"Suspect bikers are moving left."
"Papa Golf 324, we have a visual. The lead one is about 8ft tall and is carrying a pistol. It appears to be glowing."
"Roger. This is the suspect. Suspect is in blue armour with a gold crescent moon and a star. The suspect is now entering Haymarket."
"Papa Golf 324, the other biker, the red one with horns, is now heading to Pall Mall East and is going right across the pedestrian area by the National Gallery. I think we can add endangering the lives of everyone in Trafalgar Square to the list."
The police chase that started in the green fields of Regent's Park, London, United Kingdom, Earth had gone on for 5 minutes now, and the Metropolitan Police motorcyclist were beginning to think that they may never catch up. Their bikes could reach 157 mph, but the bikes ridden by the giants topped that. This chase was happening in a 20 mph area full of tourists. Further, the blue biker who fired the pistol at the red one had jumped countless red signals, and, of course, he'd discharged a firearm in public.
"Roger. My copilot is a gamer. She's said that these bikers seem familiar. Red suspect has driven through hundreds of pedestrians and is now in the Strand. We have a van with a stinger ready by the Australian High Commission and... They've gone right past the van and the stinger has had no effect. It is now the City of London Police's business. We have informed them of the situation."
The City of London Police were now after the two bikers, but even they couldn't contain the Space Marines in the thoroughfares of the Square Mile. Tourists and citizens both jumped aside in shock as the Star Raja Tactical Marine and the Black Legion Khorne Berserker zoomed past the dome of St Paul's Cathedral. Amongst the towers of the city, including the one that can reflect sunlight so much that it melts car roofs, the Space Marines only stopped when they decided to, in front of 30 St Mary's Axe, also known as the Gherkin. The roaring servant of Khorne jumped off his bike, jumped over taxis, and rushed into the odd-shaped tower. Whatever he was planning to do, it didn't matter as the Battle-Brother gave him several bolts of plasma to the chest and head. The Star Raja destroyed the Chaos Bike, went into the Gherkin, ignored the lawyers and investment specialists, and grabbed a potted plant. He then ran back outside, got back on his vehicle, and sped off. With a flash of purple light, he was gone.
The City of London Police caught up with the Khorne Berserker. "Good morning, sir, are you aware of the speed limit on this thoroughfare?"
The red giant took out an axe with whirring blades and hissed in English, "Blood for the Blood God!"
"Sir, you have are now threatening a police officer with an offensive weapon. You are under arrest for speeding, mounting the pavement, ignoring red signals, endangering pedestrians, and for threatening me."
The Space Marine growled and reached down for his wrecked bike. He and vehicle also vanished.
[Note: The police attempting to arrest a Khorne Berzerker was the idea of Quora user Ryan Brewis.]
That insanity was just one of many that happened ever since the Imperial Fleet emerged from the Warp to find that the Black Legion task force had travelled back to the 3rd Millennium. The data implied that the Hordes of Abaddon wanted some kind of Orb of Power that no longer existed, but existed once. Not willing to give Abaddon more chances to gain power, the Imperial Fleet contained several Regiments, a Company of the Star Raja Chapter, a Squad of Deathwatch, a Squad of Grey Knights, and detachments from the Order of the Sacred Grove and the Order of the Bloody Rose. Since they were on Terra in the past, they had to avoid doing serious damage or killing anyone to avoid paradoxes, but the main matter was finding the Orb of Power, with the psykers highlighting at least 12 locations all within the same 1600 square kilometres.
Commissar Heron of the Avrolanc Blitzkrieg was so glad that she and the oddball Priest, Ofjan, would be leaving that regiment for another and that this was their last mission with them. She couldn't take their 5-star hotel lifestyle and their warcry any longer. Honestly, what does "Tally-ho" even mean? What kind of Guard regiment billets in a place with 24-hour room service, en-suite ironing, minibars, and flowers for every new guest? No, it was time to return to basics. Perhaps the Death Korps of Krieg would be more accomodating... "What are you watching?" Heron asked the priest as she returned to their shared billet- the hotel's worst room. Even that had a buffet and a turndown service, plus a beautiful view of the Golden Jubilee Bridge and the Southbank Centre.
"I'm watching what Palatine Decilu and the Grey Knights told me about," said the priest in red robes and a white bonnet. Both of them had been aware of the Grey Knights for decades. "Justicar Brothers Pyrrhus, Perseus, and Pericles were horrified when they saw what's about to start."
"Which ones are P, P, and P?"
"The Triquetra. Pyrrhus is an alpha-level who can move things with his mind, Perseus can slow and speed up molecules, and Pericles can see the future, levitate, and has empathy. The problem is that Decilu's billet in Kingston upon Thames were flicking through the TV channels on this island and found a show about three sisters who are witches and have the exact same powers. They even have the Triquetra logo the Justicars have, but they're called the Charmed Ones."
Intrigued at yet another coincidence, Heron sat down to watch Charmed on 4Music. Whatever it was meant to be, the Bloody Rose had a point. "Ofjan, it's not the biggest coincidence. We've already found the entire story of the Horus Heresy told in a never-ending novel series and the Grey Knights found all their secrets available for everyone to read in that bookshop, Waterstones."
"I want to go home. When can we leave?"
"We leave once we've destroyed the Black Legion or until we find the Orb of Power first. Why were the Sisters watching this anyway?"
