After we returned to the Railjack, Etran dropped me off at the extinction, before leaving with Cyreesia. Melissa, having no reason left do stay, departed back to her hub universe via portal, leaving me alone to examine the Vitruvian.

Somehow, I felt that I was nearing the end of the story.

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

So, you had your enemies broken. I trust they surrendered swiftly.

Swiftly enough. Once they witnessed our might, capitulation was inevitable.

So, then, what were your demands? that they forever sacrifice a military so that you would never face an opposition from them?

Please, we are not that stupid. Attempts at that following the first global war in human history laid the groundwork for the next. We merely gave them a 'very' strongly worded request to never again interfere with our actions, lest untold annihilation be ventured upon them.

I see. Then what?

Then? We undid what destruction we had already wrought.

….What? You….repaired and healed the lands you had damaged?

No, we made it as if it had never happened. You could say we...undid our actions. Those that were dead lived once more, broken worlds became whole, and all was fixed. The memory, the experience of what had happened, though, was not forgotten. Those who had died knew they only lived again because of our mercy, so that they would never seek to rise up again.

..I...I...wow. Forgive me if I am speechless.

I understand. Is there anything else that you wish to discuss?

No, not now. I believe it is time I got moving.

You have somewhere to be?

I have to reach the Terminus. The end of the war is to be celebrated today. The Tenno deserve to be rewarded for their valor...and for putting up with our-

Thwip.

Okay, here things got weird. Up until this point, the Vitruvian had shown me still images of a shattered world in front of a Progenitor ship, which had been healed by one of the crew. Now, however, the images were replaced by a live-action feed, showing the female Orokin (who was rather pretty, I will concede) looking on in confusion as she pulled a dart out of her neck. A moment later, she fell over, and a few minutes after that, she was snoring. Behind her, a Volt had appeared, and soon, it moved down to hoist the slumbering woman upward.

In front of frame of war, the golden beast I had seen in the earlier Vitruvian entries hummed softly, appearing unsurprised by this development. Huh, didn't expect him to be the one who was talking.

"Hmph. I thought you'd care more for secrecy."

"I trust you not to tell the Orokin of our plan. I am wrong to do so?"

That was Cyreesia's voice. I guess I knew what warframe had been her starter.

"Fair enough. So, shall we take her to the Repository?"

"Of course."

With that, the duo vanished into light. Then the scene changed, showing a new room, where the Tenno were hastily putting people into cryopods.

"So, this is your way of repaying those who showed you kindness," remarked the golden one. "Ensuring they will survive into the future."

"That's the plan. We shall leave them here until a time comes when society can be...rebuilt, but with old hatreds and prejudices either tempered or removed. It may take many thousands of years, but we will make sure that future comes about."

"I see," replied the Progenitor, before turning his attention to one of the pods. "That's your grandmother, right?"

"Yes indeed. Etran already put my grandfather in one of the pods, so I'm waiting until I find him so that the two of them can be peaceful together."

"How kind of you. I must ask, though, was it necessary to save an executor?"

"You mean Ms. Golden and White that I am holding right now? Of course - anyone who shows us kindness deserves to be spared. Even if they are jerks otherwise."

"You are...very forgiving."

"Know when to forgive and when to forget, lest revenge consume you."

"True...do you mind if I give you a final gift? My kind are going to...go away from the multiversal stage, but we have a final, parting boon to give you."

"...I don't see why not."

With that, a portal, opened, and an air fabber came through...

And then the vision ended.

SO CLOSE!

XXXXXXX

As I mentally raged and screamed over not finding out more about the repository, I began writing down notes - it seemed at least some questions were answered. The Repository was, essentially, a reservoir for non-Tenno - meant to keep safe members of other orokin castes until a time was more peaceful. Going off what I had seen, there were also pieces of Prime Technology in there, likely meant to accelerate the rebuilding. Even animal species were kept there, likely for recolonizing certain spaces after natural disasters in the millennia to come.

As I finished up my notes, I found that another archived video of my commander had been highlighted. Examining it, I found myself staring once again at the Progenitor machine from my sentient visions. Now, I could see more of them, all being sent across the system to battle the dreaded sentients. One, in particular, was sent against a familiar form.

Upon seeing the structure, Zen'Hurros roared, before hurling bolts of plasma at the monster...and finding them totally ineffective. Surprised, he tried to ram it, only for chains to shoot out of the machine and burying their ends in the Sentient's flesh. Then, the monster was reeled in, whilst the structure's underside opened up, revealing strange tools and blades. These instruments soon buried themselves in the Sentient's back, much to its vocal anguish.

As the vision finally vanished, I vomited. Seeing those implements dig into the Sentient's flesh was nauseating. Also, I totally understood why he had a grudge against the Progenitor's now - that looked horrifically painful.

As I filed that away for later, I checked to see what the date was. Apparently, it was December 19. I'd just missed my sister's birthday. Oh well. It could no longer be helped. Didn't stop me from feeling unhappy and a little angry at Melissa.

XXXXX

"...Why do I suddenly feel guilty right now?" questioned a female ROB.

XXXXX

Still, I had work to do: I still had a few Christmas present to get.

Including ones for people who really didn't deserve them.

XXXXX

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