Author's Preamble: I'm excited to announce that I'm back to full writing form. A lot has happened since last the last chapter. I would avoid too much talking here and let you read.

Note: The story will be upgraded to M content during the next release. So do ensure you save as favorites.


XXV - Desperation

The steaming hot water jetted out of the shower head. The heat was set to 45 degrees Celsius, enough for heavy mists to form in the spacious bathroom. For a fleeting moment, serenity and peace took over. Koch did not welcome that peace, As hard as he tried dispelling that feeling, he failed. His mind shouted at Koch to execute the next step of his plan. He was fully aware that time was against him.

Alas, Koch could not contest the immense pleasure and reprieve of the moment.

The pressure of water from the shower massaged his tired, greasy body.

The heat relieved his aches.

The rhythm of the pulsating water soothed his ears.

He gradually lost the ability to control his body. His hands were the first to go limp. His heart rate slowed. His breathing became slower at longer intervals. And though his mind tried to exert control, his legs buckled and slumped backwards to lean against the cold, crack filled walls.

Maybe I should take a rest.

He inspected the walls and floor, and despite the presence of mould, it was probably the cleanest room anywhere in the temple. He surrendered his remaining ounce of will, let himself go and sat down. All of his thoughts vanished, replaced by a cloud of darkness. It was meant to be sleep.

Gargoyles, lightning, bugs, visages flashed in the mind.

The streaming cacophony of shower beating against the tiles.

Screams.

A door's squeak.

Instructor Lynn.

He felt himself falling.

He jolted out of his sleep. His hands flailed around before a figure that appeared before him. Before panic manifested, his pupils stabilized. Through the mist, the person before him became visible. A familiar set of tired eyes, filled with concerned kindness, placed him at immediate ease.

"You've been a while," Medicae Ally said softly, she did not want to seem as if she were rushing Koch.

Koch did not provide any verbal response, but only palmed his face and drew long breaths.

"Do you need a hand?" Ally herself was no stranger about trauma. All her patients, dead or alive, had displayed varied symptoms. They screamed, cried, shut down and exploded in bouts of violence. And for Koch's tremendous will, rationale, and intellect, he was not exempt from this. None could withstand the temple's cruelty - one that could even match the Dark Eldars or the Agents of Chaos.

Koch was ultimately, only human.

Ally, at that point, wanted to sit down too. Just squatting itself was overwhelmingly tiresome.

Her 'heroic' moment of saving Koch sapped her almost her whole being. How could a benevolent act be such a frightful thing?

Was it the right thing to do? Should she have turned a blind eye on Koch during his worst moments? What compelled her to risk it all to save a man she hardly knew? A cocktail of mixed feelings surged within her.

"Fuck," she scratched the back of her head. Had the anti-anxiety medication stopped working? Koch reminded her that being calm at this moment was important. But how could she? Look at Koch, how could he rise to a crisis?

She imagined being pulled out of her bed in the middle of the night and forced to kneel before the Commissar for a summary execution. No trials, no investigations but just a group of bloodthirsty guards barreling down the hallway to drag her to her death.

But somehow, in some twisted sense of compassion, she was more concerned for Koch.

She cursed herself.

"This is the kind of thing that would get you killed," Said Valaruz 17th once.

"Yeah, next time we see each other, you can say, 'I told you so,'" she grimaced.

With a grunt, she stood back up and removed her coat to reveal her blood-stained tank top. She stripped her pants down to her underwear, bundled together with the coat, chucked them into the laundry case, grabbed a stool before stepping into the shower.

She wordlessly helped Koch to sit up straight, while she used her personal sponge to slowly wipe the mysterious grime off his body. She avoided his groin area where she already placed cup over his injured shaft before the shower.

For the next 15 minutes, both did not exchange any words.

"You have my gratitude, Medicae Ally," Koch said finally, as he seemed to have gained more lucidity, "Your actions carried great personal risks."

Medicae did not say anything, but from what Koch can observe, Ally's mood had not improved. He surmised and decided that any pleasantries were pointless unless they somehow manage to survive this.

