Guardsman- Chaper 01: Slavers

By: Unholy Saint

Ramblings: Well. What's up everyone? This is my first fanfic, and for those of you who find yourselves lost, it is based on the universe of Warhammer 40K. Well, hopefully, you'll enjoy reading this. All types of reviews are welcome, even insults directed against my mother. Flames will be used to grill my food, but are accepted nontheless.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the key elements of Games Workshop, however I do own a 2000 pt Imperial Guard Army.

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"Heh Heh Heh….I wonder how much this specimen will go for on the gladiatorial market?"

"I dunno….ee' do look to be in good shape though."

Johan was shaken awake by the people whispering above him. He opened his eyes groggily, only to see the unshaven jaw line of a lowlife in the hive city. He tried to open his eyes, and groaned. The captor standing behind Johann said to the other:

"Uh-oh, it looks like we woke him up…good going Leronza, you and your shaking…oh well, I guess we'll just have to force him to cooperate."

Johan then felt two burly arms wrap around his arms, still unresponsive, and he felt the cold tip of an autopistol press against his sternum, held by the one called Leronza. The other one, after he stepped out from behind Johann, said:

"Apologies for the rough introduction…my name is Mathradar, and the man with the pistol is named Leronza…we're slavers, and you're out newest bounty! Welcome to the group!"

This man named Mathradar was more dignified than his dirty compatriot. His clothing looked to be of good quality, considering the area of the hive they were currently in. He was cleanly shaven, and had shoulder length brown hair. The one feature that caught Johann's eye, though, was the ornate saber held by a sky-blue sash on his waist. It did not look to be human, and was inlaid in a xenos language with crystal. Mathradar saw where Johan was looking, and chuckled softly.

"I see you've noticed my prized possession. I found it on a Xenothrite Eldar in Ramul XVI. How was I on Ramul, you ask? Well, I'm a deserter of the Guard, and damn proud to be one. Bloody awful organization, I'll tell ya! But yes, I bested their lord in close combat, and took his sword. Tell me, hive scum, what is your pitiful name?"

Johan, caught unawares by the questioning, was slow to answer. A little too slow, apparently.

"WHA! Yer too good ta talk to good Mathrad her', are ya? Well, I'll jus' hafta beat some good ol' fashioned respek inta ya, right?"

With this, Leronza took his other hand and punched Johan in the gut, and Johann crumpled to the ground. Leronza spat on him and said:

"Teach ya ta disrespek ol' Mathradar, lowlife!"

Johann could only look on weakly as Mathradar elegantly took out his sword and neatly chopped off Leronza's left arm below the elbow. As Leronza howled in rage, Mathradar turned to him and said:

"Teach you to disrespect our cargo. I will get you a prosthetic, so don't worry. Well, since he seems to be losing conciousness now, might as well inject him"

Mathradar then took out a syringe filled with a sickly orange fluid and poked it into Johan's arm, causing Johann to feel very drowsy. The last words he heard were

"Welcome ta the cargo of th' good ship Rogue's Vindication, lowlife."

Johan then lost consciousness.

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Johann regained consciousness on the cold floor of a containment cell. He tried remembering the details of the previous encounter with Mathradar and his lackey, Leronza, but all he could remember was the sword, the pain, and the men's names.

"Oy look boys, da newbie's shook it off! Let's intraduce ourselves, an' git it over with."

Three men stepped out of the shadows, and spoke from left to right

"Oy, I'm Kenthric, an' I'm da leader of dis here group"

"Greetins'. My name be Urolnic, and I'm da first mate"

"Zaa brother! Homies call me Zebra, and im da hippest of da whole lot!"

Then Johann noticed a huge figure in the corner. Pointing at the giant, Johann loudly asked

"Who is that?"

Kenthric, moving quickly, covered Johan's mouth. Whispering into his ear, he said

"Shhhhhh…at's an ogryn over der' newbie. Ee' dun like it when we wake 'im! Ogryns beat shit up when dey dun like it, so we jus' let 'im be. We call 'im Urk, cause he cant say none else."

Johan looked at the sleeping form, and deciding that he did NOT want to be on the receiving end of one of Urk's punches, Johan quietly told everybody

"My name is Johan, and I have no idea where I am or why I am here…can someone fill me in, cause that syrum definitely did not do good things to my memory."

Stepping up, Urolnic explained

"Ya be good property of da good slaver Mathradar, and ya be on da good ship Rogue's Vindication. Ee' go all over da galaxy, and collect "spes-imans" from da worlds ee' land at. Ee' den sell us off ta da highes' bidder in dem gladiatorial arenas. We're 'bout 6 hours from planetfall, and we're prolly gun git sold off and fight some drooling Kroot tings in dose arenas! It be a purdy damn hard life we got. Us four been together for most of 8 years, an' we only los' one man. You be da replacement, and welcome to da crew!"

Johan, at a loss for words as to what he had just been told, stood in the center of the cell mutely. He was now a gladiator! Fighting Kroot! Things did not sound like they were going in the right direction for him, so he started stuttering, and dropped to his knees. Kenthric moved over and sat down next to him. This was when Johan first got a good look at his face. It was covered in scars, and had a prominent number of Imperial Tattoos. Kenthric, noticing the direction of his gaze, said

"I was once a missionary for the Ecclesiarchy, but then I, whilst facing the traitor marines of the Night Lords Legion, I ran from the field, and the Ecclesiarchy gave me over to Mathradar as a punishment and because Mathradar bribed them for gladiators with combat experience. I even fought on Armageddon"

At the end of the story, a large rattling was heard, and the plasteel door of the cell was thrown open. On the other side stood Leronza, complete with prosthetic arm. He took one comtemptuous look at the gladiators, and especially at Johan, and said

"The Emperor been kind ta us, an' we be getting' ta Arkinral sooner than expectin'. Go to the Armory, and get the newbie a set of gear an' tell 'im the rules as they be."

He left, and left the door open. Urk had woken up when the door was slammed open, and now stood ready to go. Kenthric was the first to speak up.

"Alriite men, ya heard da boss, les us git movin'!"

And with that statement, the gladiators jogged to the Armory.

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A/N: Chapter 1 out! whopee! Reviews are always welcome, and I may be in the market for future beta readers. If ya might wanna do this, email me at . Short of that, until next time!

Thought for the Day: Glory to Thee Imperator!