[[AN.HONEST.TRUTH.cmd]] [[SHOW? Y/N?]]
[[SOURCE: HOUNDS OF KANDEROS SECURITY VIDEO ARCHIVES]]
[[ARCHIVAL DATE: GEHEVFBEHAVDEB RECENT]]
[[ORIGIN:]]
[[Origin System, Hounds of Kanderos Dojo, Floor 2, Warframe Labs]]
[[VIDEO FEED: AVAILABLE]] [[TEXT FEED: AVAILABLE.]] [[CONTINUE? Y/N?]]
[[WARNING: KANDEROS SYSTEM LOGS WARNS THAT THE FOLLOWING FILE IS CONSIDERED UNDER SECURITY LEVEL: LOTUS. IF NOT OF THIS SECURITY LEVEL, PLEASE DELETE THIS FILE.]]
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[[SHOWING NOW]]
[[USER: VENAHN and USER: JACKSON walk into the Warframe labs. Venahn is carrying a limp WARFRAME: EXCALIBUR PRIME with WARFRAME: EXCALIBUR UMBRA following behind him. The two hounds are talking as they walk.]]
Jackson: “She going to be okay?”
Venahn: “I made sure she got what help I could give and told her Hex she needs to rest. Hopefully this’ll be an over and done with situation. With Ari? Stable, at least from what I was told.”
Jackson: “At least it’s something. I bloody hate this refractory business. We have like two dozen different reports of similar incidents since this began.”
Venahn: “How’s Jack?”
Jackson: “He’s…safe. We haven’t had any murmur breaches yet. The Operators are on guard duty like a Kubrow pack. So…you know.”
Venahn: “Yeah I get you.”
Jackson: “Aeria keeping Ven out of trouble?”
Venahn: “Yeah, barely. She caught him in the pool about to plug in.”
Jackson: “Damn. Close call.”
Venahn: “Very close. I owe her a debt.”
[[Umbra taps Venahn’s shoulder and points at himself.]]
Umbra: <<We owe her a debt.>>
Venahn: “Agreed. We do.”
[[The three of them cross the lab where three other drifters and their Warframes are currently idling around. WARFRAME: KULLERVO stands at the edge but lets out a chime as he walks over to greet the new comers. USER: MICHEAL and WARFRAME: WUKONG are fiddling with a blueprint laid across the table, clearly Micheal is talking to Wukong with the Warframe evidently listening. USER: REINER and WARFRAME: DANTE and doing similar though Reiner is holding a golden transference bolt similar to that of Umbra with Dante writing down the final notes on a nearby chalkboard. Then there is USER: LANIUS with his partner WARFRAME: ATLAS PRIME who are currently both leaned against one of the many desks around this space. Lanius turns to see Jackson and Venahn coming in. He stands and holds his hand out for Venahn. Both hands are clearly prosthetic.]]
Lanius: “Venahn!”
[[Venahn laughs, handing the limp Warframe to Umbra before grabbing Lanius’s outstretched hand and affectionately bumping his shoulder against Lanius’s.]]
Venahn: “Good to see you too! Fortuna don’t need their hero today?”
Lanius: “Not today, letting some of the new Tenno on the block try their hand at being hero. Tauron’s keeping an eye on them.”
Venahn: “Ah good to hear. Guess you’re here to see how this goes?”
Lanius: “Yep. I’m pulling security for your sorry ass today.”
[[Lanius lightly punches Venahn on the shoulder, more affectionate than trying to hurt. The two men laugh, Jackson joining in as well. Reiner turns to them, singular eye staring at them before rolling it with affectionate annoyance. His other eye hidden beneath an eyepatch.]]
Reiner: “Gentlemen. I presume we are not delaying this any longer?”
Venahn: “No brother.”
Lanius: “Nah boss, I wouldn’t cause you any trouble.”
[[Dante puts a hand to his mouth and makes a chuffing noise, clearly hiding his laughter as best as he can. Wukong throws his head back and a jingle of bells can be heard-his version of laughter. Micheal sees them all and stands up straight from his work.]]
