Claymores of the Pure Heart

by Brother Coa

In this story we shall see what exactly happened to Claymores between fall of Pieta and their reemergence 7 years ago. Many say that they have been all that time in the north, planing downfall of the Organisation and usually hanging out together. But only Ghosts themselves know what happened in that seven years, and the darkness that lies among the stars...

1. Chapter 1: Memories

Memories

"I can't believe that two years passed already." Miria is thinking "Two years, since we were saved at Pieta. And start our new lives, as servants of the God Emperor." She is remembering the situation from two years ago…

'Everybody around me lying on the ground, I don't know if they are dead or just unconscious. Awakened beings are everywhere, even ordinary Yoma have joined them. Some of them already left the scene and headed south, toward mainland, it seems that rest will be going after they are sure that they got all of us. It seemed that I am the last Claymore to fall that day. The pills started working and I was falling slowly into unconscious state, but I prayed to the god of Rabona for me, for my comrades. I prayed that all of us survive, to see another day and to take our revenge upon Organization. But before I fell into sleep I noticed something, the Yoma started to act strange. They were all quiet and looked toward something; I risked and lifted my head a little. I was still in shock from the battle and pills, but I gathered enough strength to lift my head a little and see what the Yoma saw. I didn't know what or who was that, silhouette in the mist looked like a giant was coming. Not as tall as Awakened Being, but taller than any Yoma or Human I ever saw. When he got a little closer, I was shocked – it was Dragan. I met the men at Paburo, he traveled together with Clare and that boy Raki. But he was a scholar, men who gather knowledge and record it in his books. What was he doing in Pieta? Did he lose his mind coming here?

Then I looked more closely at him, he was quite different from then. He was old men, probably in early fifties, he wear brown robes and a bag which was full of books. I was surprised that a Human was traveling with Claymore, and two Humans to that. He said it to us then that he is from some village high in the mountains, a village that was isolated from the rest of this land. To our surprise he didn't know what Yoma was, not until he got into this land apparently. He meets Clare at town not long after she took Raki to go with her. Apparently Clare said that he cut two Yoma himself in that town. It was hard for us to imagine this but he had a strange sword with himself. Smaller than our Claymores but stronger and more durable, he said that it was the sword of the ancestors. He was a strange men and suspicious to me from the very beginning. Even Deneve and Helen agreed, no way that ordinary Human can cut down several Yoma without breaking a sweat. His appearance was one thing, but his stories were totally different, as we were getting ready to go tomorrow we all sit down in Inn. In Clare's room and listen to his stories. He talked about some God Emperor who live out there in stars and watch over all Humanity. How Mankind is attacked from all sides by various forces, but how they prevail and have the Emperor who send his "Angels of Death" to protect them. That was his religion anyway, but I liked his way of thinking. Even if he was strange men, he was not stupid or mad. He was probably the smartest and wisest Human I met in my journeys as a Claymore. He talked about the day that Humans wouldn't need Claymores anymore, how ordinary people had the power to oppose them but are too scared to act. And he talked about times that will come, times when Men will learn many things and master the land, the sea and the air. Of course, Helen laughed at that idea. But deep down in her heart she knew that he was right, that ordinary people can do great things if they just weren't too suspicious and arrogant. He knew that to, he said that no matter what people think of us – he know that our part is important and that we are the only thing standing between Mankind and Yoma. He hated the Organization to, saying that people should get protection for free and not being harassed by Organization. He also didn't like the idea that Organization is using us lightly. He said that we are finest of Mankind warriors, and should be treated with respect. And that they should give us option do decide what to do in our lives, not declaring us traitors when we kill a bad men. I don't know where he learned all that back then, Clare said that she told him very little. If he concluded all that simply from observing Clare then he must be very wise men. But I bet that he had another source of information. And after our hunt ended, we depart ways and that was the last time I saw him. Until now, and he changed dramatically. From that old and wise men came a warrior in Pieta. He was clad in big armor painted in gold. His symbol was sculls that appeared on his both knees, his rist, and belt, he had a golden eagle as his main symbol on his chest. He wore a cate, and he was really big now. Around 7 or 8 feet I would guess. First thing he do when he got into town was to approach the first Claymore that was on the ground. He kneels and searched for the signs of life, then I saw him lowering his head. Meaning that Claymore one didn't survive the fight. The Yoma around us were shocked, awakened beings to. They asked him as he rose again on his two feet:

"Who the hell are you? You must have a death wish for coming here Human". Dragan then turned toward us, and he lifted his left hand that was at his back. In it it was big Hammer, almost as big as he was. He grab it with both his hands and then he looked straight at Awakened Beings. All were now waiting to see what will he say, the word that came from his mouth chilled everyone – even Yoma.