Ally repeatedly sighed heavily, of which had nothing in replies.

"I..." Koch said.

"Shut up, Koch," Ally snapped, only to follow with more silence.

"Save your words Koch, we will speak more after I've taken my shower." Ally said, "I would be less irritable then."

Koch nodded, "Okay, but can you confirm if you have painkillers in your room?" Koch asked.

"Yes, second drawer on the right of my desk, in the First Aid pack," Ally replied.

Both did not say anything further.


Draped with bathrobe two sizes too small, Koch explored the Medicae's room and took measure of her possessions. Medicae Ally was certainly a dedicated professional, with stacks of medical reports piled up on her desk. Her room was dim, rather spacious, with standard Milistarum colors. Even Medicaes were not spared from being capped where personal possessions were concerned. Only a small framed picture of her family portrait sat on her desk amongst the mess. His curiosity nudged him to investigate, but he suppressed that desire to attend to more pressing matters.

Painkillers were found and consumed with relative ease. The resurgent pain was pushed back. He stared off into blank space before taking a seat and went to work. He accessed her terminal and performed a series of typing and clicking.

He rummaged the desk for a memory card and inserted into the terminal.

It was then, he felt someone staring from across the table. He looked toward the direction, his pupils adjusted, there was shadowy figure, stood as still as death by the doorway.

"Are you lost, fresh meat?" the figure said menacingly.

Koch froze, he could see him clearly now. Tall, muscular, with rugged facial hair.

"Wet hair," the figure took a step forward, finger gesturing to the top of Koch's head, "…draping a ridiculously undersized bathrobe as some would call them 'the girlfriend robes,'" the tall, muscular man looked around, perhaps trying to locate Ally, "…all of that, in the middle of the night."

"Well, though the temple does not restrict trysts between the temple staff and the candidates, but knowing Ally's sexual compass - Fucking you? She can do better," a snicker formed on his lips.

"You must be Valaruz 17th," Koch steadied his nerves and said simply. Lover would exhibit jealously. Only a figure of authority would be allowed to roam the halls freely and intrude upon another's privacy.

"Good guess," Valaruz 17th walked into the light, "But if you haven't already gotten my message, you need to the get the fuck out of here, worm."

"Respectfully, no," Koch remained seated, "There is no conflict here. It is well within the temple's rules to be wherever I choose to outside of the classes curriculum."

Valaruz 17th's produced another pained smile, "You're a ballsy one, aren't you? Well, if you'd only know your worth and the fragility of your mortality in this..." he gestured around, "...Emperor forsaken facility, you won't be so cocksure of yourself."

"Tell me," Valaruz 17th continued, "Have all the other real men in the temple died that Ally has resorted to bedding candidates now?"

Koch refrained himself from replying to that rhetorical question, nothing could quell a man's jealousy.

"Has she been getting so much wet dreams of me, that she'd fuck any boy that walked through her doors?" The assassin's tone increased menacingly.

"It is late, you best keep your voice down," Koch said steadily.

Then, both realize that Ally was out of the shower, her eyes filled with hate.

"You pompous son of a bitch," Ally snarled at Valaruz 17th, she picked up whatever she could find and hurled it at Valaruz 17th.

Valaruz 17th's quick reflexes kicked in and snatched the ornament of some sort, out from the air.

"Get out!" another projectile flew out of her hands. The velocity of the object compounded by her rage.

The missiles were harmless. Some hit home but her temper was something else entirely, enough to frame a message of surety - that Valaruz 17th was no longer welcomed. The Assassin held up his hand as a sign of surrender, whatever objects he had in had he placed it down before exited her chambers.

"What the fuck? That swine!" she screamed, "Who does he think he is? After all that we've been through, the only thing in his mind is fucking?"

She slumped down on the floor and started to wail.

"Koch, let's just end this," she cried out, "Let's just give ourselves up, I can't take this anymore."

Koch limped towards her, as quickly as he could. In his hands were several pills, "Ally, take this, it will calm you down."

