Even if it is Reality

"Am I supposed to wake up?"

[memoriam-dream]

Reawaken - Closed Starter

[memoriam-dream]

“...Was I? Or was it your mana that I felt?” They contemplated to themselves, looking at the shimmering clumps of mineral that were actually dotted around the cave. Yes, he was right, there was faint, residual power emanating from them. Though, they seemed a bit too weak for uses such as crafting magical items. 

“You say there’s a town nearby, yes? What’s the name, if I might ask?” Now would probably be a good time to access the situation at hand. Thankfully there did appear to be civilization, and even magic... So he wasn’t totally out of luck.

He was trying to keep all questions to a bare minimum, but in reality, it took all self control for Altale to not unleash an utter barrage of inquiries. His right hand instinctively clutched at the single, blooming white lily he always had, and his mind drifted slightly with the reminder it was there.

Would his magic work? That question was frankly worrying, and he could answer it on his own later. 

[memoriam-dream]

Reawaken - Closed Starter

[memoriam-dream]

A voice was calling. So that meant the place wasn’t as abandoned or as empty as he had hoped. But if all went well, the next best thing would be no hostiles. He could settle for that. His gaze drifted towards the direction of the voice, and the individual who had spoken. From a first look, he couldn’t be much older than himself. But the pale hair seemed to be a betrayal of his otherwise youthful appearance. 

Right, they had asked his name. Well, he saw no real reason to lie over it. “I’m Altale. It was raining outside, and this was the nearest place that offered any shelter.” He explained, keeping his tone steady and talking much more slowly than he would otherwise.

For some reason, he was now feeling an odd, prickling sensation against his skin, somewhat akin to chills. And Altale knew that it wasn’t from the bit of water he had gotten hit with. Was it some kind of presence in the vicinity? His magical sense was not honed like most true magicians, and that was a highly detrimental feeling. 

“Who might you be..? And what is this.. Energy, perhaps, that I can sense?” He followed up immediately, not wanting to lose the chance to obtain information in return. 

[memoriam-dream]

Reawaken - Closed Starter

For @darkwizardschezo. (I.. I can’t think of a better name)

Waking up from unconsciousness had always been a strange phenomenon. Wether it was from sleep or an unfortunate blow to the head, the eventual awakening was an experience he was never capable of properly describing. In one moment, his mind did not process any kind of sensory notion, but in the next, it was as if all the switches were flipped, and his thoughts would flood his comprehensions, as if they were a breaking a fragile dam.

It really wasn’t much different this time. When he noticed the horizon of the world itself disappearing, he had immediately used all his strength to tear at the dimensional fabric, before hurling himself through the crack. The sheer expenditure of his energy had also shut him down. And now, he didn’t know where he ended up, though it seemed like a fairly pleasant place.

Verdant grass, healthy vegetation, and what seemed to be the entrance of a cavern comprised his surroundings. Unfortunately, the sky was laden with stormy clouds, and within minutes, it was positively pouring. Not wanting to end up drenched, he made a run for the cave. It looked undisturbed, with the intact stalactites and stalagmites... 

Or at the very least, he hoped it was. There was no way he was up for a fight of any kind, especially since he was still feeling quite drained. 

[memoriam-dream]

Memory or Reality - Closed Starter

[memoriam-dream]

“Shall I arrange for the Liset to be taken to the nearest relay immediately?” Allegiant inquired, keeping a close eye on the situation while he spoke. It was the most logical answer his mind had produced, but perhaps the workings of the void were involved as well, given the Operator’s connection to it.

Was this the handiwork of what the other Tenno designated as “Wally”? He had personally never seen the reported doppelgänger, but the records of its appearance were too wide to be a work of fiction. Regardless, he had never actually seen the being appear when it came to his Operator. 

Meanwhile in the room, the Operator was still quietly working with the frame, which was muttering fragmented sentences about the Orokin. It clearly remembered their deeds, even though it shouldn’t... And every retold account had accuracy that almost seemed... Abnormal. 

“My head hurts...” The Tenno sighed, her voice low. One of her hands rested on the side of her temples as she stared at the golden frame. 

