The Inquisitor
Chapter Twelve
I suddenly realized an epiphany when I noticed four Sororitas marching down in a single column towards my location. Oh feck! I may have overestimated how fully equipped they'd been as though I noticed particular weaponry. Every member wore power armor freshly rekindled by the Tech Priests who'd placated and soothed the machine spirits into good health. Or so I was told to imagine! Yet their helmets covered several possible smiles of eagerness.
Not one of them had on their person anything less short of firepower to wipe out an entire army in essence. Chain swords freshly polished, blessed and readily available to cut down someone who'd be scraps after we'd find him. Bolt pistols locked and primed to unleash enough holy ammunition to make the Emperor smile, or I'd at least peg myself to be aware. But that wasn't what held my apprehension in full due to massive weaponry on display. I should have known when Theresea wanted to purify our target in holy fire, so consider that fully stocked.
Every power armored sister held a flamer with multiple canisters strapped to their hips, or backs meant for prolonged burning. Their helms eye sockets glowered with a light bluish near white as I exhaled deeply knowing it'd be a quick fight. At least they came prepared! I got nothing except for my cloak, laspistol and a knife with Skit to somewhat blend on that deck. But I guess subtly is not going to be kind today.
I didn't have any sort of nightmares during my tenure for a rarity of peaceful sleep. Although it'd been a welcome relief I certainly wasn't going to believe it'd last. I gave the Emperor a welcomed prayer of grateful thankfulness before starting my journey to the lift where I'd descend into a place I once called home on my world. Every weapon blessed by holy initiation, all clothing and other essentials I'd done adequately prepared for an eventual hope it'd never be tested. And this was my reward for being diligent in my education.
"Is this guide of ours not here yet?" Anora prompted curiously beneath an armored helm as I looked up shrugging both shoulders tiredly, "Not yet. I don't even know who this person is really." The other sisters all leveled their weaponry angrily as Alicia spoke next near their rear guard, "Disgraceful! A holy mission in our Father's name and this is what faithful subjects are granted? A miscreant who cannot make light of time?"
I'd rather not dare to interject to say I'd been partially responsible due to not meeting said person. But I kept myself rather civil to state a fact, "The captain didn't exactly say who'd be assisting us. He just said someone who knew the place." If there was one thing that irked me enough it'd be that bastard who found it funny I'd been sent after a notorious figure on board. Feck the guy really, if he think it's funny I guess I can ask my friends to 'speak' their piece to him when this is over.
Skit hovered over my left shoulder awaiting a command to start the life's mechanisms on our descent. I motioned to the Sororitas explaining why my servo-skull seemingly ignored their presence, "If this guy doesn't show I'll just have Skit do it. After I left I went to one of the Mechanicum who...assisted his machine spirit to know our way, I came prepared." I kept my memory of that incident well away since being continuously insulted by an ad-mech wasn't too keen to think they were helpful. It seemed my doctor Val-Fex considered me a nuisance at best.
"Wise of you to be prepared." This time it came from Kaitlin who nodded approvingly along with her fellow sister Helena who mentioned, "It seems a holy son tested in the fires of battle is more considerate than an experienced soldier. Such experienced soldiers..." Whatever was going to be said ceased as someone from behind them all barked out a laugh. I leaned over to see a person smoking some kind of thicker lho-stick who apparently looked far too casual in his appearance, or rather someone who'd blend in effortlessly.
It was a man without a doubt much to every Sororita's irritation. He looked rugged with a crooked grin that threatened to make any wary of his actions. Faded overalls akin to a storm trooper's matched a ragged looking vest with an overt cloak of brown created a casual disillusion of danger. My eyes noticed how red his outline appeared when addressing fully armored sisters of battle. Even I wasn't prepared for what was said next.
"Get a dick in you honey and I'd be impressed." The man licked both lips hungrily before grabbing his own crotch bemused, "Or let me do that honour! I'd feck you in your ass before putting that mouth to do some holy work of my own." His wheezing laugh enraged all four power armored women as he brazenly walked past flicking ash onto their armors. I didn't even need to be a psyker to not see how furious my friends had started to become.