"No, I don't need any fucking meds," she pushed Koch's hands away, "Just let me go to the Commissar. She will understand, they will understand. Let's just tell her everything. It wasn't our fault, right? That bitch was insane right? Please, let us just end this tonight." Tears, saliva and mucus flowed out and drenched her bare chest covered only with a towel.

Koch waited for her to finish crying. The incident took a lot from of them, physically and emotionally. It felt like a pendulum, and at this moment, he will return the favor Ally gave him. Empathy, generosity and patience.

Ally's cries slowed to just a whimper.

"Ally," Koch crawled up to her and sat beside her, "You have to know that I'm indebted to you." He was not sure Ally had heard him entirely, but he continued, "You have done more that anyone could have done in this situation. I am certain that if it were anyone else in your position, they would not risk their lives for me."

"My way forward is to have both of us survive this till the end," Koch said as reassuringly as possible, "But you have to do as I instruct."

"No," Ally said while sobbing, "I can't live with all these, it's tearing me apart, it is eating me up from inside."

"I understand," Koch paused, "I have been into a similar position."

Koch waited while Ally's cries mellowed. Then he continued,

"I've been in a position to carry out objectives against my organization, and performed tasks that are considered treasonous," Koch said, "I'll correct myself, and state that it is technically dissimilar, but no less strenuous psychologically."

Ally's attention was captured, she was looking into Koch's eyes.

"You were there, I've heard she was telling you over the vox, about the revelations she had about me. Instructor Lynn Lurista was, perhaps, referencing that particular mission when she chose to carry out mu...mu...mutilation on me," Koch's stuttered as he cringed as he recalled the incident.

"She did analogize you to a rat," Kira recalled the words from Lynn, "I thought she spewed that out of insanity."

She considered for a moment, "So it was true? You ratted out your organization? The Jopalli Indentured?"

Koch stopped as if he was in thought, "Conclusions are always premature without full facts being presented fairly on both accounts. But if you must know, my task was endorsed by the Inquisition."

Ally stayed silent, the word Inquisition was something not spoken simply, "You were an agent of the Inquisition?" she bit her bottom lip and gave it a little more thought, "It does not add up..." she thought a bit more carefully, "It does not add up when the fact that you have been selected as a candidate for the Assassinorum when you have, in fact, serviced the Inquisition. The Inquisition could have recruited post-mission unless you failed in your 'undercover' tasks, but you could not have failed, as failure always meant the death sentence."

Koch waited for Ally to finish.

"Unless you are here to investigate the Assassinorum on behalf of the Inquisition?" Ally went mute listening to her own words, if it were true, then there will be a lot of implications. She shuddered thinking along those lines.

"No," Koch said out flatly, "That's the not actual scenario although I can see how you got to that reasoning."

"To be succinct, I managed to unveil the identity perpetrators of high crimes within the Jopalli Indentured. Crimes that needed to be dug out from its roots. However, to my detriment, in the eyes of the Inquisition, I was just another cog in the Inquisition's investigation.

They had many agents and most of us, were "leveraged" to provide undercover intelligence to the Inquisition." Koch stopped to think, "We, I, had little choice where the Inquisition was concerned. The opposite effect of me not cooperating would be a mortal punishment, most probably."

"So, you were recruited by the Inquisition to dig up information that would prove crimes committed by the Jopalli Indentured?" Ally looked confused, "But how is it that you're in the temple? You said you succeeded in bringing down your target, how is it that you're not with the Inquisition or the Jopalli Indentured?"

"The Inquisition's definition of a reward were perplexing as much as it was destructive," Koch said, "I was recommended to be promoted by the Inquisition for my detailed work, guile and subtlety. The Inquisition was quite the opposite of what they demanded of me. They were unabashed and cared less for consequences of revealing me as their operative. As soon as judgement was rendered to the corrupt, I was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and sent right back."

"But yet here you are instead of being back in your homeworld," Ally breathed out her words exasperatedly, almost impatient.

