Inquisitor De Marche to Librarian Insidion.
Xerx stood motionless in the pocket bubble forged in the warp. He was standing atop the dark tower, whose base could not be seen in miasma of the darkness. Tower may even did not have a base. Body of a tower was of large diameter, enough to inscribe nine times nine circles of conjuration, each one of different sizes. He was holding in his gauntleted hand purple object made of crystal, which shone in purple light, in dim glow. The monotony of blackness was broken by waves of spiral purple energy, which was moving in a form of globe around the top of the tower, removing darkness from that area, like a river. Conjuration circles where lifeless, their red shapes, runes and lines darker. Xerx was not here for them anyway, at least not primarily.
His ceramite armor was damaged primarily on frontal part, so imperial aquila was not visible anymore. Ceramite was melted almost to the flesh, but mark 7 power armor held. Frontal area of armor was melted from acidic liquid, breathed on him by monster three times larger than him, which was spawned from 9 summoning circles at once. He is determined to acquire the prize held here. In this arena of doom.
Right vambrace has lost all signs of his chapter symbol, from fighting warp creatures which where appearing from summoning circles. His power armor lost all colour, so it was now reflecting dark purple shapes which were forming protective sphere around top of the tower. He defeated all enemies coming from arcane circles, with his power over warp, and his physical weapons. Diabolic fire he could summon was terrible and was vaporizing any enemy who was conjured.
It was all worth it, his prize has began materializing in empty space, just as his master has instructed him.
Back on his Fortress Monastery of a chapter he used to belong, he was serving as Librarian, until his superior has educated him into real and forbidden knowledge. Insidion the Librarian, has uncovered a relic, and a book, on a corrupted Forge world Hemptor 1. Having defeated corrupt arch-magos, he seized arcane relics. He did not hand them all to Inquisition, feeling desire to posses them and use them to banish enemies of mankind.
Xerx did not frequently interacted with Insidion, as they were together in same room very rarely.
Thought formed in Xerx's head, told him that Insidion has knowledge for sharing, so Xerx worked on establishing trust with Insidion. Over a period of several years, Insidion shared his knowledge to Xerx. They found out from deep flat cylindrical green crystal object about alien construction they named Ocularis Engine. Visions of power that their chapter could have swarmed their mind, if it did have control of this device, filled their every thought. They learned about a towering library on a chaos world of Hemptor 337, which helds scriptures about ancient engine, but to reach it, Xerx would need a weapon. A weapon that would protect him and destroy his enemies on his path on that damned planet. Hemptor 337 was almost a chaos world. Much of it's desert type surface was transformed by chaotic energies, but somehow planet did resist influence of it's undisputed lord, Temor.
Now, after he defeated every damned monstrosity spawned by the tower, his eyes rested on his prize. Out of empty space, sharp purple lines emerged, few meters from the ground, merged and intertwined until an object was formed. Process lasted no more than a minute, and since there is no air here, but some kind of void instead, in this sphere in the sea of roiling warp energy, an adequate weapon has been manifested.
An object that was formed was not something he thought it would have been, so he reluctantly clenched his right hand on grip of bolt pistol, hanging in the void, feeling powerful vibrant material of the weapon. Thoughts filled with images of dark purple characters written on old paper, filled his mind, each and every one making him conscious about the weapon. Bolt pistol was made from warp energy and recognized where it got his form: from himself.
Image that was clearly visible in his mind was that of this bolt type weapon. Holy Astartes weapon. Long time ago, he was given this weapon when he became full fledged Astartes, on very first day when he received power armour he was currently wearing. His mailed hand, clasped firmly around blue and gold pistol grip. Grip was decorated with parallel gold and blue metal bars. Whole bolt pistol was made from gold and blue parts, blue color shining with serene glow.
Informations filled his mind instantly. This was no ordinary gun, this was constructed by some ancient and maybe intelligent process embedded in the spectral tower. This weapon was made from his memory, very vivid and sad memory.
His helmet was suprisingly functional, and readouts on his lenses started showing golden section about bolt pistol status. He did not care that bolt pistol was not synchronized with his armor, even though they did cooperate. Readouts also did show that power armor's battery was functioning poorly. Power supply was damaged. But now was not the time to dwell on these thoughts, he still needs to escape this non reality. Deep monotone chanting started flowing from his throat, gradually increasing in volume. After his voice reached deep and loud volume, exceeding maximum for gene-enhanced human, he saw blasted dust plains, with circular stone formations not far from him, forming in his perceptions, as his astartes eyes adjusted to material world.
He successfully teleported to Hemptor 337.