Ofjan's head jerked. That bonnet was massive and had been used by her slavemasters to restrict her vision and to stop others looking at her properly. "They've been watching Charmed, Buffy, and Angel because they have strong women and, in three words, Leo, Spike, Angel. They've even started watching a series about the other side of this planet, a quiet cul-de-sac where weddings explode and hospital staff conspire. The only upside is that they are still deadly fighters."
Heron was about to reply when a man dressed in leather materialised on the TV screen. One of the witch-sisters waved her hand and he exploded. Then Heron tried to speak but her vox beeped. "Heron."
"Heron, Inquisitor Dominic. I want you and Ofjan to head north to British Museum station on the Central Line."
Ofjan paused Charmed and looked at her Tube Map. "I can't find a British Museum station. Oh, wait- no, that's Bond Street."
"British Museum is disused. However, the platform is still there and that's where one of the leads go. Get in there and get out. Dominic out."
"I am not taking the Tube again!" Ofjan declared. "I am not beating up an entire stag party again!"
Heron smiled. One of the stag party had touched the priest's bottom. The priest, who had a phobia of anyone touching her intimate areas thanks to her former life, smashed his jaw, and the jaws of all six of his friends. Fortunately, the scramblers Dominic had given everyone meant that Ofjan didn't show up properly on CCTV or any device. There was no real evidence to give to the British Transport Police.
"No, we'll find the site and climb down. We'll take a gentle stroll in mufti. Get changed, get your selfie stick, and we'll watch the end of that show first. Isn't that Kurzon, the same Demon blown up earlier?"
Not so far away, on the other side of the Thames, a giant entered a brown building with a huge tower in the middle. The giant's pale skin and scars were the start of the horror all over his form. His black Power Armour also had the fleshy faces of numerous souls, some of them quietly screaming. A tattered red cloak hung off the front. In his hand was a sword and around his waist was a whip. However, he didn't harm anyone but instead went to the front desk. "Welcome to the Tate Modern," the human at the front desk said. His eyes never left the writhing faces on the behemoth's armour.
"Greetings, mortal. My name is Lucius the Eternal of the Emperor's Children. I hear that this is a repository of aesthetically pleasing... items."
"That's right, Mr Eternal. Are you by yourself?"
"I am, for now. However, though my Lord Slaanesh does not exist yet, I can still summon his friends. If I need them, they'll just appear!"
"That is excellent, sir. Would you be interested in an audio guide? They are £4.50 or £4 concession."
"What, mortal, are the conditions for concession?"
"Are you a student with valid ID, a Job Seeker with ID, disabled, or over 60?"
"I am over 10000, so I qualify."
"Are you sure, Mr Eternal? Do you have proof of age?"
Fortunately, Zahara Boneshatter of the Pink Decimators had planned for that. Lucius took out an ID card proving him a senior citizen. The Black Legion and it's co-conspirators had forged documents for every ocassion, and money it stole from unused bank accounts, for starters. Zahara said that the loyalist hyenas had done the same. "I have proof of age. Would you be interested to know I have two hearts and can spit poison?"
"That's fine, sir. Here is your audio guide. It is best to start once you have left the desk."
"Thank you, mortal."
Lucius eventually reached a painting of an egg on a rock with a flower growing out. No, that wasn't it. Or was it? Whatever the thing was, there was an imperfect reflection in the water, a crowd behind, a 4-legged beast, and a chessboard with a statue in the middle. "What is this? Ah, Salvador Dalí's Metamorphois of Narcissus. This was someone who fell in love with his own image, died, and came back as a flower."
The Champion of Slaanesh's ears and nose guided him to the disturbance in the atmosphere. "You are no school trip, no art snob, Imperial Fist".
The black armour of yet another giant stomped inside. On one shoulder was the Deathwatch badge and the other the black fist on a yellow field. "Heretic traitor," was the reply of Brother Ultran. "You dare to come in here? This place of beauty?"
"Yes," Lucius sneered as he advanced on the Marine. The Fist also took a few steps forward. "I dare. Why not?"
"Why not? I came in here for the reasons you did, traitor. I will not kill you, I know the rules, but I will knock you out and then ask where the scrimshaw exhibits are. I can't find any but I can find this nonsense."
Lucius slapped his overenthusiastic Daemon Whip. "Actually, it's a commentary on mythology based on metamorphosis and the characteristics, so says that caption."
"Pah! No, I don't see this. I will admit that the painting skill is excellent."
Both Space Marine and Chaos Space Marine now examined the painting together. "I've just zoomed out. If seems that the figures fade away if we look at it with a certain fixedness."
Ultran also zoomed his vision out and found that the Emperor's Child was correct. "It's a magnificent symbolism, but the Space Wolf had just been in the National Gallery and saw a painting of ambassadors. It was most stimulating and symbolic."
"What the what?" demanded the Terminator with tusks jutting from his helmet. "My Lord Lucius, kill that dog!"
Ultran suddenly threw down a grenade and the gallery filled with smoke and light. When it cleared, the Fist had gone. "Ah," Lucius said.
"Fool," the Terminator Aigza hissed. "I expect you paid money for that audio guide."
"Do you have a problem? Come on, whelp of Abaddon. Kill me!"
Aigza sighed and teleported out. So the Fist had got away. It didn't matter as Lucius had already found the possible Orb and would soon verify it. Still, he'd paid someone else's money for the audio tour and by all the Dark Gods he'd finish the tour and then spend someone else's money in the gift shop. Zahara had teleported all coins and banknotes hidden in furniture for decades to the Chaos task force, along with unused gift cards.
"Now, where's the room with a light turning on and off?"
