Warhammer 40K: Hellbound Liberation
Prologue
"General why have we come out to this desolate outpost?" the Lieutenant of my most senior squad of Kasrkins, Jacob Milton asked me as I and his Sergeant 'Kitty' lifted rubble away from the ancient steel doors of the outpost.
"Jacob, we are here in search of weapons, armor, in general, supplies." I replied, giving him a stern look, as this was the eighth time he had asked me this since we had arrived. Kitty had been strangely quiet, which was rather unlike the normally chirpy las.
"I don't see why, once those Astartes return we'll have everything we need." he retorted, leaning his back to a broken column and checking over his Hell Gun.
Scattered about this entire region I had dispatched twenty of our finest, along with myself and my husband, the Vindicare Assassin Frank. With me personally were five Kasrkins and Frank, together they were removing rubble from the doorway. That was, at least, until we were besieged by cloaked hostiles.
"Tau!" Kitty shouted, her thick Irish accent blasted my ears, urging me to find cover before I joined one of our unfortunate soldiers who had been blown apart by a cluster cannon.
"Noticed Kitty! Frank you have eyes?" I shouted as I drew my laspistol.
In reply to my answer Four Exitus Rifle rounds were heard, as I peaked out of cover I saw five dead Tau in Stealth Suites. I nodded my approval before I motioned to the door, which was luckily for us blown open by the enemy cannon.
"Move, get inside!" Jacob yelled, pushing me inside as he spun around and fired off a few seconds of his Hell Gun before getting burned alive by plasma fire.
"Sergeant, the Lt is dead!" one of our corporals yelled as he too was gunned down by plasma fire.
"Find cover or die!" I shouted as I stood firmly before the doorway, dodging the incoming fire as it came by merely swaying from side to side, all the while returning fire with my laspistol.
"Aye general!" Kitty responded as she and Frank, followed by the privates that were with us retreated behind me and into the building. "We're clear!"
"Can we get artillery support in this location?" I asked walking calmly into the building as the doors closed behind me. A moment of pure darkness was then flooded away with the outpost's lights fluttering on, leaving a dim whining above our heads.
"Negative ma'am, they killed the corporal with the radio, and I don't think the radio survived." one of the privates replied to me, holding up a small piece of the vital equipment.
"Damn… Kitty, keep here and don't let anything in, Frank you're with me." I calmly stated, remembering what the Chapter Master of our Astartes companions had told me, 'always keep calm in the face of absolute destruction.'
Receiving nods from my soldiers, I walked away with my husband to try and find anything that may be of use to us. Upon entering the next room and engaging the computer's logs, while Frank attempted to open what looked to be the armory door, several lights flickered across the screen before multiple detonations were heard and the power went out, plunging us once more into absolute darkness.
"General they are trying to break the door down!" Kitty yelled as more detonations rocked the outpost.
"It seems that they are aiming for the supports below us ma'am!" a private yelled out from his kneeling position.
"How do you figure?" I asked, running back into the room, pistol drawn.
"We're in a state of free fall of the cliff." he replied, and as such I did notice that it was becoming more and more lopsided in the building.
"Grab something and don't let go." Frank whispered, just loud enough for us all to hear.
Upon doing so the world faded away into a numbing feeling and everything stopped. The next thing I knew was the sound of Kitty getting punched in the gut and an Exitus Rifle sounding off into the fool who touched her. The two Privates were in sitting positions trying to repair their lasguns before the enemy had time to regroup.
"Are you alright Kitty?" I asked as I got to one knee, checking myself over I realized that yet again I had come out with no significant wounds aside from a few bruises.
"I'll be fine ma'am." she replied, limping over to me, her ribs obviously broken and her left eye gone.
"Hit the dirt!" I yelled, tackling her as a Hammerhead pulled around ruins and nearly took us out, showering us with debris.
The next thing I think we all expected to happen was to be the second shot. The final shot. The one that would end us. The cannon's sound never came, but in its place was heard a single cry. It was a sound that echoed, and from above it fell towards the tank's position like a bird of prey. Slamming down into the top, a single figure smashed into the hull before two Tau pilots were tossed out, dead. Boots on the ground afterwards, with the wreck still smoldering, one man approached us. Clad heavily in armor, but simply in garment, he seemed rather drab as he paused. His expression, aged, but smiling somewhat, as he ran a single silver hand through his shock of white hair. "Name's General Velencio Kowalski." He said, and his voice echoed through its deep projection through the compound.
"Oh, and you may want to get down." There was a whistling that descended in the same manner as this General had come, only when it made landfall it was devastating to hear. Explosions rained all around the ruins of this place, turning the safe havens of the forests into ruins and shell holes.
"I am General Lisa Armageddon, Fifth Imperial Army, also known as the Hellbounds." I stuttered, impressed by the kind show of which I had come to expect from a Blood Raptor Assault Marine, but to have it come from an Imperial General was, impressive.
"Fifth Army? Hm, I remember those old chaps well enough." He replied, still smiling as he looked to the skies. The rain of fire had ceased, and with it the sky was clear enough to see what hovered far above in orbit. "Lucky we caught your distress call I suppose."
"Distress, call?" I replied, uncertain as to what he had referred to.
"Ma'am, did you send one? For I know none of us did, the radio was destroyed." Kitty commented in a hushed tone, her helmet off and her black hair falling loose to the ground as she held her ribs with one arm, pain clear in her voice, and enough blood dripping on the ground to cause worry.
"Not that I know of Kitty… You need medical aid, privates, see to it that she is taken care of." I calmly stated as I dusted myself off, my black armor tarnished with age, and my dark grey uniform beneath it in tatters. "General, whether I was the one to send the beacon I know not, but it is good to have aid in these troubled times."
"More than aid.." He answered, "You shall have full support of my soldiers and navy. To find another Imperial Army is, to say the least, rare in itself." Looking off to the two that were treating Kitty, his expression darkened slightly as the roar of engines approached from above. Landing behind the General, I observed a single Valkyrie's doors opening before a squad of similarly dressed guards stepped out in perfect formation. Behind them stood a single Commissar, towering, dark, and menacing. Another stood, dressed in battle armor denoting the rank of Colonel. His face, though, was hidden by a helmet. Both seemed aged as well, but the guards who secured the perimeter were all young; maybe only in their early twenties, I could guess. Two medics, denoted by their white shoulders with red crosses, stood waiting. "General Armageddon, with your permission my medics will treat your soldiers for their injuries." His voice was gruff, to the point, as he turned and walked toward the Valkyrie before waiting at the door and speaking in hushed tones with the Commissar and Colonel. The two medics stood at attention, waiting for their orders.