[memoriam-dream]

Memory or Reality - Closed Starter

[memoriam-dream]

“No, it is not within any existing records.” Allegiant confirmed, doing a quick scan of his files to ensure he wasn’t missing anything. “As the Operator has no possessions from before her awakening on Lua, it is impossible to do any kind of cross-referencing. The Lotus would know something, but... She is indeed gone.” This was probably the most inconvenient issue he had ever faced.

“May I recommend that the Operator have this Warframe subjected to scans? I am of the belief that there may be something going on in the internals that neither of us are catching.” The archival Cephalon suggested after a moment. “I actually have a bit of a theory on what may be going on here...” Yes, the Operator had always struggled remembering anything, especially before Simaris had offered his aid with the ailment. But before that, he had still not pinpointed the exact reason behind her memory loss. Could it be possible that...

Allegiant had to compose himself, lest he speak entirely too fast for anyone else to comprehend. “Is it possible that the Operator’s residual memories of the Orokin Empire and the Old War have bled into the Zephyr? It is her most often-used Warframe, after all.” 

[memoriam-dream]

Memory or Reality - Closed Starter

[memoriam-dream]

“...Yes.” The response from the frame was close to immediate, and it seemed to release a deep, tension-filled breath, even though it was practically unnoticeable due to the armor-covered structure of its body. “...Th-hey.... Did something t-that... I... Don’t w-want to... R-Remember. But... This s-serves them right.”

This somewhat alarmed the Tenno, who immediately began keeping a closer eye on the Zephyr just in case some sort of outburst was imminent. So it had something to do with the Orokin, yes... But what of them? Was it asking about the conclusion of the Old War? And somehow, it had an innate hatred of the Orokin that she had never known about? But how could it remember, if it was not a frame that had survived from then to the present day?

The blueprints she had used for the Zephyr were not abnormal. They had been retrieved from relics like any other. So unless Warframes remembered what they went through, and would actually retain that information, even past possible destruction and eventual reconstruction... It was almost like everything she had known had been proven wrong.

The Operator hurriedly dismissed her thoughts to speak to the Zephyr again. “If you’re worried about them, know that they’re gone... You don’t have to feel threatened.”

“...T-Thank you... Vanir.” The reply was short, as it was clear that the Warframe was still in the middle of processing the information. The Tenno looked very befuddled at the response, however. Who was Vanir? She hadn’t heard the name, or perhaps if she had, she had long-since forgotten it... 

I̷͕̗̺̰͝t̶̨̛̻̹̍ ̴̓wa̶s̵̛̭̤̟̃ ̷̌û̵̲͒͘n̴͔͙̋̇f̶̖͎̥̍à̷̮̭͗ḿ̵̻̝̠̜̑̿̇i̵̫̱̥͔͛͒̀̈́l̸̼̤͖̺͗͆̇i̷͍̤̤͠a̴͙͙̞̓̆̕r̸͉͓̃̈́̒͜.̶͉̙̣̅

[memoriam-dream]

Memory or Reality - Closed Starter

[memoriam-dream]

“Agreed. A mistake, if there ever was one. Though it’s arguable that the Orokin have done worse...” Allegiant remarked, mostly to himself. “I will continue collecting information via Orbiter systems over the next few days. Do I have permission to initiate immediate connection in the case of unexpected emergencies?”

The Zephyr immediately bolted up from the relaxed position it was in, and frantically looked around the room. It was quite alarmed at a voice without a clearly obvious source. The Operator ducked to avoid the spread of razor-sharp, fanlike blades that extended from the Warframe’s forearm, not wanting to pay an emergency visit to a medical wing. 

“W-Where... Who..?” The gilded, sleek helmet of the frame turned this way and that. Even though it wasn’t quite yet reaching for the enormous rifle strapped to its back, the fact that it was no longer at ease was problematic. The Tenno present got up as soon as she was no longer afraid of being harmed, and gently rested both hands on the shoulders of the Zephyr.

