Chapter 7: Rodemman

Location: Plains of Eledeth, west of the Early Imperium Settlement

996.M41

The past is always with us.

- Gilbran Quail, Collected Essay

A pool of shadow followed the pair as they traversed the plains west of the settlement. The sun blazed with all its glory as it cooked Rodemman's bare head. His helmet dangled behind him, discarded as it became a death trap if ever he wore it any further. His rebreather hanged behind him as he hadn't found the need to use it and only proved to be a hindrance as it hanged on his face. Droplets streamed from his forehead down to his cheeks, his black hair clung to his forehead as he carried his companion. The said feature often hinders his brown eyes from surveying the land thus he would often ask the aid of the female eldar to clear it away. On the other hand, Uelesh who had exerted no effort lay comfortably on the guardsman's arms. Though sweat still riddled her form from the blazing heat, she looked better than compared to her human companion. It has been hours since they have left the settlement in a rush. The distinct lack of roars and smoke from the ork's machines gave Rodemman some relief.

As they walked on a sea of green without any spot of shade to rest on, he was reminded of his home world. Like Fonral, Kallidia was considered by many to be a tropical planet. With only two seasons, the planet's climate varied between the wet and dry season. As he worked on the fields and on a nearby port, he became accustomed to the extreme heat and violent storms that the planet had.

He was pulled back into reality as Uelesh tapped his shoulder and pointed to a nearby tree that overlooked a lake. As they arrived, he gently placed her on the ground, he maneuvered himself to avoid her injury and stood beside her while she stretched her cramped muscles. He fished out his canteen and drank heavily. His throat screamed in pain with the sudden flow of cool liquid as it eased the burnt passageways. As he finished, he then offered it to Uelesh who accepted it.

As she drank, Rodemman failed to suppress the urge to look at her. He took note of her tattered and blood splattered tunic, he could see the fine intricate patterns etched into its dark green fabric despite its damage. She wore black pants with equally elaborate patterns woven into it but tears on the fabric ruined its glory. His gaze fell on her abdomen where the lack of a large portion of its fabric revealed a black corset. Quick to realize at what he gazed upon, he immediately switched to look at the vast expanse of glass that rippled in front of him as he tried to hide his embarrassment.

We really have to do something about that. He thought.

He stole another glance at his companion. Her hair, the purest silver that he had seen, waved with the cool breeze. It somehow reminded him of what he did in Craftworld Yul'Te but quickly dismissed the hair color as mere coincidence. Her eyes were of the deepest green, it rivaled the various emeralds that adorned a noble's power armor, her skin immaculate and white with only the bandages and gauzes to temporarily ruin it. He had noticed that she was rather small for an eldar. Though she stood up to Rodemman's nose, she was smaller compared to the tall eldars that he had encountered during battles. Normally they would surpass him by a foot or a half. Then again, perhaps she was younger than compared to them.

Though only little was known about the secretive xenos race, it has been said that they far outlived a regular human. With a shrug, Rodemman left it at that. As she took big gulps to quench her thirst, a lock of hair fell on her angular face and with one fluid motion returned it to its place.

"If we continue to head west, we'll be there within a few days." She said as she returned the canteen.

He nodded in agreement as he took it and started to walk for the lake. They have decided to travel to the merchant city of Yavin, just a few miles west of the settlement. It was mainly because it was closer to the settlement than the city of Yau'Le where the caravan was initially launched. Uelesh also insisted to go there so that she could report what befell her kin last night. Reluctantly he agreed to her plan, but for a human, a guardsman from the Imperium at that, to enter an eldar city might not be the best of ideas.

He shrugged at the thought as he replenished his water supply. Normally he would prefer not to drink on any untested body of water but there were times that he was willing to take the risk than to die of dehydration. Once done he again looked at the eldar.

"Want me to take a look at that?" Rodemman asked as he noticed Uelesh gently rubbed her injured leg.

"That wouldn't be necessary. Come, it is best that we cover as much ground as possible."

He tried to position himself so that he could carry her again but to his surprise, he was interrupted as Uelesh stood up with much effort.

"What are you doing!? You shouldn't be pu- "

"Thank you for your concern and for your efforts but seeing that we are no longer in harm's way, I can manage myself as we travel. Now let us go." Her tone was rather cold as she broke of a branch from the tree to be used as a crutch.

Unable to persuade her, Rodemman gave up with a sigh. He shouldered his lasgun and started their journey once more. He slowed his pace to match the injured Uelesh as she limped.

"You don't need to match my pace." She said, her voice showed signs of annoyance.

"It is wrong to leave an injured behind yet alone let her walk."

"For a mon'keigh like you, yes. But please, do not group us with your kind." She remarked.

She looked at Rodemman, his face revealed his uncertainty with the topic. Certainly the eldars were stronger, faster and more experienced than regular humans but anyone who was injured would most likely struggle in the end.

"I'll be fine. I can hold my own. Your kind knows this more than anyone else."