"That would be appreciated General." I replied, my gaze not drifting back to the young soldier whom I had come to call friend since the original arrival of Nitronus and his Marines.
"With due respect ma'am, it's just a, arg, flesh wound." Kitty tried to protest, but fell back and into one of the privates arms.
"Yeah, flesh wound, I've seen Space Marines die from similar wounds Kitty, we have few numbers as it is, and even fewer field soldiers. Don't play big, you'll cause more harm than good." I retorted as Frank came to my side nodding his head.
"Go," General Velencio answered, pausing mid-conversation. The medics snapped to action instantly, and moved to aid Kitty. "Now when can we expect more boots on the ground, Church?" He asked, clearly nodding to the Commissar.
"Within the hour, Velencio my friend." Church answered, his expression a scowl as he observed my soldiers. A whip dangled in his free hand, a powerfist encompassing the other.
My expression also soured a bit upon him, but brightened once I heard that a substantial army was on its way.
"General Armageddon, you sergeant has been healed, though she will have to remain out of combat for a day or so if she is to not agitate her wounds." one of the medics stated, coming to attention next to me.
"Thank you medic, but I do not believe I can keep her from the fight… I can still recall back when she was a private, her beating of a group of Ork Scar Boys with naught but her broken rifle." I laughed, trying to ease the tension in the air, though the medics didn't share in my amusement, "Tough crowd." I muttered.
Soon after my muttering, the medics, as though on an invisible cue, returned to their positions as though dismissed. Looking to the other Imperials, I could see that the Commissar was close to smiling as they stood stiffly at attention with their weapons drawn in the defensive formation. Church, it seemed, was a man fond of strict discipline; and his eyes surveyed and inspected for any breach in protocol before being satisfied as he nodded to the Colonel. "Vox the rest of the fleet to send reinforcements, Alex."
"Wilco, Church." He replied stiffly, reaching for the radio on his back and stepping back into the shadows of the Valkyrie before making the call.
"General, what is our next move?" one of my privates asked me, holding his shoulder pauldron in his right hand.
"Wait for reinforcement from my soldiers, and establish an official base of operations on planet." Velencio answered him before I could.
"Understood, sir!" my private replied with a prompt salute.
"Private, aid the sergeant in moving to a more enclosed area for rest." I said to the private who was still kneeling with the battered Kitty. "You!" I snapped to the private next to me with my index finger pointed on his chest, "You are coming with me and Frank to salvage what we can from our fallen comrades."
"Yes ma'am." they replied in unison as, and before long Kitty was moved away by the private into a nearby building that wasn't completely collapsed yet.
"Unnecessary, Ma'am." The Colonel replied to my order, "We have plenty more than enough in the way of supplies for your entire army and far more." He was standing now with the Commissar again, his helmet looking toward the General as he nodded faintly. "The Imperial Justice says that we'll have the first wave here soon, sir."
"Lisa." Frank whispered from behind me causing me to turn around to behold the tattered banner of the Hellbound First Regiment.
"That, is… Private you are to carry this and never let it fall, is that understood?" I said, at first a little shocked since all we had in the way of banners was an Eighth Regiment flag flying upon the manufactorum that our Basilisks were defending.
"With honor ma'am." he replied with a crisp salute, his thick Russian accent flowing with pride.
"An ancient banner I see," The Colonel said, nodding in respect to the newly appointed bearer. "There's only one left of our First Company from Terra's liberation, and he still flies it today. His name's Horrowitz." A shift in the stance told perhaps a darker thought had emerged, and the mood had dampened in the Colonel's spirit somewhat as he shook himself and returned to service as the screaming sounds of engines approached. "There be the first of many." He whispered.
"General." I cautiously stated, approaching the man, "may we use your vox to alert any surviving Hellbounds of the situation, and let it be known to our base that you are here?" I asked, nervous for his reply.
"I don't see why not. Tis better I not have to explain myself to every soldier in your army what we are doing here." He replied, gesturing for the Colonel to approach and set the vox caster on the ground before me.
"I thank you." I replied, a grateful smile crossing my lips, "Colonel Alex, do you copy?"
"Yes, General?" The Colonel before me responded, slightly confused.
"Not you," Church snapped, "She means whoever's on the other end of the vox! Why if you weren't an old friend and my commander I'd be whipping you senseless right now for your foolish assumptions."
"*Static* Lisa is that you, where the blimy Hell is that idiot corporal that is supposed to be operating the vox for your unit?" my best friend snapped, her voice blaring and even overcoming the Valkyrie's engines.
"He is dead Alex… most of the unit is dead, we were ambushed by Tau Stealth Suits and forced into an old outpost. We almost died as well when the building we were in fell down a cliff, if not for the First Imperial Liberators we would have been killed off entirely." I reported.
"What about that sergeant? What was her name, Kitty? Tell me she at least lived and that the smuck of a lieutenant died!" Alexia shouted.
"First, you don't need to yell, this vox looks like new, second, Kitty is wounded but healing, and the fucking LT is dead, thank the Emperor and his mighty grace that I didn't kill him myself and instead let him live so he could take a bullet, so to speak, for me." I replied, laughing to myself and making the standard bearer side step towards Frank a bit.
"She does realize that the bastard was my big brother right?" he whispered to Frank.
"Knowing her, yes… but she also probably doesn't give a flying fuck." my husband replied.
"Did you say First Imperial Liberators? As in the guys who fought… damn, never thought I'd live long enough to see them." she exclaimed, still at her previous volume, if not louder.
"Didn't I say quiet down, this vox is brand spanking new?!" I screamed, causing a few of the younger Liberators to jump since my laspistol shot next to the vox.
Suddenly, the crack of a whip echoed across the air. Blood spilled to the floor, and a single guard that had stared for too long went down with it. His screams filled the air only a moment, and he was silent and absorbing the harsh punishment of the Commissar's whip for his failure in duty even the slightest. "Emperor Dammit! If you cannot handle a little las-pistol, how can you handle facing the enemy?!" He shouted.
"General is all alright over on your end?" Alex shouted, once more.
"No!" He screamed in response, "Everything's not alright. I will not tolerate a breach in discipline in my troops. Not when facing the enemy, or when at home!" His whip, soaking with blood, stayed at last; and the bloodied, mauled soldier unsteadily rose to his feet before being shot in the head and floored at last where he lay still. "If you cannot serve in combat, you will serve on the firing line." He echoed, watching as the others snapped to attention before nodding faintly to me.
"Was that Church, Commissar Church?!" Alex once again shouted over the vox.
