The Inquisitor

Chapter Four

The drop down into this planet's atmosphere would be what I described as a consistently shaking can. If a person shook the contents within, well we'd be the contents within, I almost threw up twice on the way down. I had been given all my equipment to manage and hopefully pray to the God-Emperor on whether they'd last me my duration of this mission. The transporter wasn't as bad at first glance but the entry into a gravitational orbit of a new planet, I'd never forget the moment when my face paled to the tone of a corpse when the shaking had started. The time frame had been over ten minutes so far and by the golden throne I'd kiss the ground when the opportunity presented itself.

On a better note, I had Skit stored inside my bag.

Said bag which had a small case of holy ammunition shells for my weapon, a weapon that remained attached under the cloak. The las-pistol was attached to a hostler on my right hip and several power packs were tucked away inside my bag as well. It had been a tight squeeze when I had to heft the weight under the cloak yet it would do its job until whenever I needed them. Also I kept my knife within the confines of my pant leg, I'd rather keep that thing concealed at all costs and it'd do me a favor to learn from when hive gangsters used shivs in the oddest places. I had to go with the impression that one needed a knife no matter where they'd be traveling in the Imperium.

Another hard jerking lurch of the transporter got my stomach to churn and I had to close my eyes to concentrate on breathing.

"You going to make it Marcos?" Sister Anora said to me amused as several of her sisters themselves were chortling at my paling face. I shook my head with an honest yet strained smile, "First time for everything. I don't think I'm going to like drops like this at all." The Adeptas Sororitas contingent would be visiting the main temple dedicated to the Emperor and apart of this sectors Patron Saint for their own order. Tartarus had ordered me to use my psyker like mindset to search for any signs of corrupted, or rather blind hatred from anyone. She made sure to tell me that the contingent would my cover and vice verse who had been on the lookout for such signs as well.

Well they were always looking for heretics as my teacher told me.

So them being told would merely be a repetitive process and so she only had to brief myself. I had received a data slate from her that Skit had scanned for details pertaining to this planet. He provided me the means as I studied in what the details were stored inside the Imperium's vast planetary storage archives. My body eased itself when I remembered only the important aspects, "Shrine-World Mastora. Formed recently in M41 and only has been around for about a century, if not two. Population two hundred fifty million. Similar to native conditions on Terra yet only difference is that the seasons change rapidly every third month from summer into winter."

Not to mention the size of the planet was roughly ten times the size of Terra, so the vast distances made the population rather spaced out pending on the major cities. The shrine itself was within the capital of thirty five million alone and Tartarus would be visiting the Planetary Governor in his own palace on the same continent. Apparently the governing body of this planet had a strange tendency to leave the governor's palace separate from the main city to keep the virtue of the Shrine-World to build statues and monuments to the Emperor. I didn't care at all due to a simple fact.

I lived in a hive city and having to deal with tens of billions in such a place was familiar enough.

"Hear me my fellow Sisters. This world has a shrine and a temple dedicated to one of our sister orders whose Saint we've been cleared to visit on your own rights to become fully fledged Sisters of Battle." Sister Anora's superior addressed the confined transporter as they all carried their power armors and weapons fully loaded. I guess they had the right to bare arms to go wherever they pleased for in search of heretical citizens and what not that were denouncing the Imperium's Faith to our God-Emperor. They had their own mission which wouldn't deviate too much from my own with the Inquisition, I'd say Tartarus wanted us to cover more ground and to discover anything on our separate ends.

And we had the means to keep in contact.

Skit could transmit a message to her own servo-skull if something did come up.

"Despite our pure and righteous pilgrimages as Adeptas Sororitas, be vigilant for those who would dim our God-Emperor's light and his holy divinity of his Imperium. No heretic, Xeno or blasphemer can offer no excuse for their crimes if they walk amongst us. Be aware and we will not allow such filth to not be purged by our flames of purification." The Superior Advance Battle Sister stated to her fellows as I watched near the back of the confined compartment. I didn't dare chime in, or even move until Anora's own superior had said her piece to her subordinates and squad mates alike.

Once we ended this nightmarish drop from the skies, I'd be in my full reign to explore and stick by them until things were situated with Tartarus who had a contingent of storm troopers on her group on the other side of the main continent. "Mastora Spaceport inbound. Five minutes." The pilot's vox came over the speakers inside the hold, I inwardly prayed to the Emperor for such a blessing to end this monstrosity of a flight. I'd probably lose control over my stomach if this racket of an insane descent onto a new world.

"Anora, Helena, Kaitlin. You three are at the end of your Noivicate and as Constantia Advances, I expect you three to assist me. To assist myself in searching for any signs of heresy, corruption or Xeno influences." The senior amongst the Adeptas Sororita squad stated to three people who I knew probably two. Besides Anora I knew Helena who was of the same rank as my formal educator of the Imperial Creed and Faith alone. She had been a practice partner for my teacher and I had been instructed to find any flaws in the basic stances, I got all of them right in theory but in practice it was difficult to tell. She wasn't as stern nor reprimanding as Anora yet the woman clearly found my presence to be oddly relaxing.

