Author's Notes:

So for those of you that have not seen it, I posted some of my forgotten/older/random chapters on my dump story, is what I'm calling it I guess. Some random and funny stuff, an old contest I had started and ultimately dropped. Check it out if you want.
https://www.fimfiction.net/story/366828/warframe-the-planet-equin-incident-mission-failed

So I kind took a break from this and focused a bit in Warframe:Rebirth but finally decided to get this chapter done. Now as far as Covid-19 goes, unlike many other people, I have not brought attention to it because people are making it out for what it is not. I addressed it in Rebirth but I will address it here as well. I am a health 24 year old with no underlying medical conditions. And at this point I am more worried about people that are freaking out doing something drastic. Since I carry a gun on a daily basis, that is really saying something since people are beating the shit out of each other over toilet paper...

I have also been using some of my off time just putting random ideas on paper. But I am unsure if I want to actually publish them. I'd like to keep them short, less than 10 chapters if I did do them. One is a dinosaur idea involving the Indominus Rex from Jurassic Park and the other is a romance/sex fic involving Principal Celestia.

What do you guys think?

Because I am unsure if I want to post more stories than what I have.

Click that like button two while you're at it, we're close to being the top Warframe story!

Twilight P.O.V.

It had been a few days since the events that had transpired down in Ponyville and tensions were still high. The Tenno and the Grineer were still at each other's throats. Only once had violence been threatened and the Royal Guard was forced to curb it. For now, though, the two groups did their best to avoid one another. Next to that, Celestia, Luna, and I had finally gotten word of the current affairs revolving around the rescue operation in Ponyville. We had received word from the mayor of Las Pegasus about the rescue of all the survivors. Currently, the critically injured were under watch by some of Equestria’s finest doctors. Word also came in from Captain Spitfire as she explained her orders to help those that were aboard the train that day and how their actions may have saved several lives as well.

Rumors spread fast though.

Within these last few days rumors still continued to linger, even after the three of us addressed the nation. Unfortunately, the wording was very vague. Celestia didn’t acknowledge who had attacked, just that there was an attack and that Ponyville was currently under full military lockdown. She further stated that the town was currently under investigation with the Draco Drakgoons under joint operation. When I confronted her about why she kept it so vague, her response was that she wanted to wait for the Tenno to respond. When I asked her about that, she finally said that she was going to wait for Excalibur.

She still held out hope for a miracle.

Representative Zondu had continued to pester the three of us for the last few days as well before Celestia finally pressed her snout to his nose and in the darkest tone I have ever heard out of my former mentor, she growled the deadliest threat I had ever heard before she said that she will have a decision by the end of the week. He never said anything after that. Only answering or asking questions when needed. The Tenno that were currently still here had opted to stay rather silent throughout the whole thing. The fate of the world was in our hooves and we still didn’t have a means to process that information. Our decision would affect the lives of millions…

It was halfway into our weeklong decision when Representative Zondu called us for a meeting. He explained that he had a message for us all to see. So, all of us, the Tenno included piled into a spare meeting room as he placed down a projector. He turned it on, and the screen flickered before the image could be seen. I gasped sharply and immediately turned away from the sight. Rarity was quick to embrace me as the rest of my friends and the princesses watched on. There in the center of the screen sat my still battered lover, flanked by several Grineer Lancers and the orange General.

“Speak!” one of the guards on the screen ordered.

Excalibur gave him a sideways glance before he adjusted himself lightly, resting his right arm between his knees. “Celestia… Luna,” he addressed rather weakly as his fingers started to move. “For the sake of your lives I urge you to surrender the rest of the Tenno you are harboring.”

My eyes went wide as my attention snapped towards the screen.

No… he couldn’t be saying that!

He continued, fingers still fidgeting between his legs. “The Grineer are the true masters of the Galaxy. They will protect you for years to come. I urge you, for the sake of your people that you submit to their authority! It is the only way that you will ever survive! I beg of you!” he pleaded as his fidgeting continued to increase in pace. “Do the right thing…”

As soon as he was done, the General stepped forward and into view. “I hope, you decide, quickly!” he spat before the screen went blank. Both Celestia and Luna blinked in awe at the latest declaration, their jaws limp. They stayed like that for a little while longer before Celestia closed her mouth. I could feel her anger rising.

“Get out…”

No pony dared to move, perhaps they were still just as confused as us all. “I said get out!” she spat loudly, finally grabbing everypony's attention. My friends and Spike were quick to scatter along with the Grineer Representative and his guards. I stayed and so did the three other Tenno. “I said-” Celestia started again but was cut off by Ember.

“You saw that right?” the redhead addressed her companions.

“Clear as day,” replied Serenity as Drax nodded his head with her words.

"You get the whole message?"

"Da. He repeated four or five times," Drax said as the three of them grouped up.

The three of us ponies in turn just shared a skeptical and rather confusing glances.

"What are you three talking about?" Celestia questioned with a slight turn of her head and a raised brow. She was also much calmer. "What message?"

All three of their heads turned towards us before they all shared a glance before Ember opened her palm and a smaller screen appeared. It continued to loop as it focused on Excalibur, or more specifically, his right hand. That fidgeting he was doing seemed, what I had initially thought, to be out of pain. But it was now very clear he was doing something intentional.

"What does it mean?" Luna questioned.

"Keep faith. Have plan."

It was a few days later that myself, Celestia, and Luna sat at the vast, empty dining table in the grand hall, silently. There were no words to exchange. We were all lost in our respective thoughts on how best to handle the situation at hoof. We were mere days away from what would be the biggest decision in Equestrian history. But no matter what we would decide, we were doomed beyond recognition. Slavery or death. Which one was lesser of two evils? The only defending force we had were three soldiers against an intergalactic fleet, and they barely were able to survive one ship…

Just then the doors to the dining hall opened as Drax and the Dragon Ambassador Bloodfang entered the room, the latter of the two shaking the table with each heavy step he made. The smaller of the two dragons sat down in a chair, removing his helmet in the process and running a claw through his hair while the larger dragon sat on the floor next to the table, crossing his arms.

"Drax, Ambassador," Celestia kindly -yet tiredly- greeted the pair. Luna inclined her head as her silent greeting while I waved rather pathetically. I was still trying to recover from everything that had happened and had no energy, let alone desire. I wasn't sleeping, barely ate, struggled to even do anything remotely productive and my P.T.S.D had started to flare up again. Celestia was so worried that I had been sleeping with her in her room as comfort.

"The Drakgoons seem to have finally gained control over Ponyville," Ambassador Bloodfang informed us as he adjusted his claws slightly and sighed loudly. "Whatever those creatures are they have not attacked in the last two days. The king has also been workin' hard to try and connect with the rest of the world. This is bigger than you, you know."

"I am fully aware of that," Celestia replied with an underlying tone of disdain.

"Do you not think that this burden is easy to bare?" Luna added. "Up until a few months ago we thought we were alone in the universe!"

"But you are not alone."

