Null or Void

Um, is this really a good idea?

For the first time in a long time, Ollie sounded not entirely sure of himself as he followed Magda into the depths of the odd building they had been directed to. None of the others had come with them and this was not a place that Magda had frequented. The other officers had come here every so often, but never on duty. This place had little to do with Tenno Law. It never had. It likely never would. They had their own laws, rules and such. Add to that? Magda was still reeling from all the shocks, but she was what she was. She was a cop and-

Whoa! Ollie came to a sudden halt in mid-air and Magda did the same on the ground as a golden form shot into their path. A sentinel, but not one like any Tenno had used in millennia. Were those golden skulls that adorned it all around? If so, Magda had heard of this being. Not always in a good way, mind you, especially since this metal form apparently had more than one mind inside its hull and at least one of said minds was barking mad. Tenno had met both of the odd mechanical beings that called the Necralisk of Deimos home and no one gossiped like Tenno in Magda's experience. Not always aloud, mind you, but talk was cheap.

"Tenno. You are expected." The voice of the sentinel was calm and assured. This was Loid, then. Not the other, Otak. Good. According to many people, that one was rarely firing on all cylinders at the best of times, which these were not. Not hostile, at least, but never a comfortable companion like Ollie.

"I was told we would be met. Lead on." Magda was quiet, but firm. The ancient mind enclosed in the even more ancient metal bobbed in mid air and started off, giving the cop and her partner a good look at the glowing smiley face that adorned the back of the golden housing. Did it wink at her? She did not look too closely.

The area was full of Tenno in warframes going about their business, but Magda relaxed a little as no one paid her or Ollie any mind. The crowded area was quiet as the officer and her companion made their way through the Necralisk, following their guide. Anywhere else, a crowd would be noisy and if it was silent, bad things lurked very close at hand. Anyone trained in riot control knew that. Not here. Not now. Tenno in warframes were not verbose even out of the field. In the field, tradition said they remained silent. This was not 'quite' the field, but everyone was busy with their own matters. All had their own business as as no laws were being reported as broken, Magda had no business and less inclination to pry into fellow Tenno matters. She had enough on her own mind, thank you very much!

The Nyx warframe followed the hovering golden thing to what looked for all the world like a massive flower. The machine stopped just beside the flower and Magda stepped up to it, only to pause as the flower unfolded and a form straight out of nightmare slid into view from its depths. Once, this being had been a high caste Orokin. Not the highest caste, but close. Now, the female form was almost totally infested. Not entirely subsumed due to the legendary mechanical aptitude (and stubbornness!) of the Entrati family, but far too close to comfort for any Tenno. That said? The whole Deimos situation was odd to say the least, so Magda had no intention of giving offense.

"Ma'am." Magda said, inclining her head as was polite. She was not subservient, but politeness helped a great deal in her line of work. It wasn't what came to mind when most thought the word 'cop' but respect was a powerful tool in the officer's arsenal. Just about anyone would react a little bit better to simple courtesy than rudeness. Gomaitru had not been this being's name originally, but like the rest of her family, she had lost a lot when the Infestation had taken her and her kin. Only recently had any of them recovered at all. Sadly, even now, most of their memories were long gone but they still retained the core of who and what she was. Any Tenno could admire that even when repulsed by her physical form.

"Officer. We were notified and we stand ready to assist as we can." The Mother of the remaining Entrati was a bit subdued, buy she inclined her head back, returning the respect she was given in equal manner. She as not happy about this any more than Magda was, but she too understood duty. All the Entrati did. Even more than half mad and Infested, they were still Entrati. "That said? Even for these troubled times, this is highly irregular."

"Indeed it is." Magda agreed. "I need to get into the Drift as quickly as possible. I do not believe that trouble will follow me here…" She was a bit dubious about that and from her own expression, the Elder Entrati agreed. "...but the last thing I want is for what happened at Fortuna to occur in the Necralisk as well."

