Ends and Beginnings

Kori moved through the jungle cautiously. The trio had left the blasted landscape that had resulted when the Phoenix had risen behind and now were removing through gloom. Trees arched high overhead, creating shadowy spots. Nikis paused every so often, scanning some plant or another. She didn't bother to ask. Carlos maintained his position at her side. The Oberon hadn't moved more than a meter from her side the whole time they had been travelling, except when she had squeezed through a few places that larger warframes could not fit. She hadn't slowed and he hadn't asked her to. But then she froze in place. Something had changed.

What? Carlos asked silently in gesture. Kori had no idea how she knew what that gesture meant, but she was glad she did. She nodded ahead and both Carlos and Nikis went still as they saw tracks. Large boot tracks. Nemesis' tracks. But… The tracks led into a small hollow and didn't come out the other side. Trap? The Oberon asked. Kori just shrugged and started off. He grabbed for her and she bared her teeth silently. He held up a finger and then made a series of gestures.

You are too important. Made her growl softly, but both Nikis and Carlos were blocking her way now. Against Carlos, Kori gave herself fair odds. Against the ancient Tenno gunfighter? Not so much. But Carlos was gesturing again. Let's test…

He took aim at the hollow with his Braton and fired a series of shots. The weapon made very little noise and Kori stared at it. Suppressed weapon. She hadn't known that he had done that to his rifle. She turned back to the hollow, but nothing happened. She shook herself and stepped forward, Nikis pacing her. The gunfighter had his hands on his pistols. Carlos was a step behind, his rifle sweeping this way and that.

It was totally anticlimactic. Nothing happened. There was nothing in the hollow. Both male Tenno looked around while Kori snuffled in the dirt, seeking a scent. But… nothing. She turned back to the others and they shrugged. She moved to the other end of the hollow, but saw nothing. No tracks. She could detect no scents.

We can't have lost her! The Kubrow said with a growl. She came in here!

"Then she didn't leave." Nikis said, examining the sides of the small depression. But there was no sign of anything. Then he paused. "Oh… S***…" Kori and Carlos both spun to see him staring at a patch of the dirt wall.

"What?" Carlos demanded, Braton up and ready, but no enemies presented themselves. Instead of answering, Nikis pointed at something tiny. Kori leaned close, only to be pushed back by the Nekros.

"Don't touch…" Nikis warned. The Oberon hissed as he saw what Nikis had. It took the Kubrow a moment to see. "It's live." The Kubrow stared at the odd flower for a long moment and then turned to look at Nikis who…was shaking his head? The flower wasn't metallic or organic. It looked to be both. "Should have known they would get involved… lousy scum can't stay dead…"

Nikis? Kori asked, concerned.

"That is a waymarker, isn't it, Nikis?" Carlos said softly. "A path and a warning to any who know what it is?"

"Yep." Nikis said softly. "Of all the lousy luck… what are they doing here?"

Who? Kori demanded, but Nikis just shook his head.

"Not here, not now." The Nekros said with a snarl as his right hand pistol came to his hand. "Carlos…"

Kori gave a yip as Carlos grabbed her and slung her behind him. Her ire faded as he followed her, as fast as he could run. Nikis stepped back, never taking his gaze –or his aim- from the odd flower thing. Was it Kori's imagination that it was opening? Nikis' pistol belched fire and Kori went still as the flower screamed. Again and again, the gunfighter fired, pounding the odd flower into the dirt. She shivered as an eye opened on the flower. It… looked at her and then exploded as Nikis put a round into it. Kori did not move as Nikis retreated from the hollow, tossing a small device in that hissed and then exploded into flames.

What the hell? Kori demanded. What was that? Why such extreme measures?

"We can hope they dissect Nemesis." Nikis' tone was angry. "But… with our luck? They will repurpose her."

Who? Kori demanded. Who needs such overkill? The Enemy did, but that wasn't them.