"Yes, I believe that it is he who kills a perfectly good meat shield." I replied, a bit of disgust in my voice.
"Yes, but he definitely gets his points across doesn't he!"
"IS THERE A VOLUME CONTROL ON THIS THING!" I shouted, kicking the ever raising in volume vox.
"General," The Colonel beside me said calmly, "I ask that you not completely destroy my radio equipment. It is over a thousand years old and very few of this model were manufactured." His helmet likely hid a look of disappointment, as the visor glared silently at me.
"My apologies colonel, but is there a volume control on this model?" I asked a bit more calm, but with my hand still resting upon my laspistol.
"Yes," He answered, turning a small, hidden dial on the back lower. "I was waiting for you to ask, and wanted to see how far you'd go before requesting assistance." He paused, nodding at the radio before looking to the dead guard that lay nearby.
"Thank you." I calmly said, relaxing as Alex's voice returned, though this time even louder.
"WHAT IN THE EVERLOVING NAME OF THE EMPEROR IS GOING ON OVER THERE, LISA IS SOMEONE TRYING TO KILL YOU WITHOUT ME?" Alex shouted.
"If you don't calm down, I will find a way to shoot you out of one of your own Basilisks my friend." I laughed as a crazed smile broke my face for all of one second before I returned to my normal demeanor, "No, no one is trying to kill me."
"Indeed." The General finally added, "If I'd meant to kill your General and her unit, I'd have done so instead of the tank."
"Tank? What tank, why didn't you… Oh, no vox… Then how did you?" she pondered over the vox.
"Fists of Steel, baby." He replied, smiling.
"Don't call me baby… Wait, a Liberator called me baby…" Alex began to fangirl.
"Not just any Liberator..But the General himself." Velencio answered in earnest.
"Oh my…!" she started
"Alex stop right there, this is a professional environment and I will not have you…" I had begun to say.
"Nonsense, General. Let your colonel speak freely." Velencio interrupted, "I'd like to hear what she has to say."
"But.. but...but... but…" I was lost, the world just faded away with that one sentence.
"Lisa, this jus' ain't fair, ya get ta meet my inspiration and I'm stuck here with idiotic teens, you know not one of these morons knows how to oil my back, and I can't freaking reach it!" she replied, "Sir, I am assuming she hasn't figured out the audio controls for privacy in the helmet so I believe that you can hear me… Permission to speak freely?"
"You already had permission, when I said I wanted to hear what you had to say, Colonel." The General replied over the sounds of laughing coming from his Colonel and the Lord-Commissar.
"I love you and your army, but mostly Church… no offence sir, but Church is just..." the vox mysteriously shut off communications but re-established it in seconds, "I am going to kill you, you blimey son of a… Oh it's on again…. Sorry but I must be going, this Lt is going to be eating steel through his ass in a moment!" she giggled, "Chow!"
"Sounds like a very good day." Church said, biting back his laughter, and eyeing the General with a hearty smile.
"Please dear Emperor tell me we've already dispatched Valkyries to pick those bunch up." The Colonel added, still laughing quietly to himself.
"General, you're looking paler than I remember." Velencio said, addressing me finally.
"Poor Farquat… you know he still owes me money so I really hope she doesn't kill him... " I pondered aloud.
"Meh, Church has done a lot worse and my soldiers have come out of it alive and...not exactly all the way there...but that doesn't matter." The General shrugged slightly.
"Yes, but her left arm ends in a lightning claw…" I laughed.
"He'll be alright," He added, chuckling somewhat "I don't think she'll kill him, if you want I could ask her not to."
"We only have a small handful of officers and even less sergeants… I need all the soldiers I can get, besides last I check he is only thirteen… Don't suppose you could ask her to not kill the guy?" I pleaded, though really I did want that five thousand credits he owes me.
The General smiled, leaning down to the vox and pausing for a moment before speaking at last. "Colonel? You still there?" He asked.
"Yes I am… sir?" she asked, sounds of grunting could be heard from the other end, along with a 'get off me ya metal bitch' mixed in.
"I know you're enjoying what you're doing to the Lieutenant over there, but could you leave him alive for now? As a personal favor for me?" Velencio replied.
"Damnit, yes sir… You hear that Farquat, you get to live… but I'm taking something precious from you!" Alex chided before a high pitch scream could be heard, "Now, get off my tower!" she yelled as a metal boot could be heard meeting flesh and the scream of the Lt faded into nothing, "And before you ask, yes he is alive, and no, his manhood is not attached."
"Thank you Colonel," Velencio answered, "I appreciate you doing this for me. If there's ever anything you need, just ask." He paused, silently glaring daggers at me now, although a hint of humor was in his expression as he waited patiently for her reply.
"Well, I don't know if it's proper, but a lady, if you can still call me that, doesn't meet a man like Church every doomsday." she calmly stated over the radio, "Could you perhaps, wait he is standing right next to you, isn't he?" she asked.
"Yes he is Alex… yes he is." I replied for the General.
"Ummmm, perhaps we can talk about this face to half a face?" she replied, I could hear the blush emanating from the vox.
"Heh, always thought she'd be more forward." Frank said from behind me.
"Yeah, guess you're right." I responded in a whisper so she wouldn't hear me.
"Can I go now and check on Kitty and Dave, I'd rather not die today without taking at least a dozen hundred xenos with me..?" the Standard Bearer asked in a hushed tone.
"Go, and report to me, if I don't show up, in an hour." I replied, smiling a little at him.
The Lord-Commissar watched as the standard bearer saluted, and turned on his heel before marching off to the nearby building that held the two soldiers in question. He turned back to the General, a question in his eyes, before smiling just a bit and answering the vox at last. "On the first Valkyrie here then, after the troops we've sent to your base reinforce it. We'll talk then."
"..." Silence reigned over the vox for a few good minutes before she spoke up, "Teach me your ways sir, I've read about you, but it would be an honor and privilege to study under you first hand, er, claw…!"
"I think it would be more me learning from you, Colonel." The Lord-Commissar smiled faintly, with a blush nearly unnoticeable as he added softly as parting note, "I can't wait to meet you...Colonel."
This time, it was in turn the General's turn to chuckle, which only served to make the Lord-Commissar falsely glare at him in return with his fist tightened around his whip. "Keep laughing, General. I can and will if necessary execute you both for dereliction of duty."
This idle promise only made the General laugh harder, to the point that he was leaning on the Colonel before finally getting himself together after a few minutes. Serious once more, he gestured that the Colonel retrieve the vox at last before looking down the paved path. The sound of boots striking rockcrete was all that could be heard now, as formations of soldiers made their way in perfect sync towards us. Their lasguns held at length, and their armor and uniform sorted to regulation standards as they halted without any shout of orders from the Sergeants and Lieutenants in command. "First wave of many, as promised." The General said, watching once more as his two commanders fell into their familiar roles once more with gusto.
