Dark Times.

Prologue


The planet Mars, the red world. A planet named after a God of war. How fitting is it for a world of a god to be riddled in battle, and bloodshed. Like a sacrifice to the god in which the planet was named after. I remember those days.

The Grineer in the old war they were genetically manufactured soldiers. They served their twin Queens. They were bent on making every colony part of their twisted empire. The problem with Grineer troops were that since they were mass produced they were all mainly genetic defects. The Grineer were everywhere they shot at anything that wasn’t one of their clones. My fellow tenno tried to hold onto the world. We killed hundreds of Grineer leaving mass graves in our wake. Yet those times were hard as well sometimes the Grineers numbers were to thick to mow down. The warframe, and they Operator's shot so many times that it wasn’t recognizable by the end.

No reinforcements came to help the Tenno. All the other planets being under siege as well. For the Tenno’s enemies they would just be made right out of the wood work tossed a gun, and sent to fight. When Tenno say the red planet. Most mean the bloodshed on mars as it was seen everywhere from both Tenno, and Grineer.

The Grineer wasn't even the worst part. There was another Tenno a traitor that found sport in hunting other Tenno. His name was Stalker. He marks Tenno he hunts letting them know he is coming. Very few though have been actually marked as in branded. Mine is in the very center of my upper back.

He even marked my friends, along with my love. I did whatever I could to avoid him, and keep control over Mars. But one day our Lotus told us to sleep to get into a cryopod till woken. Lotus wanted us to come back when needed since Mars might be lost. My friends, and my love Gwen in her Valkyr warframe went to find some. When we did I was the first to get in. Not knowing it was a trap.

Out of nowhere explosions went off as my pod activated. Lotus told me that she had no idea someone would be here. I was locked in, and saw the Stalker walking towards my friends. Out Rino charged at him Scindo in hand, but was quickly dispatched of. His body falling to the ground, and head shortly followed. Last thing I saw was falling stone, my friends fighting or running, and Stalker ever getting closer.

The pod finally put me under. Thinking that it would be okay I went in using my Excalibur warframe. I had no idea whether I was dead or not. I heard no voices nothing. As I slept time moved on without me.

Chapter 1: Rebirth

The pod hissed to life as power flooded into its systems. I looked around the pod sleepy as it just woke me. Lotus in the top right part of my vision. She was saying something, and seemed frantic. Whatever she was say I didn't hear my systems slowly turning back online, and trying to speed it up myself while in the pod wasn't very helpful.

As the systems were near full compatibility lotus left. Guess she thought I heard her, and understood the situation. The only word I made out was the word danger. The pods inside was some kind of stained glass. The color was crystal blue. The pod began to open. It opened like a flower a lotus. The pod door was six separate pieces. Two at the head to the upper chest, two for the mid section from the lower chest to the top of the legs, and the other two one for each leg.

The doors opened to their respective sides. Artificial light pouring in as a dull yellow orange color. The pod was propped up against a wall. The room looked like it was big. It now most of it was caved in. Probably from the explosions he heard before going out. The room was a red rust color, and looked like it was made of clay. I was obviously still on mars.

I finally grabbed the sides of the pod, nod pulled myself out. Once I stepped on the ground I almost fell legs numb from a long sleep. I took another step that I would end up regretting. When my foot landed on the ground I heard the sound of metal being scraped against the ground. When I looked down to look at it I saw a broken scindo. One of the blades broken, and the long hilt snapped at the middle. I recognized the color combination. It belonged to one of my friends. A Hybriod warframe with the nickname of squids. He loved using that warframe, and the water so the name fit.

I knelt down, and grabbed it then saw a hand under the rubble next to it. The mix of colors was the same. It had to be his, so I started moving the rubble. I didn't want to accept the reality before me. Until I moved the large stone over his head. The head was to the side, and partly caved in. The rock must have hit his head twisting his neck to the side, and snapped his neck.

I put the rock back, and looked away not wanting to see more. I looked around paying more attention to the room. I started to see more bodies of my friends, and dried purple blood of the Tenno scattered on mostly everything. I was scared, and shocked. One thing was keeping a glimmer of hope though. I didn't see some other members there, and I especially didn't see Gwen’s corpse amongst them.

Then voices in a familiar Grineer tone was heard nearby just outside the room. Soon the stone rubble was being moved out of the way. I looked around, and either a weapon was missing or broken in some manner do to time or the stone. So, I readied my self standing in front of the rubble with my hands up ready to fight.

Then I heard a Grineer yell, and an explosive went off on the other side. Throwing me back, and stone rubble followed. My back hitting the wall near the. Pod. I fell onto my hands, and knees as thumbless hit me. A cloud of dust rose from the explosion. Only giving me shadows to look at as five Grineer walked in. From the shadows I could tell four gunners, and the fifth was taller, and more lean. Probably having a energy shield around him.