All of us eyed Drax as he continued to sit there and stare at his helmet before she shifted his gaze towards us. He glanced at every one of us, even back at Ambassador Bloodfang. "Ve vill fight until our last breath. Ve vill stand beside you. For now, and forever."

"You showed me compassion."

Everypony turned back towards the door as Serenity entered the room with her helmet under her right arm. "Ambassador," she greeted as she passed him, earning a nod from him. Following her fellow human, she too pulled out a chair and sat down, albeit a bit awkwardly compared to her partner. "We didn't have to do what we did. Shit, we didn't even need to stay but we did." She shrugged as she leaned forward and rested her arms on the table. "But… Excalibur is my friend, and I trust him. We just need to have faith." She glanced at Celestia with a bit of a glare. "Even though I don't approve of your latest decision involving Discord, I can't bear the thought of leaving this planet undefended."

"But for now," Bloodfang softly interjected. "We need to be prepared."

"Until then," Serenity said, drawing attention to her yet again. "What's for dinner?"

This was it…

It was day seven, the deadline of which General Ruk of the Grineer Empire wanted his decision. In the several days since Excalibur's decoded message we had waited eagerly for him to return triumphant. But that day had yet to come. The seven of us stood outside in the largest courtyard on the castle grounds as we waited for the drop ships to come and land. Now, to say we were nervous was the understatement of the century. Just in front of the Tenno, Dragon Ambassador, princesses and myself, stood the Grineer Ambassador and his guards. Our fears only began to heighten when three of those bulky metal ships entered the atmosphere.

With a loud boom and a flash of orange and red light the three ships came down towards the designated landing area. Before they fully landed, the two spacecraft circled the spot once before they came to a hover and descended to the ground, kicking up dust and debris before they finally landed with a hiss. As the ramp began to descend, Ambassador Zondu turned back to us with a smug, yet evil smile. "You best decide quickly!"

I swallowed nervously as Celestia and Luna glared at the man as he approached the center most ship. Once he reached the bottom of the ramp, he took a knee and bowed his head towards his commander. "General! Welcome back!"

"Go to hell…"

All of our eyes went wide at that voice as the sound of a whip cracked through the air as a wire tether shop out from the dark confines of the ship, spearing the clone in the abdomen and dragging his screaming form up the ramp and to a very grim fate.

"Get over here!"

Then came the gunfire.

Excalibur P.O.V.

I was home.

Not exactly how I planned to come back though. Especially in these less than ideal conditions. I was currently strapped spread eagle and upright within a full body restraint designed specifically for us, the Tenno. On either side of my coffin-like restrain stood a pair of Elite Lancers. The room was barren otherwise. Nothing but a metal hull haphazardly welded and bolted together. Bare internals were exposed from within the walls, leaving wiring and pipes visible to see. It was a miracle that the cables near me weren't sparking like mad. Other than that, all I could do was stare at the round door opposite of my current location. I groaned in pain yet again for what felt like the millionth time from yet a different part of my body. Though apparently that was enough to finally break the guard to my right.

"Shut up!" he shouted in Grineer as he raised his rifle, threatening to hit me with the butt of his Hind.

I flinched back. "Look I'm sorry," I apologized weakly. "But I'm hurt if you haven't noticed…" I explained in Grineer. "Least you could do is get me some pain meds…"

The soldier slowly lowered his weapon and went back to his position and didn't say anything. All three of us sat there in silence for a few seconds.

"Bring me pain medication in cell 45671," he said into his mic.

I slowly turned my head towards him in confusion as he glanced down at me. "Thanks…" I mumbled as I went back to letting my head hang limp. My guard didn't respond.

"As long as it gets you to shut up," the clone to my left stated.

"Maybe lay off the ass whooping next time…" I replied.

There wasn't much else to do at that point then to sit in agony as I patiently waited for my medication to arrive. I did my best to stay silent and not move to aggravate my wounds. It had been maybe five minutes when the door finally opened.

"Well, well, well, how the mighty have fallen."

I furrowed my brow in confusion at those words. They were said in perfect English and not in Grineer. Most soldiers only spoke broken English and not entire sentences, it was a rare few that were bilingual like that. But she lacked the familiar scratchy voice of a female clone. This was something else. But it wasn't a voice I recognized either. Lifting my head, my blood boiled at the sight before me. A Valkyr class Warframe, in black and red altered armor with Kuva pauldrons and knee guards stood before me. Surrounding her were a few other Tenno of various colors as well. A blue and white Excalibur. A black, red and white Mesa. A Solid black Vauban and a white and black Harrow. Plus a few more in the back I couldn't see.

I ground my teeth together in anger. "Traitors!" I said softly.

"Ah!" the Valkyr gasped as she held a hand to her breast, feigning her pain. "You wound me! Maybe I shouldn't give you this medication that you requested." In her right hand was indeed the vial that had been requested. I continued to glare at her as she turned her attention to my guards. "Leave us."

The two guards nodded before they stepped past the group of traitors and exited the room. The traitors found that moment perfect to wander about the room, finding places to prop themselves up or to sit down. The Valkyr continued to stand before me, however. "You know, it's not every day you get to meet a prime, let alone thee prime. You’re a legend across the system!" I didn't say anything as I continued to glare at her as she ranted. "Oh, come on don’t be like that! Here let me introduce myself. I'm Acrid-" Named after the toxin needle weapon. "-the Mesa you see is Grinlok. The Excalibur is Quartakk. Vauban is Stug and the Harrow is Furax."

"Shit names for from shit weapons."

Acrid's chipper attitude and smile faded as she pulled back and lowered her arms. "Yes… well…" She didn't speak as the Harrow approached me. His long flowing cloak and hood were considered an honor for the Void Priest. But he was a heretic. His war belt had a smaller helmet for a buckle. As he approached me, he waved his lantern around me, lightly covering me in smoke as he spoke his incantation. The test just watched on.

"May the Void bless you and forgive your sins," he said softly.

"Coming from you that's more of a curse than a blessing you heretic," I spat insultingly. "You should be forgiving your sins than my own misdeeds." He didn't say anything more as he finished his prayers and left.

I watched him as he left me before turning back towards the woman in front of me. "What do you want?"

"Can't we just talk?" she said sweetly yet innocently. "Is it really too much for a cute girl to talk to a handsome young man?"

"I don't know if young is the proper term," I replied as I looked to my right and eyed the Mesa propped up against the wall with her arms crossed, watching me intently. "And I can't judge your appearance based off of that ugly helmet."

That was the comment that caused her to lower her head almost immediately. She grasped her helmet and removed it, tossing her head back to control her shoulder length hair. She was younger looking like most of the Tenno, fair skinned, yet kinda dark, so it was a good tan. She had deep blue eyes and beautiful, straight brown hair. She looked really well, clearly indicating that she may not have had a severe reaction to the virus or had been into many battles that caused injury. "Well?" she said expectantly, trying to put on a cute smile.

I glanced around the room before spotting the Excalibur and looking at him. "You seem to be the one who would be fucking her? You want me to answer that? You really want me to answer that?" He didn't respond so I turned my head back to her and raised a brow at her cocked hip and attempted to look sexy as she gave me a lidded faze. "What are you doing? This is technically fraternizing with the enemy."

