I had just set up my railjack to travel home from the void, when completely randomly, as soon as we entered hyperspace, the same split second, the whole railjack exploded.
Literally, there was nothing left, as if it never existed.
Having no choice, but to use my void powers(which is a terrible idea in the void without a warframe on), I focused on my current coordinates in space, then onto my orbiter's.
Void energy swelled up inside me, shaping itself to sling me between the two destinations.
And I immediately blacked out, without ever knowing if I made it.
An unknown amount of time later, the first thing I see is a robot, talking to me about whether I'm okay.
No! I'm not fucking okay!
I looked around, and there was a UI all around my peripheral vision. Sadly, I immediately recognized it as definitely not one of the Warframes.
Which is concerning. Extremely concerning.
My mind went straight for the two worst options.
I was badly disfigured or killed and was now at least half a robot.
Or the second option.
I had slung myself into a machine and made it sentient.
I raised my hands, they were small, ridiculously so.
Great. I apparently slung myself into a toaster.
Why would a toaster have arms though? To grab the toast? Ingenious!
I was snapped out of my admittedly completely insane and nonsensical thoughts by the robot in front of me.
It waved its right hand at me, my eyes noticing the lack of a fifth finger in an instant.
Strange, I thought Five Fingers was the best option?
"Hello, can you hear me?"
I nodded, because frankly, I wasn't quite sure I wanted to speak.
I might just pop out burnt toast instead of words.
"Great to hear..."
The robot muttered to itself, turning its chair and pressing a dozen or so keys on the keyboard in a matter of seconds.
"All CPU functions working... no oil leaks... responsive..."
It continued muttering while typing, occasionally stopping everything entirely, its eyes or whatever they are called slightly dulling, as if dying.
"Okay, you're good to go kid!"
It randomly jumped up, far more energy shown in the single sentence than in everything it had said before combined.
"Okay. You will leave through that door."
It paused, pointing at the literal only door in the room.
"Take a right."
It continued, turning its whole hand towards the right.
"After a few steps, you should stop at a desk, and a drone will be sitting behind it. Request a hab for one. And make sure to be polite!"
It finally ended its sentence with a sudden burst of energy.
'I have been fixed. By a malfunctioning machine... '
I couldn't help but muse.
And of course, I had learned something quite important.
'So they or us, I guess, are called drones hm? '
Then I slowly climbed off the operating bed, taking comparably very tiny steps for what I was used to.
Now with the panic of what had happened subsiding, I was able to think clearly. And surprisingly, very quickly and efficiently. Strange.
Quickly walking towards the door and opening it, I waved over my shoulder towards the machine that had apparently fixed me.
'Hm, I wonder if they are sentient or am I special? '
Having gotten a very brief glance at myself from the machine's own visor, I was definitely of their kind.
Most likely I was in a "kid's" body or something along those lines.
'I have possessed a child. Great, mark that off the bucket list. '
I snorted silently, then paused, it sounded very human and natural.
At that, a smile grew on my now metallic or whatever material I was made from face.
Perhaps getting used to this wouldn't be difficult at all.
I could just think of everyone around me as people in warframes. Granted, in very cheap and unreliable ones.
Now standing outside the door, I noticed that the only possible directions were the right. The front, and the left being solid walls.
'What the fuck is the point of the directions then? '
Shrugging off the topic, I approached the desk which was in fact only a few steps away.
Behind it, sat a drone. It, or I guess, she wore a purple dress, and I could see the high heels of the same color.
Raising a fist to my mouth, I coughed to attract her attention.
Her eyes snapped to my own in an instant, and I almost froze in the intensity of those purple eyes.
"I'm Kale, this is registration."
She paused, looking over my form without even trying to hide it.
"Name?"
'Ah shit. '
I cocked my head to the right, thinking. And I suddenly realized I don't have a name. It should have been terrifying. To realize you have been living for Lotus knows how long, only to not have a name.
It wasn't. Sometime long ago, perhaps in the first or second genocide, I had accepted myself as what people call me.
"Tenno."
The drone nodded, her metallic or plastic fingers typing out the name on the computer.
"Great. Now, age?"
I paused, 'How the fuck am I supposed to know the age of this body?'
"Uhhh, I don't know?"
Her eyes bore into my own once again.
