Nex

Long ago, there were 2 different clans that existed with one another, though not in harmony. After the Argus Event occurred and yanked the Nocturnus Clan into the Twilight Cage, they began to conquer the neighbouring colonies and building up an Empire of their own to immense success- their rapid technological advances and strategy was what allowed this dominion to happen.

Of course a good amount of the lower goons and even a non-selected few Higher-ups weren't aware of the more nefarious ambitions their leader had in store and once upon a time within the 5 year gap of arriving and the clan's demise there was an inkling of...worry, planted like a seed in his mind. He wanted to make sure that all of the members of the clan were working effectively and could be an "Absolute Trust" in case there was ever a rebellion- a force that wouldn't be able to want to budge if they knew. It was in fact best that they did know.

Via collection of members that performed poorly the Imperator intended to alter their minds- brainwash them so that they could only obey. By picking the lower performers and using te guise of a training program it would be easy to deceive the rest and keep them off the trail as to what is really happening. It is worth noting though that many of these poor performing members weren't aspiring highly because they didn't want to. Be it a disdain for the conquering- otherwise referred to as "management" of the other colonies or another aspect, it wasn't they were incapable.

One in particular was a young, black Echidna with an impressive physique so to say. She was called Nex and was among the lowest ranking of the Marauders; one wouldn't say that she actually had an extreme potential for strategic thinking and expert combat abilities at that. For a while she had a growing feeling that things weren't really aiming for the return to their home as advertised by their egotistical leader and it really made her not want to apply herself in her work. This also meant the hot-headed side of her that could be set off surprisingly easy wasn't made known either.

Of course when the neural adjustments happened that didn't matter in the slightest. The technology was experimental but if it was fatal their most benevolent Imperator could say they were lost on an excavation mission or the likes. Fortunately and Unfortunately it was successful and every single one was fallen to the Neural rewiring that made them the most obedient of subserviant fighters. Nex was no different and her mind was locked into a command receiver like the rest. Her purple eyes were permanently singed so the top half was red, the bottom purple. This red decal is present on all of the Echidnas that were brainwashed even.

What allowed Nex to stand out however was her unknown potential that was of great use of IX and his ambitions- she could sweep away a galleon of enemy forces with ease and lead those that flee into inescapable situations that rendered them prisoners. Colonisation went smoothly quickly with these controlled forces and it somewhat soothed the ignorant masses of the other Nocturnus members. A happy accident from this is that the brainwashing scheme was ditched as the success surpassed the best of expectations, all thanks to the shining star that was finally conditioned into a proper service to the Legacy of the Nocturnus Clan.

Nex rose within the ranks considerably- from only a month she went from a Marauder Scout to not even a Velite but a Princeps; she became among some of the best of the best in that crop and had gained an improved uniform where red lights adorned her purple latex suit that clung onto her ample figure. As reward and for better improvement her weapon was custom and functioned as a singular, two-handed blade. Red energy appeared as if they were saw blades and allowed her to travel on it across the ground and walls alike when not being a devastating weapon in battle.

IX had nothing to fear, he altered the form of their minds and after this promising demonstration it would be impossible for it to fail. Some could argue a logical thought process, others not, but it did fail eventually. Nex had slowly began to whittle at the mind control and gain her will back from the locked off depths which became an easier mission as it progressed and she was shown the many horrible deeds she actively participated in, and the knowledge of what was really planned for their home world was the final push to snap her free. She was finally laid free to feel the recoil of her manipulated self's awful deeds and left her wanting so badly to atone for them.

She was a clever girl and had a plan of action. Where she eventually clung back control of her mind was empty so no one knew that she was no longer a pawn for use. And with her knowledge, position, and revealed capability she took it upon herself to sabotage future operations discreetly or to free prisoners, damage equipment, and more in secret. This was not a perfect plan however given that over time it got only more suspicious that there may have been a mole inside the clan; given the patterns the Higher-ups were able to call out Nex as the perpetrator and was met with the full brunt of the Nocturnus Clan's attitude to traitors. IX was particularly angry given that this meant even with her brain royally scrambled she still had the will to rebel, and he decided he wanted to see her broken down.