In response she rolled her eyes and lowered her arm before she leaned forward and cupped my chin with her clawed glove. "Come on big boy. You don't have to play tough. I know what you're thinking. And you like what you see don't you~"

She thought I was imagining her naked.

I wasn't, my ribs hurt too much.

She hummed as she tilted her head a bit as that little smile still graced her lips. "You really do look good." She leaned a little bit farther forward and whispered. "Let's have some fun. Just you and me in my bunk?" She leaned back and looked me directly in my good eye. Then she leaned forward and pecked me on the lips, then again, a little harder, before finally kissing me fully. I could feel her smile as she kissed me harder, moaning passionately into my mouth. Everyone else watched on silently as we passionately swapped spit with one another. I closed my open eye and really got into it…

Or so she thought~

Our passion began to increase in both volume and ferocity. Our lips smacked together loudly as we continued our make-out session. Edging my tongue forward, I gingerly tickled hers, egging her on further. Pulling my tongue back into my mouth, hers was hot on my heels. Our tongues intertwined for just a second.

Before I bit down.

Hard too.

Her eyes shot open as I felt the warm feeling of blood suddenly gush into my mouth, washing out the taste of her saliva with the copper taste of blood. I hung on with all my might as she, try as she might, attempted to pull free. Now if I had done it right, I could have bit right through her tongue, but I wasn't feeling that cruel today, so a warning would suffice. She screamed into my mouth the longer it went on before I decided to finally let go. She pulled back with a yelp, stumbling back and dropping her helmet before she landed square on her ass as her allies went to assist her while I sat there laughing.

“Nice try sweetheart!” I spat as blood dripped down my chin and pooled on the floor as she held both her hands around her mouth to try and control the bleeding. I continued to laugh like a maniac before Grinlok rushed me and punched me right across the jaw. I grunted as my head recoiled slightly, but continued to chuckle through the pain, nonetheless. Acrid pulled her hands back away from her mouth and examined her blood-soaked gloves. I continued to chuckle softly as she stuck her right hand in her mouth to see how bad I had bit her. She examined the inside of her mouth a little bit longer before she growled and rapidly stood up, shoving her friends out of the way.

“You bathtard!” she slurred, spitting blood all over the place.

I spit out another mouthful of blood and saliva onto the floor. “You’re the dumbass who thought I would break that easily!” I laughed. "Gonna take more than a loose pussy to break me!"

She growled a second time and pulled back her right hand in preparation to punch me right across the jaw.

“Don't, you, dare…”

The poor girls’ eyes went wide in horror at the high-ranking commanding officer standing right behind her. I had noticed the door open but opted to not say anything and just let her find out on her own. “S-Sir!” she squeaked as she immediately dropped her arm and spun around while her allies sprang to attention. Now in front of the traitorous Tenno, Ruk glared down at the smaller female while a pair of his guards flanked him.

“I’d like to report sexual harassment,” I said sarcastically. “She groped my mouth without my consent!” One of the grunts next to Ruk snorted out a laugh briefly before a glare and a growl from the general silenced him. “At least someone appreciates my jokes.”

Ruk leaned in closely as Acrid leaned back and closed her eyes, trying to act small, flinching back as if preparing to be struck. They probably had been from time to time. She almost looked like a kid that was preparing for the strike from mom. “Do, not, interact with, the, prisoner!”

“Y-Yes sir!”

He harrumphed one, spared me a glare, and turned around before exiting the room. Defeated, Acrid bent over and grabbed her helmet. I laughed softly at her suffering, causing everyone to turn their heads in my direction. “Never thought I’d see the day where the Kubrowdon would be taking orders from the Kavat!”

“What is that supposed to mean?” Stug questioned as he stepped forward.

“You know what exactly I mean fucker,” I cursed. “You’re just like the Dax, pledging your allegiance to nothing but a bunch of worthless clones.”

“We are nothing like the Dax!” Grinlok spat in defiance as she took a threatening step forward.

She must have thought she had me there. “That little anklet you all have says otherwise.” All of them glanced over their shoulders, rolling either their right or left foot to look at the Ascaris Negator strapped to their ankles. “You and I both know that that thing limits your abilities against Grineer soldiers.” All three of them glared at me as they gave me their full, undivided attention. “Here you are, the pinnacle of Orokin technological advancements! Yet you came crawling to the lowest of the low, wallowing in the mud as you toss everything you once held dear out in the mud for a quick credit. Clan rejects that came crawling to the Grineer. Ha!” I could tell by their demeanor that I was right with everyone I let loose. “You better run and hide little Pobbers, because this Kubrowdon is ready to hunt!”

They all scoffed and huffed, waving their arm in dismissal as they left. Acrid with the only one to lag behind a little bit longer. Just as she turned to leave, I spoke up softly. “Acrid?” She turned around slowly as tears started to run down her face. “Don’t do this kid. This is not the way to go and you know it.”

She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “You’re right though… were nothing but rejects. This was our only option. No clan dared to take any of us...”

“Let me go, let me help you!” I offered with an underlying tone of desperation. I meant it too. It was more than an escape attempt; my heart went out to her. I could get her into a clan. Get them the help they need. “Acrid use your head. Out of everybody in the Galaxy that can set it right it’s me!”

“You weren’t there when I woke up! You weren’t there when I was kicked out of my clan!” she spat angrily at me, spraying blood everywhere, causing me to flinch slightly. “You weren’t there…”

“... I am now.”

She narrowed her eyes at me skeptically as her pain was immediately replaced with hatred and disgust. “You’re too little too late!” Holding up her arm, she held the vial of pain medication over her head before she threw it to the side, letting it smash against the wall to my left. I sighed as I watched the medication ooze down the dirty metal wall and onto the floor. When I turned my head back, she was already gone, the door hissing close behind her.

Hours would pass as I continued to sit there in silence. My only companions were my guards, who refused to talk or even acknowledge my presence. So, I just sat there, in silence, planning my best route of escape. In the almost week I had been here, not one person had let me go except for that one propaganda video. I just hope my sister was there to get the secret message I had snuck in there. For now, I had just accepted my fate until my moment would come. As I sat there, trying to catch up on some rest, there was a strange flicker on the other side of my eyelids. I slowly opened my eyes just when the lights flickered a second time. All three of us watched the lights in confusion as they flickered a third time.

“Well that isn’t good…”

The lights flickered one last time before I heard a series of muffled gunshots from down the hallway, causing both my guards to go stiff and raise their rifles as we all eyed the door wearily. More gunfire permeated through the door, followed by the screams of the dying and the panicked. More gunfire filled the air as reinforcements arrived to deal with the threat. That’s when I heard it.

The familiar *thwack* of a certain bow.

My eyes went wide. “Boys, you have to let me go!” Both of their heads snapped to me in shock. Look, you’re not going to like what is out there. I am the only thing that can deal with him!” There was more gunfire and screams, this time a little bit closer. “You have to let me go!”

“Silence!” the guard to my left ordered.