The first of the two, shouting orders for a perimeter to be secured, and the roads and buildings to be cleared and made ready for use; the latter, Church, ensuring that all was carried out according to his specification. The crack of his whip again whistled through the air many times, but the job would be done; and none of the sea of grey that was the Liberator's soldiers questioned it as they performed the tasks wordlessly. "Make sure there are areas for the Valkyries to land safely!" The Colonel shouted, watching as his orders were followed before moving on to another task of readying barracks from the ancient buildings for the troops.
Eventually, the General stood beside me, silent. Observing, and simply watching as though in wonderment. "I don't know how they do it." He finally said, "Only that I can think of is that they know they must, and so they do. For their Emperor, for the Imperium, for their worlds light years away." He was smiling now, more than usual, before returning to a stern visage as two vox operators approached.
"General. We're here to report that the contingent you dispatched to the other Army's base arrived safely on schedule. We've contact with the flight now, and they say it's returning to our new HQ." The first said, falling to attention immediately.
"Shall we make clear a spot for landing, sir?" The second asked, preparing his radio for use at the whisper of an order.
"Carry it out, and see to it that the reinforcements at the other base are supplied immensely from our stores. They'll need all the help they can get."
"Yes sir." The second said, and relayed the message instantly via vox.
The second, nodded faintly and spoke up. "Sir, we've soldiers reported entering the new perimeter. They're of that other army, and we've had them sent for a barrack to await further instruction." He paused, before adding with a slight smile. "We've also the next wave, this time, our light armored Companies, approaching as well, sir."
"Thank you Sergeants, now carry on." The General answered, finally looking to me as they both saluted and left. "You should go and check on your soldiers, and then the others from your unit. Need to address them, about what's going on." His tone was firm, commanding even; so unlike the man I'd known only minutes before.
I snapped to attention and gave a salute with a curt nod before marching off at a brisk pace towards the perimeter. With luck the soldiers that would be arriving would what is left of my armor platoon, aka two Chimera Assault tanks and a Lemun Russ, and hopefully the old rust buckets can receive a bit of tender love and care from our allies. Walking towards the perimeter location in which the soldiers had stated my men were I received many prompt salutes from those who saw me, those who didn't all had their backs to me working on miscellaneous equipment and such, admittedly I felt out of place. When walking around my own I still received the salutes, but I would also normally receive a greeting or a small conversation, my men had a certain personality to them that they freely shared. These men, they act as if they are nothing but tools, no individual, and it was then that I realized, I was afraid, not of a unified army, not of the commissar's whip, but of my army losing itself, for if there is anything I value in the Hellbounds, it is the outspoken attitude of my troops, their ability to solve a problem just by talking it over with each other freeing what few officers we have to do their jobs. I feared for my men losing their casual yet focussed selves to this army if they were to assimilate us, or just destroy us.
I was so lost in my thoughts that I had not realized that I had walked right up to where my soldiers had parked their tanks. Silently crying inside of my helmet, for reasons I don't understand as it is not often I cry, I quickly found my bearing and addressed my most trusted lieutenant, James 'Devil' Tundra, also the only dark skinned man in our army, which I must add makes him easy to spot, that and the fact he is always with his Russ the 'Daemon Slayer' also helps.
"General, good ta see ya, jus' tellin the boy, and our new las here about how my crew an I managed to fight off twenty hammerheads while you an Lord Nitronus took care o' business with those bloody Tau earlier this year." Devil paused his Scottish accent, as if considering something while he stroked his beard and wiped his bald head with a cloth, "Them two jus' transferred out ah the artillery's a couple o' days ago."
"Have you given them the rundown yet?" I asked while waving off two Liberator soldiers who saluted me as they walked by.
"Ya, course I 'ave, now the trainin' don't mean nothin, it's tha experience tha counts." he replied, his trademark half smile glistening at me.
Before we could continue talking any further, we were interrupted by the sound of metal crunching paving stone. I was expecting another Liberator or so to wave off, but what surprised me about this man was his extreme difference to all the others. Aged, no doubt, and human only from the knee up. Bionic legs, an arm that gleamed of wires and metal, and a long trench-coat of the same drab color that shrouded his armor completely. No helm, with a face that told of far more than just hells of war at only a glance. Hair closely cropped and grey, with a light beard beginning to grow in. He didn't salute, nore fall to attention; surprisingly, this odd soldier just held an easygoing nature and smiled. "Howdy do Herr General." He said, a thick German accent pervading his speech. "Heard bout yer arrival, an just 'ad to meet ya."
He extended a hand for me to shake, when suddenly the Lord-Commissar approached, his whip still bloodied. "Varias Lorenzo you shirking bastard." He said, though there was no malice in his words.
"Ja, that's me name, now don't wear it out Church." He smiled, despite the bloodied whip, and gestured him to come over.
"You are lucky I don't whip you for disobeying orders like the rest of these," He held up his free hand to indicate the others still running about, hard at work. "Failures...The lot of them. But I'll whip em into shape yet."
"You of all people Church should know that ole Whip don't work on me no more. I'm more machine than man at this point, an pain's only a fading sensation." The soldier, Varias, answered, smiling still.
"Carry on then, my friend. I'll be there in five to make sure you're ensuring the landing area is cleared for our transports in the southern part of the perimeter." Church said, sharing a nod before charging off with a shout of agitation as the younger soldiers moved to obey to his commands to prep the place for operation.
"Me an ole Church go way back...I remember savin 'is sorry ass when I caught the artillery that blew me damn legs off back on Terra fer tha Unification Wars and such." He shrugged, "S'why he's got a soft spot for me an me son." Varias paused, as though forgetting himself. He reached his hand out to shake. "Apologies, never truly got to introduce meself. My name's Lorenzo, but you can call me Varias, Herr General."
"I am General Lisa Armageddon of the Fifth Imperial Hellbounds, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance Varias." I said as I took his hand and gave a hearty shake to it.
"Hey Shadow, ah'll be off workin on tha Daemon Slayer if ya need me, she's got a few new holes tha need a patchin." Devil said from behind me before walking away and lighting a massive cigar as he got to his tank.
"Farewell my friend." Varias said softly, turning to me immediately afterwards as though sensing something amiss as two soldiers again passed by with the Commissar hurrying them along with his whip and fist.