"Indeed, the Milistarum is a tightly knit community. When the Inquisition, armed with enough information, sprung on the military and hauled many into the galley, the identity of those who contributed to the eradication of the corrupted were quickly identified. It was simple logic, who else were close enough to the perpetrators of corruption that were not punished but were rewarded instead? My name, amongst others, were easily picked out. Within the few weeks when I was back into the Jopalli Indentured, ingrained back into the army, with new titles, there were no shortage of death threats, vandalization of my personal property, and sabotage of my meals."

Ally was reserving her comments.

"It was not unexpected, given my perceived "contributions". The Milistratum bond runs so deep that they've become a tribe. What they hate more than the enemies of the imperium was a traitor. They will band together against the 'rat'."

Being revealed by the Inquisition as an undercover agent for the inquisition was not taken lightly by the organization in the whole. By then even, the Inquisition could care less as I have deemed to be rewarded 'plenty'."

Ally listened intently.

"So yes, I can empathize with your predicament, wounding the Instructor and whatever that would follow, will be not be viewed positively by the Assassinorum. Not when you were believed as once part of a tribe."

"But you, Ally, are only guilty if you get caught, the advantage you have is that you have not been discovered yet."

"Before we go further Koch," Ally said, "You have yet to tell me how you ended up in the Assassinorum."

"Of course," Koch nodded, "I applied to be transferred, and though my superior viewed me with disdain, no less than the rest of the Jopalli, he put fourth my application for the Vindicare Assassinorum. It was a coincidence that the Assassinorum was on a recruitment drive. Hence, I accepted and days later, here I am."

"Just like that?"

"I imagine that the Assassinorum was not too picky when it comes to recruiting. Yes, it was just like that," Koch said, "In hindsight, he probably knew what entailed for me."

"A less than illustrious end to you career with the Jopalli," Ally sighed, "But I suppose you did not have a choice." Koch shook his head.

"But what is the point, Koch?" Ally sunk herself in, "You have jumped through rings of hell, and yet you have not escaped adversity. How do you go on?"

"I had my lows, Ally," Koch said, "There were times when I had self-doubt, my confidence shattered, and I would just lie in my bed, tossing and turning with no answers. Part of me just wanted to just stay in bed, and surrender the forces that seek to end me."

"But I am a pragmatic survivalist, and my goal is simple. To come out of any situation victorious. I've had many victories and this would not be my end."

"But how? Everywhere is filled with villainy and cruelty. Everyone around you wants to get you. The odds are stacked against you. You can't be that naive Koch, to believe you can survive this?

"I do not believe in a no-win scenario Ally," Koch said, "I have again and again emerged out of conflicts...""

"I'm sorry Koch," she said whilst tears started streaming down her face, "It won't be possible, you cannot win. Not in this temple."

"Then it is as I believe, you are withholding information that could be of immense value," Koch said, "Lay the cards on the table, let me be the judge of it."

"I have been running this through my head, I had been in denial, I've tried to talk myself out of it, I've considered permutations of the outcomes of every action that we could take to get out of this. Even if you managed to get out of the crosshairs of the temple on Lynn's imprisonment and assault, you would still have to live through the temple's trials. To become the next Vindicare."

"That is my goal," Koch confirmed with confidence, "To be the next Vindicare."

"Are you even listening? How do you think the Vindicare temple managed to produce the best Vindicare Assassin? Do you think all this massacre, these murders, throwing lives of thousands? What do you think the demented games are for?

They said there can only be one assassin. And they meant it literally. There can only be one, Koch. Only one.

Whatever you are doing now, training, competing, surviving. It does not hold a candle to what you're about to do at the end of this trials.

It's a damning, vicious cycle, one that I am complicit in. The fear, the survival is all part of game that is designed to produce only the best Vindicare Assassin. "

Koch was beginning to piece together the puzzle.

"Whomever that is left at the end of it all, those that have survived it all, will have to fight to the death to claim Exitus, and you'd have to pry it from the hands of Valaruz 17th.

If you can kill him first."


