Despite Attelus prediction, a fight didn't break out, but it didn't take long for Vark to storm into the guncutter when one of the eldar tried to start a conversation with him. No one tried to stop him.

They did this for half an hour before the eldar leader ordered the other xenos to their duties and the team walked back into the guncutter in silence.

Torris' mind whirled, that was without doubt the strangest thing he'd ever gone through. The eldar he talked to was named Faldreth and he was very interested in law enforcement of the Imperium once Torris said he was once an Arbite. Faldreth bombarded Torris with questions, most of which Torris was hesitant to answer.

But he did for a few reasons, the first and foremost was the eldar seemed to ask them with an almost child-like elation born from curiosity than anything sinister.

They only were in the small hanger-storage area which held their armoured all terrain vehicle five bikes, their feet clanged across the metallic floor, when Attelus stopped and turned back to the group. Smiling.

"I'd like to thank you, all of you," Attelus said. "You have truly amazed me today and I am forever in your debt."

Torris frowned and no one said anything. He wasn't sure if this was Attelus being manipulative or not.

"From now on every three days we will be having gatherings with the eldar, just like this one," said Attelus. "These ones will be strictly voluntary, but I strongly request you come."

He turned and started on, "Adelana, can we talk, please?" he said and the pretty red head nodded and followed. A slight smile on her full lips.

The rest of the group didn't move an inch, they stood silent for a good minute.

Uncharacteristically, it was Halsin who broke the silence.

"I do not have a clue what to make of this," said the young medicae.

"Neither," said Helma gruffly. "You guys think if the Inquisitor finds out about this, she'll kill us?"

"No," said Torris, without hesitation. "I remember she said to Attelus as we left, 'anything and everything to win,' it's one of Attelus' little, pragmatic philosophies. I think she knew this was going to happen, or at least had an idea. It's official, we work for a radical inquisitor, everyone."

"Figured that out a long time ago," said Karmen.

"Yeah, well we don't have quite as much seniority as you," said Torris. "I'm pretty sure we all suspected it but now it's confirmed, without any doubt."

Karmen shrugged and pursed her lips, "it depends really on whether she kills us when we get back, until then it's not really confirmed at all. It's conjecture, Marcel."

"You say that even though you said you'd already figured it out," said Jelket. "I think Marcel's right, inquisitor Enandra is a radical. I've been saying it for years."

"Of course you have," said Karmen. "But you say a lot of things, Jelket."

"Well," said Delathasi. "It all depends if Vark rats us out."

Vark emerged from the stairway, frowning with his arms folded, "I heard you, then, girl," he growled.

Delathasi smiled, "I knew you would and knew you were up there."

"Are you? Are you going to 'rat us out?'" Verenth said.

"I'd already promised I'd tell the inquisitor everything once we get back," said Vark. "I'm a man of my word. Anyway, does it matter? That psyker bitch of Enandra's will just pluck it from our memories."

Vark smirked at Karmen pointedly, "or this psyker will pluck it from out memory."

Torris couldn't help stiffen, as Karmen's face darkened and her jaw tightened.

"That's if you get back, Vark," Karmen growled.

Vark's expression turned murderous, "is that a threat, Karmen?"

Karmen's face lightened, "no, it is just a mere statement of fact, Vark. We have no idea who will make it back. If anyone will at all. You and I must work together, so I would never threaten. You are just pushing it, is all I'm saying."

"You attend the ecclesiarcal services, too," said Vark. "I do not understand how you can be so casual to our leader's radical tendencies."

Karmen sniggered, "Vark, she hired me. I was a rogue, mercenary psyker. Of course she's a frigging radical and of course I don't mind she is one. I believe the God-Emperor is above all things but also believe that his rules he made during the birth of this Imperium of man were more suited to a different time. I believe that he now understands that much must be done for the continued survival of our species that ten thousand years ago would be deemed wrong."

"Like mind controlling a thousand mercenary soldiers to be slaughtered as a distraction for our escape," said Darrance.

"I hope, Darrance," said Karmen. "I truly hope."

"Or you pray," said Darrance contemptuously.

There was a long, weighted silence. The only sounds was the slight hum of the engine and shuffling feet. Again it was Halsin who broke it.

"Is anyone going to meet the eldar next time?"

"I will," said Verenth. "I think we could learn much from them."

Vark sneered.

"Much we can use against them, if needs be," elaborated Verenth.

"I will too," said Hayden. "I think we will need them as allies in the future and the one I spoke to mentioned he was once a Ranger. I have heard they are brilliant snipers and he might teach me how to improve my shooting."

"I wouldn't have thought that to be even possible," said Helma playfully.

Hayden smiled.

"As will I," said Delathasi. "I talked to one who said she was once a 'Howling Banshee,' she said she would be interested in teaching me a few sword techniques."