"Varias, would you mind if I ask a question… about Commissar Church?" I asked in a tone so hushed I could barely hear myself, it also didn't help that Devil's tank roared to life, followed by a rather flavorful volley of language as Devil yelled at his crew's new recruit about not turning it over while he is under it.
Not even remotely phased by the intense smoke, nor shouting, the old soldier nodded faintly, his smile diminished. "Sure thing, Herr General." He paused, as though waiting for said question.
"Why is he so hard on his men, and would he do so to mine?" I asked, still in a hushed tone, but with a shaky voice nonetheless.
"Ta answer that there question, ah've got ta take ya back in 'istory bout ten-thousand years Herr General."
"Just Lisa, or Shadow, you can take your pick, no need to constantly refer to me by rank or title." I said with a hand raised as I removed my helmet and placed it under my left arm, allowing my light red hair to fall out in its messy and rather choppy fashion.
"Very well then, Lisa my friend." He smiled a little, but not much. "We were in our second year of war…Unification of all O' Terra an such. Fought hard for our Fatherland we did, for our Emperor. Got so far as to only be facing a few dozen more warlords in me ole home continent." He shook his head, as a particularly painful part hit him. "So many dead that day. T'was a day in history O' tha Liberators ah want to forget bout...But ah can't...because those left and those new still hail me as tha Angel O' Terra. Bloody, trench ta trench fightin. Artillery poundin from tha waves and the shore batteries...Blastin us ta bloody bits, an all the while mah men were pinned to tha beaches. Wilkas...He tried so hard ta rally us...but he couldn't. Took a bullet to the chest, and boom, down, not another word. Failed 'is men, he says, as we all were gettin mowed down. My legs got blown off, an I get honored fer savin all I could, especially him." He paused, the trauma settling deep within as a single tear rolled from his silver eyes. "Said he'd never let us fail like that again...Never'd let us die like that because of his failure to prepare us. Swore on his life he'd keep us from that grisly fate forever...and he's kept his word." There was a soft smile, as two Liberators, one looking similar and younger to the old soldier, approached with tools.
I nodded my head before bowing it slightly, "Thank you for telling me… None of us have ever seen a commissar before and, well, from what I've read… You know what, it doesn't matter, it shall be an honor to fight alongside him!" I said with resolve that I had left back with the vox. Before anything else could be pursued in our conversation though a massive explosion rocked me to the ground as a chunk of metal smacked me across the back.
"Ah, bloody 'ell! An jus wha do ya think you're doing there laddy?" I could hear Devil screaming at one of his new recruits through my near deaf ears. "You alright there Shadow?" he asked as he hoisted me back to my feet.
"Arg, it's like when that heavy metal nob hit me back before the Tau showed up." I said rubbing the back of my head as he checked me over, coming up with yet again no injuries.
"Sounds like he rocked yer world then, eh?" Varias said, returning to his more hearty mood as his past was forgotten. He chuckled some, before remembering the two others that still stood passively by.
"Oh come now, not another Devil…" I said as the Lieutenant began laughing uncontrollably, "Go tend to your armor LT, we need you guys after all." I ordered, to which I got a nod while he clutched his stomach, trying to suppress the fit of laughter he was set into.
"Ah surely ain't no Devil." Varias answered, "If anything, what me men tell me, I'm an Angel among men."
"Damn right ya are." The young soldier said, earning a stern gaze from Varias that quickly softened.
"Son. You know how I feel about foul language off the battlefield." He said, receiving a quick nod from the boy in question.
Boy, that was what this guy looked like. He seemed barely sixteen at best, and his armor and uniform seemed a bit large on his frame. He just barely cut in at the regulation for hair, which was dark and stuck out every which way, only adding to my thoughts of how this was no man; but yet he was a boy to be looked after. His face, holding now a serious look as he met his father's gaze, met mine at last before he fell to attention at last as though realizing my rank and sounded off. "Apologies Herr General," He quickly stated, "My name is Markus Lorenzo, soldier of the 152nd Company, mechanized division." He paused, falling to a form of parade rest at a nod from his father; the other soldier, as well, although he had done it without a word or hint of anything relating to an order. "General Velencio 'ad me dispatched with mah fellow soldier here to aid in any way we can with tha repair or rearmament of your armor, Herr General." He waited for orders, having spoken his piece at last.
Varias placed a hand on his son's shoulder in an assuring way as he too remembered Church's orders. "Be back soon. Gotta go an 'andle Church's request for tha landing pads Markus. 'Specially gotta have it done, when ah heard that ah high rankin soldier of yer army was bein transported 'ere." With that, Varias was gone. Jogged fast for a man with bionic legs, about as fast as an astartes to the rubble blocking the designated landing areas a mile or two away.
He was hurrying about, gathering together soldiers in a rather calm, collected manner; explaining the situation, I could make out. They nodded, and all joined in together without comment to clear the rubble.
"Herr General?" Markus asked, his tools still gripped tightly in his hands; perhaps out of nervousness, since he seemed so young, I thought.
"Oh yes, the repairs…" I looked over my shoulder at Devil as he finished chewing out his soldiers and his sgt handed him his coffee, "I shall introduce you to Lieutenant Tundra."
"Yes Herr General," He responded, almost excitedly. "It would be an honor to work alongside Herr Lieutenant Tundra."
I nodded, a bit worried since my old friend seemed to be stressed, instead of his usual happy go lucky self, "Follow me please." I said as I turned around and led him over.
"I swear, one more screw up and, and…" Devil sighed as he calmed his nerves, the coffee helping tremendously.
"LT?" I asked, probing the temperature of the waters I was entering with him. In all my time working alongside him, I had only witness him lose his temper one time, and it wasn't a memory I wished to recall. "The Liberators sent aid to repair your armor."
"They did now, did they?" he asked as he turned to face Markus with an unintentional glare that promised a painful death if something went wrong.
"Hey, may I have a word before we continue? One second Markus." I not so much asked as ordered before dragging the LT over to a more secluded spot, "Please, I am going to plead with you, don't do anything we will regret Devil." I pleaded with him, knowing that an order would get me nowhere as Tundra was as unconventional as they come.
"Kay, but if he steps outta line don't expect me not to yell… I've got coffee, no need for bloodshed… yet." he replied.
"Thanks." I sighed before letting him go, though I didn't go far as a part of me screamed that this wasn't going to end well. Watching as he approached his men and Markus I found myself sweating profusely.
"We won't let you down, sir!" Markus said, speaking for himself and fellow mechanic as he saluted curtly at Tundra's orders before moving to the remaining Chimera and setting out his tools. The other said nothing, and moved to the Russ before beginning his work wordlessly. It was a few minutes, and as Markus worked I felt as though things might just work out; but that was until he muttered aloud as he was fixing a track. "Damn this old thing's rusted all to hell..Not even a proper tank to fix anymore..How the hell did this thing make it as long as it did?"