It took a while for Koch to realize, if he were to make it to the end, he would have to best Valaruz 17th. But Valaruz 17th has been programmed and conditioned to be the perfect killing machine, one whom have been stuck in an almost perpetual cycle of ticking off candidates, worthy or not.

The temple had Valaruz 17th on a tight leash, kept him on his toes, murdered his emotions, and ultimately owned his obedience. Kill or be killed, even if it were innocents - the Imperium had no shortage of meat bags.

They have engineered a process to produce the perfect Assassin and keeping them that way. Whomever that wanted to title of being a Vindicare Assassin had to be better. The bar would always be high. If Valaruz 17th wanted to live, he would have to be the perfect killer, without compassion, without mercy, every day.

"You mentioned I'd have to kill Valaruz 17th, I need details. Is it under a controlled environment? Where is it going to take place?"

Ally blew a raspberry, "I don't know Koch," she ruffled through her hair in frustration, "What does a Vindicare Asassin do? He snipes his target from miles away. I never witness these events, it just happens. And when it ends, it ends somberly. Valaruz 17th always emerge, clean, without a scratch."

"Do you know what I'm saying Koch? Valaruz 17th has several hundreds of confirmed kills, the highest registered throughout the history of the Vindicare temple across the system. Even if it was an exaggeration, I could not discount the perception of the High Order towards Valaruz 17th, that he is a 'legend'. Such praise is not likely a product of fabrication."

"Of that, I do not doubt," Koch said with a hint of weariness, Koch had to assume at this point, Ally would not be able to share any insight or mechanics on how to take down Valaruz 17th during the final showdown.

"Can you at least tell me his background? Where did he come from? What's his skill set?" Koch asked.

Ally took a deep breath; Koch could tell she is still holding back. The micro expressions were evidence.

"Ally, at this point, there are no secrets worth keeping anymore," Koch said, "You have to give me whatever you have."

"Koch, I don't know you if you've ever had..." Ally paused, "...had feelings. Sentiments. Towards others. I'd say it straight that I personal feeling vested in Valaruz 17th."

"He might not feel the same way, we are completely different people. I'm not even sure if the circumstances were different, we would be able to live the life my parents had lived. Growing old together, having children," Ally began sobbing, "But to trade the life of someone you care about, for my own life? That's a sacrifice too great."

Koch merely listened.

"My parents, they weren't wealthy, nor were they powerful figures. They are bourgeoisie fortunate enough to be living far away from areas of conflict," she added, "They told me that the Imperium was a cruel place, but I was naive. They told me to stay with them, but I wanted to serve. To help."

"They told me that being benevolent, a good Samaritan was the worst way to live. I wanted to prove them otherwise. That if I could just help one person at a time, then the Imperium will be a far better place."

Both fell silent.

"There is wisdom in your words, "Koch said, "I can tell that you're in pain from your dilemmas. A struggle that I am not entirely familiar with, but Ally," Koch said, "If you had to choose again, where would you be now?"

"Gosh," Ally started bawling again, "I just want to stay with mom and dad, wake up to breakfast, have a walk in the park. I wished I never left home."

Koch thought considerably, "And if you had, I won't probably be here," Koch rested his hand on Ally's shoulders, "I will work to get you back home."

Ally continued sobbing, until she fully registered what Koch saying, "Re...Really?" She stuttered while wiping away her tears, "...but, but how?"

Koch carefully stood up and reached to Ally's desk. He removed the memory stick from the terminal.

"It will not be easy, but this will be a start," he gestured to the memory stick.

"I...I don't understand," Ally gulped down.

"Our situation is dire, and by doing nothing, there are already substantial evidence that point to us assaulting the instructor."

"I don't have enough information to know if the situation were different, you would be able to be transferred out of the temple, but your chances are significantly reduced with the conundrum at hand."

Ally was listening.

"The endgame to me is very clear, we have to survive, no matter what, and that means firstly, we have to disassociate ourselves from Instructor Lynn by throwing off the temple's scent off us,"

"But..." Ally tried to say something.

"Let me finish, please," Koch raised his hand.

Ally kept quiet.