Karmen laughed, "I have a lot in common with their kind, them being psykers and all. So I will be seeing them again."

Eventually, everyone but Vark and Torris admitted they were interested.

Torris, in truth, was going to meet the eldar again too. But for a different reason. He wanted to know how they ticked. Their exact thought processes. So far he could only view them from a human eye, so had no choice but to project his own human mentality onto them, so what little he and the others had learned from this bizarre encounter had little merit. The ones they spoke to seemed like outliers. A very liberal minority that didn't look down on humanity, hence why this 'autarch Raloth Arlyandor' chose them as ambassadors. If Torris truly wanted to learn more, he had to talk to at least one of the majority.

That warlock Klrith would be perfect. If only Torris could find a way to interact with the arrogant prejudiced creature, somehow.

He could only think of one way, and it depressed him more than he could say.

"Marcel?" said Karmen, knocking Torris from his thoughts. "We're getting something to eat, you want to come?"

Torris nodded and started up the staircase after the others, cursing quietly under his breath.

"You want to do, what?" said Attelus, he sat on his padded chair, behind the small black office desk in his quarters. Looking at Torris with a raised eyebrow. Like all of the guncutter's interior it was luxurious, with dark red carpet and walls wall papered a lush white. Gold abrasions lined the walls and floor. It was once Taryst's ship and everyone in the organisation knew of the rogue trader's more flamboyant tastes and his obsession with crimson, gold and white. Sometimes when Torris walked through the ship it would take him to the old days. Back to simpler times.

"I said-"

"I heard what you said. I'm sorry, just reminiscing. This place takes me back."

Attelus nodded, "yeah, I guess it would. Do you seriously want to talk to that arsehole?"

"I don't want to talk to him," said Torris. "I just feel if we want to get the whole picture we need to talk to those not so...not so..."

"Accepting?"

Torris nodded, "you are connected. As far as I know this Raloth could just putting up a front. Can you try to arrange this meeting?"

Attelus frowned, "if he was putting up a front I don't think Klrith would've been the one to guide or landing."

Torris shrugged, "maybe. But by talking to him I might be able to figure out why he hates us, why they really look down on us and that might help us in our future diplomatic endeavours. Who knows? Maybe I could put him wrong."

Attelus sniggered and leaned back in his chair, "yeah, good luck with that."

"Look, just ask the autarch. Okay?"

Attelus thought on it for a few seconds before shrugging and saying, "yeah, I don't see why not. But whether the warlock will agree is another story, entirely. It's funny, first you were all against meeting the eldar but now you're all for it."

"What is that saying of yours? Know your enemy?"

Attelus sighed, "they aren't our enemy, Torris."

"Yeah, these ones aren't. But what about the others out there?"

"All right, point taken," Attelus said.

"Did you tell her?" said Torris.

"Tell who, what?"

"You and Adelana had a private talk, did you finally tell her how you feel?"

"No, that was about something else. Why?"

"It just seemed you finally got some balls, kid."

Attelus shrugged, "I will tell her, soon."

"Yeah, well we're running on borrowed time in our line of work. We're lucky we're all still alive after these three years. So do it soon."

"I'm not."

"You're not, what?"

"Running on borrowed time."

Torris frowned and furrowed his brow at Attelus' arrogance, then turned for the door.

"Why do you hate me, Torris?"

Torris looked back, it seemed like the boy finally got some balls after all.

"I don't hate you," Torris said.

"Okay," said Attelus, leaning back his chair and pursing his lips in bemusement. "Then...what?"

"Unlike the others, I know exactly who and what you are, and what you could potentially become. I saw it when you manipulated Jeurat, I saw it when that Rodyille character tried to rape Adelana. You've got evil in you, you are capable of great evil, and I don't like it."

Attelus sighed and swivelled in his chair, "don't you think I know that? Why do you think I haven't told Adelana my feelings, yet? I'm sure she'll say no because she knows that too. I'm trying to be a good person, Torris. I'm really trying. As much as I can be a good person when I'm a murderous, manipulative bastard. Isn't that enough to earn your respect? After all the shit I've been through?"

It was Torris' turn to sigh, "I do respect you. I respect your abilities, believe it or not. But that doesn't mean I have to like you. I'm sorry, that's just how this cosmos works."

"Whatever," Attelus growled.

Torris took that as his cue to leave and turned away.

"Marcel," said Attelus, causing Torris to stop and clench his fists. "You're a good person. You and Jeurat."

Torris said nothing.

"I'm not a good person. So tell me what means more, Marcel? Someone who's inherently good, doing good? Or someone who's inherently evil doing good, despite their ingrained nature?"

Torris stood, struggling for a response. But couldn't think of anything, so said instead.