"I am the Hammer, the right hand of my Emperor. I am the instrument of his will, the gauntlet above his fist, the top of his spear, the edge of his sword. And today, I will be the executioner of you all". All Yoma started to laugh, I was shocked. Around him some strange aura appeared, it was almost as I sensed Youriki, but it was not Youriki – it was something much more powerful on level scale with Youriki. Strange light started to appear around him, and that light started to burn nearby Yoma. Seeing that Yoma and Awakened Beings stopped laughing, they were now just as scared as I was. "Foul mutants, today you will pay for every Claymore that you killed".

After hearing that, Yoma didn't hesitate anymore – they attacked him. I was expecting that they finish him up quickly, because even with that armor and weapon he was still Human. But I mistaken, quite the opposite had happen. He too charged at nearby Yoma. The first one was Awakened Being, quite strong if I remember correctly. The Awakened Being tried to swallow him up, but as his head get near Dragan he used his big Hammer. The top of the Hammer crackled with mini lightning as he hit the head of awakened being. The Awakened Being head exploded shortly after it was hit by that Hammer. Dragan now left his Hammer in his left hand and took something at his right hand from his belt. It was some sort of weapon, but strange looking. It wasn't sword, or bow, or crossbow – it was shaped strange and had strong blue color on its middle. The weapon fires some sort of blue ball toward the head of next Awakened Being. Half his head melted when the great blue ball hit it. He then shoot couple of more times, taking down several more awakened beings and some ordinary Yoma. Rest of them now tried to hit him with their ranged attacks. But Dragan successfully avoid them, and took every free moment to target with his weapon and fire. Behind him now several Yoma appeared, he notice them and turn around, his weapons at ease.

"I don't know who you are, but now you are dead" The Yoma addressed him. Dragan looked his straight in his eyes and said: "That's what you think mutant". Yoma was surprised, what he means by that? Nevertheless, Yoma raised his shard fingers, others did the same. I was trying to stand up, to help him. But I was too wounded in battle and lack the strength to get up. But Dragan then yelled: "NOW SERGEANT!"

The Yoma in front of him were hit by some sort of yellow straight light. They all fell in a second, and behind them men in black appeared. They were carrying similar weapons like Dragan, but more sophisticated and a lot bigger. They were all clad in black armor, but they were the same height as normal Human. They wore helmets on their head, they were strange looking. With some contraption were the mouth should go and two circles where the eyes should be. One of them carry same sword as Dragan was carrying on his journeys, it was not crackling with small lightnings. He must be the leader of these dark people, because he was veering the same weapon as Dragan in his right arm and sword in his left. They all got behind him, and then Dragan again get his Hammer in both his hands. The Yoma and Awakened Beings now charged directly at them, Dragan turned toward the black men and yelled:

"FOR THE EMPEROR!" and they all answered the same: "FOR THE EMPEROR!" and charged with him at Yoma. That was when I lost my conscience at last and fall to the ground. Before I was unconscious, I was Dragan and these men battling the Yoma. Dragan hit them with his Hammer while black men picked them up from range using their weapons that fired yellowed beam of light toward them. Some of them even get real close to Yoma and fire a blue beam if straight light that molted the Yoma on spot. Then I lost my conscience, and the next day would change my life forever….'

"Are you all right ma'am?" Miria shakes her head a little, and looked in front of her only to see Inquisitorial Stormtrooper staring at her. She answered "I am fine trooper, I was just carried away a little…" Stormtrooper answers:

"I wanted just to inform you that we will get to the landing zone on few minutes"."Thank you," Miria replied "carry on trooper."

The Stormtrooper turned away his head and resumed his preparation for landing. There were 22 Stormtrooper accompanying Claymores on this mission; their Valkyrie was only a few minutes away from their lending zone. Claymores were on seats while Stormtroopers were preparing their kit for operation. Miria looked at Stormtroopers as they were preparing for operation, when was then called by Cynthia:

"What were you thinking about Miria? Is it about the mission?" Miria turns toward her, she was sitting right across her.

"No, something else was on my mind. But it's not important now".

"You are right" Ilena was speaking; she was few seats from Cynthia. Who seat at the drop ship exit ramp with Miria, Deneve, Helen and Tabitha at the opposite side of them. Ilena sits with Clare, Yuma and Cynthia on the other side of the room. "This mission will decide the fate of this sub-sector. We must put everything at side until this mission is finished".