“It’s just Simaris. Calm down, he’s only speaking using the Orbiter systems. There isn’t anyone here but me.” She explained slowly, and the Warframe eventually went back to a sitting position. “Now, what what about the Orokin and the Sentients?”

“...The... Oro..kin... A-Are gone.” The response was shaky, but it was making a confirmation. “Thank..fully.” It looked like the frame was about to go through another fit, so the Tenno continually urged it to relax and slow down. 

[memoriam-dream]

Memory or Reality - Closed Starter

[memoriam-dream]

“Of course. Hopefully, the process will be a quick one.” Allegiant responded, as he himself watched through the Orbiter’s systems. “I do not have exact data logs from the procedure, as I have no interference in whatever Helmnith does in that... Room of his, and I am not sure if I would like to find out, to be completely honest here. I will transfer the information on the preliminary diagnostics immediately.” 

“O-Opera..tor.” It took at least the good part of an hour for the Zephyr to successfully repeat the word, and that was with the Tenno’s continued patience. “T-The Oro... And... The S-Sent..” Whatever it was about to say was cut short by enough coughing spree, prompting the Operator to pat the frame on the back several times, with as much force as she could manage, as she wasn’t really afraid of any damage being done.

But what it said... “What about the Orokin? And the... The Sentients?” She asked immediately, figuring that this had to be something important. It wasn’t like she wanted to rush the Zephyr, but this information was... Too important to not have.

“Please, continue.” The Tenno relaxed once more when the Zephyr stopped struggling, and resumed its attempt to communicate. “...A-Are they... Gone?”

[memoriam-dream]

Memory or Reality - Closed Starter

[memoriam-dream]

“Connection establishing...” The Cephalon responded after a few moments, checking over the operational status of said instruments before opening the data channel through the weave. “Visual and audio systems are in order and accessible to you now.” 

Within the Orbiter itself, the Operator was currently sitting within her own quarters, with the conscious Warframe nearby. It looked at her quizzically, appearing somewhat similar to a confused bird. The Tenno bit her lip before taking her chances with asking a question, hoping that it would be understood.

“...What did you want to tell me, Zephyr?” Her voice sounded, as she gazed directly at the frame. “Speak to me, please.”

In response, the Zephyr made something akin to a coughing sound, not unlike a wheeze that one would make when they were downed with a flu. This repeated several times, but eventually, it seemed to manage the vague beginning of syllables. “..O-Ope...” It seemed to be trying to repeat the Tenno’s name, but couldn’t fully do so. 

“...Take your time...” The Operator in question responded. At least Helmnith was cooperative, and didn’t do something awfully weird. But it clearly couldn’t do anything about this. 

[memoriam-dream]

Memory or Reality - Closed Starter

[memoriam-dream]

The receiving Cephalon on the other end had been doing the computer equivalent of pacing around, and his processors felt relief when the transfer finally arrived with the data in question. He wasted no time in downloading it and prepping the blueprint, using the foundry immediately. He had been given prior permission and an order to initiate the creation of the object as soon as possible.

In his rush, he had almost forgotten to inform the Tenno. But he wasted no time in waking her. The Zephyr frame was also forced out of meditation, and a clear indication of disproval was given, as the frame had to be practically dragged and coaxed over to Helmnith’s room. 

She had to bang on the metallic door multiple times before it opened, the infested entity most likely annoyed about the whole ordeal. 

After several hours of leaving the frame and the constructed component in the room, the Operator was now looking back and forth to the still-closed door, waiting for the return of her Zephyr. When the gilded Warframe finally re-emerged from the door, looking practically no different than before, she summoned Allegiant’s presence and had him deliver the news to Simaris, along with an inquiry on the next course of action. 

[memoriam-dream]

Memory or Reality - Closed Starter

[memoriam-dream]

“You are talking about Helmnith, yes.” The Operator nodded, confirming Simaris’ knowledge. “I suppose there is no other way, as there isn’t another way to deal with a Warframe’s organic components.” She didn’t know much about medicine, much less the specifics, but even she knew that much. Not to mention, infested tissue was usually not something that anyone liked to deal with. Not even the Tenno, who were immune to it.