He looked down, his vision darting across tears in his chest plate, and sweeping down his exposed muscles on left leg, to blasted and dead earth, on which he stood. His short black hair, run wild from battles in arena on the top of the tower. He wanted to sheath his power sword, which glowed with faint white, glow which was obscured by bright orange glare that covered the horizon. Metal scabbard which was used to protect power sword was destroyed by acidic blasts which were launched at him during battle. Bolt Pistol holster suffered same fate. Mark 7 power armour was stripped of colour almost everywhere, and signs of imperial aquila were gone, along his Librarian markings on shoulder plate.
Plains were bare, except those 10 meters high stone formation, at about few hundred meters from him, and weak sounds of thudding automatic fire could be heard.
Blue runes flickered in his heads up display, about power sword, and gold one about bolt pistol. His helmet was showing blue color overlay always, this warp-energy constituted weapon somehow altered display colors for it's own status. At upper right section of his vision, synchronization routine was running, indicated by several lines of status text. Ammo count was showing number twelve. Sickle clip on this warp weapon was standard size, so how is it that it holds half ammunition more, was unknown to Xerx.
Xerx had only one thing in mind, to take control of Occularis Engine and to attain some glory for himself in the annals of Imperium. He stoped suddenly as he was walking. "To take control of the engine?", but his original goal was to utilize the engine to destroy enemies of his Chapter and Imperium. "But if i can control it, everybody will know it was me who saved the worlds", and smile appeared on his broad face, behind his vox grill. He reminded himself that he is surrounded by damaging influence, and that these thoughts may not be his own. Noises of battle picked his interest there, so he went on to investigate. His armored boot stepped on a metal, covered with gray earth, and he found rusted chains, connecting to a pieces of rock. He tried to rip the chain wtih his arm, but he had to use sword. Xerx wound chain up his waist, and slid power sword through one chain link. This way he had to carry only the bolt pistol in his hand.
As he was approaching the rocky protusions, noises of battle became stronger. When he reached the top of the 10-meter high hill, he saw large humanoid figures, standing in remains of half meter thick walls, ground floor remnants of a building, spraying flame and bolts into about 50 humans, wrapped in red tatters, some firing weapons from tattered makeshift vehicles. Heads up display showed information and warning immediately: "4 Astartes detected. Unknown alleigance". Near the broken 10 and more meters wide walls, was burning rhino transport of originally black and gold trim, golden chaos star ornamentation visible on side doors. Several dozen wreckages of motorized vehicles, lay sprawled in two kilometers area. While observing this from this vantage point, Xerx presumed that space marines were fighting these raged lunatics for quite some time, and that after destroying majority of mechanized force, their Rhino finally gave up, so their barricaded themselves in in walled remains of what seems to once have been imperial office building.
Red clad lunatics operated wide vehicles of various sizes, some resembled four wheel transports, other resembled vans and some were 20 meters length or more. Rhino was armed with flamethrowers at both sides, and had twin linked heavy bolters at the top of its hull. Space marine which was operating these twin linked bolters, had no head, only his upper torso and arms visible from rhino, he was burning from inside of his armour, as conflagration was cooking his corrupted astartes flesh from inside the armor. All weapons have been destroyed, rhino's right side non existant, and it's internals exposed and burning, stink of prometheum filling the air. Visible traces in the earth, from that right side of rhino were leading into building remains. Black armoured astartes body was laying down, face to earth, with no visible battle damage, five meters from the rhino. "This one didn't make it" - thought Xerx. Another black armoured astartes lay on his left shoulder, with hole in his chest, and his power pack was burning white. Dull yellow roughly moulded chaos star was on his shoulder pad. His right hand was severed, Xerx couln't determine from what, at this range, and there was remains of bolt pistol tip and part of sickle clip, half a metre near him.
From his elevated position, he could see what has destroyed Rhino transport and killed those marines. A hulking, eight wheeled, boxy armored vehicle, of deep red, kinda resembling chimera apc, only larger and with one, now broken, bronze muzzle whose tip what one of deamon head, with open jaws. Sparks of purple electricity riddled the vehicle, and his engine compartment was burning red, and some form of slow scream could be heard. Machine had six more golden heads with open jaws, three on each of it sides. There was around 100 dead human bodies, clad in red tatters of tunic and metal, riddled with rusty spikes. One of them had short sleeves, and he had blood running from his bicep, on his autogun, with which he was shooting in rage at protected space marines. About 50 men, some of them having strange angled symbol branded on their cheeks, were assaulting without care, so they were dying quickly.
