Revisions

Ric was whistling as he worked. He wasn't wearing his warframe for this. Vauban warframes were great for some things, but not delicate electronics work. He had no idea why some people didn't like what he whistled. He had liked 'The Liberty Bell March' as soon as he had heard it the first time, even before he had made it his life's work to emulate certain aspects of proper silliness. There was more than enough horror in the universe. He had dedicated himself from a very young age to making people laugh. He didn't remember everything. Indeed, there were gaping holes in his memory. But much of what he did remember was sobering, so he strove to keep a light and cheerful attitude no matter what the universe threw at him.

This did not always endear himself to his teammates, but his current group cut him a lot more slack than any of his previous clans ever had. He rather liked this group of eclectic individuals. Any clan of Tenno was going to be that way, but... This one went a little further than most. Case in point...

"How's that?" He asked as he finished up a connection.

"Um. Still blurry..." Cecelia replied, somewhat worried. "It shouldn't be, should it, Ric?" Her fear was easy to hear, despite her having the form of a MOA. Her long metal legs twitched a bit where she lay on the table, her housing laid bare to his expert ministrations.

"Easy, girl." Ric said with a soothing hand on her housing. The MOA was sensitive to touch and actually had admitted that she appreciated the tactile contact that other more organic sentients took for granted. "Whatever those scum did to you, we will find and fix. Have no fear. If all else fails, I'll say 'Ni' at the problem. That should work."

"Will you demand a shrubbery?" Cecelia asked with a somewhat timid laugh.

"A small one." Ric said with a laugh of his own. He liked this girl. Who cared if she was inside a robot body? She was a girl. "And I won't make you cut down a tree with a fish." He said gently. She laughed, but then gave a gulp.

"I am scared, Ric." Cecelia said with a sigh. "I really, really am. I don't know what those Corpus scum did to me before..." She paused and Ric rubbed her housing again. "Before Mari. And then the tower." She started to cry. MOAs did not secrete tears, but she was shaking and sobbing noises came from her. Small wonder, she had lost the being she considered her mother.

"I know, Cecelia." He said sadly as the choked sobs came from the MOA. "I know." For once his voice held no humor. "It's okay, girl. It's okay..." He soothed the distraught MOA gently.

"It isn't getting any better, Ric." Cecelia said with a sigh after a moment. "I... I thought it would."

"It hasn't been that long." Ric said, still rubbing. "You are grieving for your mother. No one blames you, Cecelia. No one. Not even the Black Knight would dare."

"You are all...so good to me." Cecelia said faintly. "Ric... I..." She made a noise of resignation. "I better get off my butt before Sensei finds out I am moping again and punishes me."

"Smart girl." Ric said with a snort as he stood back. The various openings on the MOA's housing closed on their own and he nodded as she jumped down from the table. She seemed to shake herself and he smiled. "Cecelia?"

"Yes?" The MOA asked.

"Don't ever change, girl." Ric said quietly. "You are braver than Lancelot and tougher than castle walls. We will find out what is messing with your vision."

"I was worried I was transmitting." Cecelia said with a grunt. "I don't want to endanger the clan. I don't want to fight again, Ric."

"You don't have to." Ric said with a snort."That is what we are for. Brave, Brave Sir Robin..." He hummed and Cecelia laughed as he had intended.

"Sir Robin? You are not that lily livered nut of a knight." Cecelia said as she came close. He let her nuzzle him, it was her method of giving reassurance. "More... Galahad." She said with a laugh as he swatted at her.

"Galahad?" Ric demanded. "Get out of here, you silly girl." He scowled dramatically, but Cecelia was laughing as she darted away. Only when she was gone did he frown in thought. "Galahad...?"

Why did that name send a shiver though him? The character in the movie that he loved so much had been...well...a dweeb was the best description. But then again... The whole point of the movie had been silliness. This...didn't feel silly. This...felt...