I then heard the tin cup that Devil was fond of using as a coffee cup drop to the ground and the big bearded man march his heavy boots straight up to the boy, "This 'piece o' rust' has lasted this long 'cause in all my time with these here 'crates' we've taken pretty damn good care o' them." he shouted as he slammed a fist into the tank, knocking off a layer of rust.
Markus turned, his eyes glancing up at the massive man that stood before him. Like an ant in comparison, he was cowering instantly against the very vehicle in question as his fellow mechanic looked on silently. "Ah...Ah meant no disrespe…"
"Hell ya did, these here tanks have been responsible for saving our foot soldiers lives for generations, I dug that there Russ out o' a twenty five foot ditch and pieced her back together! This guy? This guy is now the oldest running vehicle in our arsenal, one o' two tanks we've got left, lest we wanna 'vert a Basilisk inta a TD, and tha Col wouldn't like tha one bit there laddy!" he screamed as I approached.
"Ah...Ah…" Markus could find no words to respond, having never endured such harshness from anyone due to his special status of being Varias' son. Already, he was beginning to break down, and whatever semblance of a soldier that was instilled crumbled.
"Devil, he gets it, now stop cutting him down or I'll cut you down a few notches!" I stated with a commanding tone I wouldn't often use, to which he seemed taken aback.
"Lisa, I…" he started.
"I'm not Lisa right now, I'm General Armageddon… If this is how you treat someone who was ordered to help you, by breaking them down, then I will do the same to you." I snapped, "He's a boy Tundra."
"He's my age, ifn ah can take it, he can!" he snapped back.
"Yeah, look again, he's never seen real combat before, he's a scrub. Remember when you were a scrub? I do!" the mentioning of his first combat experience seemed to have the desired effect so I dropped it, "Get back in line and go pick up your coffee cup, next words out of your mouth I wish to hear is a polite apology LT."
"Yes, ma'am." He clicked his heels and saluted before carrying out with his orders.
Markus was silent as a stone as he watched Devil pass him by. His cheeks streaked with silent tears, he quickly turned away as he forced himself to work through the breakdown. The other mechanic, not sympathetic in the least, shook his head and continued to repair several holes in the side armor of the Russ.
"Don't take it too personally, Tundra is only seventeen and charged with this." I gestured to the tanks before us, "He had ten at the beginning of the year, to say the least, with all the good we've had, we have lost majority of our armor, and over half of the ground forces from battle with the Tau." I stated as I tossed him a chocolate bar, "Cheer up, I've said they're rusty for years, but there has never really been anything to do about it since we lack the proper facilities."
He didn't even bother sparing a single glance as the bar landed beside him. Silent, still silent. In his eyes, though full of tears, there was anger. Cold, but burning furiously, as he finished his work on the tracks and moved over to work on the side mounted lasguns in the cabin areas near the back.
"Hey laddy… listen I'ma sorry mate, shouldn't a blown like that.." Tundra said from beside me as I bent down to pick up the chocolate bar. "Say, the mark of a great mechanic is bein able ta fix anythin ya know, so if ya are ta fix this old pile o' scrap you'll do fine work in tha future!" Devil teased, going back to his normal and rather laid back self.
Markus though, still seemed to be in the midst of his breakdown, and as a teen of any age would have done I should've known, he too Devil's apology and there it back in his face with an insult to make sure it stung. "Why don't you just shut your mouth ya damn pile o' scrap yerself? Ya couldn't even keep but 10 tanks tegether in yer whole unit and yer saying I'm a beginner when ah've been workin bout five-hundred tanks a day?! Ya meant ta blow on me cuz yer lookin fer someone else ta blame fer yer failure!" His eyes burned like coals, and the heavy wrench he held in his hand was gripped like a vise as he glared at Devil.
The other mechanic had disappeared, and quickly I saw he was running at full speed to get Varias and several other guardsmen as soon as possible to try and quell the situation. As I looked over to Devil, I saw the absolute fury in his eyes, I too was angry at that comment, but deciding that it was best to not attack the kid I put myself between the two guys. It was then that I noticed all of my personnel giving harsh looks this way.
"Listen up Markus, I am only going to say this once." I commanded, "These few who operate the tanks that we have been able to find, have always come through with them, but in recent years the total age and lack of parts have caught up with us, do not insult us for we have held this planet since before the Astartes were formed, and we have done so with everything we had. I could tell you stories, about when we were annihilated so long ago, that have been passed down through our generations. We had three titans, to battleships with a mass of cruisers, we had Baneblades to spare alongside many Stormblades, the only thing we have really been able to hang onto that is in an resemblance of itself are our Basilisks, and even they are falling apart now. What repairs you see on these vehicles, they exists just to keep it running. Our equipment is as old as dust, we have been lucky to have been graced with smart soldiers, who while being young, have always managed to pull through and continue us along. So the next time you want to insult us, perhaps you should reconsider, after all, I'm just the crazy bitch who drop kicked and killed an Ork Warboss, and Devil here is the nutter who held off all but one Hammerhead against a battalion of one hundred when he only had three badly repaired tanks." I said, holding my hands up to the two of them, both with fire in their eyes. In my peripheral I could see the glint of an Exitus Rifle scope, sparing a glance to the right a little, towards Marlus, I could see that little red dot that even the Orks had learned to fear. I slowly shook my head in a negative manner and the dot disappeared, much to my relief.
The next thing I'd have expected was for Markus to storm off, or even still try to take a swing toward Devil; but when I heard the hard crunch of boots and saw the single form of Varias returning without his men that worried me more than anything. Why would only he return, if not to prove just how quickly the elders of their Regiment could solve problems. "MARKUS!" He howled, a voice to rival even my Colonel's as he approached. The boy in question instantly snapped from his anger, and once more he was that broken boy cowering from punishment as he fell back and tried to scramble from his own father. He managed that for only five seconds, hiding from view behind the Chimera when Varias did something I'd not ever expect a fellow human to accomplish. He picked the tank up with both hands and tossed it aside further into the road nearby, where it sat perfectly unharmed. "GET YOUR SORRY ASS OVER HERE NOW SON!" He snapped, and after seeing his father's strength he knew resistance or hiding was pointless as he approached with eyes downcast and body quaking in fear. Nothing happened for a moment, save the burning pits of fury that was Varias' eyes glaring into Markus's. That was all, until he scooped the boy up by his throat in his one bionic hand, and slammed him into a nearby wall where he stayed. "NO BOY OF MINE IS EVER GOING TO CAUSE TROUBLE! DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOUR FELLOWS HAVE DIED FOR?! DO YOU WANT TO DIE THE SAME WAY?!" He stood there, screaming his head off at his son, not even paying any mind to us. "I CAN'T TAKE IT SON! NOT ANOTHER, DEAR EMPEROR…" His voice broke. "Not another…"
By now, Church had appeared. "What in the Emperor's name is going on?" He asked, taking in the scene with surprise.