The thin Shadow looked at the other Grineer, and spoke. “Search the room for Tenno scum,” It said in a raspy, wet voice. That was some what deep. “I want them dead, and have their corpse at my feet,” he ordered. As the troops started searching.

One came right up to me as I was about to raise to my feet. The Grineer gunner kicked me in the ribs. Causing me to fall to the ground as I winced in pain. The gunner grabbed one of my arms, and another grabbed the other.

They dragged me other to their lead who looked down at my like nothing more than an insect. The dust finally settled, and I looked up at a hideous genetic defect face. Right over his heart was and Orkin key buried into his flesh. I heard about a Grineer with that. It was General Vor an important enemy of the Tenno. He sought out to make a Tenno loyal only to the Grineer.

I wasn't sure why he wanted Dead warframes if he wanted to make a Tenno serve his empire's cause. I stayed down know I was at a disadvantage with Grineer holding my arms. Neither gunner looked General Vor in the eyes, but instead settled for looking at the dirt. I how ever looked up at him. A crude, broken like grin from on the right side of his face as he looked down at me.

“You will be the Grineers greatest weapon Tenno,” General vor exclaimed. Spit came from his lips as he spoke. The saliva landed on the warframe which disgusted him. General Vor must of had a new plan rather than hijacking a warframe this time. Whatever it was he needed dead tenno warframes, and for a soldier he might keep me alive. That way the thing he creates is alive with natural instincts for survival in combat.

Whatever the plan was I didn’t care. I had to find the rest of my team. My Friend, and especially find Gwen. With each minute I wasted here with them, was a minute I lost in a search for them. General Vor Then looked back at the Grineer gunners holding my arms locked, “We already have one living female Tenno another isn’t needed for now.” Obviously meaning that I wasn’t an asset alive for now. He wanted them to put me down like a dog.

He turned around, and walked out stepping over the rubble. Then I got a glimpse of something on his waist a piece of armor I gave gwen two years back. The female frame he spoke of I hoped it was her. “Vor! That Female Tenno. What was the frame?,” I said in a deep commanding voice. By now Vor was about to turn a corner to disappear from view, but stopped, and that damn grin came back to his face. It showed some of his uneven, misshapen, and rotting yellow teeth.

General Vor’s head turned to look at me, and he said with evil glee in his voice, “A valkyr Warframe electric green, and seafoam blue.” The muscle in my arms tennced. The Gunners grip tightened on my arms in response. Gwen had those colors on hers. She wanted to be the Brightest member of the team. Be our light in the dark she said. Mine was navy blue from the main color, and grey lines to emphasize the muscles on my body. The grey lines were thin, and followed the direction of the muscles that it was over.

The lines made my slender muscles stand out more, but gave no hit to the real strenght of them. Everyone said I wasn’t really good at some color combinations this just happened to be one. Either way that meant he had Gwen, and I couldn’t let Vor have her. Currently I was in no shape to fight him though. I didn’t have any weapons on me. I would have to steal her back before he can leave Mars. Once Vor was done saying what he had to he disappeared around the corner.

The other Gunner went behind My, and put a gun to the back of my head firmly placed against it. The sound of thrusters started up outside the room. Vor must have come here on a small transport. I couldn’t let him get away not now I knew with Vor I could find Gwen. I had to find a way to get away from these gunners, and quick before they blow open my skull.

My only hope was that this gun needed a spin up to spare a few seconds. For right now each second was precise to his survival. Then I heard the inner workings of the gunner turn, and grind to life. My hope wasn’t missed place. Then I stopped thinking, and just reacted. I learned that in such situations like this instinct especially the instinct to survive, and kill went hand in hand. I my moved my head to the right over my shoulder just before the shot went off. The discharge from the gun was very loud especially with the barrell not even an inch from the helmet. The second shot was about to come, and I only had 5 seconds to do something. I had to get my arms free so, I put my head back enough to be right beside the barrell.

Without hesitation I Through my head to the left forcing the hot barrel with it. The barrel fired it’s second shot. The red hot barrel burned against the helmet of my warframe. With Warframes being Symbiotic with the operator, as the operator uses them. I felt the fully burn of the barrel like it was right on my skin. Yet I still miss speak the minds of a warframe, and operator become one as well in memory, and thought. So, it really was burning my skin.

The third shot went off just on time. Right over the hand of the gunner holding my left arm. I pulled my head away as the round shot through the Grineers hand, and into my tricep. The gunner holding my left arm let go to grab his hand which had a pretty large hole in it. I winced in pain but had not time to care about the pain. With my left arm free I turned to the one on my right. Sliding my left leg out from under me. So now I was pulling a Grineer towards me, with one still behind me holding a gun, My left leg out in front of my so it looked like i was taking a knee, and my left arm was now arching around in front of me to grab the grineer gunner still holding on.

I pivoted on my left leg, and pressed it down to lift myself up. My left arm wrapped around the grineers throat. He finally let go of my right arm. When I stopped turning, and after getting my arm around the gunners throat I faced the one that held the gun. He was stunned at what just happened. HE quickly went to aim for my head again, but when he fired I moved my head. Then placed the Grineer I held in front of the shot. I didn’t see if the shot hit, yet I knew it did when the body went limp in my arms.

