Karmen cursed for what must have been the twentieth time in the span of about a minute. She wished she could leave her physical form; she wished she'd never gone on this foolish mission. But most of all she truly wished that they had succeeded in saving Omnartus. It was ridiculous, now of all times to dredge up such a regret, but even with all of her power as a psyker, all her years of training under the Inquisition. She couldn't have done anything! But now she wouldn't fail.
So she used that regret to fuel her power, she had held back a greater daemon of the Blood God, not for long, but she still managed it if she could do that she could do anything. Frigging anything! And so she wasn't just going to try to take down the daemon's shield, but tear it down entirely.
Because frig that bastard Kalakor! And frig fate and chaos.
The daemon's shield blinked from transparent to white and shook as Karmen pulled at it with her telekinesis while munitions rained and rained against it. She wished Kalakor hadn't disappeared; his bolter would've put even more pressure on it.
Its attention was on her she knew. The summoning of the daemonic entities had slowed to almost nothing, so Attelus in his frenzy joined in on attacking the shield. He was a frenzied blur as he rained slice after slice. It reminded Karmen of him attacking the shield which surrounded Edracian's power armoured corpse in the mansion-fortress back on Omnartus three years ago. But unlike three years ago, Faleaseen couldn't be here to pull a way out of nowhere for Attelus to phase through again. Karmen sorely wished she knew whatever power Faleaseen used, whether it be psychic or sorcery.
She just hoped Attelus wouldn't be accidentally hit by the numerous shots flying toward him.
+You know you cannot do this,+ said the daemon in Karmen's mind. +Even at your full strength you could not manage it.+
+Frig off!+
+What is the Space Marine's plan? How is he going to use your distraction?+
Karmen just grimaced more.
+Ohhh, your mind is strong, very strong, for a mortal a human. Let me see shall we?+
Pain exploded throughout Karmen's skull like a shattered bottle, and she couldn't help cry out through her teeth.
+Get out of my mind!+
+You do not seriously believe that I will 'get out of your mind' just by telling me too.+
Karmen sent a mind-spear out toward the source of the pain.
+That hurt, you cruel, cruel human.+
She just let out another roar, putting more psychic strength.
+I was going easy on you, but I would truly like to know where the Space Marine went and what he is planning.+
She could've just let him know she didn't know, but she fought back, sending out another mind-spear.
+You are a servant of the great and almighty Changer of Ways, surely you should know.+
+Well, it is obvious I do not, even your limited human mind can comprehend that is why I am trying to read your thoughts? Is he using his heretical sorcery to gain access to my sub-dimension to free your Imperial Guard allies?+
Karmen furrowed her brow, even though she swore she couldn't do it any more, fighting the urge to say "no" or "I don't know," in her head. This was all a part of the distraction it was amazing the daemon could keep up its kineshield while delving into her surface thoughts despite her having the strongest of mind-blocks, she just hoped it would take a while for it to delve into her
There was a long pause, and it was then she realised sweat had beaded all over her face. So she decided to focus on thinking about that.
+Oh, are you sweating? I would have never guessed; you are a weak human after all. Anyway, if that fool is attempting to get through that barrier, he will fail.+
+Why do you not know what Kalakor is doing?+ Karmen sent.
+You do not seriously believe that I will tell you that?+ It sent, and another mind-lance sent agony through Karmen's brain.
She smiled despite the pain. +I think I have an idea, daemon. He is an anomaly. He is something which you and your...master didn't foresee, or couldn't.+
More agony eclipsed her, and it didn't abate, she couldn't hold back a cry and fall to her knees, but still, she kept her grip on the daemon's shield and kept her line of thought from slipping.
I'm sweating. I'm sweating, she thought over and over again.
+Just tell me and the pain will end. I can see you and the fool slashing at my shield as excellent servants. You are powerful and knowledgable now, but imagine how much you will learn if you pledge yourself to the Changer of Ways. How much power will you acquire? You could single-handedly defeat Serghar Kaltos and his cronies. You could bring down this tower and its corrupted inhabitance.+
'Frig off!'
Then an idea hit Karmen, and she began thinking and sending The Emperor's Prayer.
