Epilogue

To sail beyond the sunset

It was done. The woman slept and she would not wake until a Healer woke her. The dark form that had procured her from her quarters laid her out straight on the human sized bed and sighed as he looked at her.

In sleep, Kieko's face had lost the fear that had always traced it since her ordeal. Since she had died and been brought back into a body that had been altered by a madman to suit his mad vision of beauty.

"You need to leave!" A voice preceded an insubstantial form into view. The boy who had once braced Liriel in the middle of a now very squashed Sentient enthrallment center was wary. With good reason. Falcon did not want to face the Queen of Cats again.

"I can't." The dark form traced Kieko's cheek with an armored finger. "She knows I am here and she is coming. You better get lost." He warned.

"I-" The boy started and then jerked as lavender energy surrounded him. "Oh no." He looked as if he was about to wet himself! Small wonder after what Liriel had done to him.

"Do! Nothing!" The dark form slowly knelt in the middle of the quarters as four sentinels sped into the room, all humming in readiness and anger. Likely armed with weapons far beyond normal sentinel weapons here in the heart of the Queen of Cat's territory. He spread empty hands. "I come in peace." He said softly.

Really? Liriel's furious voice preceded the armored Queen of Cats into the room. Falcon winced harder. She was not happy. Is that the best you can do, Kronus? Was she mocking him?

"Don't make me do it, Your Majesty." Kronus pleaded but the queen just glared at the frozen energy boy who seriously looked as if he was wetting himself. "You have made your point. You have scared the shit out of everyone. The Corpus will continue to push, but you can and will stop them from hurting your people. Please?" He groaned as the Queen of Cats turned her glare full power on him.

"Ah, Kronus?" Falcon asked slowly as Liriel growled. "What are you talking about?"

His penance for fucking up far more than even one of you can imagine, Zarimon brat. Liriel snapped. Do it. Now.

"Yes, Ma'am." Kronus slowly rose to his feet and Falcon goggled as a microphone on a stand simply appeared in front of him.

In tune. Liriel snarled and Kronus nodded, taking hold of the microphone.

Kronus started to sing and what he was singing…

'Where have all the good ones gone
And where are all the gods?
Where's the streetwise Hecate to fight the rising odds?
Isn't there a white knight upon a fiery steed?
Late at night I toss and I turn
And I dream of what I need

I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the end of the night
She's gotta be strong
And she's gotta be fast
And she's gotta be fresh from the fight
I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the morning light
She's gotta be sure
And it's gotta be soon
And she's gotta be larger than life!
Larger than life!'

Falcon's eyes bulged almost out of his face as Kronus started to dance. The not-a-warframe was moving in ways that were not normal for anything Tenno or human but it worked with the music! Falcon stared from Kronus to the smirking queen and back as Kronus finished the song.

'I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the morning light
She's gotta be sure
And it's gotta be soon
And she's gotta be larger than life
I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the end of the night…'

He stopped singing and stood, shaking his head.

Kronus... The queen shook her head. That wasn't right.

"I sang the lyrics!" Kronus said sharply only to freeze as the queen growled and three sentinels spun to face him.

The right word is 'He'. Not 'She'. Also, 'Hercules', not 'Hecate'. Liriel snarled and Kronus stared at her before slumping. You know what do.

"Aw, no..." Kronus was shaking his head. "Please!" He begged.

Do I need to get Nikis to ask Nyx to stop by? I can. Liriel snapped and Kronus shook his head. Do it. Now.

Again, Kronus started to sing and music joined him and- Oh my god! Falcon was shaking his head in mixed amusement and horror as Kronus sang.

'I love myself, I want you to love me
When I feel down, I want you above me
I search myself, I want you to find me
I forget myself, I want you to remind me

Kronus was dancing again and the way he was arching was just so wrong! And what was his free hand doing? Falcon looked away, face flaming.

I don't want anybody else
When I think about you, I touch myself
Ooh, I don't want anybody else
Oh no, oh no, oh no'

The music ended and Kronus slumped as the microphone vanished from his hand. Was that laughter coming from several of the sentinels?

"Are you happy, Your Majesty?" Kronus asked morosely. "Humiliating me has to get old eventually."