Reiner: “Good. Now Venahn, Umbra, put him here.”
[[Reiner gestures to an open cell before walking into it and placing the Transference bolt into the “hand” of a currently floating drone. Venahn follows after him and helps Umbra to put the Excalibur Prime into the standard Warframe kneeling position. Reiner gently holds the back of the Warframe’s neck and lets something slip his sleeve and inject itself into the Warframe which briefly jerks but remains inert. Then all three back out and the blue screen of the containment field comes on.]]
[[Atlas pushes himself off of the table and to Wukong’s side. The Monkey King unable to stay still as he taps his leg repeatedly.]]
Atlas: <<Something’s up. I can feel it.>> ehsjfbsjsbrOH HOW RIGHT YOU ARE BREAKER OF MOUNTIANS
Wukong: <<Being paranoid again?>>
Atlas: <<After our tenno went nuts the first time, can you blame me?>>
[[Umbra claps his hands, catching the two Warframes attention.]]
Umbra: <<Come on, pay attention now.>>
Atlas: <<Yes old man.>>
Wukong: <<Going to take out the fun in everything sir?>>
Umbra: <<Only to keep your sorry ass alive young man.>>
[[There is the grinding stone laughter of Atlas as Wukong lightly punches his shoulder in slight annoyance. But they obey all the same and stand at attention. Umbra moves in front of Venahn and puts a hand on his shoulder.]]
Umbra: <<You okay?>>
Venahn: <<Worried about Cass. And Ven.>>
Umbra: <<She is strong. She will survive. And Ven is as independent as they come. He will survive whatever fate presses him with.>>
Venahn: <<Still. Worried. No one is doing well. Ari’s out, Aeria’s looking for her, Cal’s in the tank, Asu’s dealing with Inlaf, Inlaf has protoed themselves, Imp’s losing it, I haven’t been back in Hollvania and->>
Umbra: <<Son.>>
[[Venahn stops immediately and looks at Umbra. He is scared, worried and without his chosen Warframe partner. For a Hound Drifter it practically confirms a panic spiral. The Drifters’ frames act as both partner and therapist-for transference works both ways. DOESN’T HE LOOK LIKE ISSAH OLD WOLF?]]
Umbra: <<You are doing the best you can. And that is the most anyone could ever ask of you.>>
Venahn: <<It doesn’t make me feel better.>>
Umbra: <<It rarely does. Life is filled with ups and downs. But the sun always rises again.>>
[[Venahn’s eyes look down at that, evidently he doesn’t really believe Umbra’s words. Reiner and Dante are setting up a Moab drone for recording the whole thing where Jackson and Micheal are talking. Likely another project that is in the works.]]
Umbra: <<You are a good brother. Doing the best you can with the hand you are given. They know that, they accept that.>>
Venahn: <<Still feels like I’m not doing enough.>>
Umbra: <<You cannot be everywhere at once. You and your brother both have gone above the line of duty to help them. Now it’s time to let you do your own thing.>>
[[Venahn nods at that and gives the old man a small smile BEST KEEP THAT IMAGE IN MIND OLD DAX IT MIGHT BE YOUR LAST Reiner and Dante start with the little drone beeping to life.]]
Reiner: “Alright, this is test one of the newest Transference Bolts. The aim behind these bolts is to give some of the more inert Warframes a chance to regain whom they were before the infestation took their personhood away. Before us in an Excalibur Prime that belongs to Operator Ven that was…”
[[Reiner trails off, eyes going to Venahn who speaks up.]]
Venahn: “Gifted to him to use in the final months of the old war. A gift for his loyalty to the Orokin and Dax heritage.”
Reiner: “That. Thank you Venahn.”
[[Reiner taps something on his arm and the drone inside of the containment cell draws close to the knelt prime Warframe. Lanius and Atlas Prime seem to stand at the ready-as if concerned about something or simply being on watch.]]