“I will take leave, then, and notify Allegiant.” She wanted to waste no time in figuring out what her Zephyr had to say, and perhaps, the frame itself held the secret to her currently-missing transference abilities. If she were to communicate with the frame, then perhaps it would reveal the last piece of the puzzle - the reasoning behind her current inability to transfer.

It of course, deserved the utmost urgency. Using the Zephyr as a transport once more, she had the Warframe carry her back to the orbiter. Upon arrival, she instantly called for the cephalon’s presence, and trusted him to deliver the appropriate data to Simaris. 

[memoriam-dream]

Memory or Reality - Closed Starter

[memoriam-dream]

“I hate to impose, but... I cannot do any new missions.” The Operator admitted. “Without Transference, I am... About as good as a millstone tied to one’s ankle in combat.” It wasn’t exactly false, even though she probably weighed a lot less than said millstone. And the whole reason Tenno utilized Warframes were due to the fact that their true, human forms, were fragile like anyone else’s.

“And I do have all the blueprints used to create this Zephyr. I will have my Cephalon send them.” She added, thankful that impulse had not taken over to the point where any and all existing blueprints would be cashed in for Ducats. She was most definitely not in a condition to deal with Void Fissures.  If a voice box was replicable, how would she even install the thing? Would she just leave the Warframe with Helmnith for a couple hours, and hope that the sentient piece of infestation knew what they were getting at? While Helmnith wasn’t exactly hostile, she wasn’t sure how much she trusted it.

The frame seemed to realize it was being talked about, and its head turned to look between the Tenno and Simaris, as each of them exchanged their words. 

[memoriam-dream]

Memory or Reality - Closed Starter

[memoriam-dream]

“...It would... Not hurt to try, would it?” The Operator glanced over at the Zephyr, which looked as if it were resisting the urge to re-approach Simaris, but was being blocked by its Tenno. “I am unsure as to if you can teach a frame to speak or write. But if they understand the basics of the world..”

“Could you... Show them images? Warframes do seem to be able to see, and they might merely select images that represent their intentions.” This felt utterly akin to teaching younger children to read. That was what she thought about almost immediately upon the suggestion. It wasn’t that she thought of the frames as intellectually undeveloped, it was just that there wasn’t a darned way for them to talk.

Actually, were words not the results of air passing through the folds within one’s throat? If it were possible to replicate that, for a frame that controlled wind and the currents within it...

“Simaris... I have an idea. Is a mechanical replication of what one would call a ‘voice box’ or ‘vocal chords’ possible?” She had always assumed Warframes simply lacked one, or had one that was too simple for the production of multiple tones. 

[memoriam-dream]

Memory or Reality - Closed Starter

[memoriam-dream]

“Hmm...” The Operator looked over to the wordless Zephyr, who still seemed fascinated with Simaris’ light construct. “Do they write..?” She wasn’t sure on the intelligence of Warframes, but they most definitely comprehended situations and words, but never did anything on their own in regards to communicating back.

“Come on.. What do you have to tell us?” The Tenno had to pull at the frame to jolt it out of its distracted state, which was staring intently back at Simaris. But while the Zephyr turned and seemed to wait for orders, there was still no way for it to communicate.

She almost started pacing, but stopped herself before she did. If mind reading were included with a Tenno’s void powers, that would be excellent, but it was not the case for her, nor any Tenno she had heard about. The closest there was... That would be Transference, but it still did not amount to reading the mind of another being. 

But maybe, Simaris had a way. “Simaris, is there a way to read another being’s thoughts or intentions? By scans, or... Anything else?” 

[memoriam-dream]

Obligatory Sacrifice Thoughts

So uh. Spoilers. Read more.

Where do I even start with this thing, my good god.

1. Ballas is... My feelings on him are really mixed, now that I know that he betrayed the Orokin, yet still did a bunch of shit.

2. Why are we treating Ordis so badly? He loves us and cares for us and does whatever we ask for, and we’re such jerks to him in this quest. That makes me so sad.