Alicia hissed out vividly coming close to grasping a loaded bolt pistol on her side, "Disgusting! Perhaps a blessed shell would do our Holy Father a favor to cleanse your degeneracy!" The man paused to merely exhale smoke towards her direction leering, "Oh baby that's a mouth! You want the first to get some of this cock in you? I take appointments in my bed, you know so I can shoot my shell into your throat?"
Strangely enough I wasn't too worried except to raise an eyebrow finding his words to be light. It took me a moment to realize he'd keep egging them onward to do something. But at least he's got balls of steel to face down them. Plus he's being honest, somehow! Oddly enough I didn't sense any sort of twisted, or perverted sensations like I'd witnessed back on that previous planet. Now despite everything he was a loyal subject to the God Emperor, or I thought so.
"Filth!" Anora's voice through modulated speakers on her helmet's sides came thundering while coming to within an arms length of a man who looked up innocently, "You dare to say to that? You're scum! You stain our holy purpose with your insults! If it were not for a blessed son of our Emperor who came to us seeking aid over your ilk alone, by the Saint of our order I'd slay you where you stand and cast your ashes into the open void."
Silence reined briefly before the man looked over her grinning broadly. Even I twitched angrily knowing he intentionally kept on provoking them, "Alright girl! You'd beg to get fecked over an altar to beg the Emperor for sure." Two whitish slits flashed angrily in correspondence to their owner's desires to burn this man alive. If a flamer being leveled just to where his face met a barrel's end constantly reinforced my ability to pretend everything was going fine already.
"Hey kid!" I looked up frowning towards him as he said another insult that tempted me to allow Anora to do what she wished, "Tell this bolter-bitch to back off." My face soured knowing that slang alone caused all four Sororitas to level their flamers without hesitation. If I didn't do something now I'd risk losing possibly my only guide to get us around effectively. Closing both eyes I reached outwards imagining a link towards Anora as I projected my pleas onto her psyche.
Anora, I know he deserves to burn for his mouth but he's doing it intentionally. The power armored woman stiffened due to experiencing someone other than herself speaking. Her helm tilted towards my polite smile despite resisting righteous fury on him disrespecting them as I called friends. Let me convey a message for us both about his mouth, if anything Tartarus's lessons are paying off. I'll show you what I learned, if you'd let me please.
Pulling away I opened both eyes again to see a man smugly standing as though nothing could touch him physically. Anora had lowered a weapon grudgingly yet trusted my words since they conveyed a sense of truth in them. Technically speaking he wasn't wrong to assume physical harm but as a pskyer? Here my expression turned happily bemused to make the guy's eyes go wide in alarm. If he'd known better then he should have known I had other ways. And he found out rather quickly.
Stepping forward I channeled a psychic dagger akin to stabbing to have him fall onto both knees. The lho-stick fell out due to his shock alone as sweat poured down a forehead. That polite smile hadn't changed even as I noticed Skit turning around much to my interest, "We haven't been introduced have we? So for starters please shut the feck up before you run that mouth of yours to me, or to my friends again. You're good at what you do!"
Coming to stand eye to eye with this kneeling man did I warn him calmly, "Just because they can't hurt you doesn't mean I can't do it for them." Briefly green appeared due to an internal panic yet faded into a guarded yellowish coloration much to my vision. This time around I projected a warning through the forced link as another stab sent him grunting painfully. Your people don't like me too much! So I feel the same way and I won't hesitate to remind you, I'm not just a normal fecking kid.
That warning caused a strained whistle to appear quite impressed due to him chortling, "Alright! You win here kid, I'll behave." I smirked triumphantly before sending another reassurance of a dagger dangerously cutting close to his groin, "Just remember something! I'll hold you to your word." Internally I found immense satisfaction in seeing him raising both hands rather quickly signaling an end to the fun first impressions.
Leaning away I plucked a lho-stick off the metallic floor to offer it innocently back to his hands. He took without hesitation gruffly inhaling, "Not bad." He exhaled shaking my hand as we found a common ground despite tension behind his back, "Not bad at all, kid. Captain never mentioned you were learning to shank a man in his brains! I like ya already."