"Ric?" Karl's voice came from nearby and Ric turned to see Sensei looking at him. Karl wore his warframe and it was battered. Ric's eyes went wide as he saw the Clan Leader was carrying a Prime version of the Orthos he favored. That was new. "Everything okay?"

"Ah, I am okay, Sensei." Ric said , giving himself a shake. "Cecelia is having some trouble. Her ocular sensors are messed up somehow, but I cannot find a cause."

"Is she okay?" Karl asked, worried. Not surprising. Of all the inhabitants of the dojo, Cecelia was probably the most fragile psychologically. Small wonder. Being created by the Corpus to be a monster, being essentially abducted by the Tenno (or rescued depending on your point of view) then being kidnapped by an insane Orokin Tower. Then losing her mother... It had all hurt her.

"I don't know." Ric admitted, humor deserting him for a moment. "She is trying to remain upbeat. But she is scared." He shook himself. "Are you okay? You were gone for a bit. You look like you tried to storm a castle beside Arthur's Knights.." His eyes lingered on the damage the warframe had taken.

"Yeah, I am okay." Karl said with a nod. "The Michael problem is solved." Ric snarled at the name but nodded.

"I hope you made it hurt." Ric's normal good temper deserted him as he recalled finding Cora and Amelia unconscious. Jac and Michelle had been missing and while Jac had come back none the worse for wear, the pregnant Tenno had been very close mouthed about where she had been or where Michelle was. Odd for her.

"Oh, it hurt." Karl said dryly. "And it will hurt him for a long, long time. Crowley is not one to tick off."

Ric shuddered. The Nekros Grand Master had been...courteous, but there always the underlying feeling... The feeling that Life and Death to Nekros were engineering principles as opposed to the solid immutable facts to that they were most. It wasn't rational, that feeling. No, honestly, that fear. Ric knew that. He had... He paused. What?

"Ric?" Sensei asked, concerned.

"Hmmm?" Ric asked. Sensei was looking at him.

"You looked like you were going to say something." Karl said slowly. "Then you just stood there. You sure you are okay?" He asked.

"Tired." Ric said with a sigh. "Lots going on. Oh, the security codes have all been changed. Here is the new list Miguel and I compiled." He held out a datapad to Karl who took it. "I can't be sure about anything that might be hardwired."

"Yeah." Karl said sourly as he took the pad. "I put in a few and I bet Nicholas did too. As for who he shared them with?" Karl shrugged. "One less."

"Sensei..." Ric said slowly. "The Tenno with the Nekros... They were both Primes and they not in any database we have access to." He paused. "Can I ask?"

"There will be a full briefing." Karl said quietly. "In the secure room." Ric's eyes went wide at that. The secure room was at the center of the dojo. It was called secure because it was. No data in or out past the walls, shields, and armor. For Karl to have a meeting there... "We will have two new people coming in as well. I will introduce them there. But no one outside of our group gets any information. Clear?"

"Sensei..." Ric said slowly. "The Lotus..."

"No one." Karl said quietly, but with command. "I bet she knows, but she keeps secrets like nobody's business."

"I..." Ric nodded slowly. "I serve." He said calmly.

"Very well." Karl said with a nod. "Come on. We need to talk."

Ric shut down all of his scanners, then followed Sensei into the corridor. It was no surprise that Sensei led the way towards the center of the dojo. Other Tenno could be seen heading that way as well. Aeron was hovering near Jac who was taking is over protectiveness in stride. For now. They had all just had a massive scare. Two was walking with Amelia, their hands intertwined. Ric didn't really care about personal relationships. He had his tech and that was all that mattered. Will and Alicia were standing near the door that led to the secure room and Ric sighed silently as he saw Alicia touch her lover and Will shy a bit. The poor guy simply couldn't handle it sometimes. Sometimes he was okay with it, others... Ric paused as Karen appeared with both Cora and Miguel. Cecelia appeared from another corridor.

"Who is minding the shop?" Ric asked dubiously.

"We are on lockdown." Karl said quietly. "Until the meeting is done, no one enters or leaves. No coms." Ric's eyes went wide at that, but then he nodded. The dojo was self regulating. It didn't need much oversight except in emergencies. "Our new people are inside." He said as Ric looked around.