Reiner: “Alright, inserting the Transference bolt on the count of 3. 3…”
[[Micheal turns to Wukong, talking to him quietly but it’s not audible to the cameras. The Warframe tilts his head and shrugs, whatever they’re talking about is between the two of them.]]
Reiner: “2…”
[[Jackson is obviously fidgeting with his HUD that is now held in two hands, Kullervo flips one of his knives across his fingers-similarly fidgeting. Venahn’s eyes remain on the inert Warframe, hand resting on his sword. Umbra keeps his hand on Venahn’s shoulder but steps a little in front of him.]]
Reiner: “1… and here we go.”
[[The drone inside the containment cell moves close and inserts the golden Transference bolt into the Warframe. The Warframe jerks, spasm then stills in the span of a couple seconds. Then it jerks forwards and drops forwards-catching itself before it falls fully.]]
Reiner: “There we go.”
Jackson: “Well I be damned.”
Micheal: “Everything is in working parameters right now.”
Lanius: “Fucking hell Reiner, it actually works.”
Venahn: “Congratulations brother. You performed a miracle.”
Kullvero: <<Why hello brother.>>
[[The Prime Excalibur lets out a groan of pain as it grips at its face-scratching and looking at unfamiliar hands. Trying to figure out what has happened to him. It growls but less out of aggressive rage and more out of panic and fear. It staggers to its feet, staring at shaking hands in an unfamiliar body. Kullvero steps forwards and starts with Dax sign.]]
Kullervo: <<Brother, you are going to be okay. But you need to calm down.>>
[[The Warframe’s head immediately jerks up to look at Kullvero. Then past him. It lets out a pained shriek not of confusion but of rage.]]
Reiner: “Oh fuck.”
Micheal: “Get the fucking taser ready-!”
[[Excalibur Prime roars again and uses 1ST ABILITY: SLASH DASH and instantly shatters the barrier in the charge. It knocks Kullervo off his feet and slams Wukong aside into the surprised Atlas Prime. It doesn’t bother fighting them. Instead the Prime Warframe makes a beeline right for the other Excalibur in the room. Umbra immediately pulls Venahn behind him and puts himself between him and the rampaging prime Warframe. Almost instantly Excalibur Prime is on top of him raising one hand up and 4TH ABILITY: EXALTED BLADE appears in its hand and swings directly into the side of Umbra’s head. It shatters part of his armoured head and exposes that infamous white milky eye.]]
[[Umbra recoils in pain at that and lets out 2ND ABILITY: RADIAL HOWL which sends the rogue Warframe stumbling backwards. Umbra quickly forces himself back into his two legs as the other Warframes catch themselves. Their Tenno have been sent scattering all over the lab, Venahn has been forced to the floor, Jackson slammed into a nearby table, Lanius has been dazed by the bright flash of light, Reiner has been thrown over his table and Micheal is currently partially crushed under Wukong. Umbra growls low as he summons his own 4TH ABILITY: EXALTED BLADE and immediately clashes with Excalibur Prime. The two dance for a brief moment, blades sparking with each contact. But the Excalibur Prime’s stance is pristine ISNT IT SO FAMILIAR DAX BLOOD and it’s sheer fury wins out. It slashes Umbra across the back of his right knee in four quick moves which forces even the mighty old wolf of Lua to one knee and raises its blade for a killing blow.]]
[[Umbra lets out a roar of rage and looks up at his assailant. His milky eye swims, searching where he can no longer truly see with his “real” eyes. He finds his target and reaches up to look it in its face-the stance so familiar it could be his own. He realises in the snap of a second and lets out a horrified mournful roar, calling out in a voice that will not speak WHAT IS IT LIKE TO HAVE YOUR VOICE STOLEN OLD WOLF? But something-or rather someone throws himself in front of Umbra just as the blow comes down.]]
