#tennostory

Sectarus Edius sent me off-world to pick up items for him. I tried to refuse, not wanting to leave his side, suggesting that the task was something that Petros or Emery, his servants could handle. He declined, of course, saying that he needed me to go specifically.

So I left the tower my Sectarus controlled, heading to an ice sheet somewhere on Neptune of all places. It wasn't until I had left that I had realized I'd left my private communicator. I thought of nothing, I thought I wouldn't need it. If I had that stupid radio...

When I returned to the Tower, It was in ruins. Smoke billowing and fires raging...  dead orokin and servants everywhere. I began to panic, I started searching for them. I could feel my heart pounding harder with each corpse I passed. I finally found one of them. Petros, he lay in pieces, scattered about as if he were garbage. He was my best friend...

I mourned while I moved, continuing for Edius. I stumbled upon Emery, she had been stabbed through the back, no idea that she was going to die. At this point, there was only pain, sadness and fury building inside of me that not even the Emperors themselves could stop. I made my way to the top of the tower. To find... a fellow Tenno, standing over my bloodied Sectarus.

"Ah, Nerites... I didn't know you were sent here as well?"

I knew this tenno, Snasha. One of the few that still spoke to me after the Margulis incident. I was shaking with anger. As she stood there, holding her blood covered sword down to my Sectarus. I began to draw my rapier.

"Stop." My body seized upon Edius's weak command.

I looked down at him, bewildered by his action. He simply shook his head.

"I do not care if even the emperor's order it. You do not harm your own kind, you are not to make the same foolish choices us Orokin. You are kind Nerites. You did terribly on the executor's test, I'm not sure you could hurt something if you even wanted to. That's why I wanted to protect you."

"I was just trying to do good." Snasha looked down to Edius, with a bitter look on her face. "I'm sorry."

"You have nothing to be sorry for, I've stolen enough lifetimes to have seen this coming. I'm glad I had my chance to save one." Edius nodded to both Tenno. "Now be on your way, clean up the mess I and others like me have created..."

Those were my Sectarus's last words.... the last order he ever gave me. Those words are the reason I fight now, to make the system a fair and just place for all. For Petros, for Emery... for Edius. I eventually forgave Snasha, and we’ve become quite close... but the story doesn’t end there. There is so much more I have to tell... once the tears stop flowing.

The tests that Archimedian Margulis performed upon the Tenno weren't that arduous. I was nervous, that probably what went wrong. When she... when Margulis asked to see my energy, I let out too much. I blinded her, and in the process myself.

I was all but sure that because of me the Orokin would execute all of the zariman children. But, Margulis protected them, and me. With all her might until her last breath, she nurtured each of us as if we were her own. A saint, more so than the Orokin.

It wasn't until Executor Ballas turned Margulis's work into a weapon that I was spoken to by anyone. My scores on his filthy test were so abhorrently high that I was placed as a guard to a high ranking official within the cast. Sectarus Edius.

I was led by servants to my new master. They were very wary of me but rough. They stopped me in front of Edius and forced me into a bowing position to which he responded. "Be gentle with him!" His voice was so, calming. It was not the harsh cold tone most Orokin gave.

I felt a soft, cool hand against my cheek. The Sectarus tilted my head and lifted my arms. "You look like you faint at any moment child, tell me your name." He asked calmly and I quickly responded.

Sectarus Edius asked me many questions, about my parents, about Margulis, about myself. He asked me what I wanted to do, before the Zariman incident. It was the first time in so so very long that I had an answer on the tip of my tongue. The word Biologist flew off my tongue in an instant, warranting a cheerful laugh from the Orokin.

The conversation went on for what felt like hours. I happily answered his questions. I didn't have many friends among the Tenno before, because of my accident with Margulis. Sectarus Edius himself guided me to a room where he told me to rest.

I was shaken awake by a servant who told me that the Sectarus had requested my presence. I was guided to an outdoor area where I could hear not only Sectarus but Executor Avantus as well. I could catch word of a favor being repaid just barely.

I was quickly taken by the Executors servants elsewhere. I could hear some Archimedians talking, whispering among themselves whilst I was sat in a cold chair. Then I felt a prick and I was asleep.

When I awoke before me there was a shiny warframe, the Hydroid I still use till this day.  But what threw me, was the fact that I could see it. I walked close to the frame, staring at myself. My eyes had been replaced. I quickly turned around as the door opened.

"Do you like them, young Tenno?" My new eyes met Sectarus Edius. He was radiant, almost as much as the Executors, whom I now resembled thanks to my eyes.

I thanked him profusely, I can still recall the smile on his face. That was the start of my guardianship. It grew to more of a small family over time, even the servants became akin to odd siblings.

Let's end this memory now, while it is still fond... only sadness and sorrow follow...

The Zariman was lit only by dim red emergency lighting. I had no idea what was going on. I called out for my parents as the other kids were doing. Unlike most of them, my parents were Archemedians, they'd probably know what to fix.

My mother, Nasia, was one of the scientists that designed the Orokin ships. My father, Adrianos, was a void surveyor. They were calm in situations like this, meanwhile, I was usually a nervous wreck.

I couldn't see far, there was smoke everywhere. Many other tenno tried pulling me into rooms and saying weird things were happening to the adults. I ignored them, I had to find my parents.

It's funny now that I think about it. I miss them so much yet... I can't remember their faces. I did eventually find the man that used to be my father, he was long gone before I found him in the massive ship. He tried to kill me but another tenno saved me. She got me into a room full of kids that were hiding.

 I remember we sang songs while we waited... I lost count of the days, but we were found... Saved... But it's all still so cloudy... Maybe later?