"There is more going on here than I know." Ric said slowly as the group passed the first doorway. The secure room was an airlocked environment. Truly secure. "I am not one of the 'disposable' knights, Karl." He complained a bit whimsically. "Don't order me to charge any killer bunnies, please."

"I am not going to throw you at any killer bunnies." Karl said with a sigh as the door ahead of them opened. "Whatever the hell that means." He said sourly.

"His name is not 'Tim', Ric." Cecelia said with a laugh. "And I don't see any long fangs-" Her words trailed off as the door ahead opened and two forms became visible ahead. Primes. A Frost Prime and... Ric went still. Was that a Saryn Prime?

"Tenno Karl." The Frost Prime said calmly.

"Close it." Karl commanded. Ric waited until all of the group were past the door and then hit the control to seal. The seals hissed and clunked, and then there was dead silence on the room. "Ok, everyone... These is Saun and Mori. They will be training and working with us."

"Guardsman Saun." Jac said quietly. "Good to see you again."

"I did not get the chance to beg your forgiveness." Saud said softly. "I offer apology for myself and Commanded Petra."

"Commander?" Jac said with an incredulous look. Aeron looked form his wife to the Frost, then at the Saryn and then back at Jac who flushed. "I..." She shook her head. "You were obeying orders, Guardsman Saun. No one was killed. But for what it is worth, I accept your apology." He bowed his head.

"Where the hell is Michelle?" Amelia snapped. "What the hell happened?"

"Michelle is safer than any of us at the moment, Amelia." Karl said quietly. "This is going to be a shock. It was to me, Two, Will and Alicia. I had a Grand Master with me to share the shock when Jac told us. But... Let me do this formally. "Clan, meet Guardsman Saun and Guardswoman Mori, both of the Orokin Royal Guard." Ric, Cecelia and Aeron all exclaimed. Miguel, Cora, Karen and Amelia just looked blank. "For those who don't know, the Royal Guard were Tenno selected and trained to be bodyguards for the Royal Family."

"But they all died in the Collapse." Aeron said softly. "With the Royal Family." He stiffened. "Royal Guard never left their posts." He said slowly. "And I..." He paused as Jac hit him on the arm. "Ow! Jac?" He exclaimed.

"Aeron." For once, Jac was totally serious. "You need to hear this." Ric stiffened. For Jac to be serious... "Sensei?" Jac asked.

"Go ahead, Jac." Karl said quietly.

"I was with Michelle, forted up in Medical. With Amelia." Jac said softly. "Then I was hit by a trank dart and knocked unconscious. When I woke... I was lying on a bed, unharmed, unrestrained. An older woman was sitting by my bed with breakfast for me. She wore the Crown of Orokin..."

Ric felt his world suddenly start turning in circles as every eye in the room focused to Jac.

"Holy... Fracking... Infested manure..." Miguel's soft words cut through the silence that had ensued when Jac finished speaking like a knife. "Orokin lives." Both Royal Guards nodded to him.

"A small remnant of Orokin." Karl agreed quietly. "And this is why we are in here. And that is why no one is going to talk about this outside of here. At all."

"If the Grineer... Hell, if Corpus get word of this..." Cora said, her face dazed. "Oh my god."

"Exactly." Karl said with a nod. "As far as anyone outside of this group knows, Saun and Mori are newly awoken Tenno we found. We will need to come up with a better cover story."

"Sensei..." Cecelia said slowly. "I don't know if that will work." Everyone looked at her and she seemed to wilt a bit. "I mean..." She stammered a bit. Ric laid his hand on her housing and she leaned into his touch gratefully. "A Frost Prime, we might be able to explain. But a Saryn Prime? Or other Royal Guard Prime warframes with all Prime weaponry? I..." She trailed off. "Sorry." She said , abject.

"Good point, Cecelia." Karl said with a nod. "Mori?" The female guard nodded, but her posture as unhappy.

