Chapter 1: Close Encounter

+Sub-sector Alt Wald, Ultima Segmentum+

+Feudal world Talabecia, Imperious System+

++5 years before the 12th Black Crusade++

It was a dark and stormy night. The unpolluted soil with clean grass told that the world has yet to achieve industrialization. Genevieve Genth o Alayran had her raven black hair being blown sideways by the violent winds. Adjusting the hair back to behind her shoulders with a quick brush, this allowing her to see the eerie dark castle on the horizon. Wearing a conglomeration of Carapace and Wraithbone armor, the white plates provide a contrast to the black shell. The downpour finally lets up to show twin moons in the night sky. Moonlight reflect to shower the Inquisitor and her retinue as they walk up the ramp to the gatehouse. Genevieve's eyes shimmer green to prepare herself for the hunt. 'Although I had hoped to be better prepare' thought Genevieve then turning to nod at a Securitas Sister to allow her to pass.

There was a motley crew of soldiers and companions trailing the Inquisitor. Some 20 or so Inquisitorial Scions who were veteran Guardsmen were equipped to take on anything short of Astartes. Clad in their gray plates of Cephalon Armor to move more quickly than in Carapace Armor, they marched up in a single file behind Genevieve. "Oi, GeGe! Wait up!" said a beefy looking man as he ran up to catch up to her. This typical appearance of scum might fool other to think he was useless but the Inquisitor saw his talent in improvised explosives. He wore a bowler hat laced with one big razor on the brim and a business vest with a bow-tie. "Late again I see" replied the Inquisitor who now stood one head taller to stare him down. Her eyes could see the unkempt ginger hair sticking out of his hat similar to some hive-ganger.

The name 'GeGe' was originally given to Inquisitor Genevieve Genth by the locals of Nippon with their Low Gothic dialect meaning 'grandfather' or 'old man'. That happened due to the fact she harassed the population for information. "Maybe my blissful ignorance just wants you around as company, " told Genevieve to Hatter. The hive-ganger was discovered on the Hive world of Birmingham with only the alias being given was 'Hatter'. He was known for slicing people's faces by throwing his hat around and being a bomb-maker. The red robes of Martian sand introduce the Mordian Bio-Priest with many tendrils. All of the exterior for that woman from the neck down must have been metal or at least reinforced in such a manner. This Bio-Priest had naturally growing blond hair although this is questionable considering how much she tampered with her own DNA. One might not be able to tell she was a cybrid due to her realistic imitation skin except for the fact extra mechanical limbs were sticking out of her back.

"Adalheid?" Genevieve said to her Bio-Priest. "Ye, Inquisitor?" came back the synthetic voice that has the hollow tone of something almost alive. "Lend me your thermal sight to give me the location of our target" Genevieve then turn to look behind to tell Sargent Odicar "Safeties off when we walk pass this building". The Bio-Priest made some quick scans with her enhance optics to spot all the fires and living bodies inside the castle. "Some lit torches, one fireplace in the dining hall, and two organics by said fireplace," told Adalheid. "Two?" Genevieve was perplexed by the count but it was hard to tell. Their targets didn't exactly have souls thus leaving no Warp presence for Genevieve to detect. There were the faintest signs of a mortal life before it vanished completely in the dinning hall.

"Scions, advance first to sweep and clear the entire ground floor,"

"Yes, my Lady"

"Adalheid, follow them"

Running the Iron Discipline program for two seconds to say "Jawol!"

"Hatter, with me. We need to check our equipment one last time."

"Coming, Boss!"

They check their bags to take stock of what they need for the fight. Nestled deep in the bag were Krak grenades then frag grenades on top of that and finally acid bombs. Hatter took the acid bombs while Genevieve held the Krak grenades.

"Don't we usually have more than this, Hatter?"

"Sorry, Boss. Unless we want to turn into fried chips, I advise not stuffing too many explosives inside any one bag or case."

"I see" Now the Genevieve remember the lack of explosives she carried back when she served in the 2nd Moloch Campaign compare to the present. Being the Seer for a Warhost means she didn't really have anything beside her psyker powers and a melee weapon. Rather limited in resources, the Maiden world Warhost went on suicidal missions to delay the Hive Fleet. The eyes of the Inquisitor fell to see Genevieve as a possible acolyte after the war. Just before she fell into obscurity on the Path of the Enforcer, this mentor took her away from Alayran to eventually make her an Inquisitor.

The Scions cleared each room as they made their way to the dining hall. Then they saw the pair, just waiting for them to attack them. One was sitting in a large wooden chair cover in knight's plate armor whilst another was a simple maid who stood next to the count. Their eyes glow green in the pure darkness that covers their heads to prevent a good look at the faces. The Inquisitor slam the door open to grab the attention of the two then saying "Grand Count von Holstein, your reign of terror has come to an end!" The vampire responds with just a sip of wine from his cup then "I have more than ruled with fairness, don't exaggerate your vilification." The ganger walk up from the group to ask the count "How many people did you killed to drink their blood?" Holstein answer coldly with "How many cups of recaf did you drink in your life?"

