Author: drakensis
{oOo}
The crowds looked at them in a mix of awe and fear. Not an unsurprising reaction to a squad of Astartes. After all, they were usually seen on the battlefield, not in the main concourse of Yarbarra Hives largest shopping mall. Despite it being the first day of the Winterfestival Sales, which meant that every one of the mall's thirty floors and forty thousand stores was packed solid, the Astartes were given a respectful berth of at least a full metre at all times.
It was inevitable, however, that someone would start asking questions. In this case it was a small boy, clutching a toy Leman Russ to his chest.
"Are you really Astartes?"
"Yes."
"Are you Space Wolves?"
There was a palpable grimace from the Space Marine who had to peer down over his breastplate to even see the boy. "No. We are not from the Sixth Legion."
The boy thought about this. "Iron Hands?"
"...no. We are Iron Warriors, the legion of Perturabo!"
There was a look of perplexed disappointment on the boy's face. "Is that really a Legion?"
Through gritted teeth: "Yes."
"Because I've never heard of him." The boy held up his toy. "This is the Wolf King." He pulled on a string and, just barely audible over the sounds of frenzied shoppers, a tinny voice demanded that he be provided with mead and raw meat for his wolves.
"He's actually taller than that. And louder."
"Really?" This pleased the child. "Are you here to fight someone?"
"We devoutly hope that it does not come to that."
"Oh. Are there enemies of the Emperor here?"
Hidden behind his helmet, the Iron Warrior's face twitched and he wished he had been allowed to bring his boltgun. "There is an ancient and terrible evil here that we must confront," he warned prudently. "One that has brutalised mankind for thousands of years. We can only hope that some of us survive the experience."
"Wow! I have to tell my mom!" The boy concluded and scampered off. The crowd started to ripple and shift as the information, changed and mutated by the inevitable effects of being passed from one to another in a loud environment took effect.
Five minutes later the floor was all but deserted, with the crowds entirely centered upon the doors as citizens of the Imperium did their level best to avoid the horrors that the Astartes were here to deal with.
There was a sizzling crackle in the air and five slim figures appeared around the teleport homer that the Iron Warriors had been guarding. A pair of gold-armoured Custodes stood behind their leader.
"Hmm, I thought the mall would be busier today," Princess Usagi said in surprise as she looked around. "Oh well. All the more bargains for us!"
The Custodes looked around and one of them faced towards the Iron Warriors sergeant. "Pair off," he ordered. "Two of you with each of them at all times. Just keep quiet, hold the bags and if it gets to much... there's no parking for the Stormbird within a mile so we don't have any back-up."
The sergeant nodded. "I only hope they don't see..."
"Squee! Twenty percent off all swimwear!" One of the girls announced. "Come on girls."
A low whine emerged from the Iron Warrior's vox and the Custodes nodded sadly. "We're doomed," he agreed sadly. "Come on lads. For the Emperor's daughter..."
{oOo}