Many of the Sororitas found myself to be learning from them as an honor.

Officially Inquisitor Tartarus entrusted them of my educations about the Imperium and teachings of the Imperial Faith as a whole.

I listened in for a moment on the most senior and zealot of them all. I felt a little uneasy because in what lied in subtly to those who stood against them. "As for the rest of you, your Noivicate will only be furthered until the day you join our ranks of the Sisterhood as full fledged Battle Sisters. As we march onto our fellow Sisters temple! We shall chant the light of the Emperor's divinity and we shall carry out our banners high, for we are the Adeptas Sororitas of the Order of the Bloody Rose. May Saint Mila guide our hands in the divinity and faith to our God-Emperor!"

The armored women roared their approval by raising their hands in a battle-cry group prayer to the Emperor himself. I remained silent not wishing to draw their more fanatical tendencies, I technically shouldn't have been listening in the first place but it wasn't like I had a choice. I bowed my head in a prayer of my own to ask for a blessing to watch over my friends amongst these power armored forms, I wanted them all to be safe and for the Emperor to protect them over my own meager self. I found it an irony that before anything I was always a selfish person, a kid, but selfish all the same.

When I had a happy life, an old life I always had a person who I looked up. Who I cared for despite the grim yet liveable conditions and I had all the reasons to go beyond what I could do. I squandered that familiarity and those chances to act like a selfish, irresponsible and ultimately an idiotic child. I may have been a child but seeing a person who I loved as a sister, a mother and what not being torn apart could change anyone if I reckoned. I could never forgive myself for acting like a coward, I could never forgive myself to be happier and I had to step as apart of the Inquisition.

And now in a forced life that could kill me.

With the means to be a danger to anyone and everyone, I felt myself change. I knew this life could kill me based on what was being expected, so why? Why did I want other people, others who were total strangers, why did I want them to live more then myself? These questions burned inside my mind, I wanted these Sisters of Battle to be protected and to give them more of a chance to live another day. I was scared yet I wasn't terrified to give up my life for another person, I should have done that for Jane yet I ran like a coward.

"A pathetic wretched coward who abandoned the one who he cherished to survive like a rat."

My eyes closed when a tear fell down my cheek to hit the metallic floor, I clasped both hands into a prayer to the God-Emperor on the Golden Throne of Terra. I prayed so hard just this once and I'd never say again that I believed in a miracle for the Emperor to give out to those who prayed to him. If prayers could be answered then I offered my prayers to those who I cared for and for them to be protected, I'd rather lay down my life as much as it scared me, to have them see another day. I knew for a fact no kid my age, or a gangster could say that to himself and expect to feel no differently.

"Marcos?"

I looked up to see Sister Anora staring at my lone tear with concern, I just gave a smile. It wasn't forced but I knew clear as day she'd pick up on it in not being a happy gesture, "I'm fine. I just wanted to pray to the God-Emperor for a favor, I don't want you to worry about me. Please." The power armor of the Adepta Sororita made it slightly difficult for her to get on a knee to reach my level. She did so while stretching her armored limb to wipe away the tear that formed down my face, her hair white as snow yet all the more lively due to the flashing of lighting from the portholes near the doorway. I felt my heart freeze because in how warm her gaze looked down at me.

I'd swear she had to be the incarnation of Saint Mila herself.

"You maybe an eager learner Marcos, but you're horrible at lying." She chuckled at my helpless shrug since she wasn't wrong. I was just bad at lying to people who I liked, "Are you scared in coming to a new planet for the first time?"

I shook my head in response to that question, "Something a bit more then that Anora. I'm more scared for everyone else then my own sorry flesh, so believe that or not. I just don't want anyone to die." The woman looked at me a bit concerned since this was honestly a new development for myself to consider. I don't think she understood fully yet that would be the point I wanted to keep, I'd rather die then someone else in my stead, I thought of it being a foolish person who wanted to be a hero. Although no hero in the texts that I had read had stolen, or possibly fought over turf to brag about it as influence over a hive block. I didn't want Sister Anora or any of the Sisters of Battle that I had come to known to be hurt, or killed during my mission to uncover the Warp-Rift that Tartarus told me that would open up.

I wanted them to avoid it!

If it was possible to begin with really.

"Don't fear the unknown Marcos, I know for sure you may be a child yet you will have the courage of any man to face what troubles him. Even our greatest Saints of the Sisterhood have had their fears known and yet they stand up in the face of the heretic, the corrupted and the Xeno alike for having the Emperor guide their hands for his divinity." Anora said to me with a confident tone, I liked when she definitely took the moment to tell me what others had done. The Patron Saints seemed almost related for any person to imagine, I felt my heart ease itself back down. I felt so pathetic in needing someone to comfort me yet what could I do right now?