Space marine clad in new Mark 7 power armor stood, his upper part of body now visible above cover of reddish wall, he was crouching behind. His armor had few dents, white symbol of ultramarines barely visible on his left shoulder, under tied up charms of bones. In his left arm he was holding long white staff, and Xerx recognized that as weapon of Ultramarine Librarians, which was sporting golden skull, with clutched wings, and golden wreath around skull. This staff had wreath replaced with thorny barbs, wings where red, and whole shaft was surrounded with barbs, which looked organic. Lifting huge staff into air, sorcerer emitted huge wave of rippling air, which was visible because as the wave was moving, dust moved as water under the influence of tsunami. Wave of sonic energy caught remaining madmen and their eyes exploded into tiny meat pieces, ears bled, and skin tore, up to a point ribcage was visible. Blood seeping from torn meat made thousands of dots on blasted ground.
Sorceror lowered massive staff, barbed vines that were growing from the staff, now visible. Vines were piercing right vambrace of Ultramarine Librarian, and entering inside ceramite.
There were no more sounds of men roaring, replaced by cries. Chaos marines left their was observing the effect of his spell. He was satisfied. Glowing blue eyes on his helmet were wandering from one body to the next. His attention shifted on Corpsemaker corpses. Sorceror was thinking about irony, being part of Corpsemaker renegades and being corpse in the same time.
Xerx had no intention of exposing himself, they would probably shoot him immediately.
Xerx could now discern other Space Marines. All of them were heavily armed. He remebered armored vaults of his chapter and the holy Multi-Melta weapon system. It was a powerful weapon that only a Space Marine that was decorated for valor and renowned could have the honor of operating.
This brute, clad in ancient Mark 2 Power Armor, whose chest plates have been replaced by those of newer Mark 7 model, was holding Multi-Melta in his armored hands. Massive gold aquila on his chest was obscured by heavy weapon, his armor was cobalt blue, with visible traces of wear. Helm was not original that came with this armor, helm was able to move with wearers head, unlike those that came with this type of power armor. It was obvious that frontal part was removed from mark 7 along with shoulder and neck plates, and mark 7 helmet was fitted.
There was another multi-melta operator, wearing distinct purple mark 7 power armor, sporting two holsters for bolt pistols, lots of grenades around his waist were hung around plain chain, and two chainswords hung from either side of his power pack. His equipment was new and polished. Through his vox-grill came strong laughter, bearing trace of happiness.
Last space marine was one of Corpsemakers. He wore plain Mark 5 black armor, with studs on greaves and yellow chaos star on right shoulder. Armor had a gold trim around edges, and marines was holding bolter with several attachments and on his lower back were attached two melta bombs.
And then, Xerx was suprised. A slender, thin and tall humaniod figure emerged. It was clad in black segmented body fitting armor, with razor spikes on bracers and shoulders. Elongated head was armored in black helm with almond eye slits. Figure carried long thin rifle like weapon with purple crystal above hand grip. End of barrel was curved into scythe like blade. Xerx recognized eldar kin immediatelly.
Group was standing and chattering something among themselves. There was yelling by Ultramarine sorcerer and pointing hands towards horizon and towards their burning rhino. Armor or dead Corpsemaker on the top of rhino was burning inside, and flames were seeping through holes that armor head. Body of marine was completely melted from prometheum. Xerx heard Ultramarine sorcerer calling purple armored marine by name Drax, and Drax just rebuked him back. Drax was collecting ammo from dead Corpsemakers, taking clips and fragmentation grenades. After he looted two dead marines, Drax started fiddling with burning rhino. From the back of burning rhino, its gold trim and trophies now gone, he detached some mechanical part, and moved away from the vehicle.
Dark eldar was speaking with the Ultramarine and others were still and were looking to horizon. Drax approached one abandoned vehicle that lunatics were using. Vehicle was some kind of construction machine, 10 meter in length, with dozer blade at the middle, pointing downwards. There was about one hundred skulls decorating the perimeter of vehicle, and red metal plates forming armor layers. He jumped to platform on the right side of the machine, and entered makeshift armored control room, along with the part he took from rhino. After some time and some kicking by Drax into control systems, machine roared in life, red fumes churning through six exhaust pipes.
Group slowly climbed the dark red construction machine, and started going to direction unknown to Xerx.
While standing and holding railing with his left hand, Ultramarine Sorcerer turned his head in the direction of the stony formations, that were close to the building they were holed up. Heads-up display in his eye lenses showed nothing, but something was radiating there. Something was radiating with warp energy, but weakly. Loud laughter from purple armored space marine, stole his attention away, and massive construction vehicle sped up as brute with oversized aquila on his chest, stepped up speed paddle.