The following was a marathon of torture involving electricity, pressure, mental anguish... sexual abuse, but Nex didn't give in. She realised that even though her mind was fine tuned to be obedient she stood there a tortured rebel who wouldn't stand for the horrendous actions of both this clan and the ones her own hands were made to take part in. Of course, she didn't choose to but it was still in her to want to fix it. These small specks of desires allowed her to endure torture enough for an escape opportunity where the other reconfigured Echidnas managed to break her out- themselves getting freed of the control. It was as if the process of brainwashing itself had slowly undone itself- this might be attested to it being experimental. 

They were to escape on ship and did so by rushing from a point where supplies were being brought in- effective as much as it was blatantly obvious. IX himself was going to take action before anyone could learn more of why they were doing this but the Perfect Gizoids had shot down the ship onto the Voxai Colony, and they had reported bodies at the crash site. This was quickly spun as a story of traitors attempting to ravish the technology being developed to help them reach their most beloved home world and sparked apathy to the ones lost. IX was happy they were disposed of and even happy with the results- albeit not a preferred outcome.

It was true that bodies were reported at the crash site but less than the number of those on the ship. The Perfect Gizoids weren't told exactly how many there were meant to be, and IX was confident that they were all disposed of upon hearing that there were corpses. Nex was tortured and weakened. Besides, he had business to attend to with going back to the main world for the Master Emerald within a short span of time. It was too late for her to be a threat even if she was alive, something he still highly doubted.

Though sure enough, Nex was among the bundle of survivors of the crash and were hidden securely by some local Voxai. A lot of them managed to escape despite such a stupid and reckless idea, it was a miracle. Hell, she even managed to get her weapon on the way out since no one had taken it for use because of how unconventional it was. When Nex recovered she had planned to begin an assault on Nocturne to kill the root at the very least. IX was by far the absolute root cause of the evil reeking from the Nocturnus Clan, at least in her eyes. Her desire for revenge was burning as well and she wanted to see him fall. With the other survivors they had wiped off the markings that the Nocturnus Echidnas had on their fur though she kept the rubbery uniform as a way to "mock" them.

When she was fully healed and ready for combat with her newly steeled will and resolve she was heavily surprised to find that a group from the home dimension had entered the Twilight Cage, and her surprise was insurmountable when Nex learnt that they took down IX and the clan with the other colonies in a total assault! It was amazing as much as it was totally infuriating that she couldn't have helped or even act out revenge! Of course, eventually she simmered down and listened to logic- at this point many of the remaining members were in a total panic given their leader was destroyed and both potential backups were also destroyed, and as Nex had learnt the Procurator had even helped these dimensional travellers to destroy them. 

She came up with an idea; Nex went to Nocturne after pursuing the leaders of the different colonies in the assault and offered to help in changing Nocturne- to change the Twilight Cage itself into a better place for them, and to help in taking out the rogue Nocturnus Clan members that now sprinkle across the Twilight Cage and potentially plan to cause a new uprising, be it in IX's honour or his absence. Nex had to prove herself with some hard labour but had managed to reach a point that she gained their trust; when telling them of the brainwashing event she also requested that the others be left alone unless they choose to join, and to please forgive them and let her work off their crimes herself. This was...an additional attractive attribute to them.

Now Nex works to find and take down remnants of the Nocturnus Clan that seek to cause more trouble across the Twilight Cage and assist in changing Nocturne into a hub for all the colonies which would also be a symbol of peace- an example of why they should not try to conquer one another in the future. Something such as this was not her idea but Nex liked it and wished to help as part of atonement. On her end this can be physical labour and combat, something her though supple body was definitely capable to handle in unison with her strong, if short-tempered mind. They also allowed ex-Nocturnus Clan members that sought redemption or mercy to assist all the same as well while the remaining bubbles of the evil side were to be brought in.