Cry?

Tears weren't going to help me, or anyone in this life as far as I knew now.

"I thought Saint Alicia held no fear for when she ended the Age of Apostasy. You told me a story in how she had been chosen to witness the Emperor and slay the madman who ruled over Holy Terra." I said to her asking if such a tale was a lie. I liked the idea of seeing a person who stood up to slay a heresy and an over madman who created a reign of blood. It had be almost five thousand years since the day the tale of the Patron Saint walking into the bowels of the reign of insanity to cut the head off the snake itself, the very head of the madness and walked out a hero. I wondered how could such a person do that such a thing like that and not fear anything?

What made people do amazing things for others to remember?

An answer came from a person that I did not expect. "For every story has it's truth and every truth has a small contingent of lies to enhance the act. Acolyte."

This came from the head of the Adepta Sororitas who was within the transporter. My eyes looked to her as the various initiates and what not made way her to kneel in a similar fashion as Anora had. Unlike the person who taught me a lot within the past fortnight, or so. The eldest and most senior Sister of Battle held my gaze all too easily when I looked hesitant to answer her back. Steel eyes with the gaze of a woman who had been many things in her time, the eyes of a killer, the eyes of a grieving person and the pained depths in what had to be done.

Unlike the rest of her contingent, the armor she wore had decorations of sealing, purity rites and what not at various places. Welded seals of purity were along her shoulder area as scripts of text hung vertically to sway from her movements. Inscriptions in High Gothic were what drew me to study them for a moment but in the end I looked to the much elder white haired woman. When she spoke I listened with a gaze that I had never given to anyone in my entire life. Not even Tartarus could force such a willing notions inside my heart, I felt compelled to listen and throughout it all I had the faith to warm my hopes that everything would be all right.

"The Emperor protects."

The Sister Superior placed a metal gauntlet on my shoulder, I winced briefly due to its weight. "That tale of how our Patron Saint, who gave birth to our Orders is not without faults Acolyte, Alicia had her fears when she wrote down her missives. Every Sister of Battle who distinguishes herself is told of this tale to know even she feared to meet the Emperor, Saint Alicia wrote in her own words she was afraid of the Emperor for what she had done in his under the orders of a mad lord of Holy Terra and for that alone she signaled it out as her worst." My eyes were wide as the other power armored women were smiling either grimly or with a small sense of comfort at my shock. It seemed they had all heard the tale at some point and inwardly gauging how I'd react to its unfolding.

"So she was afraid because she was merely following orders?" I guessed as the woman snorted a bit bemused at my nervous look. "Indeed. Most would have said because in being his presence alone which is a small truth but not as much as that fear of the unknown. Alicia didn't know how the Emperor would react, or give a sign to such an antagonized war on the very planet we call our holy birthplace. But something did happen and she personally ended that reign of that foul heretic." The transporter shifted when some sort of turbulence hit at the last second. It shifted me briefly but all the power armored Sisters stood firm, I even got myself steadied by the two kneeling next to me.

"What did happen when she met the Emperor in his throne room?" I asked curiously as both Adeptas Sororitas merely smiled sadly.

Anora spoke up first in a somber manner akin to a latent desire that many sought. "No one knows to this day Marcos. Within the Palace, Alicia never spoke of what occurred when she had been taken to the heart by the Adeptus Custodes who guard the Emperor to this day." Her answer felt like a crushing blow to my mental fortitude to understand why. So I looked down trying to process in what was said until the senior Sister got my attention. The much older woman didn't relent in what was being said to me.

She kept her tone very light yet firm as steel. "That is not the reason for such a tale. The point is Acolyte, is that fear can lead many astray yet it's when those who understand that fear. They understand in how to channel it's potency into the Faith for our God Emperor who will guide you right. Use that faith as your greatest strength, so allow that zeal inside your heart to flourish, for in the end no fear shall rule your mind." The woman lowered her head against mine as a means to convey her faith in me, to convey that hope of our Faith in the Emperor who watched over mankind and we would always remain loyal to his divinity.

I closed my eyes feeling that warmth surge into my heart, "I understand Sister."

Yet again her answer startled me.

"Theresa." I blinked a bit at that when the woman explained, "Sister Theresa is my name to you Acolyte."

So that made three Sororitas I knew on a first name basis, I felt happier yet I still kept my smile in place. Nodding my head to her, I replied formally in a manner that Anora and Tartarus had given me in my lessons during the time I had outside of combative training sessions. "Well it's nice to meet you too Sister Theresa. Marcos Eius is my name and thank you again for having me in your care." Anora smiled at the gesture her superior gave in verbal friendship to me, I believed she found it endearing to see the much serious veteran of the her Order seemingly kinder. I didn't put too much thought into it except for when her forehead placed itself against mine when she offered one last piece of advice.