It probably will eventually. Liriel admitted. But not today or anytime soon. Next time you pop in? You do 'Footloose' with 'Walk like an Egyptian' as a forfeit if you mess up. Kronus groaned as he sank back to his knees. Liriel growled dangerously. You know I can always make you do worse. Polka comes to mind. Maybe to some gansta rap?

"You have a very sick mind, Your Majesty." Kronus complained and then forced himself to relax. "It is done. A body that matches Kieko's in every way will be found in her quarters. She will be mourned. Abigail will go on, sad, but aware of her duty. She may or may not choose the Cyberlancer way. That is unclear still."

And none will press her. Liriel said flatly. Especially now that we have shown them what happens when people try to rush things. Isn't that right, Trinity? She snapped and a golden shade appeared nearby, Trinity still wore her surgical gown and the cat collar. Check her!

Trinity nodded and bent over the still form in the bed, hands flying with code and other things.

"What is going on?" Falcon said, not daring to breathe hard as Liriel glared at him. "I um… I apologize. Orina asked my help. I didn't think you were a threat. My mistake." He said weakly.

"That was a hell of a mistake. She could have easily destroyed you no matter your power. She still can." Kronus shook his head. "Your Majesty, we need him."

If he can learn to keep his mouth shut, we could use a murderous lout. Liriel all but bit that out.

"I..." Falcon slowly knelt. "There is more going on than I knew." He said softly. Kronus nodded to him. "I just… Things don't make a lot of sense to me at the moment. I remember two different lives. One as a human. One as Tenno. Both seem real to me and I don't really understand. I apologize. I get frustrated easily."

"He needs to talk to Tanah. Get his head on straight before the real mess hits." Trinity said quietly as she finished her checks. "Kieko is sleeping comfortably, Your Majesty. She is ready for Isis."

Right. Everyone out. Liriel started for the door and everyone followed her. Just outside, Isis waited, the white furred Healer anxious. She is asleep, Isis. I am not going to tell you your job, Healer, but she is suicidal.

"Not for long." Isis promised. "I read Brianna Executor's files. We can help her. We will keep her calm and keep her occupied. Once we deal with the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, we can talk to her. Get her to accept her past and then accept her body. Then we can talk about the future. It will not be quick or easy, but we can do it and the kittens will help. They always do." She said with a smile.

I know, they helped with me. Liriel paused and then nodded to Isis. I didn't say it, Healer. I was so rude to you when I didn't remember what had happened. Who I was. I apologize. Thank you for your care and understanding. Please, be gentle. She is the key to our plan.

"I was rude too. I know it wasn't your choice, but thank you for taking the job of Elder. It sucks. I much prefer just being a Healer." Isis entered the room and the door shut before Liriel could reply.

Yeah, job sucks. Liriel sighed deeply as the sentinels milled about and Falcon stared at Trinity who met his gaze. You say a word about this to anyone, boy and all hell will break loose. She warned. This time, she wasn't being insulting, more wary. Oracle is not happy with you or Kronus and she is one of the few who could kill me, so even I step carefully around her. You better.

"You said that Oracle was afraid she had failed." Falcon said softly. Liriel, Trinity and Kronus all nodded. "But she didn't. Did she?"

Not yet, no. Liriel admitted. You see, all this was horrible, but something was needed. I saw some of what the Oracles see when my son came to me in my dreams. Just before he died, he showed me what he could. The truth of what had happened and what might. Trinity was right in a way. More Cyberlancers will be needed. Soon. Her methods have been flawed to say the least. The glare she turned on the shade was almost as lethal as her claws could be. Her goal however, is a good one. She sighed. I cannot forgive or forget but I do understand her motivations. You were simnply following orders, but again, do not expect trust.

"I don't." Falcon pleaded. "I mean no disrespect, but this makes no sense!"

"It does." Kronus said softly. "If you realize that the Corpus have finished rebuilding the Outer Terminus of the Solar Rail and are working to power it up."

Falcon stared at the dark not-quite-a-Tenno and then he fell to his knees, his face streaming tears.

"No." The energy boy begged. "No. No, no, no! That is… That is insane!" Considering that the Outer Terminus of the Solar Rail was an interstellar gateway led only one place? A place commonly called 'The Dark Sector' or 'The blue star'… The home of the Sentients. "They will start the war again!" Falcon begged and everyone nodded.