Adore the Immortal Emperor
+For He is our Protector+
+Oh, come on-+
+Admire the Immortal Emperor
For His Sacrifice to Mankind+
+That is not going to work.+
+Venerate the Immortal Emperor
For His Holy Wisdom!+
Strength seemed to pile drive through Karmen, and she gripped the daemon's kineshield with her telekinesis so hard it began to writhe and blink even more.
+Give it up!+ The daemon roared and the agony rose to heights Karmen couldn't have imagined. Her vision swam, and blood burst from her ears. Unconsciousness dragged at her, trying to pull her into blackness, but she shook it away.
'Honour the Immortal Emperor
For his Eternal Strength!' She yelled, making a few people glance at her.
+Shut up, just shut up!+
The pain began to ebb, and the daemon's voice grew quieter.
'Glorify the Immortal Emperor
For His All-seeing Vision!'
The daemon shut up and the agony dulled into an ache.
'Praise the Immortal Emperor
For His Unending Rule'
+And there is something interesting,+ said the daemon.
Karmen blinked, she'd hoped she had gotten rid of it from her mind.
+Did you know that someone has been in your head? Someone has erased your memories and replaced them, yes. It is, very subtle, almost beautifully done. It is very well done. I could only see one mortal being capable of such high ability.+
'Hail the Immortal Emperor
For He is the Lord and Master!'
+Do you wish to know what could do this horrible thing to you?+
+You're lying.+
+I am not. I am not, although if I am lying, I would say that. But this is the truth. They have wiped and replaced a long time. I do not know why but I will tell you what did this to you and how long they erased and I will eventually restore the memories for you if you just tell me what the Space Marine is up to and pledge your allegiance to my master, for he shall one day become a god.+
+G-god? I thought that the Changer of Ways was already a god.+
Agony lanced through her brain again. +Just give me your allegiance and your answer.+
'Worship the Immortal Emperor!'
+You cannot be serious I will help you!+
'For...without Him we are...Nothing!'
With one final roar, Karmen pulled with her strongest telekinesis, stronger than even when she held back the Bloodthirster.
But that was all she could do before the blackness utterly overtook her.
At Tathe's order, everyone gathered in the middle of the cavernous room. The civilians had been understandably hesitant at first, but the priest convinced them to. The priest, Delethain stood on Tathe's left and Dellenger on his right.
Tathe's whole world hurt as his heart smashed all through him. If that young fool and his allies failed they would all die an extraordinarily agonising death, and there were many things Tathe was ignoring or forcing himself to not think about. From what the priest said that was unlikely, but he had to have faith. The first being that he had no idea if time was inline with the outside. Tathe stole a glance at Dellenger, wondering if the scout with all his strange esoteric knowledge was thinking the same. The scout seemed as stoic as ever, but his fear was betrayed by a slight twitching of his eye and jaw. He was also soaked in sweat, but that could just be from hours of constant fighting.
They could all die a horrific death, but it would say a big: "frig you" to his father and the Ruinous Powers it would be frigging worth it.
He looked about, at his men and the civilians. He could smell the stench of terror on them, and Tathe couldn't blame them.
'Excuse me, commissar,' said the priest. 'But I feel that I might need to lead everyone in prayer. It might help them contain their fear.'
Tathe straightened as he got a better idea, he wasn't the best singer, but he still didn't hesitate to raise his voice in song.
'We are humanity
We are mankind.'
Tathe paused and glanced about, everyone's attention was on him, but their eyes hooded with knotted bemused brows. He didn't allow this to get to him, so he forced a smile and began to sing louder, raising his hands.
'Forever we shall stand
For we are the Imperium.'
Dellenger and a few others began to slowly join in, most of them Velrosian and a few civilians. Tathe had chosen the song because it wasn't an Imperial Guard marching song but a famous children patriotic song in the hope the locals would know it. It was well known in the Calixus sector, but it seemed they knew it all the way in the Gothic Sector as well. Thank the Emperor.
He couldn't help puff out his chest and smile more broadly. He clenched his hand into a fist and began swinging in front of himself like a pendulum.
'For the Emperor guides us
For we are faithful.'
More began joining in and those who already had raised their voices higher and Tathe couldn't help yell; 'Everybody!'
'For we are
We are the Imperium'
Almost everyone but Hayden, Dantian and a few Sovrithians were singing now.