"Never lose Faith in the Emperor Marcos, never. For his will works in ways we are meant to find out, fear is not unnatural to us yet do not allow it to claim you. You do that and you will learn the greatest secret that any Saint, or one of our own can claim to have inside their hearts." Theresa told me gently despite her rough exterior, I looked up to feel that presence in how she became a leader of her own Order. I'd dare say this was what it felt to have an inspiring figure who knew what to say yet managed to keep it to oneself to know what they had to do. In a way this felt familiar in a sense to someone I cherished as my sister and mother figure in one motion.

"Jane. I'll never forget you, I just hope you can forgive me. I promise you to do what you always said, move my ass like I got a purpose."

Except she always said the most swear words to get my ass moving. Well it made my smile grow ever more happier. A lot happier because I had to realize I had to control my grief, I had to deal with the pain and quite frankly, I needed to move on somehow. Sometimes it took a bit of courage to understand that whatever had happened, I needed to be strong for those times in my past. Strength could be found in many places as long as I did one thing.

Always would I have to think of the good memories.

The pilot's voice came over the internal area once I looked over to the port holes. Blue skies and a beautiful horizon entered my gaze. I hard paid attention to the greeting and standard welcoming of the transporter itself. Somehow the pilot's tone was more pleasant then I'd peg it for initially. "ETA till drop, thirty seconds. Welcome to Mastora, may the Emperor watch over you all."

Soon enough the ship itself started to settle out, I felt it descend when gravity took over. All of the Adeptas Sororitas put their helmets on, those that had them or others prepared to load their bolter weaponry. While they weren't going to actively fire at any people, I knew they'd keep them ready and I'd do what I could to search for any signs of the Warp-Gate. Tartarus had her bases covered, so I'd say we were in good hands to see the temple without a problem. I just hoped nothing bad happened and to be fair, I prayed to the Emperor one last time.

Instead of myself praying for his favor, I prayed for the safety of my friends.

I got up adjusting my cloak and placed the hood over my head to keep my face partially hidden. Flexing my fingers I felt my heart beat so strongly it hurt to breathe, I had to steady myself against the hull of the ship. Engined decelerated as the descent to the ground made my knees tremble, I stood upright and got myself prepared to face the doorway. Rolling both shoulders I kept my nervousness hidden for now, I had to remain calm and face what got me scared. If I could do that now then if something bad did happen, I'd have the mentality to at least face it without faltering for sure.

Finally the ship stopped moving when a slightly beeping came from the door itself.

I took one last breathe to prepare myself.

And the doors slid open to reveal a bright sun shining into the hold.


The planet's conditions were quite comfortable to walk around in when we had stepped off the transporter at the spaceport. I had been more accustomed to thick layers of smog and days in when rain stung the bare skin. Pollution or whatever marred the hive city that I lived in, so to see greenery and a clear blue sky over my head was more amazing then anything. Plus the weather was a brisk yet comfortable level when I stood behind the small contingent of the Sisters of Battle who walked in public view in their armor. Not to mention fully loaded weaponry and what not, I had to take a shot in the dark to be able to know how deadly they were to anyone without armor.

They traveled with their Orders banner being held by one of their own who was in the middle of a Noivicate.

I kept my hood low over my cloak while keeping up with the vertical formation, I knew they were deliberately slow for my sake. As much as I wanted to stay with them a quick pace, I'd say it'd be impossible all due to their power armor. They enhanced their physical bodies from what I gathered and in when I studied some information pertaining to the subject from Skit's data slates. The bright red stood out with their Order's rose like banner held high over them, plus the white helmets stood out between their shoulder plates when those lifeless green eye-sockets occasionally lit up and the muffled thuds of how heavy said metallic armors were felt. I stayed directly off to the side of them while looking around at the locals who I felt a strange vibe off them.

Many people were healthier yet not as lively when compared to the hive city that I had lived within.

"I'm not seeing anything that Tatartus says is the taint of Chaos. No black outlines, or anything less then human. All I see is a white, or maybe the occasional purple to say they're nervous but nothing completely weird." Before we had deployed to the planet's surface, I had asked my teacher whether I should be trying to use any sort of advantage as a psyker. I had unintentionally been trying to identify emotional outlines of people, I knew from the Glowing Sabre that white if not yellowish outlines were intents of positivity. It just felt strange to see these at times and I didn't understand why, plus not to mention it killed time when I walked around. I mean I did want to eat grox burgers during my times in the main quadrant where I saw hundreds of passengers.

The Inquisitor had only told me to watch out of black outlines and ignore the rest until she'd prepare a study for a later date.

"What am I even looking for?" I whispered to myself while standing near one of the armored Sisters who started to chant the light of the Emperor. My ears occasionally caught the wording but I mainly started trying to see the details of this city, I mean by the Holy Throne, they had trees within the city limits and it was pretty amazing to see such coloration. The main road that were walking on clearly had been paved and well maintained in where it led to the central heart of this capital, I had to take a second to gauge what this place meant. Ignoring all else I walked past a statue of what I assumed to be the Patron Saint of the Shrine and Temple of this world.