"Don't worry Ilena, I am sure that there beast will run away as soon as we kill their leader." Helen was saying now. Deneve answered: "You do know that we first must find him. And that means cut through all his commanders until we reach him."
"I know that, I didn't say that it will be easy. But at least we will have some fun with Orks" All smiled at her optimism. She was answered to that by Stormtrooper Veteran Sergeant.

"If I may say ma'am; do whatever you want after we land. But remember one thing: do not underestimate your opponent, especially Orks. That is a path to the early grave".

"You are speaking that from personal experience Sergeant?" Clare asks him.

"Yes ma'am. One of them nearly got me some 3 or 4 years ago, never underestimated the Orks since." Helen answered to him.
"Thank you for that Sergeant, but don't worry. It was the Orks who should be worried about us, not the other way around."

"I couldn't agree more." the Sergeant said that and turned to the right. The green lamp was now flashing in cabin, meaning that dropship will land in 15 seconds and that all passengers should prepare for landing. They all prepared for getting out and as Claymores to were stating to prepare to get up and leave the dropshp, the Stormtroopers prayed to the Emperor one last time before going into battle.

'I don't remember when I woke up, but I do remember that the entire world changed for me then.' Clare is remembering the events after Pieta two years ago.

'When I woke up I was expecting to be on the ground, covered in blood and wounded. But I was not covered in blood, nor was I outside on the cold weather of the northern lands. First thing I notice was the sealing, with some unusual strong light emitting from it. It blinded me for only a second, and then I started to get up. Then I noticed some strange wires around my hands and in my nose, they didn't hurt and by the looks of it they transferred some kind of liquid into my body. The wiring in my nose was actually giving me fresh amount of air for me to breathe, and then I turned my head to the left. I was surprised with what I saw. Helen, Deneve, Uma and Tabitha were also lying on the bed, and they had same wires as I. They were still sleeping, but judging from their slow movements they were too slowly awakening. And then, behind me, a familiar voice appeared:

"Good, you have finally awaken."

I turned my head, and to my shock I saw Ilena. She was dressed in Claymore uniform and had both of her hands. She lies next to me and ask me:

"How are you feeling?"

"Ilena?" I answered in confusion. Then I heard some sounds to the right of me, I turned and saw Miria and Cynthia waking up and rising.

"Miria!, Cynthia" I was overjoyed.

"Stay calm" Ilena was calming me down "you have been unconscious for quite some time. You still need to rest." I turned to her and while she was putting me down do rest I asked:

"Ilena, how? What happened?" She smiled and said:
"It seems that you have quite powerful friends Clare."

"You can say that again." Miria answered, she was now finally awake " Clare, you never mentioned that your friend Dragan have golden peace of armor, and a big Hammer that can kill several Yoma with one hit." I was surprised at her answer:

"What are you saying?' Ilena answered my question.

"Dragan saved all of you Clare. He was much more then he told us."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, he is far more than simple scholar."

At that time, other four Clamores awoken. All in all there were eight of us in this room; I already started to wonder where the rest of them are. I then start to look around the room; it was nothing I ever saw before. It was full of artificial light, with jars on shells, and some strange contraptions that were making funny sounds. We were even connected with some of them through our wires. Helen then looks around the room and asked:

"Where the hell are we?"

"You are in medical wing," Ilena answers "that is the place where wounded people are treated. At least that was what Dragan told me." Deneve then asked her:

"Dragan? What he has to do about this." Ilena just calmly answered:

"Everything. But I will let him explain the situation. I am still in shock of what he told me."

Deneve showed confusion in her face while Helen was surprised by that answer. She just said:

"Wha…" And in that moment, the doors that were across our beds opened. And women entered the room. She wore white color uniform, white hat and something on a place her right eye would come.