Xerx waited until smoke churning vehicle had disapeared from eyesight and jumped from rocky elevation, and started walking very slowly towards dead space marines near burning rhino. Powerpack was generating very little power, so his armor switched of majority of support systems, and only some servo muscles were functional. He couldn't see it, but his power pack had one big hole in upper part of it and stabilizators were not functional. Xerx was walking toward dead space marine, whose body lay closer to the burning rhino. When Xerx was withing few meters of the body he understood why there were no battle damage visible. Corpsemaker had no head, but because of visibility angle from the rocky formations, it was not visible. Corpsemaker helmeted head had no major upper part, it was melted away. It looked like some laser weapon was aimed at him from his side, because every part of armor was untouched, except head.
And idea was born in Xerx's mind. He will take armor of this worthless excuse of marine. With his left hand, which was free, he grabbed right arm of armored marine and carried it to the ruins. Ruins were remains of a large buildings and so it had lots of remaining walls. It would be hard to don armor to himself, it was always done with help of servitors in his chapter. Xerx started by removing pauldrons, painted black with fat gold trim and golden chaos star metal insignia, with tools he found in demolished vehicles nearby. He detached front plate, and then he notices that this armor was very old. This was one of the old Mark III Power Armor, named Iron Armor. Xerx felt awe and respect toward this piece of equipment. Armor was from the age of Heresy, when damned Emperor was put down. Xerx blinked in shock. How can Emperor be damned, Emperor was his father and only salvation to the humanity. He purged these thoughts. After removing all parts from corrupted space marine, he grabbed the body by the neck, put his unarmored hand into skull cavity and scrubbed brain matter and ate it. First he assembled leg pieces, the torso, and lastly arms and pauldrons. Lying on the reddish concrete, he was waiting for power armor to power up and connect with his black carapace. He successfuly walked around the room, feeling full mobility now, where he could barely walk before. His original armor had no color and helmet was badly damaged. He was looking at his helmet, while holding it in both hands. He threw it across the remains of the room. His bolt pistol was now holstered to his right side, and power sword was fastened by chains to his left thigh.
He has left the remains of the building and approached second dead marine and removed his black helmet with red eyepieces and red vertical tail on top of helmet. This armor was also Mark III but had lots of holes, but helmet was untouched. Helmet clicked perfectly on his head. Informations runes started appearing in his heads-up display. Armor was functioning perfectly. He ate the brain of this marine also.
He was observing the one square kilometer of this battlefield. Hundreds of dead bodies lay everywhere. Lots of damaged vehicles, still burning red.
There, in the center of the carnage, was block of stone. The obelisk was made of dull white stone, tall as a two rhino tanks, and wide as half. It was white, despite bright orange shade. Obelisk was undamaged, even as several rocket exploded upon impact. In ancient dialect of High Gothic, it is written that there was religion on this planet. Then came army of darkness. Red storms appeared until everyone worshipped Red Wolf, and everyone was mesmerized by fury. After centuries of slaughter, came the Green Death, and two primal forces collided. Not much of this made any sense to Xerx. He turned his head to the right.
"Chaos is only constant." He was looking in the direction from which he heard these words, but he only saw two dozen demolished and burning vehicles.
An image appeared in his mind. There was a bunker from where this group started traveling with that demolished Rhino. Information flooded his mind, like a laser ray. He could see the shape and location and knew how to reach the bunker. He could see and hear pieces of conversation that these dead space marine had, whose brains he ate. He saw a group of about 15 space marines, making a conversations. All of them had black armor with gold trim and helmets with red vertical tails. All of them were armed with mixed marks of bolt weapons. They were standing in square darkened room, square man sized ventilation tubing above them. They were arguing weather to accept to work for Crazy Son of Guillman or not. Largest of them was leaning in on huge black lascannon, decorated with golden star on both sides of firing chamber. He said: "If he is going to give us brand new Thunderhawk, that he escaped with, then we are going to work for him. Such a machine is not easy to come by.". Four of them went to orange rhino, six of them to second, black rhino. "It seems they lost one mercenary on the way here" - though Xerx. "And what he wants to find?" - asked one of the standing space marines, in the new vision Xerx had. "Some kind of ship, a device, he said he needs it to take his revenge." - Said lascannon wielder back. Space marine through whose eyes Xerx was looking, whose brain he ate, was looking at the direction of two rhino tanks. One was orange, other was black. The bunker was very large, a size of middle size warehouse, with tall ceiling. Orange rhino was the one that was burning 300 meters away from Xerx.
"No point following them, i have no idea where they are going". "I should infiltrate the bunker of Corpsemakers, they probably have maps of this planet and key elements lined out". "Additional hardware would be good".
A lot of damaged dull metal vehicles were around him. A lot of dead bodies. His chapter's armor was destroyed and discarded. He was armored with armor from a fallen heretic. A fool who turned his back to the Emperor, the Light in the Universe. "A dead weak fool". He looked through red eyelenses on his helmet in right direction and started walking to the underground bunker, to find these traitors and to rob them of information.