Chapter 2

As soon as they left the tent Marcus addressed them saying "You three get showered and cleaned up. After that do what else you have to do to prepare for this mission. I advise packing heavy, as we do not know how long it is we will be out there. If there is any other equipment that you need, relay it to me and I will contact the quartermaster. Once you have done those things, relax. We won't be leaving until tomorrow morning. I am going to see about acquiring a Valkyrie. Any questions?"

"Marcus-er I mean Sergeant Aventis," said Zachariah. "Can we really trust this Eldar? I mean they did help us and all with the Orks, and for that I am thankful, but is our alliance with them on this world kind of pointless now that we defeated the greenskins? They are xenos scum after all."

Marcus thought for a few seconds before answering. "First of all, just call me Marcus. No need to be treating me special just because I was promoted. Secondly, the greenskins may still be on this planet. They could be hiding in the mountains, or somewhere in another forest. I don't really know, and I seriously doubt that we can just stroll around the place, mucking about, and not be in any sort of danger. If there is still a threat, we need all the allies we can get. So far it doesn't seem like Cerberus will be able to send in any more regiments until they can recruit more, and other allied forces are light years away from here. In fact, they are possibly fighting in other areas that are keeping them tied up, especially if it is a system deem more valuable than this one. Thirdly, the 'xenos scum' as you so eloquently put it just saved our asses. If they are willing to help us for whatever reason it may be, I am content to ally with them if it means we can repel the current enemy while keeping our own heads. Understand me?"

"Yes Sergeant...Sorry I mean Marcus," replied Zachariah.

"Alright, now get going, I have some things to attend to."

With that, they parted ways. Lucius, and Aerielle went together in one direction toward the medical tents. Aerielle's arm needed some tending to ever since the bayonet slashed it. They walked into the tent, and saw many injured and dying men and women lying on cots and stretchers. Medics were rushing about, tending to as many as they can, starting with the most severe ones. Lucius turned his head and saw a medic doing chest compressions on a man. The man was pale as snow, his eyes glazed over into an endless stare. Lucius went over and said to the medic "He's dead doc. You can't do anything more for him." The young medic turned his head and looked over his shoulder and saw both troopers, covered in scraps, cuts, and a mixture of human and alien blood. Tears welled in his eyes. This man couldn't have been past eighteen by more than a few days. Lucius noticed the resemblance between this man and the one on the stretcher.

With a sorrowful, quivering voice, the young man said, "this is my brother. I promised my ma I would look out for my brother. Why couldn't it have been me instead?" With that the man began to sob, tears rolling down his checks, his eyes and face red.

Explosions rocked the earth as Ork Lootas fired onto Lucius's position. He hugged the ground, making himself as small as possible as a fusillade of screaming lead poured down onto his position. He heard the sound of meat being smacked and felt warm liquid spray his body. Soon he could smell it; the smell of blood. He moved his head to see who had been killed. Private First Class Erund Nehmand lay within a pool of blood that was quickly filling the crater. "NOOOOO!" cried Lucius. No, not my best friend! Not him! Lucius screamed in his mind. The firing continued, but no longer in his directed. Maybe the Lootas thought him dead, or found something else to shoot. Lucius quickly scurried over to his fallen comrade, panic already setting in. He could feel the fear and anguish seeping through his veins, and like his beating heart, it pulsed throughout him. I have to do something he thought. He began to perform chest compressions.

Marcus ran up to a crater and found Lucius performing chest compressions on a man. "Lucius come on we have got to move!" yelled Marcus. Lucius didn't budge a muscle, he continued the compressions. Marcus quickly glanced down, and saw the tattooed arm sporting the Imperial Aquila. Throne of Terra Marcus thought. This is Private Erund. "Lucius the man is dead," said Marcus solemnly. This was the third one to go from their squad, and already they had been in the field three days.

"No he's still alive I can feel his pulse!" cried Lucius. "I'm not leaving my best friend here!"

Marcus quickly jerked Lucius up to his feet, and smacked him in the face; getting his attention. "Lucius, there's nothing you can do here for him. He is dead. Just look at him." Lucius looked down reluctantly, not wanting to see what remained of his lifelong friend and comrade. What Lucius saw nearly made him throw up. The body remained intact except for the fact that there was no head, and a great pool of blood had poured out of the body. "Lucius look at me." Lucius slowly looked back at Marcus, his knees shaking now after realizing that his friend is truly dead, and that he might be next.