"Even still, you need to tell her," said Torris.

"I will, one day."

"For someone who supposedly has a shit ton of willpower, you're a still a frigging huge coward."

Attelus furrowed his brow and frowned.

"Yeah," said Torris. "As Elandria used to say, 'whatever.'"

The following days past by. Attelus and Adelana trained under Raloth. He taught Attelus the way of the commander while teaching Adelana sword play and much to Attelus annoyance- Adelana made more progress with the sword in that week, than she had in months under him. On the forth day, Raloth made them meditate. Neither Attelus and Adelana had done it before and they struggled. Adelana grasped it quicker than Attelus, of course. Attelus mind was always a chatter. Telling him to clear his thoughts was the equivalent of asking him to stop breathing.

The following meetings with the eldar went well. Every one of the group took part in each. Even Vark who still kept in the background but whose expression slowly changed from furrowing anger to one of genuine interest as he unashamedly listened into the conversations. Adelana received her robes from Coulyte on the third meeting. She put them on later after some convincing.

They were made of patterns of shining gold and red. Matching her hair and every man's jaw dropped when she emerged into the common room, blushing like hell. Adelana though she looked terrible and no amount of words would convince her otherwise

It was on the second to last day, at the end of the training session, Attelus asked Raloth about Torris meeting Klrith.

A flash of anger crossed the autarch's sharp features.

"And why would Torris want to talk to Klrith?" said Raloth.

Attelus straightened, seeing he'd hit a nerve, "he wishes to understand why Klrith looks down on us humans. He hopes it'll allow us to understand why much of your race do."

Raloth sighed and scratched his nose. Adelana and Attelus were both coated head to toe in sweat but the eldar had one slight bead running down his patrician forehead.

"He sees through this," said Attelus, seizing the initiative. "Torris knows that the eldar we talk to are in the minority. He wishes to see the other side. Not just the side you want us to see."

Raloth shook his head, "yet again, I find I have underestimated you humans. Okay, I will ask Klrith but I truly doubt he will acquiesce. He has been sulking in his quarters ever since your arrival."

Attelus rolled his eyes.

Three hours later, Raloth and Klrith marched into the guncutter's storage area.

Verenth and Helma were there, sparring in hand to hand combat while Adelana was in the midst of practising her cameleoline cloak technique and Jelket, bench pressing weights with Hayden as his spotter. All froze in abstract shock, even Jelket. No eldar had set foot in the guncutter, yet.

"I wish to speak with this Torris, mon-keigh!" Klrith snapped.

With Karmen Attelus and Adelana. Torris was led into the Kaltoria by Raloth and Klrith. An escort of ten eldar soldiers in their strange armour surrounded them.

Torris had never been so far into their ship bfore so couldn't help stare in wonder. He caught Klrith looking at him once. Torris couldn't read the eldar's expression behind his helmet, but the contempt Klrith radiated was almost palpable.

They eventually a door slid open for them and they walked into what seemed like a large dining room. A long, white table sat in the centre and was covered in lush food, beautiful meats, vibrant fruits and what might have been vegetables. The smell made Torris' stomach rumble and mouth water despite none of resembling any food he'd ever seen before. Over the past weeks they'd been living on dry, tasteless rations. This was like heaven.

Raloth indicated their seats and Torris sat across from Klirth. Attelus sat beside Torris, then it was Adelana, and Karmen. Raloth was next to Klrith. Humans were on the right side of the table, eldar on the left.

"Here we are," said Raloth. "Torris, Attelus, Adelana, Karmen Kons you are our honoured guests. Please help yourselves to food."

"Are they going to give thanks to the corpse they so foolishly worship?" said Klirth. "At least we have the intellect to stop worshipping our worthless gods and admit they are dead."

"I know many an eldar who still pray," said Raloth.

"That is just foolish sentiment," said Klirth.

Raloth's gaze wandered over the humans who sat in awkward, shuffling silence.

"Please, do not be afraid," said Raloth. "Eat if you so wish."

Hesitantly, Attelus and Adelana began to take food and place it onto their plates. But Torris and Karmen didn't move.

"What is it you wish to discuss?" said Klrith. "Do not waste any more of my time."

Torris grimaced and decided to get straight to the point, "why do you hate us?"

He fought the urge to flinch as he remembered Attelus asking him that very question days before.

Klrith made what may have been a snort, "hate? I do not hate your kind. You are not worthy of my hatred. You are mere ants. Not even in billions of years could you mon keigh live up to half of what we have achieved!"

"Why?" said Torris.

"What?"

"Why do you think that?"

Klrith paused, seemingly taken aback by the question.

"Because it is truth! And I do not think it, I know it!"

"So, you can see into the future?"

"Do not ask me such foolish questions."

