. Plus she actually had morals that she was unwilling to break.

Still, some things left me feeling uneasy. Namely, I didn't know what had happened to Ballas. That Orokin worm had, from what I could tell, slunk away, unpunished for his cruelties. Perhaps he was still alive right now?

If so, then I couldn't stand letting him live, or allowing the sentients to wield his intellect. that was a mistake waiting to happen. One way or another, I needed to find him.

Maybe Etran could help with that?

XXXXX

"Ballas is dead. I helped Umbra deal the finishing blow."

….Okay, I did not expect to hear that.

"You sure he's dead?"

On the screen, Etran's face grew harsh for a moment, before softening. "I'm pretty sure he - he wasn't breathing when Natah carried him away. Though, given how he survived after the Old War ended, probably without transference, I wouldn't be entirely surprised if he did manage to find a way to cling on to life."

So there was a chance that he could turn up again. Perfect, juuussst perfect.

"...Hey," asked Etran, "would you be willing to...come over to my orbiter?"

"...What?"

"Well, I've never really seen you ever go into any place that wasn't public," noted the Tenno. "Plus, you've shown me and the other Tenno nothing but courtesy so far. I thought you might appreciate coming over, seeing some art, watching fish and poking the tank glass...would you?"

I would, and I really didn't want to refuse kindness. Plus I'd never really been invited to anyone's home since I'd become a Commander, and Melissa didn't count because that was more a lifesaving thing.

"I would. How will I get there, though?"

"I can send over a liset or scimitar...though I think you might need a warframe to use that."

"I can manage. Your secret to controlling the frames isn't a secret to me anymore."

"...Oh."

Etran actually became quiet for a moment, before a small smile formed on his face. It looked forced. "Well, then I guess that makes you one of us."

"No, it doesn't," I intoned. "I may have learned how to wield the warframes, but I will never wield the might of the void, nor will I share the kinship that you and the other Zariman survivors have. I get that you are trying to be nice, but please, don't lie. Not about this. I will never be a Tenno like you. I will only be what my Umbra has alrady referred to me as in his mind - a false Tenno."

Etran looked surprised at that and, oddly, relieved. I guess he felt glad that I would not view and act as another Tenno. Maybe he was worried I would abuse that and act as though I was entitled to respect from the rest of the Tenno?

..Pfft, like I was ever entitled to anything. I wasn't. No matter how much I acted otherwise. I had to earn everything in my life.

And before I had become a commander, there was a lot of things I had that I felt I really hadn't earned.

No time to mope about that now, though - I had a Tenno to meet.

XXXXXX

As I entered the Orbiter, I couldn't help but look around, taking in the Tenno's choice of décor. Noggles of a crewman, lancer, and an Excalibur rested by the market terminal, while what appeared to be an Oro floated above the codex station.

Following Etran into the bowels of the ship, I was surprised to see a kubrow fighting with a helminth charger over some kind of toy. Nearby, a kavat watched on in amusement, before making itself comfortable in a nearby bed. The trio of critters ceased their conflict as soon as they noticed their master arrive, and instantly ran up to the boy, who pet each and every one of them before introducing them to me. Apparently, the kubrow was named Fenrir, the kavat Bast, and the charger Bubo. Huh, funny names. The quadrupeds stared at me a while longer before going back to their daily conflicts.

As we reached the rear section of the orbiter, I caught sight of a group of kuakas retreating into the transference room, while a Condroc cawed angrily at the Helminth Infirmary. Neither of those, though, were our destination - instead, we were heading toward the only section I had yet to unlock in warframe - the Personal Quarters. Apparently, it had a vignette display, and a fish tank.

What I did not expect it to have was the Lotus' mask.

Or the Man in the Wall.

The figure laughed at the Tenno, before disappearing in a flash...at least I think flash is the right word.

For a moment, Etran froze up. Then he turned to me.

"...that is not normal. At all."

"I get the feeling that isn't," I replied. "So, what do we do next?"

The boy merely shrugged. "I think all I can do is examine the mask...can you help me?"

I nodded, then walked up to the mask and started looking at it.

We'd barely begun to look it over before my vision went black.

XXXXXX

When I came to, I found that we had arrived at Lua - me in Umbra, Etran in Revenant. I was completely confused as to what had just happened, but Etran seemed less surprised, and more unnerved on what had happened. Already, he was charging into the Orokin facility, and soon, I followed.