"Two, we have to establish a strong alibi by proving the both of us were elsewhere when Ally conducted her torture."

"Three, I have to maintain a guise that I was not wounded in any way to suppress any forms of suspicion."

"Four, I have overcome the trials and come out victorious."

Ally started breathing hard.

"The time for words has ended, now we need to action," Koch said firmly.

"On the first point of action, I will deal with Ally, the details are best omitted from your knowing," Koch said as a matter-of-factly.

"On the second point, both of us have to maintain an alibi of each other during the period time when I was abducted, if you could alter the logs in your apothecary to show I was there, it would suppress suspicion."

"Thirdly," Koch flashed the memory stick before Ally, "I need to have a procedure done on me, this is where you will be adding the most value."

"What is it?" Ally asked.

"This is a medical procedure that will help me get through the temple's trials. This transfer device contains a medical procedure that needs to be ritualized into a medical servitor. You are proficient with a medical servitor yes?" He reached forward and held out the transfer device to Ally.

"Wait, wait, hold on, this is moving too fast," Asked the Medicae, "What is this procedure for?" A skin graft? Our Medical Servitor is already programmed to do that, but you would not need them as we have an operating theater with automatas. Also, the procedure needs to be followed up with a lot of bed rest. You would still be in a lot of pain without medications that would dull your senses. It will take weeks to fully recover."

"Skin grafts is one of the procedures, yes, but what I need to do is beyond that."

"Can you stop with the obscurity? And tell me what it is?"

"I am refusing to tell you more and expect you to just comply. But since you have started your line of inquiry, you will have to contend with a short answer, as the long answer will lead to what they call, a slippery slope into a rabbit's hole. I will tell you on the basis that you will agree to carry out the procedure on me and post-surgery, I will explain to the best as I can."

Ally sat upright, and appeared nervous, "Okay, what you said just now made me very uncomfortable."

"I imagine that most people will," Koch nodded in thought.

"Well...?" Ally couldn't wait anymore.

"As a medical professional, you have been acquainted with H.S.A.N. yes?"

"Wait," Ally stood up with tiredness, "Stop right there," her eyes were wide open. "Wait, wait, wait, hold you. Are you kidding me? That's your answer to the problems at hand?"

Koch was silent.

"H-SAN, Hereditary Sensory and Automonic Neuropathy right? That's your bright idea? You're going to inhibit the feeling of pain?"

"Yes, Type 5,"Koch replied.

"Koch, I am acquainted with literatures and medical journals on this subject, and I have heard countless debates within the Medicae Circles of the Apothecary. All of these are highly theoretical, with no real progress in practical implementation. Hell, not even the Astartes implemented pain inhibition, for there are countless evidence proving that the many disadvantages of NOT able to feel pain.

Pain is incredibly important for the body to sense and avoid danger. The reflex to recognize and repair cells, feeling temperature is key to survival. That is why the Astartes engineered not only one, but the whole biological system for efficiency. Merely stopping one from feeling pain alone does not make one a better soldier.

You will be marching yourself to an early grave, you will bleed out before you realize it. Do I need to mention mental degenerative state? Do I need to go on?"

"I believe you agreed to not pursue this line of inquiry. We don't have the time for a scientific discussion."

"It's not a discussion if it's stupid, Koch," Ally said.

"Ally, let me simulate the outcome if this is not done. The temple will descend upon us if I appear in training tomorrow in pain. I won't be able to miss training for whatever medication side effect that will cause me in performance. Any signs of suspicion, they will interrogate me to no end, especially when everyone visibly saw that Lynn and I had an episode. Soon, they will figure out that you are complicit, and it will be over in hours.

So Medicae Ally, do you have an alternative?"

"No."

"Ally, unlearn everything you have learnt, we must adapt."

"This is madness," Ally said, "What would you do it bleed out unknowingly?"

"I will be cautious, I am and I will," Koch said confidently, "I will visit the apothecary at the end of every day."

"Will you at least answer me this?"

"Time is wasting Ally,"

"Where did you get this?" she waved the transfer stick, "And how do you know if will work?"