'We serve Him
We are loyal
Loyalty is its own reward
For we are the Imperium.'
Their voices rose to a higher crescendo.
'The Emperor protects
For we are faithful
For we are
We are the Imperium'
Tathe now felt his smile became genuine.
'We will never give up
We will never give in
We will forever move forward
For we are the Imperium!'
Even Dantian and the few remaining Sovrithians joined then, the only one who stayed silent was Hayden Tresch who stared down at Tathe with hate-fuelled eyes.
It took all of Tathe's will to pretend to ignore him. He had made an enemy, and the assassin was amongst the few people Tathe would want to make an enemy of. He thanked his luck even still. Vark was a stranger to both the Elbyrans and the Sovrithians; they didn't care for him, so they were less likely to hold a grudge.
Tathe also suspected Vark wouldn't even be missed by most of his comrades.
'None shall stand before us!
Our souls shall stay true
For we are
We are the Imperium'
It was then a realisation came to Tathe, making him smile all the wider. Maybe time here was running in conjunction with outside, that might be why his father had made this place close in to crush them. If it wasn't then he could've gone with his initial claim they would just starve to death. This spoke of desperation, of a limited timespan. Time maybe limited by that fool Attelus and his band of ill-disciplined misfits nearly freeing them?
Joy seemed to explode through Tathe's chest, and his smile turned genuine again.
'Our dignity is in duty
Our lives, our very breath is all in His service
Our duty only ends in death
For we are
We are
The Imperium!'
'Again!' Tathe yelled. 'Again everyone!'
If they were saved it, it would be great to be spared such a horrific death, if they weren't, well, it would be great that they died without giving their souls to the Ruinous Powers. But again, just doing it for the spite was worth it.
They launched into the song again, but Tathe couldn't help glancing around at the enclosing everything and wonder; How long was his spiteful joy was going to last?
As consciousness returned, Karmen's eyes felt like they were glued together by the strongest adhesive known to man. After a few seconds of fighting to open them the sound of lasfire and hellgun fire tore into her ears, it made her flinch.
'She is conscious,' said a voice just above her, it was Halsin. 'Karmen? Nod if you can you hear me?'
She nodded. 'Where's the daemon?' she croaked from her torn up throat. 'Did Kalakor kill it?'
'No!' said Halsin and Karmen had not heard the young medicae sound so overjoyed or emotional, not since the death of Omnartus. 'You did it! You frigging did it!'
Karmen frowned. 'Did what?'
'You managed to take down the daemon's shield! It was frigging amazing. Then Attelus decapitated it. It's gone. It's dead, its minions gone with it.'
Karmen's frown only deepened, that sounded far too good to be true, was this a trick? 'Then why are you still fighting?'
'Killing it made the doors into the tower to open, and the Resurrected are now pouring in.'
She sighed and finally managed to open her eyes, finding much to no surprise Halsin's plain face loomed over her, a bit too close for comfort. It was a shock to see him smile for once.
Agony burst through her head, and she couldn't help let out a long groan. 'I've had enough, Halsin. I just cannot do any more.'
Halsin nodded. 'More than understandable, mamzel Karmen. I doubt any other human psyker could manage to do what you have done. Too bad we're all going to be overwhelmed and slaughtered soon, making all of your achievements pointless. Like Omnartus.'
Karmen sighed. 'Where is Attelus?'
'Kalakor came into reality and took Attelus with him; they're going to try get to the top of the tower to...assassinate the general.'
She couldn't help laugh. 'Attelus the assassin actually being an assassin for once? How did Kalakor react when he found I managed to take down the shield?'
'He was pretty angry,' said Halsin. 'He was planning to teleport inside the shield then kill it from behind. He said you wasted your strength when it could be used to aid in holding back the Resurrected.'
Karmen furrowed her brow. 'Well, he should've told me that then!'
Halsin just shrugged and pursed his lips.
'How long have I been out for?'
'About ten minutes.'
She closed her eyes.
'Mamzel Karmen?'
'It's alright, Halsin. I am praying.'
'Praying for what?'
'Praying like hell Attelus and Kalakor succeed.'
'Why? The Emperor has no power here; you should know that by now.'
'I do, I know,' she said. 'But right now it's all I can do.'