"That was a Sentient flower, Kori." Carlos said quietly. Kori went totally still and Carlos nodded. "And as for 'overkill'? No such thing when dealing with Sentients. No such thing at all."

"We better get out of here and report this." Nikis said, his shoulders falling. "I haven't heard about any other such flowers being seen. If this is the first of a new invasion…" He shook his head. "We need to be ready. At least we can fight them a lot easier than the ones who made you initially. But… They also had a lot more resources. And they always snuck around the edges."

But... what was that? Kori demanded. Where did Nemesis go?

"We don't know how they do it." Nikis said uneasily. "But that flower is a form of transportation. They took her."

Then Phoenix's sacrifice was meaningless. Kori slumped with a whine, but paused as Nikis laid a hand on her shoulder.

"Not so." The ancient Tenno sounded more alive than he had been. "As bad as the Sentients were -and are-…" He qualified, nodding to where the flower had been. "The True Enemy was worse. Far worse. The Sentients enslaved humans. They did not casually slaughter them."

I… Kori sighed and nodded. What do we do?

"We report this." Carlos said softly. "And then, we get ready."

"We need to find each and every repurposed form." Nikis said with a sigh. "Might take a while, but we better be thorough. If we miss one…" He gave an exaggerated shudder.

What about Nemesis? Kori asked as they turned to go.

"Oh…" Nikis turned and his gaze swept the area as he chuckled. "I don't think she will be our problem again." Kori stared at him and his chuckle turned evil. "Do you really think she will submit tamely to their poking and prodding?" Kori shook her head and Nikis nodded. "They had a set routine. They had a day to enslave a prisoner. If they couldn't? They didn't waste effort. After a day, they rendered their prisoners down to protoplasmic goo." Kori gagged and Nikis nodded. "They were all about efficiency."

So… what now? Kori asked as they started off at a lope.

"Now we start cleaning up the mess." Nikis said with a sigh… Then all three came to a sudden stop as something landed in front of them. Nikis and Carlos had their weapons up and Kori felt her own weapon turn to bear as the tiny robot rose and scrutinized them. Then everything stopped as a holo appeared in front of them.

"We will maintain a discrete monitor." The Reverend Mother of the Corpus Clergy said quietly. "Was it what I fear? Sentient?" Kori nodded and the old Corpus woman looked sick. "I will… make sure this area is kept under strict surveillance."

The Sentients could and did corrupt any technology. Kori protested. Anything you put here will be vulnerable.

"I know." The Corpus clergywoman replied, her face and tone uneasy. "But it took them time. This technology is not any they absorbed." She shook her head. "At the very least, it will allow some warning when they return. Which they will." Neither Tenno moved. She shook her head. "We stopped one threat and a worse threat has appeared."

You did not stop it! We did! Kori snapped, only to pause as Nikis laid a hand on her shoulder and gave a warning squeeze. She shook it off. We paid the price!

"I know." The Reverend Mother said sadly. "For what it is worth, here…" A datamass extruded from the robot and settled on the ground. "That is all of the remaining data on Command and Control proxies. All other files have been wiped and can be corroborated as having been wiped." Kori bared her teeth and the old woman nodded. "I know you hate me. I know why. What is more, I know I deserve it. I failed you. I nearly failed us all. Tenno… Please. Protect her." The ancient woman begged. Then, the holo vanished. The robot fell over and started to burn feebly.

I don't care what they say! Kori snapped, stepping forward to make water over the burning robot. I don't trust them! She snarled at it and then turned away.

"No one is asking you to, darling." Nikis said gently. "You are a mess." He would have touched her, but she shied away.

Don't touch… She paused as something went hiss. She turned and stared at Carlos who was retracting a hand with a hypo in it. You…? Hurt betrayal sang in her tone as she fell. But the ground was coming up slowly, so slowly.

Kori ran through mists of dream. Mists of nightmare. She didn't know where she was or what she was doing. But she knew she had to move. Something was chasing her. Something huge and monstrous. A booming laugh had her quailing.