The guard to my right was the opposite and starting to panic a little. “You have no idea what is coming this way!” I countered. “Between you and me I am the only one out of the three of us that can defeat him! You have to let me go!”

“I said be quiet!” the first guard shouted again.

By now, the sounds of gunfire had faded for a second, letting an eerie silence befall the room. My two guards shared a worrying glance between themselves before the first guard leveled his rifle and slowly approached the door. He quickly took up cover against the wall as the door opened and waited for a brief moment. Quickly, so that he could take the enemy by surprise, he stepped out and aimed to the left before he turned around and headed to the right. He disappeared out of sight for a second before a loud cracking noise filled the air. He appeared back into view as my first guard fell backwards, banging loudly against the metal floor just in front of the door.

A lengthy black shaft and orange fletching sticking out of the front of his helmet.

“Stupid simple-minded clone! You have to let me go now!” I whisper shouted at the second clone. “Let me go and drop your rifle!” He eyed me wearily before the low thumping of boots on metal could be heard through the open door. “Don’t be a dumbass let me go!” The clone turned his head towards me, then the door, then back to me before he spun around on his heels and ran for the nearby console that controlled my bonds. Dropping his Hind rifle on the table portion of the console and started to enter the code. Just as he was about to finish the release code, a man in jet black armor entered the room and raised his bow. A single arrow sailed across the room, the wide broad head of the arrow punching through the back of the clone’s armor. The poor bastard grasped the arrow protruding from his chest in shock before he slowly turned, falling to the floor dead. “Dammit,” I mumbled under my breath in defeat as I eyed the body.

"How the mighty have fallen."

"Stalker you son of a bitch!" I greeted the man in a pleasant and cheerful tone. "What the hell are you doing here…" I finished, letting my hateful tone drip with venom and hatred.

Also, deja vu.

"Am I not allowed to come and visit an old friend?" he hissed out.

"Last time we even remotely talked you put an arrow in my chest," I reminded him.

He didn't take that one well as he invaded my personal space, nearly pressing his helmet against my nose and prodding my chest with a finger. "And you put a bullet in my throat!"

"In response to the arrow to the chest," I countered. "You bastard!" We continued to glare at one another before Stalker stepped back and lowered his arm. "What are you doing here Umbra?"

"Don't call me that!" he spat as he thrust his head forward yet again in an attempt to be intimidating.

I narrowed my eyes at him. "I'll call you whatever I damn well please." I didn't say more as he slowly pulled back yet again, glaring at me the entire time before he walked around my restraint. "What did you actually come here for Umbra? Finally try to strike me down when I can't move?"

"I have more honor than that," he said from somewhere behind me. "I will kill you when I please."

"You couldn't beat me with both arms tied. I'd still kick your ass." I glanced back to see if I could try and look at him, but he was behind the giant body restraint. "I beat you then and I can beat you now. Nothing's changed."

There was a *tink* of metal cutting a cable before the orange energy gauntlets holding my arms, legs, and torso into the restraint flickered briefly before fading entirely. I stumbled out for a few steps before I caught myself. "Oh… uhhh…" I glanced back in surprise and confusion at Stalker as he rounded the restraint with his scythe in his right hand. "Thanks… I guess…" Lifting both arms, I rubbed my wrists as I looked around the room.

"A life for a life," he stated as he slapped something against my chest. It wasn't enough to hurt but enough to grab my attention. Reflexively looking down, I grabbed the helmet as Stalker released it. The four chains strapped to the back of the bland helmet jingled as I turned it around and looked at the dragon like head. It was a Pendragon Helmet. It was a helmet based off a dragon’s head like I had mentioned. It was another helmet variation that was available later on for Tenno to use. This one didn't have any additional functions other than the aesthetic appeal. Spinning it back around, I slipped it over my head. The helmet was quick to connect to the rest of my systems. Lastly, as it finished its connection, the external armor adapted my suits color scheme, turning from light blue to black, red, and violet.

As I scanned my systems and did my best to ignore the incessant beeping of my health, I caught Stalker as he was just leaving the room. "Umbra wait!" The fallen Tenno stopped before he turned to face me. "Thanks. And I mean it." He didn't move initially as he contemplated on how to respond. Eventually, he just nodded before turning to leave. "Hey Umbra?" He turned a second time, probably getting very annoyed at this point. "How about one last op? You and me?"

He continued to stare at me in thought for a few seconds. "Okay."

"Alright," I nodded. "First we head for the armory. Then I intend to take the helm," I informed him as he nodded, drawing his bow from his back and an arrow from his quiver. Until we reached the armory, he would be my escort. Exiting the holding cell, we stepped around the several bodies that littered the hallway before making a run towards the armory. It wasn't that hard though, we only ran into light infantry and kept them from alerting the rest of the ship. Once we were at the armory, we each slipped inside.

Wall to wall was a plethora of weapons that lined the walls from floor to ceiling along with a few laid out on the few tables in the center of the room. Everything was there. Assault rifles, submachine guns, heavy machine guns, explosive launchers, racks of pistols, and stacks of blades and gauntlets. I headed towards the AR's first and grabbed a Karak with ammo before going through the rack of pistols. Originally, I grabbed a Kraken and gave it a glance before haphazardly tossing it back on the shelf and grabbing a Brakk hand cannon. The shotgun pistol would have the punch I need. Lastly, I headed for the melee weapons. I just grabbed a Machete and attached it to my left hip. Now set, I headed for the door. As I passed one of the tables, I gave it a glance.

Then did a double take.

"Woah…"

Approaching the table, there were three objects on there that I hadn't seen before. One of them though, I hadn't seen in a long time. I grabbed the smaller dagger like object and held it up. Behind me, Stalker approached as he glanced over my shoulder at it.

"A Parazon?"

"Been a long time since I've used one," I admitted as I rotated my right arm, palm up.

"What happened to yours?"

"Lost it a long time ago," I answered as I attached the Orokin multitool to my wrist. It clicked into place before retracting into its sheath and lay flush with my armor. Pulling my hand back, the tool activated. "Mine's floating out in space somewhere," I further explained as I extended the tether of the tool, flicking my arm and snapping it like a whip. This thing will be very useful. Next I moved toward the battle hammer. The weapon was long, almost as tall as I am. The handle was skinny and topped with a gargantuan head. The front was round and thick and tapered back into a point. Under that point was a small jet. It was like a refined Jat Kittag. It was painted a dark orange as well. So, it looked natural in this setting.

I knew I had seen the weapon somewhere.

Whatever.

Opting to take it instead, I tossed the Machete on the table and put the hammer on my back. Lastly, I grabbed the heavy launcher. The back of the weapon was bulky with a pair of handles protruding from the front and the back of the receiver. Lastly, the lone barrel stuck out the bottom and was finished off with a big muzzle break. It was also painted black and red as well. Pulling back on the forward handle, the action pulled the barrel back into the receiver and charged the weapon. Well alright then.

Turning towards Stalker, I gave him a nod of confirmation. Screw subtly, I'm going to tear this ship apart!