"Really? The doctor didn't tell you?"
I shook my head from side to side, shrugging.
"Alright, I'll ask him later and put it in your file."
She paused, eyes tracking text I couldn't see.
"A hab for one right?"
Nodding, I continued standing there without moving.
Was it just me or was it starting to become awkward?
The drone stood up, got a keycard from Lotus knows where, and outstretched her hand towards me, the card with it.
I took it from her hand after a moment, eyes intently studying her hand.
The material was strange, it was neither metal nor plastic, nor anything organic.
Perhaps a substance native to this world.
Suddenly, I jumped up, as I received a ping-like noise in my very head.
The drone, not noticing or perhaps just not caring, didn't mention it.
"I sent the directions to you, you should have no problem finding your new home."
She paused, then smiled brightly.
"I officially welcome you to Outpost 3!"
***
I pressed the card against the lock mechanism, easily hearing the locking mechanism deactivate.
Stepping inside, my already dull eyes dulled even more.
"Man. This place is so boring."
Not even alcohol or a battle to the death would bring emotion into the mind-numbingly dead voice.
The hab was simple in design.
Once entering from the outside, you were greeted by the living room.
Which had a couch, a TV mounted on the wall in front of it, as well as a small table between the two.
There were also three doors leading out of it. Four including the entrance.
I walked straight, opening the door.
I was greeted by a similarly empty bedroom.
My eyes noticed the charger mounted on the wall by the bedside.
I backtracked to the living room, walking left.
There I was greeted by what seemed to be a kitchen.
Although it barely counted as such, considering it had a few cabinets and a fridge only. Not even a metallic chair and table to eat at.
I backtracked again, walking to the right door.
Although I already knew what most likely lay behind the door.
Opening it, I saw a room covered in white tiles.
There was a bathtub with a shower head, and a toilet in its own section.
As well as a cracked mirror with a sink below it right next to the door.
The most furnished and cared for room in the hab. Glorious...
***
A few hours later, I was lying on my couch, mind dizzy.
All this studying and downloading was starting to hurt my brain.
Which I luckily still had.
I have no idea how my body fits into this small-ass drone body, but it does. With the help of void energy probably.
Now I had the information of this planet's recent history in my CPU, as well as my human brain.
It was strange, having two separate storage spaces for my memories.
Sure, I was somewhat used to that with my Warframes, all of them having memories of their previous battles etched into their very being.
The knowledge of why and how they fought was forced to stay in their metallic frames by the absolute power of void energy itself.
But actual memories I could bring up and reference at any time? New to me.
Very useful and efficient yes, but weird nonetheless.
With the important things out of the way, I got ready to sleep.
I laid down, quickly searching for the charging port on my drone body.
Apparently, you gotta charge every time you sleep, unless you want to randomly die until someone else charges you.
Sure, from what I could see and calculate, the battery should last a drone for a few days at least.
But apparently going to the brink, then back to full in a single night was so frowned upon that it was a law.
Apparently, it can damage the battery, as well as the CPU itself.
That is to say. You go to sleep, you charge.
***
After waking up, and remembering I had barely a week of free time left to learn everything I needed, I got right to gathering information again.
Even as I walked to the fridge, I was already looking up the drones themselves.
My digital brow raised, as I found an interesting paragraph in an article.
"JCJenson claims the drones are not sentient!
However, while this may apply to the crafted ones by human hands, it does not apply to the children drones they have!
While the adults are programmed to grow their population, the children codes do not have much in terms of orders!
What does this mean?
Several things!
The children are less robot-like, and learn as we humans do at a young age. By seeing and trying to replicate.
They experience everything we do, perhaps even to the same emotional degree! "
This time all four of my eyebrows shot up, both digital and biological.
I continued reading.
"According to a study that had ended just a few days prior, while the children technically cannot die, as they are self aware of their mechanical parts, they are deathly terrified of it as we humans are!"
The battery I was just about to put in my mouth stopped just centimeters away.
As the rest of the article ended abruptly.
The comments were blocked, and the reviews were spammed with calling the writer an insane individual and spreading misinformation for just a bit of money.
"Huh."
I continued to look up things, finally being brave enough to throw the battery into my mouth and chew it.
Only to almost puke as the acid made it taste like I just ate five hundred lemons in a single bite.
