I
'All I knew of my parents was that they served the God-Emperor with all of their capabilities, eventually giving up their own lives for the sake of Mankind. I never really got the chance to even remember the face of my parents, as I've always called the Schola Progenium as my home. I never thought of serving the Emperor, fearing that I would lose my life like my parents had. But then again, I would rather die than be of no use.'
Prying eyes pierced her as she stood under the glaze of the light. Her pale skin and black hair radiated a subtle glow as she stood there, confused but composed. The young girl had barely reached her 10th year in the Schola Progenium when she was summoned to the Missionary's Head Office.
"She shows promise." A woman's voice spoke. A shiver ran down her spine, not knowing what future they have for her. "Yes, I agree," cooed another voice "But sadly, all of the Sororitas have left, taking what captured their interest the most." The man with deep-set eyes stared at her carefully, examining her fragile frame. "Ah, I know just the place where she should be taken." With a wave of a hand, two figures wearing white garments appeared out of thin air. Shock had set in on the young girl as the figures drew closer, and closer. "Do not worry." One said in a soft, sing-song voice. "We're going to take care of you." But despite their alluring promises, she knows they mean the opposite. With a sharp sting to her neck, she felt her vision fail and her legs limp.
"To the Vindicare Temple" was the last thing that she has heard.
"Exitus Acta Probat"
"Exitus Acta Probat!"
The sound of men and women alike reciting the motto woke her from her forced slumber. Her face flat against the stones. It has been a few days since she has been taken to this place, where she is taught of all the virtues of an assassin. A Vindicare assassin. But amongst the ranks within the Vindicare Temple, there are only a handful of women consisting the whole populace. Those women were either incredibly gifted, or were veterans of their time. The soft lull of the wind blew against her sweating, half-naked form as she rose from the floor, scouting her surroundings for clothes to cover her frame.
"Neophyte."
She heard someone call from the other side of the steel door that kept her sealed from the outside, "Yes?" she answered in a non-chalant voice as she tied what remained of her clothes to her growing chest. "Your food. The Brother-Director will see you after you have eaten." Surely enough, her stomach had responded to the stern command that the man had set down. She took her food and ate it aimlessly, her thoughts drifting as to what would actually happen to her.
She was separated from the other recruits because of her batch, she was the only female. Although the Temple's majority consists of men, women are highly reputable within its walls; the respect they deserve was well gained though. As for the young neophyte, she has yet to earn her own. "Neophyte?" a smooth voice called from the other side. "Yes, Brother-Director?" she responded in a submissive tone. "Open the doors." he commanded to the two figures that was with him. "Come," he said in an inviting tone, " I have yet to introduce you to your mentor."
As they walked through the corridors of the Temple, she could hear chattering of all sorts as the new male neophytes saw her pass by. The Brother-Director payed them no attention as he walked gallantly across the hall, the young neophyte scurrying behind him. "Mikaela." he said softly as they approached a woman with white hair and eyes red. It was as if rage had been caged in in her body. "Yes, Brother-Director?" she answered submissively. Her head bowed down for a bit, then her gaze shifted from the Brother-Director's to the young child beside him. "Train her. She will be of great use to us." he commanded, before turning away and giving a soft pat on the neophyte's head.
"Come." Mikaela said as she turned around. "Do you have a name, child?" she asked.
'My name?' she thought. She never had such a thing when she was in the Schola Progenium. "I.. I have nothing of that sort." she said with a low tone. "Ah, I see. Then I shall take the honor of naming you Leira." Mikaela said, a soft curve forming on her lips. "Leira" the neophyte repeated. "Now come, I see you have been training," she remarked, noting Leira's silent footsteps. "Most neophytes are unable to do that until they have recieved stealth training. You really are gifted." Leira bowed her head low, unsure if it was a compliment or an insult. They turned left as they emerged from the Living Quarters. "Here we are." Mikaela breathed out, "Since you're one of the rare female recruits, we have specifically designed a training regiment for the likes of you." Leira was puzzeled by this, not knowing anything but the virtues of the Vindicare.
"Sit." she commanded. Leira immediately obeyed her superior. As she sat down, steel clamps snapped shut, locking her wrists, ankles, and neck in place. "Now, I will show you what our duty to the God-Emperor and to Man is." she muttered, as the lights dimmed. A moment later, a screen flickered to life. Live feeds from a current active Vindicare Temple assassin streamed through. Leira's eyes were intently glued to the screen as she watched how the assassin moved about.
"Vindicare." Her commlink buzzed into life after hours of static. "Yes?" she whispered in reply, taking aim on a Chaos Sorcerer attempting to summon a Slaaneshi Daemon from the warp. "Target in sight." she transmitted, keeping her aim steady. On both sides were two Chaos Space Marines standing guard as the Slaaneshi Sorcerer proceeded with his summoning. "Give them the Emperor's Judgement upon Heretics!" commanded the Inquisitor that requisition her help. "Exitus Acta Probat." she replied, firing her Exitus Rifle. A short second later, the head of the Sorcerer splits in a bloody pulp, spilling blood amongst the cultist. The Daemon, being unsuccessfuly sated, lashed out and decimated the cultists into gory bits as it returned back to the Warp. Blood tainted the brown soild red, and the Traitor Marines turned tail to check what happened to their leader.
Viera launcher herself up, gaining the attention of the two Traitor Marines. A flash of gunfire sped to her direction, so she quickly dodged the bolter rounds as it hit the trunk and exploded. One of the Traitor Marines charged at her in a mad frenzy, Bolter in one hand, a vicious-looking chainsword on the other. Screaming curses to the God-Emperor, the Traitor Marine launched himself at Viera shooting and slashing like the madman that he is. Viera reacted quickly, dodging the growling rotor-blades by an inch. A bullet grazed her thigh, but was practically harmless. She drew her Exitus Pistol and charged at the enemy, nimbly manuevering herself behind the Traitor Marine and firing two powerful shots that carved smoking holes on the marine's chest. He laughed and turned around, chainsword revving like a beast infuriated.
"I FEEL THE WARP OVERTAKING ME! IT IS A GOOD PAIN!" screamed the frenzied man as he slashed through thin air.
Viera jumped up and fired three shots on top of the Traitor Marine's head, instantly felling the madman. The other marine followed suit, but this time, two chainswords at the ready. Viera smirked under her mask as she backed up a few steps. "Foolish Heretic! I shall make you pay for your traitorous deeds!" she bellowed, as she took her Exitus Rifle and fired a well placed shot that dismembered the heretic's leg. Blood gushed in torrents from the wound but still the Traitor Marine kept laughing. "Fool." she remarked. She clamped her foot down the Chaos Space Marine's pauldron and aimed the Exitus Rifle directly on the Marine's face. "Exitus Acta Probat." she stated, the heretic still laughing despite the pain. A silent hiss followed by Viera's form being half-covered in heretic blood followed. "Target eliminated. The will of the Emperor has been dispensed."
The screen abruptly powered down. Leira was awestruck but at the same time afraid of what would be her duties. Mikaela released her bonds and looked at her straight in the eye. "Leira, do you see now your task?" she hesitantly responded with a nod. "Good. Now return to your quarters. I presume you have full knowledge of its whereabout by now." Mikaela said non-challantly. "Now go, child. Rest. For tomorrow, your real training begins." Leira bowed down and moved out of the room, leaving Mikaela alone to her thoughts.
Leira stared as the pale light of Luna can be seen through her quarters. It illuminated her frail body as it lay against the cold stones. 'Vindicare Assassin.' she thought, 'And so may the Emperor's will be done.'