Just as we were about to leave, the door to the armory opened and a caught off guard clone shouted at us. I turned and fired one round from the launcher, sending a giant orb in his direction, which exploded on impact and sent the poor bastard sailing. Now that probably just alerted everyone on this half of the ship. Because explosions on a sealed space craft aren't a very good sign of anything.

We were fast to make ourselves scarce of the area, pushing towards the ship's bridge. I threw caution to the wind as I charged through the many hallways and rooms of the vast ship as we pushed towards the bridge. Ignoring many of the larger rooms, like storage areas or the gun rooms, we went straight for the head. But my lack of attention to some troops had alerted the entire ship to my escape. Ruk didn't hesitate and immediately ordered the ship under lockdown just before we entered the door leading to the bridge.

"Dammit," I cursed as I came to a sliding halt just before the door and slapping its locked surface in frustration. Turning around, I quickly spotted the access console not too far away. It was these consoles that were some of the Grineers’, and even the Corpus’, greatest strengths, but it was also their downfall. Grineer protocol states that in case of boarding, the lockdown will lock anyone or anything within the vast chambers of the ship. It will also seal off any breaches to the hull to prevent decompression. But to anyone, like me for example, that knows how to hack these consoles, I can not only open doors, but I can even cancel the alarm. Holding up my right hand, I pulled it back and deployed the Parazon and jammed it into the small port below the screen.

I was quick to solve the rather simple puzzle that both unlocked the door and cancelled the alarms. Pulling back, I grasp the arch-gun and dove with a roll towards the door, taking up cover next to the wall. Glancing at my radar, every little red dot was hidden behind cover and aiming right at the door.

It was a bottleneck. Most of the hallways and rooms within the ship all have multiple access points, but the helm seems to be the only room in the entire ship that has one access point. Another curse as it is a blessing. The bridge crew only have one spot to focus their fire. But once we’re in, they have nowhere to go. I glanced at Stalker as he watched the door before, he turned his head towards me. I gave him a nod before he returned it himself. I knew where I was going to go. Now, the bridge of every Grineer Galleon is the same. Usually circular or oval in shape with a large pit in the center. That is the projector for the entire solar system and the ensuing fleet. Around the edge of the room were several arrays of consoles that managed everything from the engines to the main cannons. Between the map and the outer wall were several consoles as well that the combat crew would monitor the ships diagnostics while in a galactic battle. Right now, it was safe to say the entire crew was currently away from their stations and either behind the consoles or using deployable cover.

I intended to go behind one of the closer consoles and I don’t know what Stalker was planning, so he was on his own. Alright, time to do some damage. The three parts of the door opened with a loud hiss as the two of us dove right into the room. The entire bridge crew opened fire on the two of us, sending a stream of bullets sailing over our heads and down the hallway while others *tinked* and ricocheted off the armored walls and consoles, several of which sparked violently as they were shot out. Grakatas and Hinds continued to fire on my position, sending electrical sparks and parts of the console in all directions. I stood up and slammed the bottom of the launcher in the top of the console and opened fire. Everyone within the room flinched back and went back behind cover. Bits of metal and electrical components went flying all over the place as several Lancers were sent flying across the room. I turned towards the left and began providing covering fire for Stalker as he fired several arrows from his bow. The thick broadhead was so powerful that one poor bastard had just enough time to stand up before his head was completely severed from the rest of his body. I continued to fire several short bursts from the launcher before the reciprocating barrel locked back into the gun and started to make a strange clicking noise as it tried to reset.

“Piece of Grineer shit!” I cursed as I glared down at the now broken weapon. Turning to the right, I heaved the weapon at a pair or Lancers trying to flank me. The pair flew back into the recess of in front of the exterior consoles and out of sight. I vaulted over my cover, drawing my Karak in the process before I rolled towards the next line of consoles. As I hid behind it, I glanced over my shoulder, then did a double take. A confused Lancer and myself awkwardly stared at one another in confusion for a few seconds.

“Sup,” I greeted before I leveled my rifle. He barely had time to raise his arms in surrender before I fired off a three-shot burst straight to the head.

Just as I was about to stand up, Stalker shouted out a warning to me. “Grenade!” I paused for a second as those words registered in my mind before the words registered in my head. Quick as a whip, I stood up and flipped my rifle, catching it by the barrel and taking my stance. I cracked that thing like a baseball, sending it straight back towards the clone that threw it from the front of the bridge. The explosive clicked off the glass of the front window before exploding loudly in a ball of flames and shrapnel.

Then came the loud crack.

“Oh... shit…”

I slowly lowered my arms as all of us stood up and turned towards the front windshield. Right in the center of the glass was a hairline crack. Then it fractured further. And further. The horrifying sounds of glass cracking filled the air as the window began to spiderweb out across the entirety of its clear surface. With bated breath, all of us silently prayed that the window would hold.

Then there was that one deafening crack that resonated throughout the entire room, causing most, if not all of us to flinch back. That was the one that was going to be the end and I knew it. Our skirmish had come to a very abrupt end as we forgot one another and just watched with bated breath. That's when the window finally shattered, and the vacuum began to suck us out of the ship!

With one hand I grasped onto the console as I was violently torn off my feet as all the air in the bridge was sucked out into the vacuum of space. The remaining clones in the room screamed out in horror as they were pulled out their feet and sucked out the front of the ship. They banged off multiple surfaces or each other as they headed towards their inevitable demise. I held on for dear life, but I could feel my fingers slipping. I clenched my jaw as I tried to hold on as best as I could, but it was all in vain!

“FUCK!” I cursed when my hand came free, sending me tumbling towards the window and out into space. But just as I was about to be sucked out into the dark oblivion, an armored glove grabbed me around my wrist. The jerk sent a painful shock through my system as my savior continued to pull me away from the window. He continued to pull at my arm before I was far enough up to grasp the blade of the hooked weapon that was buried deep into the steel floor of the ship.

Stalker had saved my life a second time.

But I couldn’t dwell on it as the vacuum continued to tug at our forms. “THE SHUTTERS SHOULD CLOSE HERE SHORTLY!” I screamed over the roaring winds. Which they did. The sounds of the vacuum and the force as well began to fade as the metal shutter also began to close before it finally sealed the room with a hiss. Both Stalker and I, no longer being suspended in the air by the decompression, fell flat on our chests against the floor. Both of us panted loudly, not daring to move as we took this moment of reprieve. “I think I’m going to hang here for a second…”

"Do you… have… anything else that intends to get me killed!" Stalker angrily cursed at me.

I glanced over at him as I thought about my response. "We can call it here if you'd like…"

"I think I'll do just that…"

Slowly, the two of us stood up and dusted ourselves off before grabbing our gear and heading for the door. Just before we left though, I used my Parazon one last time to hack into the ships controls and lock down the back half of the ship. From there, I cut off life support, the only major system that is monitored by the bridge. Lastly, I changed the code to the door to one only I could access. From there, we left, heading off towards where Stalker said his ship was waiting.