Gomaitru made a face and nodded slightly. No one sane wanted Sun to start a fight anywhere, let alone in a place like this filled with ancient temperamental machinery that no one had any way to repair or replace. The Entrati maintained what they could, but there were only five of them left and their genetics had been tainted by the Infestation. So, some of their machinery no longer recognized them as the owners and flatly refused to work. That had been the downfall of the Orokin. When those who had been genetically compatible with the machinery had perished, no one else could use it and in some cases even touch it. When or if the remaining Entrati faded completely, all of the knowledge and technology that had been kept here would be lost. Well, that or incredibly dangerous to handle in any way. The Entrati had always made the best weapons and even now, Tenno used Entrati weapons when they could. Ancient the weapons might be compared to Corpus or Grineer tech, but all were far more deadly than anything in the arsenals of either main Tenno enemy. Hence why Corpus and Grineer kept sending expedition to Deimos to try and 'acquire' some of it. That never worked out so well for them. Entrati had always had a short way with thieves and even now had a long memory for slights. As far as Magda knew, Tenno had never tried to rob them, but Corpus and Grineer had. That made the few attempts by both groups that had been sent to actually buy weapons utterly futile. The Entrati simply refused to talk to them.

"A team of Necramechs has been sent to clear the way." Gomaitru was a bit dubious. "Do I need or want to know why you needed us to do it and not Tenno?"

"It is simple." Magda was quiet now, sad. "I don't know who I can trust." At that, the Entrati went utterly still and then she slumped. Magda nodded. "There is a lot going on and my case has gone cold. I have one lead, but to follow it, I have to get into the Void. There are Tenno who want to stop me, and I am not sure their reasons. There are also Tenno who want to help me and I do not want to see them fight one another. Not over me." Magda said firmly enough that the Entrati stiffened. "I was told I could get where I need to go from one of the access points on Deimos. So I am going."

"And you know what will happen when you go across." Gomaitru said slowly. Magda nodded. "I see." The elder Entrati actually bit her lip! "We will not be able to let you back the same way. Opening the way to let you in is one thing, but we cannot keep it open or open it to any impetus from the other side."

Magda hadn't had a clue until Lynn had explained what the Entrati had done here on Deimos. She knew about the experiments that had eventually led to Void travel, of course. Every Tenno knew about Albrect Entrati's experiments because that had led to the horror of the Zarimon Ten Zero Void jump accident and all the mess that followed it. Magda hadn't had a clue how much more the Entrati had done here and what they had encountered. That the Void was home to many malevolent beings who were always trying to get into this reality. Even after all of Lynn's explanations, Magda was not sure who or what 'The Man in the Wall' was, but she knew enough to be very afraid. That said? She was set on this course. She had no other leads except Kanaah and staying anywhere was not an option with Sun on the prowl..

"I know." Magda reassured the other. "You Entrati ward the ways your ancestor took as always." To that, Magda gave the Infested being a bow. "We Tenno know about such duties."

"Indeed you do." Gomaitru nodded and then her mouth set in a firm line. "The Necraloid will guide you to the old gateway, Tenno. And… Good luck." She offered as the ancient golden sort-of sentinel started off..

"Thank you, Gomaitru." Magda said with a nod as she turned to follow the guide. Was that a muted sob that came from behind her? She did not look.

No one seemed to be paying her any mind, but Magda's hyper-alert senses noticed when other Tenno made way for her to follow the hovering golden thing. None spoke to her and she was actually glad of that. What could she say? She had been Narmer! Not by choice, but still…

Then she did jerk up short as a form stepped into her path. Magda wished she could. The newcomer was a Tenno in a warframe and not just any! The pitch black Lavos warframe slowly shook his head as he stared at Magda. She had never actually met this being that she knew of, but she knew of him! Every Tenno knew of the new Grandmaster of the Dead who had replaced Nikis when the being who had been most ancient of Nekros, the First Nekros no less, had been called to other duties. Magda had heard it described that way and had pointedly not asked what 'other' duties could possibly be more important. Even as a cop, she shared one thing with most Tenno, she knew that there was a lot that she simply did not want to know.