Reverting towards a far more friendly outlook I mentioned cheekily, "I doubt your dick would remain where it is if I didn't get it." He tipped a non existent hat gratefully before introducing himself all too casually, "And that kid is something I'll hold you too. Speaking of which I'm Corporal Sigur at your service. It's a pleasure to meet our newest acolyte of our Lady Inquisitor."
I nodded simply shaking his hand idly noting an oddly shaped handle pertaining to a knife hidden underneath said sleeve. Hopefully we'd get along civilly despite my friends coming closer to burning a man alive, "Marcos." I gave my first name appropriately before looking back to Anora and her fellow sisters that were silently gauging every detail. They were all flickering in colors akin to unease, or outright satisfaction in seeing a man groveling without effort to remain alive.
"So first time heading down to the sixty nines?" He questioned simply as I nodded much to a smirk appearing. Suddenly he wrapped an arm around me pulling me forward! I stumbled as he whispered lecherously seemingly unmoved by my actions, "You and me are going to the Stable! You'll get me all that glorious pussy and tits, what do you say? Pull that scribe kiddo look and I'll have all them women cooing for your attention to suck them dry, got me?"
Immediately I considered countering that request with a fury worthy of the sisters who turned angrily despite clad in power armor. Yet I froze when cold steel tapped considerably against an exposed throat, or rather mine all too knowingly. So he's not just a miscreant at all! It only solidified I couldn't let my guard down around anyone that Tartarus had on her crew, "Smart kid." He whispered idly slapping me once before moving ahead towards a lift whistling an unknown tune as I stared hard in seeing his smirk of arrogance.
"Sigur." I called out simply making him hum loudly while exhaling on his lho-stick, "Harm my friends and I'll make you wish that knife won't find itself between your third rib." A pair of hazel orbs narrowed amused as it was an unspoken warning between hive gangers. The third rib often mirrored an overt way to bleed out, choking on the very liquid keeping any man alive and always did it pierce vital organs. I may not have understood what his intentions were in threatening me but I'd certainly give him a warning as well.
You're not just an idiot, or some disgusting man but another killer that's been trained. I didn't like this man just due to fact he'd be able to slip and slit my throat. Plus it signaled something more to this person I'd been forced to contend with because of my actions. I was wonder no illusion his friendly exterior harbored ill will for those he'd been serving under Tartarus's troopers. So it begged the question if anyone he'd considered friend die recently due to myself.
"You don't pull punches kid." Sigur complimented by grinning as his hand punched the lift which began ascending. Whether it'd be my imagination I swore when lights flickered due to siphoning power away I saw his eyes crinkle on settling behind my small frame. Only reason why I knew Anora and her sisters were behind myself was due to a partially active flamer gearing up to unleash holy flames. They'd formed a line voicing an unseen and clear threat to one man who found all of this simply as another day.
Looking over a shoulder I looked to see Anora's armored form staring rigidly at Sigur's casual posture. Even behind a helm I knew her glare would rival any of the Saints who'd been known to burn heretics alive with but a blink. I made my choice in saving them while costing people their lives, I don't regret it but I won't hesitate to end you Sigur. Tartarus's mission, or not if you get any ideas and I'll have your skull burn inside out. I can see your anger despite all those smiles you're putting up, I'm not blind to your problem.
Waiting for several minutes I kept quiet in favor to study the bracelet intent on keeping it secure. Without it I'd have no focal point to control, or even steady myself if I had to push myself to do whatever was necessary. Chancing a glance I reached outwards to psychically link to Anora who again stiffened due to a subtle warming sensation. Her helm looked down questioningly to where I responded with a small smile. I wasn't leaving anything to chance, if I had something to say it'd be over this where no one could overhear my thoughts.
Sigur will probably try to kill me, or try too. The flamer started to raise upwards in response yet I cut that action off immediately. It's a gut feeling Anora, I can't say if he'll try too indirectly or not. Do you recognize him at all from the Storm-trooper's on board? I asked to which her head lightly provided a negative response. She didn't respond verbally clearing seeing an advantage despite myself sensing her uneasiness due to my growth. It hurt a bit but I understood why, so I ignored it in favor to look at Sigur's who hummed a tune again.