"Lucius, we have to carry on; you have to carry on. Erund is dead, and we will be too if we don't do anything about those Lootas. Do not let his death be in vain. Would he want you to be unable to perform your duties? Would he want you to be unable to carry on?"

"N-no," replied Lucius.

"Lucius, we have to stick together to get through this. I'm going to need you on this okay? I will help you get through this, and avenge his death. After we get through this battle, I will help you give him a proper and honorable burial okay? But right now I need you to focus. Is that clear?"

"Y-yes Aventis."

"Just call me Marcus." With that Marcus picked up Lucius's lasgun, and handed it to him. "Okay Lucius, we stick together, just follow me, and I will get you out here safely. Now, here we go."

Lucius bent down and cradled the man. "Shhhhhhhhh. Look we are going to get through this okay? Your brother's death was not in vain. Do not let what he fought and died for to go to waste. Your brother wouldn't want you to dwell on this. It's going to be okay. When I'm done here I am going to fetch a priest, and make sure he gets properly buried and given last rites okay?"

The medic could only shake his head. Lucius got up, and found another medic and said, "Get this man away from here, if but for a few moments. He needs time to deal with this."

"I'm sorry, but medical staff are required to stay here and attend the wounded."

"Wounded? This place needs a burial detail not a medical staff," Lucius replied with a bite of irritation and anger in his voice. "How can you expect him to perform to the best of his duties if he's like this?" With that he pointed at the medic who was currently still on his knees over his brother crying. "Listen, the Imperium wants the best correct? Well just let him calm down for a bit, and then have him return so he can perform at his best. Or do you want to get a Commissar involved here?" As he said this he stepped closer to the man, getting face to face with him.

"No Commissar is necessary, I will make sure he is calm down before returning," said the medic before hurrying off with the other one to find a place for him to rest.

"Hey you two! What are you doing in my medical war mucking up the place?"

Lucius and Aurielle turned and saw the senior medical officer present. A Senior Lieutenant walked up to them. The two troopers snapped to attention and Lucius said, "Sir, I was making sure the Imperium's resources were not wasted."

"Sending off my medics seems like a waste to me. I ought to have you flogged and brought to the Commissar." The Lieutenant seemed visibly strained at the moment, most likely caused by the current casualties and injures.

"Sir, we just came from a meeting with Colonel Helbram and Commissar Westan. We are pressed for time, so unless you would like to explain to the Colonel and the Commissar as to why we are late for an important mission of theirs, I highly suggest helping us instead of hindering us, sir."

The Lieutenant couldn't believe that one of the enlisted ranks would dare talk to him this way. Well, he would inquire through the chain of command about these two, and if they aren't on a mission directly from the Colonel, then there will be hell to pay. He sighed and said, "what is it you want?"

"Sir, Private Angelos requires medical attention to her arm, and we need medical supplies for this mission."

While Lucius and Aurielle were busy in the medical tent, Marcus was busy gathering certain items needed for tomorrow's mission. He managed to secure a bird named Silver Crow, a long range vox, and plenty of rations. He made his way back to the showers. After stripping off his armor, and clothing he just stood there under the water, letting it rinse off the dried blood and grime that stained him. This was his first shower in many weeks, how many he could not count. Each shower had its own cubical for privacy, and all the pipes were connected to a large water reservoir. Marcus leaned his head onto the shower wall, closing his eyes. His whole body ached, especially his head. He took a few deep breaths as he enjoyed the cold water that ran down his body. To some, they would find it off putting to take a cold shower, but for him any shower is welcome at this point. As he slowly began to relax his mind began to think back on the past. It felt like eons ago that he was home, only it was just a little over two years since he had last seen his family. Family...family...

Marcus felt the warm refreshing air on his face as he entered his family's house. The air smelled like lavender, and the air gave him comfort and peace. His family was proud of him when he had joined the 501st Cerberus Infantry Regiment. Now he hoped that same pride was still there when he told them he was going to be shipping out tomorrow. He saw his parents and hugged them. After they talked for a bit, eating lunch he gave them the news. "Mom, dad, I have something to say. I am being shipped out tomorrow. The Regiment is needed at Charybdis."

"Son, I am proud of you," said the father. "I want you to be happy, and if this is what makes you happy, I will support you."

"Thanks father."

"You will write to use when you can won't you?" asked his mother. Her eyes were already tearing up. "I want you to be safe okay?"

"I'll be okay mom, and yes I will write," answered Marcus as he embraced his mother and father. I'll be okay he kept thinking to himself. I'll be okay.

Marcus finished cleansing himself, and retrieved a fresh uniform he gather earlier. He headed out. There was much more work to be done.