"It was not your fault any more than it was mine, Grandmaster." Magda said very quietly as the Necraloid made a noise of worry. Magda shook her head and waved for it to go, The golden sentinel thing made a gulp-like noise and vanished. "It happened. I go on. I have a case to solve."

"Sun won't stop." The being now known as Jack replied, just as quiet. "His captives were recovered, but he escaped custody."

"Of course he did." Magda fought hard not to be snide. It would not help. The ancient Tenno known as Sun had been a terror before he had joined the remnants of the Orokin marine spetznatz. Now, with their resources? Ouch. Magda fought herself and spoke again, as calmly as she could. "The others?"

"We were too late." Jack's voice was flat with barely suppressed rage and Magda felt grief rise anew. "Their energy still exists, but he wiped their memories. The beings they were are gone. Officer..." He raised a hand, but Magda shook her head and he dropped it.

"Many are working to keep me from falling, Grandmaster." Magda said formally. "Even Cathi Gata was called in." She offered and Jack actually backed up a step! "I… I have to do this. Solving crimes is what I do. Even if I am the last, I am still a cop."

"And you may be Kanaah's only hope." Jack agreed with a sigh. It did not surprise Magda that Jack knew about that. The Grandmaster of the Dead had always possessed all kinds of information sources, many of which lots of people would likely have problems with. That said? Anyone with a lick of sense would not argue with him. "I came with other word though." He continued and Magda tensed at his resigned tone. "Nova said 'No'. She cannot reveal her sanctuary to any. It would not be safe for her or you. Her energy is still out of phase and no matter what anyone tries, it looks like to be permanent." Ouch. Nova had been Tenno once, but now her energy had reversed and she was almost a null Tenno. Dangerous as hell to any Tenno who came close, like matter and anti-matter. Hence why she hid where she did.

"I…" Magda felt her world start to spin at that. Grief, fear, rage, all that and so much more swirled in her mind, but then static pushed it back. Ollie, Owl and Hunhow helping again. "Damn, I had hoped."

"Me too." Jack agreed, watching Magda warily.

"I am a mess, Grandmaster." Magda said sadly. "But if Nova cannot help, I am stuck. I have no other leads except the Void. That is the only place that Kanaah could be and not be found."

"Nova is not the only one who knows the Void." Jack had a smile in his voice now and Magda stared at him. "War makes for strange bedfellows and the last war made for some very odd alliances."

"I know." Magda said with a growl and Jack stared at her, clearly nonplussed. "We were asked to investigate what happened to Sir Aziz." Considering that when the knight had fallen to spetznatz trickery, he had been working with a Grineer, a Corpus and a canine to fight Narmer? Oh yeah, she knew all about odd companions in wartime.

"Oh." Jack swallowed hard and who could blame him? "Yeah. Nothing I could do there either. I couldn't help him. I hate that feeling."

"Me too." Magda slumped a bit. "Then if I have no further leads… The case will go cold and then I may ask for you to do what Sun did." Jack recoiled another step and probably would have spoken, but someone beat him to it.

MAGDA NO! Came from both Ollie and Owl as the energy boy appeared beside her, face ashen with fear and rage mixed.

"What right have I to threaten our kin, Ollie, Owl?" Magda was so tired now. So sad. "Whatever else happens, I will not become a renegade. I will not turn on my kin. You know this." That was firm.

"Do not rush to your fate, sister. There are options." Jack spoke up before the others could and all three stared at the black Lavos warframe. "Odd ones, but you do still have a chance. As I said, Nova is not the only one who knows the Void."

"I will not put our kin in debt to Parvos Granum." Now, Magda was grim. The Founder of the Corpus had been trapped in the Void for a long time and learned a lot about it, but he was Corpus and thus, never to be trusted. Certainly never by Tenno! "Not for me." She was not expecting Jack to laugh! "What?"

"I do not know if he is involved or not, to be honest." Jack was calmer now, but still had an odd bubble of mirth in his tone. "I do know that the Caretakers and Oracle are not talking to anyone at the moment. I have no idea why and I am not going to ask!"