"Take…" Varias was still enraged, but depressed as well, as he uttered the next words. "Take him to the whipping post Lord-Commissar. Lash him one-hundred times, and if he loses count, start over until he gets it right."
Even in Church's eyes, horror showed at this change of behavior. However, he didn't question, for clearly he already knew the strength this enraged father was capable of as he nodded solemnly. "Take him." He nodded to two soldiers who had followed him, and they went and removed the now unconscious boy from the wall and carried him down the street.
Church followed, but Varias remained alone with us. Trembling with rage, but also fear and hurt, as soon the lashes and screams filled the air. Several times, He listened, the count started over at about forty or so. He collapsed against the wall, hands over his face, sobs finally wracking his body.
I stood rooted in place after Markus was taken away, Devil standing next to me as we listened to the crack of the whip. "Teach him ta ca…"
I slammed my fist so hard into Tundra's face that he flipped in mid flight before slamming against his own tank.
"When I say hold your tongue and show respect, I mean it Lieutenant!" I yelled, "One more time, and I swear I will give you the same send off as that Warboss four years ago!"
He spat, "Understood ma'am."
"Good!" I grunted before walking away, towards Varias, "Sir, forgive my men."
Varias didn't answer for a long time. He just sagged against the wall, still sobbing softly, as the whipping went on and on. The cries softening, becoming less pained, although it never let up in acknowledgement to the crack of the whip. Finally, he let his hands fall to his sides, and his face was devoid of anything now. He looked straight to Tundra, and said matter-of-factly. "To think, I had ordered on the wire from our own coffers forty new tanks for your army. Ten Chimera assault pattern, thirty Leman Russ Executioner Class. And it was by my son's suggestion that I decided to make the order." He walked past, heading to the whipping post, and gesturing Tundra to follow him silently.
I picked Tundra up with one arm and threw him towards Varias before following myself at an arm's length. Tundra didn't find his footing and instead plowed into the ground before picking himself back up as I shoved him forward. It didn't long for us to come to where Markus was receiving his lashings, the poor boy had passed out cold. "See what you have done?" I asked before slamming my fist down on his back and kneeing him in his gut.
"This is the one the other mechanic heard you say could take it. This is the boy you said was your age and outta man up I heard." Varias was completely disconnected from it all, very distant, as he watched the whip descend again on the slab of flesh still tied to the post. "Do you still think the same way?" He asked, a hard gaze focused only on Tundra as blood reached the old soldier's boots.
"He insulted m…" I sharp drop kick to the back of his head silenced him.
"Not the correct answer Devil." I shouted kicking him in the side as he tried to get up. Not allowing him to do so under his own power I picked the sob up and threw him against the post. "If you think you can take then show me! Shirt off, NOW!"
Church shook his head slowly, still pale white, oddly enough. His whip, drenched in a thick, congealed blood, as he looped it neatly and placed it at his waist. "I've had enough blood shed today, I think." He peeled the slab off, having the two soldiers from earlier wordlessly carry him off. He handed me a whip, and silently left. Heading off to some obscure building in the distance, where none of the soldiers had been yet.
Varias remained, firmly planted, the blood soaking the bottoms of his boots as he watched, and waited.
I found myself staring at the whip, before I hoisted Tundra by his neck against a wall, "It is one thing, for you to show disrespect to me or Alex, we know how to put you back into place, but it is entirely different when you go and overreact to a 'boy' making an offhand comment that you know for yourself is true!" I shouted as he tried to stand, instead meeting the whip across his face, sending him down without a noise.
"Ma'am." he tried to get up again, but I was having none of it.
"Do not you dare speak." I yelled as I began whipping him repeatedly. A few minutes passed as I continuously whipped him. Upon the five-hundredth whip I saw a tear fall, the sixth a grunted in pain, the seventh elicited a scream. My scowl never seized as I went to bring down the ninth. Before I could a gloved hand stopped me, turning in a fit of rage I found myself staring upon my reflection in a red visor, tears streaming from my eyes as I dropped the whip and fell into my husband's embrace.
"Calm down, he's learned his lesson Lisa." Frank said, his voice as soft as ever.
I could have stayed there forever, I had lost control, I had nearly killed a good friend because he was stressed out and taking out his anger, I… I...I… "I'm sorry Frank, James, Varias… I'm…. sorry." I managed to whisper through my shudders as mentally broke down.
"You're sorry?" Varias asked, looking dead at me and Frank. "If anything, tis my fault this happened. I shouldn't have let the General order my son, should've used my pull with him to make somebody else come and help." Varias shook his head, knowing he could have done so much more. "I'll take care of your friend, make sure he's alright." He didn't mention his own son, as he walked over to the wall and knelt beside Tundra. "You alive?"
Tundra coughed up blood and tried to sit up, his back and neck flayed, "Can't say that I've had worse," he coughed before looking me in the eye, "but Ah never thought she'd be the un ta whip me… Serry ma'am, Ah was out o' line, let my… my pride blind me… Won't happin again ma'am."
I looked away, as I fell silent, giving a hesitant nod before Frank helped move me away, "Since he's going to take care of Tundra, we should do him a favor and check on his son." he stated, half dragging me, half supporting me as we walked towards where they carried him off to.
By the time we got the the medical area that the Liberators had gotten to, I honestly felt as though I'd belonged there at the current moment. My head was still swimming somewhat with the knowledge of what I'd almost done, so I was definitely grateful for my husband's supportive embrace as we entered the ruined building they'd cleared out. Not much activity yet, medics still on standby. The ones who had treated Kitty, however, stood next to a makeshift gurney that held the one we had indeed come looking for.
He seemed much different than the bloodied slab of meat I'd seen a few minutes ago. He was sitting up on the edge of the gurney, his entire back and chest covered in thick bandages and even a few that ran across his throat. The two medics were simply checking him over, and one injected him with something before nodding slightly and stepping aside. There was nothing I could tell in his face, not even a hint of pain from his time at the whipping post. He was just, nothing at all anymore. Eyes vacant, staring into something that was nothing as the two medics moved on to another patient that had come in with a few deep gashes from shifting the rubble and jagged rebar outside for the landing zone.