Koch sucked in and glanced at the time.

"Okay, I will indulge you only if you agree that after I answer you, you will carry out the configuration on the medical servitor without further questions?"

"Okay," Ally closed her eyes and nodded, "Just tell me."

"The Joppalli was carrying out an experiment during the long wars," Koch started, "We were in different sectors fighting off local insurgencies, and we were losing more soldiers more than we could supply them."

"The Strategists and R&D arm of the Medicae Corp developed a plan. The depletion rate of resources is greater as the number of wounded soldiers increases. More wounded meant less able-bodied soldiers, and more resources to divert to recovery. The mathematics was straightforward and linear. Their answer was to speeding up the recovery of the number of able-bodied soldiers. How can they get the wounded soldiers back on their feet and fight back as fast as possible?

That was when they decided to deploy Rite X33F. They developed the rites based on existing research, programmed the Medicae servitor, which were widely available and mobile, so that they could reach rural pockets of combat - treat the soldiers, getting them back on their feet and started to fight again. I was a Combat Medicae Technician, and showed talent in the reprogramming, training other CMTs and influencing the sergeants to adopt this."

"Initially, logic prevailed and the non-comms allowed the rites. But as time went by the resistance to X33F increased, not because it did not work, or somehow resulted in catastrophic medical side-effect, but the moral questions of how we should treat the wounded."

Ally listened intently.

"It was initially quelled when the top brass 'offered' incentives to Non-comms to partake in this initiative. But it was not long before an entire company rebelled, fought nail and tooth for their wounded brethren. Almost only 24 hours later when the rebellion was quelled that the top brass pulled the plug, not wanting to get any more attention."

"I kept the program in a remote databank, as an 'insurance'," Koch pointed at the memory stick.

"And you used my terminal to access this file?"

"Don't worry, I made sure I my tracks were covered," Koch said.

"Okay," Ally signed heavily, "I will be impartial to this, seemingly that you're saying the rites somehow worked, but it caused dissent on the grounds of morality."

"It did work. But there were issues," Koch said, "I have figured ways around them, but I think I've explained too much, "Koch looked at the time, "we don't have time as I need to be present during the morning briefing. Will you please head to the apothecary now? And start the programming rites?"

"I don't feel good about this, but you seem to have the upper hand in these," Ally put on clothes and a fresh coat, ""Are you certain this will work with any servitors?"

"It uses low levels of radiation to target NGF genes, to produce an NGF Beta protein that cannot bind to pain receptors. This rite will be used to configure the servitor's radiation emissions accordingly."

"Okay, what will you be doing?"

"Taking care of an acquaintance," Koch said, "Off you go."

Ally disappeared beyond the door.

Koch made sure she was out of sight, then he picked up the vox cast, "Seackre, it's time that you were rewarded."


Koch stood in front of the junction room. The door was locked and beyond was the wounded instructor. Whether or not she was conscious or not, dead or alive, Koch winced just having surface thoughts of what happened just moments ago.

He sucked down the throbbing discomfort between his thighs opened the door and braced for the sadistic laughter of the Instructor, but all that he received was a chilly breeze and the smell of rust and rat urine and faeces.

In his place on the torture table was Lynn, bound and unconscious. The good apothecary placed a cloth over her as a form of decency. He kicked away some rats which seemed to be converging on the instructor. They had probably smelt blood and meat. Had Koch came down any later, the rats would probably already be feasting on Lynn's wound.

He moved closer to Lynn and rummaged through her belongings, he searched her pockets and found a simple purse holding bills and cards. He would have to figure out what cards they were later. He also found a dog-tag with her name inscribed, a medical kit with various medicines, chemicals and syringes in it. He pocketed them all and when satisfied, turned to leave.

He could hear her rousing, "Fucking asshole," she said in between wheezes, she managed a weak scream before slumped back to the table. She was confused and incoherent as mumbles poured out of her mouth.

Koch stood before her at a safe distance and did not say a word.

"When the temple finds out all these, your end will be a long and painful one," she snarled, wailed and struggled to be free of the very same bonds she used on Koch.