There was minimal fighting along the way as we exited a door near the second hanger. That wasn't where we were headed though. I wish I could say that we were bullshitting, sharing jokes and catching up, but it was mostly me talking. With a hiss the door opened as the two of us entered the hall.

“And just like that Rhino was gone!” I laughed as I slapped my hands together and pointed my right arm forward in recreation of how fast my larger friend had run. “And here came that little Pobber hobbling behind him!” I continued to chuckle in remembrance at the silly event. “That was… that was one of the last times we were all together…. Even you…” Just as the mood started to turn towards the more depressing side, the door that led to the hangar opened.

“You!”

Surprised, both Stalker and I turned our attention towards the gathered group of Graxx Tenno stared us down. The several pissed off Warframe's drew their weapons. “The bastards mine!” The Graxx Excalibur reached back and drew a Machete from his back.

Stalker was quick to draw his bow and line up a shot, but I held up my arm, stopping him. "No," I said as he looked at me. "Son-of-a-bitch is mine." As Stalker lowered his weapon I stepped forward and cracked my neck. As if trying to act intimidating himself, the Excalibur cracked his neck loudly himself and spun his weapon in his hand as he did a little hop forward before, he started running. With a heavy swing, the weapon caught nothing but air as I ducked and stepped back, raising my arms in a defense stance. I leaned back as he swung wildly a second time and sidestepped the third downward swing.

I continued to retreat as he pressed his advance, swinging wildly and mostly coordinated. It was clear he lacked the more refined practices of our people, probably due to the lack of a proper teacher and sparring partner. His moves were more deliberate of that of the Grineer, kind of a given really. But I needed to end this. I ducked low under another horizontal swing and opened my Parazon. Quick as a whip, I shot forward and thrust the weapon forward, punching through both his shields and armor, piercing his heart. His breathing hitched as he gasped weakly for air and going limp in my grasp as I held him close. "Be at peace," I whispered. "Your suffering has come to an end."

He continued to gasp and shiver in my grasp as he slowly released his weapon. As it clattered against the metal floor, he started to go very limp. "Thank… you…" With that, he breathed his last breath, fulling going limp in my arms. I eased him onto the floor and to rest.

"YOU KILLED HIM!" Glancing down the hall, Acrid was shaking in fury before it finally boiled over. She wailed in viscous anger before she charged me, recklessly. I stood up and took my defensive stance. Just like her companion before her, she threw up an arm and recklessly threw a punch. I side stepped the attack, grasping her arm in the process. Locking her arm with my own, I hit her with a rapid series of punches and slaps across the face and chest before I turned, spinning underneath her and pulling her over my back and shoulder. She landed hard, face first with a loud clang against the floor as I landed on top of her, pinning her with a knee.

"You should have taken my offer little Pobber," I threatened as I grasped the back of her helmet and pinned her head., against the floor as well. "I am, and always will be, better than you!" With my right hand, I reached across her body and tore her left pauldron, which had a Kuva braid on it, from her shoulder. "I'm keeping this!" With that, I slipped it onto my shoulder, a trophy of today's achievements. "Run little Pobber," I finished as I stood up off her, kicking her in the side softly to accentuate my order. And she listened. Acrid scrambled to her feet, grabbing her passed away comrade in the process and dragging him towards the hanger door, where upon they all disappeared into before the door closed.

I approached the door to make sure that they would leave before an alarm rang out and the green lights on the door suddenly turned orange. Approaching the console next to it, I watched the screen. "Better luck, next, time, Tenno," Ruk's ugly face stated as he taunted me.

"You think a door is going to stop me you bastard?" I questioned as I raised an eyebrow. "I'll have this open in a heartbeat." I inserted my Parazon into the console and started to hack it before I noticed something rather interesting. They had special cargo in there under the mark of 'Biohazard. Extremely Dangerous.' And their cages were linked to the rest of the ship. It was then that an all too familiar, guttural screeching filled the air. My smile could not be more evil. "Ohhhh Ruk~" I sang teasingly. "Here comes the Juggernaut-" I hacked into every infested cage resting within the hanger, releasing the screeching infected monsters into the locked room. "Bitch!"

His victorious smile slowly faded as the sounds of Infested screeching and gagging filled the air as Ruk spun on his heels. I could hear screams of the dead and dying in the background along with gunfire and orders being shouted. Ruk ignited his arm cannon, torching anything that came to close before that wretched screech filled the air yet again. That's when the screen was flooded with the orange of Ruk's armor and both the wall and the console facing me buckled towards me from the strike. I reflexively stepped back and pulled my tool free in the process in surprise as the thick hull bowed inwards. I could still hear the remnants of the fight going on through the now comprised door.

But Ruk had something I wanted.

With the console still flickering, indicating that it still seemed to work, so I hacked into the hanger doors and opened them. The smaller openings due to the compromises in the door next to me hissed loudly as the hanger was cleansed of the Infested and the surviving Grineer as they were violently sucked out in the vacuum of space. But I didn't need to test the structural integrity of the door three feet from me any longer as I closed the hangers electrical shields and activated the shields just in case, I also unlocked the door next to me, which moaned, sparked, and creaked loudly as it tried to tear itself open from the exfiltration of air though it's busted seams. Pulling myself from the console yet again, I approached the door and grabbed the opening where it had separated. I nodded Stalker over to help me and together, we pried at the wounded door, opening it just enough for me to enter. I climbed through just in time to watch as a drop ship turned towards the starboard side of the ship and shoot off into open space. Ignoring the rest of the demolished hanger, my attention went to the battered commander welded to the nearby indented wall.

There, the once might general laid, broken and battered, just as I had been.

Ruk's armor was caved in, easily crushing his internal organs and bones within. Blood dripped from his mouth as his head sat limp against his armored collar. Ironic, really.

"How the mighty have fallen."

Ruk used quite a bit of strength to lift his head to look at me squatting before him. "Now you can suffer as I have suffered. And how you have made others suffer." From there, I didn't let him reply as I stood up and grasped his helmet, digging my fingers underneath its surface and between his skin. I then placed my foot against his shoulder and with a single jerk, the helmet came free. Wires snapped and sparked from his implants as I tore the helmet free, me stumbling slightly. I held it for a moment before I attached it to.my hip, staring down at the metal and mutilated head of the blind general. Wires sparked from around his metal skeleton. It was vile. Without any warning, I stepped forward and kicked Ruk across the jaw and walked away. "Come on," I said to a waiting Stalker. "I'll walk you to your ship."

We hadn't spoken as we traversed the rest ship. I was too aggravated to even want to talk. So, we just stayed silent. So, we were probably halfway to the waypoint when an evil, high pitched, maniacal laugh filled the air, causing both of us to draw our weapons to attention. There was a loud puff and a puff of jet-black smoke as one of the worst clones ever created landed before me. His blood red eyes bore into me as the white masks upon his hunched back only added to this nightmare.