Quickly without thinking I dropped the body to my right, and quickly leaned forward while taking a step towards the armed threat. He went to take a step back, but I grabbed the bottom of his rifle’s barrel with my left hand. Now that I could see the gun it looked Like it was put together with scrap metal. The top of the long barrel was rounded. The center of the barrel on both sides of the arch had two small glass tubes with a orange liquid. Must have been a prototype.

Quickly putting my right hand on his left shoulder. Pulling him towards me lifting the gun hitting him in the head with it. The gunner let go of the gun which is what I wanted. My right hand let go, and grabbed the rifle’s handle. Turning it over in my hand soon I was holding it the right way like an old M4 assault rifle.

Without aiming I placed the barrel against the Grineer wide chest, and fired three more shots. The body hit the floor with a loud thud. The third Grineer looked at my and fear was obvious on his face. The fear filled face gave me a good feeling that actually put a chill down my spine. Then fired two more rounds into him when he hit the ground red dust rose the slowly fell to the ground.

I then grabbed the top of the gun with both hands, and broke it over my leg. Then checked the timer my warframe automatically turned on when I started fighting. I killed three Grineer gunner threats with a disadvantage in two minutes. I realized the sound of the thrusters was faint now. After dropping the gun part. I quickly ran out from where I saw Vor go. Once I got outside I was greeted by a hot, and very bright yellow sun. The red sand that covered the planet looked like a sea before me. The sand dunes it's waves.

Then I saw a dark dot off in the distance. The ship most have been large for me to still be able to hear the thrusters. Before I went into that cryopod this area had a lot of clay stone structures. Guess time destroyed them. For nothing can stand the test of time not truly. Then the dot started to get closer to the ground they must have found something of interest.

So, I started running through the desert in front of me towards it. All I could hope for was that whatever they found would occupy them long enough for me to get there. Three hours later the ship looked some what bigger, but not by much. I still held onto the thought of saving Gwen.

After getting Gwen I would go look for the rest of my team. Bring the rest of us together once more. Then I saw a small scavenger team of Grineer. Just gunners, and one ballista. They haven't seen me yet. Otherwise I would be dodging bullets. They were right near a small red clay hut like object.

Chapter 2: From Ash to Ash

I went down towards them I had no weapon, but that wasn’t going to stop me. At least when I went into the cryopod I brought scanners with me so if I found something. I could scan,and see what it is. Meaning I could probably find a tenno weapon. Before the Lancers even got to see me the Ballista noticed me walking towards them. The aimed at me the red laser light from it’s Vulkar pointing right at my chest.

I didn’t stop approaching though. I kept walking towards them. Then the shot was fired. I only took a side step, and the bullet missed. Good thing is that with a seeable laser so i could tell where the bullet wound hit. So, I could easily see move out of it’s way. Thing was getting out of the way in time. I kept approaching them unafraid of any in coming shots. What ever they found in there I was going to find it, then use it to get back Gwen.

The Ballista fired again, and like before I moved out of it’s way. The lancers lined up beside her, and aimed to fire once I get in range. I took another three steps before their guns blazed to life,and fired. I made a lot more movement now to dodge the incoming fire. I didn’t dodge all of them though. One grazed my leg, One of the Ballistas shots hit my right shoulder. A lancer round then ended up lodging itself between two ribs on my left.

Then once in reach of a lancer I grabbed him, pulled him towards me, and smashes his face with my left elbow. He dropped the gun which I quickly picked it up, and aimed at the ballista with it being the bigger threat. I pulled back the trigger, and watched as the bullets quickly fired themselves through the barrel hastily, and angrily at their target.The lancer that dropped the gun quickly got back to action though. As bullets started hitting dead on into the ballista decently thick armor. The other lancers got away not to be hit by any stray bullets.

The unarmed lancer lunged at me if I wasn’t paying attention to him since his didn’t pass out from the first hit I would have been caught off guard. I moved out of the way took my finger off the trigger, and ducked thinking that once I stopped the others would start to shoot back. Sad thing is that I was right without thinking they fired. Taking out one of their own lancers for me.

Once completely down I aimed, and fired again after a couple more shots the Ballista fell to the ground limp, and hits the sand with a cushioned thud. With the Ballista down I quickly dispatched the remaining Lancers with ease. I stood back up, and decided till I find something better I would hold onto the gun.

Looking back at the clay hut I saw stairs that went down further inside. This must have just been the entrance to whatever was underneath. Put the gun over my shoulder, and the frame grabbed it somehow holstering it. I Actually didn’t know how a warframe latches onto the gun to keep it at easy access, but then again I Don’t remember much from the Orikin Empire. Just most of the blood shed that led to a brief peace. As well as the creation of warframes.

I started to step towards the hut with only a small hint of hesitation.