"On the contrary, dear instructor," Koch said simply, "It is your end that will be a long and painful one."

"What are you going to do?" Lynn asked exasperatedly.

"Oh, my part here is already done, what Medicae Ally have started, won't be mine to finish," Koch said as a matter-of-factly, there was no hate, anger or vengeful in his voice.

"Release me!" Lynn threshed around again, "Release me, you worthless piece of shit!"

"It is beyond me how you think insults can work in your favor," Koch said while he turned to leave, "I don't tend to take insults to heart, but even if I did, violence is not my style. Can't say the same for my acquaintances though."

Lynn stared at Koch intently, horror seeped into her pupils.

"You might want to watch your words and the way you treat them," Koch was at the door, without looking back he slammed the door shut.

He walked carefully down at the corridor where he promised to meet Seac'kre.

From the shadows Seac'kre appeared, with two of his, colleagues, equally hideous and physically deformed.

"Well? Well?' Seac'kre hyperventilated in excitement.

"Your reward may not be completely whole, but you probably wouldn't want her be," Koch said.

They looked each other; drool almost slipped out from the corner of their lips.

"With the reward I am about to bestow to you, you may do as you please with her. But after you are done, you must dispose her and leave no trace. Failure of which, the temple will bring down the full force of its wrath on you. You, of all, would know how's that like," Koch said.

They swallowed down in fascination.

"You hide your contrabands well?" Koch asked.

"Put it this way, Koch, the lower levels are an organization of our own. Save for the Warden, none of the living would wander down here for leisure or work. The 'stuff' we have down here are as forbidden as they come," Seac'kre said with a tinge of pride.

"The Warden? Is he going to be a problem?" Koch said with a hint of worry.

"No, no," Seackre waved Koch off, "We haven't seen him since…I can't remember."

"Well, keep her no longer than a week." Koch said as pointed in a direction, "It's the third room to your right."

All of them looked at each other and sprinted off, "You are not coming with?"

"Whatever depravity you've planned, I want no part of it," Koch said, "Though you might need tranquilizers."

Seac'kre waved a tranquilizer gun before Koch, "This one brings down Daemons," and even before getting a response from Koch, he was already bolting forward.

Koch's stomach churned as he turned around and limped away. Off in the distance, Koch heard the delightful squeals of Searc'kre and his friends followed by Lynn's barks. It descended into shouts and taunts, then screams, then echoes of the three's maniacal laughter.


Post Script:
Thanks for reading the end of my newest chapter. If you are wondering when my next chapter is going to come, it's coming to Fanfiction every second Sunday of every month.

10th May 2020

But you can check it at P AT REON (p at reon DOT COM/vhhellenstein)for updates to support me financially along with some cool goodies. You can also view links from my twitter handle HellensteinVh or my About Page.


Q&A

When are you releasing your next chapter?
New chapters will be made available every second Sunday of every month. Check out my P AT REON page for updates. Links are provided at my twitter handle - HellensteinVh.

One month is too long! Can't you release it sooner?
The Assassin has always been my pride and joy. And I will write it with the best of my ability, as this use up energy and mentally bandwidth. Having a full time job means while I won't be able to write full time, I do have to juggle between different roles. Rushing chapters means sacrificing quality, which is something I would hate doing.

My long-term goal is to be a full-time writer, but alas, for now I will have to contend doing this part time. But with your support, I hope I can write full time.

How many more chapters till the end of the Assassin?
I estimate there would be at least be ten to twelve more based on my draft for the Assassin. But I will alter it based on pacing an readability. I'm eager to finish it as fast as possible so I can start on my sequels.

Sequels?
Yes, I have two in planning. - The Inquisitor and The Librarian.

Why not publish with Black Library?
Alas, Black Library have strict requirements of excluding gratuitous violence and sex, which does not match my creative vision for the Assassin and its subsequent stories. I have planned at least two more stories after The Assassin – The Inquisitor and The Librarian, I would be doing myself a disservice if I have tone it down.

Thanks!