"Manics!" I shouted as I raised my rifle and fired but caught nothing but the opposing wall as the Manic disappeared in a puff of smoke. I turned to my left as a second Manic appeared and disappeared just as fast. But that distracted me long enough for a third one to tackle me to the ground, knocking my gun from my grip. I reflexively threw up my arms to protect my head, cursing and grunting as the clone violently slapped at my head with his claws. He laughed at my suffering with each strike before a jet-black boot kicked the clone in the side, knocking him off me. The Manic frantically clawed away as Stalker drew his bow and put an arrow in the clone's gut before it disappeared in a puff of smoke.

I was quick to grab my rifle as I stood up and pointed it in all directions. "Back to back!" I shouted. That's what we did. Stalker and I pressed our backs to one another and just waited. There was a puff of smoke here and blur there as they circled us like Lanx to a kill. Both of us were on edge. That's when they attacked. Stalker was the first to fire, missing his shot but allowed me to fire on the clone as he appeared in front of me. The insane clone just laughed at the pain as if it tickled before he vanished in another puff of smoke. I fired at a second one, strike hit a few times before he too, vanished from my sight.

Then silence.

They were testing us, probing for weaknesses, and trying to find an opening. Maybe even trying to bleed our ammo or make us paranoid so that we would slip up. Both of us were resolute in our actions, neither moving nor firing hastily. The Manics were quick to realize this and went straight for the kill instead. Stalker and I fired like mad, only shooting when we knew we would hit. The Manic I shot several times disappeared in a puff of smoke and was immediately replaced by one with an arrow in his shoulder. He slapped my gun, striking and cutting me several times before disappearing. Stalker fared no better as he was battered by a pair as well. It was very obvious that we desperately needed to change up our tactic. We needed to be as unpredictable as they were!

"Swap!"

Just like we once had done many, many years ago, we were a flawless team. I tossed the Karak into the air and rolled over the top of his back, drawing several daggers from the pouches on his hips. I threw them rapid fire, their razor-sharp edges slicing through flesh like a hot knife through butter, but even still, those creatures came at us. I held onto one of them, spinning it in my palm and holding it reverse style. With a single backwards stab, I finally caught one of these bastards in the throat. Stalker caught the gun in both hands, mag-dumping another Manic.

"It's like Budapest all over again."

I blinked, pausing while simultaneously glancing over my shoulder, giving Stalker a confusing look. "You and I remember that very differently."

I still kept my gun level, waiting patiently for more of them to attack, but when it never happened, I slowly lowered my arms. Turning back towards one another and took my rifle back, reloading it as we turned back towards our destination. I shook my head as we left the room. “That’s not how Budapest went at all.”

Stalker huffed indignantly.

The rest of our walk was uneventful with the rest of the ship still on lockdown. After a few minutes' walk, we reached the spot where his ship was docked. As Stalker approached his ship, he paused, glancing over his shoulder at me. I could tell he wanted to say something, but he never did.

I did, however.

“Hey Stalker.” He paused as he turned around to look at me over his shoulder a second time. I approached him slowly as I ascended the last few steps towards my fallen friend. Once I was in reach, I patted him on the shoulder. “Thanks…” Slowly, my hand drifted lower…

I wrapped my hand around the shaft of his scythe, tearing it from his back. Before he could turn and strike back, I kicked him square in the back, sending the fallen man stumbling forward, whereupon he locked into place on his ship, the hatch closing automatically while the ship disconnected from the galleon with a hiss and shot off into space. I gave it one last glance before turning around and heading back to the helm.

My body was really starting to hurt, and a very distinct limp was forming in my right leg while I found that I was taking more breaks and groaning more than usual. I had been ignoring my health sensor and its pleas the entirety of my time on the ship. I just needed to get back to the helm and get moving. I had passed through yet another door before I came face to face with someone that I knew I was not going to beat a second time.

The only surviving Grustrag brother…

I could only glare him down while Leekter palmed his mace with both hands, rolling them along the surface of his weapons shaft in preparation for a fight. I cursed under my breath as I straightened my back and pulled the hammer I had been carrying from my back. Just as I was about to get ready for a fight…

A loud, animalistic howl echoed through the halls of the ship.

I paused, glancing around the long hallway to see what monstrosity was coming our way. We were quick to find where the thing was coming from when metal buckled behind Leekter as the door was almost smashed inward towards us. The door buckled a second time as something definitely punched through the seam. Both pieces of metal moaned and screamed as the creature on the other side pried the doors open with shear strength alone. The clone was a monster, towering over the Grustrag clone.

Now I remember where I had seen this hammer…

But Leekter had more fight than I did.

Idiot.

Not that I mind.

The Grustrag raised his hammer, swinging the weapon like mad towards the taller clone, but it was all in vain. Because with one single, armored glove, the larger clone palmed the head of the mace, jerking it from Leekter’s grasp and with a single swing from his other hand, backhanded the last surviving brother with such force that it smashed him into the adjacent wall with enough force that it cratered the wall, killing the brother instantly.

“Okay then…”

Saves me the hassle, I guess.

Low growl immediately drew my attention towards the impending clone. I could barely see him in the darkly lit part of the hallway, but I could see the breathing tubes that connected to both his helmet and torso armor. I laughed nervously, “Remember, Wolf, I’m not the one who put you in that place.” He growled a second time, holding up his free right hand, waving it in a demanding gesture. I glanced down at the Sledge in my grasp. It was one hell of a weapon, but I was not going to make that dumb decision on keeping the hammer or not.

Tossing it to him, he caught the weapon in his open palm.

He thanked me with a growl, turning around to finally leave me to my devices. “Hey Wolf?” I called out to him, making the towering clone pause and turn towards me slightly. “I owe you one.”

He didn’t say anything, and I couldn’t see his face, but when he held up his weapon, I knew that he was silently telling me, ‘We’re even.’ With that he left, two of his prison mates that I had not seen earlier, following his lead.

Well…

It was either that and I blacked out and defeated Leekter on my own.

Regardless, Leekter was welded to that wall and nothing short of the tug from a frigate was going to get him out of there. At least the pain was temporarily quelled thanks to that adrenaline rush. I had been cycling through the ship's information consoles that stored all the ship's data. I was quick to find the coordinates to Planet Equin as I have dubbed it for now. I put those under immediate lockdown, safeguarding them in my own database in my suit. Thankfully it would appear that Ruk was yet to share that information with the rest of the Saturn fleet. As I shuffled through a lot of useless data, I saved the useful stuff but found something very interesting. I did an immediate about-face and headed towards the ship's prison.

I was quiet when dispatching the wardens and quick to unlock the blast door that led to the final room. Thick heavy doors lined each of the three walls, every one of the probably one hundred plus doors held a prisoner. This was probably the largest in-ship prison I had ever seen. But the Tethys was a flying fortress. She was Class 5 and built to face even the harshest of firepower. It was no surprise that it was filled to the brim with prisoners. But there was one cell in particular I was after. I counted down the doors as I went before finding the one, I was after. Jabbing my Parazon into the console, I hacked into the doors lock, unlocking the door.

Just as it hissed open and just as I stepped in front of the door, a greenish-blue blur tackled me to the ground. The desperate clone grabbed me by the collar raising a fist high over his head and ready to strike. But he hesitated as I had some very nice, calm, and collective words to share with my friend.