Understandably, most of the Inquisitor's retinue was shocked by such a statement. Genevieve and Hatter drew their weapons while the Scions prepare to fire. Standing up from his seat, the count was too menacing to ignore leading to the Inquisitor to order fire on him. The maid ran away from the count's seat to leap at the nearest Scion. She sank her teeth right through the Flak fabric around the Scion's neck. Her claws shred the Cephalon Armor like it was paper to reduce the victim to a bloody mess. The Scions fired their Hellguns to rip chunks off of the maid's body as she was feeding. Reacting in fear, the maid made her way up the wall using her overgrown claws to climb up to the ceiling.

Holstein moves to strike with his sword by trying to stab Genevieve which was parried by the Inquisitor's blade. Both combatants went back and forth as Hatter sometimes shot his Las-pistol at the count. Seeing an opening in Holstein's defenses, the Inquisitor press her attack to drive him back to a wall then jump back suddenly. The count was confused by such a move but there were Krak grenades headed right at him. Careful not to detonate one, Holstein deflected one grenade using his sword to cause it to explode behind him. Smoke and the shock wave from the wall behind Holstein propel him forward right into another grenade. This one connected with its intended target and explode in the middle of Holstein's breastplate. He said "That was close" as his internals hang out from the huge hole in his torso just missing his heart.

Even for the immortal predatory race like von Holstein and his kindred, things such as being blown to bits are rather painful. Sure it wouldn't kill the vampires but the whole process is something most try to avoid. This was being done by the one maid as she dodges fire from the Scions while crawling around on the ceiling. Adalheid had enough of this fooling around to kill a maid and brought out her Las-cannon. One Scion helps her as they attach the weapon to the Bio-Priest's stomach then prepare to fire. Adalheid began firing to slice apart the ceiling then hopefully bring the entire thing down over time. Beams of Las tore open the building like some wound, readying to force the maid down from her clinging. The maid had suddenly fallen from the ceiling to crouch low on the floor, without warning, she leaps to Adalheid's stomach and started to rip the Las-cannon to bits. This would normally be a matter of concern for the Bio-Priest if not for the fact she turned off her pain receptors.

The inhumane amount of pain received by Holstein had rallied him to concentrate on killing the Inquisitor at all cost. With a flurry of blows, he attacked Genevieve without a care for in the world. Using one slip-up from the count, the Inquisitor had punched him square in his nose. Her left fist was glowing yellow with electrical sparks flying off of it when it connected with Holstein's face. The attack was only for a second but the vampire's nose had fallen off after Genevieve withdrew her fist. Unable to understand what was happening, Holstein ask "How is this possible? Just a mere punch was able to deform me, I, an immortal." By this time the vampire had backed away from the Eldar when she was showing off her left hand. Genevieve sheath her sword when she said "Allow me to explain."

"You see, on the pastoral world of Ungolia, there live Human psykers who manage to harness solar energy to act as a healing power using a breathing technique."

"That makes no sense!"

"I'm not done! As I was saying, this breathing technique is known as 'Heliomancy', with Heliomancy I was able to learn that this transferring of solar energies directly into a vampire's body was lethal."

"You don't mean..."

"Oh yes, I'm sure both of us know what I will say next. By sending a direct surge of solar radiation through a vampire's body, I am able to cause your C'tan shard or Silver to be hyperactive then cause cellular degeneration faster than your body can regenerate."

"That's not this works, that's not how any of this works!"

"If it works and it's stupid than it's not stupid."

Meanwhile, Adalheid was being ripped apart by the angry maid with the only bloodlust in her eyes. The Bio-Priest asked "What is your name?" as she was being disemboweled. "Lisbet," told the vampire as she kept ripping out tubes and wiring from Adalheid. "Thank you" were the only words from Adalheid as the Mordian held the maid by the neck with just a left hand then sent the vampire flying back as the left hand detach from the arm via rocket. Shock wearing off for Lisbet, she quickly set to work chewing apart the hand that pinned her to the wall. Adalheid in the meantime had attached a Las-carbine to her left arm then start shooting the pinned vampire while advancing to finish her off. Lisbet had torn the hand to ribbons when she ready her attack on Adalheid. The Bio-Priest was more than prepared when Lisbet jumped at her.

Where there was fear in Holstein's eyes when Genevieve press her attack to tear the count apart. With some 300 years of experience in swordsmanship, Holstein was no amateur. It should come as no surprise when he keeps slipping away from a fatal blow when the Eldar was ready to deliver it. Leaving himself vulnerable for a stab, he drew in the Inquisitor to overextend her attack. Using just this chance, Holstein shot out one last trick from his eyes. Lahmian vampires have this one thing they can do that no other bloodline can do, essence beams of pure decay can be shot out of their eyes as a last resort weapon. This move is pretty draining on the vampire but it known to be able to slice open bunkers. Here in this instance, Holstein did shoot out essence beams to hit Genevieve in her right arm as he dodges.