"Ah good, you are awake. The Emperor smiles upon you I see." We all remembered Dragan's stories about the God Emperor ruling from the stars. Maybe we were in his village, high in the mountains? The women continued:

"I am Sister Michel from Orders Hospitalier. I was watching over you this last few days you were here with us." Miria asked her:

"Apart from this one here, there are seven of us from Pieta. What happened to the others?" Her face showed signs of sorrow when she finally answered:

"They did not survive the battle." Mira looked at her with surprise and anger. "What?" she asked "Only seven?" She now lowers her head and started to sheer tears "A mere seven…." She said that so quietly we barely hear her. "Miria…" I call for her, when Michel continues:

"I too am sorry for your losses, but you must understand that it is a miracle that even seven of you survived. Dragan killed the Daemons as quickly as he could and then evacuate you with speed. We could do very little because of your unique physiology. Others were just too heavily wounded to be helped, while most of your vital organs are intact." Then Ilena added:

"Dragan also said that if he was not being able to help at all you seen would only survive, the others just had to deep wounds. Do not feel bad Miria, if not for you even you seven would be dead." Sister Michel then added:

"All right then, I can see that all your vital functions are fine. You can unplug yourselves from the machines and get yourselves ready. Lord Dragan is awaiting you on the command deck; he will explain the situation to you." As she turned around to leave the room, she suddenly stops and says:

"Right, I almost forgotten… Here are your swords and uniforms. We have retrieved the reserve ones from the city after the fight was over." While telling that she pointer her hand to the right, all our Claymores and weapons were accounted for.

"Get dressed and then come to the command deck, Ilena knows the way. I will be going now, see you girls later." With that words said she went through the door which closed behind her.

After we took all those wiring from us we started to gear up. While we were doing that we all asked Ilena what was happening here. She explained that right after the two of us parted away she was confronted by Raphaela, number 5 of the Organization. She was send to kill her, and right before she could deliver the killing blow the Dragan saved her. How she explained to us, he "teleported" her to "his ship". She explained that Dragan is in possession of some highly powerful machines, and how some of them he showed to her could destroy entire city in moments. She then spends next several months with him, learning his ways. She had even gone with him on his other "expeditions" on our world to examine the ruins of the "lost colony" as he called it. We couldn't believe what's she was saying, all this was new and unthinkable to us. Uma, Cynthia and Tabitha argue how we should be careful with him, but I and the others know him at least a little. Dragan may not be telling the whole truth to us, but he was not a bad men. He saved us after all. Ilena then dressed up with us and take us out of the room; we were shocked while going toward this "command deck". We now knew that we were not in the monastery, but some kind of ship. It featured a lot of corridors; all had some machinery and lot of artificial lights everywhere. Some of the had big doors that opened as you get near them, some were sleeping rooms for the crew. Dragan's crew must be the strangest people I have saw thus far, they were Human. But they were different than ordinary Humans; they all wore some kind of strange uniforms. Some of them wear robes and talk with very strange sound, almost like non-Human in origin. Others had some sort of machines infused with their bodies, just like we were infused with Yoma flesh and blood. Overall these are very strange Humans, even stranger then Organization people what was to us, until then, unthinkable. Ilena then opened one wide door for us and we entered a circle shaped room. When the door closed she press a button on a wall and a flashy picture showed on black box that was above it. She then said:

"Command deck."

And then we all fell a vibration as the room started to move upstairs. Ilena calm us down telling us that this is how they moved across the ship, in a thing called the elevator. Everyone were quite when we were riding on this "elevator", then Deneve spoke:

"I wonder what kind of magic do Dragan and his people use to build all this and make it work?"

"Maybe it's not magic at all" said by Tabitha ", maybe it's something else. You think that we wouldn't sense such powerful thing as magic?"

"Oh come on!" Helen yelled "How then you explain all of this? Not to mention that they killed all those Yoma and Awakened Beings in Pieta that even we weren't able to stop!" All of us just stood there and watched at there, for we knew that she was right. What kind of magic Dragan and his people possessed when they were able to defeat such a force on their own? Ilena had spoken and explained it to us:

"It's not a magic." Helen turned to her as we all did and said:

"Huh?" Ilena turned toward us all and start talking:

"I too don't know much, even after being some time with them, but I do know that they are not using magic."

"Then what is it?" Deneve asked.

"It is something they call technology." Ilene answered "Basically it's the ability to build powerful tools and machines, and use them in variety of situations. Dragan said that they once had a great knowledge of that and they were able to spread out even across the stars." We were all stunned by her telling "But right now they lost most of it and treat every last piece of it as sacred objects. I am sure Dragan will tell us more once we reach the command deck."

"What about the men in black that helped Dragan in Pieta?" Miria asked "Are they some sort of warriors like us?"

"I don't know how to say this Miria, but those "men in black are nothing more than ordinary Humans."

We were all shocked at her answer; can ordinary Humans really take down something as powerful as awakened being? The tough was impossible to us, for even we can't see some of the awakened beings as they are to fast for even our eyes. Ilena saw us and our shocked faces. But she was rather calm and just said: "We are almost there; you can ask Dragan whatever you want then."