He pursed his lips and started to walk on his own pace. He would still slow down to let her catch up and would often secretly glance behind him as he made sure of her condition. The rest of the day came by uneventful.

The night cycle approached and the pair set up camp on a wrecked bunker. Vegetation and moss took over the old outpost, a large section of it lay in rubble which exposed its interior where great amount of dust have settled. They were sheltered by an intact portion of the ceiling. The clouds blocked the little light from the moons thus a near pitch black darkness blanketed the two figures along with the faint scent of rain. They were huddled up on one of the remaining walls that stood. Rodemman's field lamp gave a faint glow of red as they listened to the noises of the night. White mist began to swirl out of his nose. He could barely feel his hands as it clutched his frozen lasgun. Unable to endure any longer, he reached into his pack for the small roll of blanket and his scarf. After he felt the scarf secured on his neck, he then proceeded to wrap himself with the blanket only to be stopped by what he saw.

Uelesh who was dressed lightly with her tattered clothing, shivered as she rubbed her arms with a desperate attempt to keep herself warm. Her eyes were half closed as she fought to stay awake against the cold.

"Stupid." He cursed himself silently as he failed to notice her predicament.

Rodemman silently scooted beside her and wrapped the blanket on the cold Uelesh. Her eyes snapped wide open with the sudden warmth that enveloped her and with the presence beside her. As if it came out of nowhere, he felt the tight grip of her hand on his wrist. His eyes widened in bewilderment at the sudden display of speed and ferocity. He saw an equal amount of shock as she turned to meet his gaze and as realization sets in.

"Sorry." She released her grasp on his hand as she looked at the blanket that now sat on her lap.

Rodemman smiled as he unconsciously rubbed his wrist.

A friendly reminder of how dangerous an eldar can be. He thought.

"Use this to warm yourself up." He told her and retreated back to his spot.

He fished out a protein bar from his pack. He stared at the barely edible ration that was given to all guardsman. Thanks to his roughly seven years of service, he became used to the thing that they called 'food'. He wolfed on the bar while he held his breath. Droplets of water started to fall from the night sky until it became a full-fledged rain. Rodemman silently thanked the Emperor for the ceiling above that kept them dry, the rubble acted as a wall that prevented water from entering the collapsed bunker.

"You never gave me a straight answer. About why you saved me." Uelesh's voice cut through as rain splashed around. "About why you are helping me."

He sighed as he rubbed the back of his head, an old habit from back when he was a child. Rodemman would often do this whenever he felt uncomfortable about something. He leaned back on the wall behind him, suddenly tired of a day's worth of travel.

"I have committed horrible atrocities." His body shuddered at the memory.

He looked at her, He didn't need to hear words, her face prompted him to continue.

"I slaughtered countless lives. All of which who does not deserve death."

Planet: Hive World of Auraxis, Segmentum Pacificus

Location: Capital City of Prometheus

990.M41

-Purge of Auraxis 6 years prior-

The small family huddled together as their bodies trembled. Tears streamed from both the mother and her two daughters as they witnessed the murder of their father. A bolt round left his face torn into pieces, only his lower jaw remained connected to his neck.

"Cleanse this world of these heretics." The commissar ordered, his bolt pistol still smoked from its earlier shot.

Rodemman's hands shook as he aimed his lasgun at the family. He didn't want to pull the trigger; it was senseless slaughter. But his training kept him from lowering his weapon along with the fear of death that lingered beside him. He could hear the faint whispers of his fellow guardsmen behind him. He would occasionally hear remarks as 'The kid's still pure' and 'Looks like he ain't have guts.'

His regiment along with their sister regiment, the 34th Kallidian, and the 7th Cadian were sent to this chaos infested world to purge its inhabitants. Though the family that cowered before him were no doubt pure and uncorrupted, he could tell that much. He heard the click of a bolt pistol beside him.

"They will not be missed." It was his second and last chance.

He must comply. He had witnessed this barbarian as he took the lives of his brethren on a whim. He repositioned his grip on the metallic lasgun, he felt the heat as he readied the shot.

'I'm sorry.' He thought.

It was directed to the family that they, he had destroyed and to his own parents. Now he fully understood their words as they parted ways a year ago.

His lasgun felt heavy on his hands as he changed the settings to full auto. He gritted his teeth and took one last glance at his victims before his eyes shut closed. With one final breath he said his final goodbye.

Their faces along with countless others that he took plagued his dreams, all of which died without any armor or weapon in hand, needless deaths born from their hunger for destruction and security. Their pleas and anguish still fresh from his mind. The sound of thunder brought Rodemman back to the present, he realized that he had spaced out and Uelesh stared at him. He couldn't quite grasp the emotion behind her eyes as it was illuminated by the faint glow of his lamp. He gave a sad smile to signal that he can no longer continue. He then lied down on the cold ground. The rain poured ever so strongly, his eyes became heavy as he listened to the undistinguishable drops of rain. He knew that like most nights, he would face the same nightmares that had plagued him in his service as a guardsman. It didn't take long before Rodemman finally fell to a deep slumber.