"I can use another warframe and I have trained with other weapons." Mori said with a scowl that showed even through her closed helmet. "I remember bonding to this one and won't enjoy doing it, but secrecy is more important than comfort."

"Good." Karl said with a nod. "We have a selection of warframes now and can get more if needed. We will get a list for you. We have a selection of weapons, including some Prime designs. But as of right now, you are Saun and Mori, Tenno of my clan. You take my orders. We are less formal than some clans." Aeron coughed and Karl waved at him. "Hush." Karl said sternly, but it was obviously joking. "Give respect and it will be returned. Outside of the clan..." He paused and shook his head. "Some Tenno are honorable, others... not so much. This information stays in here."

"Royal Guard don't talk." Jac said quietly. Saun and Mori nodded. "But we need to watch our tongues. Cecelia?" She asked as the MOA made a sad noise.

"I..." Cecelia made a gulping noise. "Ric... Hit my override."

"Cecelia." Ric protested. That would take all volition from her! "No!"

"I don't trust myself, Ric." Cecelia said in a small voice. "If you hit my override and Karl gives a command, I cannot disobey it."

"No." Karl snapped as Ric turned a helpless look his way. "Cecelia, you are not a slave. You are not a robot!"

"Karl, I am a robot." Cecelia said flatly. "The Corpus put in a bunch of overrides that Ric cannot remove without destroying me." Karl looked at Ric who slumped a bit and nodded. "I... Use the override. Command me to keep the secret and I will. It will hardwire into my systems and I will be unable to spill it."

"No." Karl said quietly as the room stilled. Jac and Amelia both stared a from the MOA to Karl and back. "Cecelia, you are not a slave. I refuse to treat you like one."

"Karl Sensei..." Cecelia begged, not moving as Ric's hand edged towards her shutdown switch. She had insisted that be installed in case she went berserk or something. "Please...?"

"Wait." Mori said quickly as the tension in the room seemed to sky rocket. "Um... If I may? Cecelia, how old are you?" Karl looked at her but did not interrupt.

"My organic parts were cloned almost two and a half years ago, but I...um... woke up less than a year ago." Cecelia said with a gulp. "Why?"

"Princess Michelle told us of you." Mori's voice was soft now. "She worried we might overreact. We have seen reports of the Corpus. But you are not Corpus. You were made by them and then remade by that deranged tower AI."

"I was." Cecelia said sadly. "Now I serve the Tenno." She said with a small motion towards Karl. "I don't want to fight." She pleaded. "And I don't want to be the cause of fighting! I certainly don't want to be the cause of my friends being hurt."

"You won't have to." Mori said quietly. "And now I understand why Michelle was so worried about our reaction to you, young one." Jac stared at the Saryn and then, unaccountably, smiled.

"What?" Cecelia asked, confused.

"You are a child, Cecelia." Mori said gently. "A very smart, very capable, very hurt child." She stepped towards where Cecelia stood frozen. "And I think we can help each other."

"What do you mean?" Cecelia asked, not moving. "I am a MOA."

"No, you are not. My people need resources and training, but mainly we need to do something." Mori said quietly as Saun stepped to her side, nodding. "We have watched and waited for far too long. We have sat and... and done nothing while horrors happened. It chafed upon all of us, Tenno and civilian alike. Now we can do more. Cautiously, carefully, but with all the precision and fury that we can bring to bear." She shook her head. "But... we must balance it as well."

"In all things... balance." Cecelia said slowly.

"You have studied the Code." Mori said with a nod.

"I have." Cecelia said with a gulp. "But... Where do your needs leave me?"

"Somewhere safe where they just might be able to help you." Mori replied quietly. "Where you can learn all you wish. Where you can be who you are."

"But..." Cecelia said softly, relaxing a bit. "I don't know who I am." Ric was suddenly struck by inspiration.

"Oh, Cecelia!" Ric exclaimed. "You have a quest!"

"A quest?" The MOA asked, incredulous.

"A quest to find who you are."