"You will never escape!" Nemesis declared. "Never." The armored female was chortling as she appeared. "All this and you scum think you have won."

"Bad and worse… But… The Sentients did not want to exterminate humanity." Kori said quietly, aware that she was speaking normally. "Hard to rule a kingdom of corpses. But you… You are gone."

"Am I?" Nemesis mocked. "Am I truly?"

"This is a remnant of whatever you did to me." Kori said firmly. "Fragments of my subconscious given form in this dream world."

"Is that so?" Nemesis asked, her tone gleeful. "Well, then I guess I can't do… this!" She swept out her blade, catching Kori in the side and tossing the Kubrow several feet to land in a heap. "Silly dog. Know your masters!"

"I…do…" Kori managed to grate out as Nemesis stomped closer. "And you are not them!" She screamed. She was on her feet again, her warframe close about her as Nemesis drew back a pace. "You do not own me! You do not command me!"

"Fine." Nemesis said with a snarl. "I like the hard way." Her blade was suddenly crackling with electricity.

"Do you?" Kori asked, an overpowering calm settling over her.

"Do you really?" Another voice spoke from nearby and Kori's eyes went huge as the Reverend Mother of the Corpus Clergy appeared beside her. "Word of advice, monster. Leave her alone." The old woman's hands were folded in front of her. She carried no weapon. Did she need one?

"Or what?" Nemesis scoffed. "An old crone and a silly dog. Some threats."

"Fool." The Reverend Mother shook her head. "You were a fool before you were changed into a monster, Marlena." The name bit through the air as if it were a sword. Nemesis jerked and the Reverend Mother smiled. It was not a nice smile. "Do you really think you are the only monster here?" Kori stared in amazement as Nemesis retreated a step. Then another. "You have traded a bad master for worse masters, girl." The old Corpus woman said sadly. "You are doomed, Marlena. Nothing can save you now."

"Stop calling me that!" Nemesis snapped. "My name is Nemesis!"

"No, your name is Marlena." The Reverend Mother said in a voice that was almost kind. Almost. "You are a fool, a coward and a micromanaging moron. You always have to do exactly the wrong thing." At every word, the armored form jerked back another step. The Reverend Mother sighed. "But in the end… I know your family did love you. Once."

"Get out of my mind!" Nemesis screamed.

"You entered her mind." The Reverend Mother said calmly. "You attacked her. There is a very old saying… 'You reap what you sow'. My own people know all about that." Her face turned sad. "The Board are going to learn that too someday soon. The only question is how many innocent lives are lost in the process." She took a step towards Nemesis whose energy shield flared in between them. "Silly girl…" The Reverend Mother chided. "Do you really think fleeing will help?" The shield flared again and died, Nemesis staring at her arm and then at the Corpus woman.

Kori went still as Nemesis screamed, a heartbreaking sound of pure terror. She backed another step away, but somehow, the Reverend Mother was right beside her, a hand reaching to touch the armored form on the brow. Nemesis collapsed in a heap, sobbing.

"That's a good girl." The Reverend Mother said, her tone oddly gentle. "Go on. Go back to your new friends."

"No…" Nemesis begged, her armor falling away. Suddenly, she was a young human girl clad in a tattered jumpsuit. "No…"

"Go on." The Reverend Mother commanded. "And don't come back. If I catch you in her mind again, I will not be so kind. I will destroy you."

"But…" Nemesis tried to speak, but the Reverend Mother touched her again. Nemesis screamed again, loud and long. Then she vanished. The Reverend Mother looked at where the enemy form had been and then sighed deeply.

"They will return…" She paused. "I want to call you Lilly, but that is not right, is it?" The Kubrow couldn't move, couldn't speak. The fear of the ancient seeming woman was exuding defined overpowering. "Aw crap…" The Reverend Mother said softly and sat. She beckoned Kori. "I won't hurt you. Please?" She begged. "I… Just a touch. One… last touch…" Kori was amazed to see tears start to fall. "I have done so much. Hurt so many."

