After some time spent on work, family, and world domination I have finally added the 1st chapter after the prelude. Working on the next chapter now where we will see more of Shubs ordeals and the first hints of imminent danger. If you have questions, requests, suggestions please review or send a PM :)

This is my first fan fiction piece based in the Warhammer 40.000 universe. I am a long time player of the tabletop game and dabble in the occasional game of Only War (RPG) If the story pleases the readers of this website I will continue to add to it.

I neither own the Warhammer 40.000 universe nor do I work for any of the companies who do own it

Chapter 1 In fire forged

Segmentum Tempestus, Orpheus Sector, Wagner System, Wagner Secundus , Munitorum Refinery 223.88

Awake. Coughing, muttered curses and the repetitive whine of faulty machinery recycling stale air.

Shub opened his eyes, waiting patiently for his vision to get accustomed to the dim lights in the room he shared with about two dozen others. A variety of smells assaulted his senses, none of them pleasant: sweat, urine, the stink of rotten teeth and other bodily odours.

As the rest of the occupants noisily went about their routines the boy warily scanned his surroundings as he reached under his filthy shirt to check if his few meagre belongings were still there. His hands grasped the pouch and sighed with relief. Grown men were killed over trinkets these days he was pretty sure people would have no qualms over killing him for what he carried.

Slowly he traced the shape of the small Aquila pendant hidden in the pouch, its edges warm to the touch and worn by a thousand similar caresses.

The metal pendant represented the last link with his past. A past he knew very little off. He was 12 years old, terran standard, and had been working in Manufactorium Forge Gamma IX for as long as he could remember. The years of hard labour in the claustrophobic tunnels and hallways had aged him beyond his years. Tall for his age, his body was thin and packed with wiry muscles and covered in welts and scars from various accidents, fights, or lashings by one of the overseers. His head was covered in short stubble as all the labourers were doused with a chemical mixture once every month to kill parasites with the added effect of removing all hair. Grey eyes set in a thin face with a rather hawkish nose gave him an inquisitive air.

Taking a moment longer Shub recalled his parents. The chaos of a large city. Massed humanity screaming, Enforcers shouting and cracking skulls and limbs left and right with great mauls. The face of his mother in the distance, mouth working furiously to make herself heard over the din of the crowd. Then the sound of explosions and a wave of violence as thousands of men and women surged as one to flee. Pain as he fell, a young boy only, tossed aside and trod upon. Then darkness.

Six years ago but still every detail was as clear and precise as if it had happened seconds ago. In those six years he had come to realize he was different and that his mind sometimes pulled strange tricks on him.

A mechanical voice started droning a litany of labour over the Manufactorum network and Shub's eyes opened. His attention once again on his surroundings and the figure towering over him. The boy was 3 years his senior and vastly larger. A broad face with slightly porcine features connected to a flabby chest with no discernible neck and arms and legs like enormous pillars of flesh.

One could have mistaken Gorond for a grown man had it not been for the childish grin on his face as he studied Shub.

He playfully swatted Shub on the shoulder, knocking him over in the process. "Still dreaming Shub? You'd better hurry up or Overseer Malnaden will have your hide"

The giant of a youth extended a large beefy hand and pulled Shub from the ground.

"If you didn't insist on behaving like a drunk Grox I would have been on my way to the forge already Gor!" Shub replied with a grin. He ducked another of Gorond's playful swings, punched the young man in the side (achieving about as much effect as a snotling poking a hillside) and darted towards the doorway of the dormitory where the rest of the labourers were already on their way to work.

Despite being a spectacular physical mismatch Shub and Gorond had become friends from the moment they first met. After Shub had awoken one day in a grimy holding pen covered in bruises and bandages he would have lost it if it hadn't been for the lumbering adolescent trying to calm him.

Claiming to be the son of an underhive trader Gorond had explained to Shub that they were part of a large group of children and young men captured and forced into service as labourers.

After crying for days on end and several beatings by other labourers Shub learned that it paid to fade into the background and blend with the crowd. Endless days of pushing carts filled with ore or carrying stacks of components left him with very little time to think about his misfortune.

His fellow labourers consisted of hundreds of grim men and children, most claiming to have been robbed of their freedom and forced to work. Not many complained for long though. The lashes of the overseers took care of the loudest protestors and those that continued to voice their objections were taken and never seen again.

In these strained social settings violence and crime were commonplace. Theft, beatings, even murder.

Shub and Gorond soon discovered that they were a natural team. Shub was smarter and faster and had a miraculous gift for retaining knowledge while Gorond was extremely strong for his age with a natural aptitude for cracking heads and throwing punches. In their first months as captive labourers they had fought, lied, and threatened their way into their natural place in the social ecosystem.