Whether we like it, or not he's our best chance to find Jov. Trust me, I'm not thrilled either! I stated sourly due to his previous warning with that knife's edge. The power armor Sororitas stepped slightly ahead to keep my chest behind a weapon fully prepared to burn everything. Her fellows must have been conversing behind their helms on private vox channels because all four shifted just enough to where they'd shield me. Their actions didn't go unnoticed as Sigur chortled lowly at first leaning back leisurely watching us all with a care free grin.
"Mind if you humor me, kid?" He spoke up interested ignoring four identical load outs of promethium based canister aimed at his flesh. I saw no reason not too save for being guarded, "Shoot." I prompted in an effort to see a reaction in which it was making him snort aloud finding it funny, "Was it worth it? Facing those things to save them even though you were wrong?" I blinked only once to not even ponder that answer at all.
I smiled widely due to seeing a faint red briefly immolating his body's outline, "I'll never regret it." Unintentionally I reverted into my inquisitorial teacher whose similarity ended with an eerie calm face of perfected control, "And I'd do it again because I don't abandon those who weren't lost." There was no need to mince words in our oncoming mission. The storm troopers on board would only have to learn if they angered me, or attempted to think they'd be immune just because they were soldiers would be burnt to ash today.
"Full of yourself aren't ya?" I heard him plainly ask to which I grinned by tapping my temple several times. I wasn't the best back with my old gang but I knew when, where and how to make a point to not be fecked with. Much to my shock I saw an outline of whitish near blue coloration seeping off him to which struck me as an oddity. Sigur frowned momentarily until shrugging it off to inhale deeply on his lho-stick seemingly being at ease again.
The lift arrived with an audible groan due to mechanisms straining to keep itself going. He gestured roughly by jabbing his thumb forward, "All aboard! We got a lot of ground to cover if you want to find out where Jov is usually held up at." I looked up to Anora whose helm tilted downward to which I nodded smiling lightly. She went first as I followed with three other power armor individuals in a half attempt of being discreet keep my back safe.
Skit hovered over my shoulders again due to the cramped space of this particular lift. Apparently it was a secondary one leading down into the decks giving us ample advantage to not draw immediate attention off a main corridor. But it wouldn't last given how I had a guide possibly going to kill me, or risk us in some manner while a small contingent of armored Sisters of Battle held intentions to burn entire scores of heretical degenerates. All in all with a servo-skull acting oddly enough I'd say I had my own work cut out for me.
Eventually we all crammed into a modest sized lift which strained briefly underneath so much weight. Sigur slammed both doors shut by grasping handles commenting cheekily, "Damn girls! Lose some weight would ya?" Both eyes shut themselves as none of the Sororitas reacted visibly yet I noted reddish wisps appear off them. If he didn't get me killed by leading us astray, I'd say friendly fire was a noticeable danger which made sense. Indirectly getting myself in danger by antagonizing so many faithful servants of the Emperor would get it done.
"Emperor help us if you're worse drunk off your ass." I intoned tiredly making a wide smile appear all too quickly, "You buying?" If it got him to be less of an ass to get me killed I'd say it'd be worth that effort alone, "Sure! Only if you behave." The man gave a half ass salute promising barely anything except commenting rather joyful, "Roger that sir!"
Anora's armored gauntlet for a hand eased itself to grasp my shoulder gently. Again I reached outwards trying to familiarize in psychically linking up to someone, I managed to softly limit myself in having to keep control. I'm well aware I cannot indulge, or have you do so either. But if it gets him to shut up for a bit, I'll perform the prayers of penance and seek guidance from our Emperor. Right now the priority is finding Jov, so I have to bare with it and anything else is secondary until it becomes relevant Anora, I know men like him because I was once apart of that life.