[[There is a sickening noise of Exalted Blade cutting through both flesh and steel and then a ragged gurgling gasp of pain. The rampaging Warframe looks up and stills, almost horrified at what it has done. The Exalted Blade has slashed deep into Venahn’s neck, certainly past his wind pipe and deep into his spine. The only reason he has been fully decapitated yet is his hands practically holding the blade back, gripping around it desperately even as blood runs down its surface. Venahn staggers, shaking on two legs before he spits up blood and drops to the floor. ISN’T THIS FAMILIAR VENAHN? THIS TIME ITS YOU. The whole thing has happened in mere seconds.]]
[[Almost instantly, the Warframes respond. Wukong is the first to respond and leaps from where he was knocked down and connects a flying knee directly into Excalibur Prime’s face-causing it to stagger aside and let go of the blade. Staggering straight into the connecting punch of Atlas Prime. The Meteor Breaker hits the interloper with a sickening 1-2 combo as Lanius shadow boxes beside him, the two moving in perfect sync. Kullervo seems to appear 1ST ABILITY: WRATHFUL ADVANCE in the moment it take to blink and slams his great Garum into Excalibur Prime’s Chest. It lets out a discordant chime before immediately teleporting back beside a now clearly aggregated Dante who raises Noctua.]]
Dante: “BEGONE FROM MY HOUSE!”
[[The void cursed words sends the beast careening into the cage with a slam as it impacts the back wall. It tries to push itself back onto its feet but the fields quickly reactive as Micheal staggers away from the control panel, his leg bent at the wrong angle.]]
[[Umbra hasn’t seen any of this, now desperately clutching at Venahn’s bleeding throat THEROLEHASSWITCHED ONCESAVIOURNOWVICTIM and roaring out in panic. Crimson blood splutters out from between his fingers and Venahn’s eyes meet with Umbra’s milky one. Venahn clutches at Umbra’s hand as he weakly squeezes it, trying to reassure the old man. Jackson and Reiner are immediately at Venahn’s side ATLEASTYOUHAVEHELPLITTLEFAILURESHEDIDNT.]]
Jackson: “Fucking shit-Rein-!”
Reiner: “I know! I know! Get ready to reset him back a bit this isn’t going to be nice.”
Jackson: “I can’t reset something as bad as this!”
Reiner: “Then fucking TRY! Buy him some time! He’ll bleed out otherwise!”
Jackson: “Shit-shit shit. Lan get Oberon!”
[[Lanius immediately vaults over the tables and snatches Jackson’s fallen HUD and starts speaking down the line. Wukong has immediately leapt over to the two Tenno and untied his great ribbons to start binding Venahn’s injuries. Meanwhile Kullervo turns to the locked up Warframe who has sunk to its knees with its hands streaked in crimson. He looks more like executioner then sinner with Garum in one hand.]]
Kullvero: <<What have you done?>>
[[The Warframe looks up at Kullervo startled, tilting its head in horror even as its hands tremble. If Warframes could cry, this one would.]]
Excalibur Prime: <<How do you know Dax Battle Sign?>>
Kullervo: <<Taught. Taught by the same man you may have just killed.>>
[[Excalibur Prime buries his head into his hands. If Warframes could cry and weep as mortal men do, he’d probably be doing so now. But Warframes cannot cry so instead he shakes uncontrollably.]]
Excalibur Prime: <<I have killed my son. Oh Executors, I’ve murdered my own son!>> OH HOW THE CYCLE REPEATS ON AND ON INTO ETERNITY
Kullervo: <<What?>>
[[Kullervo looks like he’s about to start swinging. Atlas walks over, cracking his knuckles as the Excalibur Prime shakily signs-but it makes no sense. Dante is quickly behind them as well, closing his book.]]
Atlas: <<Spit it out!>>
Dante: <<Write it out.>>
[[Excalibur Prime shakily stands, even with a limp and scorch marks on his chest. He writes out a short phrase on the cracked back wall.]]
“I AM ISSAH.”
[[TERMINATE FEED]]