For every hundred or so yards, I noticed this pattern,

Two statues of Adeptas Sororitas stood facing together so we passed in between them.

I noted they had bolters held high and a chain sword of sorts prepared to fight the enemies of mankind. The metallic or sometimes more common stone showed an incredible detail with slabs of text to indicate who, or what such a monument meant. This pattern of faith and dedication lead up onto a plateau of sorts where a massive structure looked down upon the city itself. The terrain had to jet up to a kilometer slope that this main avenue would lead us to the base off and at the very top of the said temple like structure. A massive statue of the Emperor had been constructed to overlook this entire world, I could feel the awe at just how quickly this world would have been built up. In just one century they made a very good attempt at beauty if I compared it to other more developed Shrine-Worlds that I read in my studies.

The buildings were not like spires akin to my home yet they were large enough to be evenly spaced out to walk between to other parts of the city. When we passed by several alleyways, I caught movement in the shadows of them tailing us. Concentrating I imagined reaching past the route I had been taking, a warmth entered my veins and I exhaled deeply. Like a ping of sorts, I got a read on what my eyes couldn't see beyond their normalcy. "I can sense people watching us. It's weird, I feel cold yet unworried. Plus I don't see any black outlines on them." No spine tingling sensations hit me when I got an overview of curiosity, I could picture it. Nothing stood out to make me jumpy, or paranoid to watch out for dangers.

Well, at least so far.

"Just a dark purple and I think I can see if this world has any gangsters like myself. Makes sense that there would be an underground for gangs and what not, it feels familiar in a way." Biting my lips I managed to retract this growing reach with a shaky breath. It felt awkward to try to multitask my body to follow its initial direction without losing myself to this psychic reach, I didn't know anything except for what I imagined to attempt and it bothered me. Being a psyker didn't seem to be this easy, I felt an unease creep into the back of my skull when I looked over my shoulder.

Someone out there was watching me specifically.

Throne of Terra, I had the hairs on the back of my neck standing up!

And I always had a gut instinct to know when I'd get jumped.

When I crossed yet another alleyway, I froze in mid step when something sinisterly amusing crossed into my senses. My breath caught midway into my throat as a tingling sensation ran up from my knee to my arms within seconds, "What in the name of the Emperor is this feeling? It's not malice, or anger but almost like happiness? No it's something more primal then that." I didn't fully understand how something so genuine felt so utterly off. I shuddered when this feeling washed over me, I wanted to ignore it but for the sake of my purpose here. I kept it within a familiarity of something not making me feel well, I knew something was up. I just didn't understand why.

"Yet it's wrong, so wrong and it's..."

My stomach curled when I realized I'd been lagging behind the Adeptas Sororitas, I hastily caught up to them while ignoring that sensation. There would be another time for me to investigate but right now, I had to be situated within a suitable quarters with the rest of them. We'd be here for a week at the most if things went well, or bad pending on what Tartarus wanted us to do. So far that was the only thing that stood out to get nervous, I hadn't even got anything close to that weird feeling creeping around the back of my head. I shook my skull to ignore that prickling urge to scratch the back of my head, I inwardly started to pray to the Emperor to keep my wits sharpened during this mission of mine.

So keeping my thoughts to myself, I just followed the contingent of Sisters silently.

We made our way up the road and towards the base of this plateau that jutted out into the skies themselves.

Looking up at the base of the massive natural formation of rock and earth, I witness golden gates leading to the sanctuary of the temple's own grounds. A few guards who were men stood at attention, they had the uniforms of a localized PDF regiment of sorts. Green coloration's mixed with a darkened gray were the standard layout of their uniform markings. Each held a lasgun with a bayonet attached to the underside of the weaponry. When Sister Theresa stood to address them, they lowered their heads in a praying gesture to the Adeptas Sororita for merely speaking to them.

I found that to be odd.

"We are Sisters of Battle from the Order of the Blood Rose, we're here for our pilgrimage for all Shrine-Worlds within this sector." Theresa stated with a no nonsense tone as one of the guards raised his head, "We had been informed from the Governor about a contingent of Sisters arriving here as our very first pilgrims. May be we please verify you're truly a Sister of the Blood Rose? We don't want an imposter to get by the gates to the Holy sanctum of our Saint who we're dedicating this temple to my lady."

And again this was odd for me to accept at first.

Weren't the power armor and the loaded bolters reason enough?

"Very well. It is reasonable for those in the Emperor's light to know that even trusting the word of a stranger is not wise." The woman pulled off her helm to have her face and hair shine in the bright light of the sun at our backs. Neither of two said a word except taking in the tattoo on her cheek while glancing at one another briefly. In the end they nodded to her respectfully before unlocking the gate for the contingent, I didn't like how their eyes fell upon the sister's with a curious gaze. It reminded me of a time that I wished to forget really.