Thankfully I knew she understood yet there was a lingering sense of doubt. I wasn't forcing myself to read thoughts since it required a lot more effort and anything more it'd be potentially dangerous forcing my mind onto another. Tartarus drilled that into me in the beginning learning limits, understanding how much force was necessary and normal humans couldn't handle a strain of being linked to a psyker who'd be able to flay them alive. At least I knew if someone tried to enter my psyche I'd be able to muster a meager defense, or flip the opportunity to burn another mind's will to bend it until I was in control of it entirely. Or rather I hoped I'd be able too!
Yes, I'm worried but I can't afford to fail Tartarus. I responded to a forming question which Anora hesitated due to how quick I'd been aware. I felt confident to an extent knowing I had a lot more tools at my disposal compared to what happened in my first taste of combat. Being broken physically had brought some merit in coping with pain itself. If he tries anything to harm you, or the others you have my permission to do what you see fit. Our Inquisitor gave me that power, so rest assured I won't hesitate if he does.
It really appeared we were riding down in silence despite the exchange I'd been maintaining. Being aware of reality and psychically linked proved to be disorientating yet it faded away. I knew the more I attempted to do such feats I'd get better at it. Almost seemed natural given I doubted how stranger things would be in my future. As a psyker Tartarus honed in on the fact we'd never be normal, or remotely close to humans who were unaware of how dangerous I could turn out. But I held an urge to think Sigur knew all too well.
I do have faith we'll succeed, I don't doubt you, or myself. It became far too surreal to get hints as to what she was thinking behind that armor. Absently I looked down to a gray bracelet grateful it'd hone in as a focal point of control and I allowed myself to exhale deeply. The Emperor protects yet we must be always vigilant against his foes. I only know whatever happens down there we'll have to be patient Anora, believe me I learned or else angering the Inquisitor will not help anyone besides a premature lesson of discipline.
My imagination wavered in trying to know what would happen if I disobeyed Tartarus again. She would have me tortured until I was either near death, or had promised enough to warrant caution for doing such an act. This was a test on her part, a test to see if I learned or not. Either way regardless of what I knew I'd try to understand what it meant to seek out a target that needed to be judged. She'd been clear on what was expected as an apprentice underneath a fully fledged Inquisitor whose authority only was answered to the God Emperor. I felt that looming pressure whether I acknowledged the bigger picture, or not.
"Nervous, kid?" I glanced over to see Sigur wedged between either Alicia, or Helen who looked over itching to cleanse his existence. Hardly deterred I only mentioned his own corner, "You're one to say that of all things." I heard him chuckle lowly while exhaling another plum of smoke drifting upwards, "Have to say for a short kid you got balls to hold your ground. No wonder you walked away from that planet on two legs, I can only imagine how fecked up your head is! It's a shame captain thinks you're a pain in his ass, but I like ya."
One of the Sororitas only spoke levelly not in any mood to hear another bout of insults, "Focus on the task on hand, trooper." Sigur hardly missed a beat reply in slyly hinting, "Don't worry that tight little ass of yours, woman. I'm very focused on my mission, right?" I stared in shock as a sudden revelation hit me fully. Sigur knew what Jov had done but for him to speak so openly about their history, I had a gut feeling he either saw it firsthand or was apart of it somehow. But those inside a life encased in power armor reacted visibly.
It was Kaitlin who stood nearest to slam the man into a close wall furiously! He coughed out painfully while being held up by his very neck and got lifted upwards to dangle both feet. Despite his precarious position a leering smile came licking each lip, "So rough...ya want to make out?" It seemingly dawned on me realizing this man held no fear, no caution and would simply do whatever it took to antagonize anyone who'd he wanted. What kind of man as a soldier could do such a thing as the Emperor's faithful proved to be utterly contradictory.
"One more word and I'll cut your damn tongue out you wretched filth." His expression turned gleeful taunting her to do it right there and now, "Kinky." The woman beneath armor capable of crushing human skulls and bodies easily hissed infuriatingly. Yet I put a stop to both of them by wedging myself past Anora's rigid form. Due to my small size I came right up on the sister's flank before I linked into her mind all too naturally.