"I hear the Fangers are planning to raid the med bay tonight" Gorond whispered as he walked next to Shub through the cramped hallways. Shub glanced furtively at his surroundings "Quiet!" he whispered anxiously "If anyone hears us talking about raids or gangs we will be sent to the butchers for sure!" Gorond shrugged "The butchers are just scary stories told by the overseers to keep us in line" "Besides, I would do anything to get out of this hellhole"

The two boys kept their voices down and their pace up as they moved down the dark corridors of the Manufactorum. As they progressed the temperature increased and the rhythmic sounds of pistons and machinery could be heard in the distance. Only the occasional servitor crossed their path, blank eyes staring out of a pasty white face, movement's mechanical and devoid of any grace. Shub shuddered as he passed them and made the sign of the Aquila before hurrying onwards.

The tunnel opened into a cavernous hall lit from within by hellish fires erupting from forges and machines dotting the area. The workers quickly moved to their designated workstations where Shub and Gorond retrieved a set of shovels to fill carts with some type of rock. Around them hundreds of men worked in the terrible heat and smoke. The air was filled with grunts of effort and the occasional curse.

Shub cursed in pain as a heavy piece of rock tumbled from its position and landed on his foot. He had been loading carts for several hours now with only a brief pause to greedily gulp down the canteen of warm water they were given. He rested his weight on the shovel for a few seconds to regain his composure.

"Back to work you worthless piece of scum!" a voice bellowed behind him followed by a cracking sound and intense burning pain on his back. Stunned by the sudden pain Shub could only lie on the floor and grit his teeth. Standing right next to him was a tall muscular man dressed in a drab grey uniform. A skullcap left only his eyes and snarling smile bare. In his hands he held a whip worn with years of intensive use.

Several workers glanced from their workstations but took care not to attract any attention. Gorond glared at the overseers back with barely contained hatred but kept shovelling rocks.

"I beg forgiveness Overseer Malnaden" Shub said as he got back on his feet, taking care not to look the man in the eye.

The man cracked his knuckles "If you are not fit to work then you are worthless, scum" he eyed the other men nearby staring at each of them in turn."There is no room for weakness in service to the God-Emperor" "So you had better all get back to business or the butchers will have a busy night ahead of them" With a final look of disdain the Overseer moved on.

As soon as the Overseer had left Gorond rushed to Shub's side. "You all right?"

Shub grimaced and straightened his back. "I am used to the whip, it's my foot I am worried about" he said as he carefully tried to move his foot. Immediately he winced. "I think its broken Gor"

Gorond cursed and looked around. "Can you still stand Shub?" "If you make it through the rest of the day we can see the Doc over in Block 12"

The boy carefully put his foot down taking care to only put pressure on the heel. He nodded to his friend "I think I can manage until end of shift if that frekking Overseer doesn't show up.

"Frekkin overseer eh?" a sneering high pitched voice exclaimed. A group of five young men stood in a semi circle around them. They were obviously labourers as well with thick muscles and various scars and burns. Compared to the general populace they looked well fed though and they wore arrogant smirks on their faces.

The leader of the group eyed Shub and Gorond contemptuously "I think we shall have to inform Overseer Malnaden of your treacherous and filthy language"

Shub's mind raced as he tried to recall everything he knew about these individuals. Every detail and possible weakness. Immediately he remembered their names: Kel, Griffor,Vuzius, Wyrzbowski, and their leader Horst. All from the same upper Hive gang originally ,with some form of leverage with the Overseers and Enforcers. As his extraordinary mind sped up and made connections the information kept flooding. Griffor and Vuzius were addicted to inhaling bloodmist, a highly toxic drug causing hallucinations and internal bleeding. Wyrzbowski had a younger brother working in Manufactorum Delta IV whom he protected at all costs. Kel had a torn ligament in his right knee from a workplace accident five weeks ago. And Horst too had a weakness...

In mere seconds all this information wormed it's way into Shub's consciousness arming him with a powerful weapon.

With a smile Shub stared into Horst's eyes. "You and I both know why you will do no such thing Horst"

"What in Thrones name are you talking about?" Horst replied. Shub mentally took note of the slight twitch in Horst's left hand and the slight discolouration in his face and neck.

The two locked gazes for what seemed an eternity. Suddenly Horst whirled around and walked off, his face twisted in a mask of rage and his henchmen following him with bewildered expressions.

Shub exhaled and realized he hadn't drawn breath for quite some time.

"What was that all about?" Gorond inquired. "On second thought, I'd rather not know"

"Let's just get back to work and try and not avoid any more unwanted attention." Shub said biting away the pain. Sweat ran down his head and back but despite the oppressive heat he shivered.

Manufactorium Forge Gamma IX, a secure room far from prying eyes

"The boy is learning to use his strengths at last." A robed and hooded man sat behind a console showing various screens, all of them focussed on the face of a young boy with grey eyes.

"Forces are in motion and we dare not delay" The man sighed deeply. "Proceed as planned.

"As you command Master" From the shadows a hulking shape emerged, pallid flesh merged to cold steel. Cables and tubes connected to a large saw-like device. An emotionless face with a thick metal grille covering mouth and nose.