Yes, they will. Liriel agreed. And they don't care. They think there is Profit to be found there and that is all that matters to them. The one leading them is a madman named Nef Anyo and he doesn't know or care that he is leading us all toward Armageddon again. Every last one of us, Sentient and organic alike.

"We need to stop him." Falcon rose to his feet and his face became stern. "What can I do?"

Are you sure? Liriel asked, his tone oddly kind. Right now, you haven't seen or done anything that precludes you going back. If you take another step, Tenno, that will change. And understand this: The Lotus who you followed and loved for so long is torn, her people are in danger, but so are the ones she loves. The ones she betrayed Hunhow for. She is conflicted and does not know which way to go. Not even an Oracle can know which way she will go. If the Corpus do this, she may very well wind up an enemy.

"I..." Falcon swallowed hard and shook his head. "We can save her! We have to save her!"

"Falcon." Kronus said softly. "She is a Sentient. If she chooses to fight, she knows your weaknesses, she can destroy you."

"Part of me thinks she is my mother!" Falcon snapped "I have to try."

You cannot save her, boy. Liriel's voice held no condemnation now. The only person you can truly save is yourself. That is what she would want. You killed my kittens. That was hard. I know you had no choice but it still hurts and I am still very angry. I can use you if you so wish.

"I..." Falcon slumped and then nodded, dashing an insubstantial hand across his face. "What can we do? I mean, Tenno will stop him, won't they?"

"Maybe they can." Kronus allowed. "Maybe they can't. They cannot do it alone. Most of them are focusing on the Grineer, because to put it frankly? The Grineer are an immediate threat, not a future one. They may very well wind up being the lesser of two evils, but for now? They need to be stopped or at least curbed." Falcon slowly nodded and then he bowed his head to the Queen of Cats.

"What can we do, Your Majesty?" Falcon asked softly. "And who can we trust?"

We can trust no one with the whole truth. The fact is that that we are not the only ones very worried about this. Liriel replied. Are you sure you wish to learn the truth? If so, you can never speak it to anyone outside our circle.

"I do." Falcon said firmly and Liriel nodded approval.

Okay. Liriel smiled wide as another door opened and a larger silver form hovered out. Falcon bit back a scream on seeing the Sentient, but did not move as all of the sentinels aimed at him. Kronus didn't move either, he nodded approval at Falcon's restraint.

"Hello Falcon." The Sentient said kindly and Falcon's jaw dropped so far it seemed almost ready to fall off. "My name is Kanaah. Welcome to the Resistance."

"Ah… what?" Falcon stammered.

We cannot beat Nef Anyo force to force. Liriel said calmly. We know what he plans is madness, but we may actually be able to use his madness to our advantage. Kanaah? What did she say?

"I am with you, Ma'am." A female human stalked out of the same room. Katherine Keras was clad in a Corpus armored space suit! She wore a wide smile. "And frankly? I like this plan."

"What plan?" Falcon begged, almost punch drunk by all this.

Kanaah's Mother and her followers wished to go home, but it would be a very long trip and if Nef Anyo succeeds in his madness, they may get there to find nothing but scorched rubble. Liriel shook her head. We have to cut him off and what better way that to yank his rail out from underneath him?

"You are going to destroy the rail?" Falcon all but demanded that and then gulped. "Um, I mean..."

No. Liriel was smiling now. All of the others who had faces were smiling and Kanaah radiated amusement. We are going to steal it.

Falcon stared from the cat to the not-quite-a-warframe to the sentient to the human and then back to Liriel. He started to smile.

"Could you use a not quite sane pair of hands?" Falcon asked. Liriel nodded. "Then count me in."

None of us are sane, boy. Liriel replied. But this may very well be our only chance and we will likely need a murderer before it is done.

"Okay. What do we do?" Falcon relaxed for the first time since he had appeared and the energy that had surrounded him this whole time vanished.

Most of us have to keep playing our parts, but the rest of us? It will take some doing and more than a bit of danger, but we can do it.

We can jack the freaking rail right out from under that asshole!

Music – 'Holding out for a Hero' by Bonnie Tyler (slightly modified) and 'I Touch Myself' by Divinyls