I barked out one command that echoed inside a skull's capacity to hear it. Enough! The sheer shock alone in pressing down forced Kaitlin to cease her grip as I stared flatly at Sigur who rubbed his neck. I stepped forward to lean down to glare and I spoke very irritated, "Last chance! Let me make it even clearer for a fecking idiot, alright? You mention even one more insult, or provoke them I will burn your brain until it melts our of your ears, nose and mouth trooper."
Heat coursed through my very being as both eyes I'd know turned a bright white in response to that growing anger. Sigur resisted speaking due to myself interjecting to shut his motor control to move a jaw yet alone form words. Go ahead, piss me off and by the throne I'll fecking make you wish you'd stop pretending to think I'm harmless. I get it Sigur, you get off on pissing off people but right now...I'm ordering you to play nice.
The man raised both eyebrows quite stunned to see how close he'd gotten to being replaced as Skit hovered overhead. I pointed that out quickly just to rub salt in the wound, "Skit! I want you to tell me just how accurate is your schematics in guiding to our destination?" I made that effort to have his jaw clench once my servo-skull stated without preamble, "Acknowledged! This unit's machine spirits have an efficiently rate of ninety five percent precision as per designation of assignment, acolyte Eius."
My grin turned rather deviously pleased to let him know where he stood officially. Ninety five percent accuracy to guide us down there, Sigur. And guess what? His expression turned cold realizing that our games were going to be very close and I wasn't going to allow him a leeway to believe he'd have a chance otherwise. You used four of that five percent, so do you want to push me again? I'm sure I'll be content to have a small chance in getting lost, right?
If I never came close to personally killing a man out of sheer necessity I'd done so. But to outright kill another for simply being themselves was different, if I had too I'd do so. Yet it tugged on my conscious to hope for something out of a man who should have realized being too brazen would result in him meeting an end. I'd been forced to undergo a task by my teacher, I had to utilize what I had in order to get the job done and if one such tool couldn't be used I'd discard it. Tartarus made it clear I had to get this done, or else face her wrath.
"Well, well, well I'll be damned." Sigur scoffed aloud due to my restraint waning on his ability to choose words carefully, "You trying to act like the Inquisitor?" I shook my head to smile in rekindling a promise I made to said teacher who'd pushed me relentlessly, "No, trooper." I leaned forward careful of his reach to proclaim what I desired to be those who threatened my life and friends, "I'll become the monster you'd wish Tartarus would dream in being."
Hazel orbs widened considerably when I spoke directly into his head tightening a noose unseen. Go ahead trooper, piss me off...I dare you too. There was no more leniency on my part because it'd been a mistake to think I'd get along with this man. But there was no chance anymore! As a storm trooper he had no value to me to humor a good relation, if anything I'd shown weakness endangering my friends and myself as well. They hated my guts because I did the one thing no soldier would do, to disobey an order and I survived to become stronger when they'd have fled.
"Understood acolyte." I kept my gaze sterner which shouldn't have been possible but I relented to allow him to gasp for air deeply, "See too it, trooper." I backed away glaring ahead at a wall refusing to relax since it was open season for any of us to do away with the other. Fear and respect were similar based on what my teacher's lessons prompted, I'd have to balance a line between that in order to achieve an objective regardless of personal feelings.
I turned around keeping all emotions under control reigning in harsh lessons to improve my chances of success. I ignored Anora and those around me despite her gauntlet of a hand pressing down. She firmly squeezed signaling support approvingly as the rest of group nodded their heads as well. They'd wanted no distractions except to accomplish our task of bringing judgment onto a man who'd face justice, or the divine wrath of the Emperor's faithful servants. I held no illusion I'd make a person who deserved to die suffer in the flames of eternal damnation, I had a responsibility to enact the Emperor's will and even though I hated myself for acting so cold...I'd embrace it.
I stood overlooking an entire settlement embedded on the ships massive deck which spanned kilometers from bow to stern. The lift locked itself down with an audible hiss of air and pressurized only to be reactivated when our task was finished. Huge makeshift containers mimicking buildings littered an entire deck with throngs of crowds walking among them, I could barely believe such an existence dwarfed some worlds of the Imperium. I had my hood draw over a scowl realizing things weren't going to be easy at all. Of course my teacher would easily send me down here because this entire damned deck had a population rivaling a hive's sub block at least.