"Clem you son-of-a-bitch get off of me!"

Like I said, nice kind words.

"Clem!"

Very kind, yes.

I glared at the cockeyed helmeted clone as he lowered his fist before grabbing me by the shoulders and shaking me excitedly. "Clem…" I said calmly.

"Clem?"

"Get off of me…"

The friendly clone was quick to get the point and stand up, offering me a friendly hand and pulling me to my feet. I thanked the shorter clone, patting him on the arm once before glancing around the prison yet again.

"Grakata?"

I glanced back at the shorter clone briefly. "Uhhh… they're probably in the armory."

Clem was never going to shut up if we never got him his favorite Grakatas. But they would have to wait for now. I hacked into another console and opened the door. Clem was right behind me as I entered the room.

"N-No! No hurt!"

I hesitated, giving Clem a worried look from over my shoulder, he locked eyes with me briefly before leaning to look around me to try and see into the cell as well. I took a few more tentative steps into the dark room and towards the shaking, balled up form in the corner. I made sure to not scare the poor bastard further. He held up his arms in a pleading gesture and to protect his head while trying to act small and innocent and not a threat at all. He wore a light grey bodysuit that probably didn't help any in the freezing cold room. Reaching out I grabbed the clone by the arm.

"N-NO! Not hurt!" he pleaded.

"Relax," I said calmly as I forced the grey clone to his feet. He continued to plead and scream as I led him out of the room. "Hey… hey… hey…" my soft tone was quickly becoming frustrated. "I said relax!" I shouted more aggressively, grabbing the prisoner by both shoulders and shaking him lightly.

The clone went stiff, shutting his eyes tightly, trembling terribly in my grasp as he was preparing to be struck. I took a deep breath to calm my own nerves. "What is your I.D. Number, clone?"

The grineer clone opened his mouth but hesitated momentarily. "...CT-7567."

"Why are you in here CT?"

"We… are… defectors. We, are… Kavor!"

"Kavor," I repeated. "Then you're after Cressa Tal?"

Cressa is the leader of the Steele Meridian. A former Grineer Commander turned defector, she has made it her job to protect those that cannot protect themselves. She has fought hard to shelter defectors such as the clone before me. Cressa has done so much for the solar system, I owe her more than she knows. I had to help these clones. They were likely ones that were left behind and were unable to get to extraction in time to be saved. So, they were left for dead and were ultimately captured by Ruk and his goons.

I sighed.

"CT," I said calmly. The clones shaking began to subside, but he still refused to open his eyes. "CT, let me assure you by saying that I have taken the ship."

"Clem!?"

I ignored my friend' shocked tone and continued speaking. "Ruk's not going to harm you. Let me help you and I can promise you the freedom you desire."

Slowly, CT opened his eye and slowly stared up at me, locking his gaze with my own. "But, we're, Grineer?"

I smiled softly, even though he couldn't see my face. "And you made your choice. And I will honor that," I promised. "But I need your help." I released the clone and stepped to the side, eyeing the seemingly endless line of prison cells. "Do you have anyone here that can pilot this ship? I need to get somewhere right now!"

He glanced to the side briefly before giving my one, tiny nod. I smiled. This was perfect!

"Come on! Let's get your friends free!"

Cell after cell. Room after room. Clem and I, along with the rest of the Kavor released each and every one of them before I led the male and female clones to the bridge. As we entered the room, those that were trained to run these ships headed towards the surviving consoles while the rest waited patiently.

“CT,” I said to who I have basically deemed the leader of this group. The clone perked up, stepping forward. “Have your crew hold up for a second, I need to make a call.” The smaller clone nodded before he addressed his crew in Grineer while I hacked into a video console and entered in the proper code. The holographic screen before me flickered once before I saw the familiar wall of my Dojo.

“Ruk…” I heard a familiar, guttural growl as a heavily built Warframe entered the view. “You have a lot of nerve calling us. He was lacking his helmet, glaring down at the screen before his eyes went wide as he leaned closer to the screen as I crossed my arms, smirking under my helmet. “Excalibur!?”

“How you doing, Rhino?”

He immediately turned around and started screaming throughout the room. “Where are you? Why are you on a Grineer channel!?” he demanded. “Where’s Ember? We haven’t seen her in weeks!” Several more familiar faces entered into view. All of them lacked their helmets and they were smiling in various cases, a few of my female friends openly crying.

“Ember’s with me and I’m aboard the Tethys.”

“YOU'RE ABOARD THE TETHYS!?” they all shouted in shock and awe.

I reached back, slamming the wretched helmet of a war trophy on the console before me. “Ruk’s dead…” Their gazes slowly drifted between the helmet and myself, but I continued to talk, inserting my Parazon into the console. “Rhino, I’m sending you some very important coordinates. I need you to safeguard them for the time being and contact the Lotus, I need to have a word with her.”

His eyes quickly glanced at the coordinates he was currently receiving before his attention went back to me. “Excalibur wait! Let us help you!” Rhino pleaded, leaning closer to the screen.

“We’re your friends!” Nyx shouted as she shoved her way into view.

“Please Cali! We’re worried about you!” Ivara was next.

Titania in her tiny pixie form fluttered into view. "We love you and we miss you!" she squeaked.

One by one, they pleaded and begged for me to stay, to come and see them and to let them help. I waited patiently for all of my friends, my family, to get in their respective words. All the while, the Kavor surrounding me waited patiently, having already run their diagnostics and ready to go. When my final sister, Nova, had said her plea, I held up my hands, silencing them.

“Don’t you trust us?” Nova finally said.

“Ouch… and I really mean that,” I replied, wounded. Nova grimaced as I lowered my arms. “Look, guys… I know that you’re worried about me but trust me. Trust. Me.” I looked Rhino dead in the eye as I said my next words carefully. “I trust you. All of you. And I love you all, you are my family. We. Are a family. Which is why I am trusting you with these coordinates and I need you, all of you, here.” I gazed out across the sea of faces as they gave me their full attention. “I need you guys to keep a keen eye on the Grineer. They attacked us at those coordinates. I cannot have a repeat invasion. The natives have no form of intergalactic defense. The Grineer invaded once, I can't have they do it again.”

“And if they do try a second time?” Rhino questioned.

“Crew the Railjacks. We are the only thing between the Grineer and world domination.”

It wasn’t what they wanted to hear, but I didn’t have much more time to keep talking. “Stay safe everyone. Just… hold out a little longer,” I smiled sportively. They were reluctant, but they understood. They waved and said their goodbyes before they stepped out of frame. “Rhino?” I asked, just before the man shut off the screen, grabbing his attention. “Keep them safe. And I might have something to ask of you when this is all over.”

The faintest of smiles graced his lips as he nodded. “Understood.”

“Good,” I nodded, ending the feed. Turning, I nodded towards CT, silently informing him that it was time to leave. The clone informed his crew that it was, indeed, time to go. The engines roared to life before I felt that familiar churning in my gut as we accelerated to hyperspeed.

I'm coming back.