"She is in shock." A new voice spoke from nearby and Kori could not react as a human form appeared. The woman wore blue robes and some kind of odd blue mask that covered her head and face down to her jaw. "Easy, Kori…" The woman said, rubbing Kori's neck gently. The touch was soothing.

"Kori?" The Reverend Mother asked weakly.

"The one who took the burden of the Phoenix was named Kori." The newcomer said quietly, still calming Kori. "This one took the name to honor her sacrifice.."

"Apt." The Reverend Mother folded her hands in her lap. "Lilly is gone. I know that. Even her body is gone. Dissolved by their evil. But…" She gave a sob as Kori stared at her. "It hurts. I knew it would, Lotus, but oh my god it hurts."

I… Kori managed to get the word out. What was that? The Enemy?

"No." The Reverend Mother said sadly. "The Enemy that you faced is gone. For now." She qualified when the blue garbed woman tensed. "I know they will return, Lotus. You don't need to convince me. The Board may not be able to find their asses with both hands and a map, but I do know history." Kori jerked. The Lotus? The Lotus was comforting her?

"This isn't real, Kori. You are asleep and dreaming." The Lotus said gently. "You needed the help. I do what I can for those who look to me." Kori stared at her, eyes wide and the Lotus smiled. It was a gentle smile. "You have chosen to follow the path of the one you loved."

"A hard road." The Reverend Mother said calmly. "A dangerous one, but…" She too smiled, sadly. "A worthy road. I wish I could see my daughter one more time, but… this is better. You will not trust me and you have no reason to. Many reasons not to. Be… be well… Lilly. I will call you that one last time. If we meet again, it may be as adversaries. I hope not. But I am a realist." She held out a hand and Kori surprised herself by reaching out and licking it. The Reverend Mother smiled, nodded to Kori and the Lotus, and then vanished.

"That was very brave, Kori." The Lotus said, kneeling beside the Kubrow.

I… I miss her… Kori whined softly.

"I know." The Lotus ruffled her fur gently. How did she manage to do that through the armor? "But you are not alone. Now or ever."

Am I… really Tenno? Kori asked softly. And did the alterations change the command and control circuits?

"I don't know." The Lotus said gently. "We will find out. Karl has asked to sponsor you." Kori looked at her and the Lotus chuckled. "Nikis did too. I worried it might come to blows before Carlos told them both to shut up." Kori's eyes went wide and the Lotus chuckled again. "He said it was your choice, not theirs." Kori sighed and relaxed a bit. "You have time now. For now, the Enemy is stopped."

If this happens again, I want to be in the running. Kori said sternly. The Lotus sighed, but nodded.

"I do not like the idea of losing any of you." The Lotus gave Kori a gentle hug and then withdrew a bit. "But I do understand your point of view. I will keep you in mind, Kori."

That is all I ask. Kori said quietly. Thank you.

Kori woke to a silent room. She gave a small sigh as she cracked her eyes. What met her eyes had her smile a little. Carlos sat nearby, his posture worried.

"I apologize, Kori." Carlos said quietly. "Knocking you out was rude. "

Yes it was. Kori said as she rose to her feet. She strode to where Carlos was sitting. She snapped her teeth in his face, but then made a snickering noise as Carlos retreated. Oh, calm down! She leaned up against the Oberon. I lost my friend. You lost your sister…

"Kori…" Carlos laid a hand on her head and she leaned into his touch. "It wasn't your fault."

Nor yours. Kori agreed. But… for your sister… my friend… She paused and then spoke softly. Sister to Brother, yours in life and death.

"Kori… I…" Carlos shook his head. "It has to be your choice. For you. Not her."

I want to make a difference. Kori said quietly. Now I can. I need to find out what was done to me and I want to help. Will you help me? She begged.

"Of course." Carlos hugged the Kubrow tight. "Sister."