Frowning intently I allowed my mind to wash over them to see a bright yet dimming pink flicker right across my vision. "Happiness? No, it's not that but desire? I've never felt something like that before at all, I'd say it's happiness but with an interest? This is getting to be a little weird for me here." Now when we passed them they turned their eyes on my small frame and I felt an uneasy sense of protectiveness. Jane once said to me that elder boys and creepy old men loved to think with their 'second' head which at the time I didn't understand what it meant. I got the gist of it on my last birthday, so to be honest I kind of knew and hadn't ever bothered to say I agreed.

Until this very moment to which I'd be witnessing.

"Thank you for our request Sister, we meant no disrespect. In this day and age the enemies of the Emperor are numerous, I wish you well on your time here and hope you enjoy Mastora." One of the PDF soldiers stated with a smile that looked a bit too eager for my tastes. Theresa nodded to him once before placing her helm back on to conceal her features once again. I looked to the right to see the other guard on a vox communicator within a small gate house for the entrance, he waved us on through once the golden metallic bars swung inward. I just felt like I had invited into a place that certainly wanted more then what was required, I literally had no reasons to say why but my gut telling me otherwise.

Our group past on through without any incident.

Yet I caught the two of them staring at the power armored Sisters of Battle and again I witnessed that pink outline grow.

The journey to the temple, or monastery for whatever the term could be used for such a place. It went relatively unmolested in the since of no one bothering the group, I witnessed more statues aligning themselves on fierce poses along the garden like road to the top of this plateau. Trees and flora arranged in neat yet beautiful columns to show off the planet's natural beauty with the zealous faith to the God-Emperor in conjunction. I never saw trees, or bushes covered in reddish flower like creations to make my heart beat ever so contently. The smells alone made it so serene yet very home welcoming that I nearly stumbled in my steps to keep up with the contingent of the Sorortias.

In the shade of one such statue I paused in my steps when I felt uneasy once more.

"It's that same presence from down in the city, I know something is watching us. Throne, just where and what am I looking for now? Marcos you're getting paranoid over something that isn't in front of you!" I wanted so desperately to tell the people I was traveling with yet what did it matter? That I felt uneasy on a new world, in a new environment and a whole new life altogether? Tartarus said to be on the look out for black outlines in people and the most darkest shade of that would be a dark pinkish coloration from the guards, so nothing could justify my paranoia. I had to be losing it ever so slightly because of my Inquisitorial mentor's own mission to seal a potential Warp-Rift on this planet.

Shaking my head I hurried to keep up with the contingent who kept on their chanting, I witnessed several people in the gardens eying the armored personnel. A lot blue outlines were showing up in my vision as it signified expectations. Interest in other words, I got that impression because went I ate grox burgers down with the rest of the population of the Glowing Sabre. So I always had people look at me in wonder. I quickly placed those thoughts aside to see the contingent finally stop before the very doorways leading into the temple itself. Two large statues were on either side of the doorway with what I assumed to be Sisters of Battle, or their Saints that were lowering their heads in a praying gesture.

The reason why they were submitting in their postures of stone and metal, I only had to look above. The planets sun had been blocked out when I strained my neck to look completely up. In the enhanced light of this natural day, I witnessed something to make my eyes go wide. I had never seen a monument so large and very empowering to make me feel small in my own senses. I guess the statue itself had to be over a kilometer in height at the very least.

A statue of the Emperor looked down upon us to engulf all in his shadow alone.

"It is a blessing and a sign of our faith to see such Sisters of Battle grace our presence." I heard an elder yet very grateful female voice speak out. I turned my attention ahead of me to see Theresa conversing with what I assumed to be the temple's caretaker, or one of the people running the structure. I could make out strands of blond hair with a face that would make most people stare at and a pair of greenish eyes greeted the head of the Sororitas with a smile. I heard the reply in kind, "And it is a sight to see a building of Faith stand strong in the light of the Emperor's divinity."

The two fell into a brief conversation that I ignored for the time being.

In the mean time I looked around to see various workers or groundskeepers staring at small group of armored women. My eyes narrowed when a few grinned at what they saw, "Are these people that stunned to see Adeptas Sororitas in full armor? I mean I had a similar reaction to meeting Sister Anora but this doesn't feel right. Maybe Tartarus is right, I think there's something really off about this city or else I'm losing it already." Both of my fists were clenched at how blatant some of those people were staring, I kept my hood low to cover the glare that settled on my face alone. I swear I wanted to tell them off yet I managed to remain composed, I had too because of the lessons both Sister Anora and Tartarus had leveled onto me regardless of the source material.

"Oh my goodness! I didn't know one of you was with child. Is he one of your own?"