I barely managed to swallow it, just because I hated wasting food. Something the citizens of Earth had taught me.
"Don't waste anything you have. Because you never know when you will lose it."
The old woman had told me, checking over the fish I had caught.
"Also stop nearly cutting them in half! It's so hard to prepare them for cooking!"
The giant head of my warframe leaned downwards, my eyes scanning the fish.
"Looks edible to me."
I stated blandly.
The woman stopped checking over it, her own eyes raising to meet where she thought my own were.
She wasn't far off, albeit she was staring more into my eyebrows.
"Listen, tenno."
She paused, gathering her thoughts presumably.
"I truly appreciate what you are doing, I truly do. But.."
She paused again, as if unsure how to continue the sentence.
"I cannot in good conscience sell half of the fish you bring me."
I cocked my head to the side, curious.
She seemingly rallied at my visible attention, standing up.
"While I can sell the skin and bones, I cannot sell the meat.
We both know, the people are starving. There is a lack of jobs, and few are willing to go beyond the gate since those bastards showed up a decade ago. "
I nodded, it was logical and true what she said.
"So I want you to do something different for me."
She paused, her fingers trembling ever so slightly, as if afraid of what would come of her words.
"Instead of fishing... how about you make the plains more safe...?"
My warframe conveyed no emotion, but inside the metal and void energy filled armor, I froze.
And in that moment, at the words of such an honest request. My world stopped.
I knew what she was asking of me, and she knew me more than most.
She knew I hadn't killed in a year by now. Knew I was trying to change. To help, not to hurt.
She breathed in heavily, continuing.
"You may see your talent as a curse. But I see it as a gift."
She stared at me again.
"While yes, such power is dangerous and you will and have done horrible deeds before.
That doesn't mean it's the talent's fault, nor is it your own.
You were made for slaughter. "
She stopped, bringing up the dismembered fish up to her eye level.
"How about, instead of stopping, you change the target?
You could clear the paths of the wilds, set up the waypoints for everyone. You could collect berries or even go into the mines for the ores everyone needs. "
I listened to her closely then, my life changing in those short moments.
She then chuckled slightly.
"How about wasting good food by impaling it, you allow others to do it?"
And with the final sentence, I vanished.
The warframe disappeared from the woman's view. And she could only sigh.
She picked up the fish, muttering quietly to herself.
"I messed up."
I chuckled at the memory that came next.
Two moons later, the gate of the plains opened. Revealing my form to the world.
The warframe, once a beautifully painted white, gold and royal purple, was now painted crimson.
Although it wasn't paint.
Even now, as my giant form walked, the blood fell from my form onto the ground.
Even now, the flakes of dried blood fell from my form.
Leaving a path of death where I walked.
Onto my back, there was a collection of sturdy and giant bags, all jingling against each other.
A few minutes later, I stood in front of the old woman once again. A smile gracing my lips. Not that she could see that.
Her own face was almost splitting from how wide she was grinning, her eyes narrowed and filled with something I couldn't place.
I sighed, washing down the bitter taste with something that was definitely not water.
She had died not long after, her last noble deed was unleashing the monster that I was onto the right people. If the ghouls could even be called that.
After Earth, I visited every other planet in the solar system, bringing murder of the right kind.
The corpus, the slavers of the galaxy, brought to their knees and their galaxy wide monopoly shattered.
The infected, while impossible to deal with permanently. We're slain in the millions, if not billions by my hand.
The cores I've found and destroyed all over Deimos numbering in the tens of thousands.
I let out a laugh. And now I was struggling to eat a battery. Oh how the mighty have fallen.
***
Two days later, I had finally learned everything and truly everything I would need for a while.
The settings, controls, how drones behaved, what was expected of me, everything.
I even formed a list of everything I disabled in this body.
[Parental controls features off:
Dreams. Nightmares. Offensive language. Visor editing blocker. Audio sensors control protection. Taste sensors control protection. ]
I paused, granted, it wasn't a big list. But yeah, useful things.
I've also memorized the entire map provided to me, in the human brain of course. The metal-like one always memorizes everything at a glance.
***
Now walking through the abandoned giant hallways of the bunker, I edited the map in my head in real time.
My eyes flicked about, noticing every crack in the ceiling and walls.