Dropping her sword in pain, the Inquisitor was in no condition to hold a weapon as her right arm had two huge holes through it. The wraithbone bone armor did little to nothing in providing protection against the essence beams showing the true power of it eating through bone and flesh. Holstein brought his left hand to hold Genevieve in place by holding her face then slamming her to the floor. Just to make sure she couldn't move he stomp on her a few times to get her firmly stuck in the wooden planks. Suddenly there was a razor slicing the cheek of Holstein to turn his smile upside down. The sharp intrusion was made by the bowler hat laced with a razor on the brim which was thrown by Hatter. In anger, Holstein shot out more essence beams to kill Hatter by hitting him right in his neck. Before he could die, however, Hatter threw his two acid bombs when life left him and he was turned into a blood fountain.

Holstein could only knock away one of the bombs when the other explode in his face. Stumbling back from the impact, the count wanted to stay far from those painful things allowing Genevieve to get up from the floor. The vampire had covered his eyes with his left hand while wielding a sword with his right. The Eldar charged her legs with Heliomancy to give deadly kicks that Holstein fend off with his sword. Sparks flew off of the weapon and Carapace greaves as they made contact to try to destroy each other. Finally, the Inquisitor brought in a round-house kick to hit Holstein in his head from his left but the attack was blocked by the vampire's left hand grabbing Genevieve's foot. Although not connecting with the intended target, the kick still caused the count's fingers on his left hand to fall off from the arm along with frying the arm's never system. "What!" came from Genevieve as she expected Holstein to be blind for a while more from the acid burning his eyes. To her surprise, Holstein had perfectly normal eyes for a child of the night.

"Silly mortal, you don't think that acid trick would work on the likes of me?"

"Well yes, I was depending on it blinding you,"

"I have fought in more Errantry Wars than you can count, shed enough blood to make a battlefield slippery, and dodged more arrows than you can imagine. It should come as not a surprise when I have honed my reflexes to such an extent that I can catch the acid before it can touch my face."

"That explains a lot."

"Ah, your friend's effort were in vain I see."

Laughing to mock the Inquisitor more, Holstein was enjoying this encounter. It had been a few decades since he had really flex his skills like this. Genevieve came at him again but this time used Heliomancy to conduct blinding lights to emit from her eyes. It was such an overwhelming amount that Holstein had to block out the light using his finger-less left hand. Creating this opening, the Eldar attack with a hand chop to rip Holstein's right arm off. The sparking Helio hand caused rapid disintegration for the vampire's arm on the floor. Shining light had engulfed the arm as it was melting from the Silver destroying cells when it tried to drain all life from everything the solar radiation touched. Holstein retaliates with slashes of his sword but Genevieve kept dodging the spiteful strikes.

Back with Adalheid, she saw Lisbet attack her by leaping at her. It was clear Lisbet was aiming for the neck when the Bio-Priest ejects her Las-cannon and advance at her with a Las-carbine. In midair, with fangs showing and claws were drawn, Lisbet was caught by metal tendrils from behind Adalheid's hood. "What witchcraft is this!?" shouted Lisbet as she struggled to break free from the odd limbs. Running the anger program for just a few seconds when Adalheid said "Enough games!" as she held Lisbet by the neck with her right hand. Both the fingers and tendrils dug into Lisbet's flesh to prevent any attempts of freeing herself. Firmly being stuck under the Bio-Priest's thumb, Lisbet was slammed into the floor before being stab with a steak into her heart. This steak however shot out UV lasbolts from the tip to cause critical heart failure for whatever vampire receiving this death.

Holstein's attacks were a flurry of stab or slashes but it matters not when Genevieve held the advantage. Pushing too much forward, Holstein left himself off balance when the Inquisitor grab his blade. Her gloves were more than thick enough to safely hold the weapon as she pulled the sword toward her while closing in with Holstein. Using quick thinking, the vampire tried to bite the Eldar in the neck but Genevieve countered this by headbutting Holstein in the face. Knocking some fangs out, the Inquisitor was able to bring her leg around to kick out Holstein's legs from under him. Falling to the floor Holstein extended his claws to punch through Genevieve's Carapace plates to stab at her stomach. Even with the crippling pain, the Eldar channeled the last of her energies to her left fist to deliver the lethal blow. Smashing the vampire's head like a fruit, she was able to cause overwhelming amounts of solar radiation to be sent all throughout the count's body to cause exponential disintegration.

Lisbet was thrashing around in vain to live but the UV lasbolts made sure she died. Burning their way into the heart of the vampire, it was causing all sorts of melting much faster than normal daylight. Showing her true form, Lisbet became a bat thing with pointed ears, deform nose, overgrown claws, huge fangs, and deep glowing green eyes. The stake had made the C'tan shard stuck inside the heart to react abnormally to where it started eating the host's heart. Even the immortal vampires can't live if their own bodies self-destruct. Using the last of her strength, Lisbet was able to see her own beating heart stop beating as Adalheid drove the steak deeper just to make sure. Genevieve walked up to the Bio-Priest to check her kill.

"Are you all done her Adalheid?"

"Affirmative, secondary target was eliminated,"

"You know, I should bury Hatter's body back in his home world,"

"He didn't care for his death, this is coming from a Death worlder."

"Yes, I should ponder on that but for now," Genevieve turn to her Scions "Get the flamers! I want to ensure these corpses remain corpses!"