After few moments the elevator stopped, and the big door opened in front of us. We were on command deck; it was a big room with some sort of high command position on its middle. Everywhere you looked there were people sitting on chairs and doing something with the machines in front of them. Ilena took us at the very center of the room, which was essentially a giant circle structure that was serving as command podium for the leaders. We take stars on the side and climb up. Up there we found a lone man who was issuing commands to the people below him. Ilena greet him and when he turned we could see that he had a lot of shiny object attached to his chest. I have heard about some Humans doing that to show others their battle honors, this man had a lot of them. Probably meaning that he hold some high title among these people. He spoke something to Ilene and raised his left hand; he was pointing to yet another stair leading to the doors at the very top of the room. We were following Ilena as she was climbing toward the doors, as soon as we entered I could see him. Dragan was standing on the far side of the room and he was talking with one of the men in black Miria saw in Pieta. He was now totally different then when we last saw him. He was in giant golden armor, with some strange marking all over it. The man in black at his left was around the same height as we were, but with the same thing on his right eye that many were wearing on this place. We stood at the middle with Ilena in front of us, as soon as he saw us Dragan smiled and came closer to us.

The story he told us was sounding more like a fairy tale then some history fact. He told us about the great Imperium of Mankind, a huge Human empire stretching across the stars. How it safeguards and protects humanity from various threats that are interested in nothing more than extermination of Humans. He is a part of the secret organization of the Imperium – the Holy order of Emperor's Inquisition. His job is to discovered long lost Human colonies ( it seems that our world is one of them ) and if possible to reestablish contact with them and join them into Human Imperium. But Dragan explained to us why he couldn't react in our case:

"But as you can imagine, we have certain policy when it comes to discovering lost Human worlds. If that world is in some sort of conflict or civil war we do not intervene in any way to change the balance of powers on that world." Miria then spoken:

"You mean, on the other land that's far away from our island?" We looked at her with confusion; we didn't know what this "other land" she spoke of was. But it seems that Dragan to know about that:

"You are right Miria. There is a great continent just few days sailing from your island to the northeast. It is in state of a massive civil war. And as our rules imply we cannot intervene, we have to wait for the situation to calm down before we can try to establish contact." Deneve then asked: "But you seem like a very powerful organization. Why you can't just try to negotiate with both sides and try to broker a peace?" Dragan answered:

"It's not that easy. Most people just see us as a threat and often they unite with their enemies to fight us, for you see – Humans are very hard to reason to when the power is in question. I would act if I had some troops with me, but without military support we can't act at all." We then understand why he had to be all secretive back then, he had no choice but to gather intel and see if the world is peaceful enough for joining the Imperium. Now, when we know how things stand we asked ourselves what to do next? I then asked Dragan:

"I thank you for rescuing us from down there, even if you didn't have any obligation toward us. We are forever in your dept, but I must ask you something: what do you intend to do with us?" That was the question everybody is asking themselves right now, but Dragan already knew the propositions:

"I have spent some time with you down there, and even if you are infused by the flesh and blood of Daemons you are very honorable and proud warriors. When the organization sends you to certain death, I knew that even if you had accepted to die there, holding the ground against that kind of assault – you deserve a second chance. We are not different than them; we also knew the meaning of sacrifice and to do the harsh things when the time comes. But we tend to save as many as we can if the choice is presented, just like I saved you from that city. To me it looks like you have two options: first one is for me to return you to your world and leave you in the northern lands of Alphonse or you can join us and became my Inquisitorial Acolytes. Of course, you will be free to return to your homeworld whenever you wish."

We were all shocked by this proposition. Except Ilena who expected a proposition like this. She was the one who asked him: "But my Lord what can we, warriors from a primitive world, do to help you?"

"You are excellent fighters against Daemons. Given your "abilities" you obtained from taking their flesh and blood you are even more resistant and effective then some of our own troops. You would go with me, on missions of highest importance, and help me to slay the Daemons. This time it will be different, for we slay the Daemons of Chaos for the same of Humanity and not as a mean to require founds. Of course, you will do other tasks as needed. So what do you say?"

Our decision was rather quick. By staying with Dragan we could learn a lot of things that will come us quite handy when we decide to return and face Organization one day. At that day, in that very room, all eight of us draw our swords and swear our loyalty to the Inquisitor Dragan and his master – the God Emperor of Mankind as he called him. From that moment on we were known to the Imperials as Claymores of the Pure Heart, the slayers of Daemons.