Torris frowned and leaned back in his chair, it was exceedingly comfortable but it was made for an eldar so his feet swung in the air. It made Torris feel like a child again, back in his Schola Progenium on Malfi.

"My apologises," said Torris. "But you claim not to hate us and I am no expert on your people's psychology but how you act, it seems indicative to hatred."

"No, you mon keigh cannot be experts on anything. Your lives are too pathetically short, so spare me your foolish beliefs."

Torris eyes widened as the realisation hit him, this Klrith he had suffered from some horrific trauma. One enacted by humans.

"Tell me, Klrith," said Torris. "Why do you always wear your helmet?"

Raloth straightened as Klrith flinched and Torris knew he'd hit a nerve.

"That is my business and mine alone!" snarled Klrith and was suddenly up, and leaving.

Raloth was on his feet almost at the same time and grabbed Klrith by the shoulder. Klrith turned on Raloth and they launched into an argument in their language.

For a good five minutes they roared back and forth with such intensity it took Torris' breath away. It was becoming more and more obvious the eldar were like humans in many ways but felt emotion on a far, far greater level.

Finally, Klrith seemed to acquiesce and things calmed down. Raloth sat back down but Klrith still stood, seeming to stare into space. Suddenly he tore off his helmet.

The visage beneath made everyone but Raloth flinch in horror. Klrith's face was a mass of burnt tissue and scars. His eyes were barely visible but it was obvious they watered with tears.

"If you truly must know, this is why I wear my helm," said Klrith. "Does this make you happy, monkeigh?"

Klrith didn't wait for a reply, but Torris wouldn't have been able to anyway.

"Your kind did this to me! When you invaded our craftworld many cycles ago! Monkeigh in the millions who had given their souls to She Who Thirsts. Led by Space Marines of the Emperor's Children! I lost my family! My friends! My lover, she was a Dire Avenger and I was forced to watch her die! We fought and we fought, culled you by the thousands but still you came. But then the Harlequins came, they came telling our seers of a prophecy. ."

He paused, his hands balling into fists, "they told us if we did not abandon our craftworld if we continued to fight that it would not just lead to our extinction but to the extinction of the entire eldar race!"

Klrith laughed, it's bitterness resounded through the room, "at first out seers ignored the harlequins. Surely they would know better than them? Surely they would have foreseen such a dire future? We could win! We knew we could! It would cost most of us our lives. But we would win! But as we culled and culled, more and more of us fell and soon many of the seers saw that even if we were victorious the price would not be worth it and began to argue amongst themselves."

Klrith shook his head, "that was until the then warlock Faleaseen managed to penetrate the skein and despite not being a full Farseer. She saw it, she saw this future and so approached the council. And She revealed this vision. Instantly they made the decision to abandon the craftworld. So we took what we could of the infinity circuit, and gave the Harlequins the soul stones of our dead. Then we, in mass left. Fled into the webway with the little ships we had. This happened to me when I was fighting in the rear guard. When a monkeigh tank exploded in my face! So I swore I would never get it healed. That I would keep my face like this so I would never forget!"

As Klrith said this Torris noticed Attelus flinch and touch the horrible scar on his left cheek.

"That is why I hate you and your kind! That is why it sickens me that we are to co-operate with you!"

With that Klrith retrieved his helmet and walked out. This time Raloth didn't try to stop him.

For a long time they sat in silence.

"I had no idea," managed Torris.

Raloth sighed, "no, and I do not blame you for not knowing. You mistook his prejudice for being driven by the same arrogance inherent in much of my people. I was like him, many cycles ago. But I have moved on. I know that you Torris and the others had nothing to do with that atrocity. I wish he would have his face healed so that one day, he might too."

There was another long, weighted silence.

"That is another reason why farseer Faleaseen hesitates to order us to fight," said Raloth. "We have already lost many Dalorsians already. Those monkeigh still live in our craftworld, even today. I do not know how they survive, but they do and that just adds to the insult."

"God-Emperor," breathed Karmen.

"I hope this truly establishes our dedication to this cause," said Raloth. "That we were willing to abandon our home. That we are willing to co-operate with the same race which was responsible for the tragedy."

"It seems we have more in common than I could ever imagine," said Karmen. "All of us are orphans and many of us are marked with facial scars from our individual traumas."

"Refugees," said Attelus.

She looked to Attelus, "and some of us will not allow those scars to heal."

"I am sorry," said Torris, fighting back the tears in his eyes. "I did not mean for this to happen."

"It's not your fault," said Raloth. "It is mine for underestimating you yet again. But you need not feel guilt, what is done is done and the war for Dalorsia was generations ago for your kind. Now we must look to the future. I just hope, beyond hope that something good will come out of this for poor Klrith. For now please, eat."

No one touched any food after that and it wasn't long before the humans took their leave.