I nearly jumped when someone came right up to inspect me behind my back. Settling my raging heart I looked up to see the main caretaker of this temple, her blond strands of hair glowing like gold in the sun and I shuddered at how interested her gaze had locked onto my form. I kept my cloak and hood to conceal my face despite Theresa replying to the question through her helmet. I managed to glance over at Anora in her own armor as she tilted her head at the question in itself, I wondered why.

"No. He's a scribe whose been assigned apart of our contingent. His mother was most adamant on having her son see more of the Imperium while she is off on official business." The caretaker gasped out in shock, her hands clasped over her mouth. I felt a tingle up my spine at how eager she sounded and it was like her birthday came early. Throne of Terra, I winced at what came next. "Emperor preserve us! So young yet his mother is willing to send him off on his own? Is there anyone whose caring for him amongst you?"

I immediately retorted a bit happy to play the cover all too readily. An irony not lost on my relieved mind to know I was against it when it had been told, "I'm sorry mam. Mother would be very displeased if I wandered away from Sister Theresa, or Sister Anora while under their care. She'd have a few words to say to you and I doubt the Emperor himself would protect you from her wrath. Her word is like the law to me."

That had to be the most fowl and disgusting piece of lying I had ever pulled off.

Using Tartarus's alias as my own mother as I shuddered inwardly at how unnatural that sounded, but it still did myself justice to be grateful. The caretaker cooed out sweetly at my inward shiver, "Such a good little one you are then but I must insist you have your own assigned quarter. The temple has many to offer along with your friends who I'll be all the more eager to provide! After all your group are the first off world visitors and pilgrims we've had since its conception, so please, I insist and I promise you'll be well taken care of." Her smile may have seemed very open and honest to most people, I'd peg it to be good.

However I felt another subtle vibe emitting off this woman, something a bit more then just open honesty. I'd be a corpse who'd get a shank in the ribs if I wasn't that suspicious of anyone, I mean I gave Sisters Theresa and Anora the benefit of the doubt because of Tartarus's orders alone. Yet this woman's kindness didn't seem to settle well with me at all. Oh Emperor's blood, I knew I had that tugging sensation in my stomach told me to avoid the offer altogether if could at all. Unfortunately that decision came in the form of Theresa who dismissively took the offer because it'd solve any problems on their end to provide for me, I just didn't like where the source was at currently.

And to be fair, I'd rather sleep on the floor in either of the Sister's rooms.

"Give him a room next to our own if you please, if not, have him stay in one of our own. I trust in him to not act like a leeching fool akin to those guarding this holy temple of the Emperor." The disapproval was evident in the senior Battle-Sister's tone even through her helm. I inwardly hissed at how relieved and happy this blond woman seemed to be at the mention of providing a room. Taking a chance to get away as far as I could, I shuffled through the formation of armored sisters to stand on the opposite side of Anora who looked down at my anxious face. Her metal gauntlet that wasn't holding her own bolter came to settle on my shoulder, I looked up at her and gripped the armor like a life line.

I had to convey something to my friends here about what was going on!

I couldn't prove anything was wrong and maybe I was scared of a new place.

But I'd rather be with someone I knew then remain alone with total strangers.

"It shall be done Sister Theresa. I'm relieved that you take the concern of others and shield them with the Emperor's graces to house them in his place of worship. I have a soft spot for children, I apologize in advance if I seem a little over eager. They do warm my soul so dearly." The caretaker stated with a warming smile, I shivered at that facial feature twist ever so slightly. Her eyes locked onto my frame as I gripped the knife hidden under my cloak, I prayed to the God-Emperor for a shred of mercy to have that person ignore my stay in his place of holiness.

She gestured for all of us to follow her into the main cathedral, I didn't even dare to move when that woman was in sight now. One by one the Sisters moved in formation within the temple without as so much glancing around them. I stayed within a meter of Anora and made sure to watch over my shoulder as various feelings of uneasiness kept creeping back into my skull. She kept a single armored gauntlet lightly gripping my own limb while the other on her bolter which was at waist level. Feck I didn't need to be a psyker to know she was worried about how I've reacted ever since landing on this planet.

"Everything feels so peaceful yet why does it seem too..."

Perfect?

One word that could have meant a lot of things didn't ring true to the Imperial Faith.

We entered a massive interior cathedral dedicated to the Emperor. Candles were lit as pictures, ornaments and even statues dedicated to the Saint of this temple were abundant. The seals of purity and cleansing were aligned on the surfaces of the floor and into the ceiling itself. Occasionally a few people were praying or murmuring chants akin to the Emperor of Mankind, I tried to ignore the chills running down my back. A place of supposed serenity and of an actual dedication to the Imperium was supposed to make any soul seek a solace within it's confines.

Yet I felt no peace within these walls.