3. Okay but Umbra. THIS REVEAL ABOUT THE WARFRAMES CHANGES SO MUCH LIKE WHAT IMAGINE THE POSSIBILITIES. ANGST IS IN THE AIR.

4. Speaking of Umbra: I know we all like to talk about his kickass scarf, but why does he wear it? A reminder of what he used to be? Is it perhaps a torn piece of the cape he wore as a Dax? That’s actually a bit sad... I think he’s the only Warframe to wear some semblance of clothing. (In of itself and not as an auxiliary item) 

5. Space mom, what happened. Damn it, we should have been more thorough in killing Ballas. Why not a beheading instead of just a stabbity? Come on, we should be better. 

6. The sun/moon alignments are not order/chaos. It’s more emotion/emptiness. Though, an argument could be made for denying/embracing the void as well, which ties in somewhat with emotion/emptiness, I suppose...?

7. Isaah deserved more. Poor guy.

8. Did we seriously just go -pat pat it’ll be okay- to Umbra? Come on, a full blown hug seems warranted. On a related note, if umbra can and does display sentience without Transference, could he learn to write for communication? 

9. UMBRA Y U IGNORE VOID MODE

10. I still don’t damn know what that whole Komi game thing or whatever was about. I get it’s like chess, but what the heck what is Ballas talking about with the bloodline nonsense again?

I think that’s all for now. Also, what I believe happened right after the quest:

Umbra: I’m sorry I tried to kill you Operator: It’s okay, been through worse 

[memoriam-dream]

Memory or Reality - Closed Starter

[memoriam-dream]

“I took it apart to inspect damages, looking at the workings to see what would need replacing or repairing. And afterwards, I made more attempts at reanimating the frame.” She answered. “It wouldn’t respond for hours, so I tried channeling the void energy more forcefully, which caused it to jolt up. But Transference didn’t establish, and we end up with.. This.” The Operator herself didn’t have the slightest clue on what was going on either.

Did the void energize the frame to the point that it was being commandeered by the void itself? Had the energy given the living flesh inside enough power to automate without Transference? Or was there something more to that? Had her frame been sentient all along, and the sudden burst merely having brought that mind back to life?

If so, then... What about other frames? 

The Zephyr itself seemed to want to inspect Simaris, leaving the Tenno’s shadow and looking up at the projection of light, raising an arm out as if to touch it. But it did so in total silence, not having the ability to speak.

“...As for the behavior...” The Tenno looked over to the moving frame. “It seems to have something it wants to tell me, but I have no clue what it might be. As you know, Warframes aren’t capable of speech.” 

[memoriam-dream]

Memory or Reality - Closed Starter

[memoriam-dream]

It was actually the Tenno’s cephalon who picked up the call, and the archival Cephalon sounded quite sheepish when he answered through the weave. “An interesting occurrence happened after she managed to get her frame back onto the ship. You’ll be seeing her in person soon, I think it would be better if... You simply saw it yourself.”

Not long after the transmission, a sapphire-colored Liset docked itself at the relay. Instead of the Operator struggling to carry herself up to the Sanctuary, however, she was carried by her Warframe, despite it having been completely and utterly inanimate the day before. 

If she were honest with herself, it was actually embarrassing for her frame to be carrying her to the Sanctuary, but it was better than tripping and spraining something on the way up. It wasn’t too long before the black-and-golden Warframe walked through the automatic door leading into Simaris’ Sanctuary, and put the Tenno back down on the ground.

The frame was still separated from the Tenno- not running on Transference, but seeming to be able to respond to her will. It followed behind her when she walked, almost as if it were a loyal Sentinel. 

The Operator quickly walked up to the platform where others spoke with Simaris. She cleared her throat before beginning, sure that he was curious to know what in the world had happened after she left yesterday. “...After I took the frame to my ship, I spent some time studying the Transference System’s workings... And when I went back to my frame, it responded to me, but I couldn’t engage full Transference. But we do have what... Whatever happened here.”  She pointed to the Zephyr standing behind her, which tilted its head as if it were confused. It almost looked like it wanted to say something, but it wasn’t like most Warframes made any sound at all.