Composing myself a bit more I stood before him, "Markus, I'm sorry about earlier, I don't know what came over Tundra, but I dealt with him."
"What are you sorry about?" He asked, blankly. "There's nothing wrong that happened...I learned so much today…" He seemed so dejected, but his gaze never broke from that invisible object of so much import to his silver eyes. "I learned how Uncle Church doesn't care about me, I learned that my own father will see me whipped to near death without a care, and I learned the truth about the universe today…"
Sighing I opened up my small pocket and pulled out the chocolate bar from before, "Take this… They care, you should never forget that, they care." I said before turning and walking out.
"If they care...Then why is it that my Uncle and Father didn't show up instead of you two?" He pondered to himself aloud, eyeing the bar laid in his hand, neither accepting nor rejecting it.
"There are times that we can't even look upon ourselves in the mirror kid, this would be one of those times." I said walking out, leaving him with Frank who seemed to be confused as to why I was walking away.
Outside I took a deep breath before walking away from the base and towards the woods. I was silent on my walk, nothing but my boots beating upon the ground, the birds chirping in the trees, and the small wildcats that patrolled this part of the woods. I stopped when I reached a clearing with a small lake, a place I had been before several times to clear my head in times of grief. Closing my eyes I took off my helm and dropped it to the ground before I myself dropped to my knees. Gripping my laspistol several thought ran through my head, memories to be precise, Tundra losing control, Markus getting whipped, losing control when lashing Tundra, how Markus changed, how Church and Varias are both broken from this. Ever so slowly I brought my laspistol up to the side of my head, my finger on its trigger, but just as all the time before I couldn't bring myself to pull it, and so once again I tossed the pistol to the ground in shame of what I had almost done.
Startling to think of how silently he came along. Kneeling before the pond waters, his reflection speaking volumes without a single word. Tiredness, aching, and worry more than anything else. "I've seen that look before…" He whispered, "Seen it in my own eyes...every day, for thirty-two thousand years…" He spared a glance, as though waiting, a single hand of silver laid on my shoulder.
"This would be the seventh time for me… The first time was when I lost my family, the second, when half my army was wiped out, the third…" I closed my eyes, "Every time was the same, I would fall, I would ready my pistol, I would yield…" I sighed, "Is this what weakness is? To fall prey to one's own emotion?" I asked him, opening my eyes to stare upon their deep forest green pools in my perfect reflection.
"Weakness?" He seemed to question, even to himself. "No...weakness is to pull the trigger...Weakness is to abandon those you care for most...Weakness..is not finding the strength to go on, when everything is against you." He must have known, as his golden eyes flashed open and looked to mine in the pools. "True courage, is to put the pistol down..And get up and try again. I've grown exceptionally good at facing that...over the many thousands of years." He paused, a single tear in his eyes as though in remembrance of something. "There's been exactly two times that I thought of pulling the trigger, and firing the final shot of my life. The first, was after the Unification of Terra. Instead, I fired it into the last Barbarian lord and ended the war...The second, I almost committed today in my personal quarters."
"Here…" I said as I reached into the pocket and handed him a small peppermint hard candy still in it's plastic wrapping, "It's something I am known to do, give candy to those who are stressed…" I said with a half smile that lasted all of five seconds.
"Thank you…" He whispered, "But I'll not have this rarity, this dazzling little thing, until you have one yourself." He smiled somewhat weakly, as he held the peppermint in his free silver hand. "You deserve it, for all you've been through, at least."
"How so? For the first time in generations I have resorted to lashing one of my men, the first General in the Hellbounds to do so in any time that we can remember… I broke a tradition out of anger, not just at Tundra, but upon myself as well." I paused, drawing a deep breath before letting it out, "I should have intervened earlier, perhaps none of this would have come about, I never wanted this job, this was to be my brother's post, not mine."
"You broke a tradition out of concern, not anger. You think that way because you know no other way to see it. You are concerned not just for him, not Markus, but for your entire army and surprisingly, mine as well…" He paused, drawing a breath, and letting it quietly out as his gaze returned to the pools. "I didn't want my position either, I was just a small village militia commander. The elder of the village, when the Emperor came right up and picked me to lead his first Imperial Army. He saw something in me I myself did not, and countless times told me so. Where I am going with this, is that every decision, everything I've done, has been to try and hold up to what he expected of me...no matter what my personal feelings are...And fate, even I cannot control. There was no way to stop what happened, no way to stop my Army's coming here. We were made to meet without knowledge of ever knowing one another...What happened, happened because there was no way to know what would come of it. You did only your duty, as I did mine." His expression was a wry smile, twisted in sadness, but also in hope, as his silver hand that clutched the single candy held it out to me. "You decide," He whispered. "If you're like me, and I think you are, you'll take it."
About halfway into his wisdom I had pulled out my other peppermint, I held it between two of my fingers and showed it to him, "I suppose you are correct…" I looked at the mint in my hand, then to the one in his; in all my time searching upon this planet I had only ever found these two, and even that was luck, though chocolate seemed to be in no way a short supply.
He still laid the small peppermint in my hand, and started to walk around the pool slowly, as to not set the world spinning. "You are like me, then. I wasn't sure." He smiled a bit more, looking me over before turning to the water as though mesmerized. "Almost like the daughter I never had," And then he settled by the water's edge, feeling it with the tips of his silver fingers as he sent ripples over his reflection. "Emperor knows how many times I've stared at this man, and wondered why in the hell he didn't shoot himself. Emperor knows why he hasn't either...because his will to live to protect and lead his men through their darknesses, was stronger than his desire to end it all. That's why, you're like me...Why you need to remember, who you are, and why your men need you." And just like that, Velencio disappeared before my eyes. His drab grey and black fatigues vanishing into the greenery, leaving me to myself once more.
I placed both mints back into my pocket and grabbed up my pistol, checking it over only once for damage. Looking back to the lake I watched as a large alligator like creature snapped its jaws down upon an unsuspecting two tailed monkey. I stood and waited as it swallowed the monkey and swam slowly towards me, its ridged tail swaying to and fro, propelling it through the crystal clear water. "Hello there." I said to the the Gatordon as it approached. The massive beast marched its forty foot long black scaley self out of the lake, its beady red eyes staring at my green ones. It quickly moved over to my helm, it's massive claws stopping on either side of it as the beast 'barked' thrice before knocking my helmet over to me. "What the?" I muttered as the beast came up to my side. Gently I reached down and patted its head, "And what might your name be, perhaps… Infernum, yes, Infernum." I said as I rubbed his head, his maw slightly open.