"Your quarters will be within the inner sanctum. We have a running bathing area dedicated to cleansing your bodies and bathing yourselves, you may store your armors or weaponry in an armory meant for such pilgrimages. We may not have an official Adeptus Machinacus Priests amongst us yet we shall look after them well." The blond caretaker explained kindly while gesturing to the rather luxurious rooms that were aligned down a hall where a tall glass archaic window stood over us. I could see a picture of what I assumed to be a Sister of Battle holding a chain sword of some kind and have a bolt pistol in her hand.

"We do not require such excessive quarters. The Sisterhood remains humble and pure to not divulge ourselves we are who spread the Emperor's light." Theresa said with a tone of absolute truth that I found comforting as the caretaker lowered her head, "Unfortunately these are what the guest rooms are to be made Sister Theresa. I did not design the cathedral, I merely run its functions and hope you can forgive me for my ignorance of your Order's preferences." The plea was met with an exhale of irritation since it truly wasn't a sin to live as a guest in such a manner. It was just the sisterhood preferred to remain humble yet practical when they dedicated their lives of the Emperor and his Faith to spread to all within the Imperium.

I knew that right out of the text when I studied about the Orders within the first day, or two.

Absently I noticed around to see that not a soul was within these rooms.

I barely caught the words of the caretaker who lowered her head once again, "Now if you'd excuse me. I must attend to a small mass gathering within the hour. I suggest you get yourselves situated and comfortable. Evening hours will soon be upon us and I do hope you rest easy knowing your the first of soon to be hopeful pilgrims journeying to this temple on Mastora." She passed by the armored women who were looking rather uneasy in staying such over glorified rooms. I could tell by them shaking their heads or what not when they caught the details within the interiors.

Unfortunately I happened to be staring at a room when the blond caretaker brushed behind me...

And I felt a hand trail along my back in a sensual manner!

Immediately I turned around snarling angrily at my personal space being invaded in such a way. The caretaker had her hands within the bosom that was her chest, a smile perfectly in place and the swishing strands of blond hair had brushed the tips of my face. "Oh feck no! That's a load of grox shit, no fecking way will I ever allow you to do that to me again you blond bitch! So feck yourself with a rusted spiked club!" I really wanted to bite out those words so much that it caused me to glare angrily at the woman who left out of sight. I shuddered disgusted when I overheard Sister Theresa assigning rooms a bit grudgingly.

I didn't care where what room I got because I knew what I was doing tonight.

I wouldn't be sleeping.

And I'd damn my soul otherwise.

Just to find out what in the Emperor's name was wrong with this place.

End Chapter Four

Author's Note: Leave a Review, since I am desperately asking for them. So for the love of god, it's all I want from you readers.

I don't need to really explain this entire chapter. I do enjoy the effort I put into certain portions of dialogue to show that the Sisters of Battle not always so 'Itchy finger Bolter first, then maybe convert later' so I mean I dropped the hints and set the scene for what's going to go down. Trust me, I know a few of you are eager and impatient to see the blood for the blood god to spill. Please relax, I like to take the time so when events do go down, you kind of see the importance and this build up in what Marcos is going to do.

Now I will address a potential question, "If Marcos is a Psyker then why is he acting like a nervous wreck when he knows something is wrong."

That's the point, he knows something is off but can he prove it? No, he can't at all. So any notion of him saying something is wrong, the Sisters will consider it but if they don't sense anything. They'll comfort him but more or less continue, Anora might heed a warning but again without solid proof or training to give Marcos a credibility, it's really damned useless.

He's a young kid whose had about a week to really see people's outlines/auras as a basic start to however becomes a psyker.

Plus the only piece of information related to said Chaos taint, is a black outline from the Inquisitor herself.

And was there anything in this chapter to say, well, anything matching said information?

So he's very inexperienced and literally, I do mean this, hes' literally untrained to do anything related to what makes Sorcery so damned lethal. I've read scripts and stories in Eldar/Human Psykers pull Electric Storms out of their asses to wipe out thousands upon thousands of enemy troops! But then again it's all with training, experience and a teacher to guide the extent of any potential wielder. So again without training, or guidance to become a competent Psyker, Marcos is just going on gut feelings. To be quite frank here as it stands, really he's flying blind with a slight warning, or heads up in any case for whatever its right to him.

So to detect anything related to Chaos as a whole as he is right now?

It'd be like you walking into a new place/location where a murderer has been killing victims and you can only suspect whose is what. My point is your instincts vary, person to person, so it's hard to gauge and Psykers as a whole within the Warhammer 40K lore are inconsistent to what they're meant to be portrayed as pending on the author of a novel. So I'm stuck in a conundrum when it comes down to Psykers and how they develop! Especially children who are capable of killing given the proper training of course.

I just wanted to explain why on that little inconsistency that someone will call me out on.

And I have nothing else I wish to explain.

Yet I do have a question for everyone: "What do you think is going to happen?"

So until next chapter, I hope you leave a review and I'd mind if people spread the word about this story please.