It was interesting how even such things could be withered away, without a single touch.
I mean, that's exactly why everything is cracking and crumbling, the lack of maintenance for so long affecting even cement.
I guess something made by humans requires human touch to be viable.
Or I guess, drone hands.
A quick search revealed that humans did build this place, in case of one issue or another that could rise up.
Smart, but apparently not smart enough to realize the planet's core was failing.
And they should have noticed it, the signs could span decades and are noticeable if you have the proper technology.
And considering I was now a sapient robot, they clearly did have the technology to notice the planet failing.
Which begged the question, how the fuck did they not notice?
Like actually. I've experienced this once, I was kind of the cause of it too, even if it's accidental.
I saw the signs six years before it happened, managed to inform the planet's leaders of it and evacuate all of the residents out of it.
I even watched it happen, with the people who wanted to see through the windows of my massive railjack.
The planet caved into itself, almost as if swallowing itself.
Something like a black hole, but far more flashy.
Since it didn't take long to fully collapse on itself, exploding in a horrifying but beautiful display of light.
And then? Nothing. I was glad back then that a black hole didn't manage to somehow spawn in, cause that might have been hard to escape.
All that was left were giant rocks.
The planet almost looked semi whole, except for the parts it caved inwards on.
But once flown closer too, the obvious kilometers in distance randomly between each place confirmed that the planet and all the plants were no more.
Just the remaining unique saplings aboard my railjack proving that there once was a flourishing green planet instead of the large rocks that remained.
So yes. I am quite curious how the people of this galaxy, who were obviously more advanced in scientific technology, could not realize this planet's incoming doom?
I entered what seemed to be a storage room, raising a brow at the collection of items inside.
That being a mirror. Or rather, dozens of mirrors.
Someone seemed to have an obsession with them.
That, or a very deep hatred.
Because every single one of them were shattered in one way or another.
Although it was clear that it wasn't done by hand.
Almost every single piece is still arranging a mirror.
I stared at one, six copies in varying sizes staring back.
I looked around, and once confirming there weren't any other items, I left.
You may ask me: what the hell are you searching for?
And my simple answer to that question? I don't know. Honestly I'm just exploring, hoping to find something interesting.
And even though the mirror situation is interesting, it sure as hell is not useful. Nor did I enjoy the creepy vibe I got once looking at them.
It felt as if they were staring back. And considering how many there were, it had to be something tied to a cult or something along those lines.
So yeah, I left quickly. I wanted to rest and enjoy my new found peace while I could. Because I'm sure I didn't appear here randomly.
This seems something the Lotus herself would do, guide me to a planet to exterminate or save the people upon it.
I clenched my fists at the memories that resurfaced, and I barely suppressed the urge to punch a wall.
It might damage the body, it wasn't worth it to let off a little steam.
So now, slightly pissed off I continued walking across the halls. Hoping to find something interesting enough to get my mind off the horrible deeds that I've done.
***
Now I stood in front of a class of students, a teacher sitting in a chair close to my right.
Just as the teacher had said seconds prior, I spoke.
"Hello, I'm Tenno. It is nice to meet all of you."
Well he didn't say how nice I needed to sound while saying those words. My tone being the embodiment of boredom and sarcasm.
Because suprise suprise, I didn't actually want to attend school again, especially not from the very start of it.
How many years would this take? Six? Yeah, something along those lines.
So yeah. I was annoyed, and very very bored.
I already could envision the pure mind numbingly simple things I would have to "learn" again.
Turning my head to the teacher, he nodded slowly. His orange or brown digital eyes(haven't decided on the actual color yet) staring at me with even greater boredom.
Or was it tiredness? Not sure.
He pointed at a chair, and I walked to it.
I actually smiled, noticing that I would be sitting all alone.
I easily stepped over the suddenly extending leg, giving only a knowing smile to the pink colored eyes before I continued walking to my seat.
Perhaps it wouldn't be too boring, if the students are that daring. And it seems the teacher doesn't quite care either.
Hm, perhaps I should get some prank ideas? For revenge once I get pranked in the future if nothing else.
The roll call started, and I tuned it out immediately. Music playing in my mind. Literally.
Cause, surprise again. I don't plan on socializing much with children. I aint a fucking weirdo.