Ahead of us, the man in the wall watched our approach, teleporting away when we drew too close, laughing all the while. When we got far enough, a barrier appeared, along with shadowy figures wearing the Lotus' mask that charged at us. With no other option, we fought until the shadows were all vanquished.

Laughing at our struggles, the Man in the Wall dropped the barrier, allowing us to advance further. Onwards we moved, trying to find whatever he was leading us to. Twice more were we forced to fight the shadows, all of which fell before us. Soon we reached the reservoir in Lua, which now had an opening in it, which I remembered Teshin had been examining while he still served the Twin Queens.

Seeing no option, we dived into the entrance.

XXXX

I was surprised to see that, when we landed, Etran was now out of his warframe.

More surprisingly, so was I.

Confused, I looked over my hands, before Etran promptly grabbed my head and locked eyes with me.

"Follow me."

….okay.

Cautiously, I tailed him, advancing deeper into the chamber. We soon came upon a flowing portal, which Wally stood in front of, before vanishing. With no other choice, we entered the vortex.

XXXXXXXX

On the other side of the light, we found ourselves in a strange looking, fleshy chamber. I was pretty sure that it was Sentient in origin. I only had a moment to examine it before Etran started teleporting across the chamber, and I soon followed. As we advanced deeper into the hall, I could have sworn I heard someone talking.

Eventually, we took shelter behind a fleshy pillar, as the speaker finally revealed themselves.

It was Ballas...but not how I knew him. Indeed, his body was...twisted? Mishappen? Wrong?!

Parts of it were clearly Sentient in origin, especially his legs. Going by how he was ranting, he did not like these changes. While I could already assume that these new additions probably offended his sense of beauty, I also had the feeling he was in a fair amount of pain.

I recoiled in surprise when one of his eyes suddenly shot out what looked like a search light, before he began to walk around the chamber, mumbling to himself. Occasionally, though, he would form a light in his hand, before clenching the hand and destroying the light. Whenever he did so, a piece of...something...would appear in the center of the room.

Throughout his monologuing, he would look around, searching for what I didn't know. Us, maybe? Whenever he looked our way, we simply teleported over to another hiding place. His interest soon faded, and he returned to his mad ramblings. That didn't stop me from thinking he knew we were here, though.

Eventually, he proved me right, by directly addressing Etran as the pieces assembled themselves, forming a sword - the Paracesis, he called it. I was an offering to the Tenno. It was so that their war could finally end.

Though cautious, at first, Etran eventually teleported up to the Executor and gripped the hilt of the blade.

Well, I guess this was ov-

"Come here, False Devil."

Instantly, I was on the alert. For a moment, I knew not what to do, but when I realized the Orokin had not harmed Etran, I teleported up to Ballas.

"Listen now, false one. You have caused the blasphemies much harm, but there is much you don't know about them...or about how they intereacted with those who made you."

I was silent, but inwardly, I started to warm up quite a bit. I could also feel a mass of conflicted feeling coming from Umbra, who was watching what happened through our bond. Anger was present, but also confusion, sorrow and...pity? Definitely pity

"If you do not learn the whole truth, you will be undone here. This crusade you are on, to push back whatever you consider to be a malignancy, will end now, and only ruin will be reaped. You must learn the truth. I can impart you the knowledge you need, but only partially. You must find the rest for yourself."

"Where?" I asked, genuinely curious.

"Look to the land where the air and water flow cold. That is where you shall find the path that leads to the truth. Now hurry! Take this blade! You and the devils must learn to wield it!"

I silently obliged. Then, to the surprise of myself, I placed a hand on Ballas's shoulder. The executor actually looked surprised at that.

The words came out of my mouth before I could stop them. "Whatever happen now, know that I will ensure the Tenno triumph here. The Sentients will fall. IF nothing else, be at peace with that."

Then everything went blank.

XXXXXX

When I came to, I was back in Etran's orbiter. The owner of the ship was already helping me up to my feet. For a moment, it felt like nothing had happened.

BUt then, two memories came into my head: The Blueprint of the Paracesis…

…..and another symbol for my Vitruvian.

XXXXXXXXXX

AN: I just modified the previous chapter - added in a link to some music I wanted connected earlier.

Read and Review! This is Flameal15k, signing off!