"You probably sleep better not knowing." Magda agreed and Jack nodded fervent agreement even as Owl did the same! "I know I do, so… what?"

"Funny you should mention Granum…" Jack mused. "He has actually been in touch with me to inquire about an incident many years ago and that led me to who I believe can help you."

"Granum called you?" Magda worked hard to keep disbelief out of her tone.

"Not directly, no." Jack allowed. "But he did ask my aid through an intermediary and honestly? I was curious. It is not strictly speaking one of my duties, but the situation was one I was familiar with and it has impacted Tenno, Corpus and many others, so after I checked what I could, I made contact and I was surprised at what I found. He can help you and he would be happy to."

"Who?" Magda asked carefully and then she screamed as familiar orange energy flared nearby. Ollie and Owl both vanished in puffs of dingy orange light as a white Loki warframe appeared out of the shadows! Sun! Orange energy flashed from his hand at Magda, but before she could react, it hit a disk of pure black energy that formed just in front of her! Sun recoiled as Jack growled. Had he seen the Grandmaster? From the way he jumped back, it didn't seem that way! Then again, Sun was pragmatic to the point of evil, not stupid and anyone coming face to face without warning with the Tenno Grandmaster of the Dead would feel some trepidation unless they were totally clueless. Sun was driven, not totally clueless.

"You are making me angry, Tenno Sun." Jack had a sword in hand now that glowed black. "I recommend you stop doing that." His words were not a threat, but threat sang anyway.

"You cannot help her, Grandmaster. No one can. All I can do is end her pain." Sun's tone was odd. Sad, not angry. Resigned. "What is one more evil if I do it?"

"And what it does to her is meaningless?" Jack demanded. "She is who she was. Many people have worked hard to see that happen."

"Yes, but you cannot keep helping her that way." Was Sun begging? "We can be hard, we Tenno, but we have to be self sufficient. If you keep propping her up, eventually, she will run into a foe she cannot face and what then?"

"That is her choice. Not yours." Jack's tone was downright scary now as black energy built around the Lavos warframe. "Feel free to try whatever tricks you have left, Tenno Sun. I am not Nikis, but I have my own tricks."

"I want no conflict between us, Grandmaster." Sun said with a groan as Magda backed up a step.

"Then do not make one!" Jack snapped right back. Then he paused and groaned "Don't do it here, guys!"

"As you wish, Grandmaster Jack." Magda felt faint as what had to be the two warframes that had faced Sun on Venus appeared beside Jack. Inaros had a polearm in hand, but the other's hands were empty. Wait! Were they glowing? They were! Oh dear! Was that a Baruuk warframe? If so, why was its head green?

"I want no battle here either." Sun was calm now. "So…"

Magda was hardly the only one to cry out as a beam of energy engulfed her and she was elsewhere! Ollie was close and screaming in her mind, but she could not see him or touch him! She was closed up in something orange that was sweeping closer and closer to her no matter how she struggled. She was screaming when it happened. When a darker beam of energy found her, swept her up and she dropped onto metal decks to stare up at horror. What was clearly a warframe was clad in energy, purple and black Void energy. Was that a cloak or some kind of shadow that hung off its back, and were those claws that hung down and moved just a little?

"He did not just do that." A soft, incredulous voice sounded from the warframe that towered over Magda as a hand edged into Magda view, offering her help to rise. "What is he, crazy? No one sane just ignores the wishes of the Grandmaster of the Dead!"

The hand in Magda's view was not from the warframe that towered over her. She stared at the hand, at the golden not-quite-a-warframe metal that shone and then she traced it back up to the form who slowly dropped her hand.

"I do not know, Captain Sevagoth." Taliana, one time leader of the Orokin Marine spetznatz said sadly. "About him? I just do not know. Hello, Officer. We need to talk."

Magda stared at the spetznatz, then at her surroundings. At the bridge of the railjack that she now lay on. She did not know the ship, but she did know the name and if he was here… Then she was on the Tempestarii. A literal ghost ship! With spetznatz! Alone!

Oh shit...