I sat through two classes basically teaching nothing. There was a few captchas I broke in literal seconds, enjoying the amazement filled eyes. Then I remembered they were children and I quickly started to ignore their very existence.
Finally it was lunchtime, not that I was looking forward to it.
For the past few days, I relied solely on batteries. Which acted like absolutely safe and weak energy drinks, even charging you. Which made sense. So yeah, wasn't too happy to find out what counted as food for drones.
Walking to the comparably pristine hallways of the sector, I noticed a single drone walking not far in front of me.
No idea what her name was, and I'm sure she is a she, cause I doubt boy's wear such long socks.
But I guess, you never know considering the year and all that.
I ever so slightly increased my pace, in the meantime, I started downloading languages.
While not really paying attention to the world around me in the classes, I did have my audio sensors on.
And I heard a single drone speaking an entirely different language.
Strange and unique, and very interesting.
While I don't plan to talk to her, it was better for me to understand her than gape like a fish if she ever spoke to me.
I do doubt I'll ever need to though.
Now barely by the girl's side, I slowed down a bit.
Deciding to, against all my previous statements, indulge in conversation willingly.
"Sup?"
She almost tripped, snapping her head towards me with an audible creak.
"Bite me!"
I stared at her, sure that my optics were hollowed, conveying my surprise.
"Sorry I don't do that."
I replied after a second, turning my head straight again. Albeit I didn't walk away.
I didn't speak, and neither did she.
I just quietly walked an acceptable distance nearby, listening to music as I always did now.
It's surprising how much mere sounds can make you feel. They can easily convey happiness and anguish, fear and hatred.
And it's surprising how much you can feel it yourself while listening to them.
As if sharing a soul with the singer in those short few minutes of listening.
A few minutes later, me and my companion walked into the giant room that was the cafeteria.
We both approached the line to the food trays, picking up one each.
Slowly, the line moved. Although the unbelievable amount of chatter was annoying.
She picked out some food, myself discreetly looking on how she behaved while doing so.
I wasn't being creepy, I just hadn't looked up this particular subject.
I don't quite know what is acceptable in a cafeteria, never truly been in one for Lotus knows how long.
She took her food and left without a word, which was appreciated. I didn't quite want a friend. Just a person I could observe in their natural habitat and learn from.
Although I may have selected the person too quickly, she behaved a little extremely.
Still better than those obvious bullies though.
I shrugged off the thoughts as I selected and placed the food on my tray, grabbing myself a drink as well.
A minute or two later, I sat at an isolated table meant for two, staring at the food that I was sure could look better with a little effort.
What I was presumably looking at were extremely slim metallic wires, covered with some sort of oil.
Horrible choice, however other things didn't look any better.
Sure, I've eaten some absolutely disgusting shit.
Having to once cook infected meat and eat it.
I was sure I would be infected as well, but it was either risk it or die.
But this? Horrid. The infected meat was at least cooked.
I slowly picked up the fork, placing it on the metallic noodles and spinning it a few times.
A png was slapped onto my visor, showing an absolutely calm face.
Internally I begged for the Lotus herself to end this nightmare.
Albeit I knew the effort was futile.
She had left long ago, a few times of me disobeying her orders making her see I wouldn't change. And since she didn't either, she left.
What a great mother she was.
I scoffed internally, bringing the fork to my mouth and opening it.
I slowly placed the noodles inside, and immediately turned off my taste receptors after a second.
With the wires now in my mouth, I chewed a little. Only feeling the disgusting texture of what could only be described as "food for prisoners of war".
Luckily, with the help of me being able to control my very being, I managed to get through the meal.
I picked up the drink, smelling it.
It smelled nice at least.
Turning my taste buds back on, I hoped for the best.
Slowly sipping through the straw, I was surprised at the actual liquid that entered my mouth.
I somehow expected it to be melted metal.
And the taste? Grapefruit.
I was quite familiar with the taste, it being one of my favorites. Although I preferred drinks with a little more acidity.
Slowly drinking the drink, the apparent single good thing in this bunker, I continued my information gathering.
Dozens of things downloaded in seconds. Languages. Music, math.
Yes math, because I would be damned if I didn't figure out coding fully. I wanted my Lotus damn warframes back already!
Thanks for reading!