"Skit what's the population density of this deck?" I inquired lowly making my servo-skull reply ever efficiently, "Acknowledged! Current estimation of latest census conducted by last know star date estimates population of deck sixty nine to be exactly thirty thousand inhabitants. Error...estimations have doubled based on this unit's data, processing updated counts upon later time frame...apologies for the inconvenience acolyte Eius." I closed my eyes warding off a headache since this man we'd been searching would be literally anywhere inside this miniature city.
"Jov tends to hang out in the slummier parts." Sigur mentioned forgoing caution to exhale smoke whilst looking out contemplatively, "Easy to disappear and take a girl he fancies to have his wicked way with them. There's plenty of pickings if one's got the taste for variety, or so what I heard last time here." That made sense give his basic track record of raping, torturing or murdering and Emperor knew what else to those while underneath Tartarus's immunity.
I questioned only a suitable place given that kind of animal would love to stalk brothels, "Where's a spot that women offer themselves?" Sigur grinned already liking where we'd end up by moving forward gesturing us to follow, "Oh yeah! That'd be the Pit." I followed merely to get started yet he explained rather flippantly, "The Stable is for cleaner folks down here, but the Pit? Oh yeah it is the best place to get ya dick wet, asshole loosened and making girls cry for their dead momma's is where you'd get Jov entertained."
Ignoring the honesty of my old home seemed to mirror I questioned flatly, "Mutants tend to do unique things to a man looking for a good time." Sigur laughed loudly finding that ironically innocent and very blunt to describe perverted whoring, "Ya got it in one, kid! Speaking from experience?" Again I ignored him in favor to say simply, "Running messages from gang lord to gang lord tends to give me a healthy respect to think living on my own was better."
The man waved a hand agreeing somewhat dismissive, "Fair enough!" We headed down a ramp once used for loading machinery capable crushing a man with ease and I saw remnants of rusted out vehicles to get an idea it'd been too long since anyone cared about this place. Behind four Sororitas placed themselves in a wedge formation keeping sectors of fire clear and secured, if anything they'd cause a mass panic which made things easier. I wasn't going to linger in a familiar place where any person could slit my throat again.
Small bins where poorly lit fires were surrounded by haggard looking men, women and children who all looked up. Their eyes went wide to press themselves anywhere out of sight as we passed by them. I spared a look back to see the Sororitas staring at them as though debating to purge out miscreants who cowered in terror. Leave them alone, I doubt their the worst down here. Anora looked back to me as I nodded once as we passed without an incident.
Yet despite walking past I inhaled slightly feeling uncomfortable due to dense humidity. I felt a little ill but nothing beyond that except I stopped immediately. I looked upwards to see flickering hangar lights as some went out bathing whole areas in complete darkness. Closing my eyes I opened them to see everything bathed in an eerie light of reddish orange and I scanned seeing small flickering orbs of green that were dimly growing. Puzzled I followed numerous greenish orbs which multiplied over time slowly but surely.
"Kid!" I looked down to see Sigur's form shining dimly among those orbs which latched onto him before phasing through, "Let's hump it and get moving." Blinking rapidly I moved returning to a darkened alleyway where we moved past groups of similar people without any incident. Most fled, or outright cowered together as I looked over how pale every man, woman and child appeared due to spending their entire lives on this deck. Not one seemed to have seen the sun for whatever reasons and it certainly felt disgusting.
Coming around a corner which lead to an opened up street which seemed crooked by design did I witness many people. Some drank outside crude homes of shanty material, or hollowed out shipping containment blocks where clothing hung out to dry. Vendors of makeshift market stands offered to sell weaponry of crude but brutal make, a few whores of some kind were being used by several men nearly another stand and I saw numerous other activities. Grox, or possibly human flesh was being fried by small restaurants serving patrons some kind of sandwich near gourmet like offerings. It definitely reminded me of home far too much.
"Sister, such filth permeates the scared vessel of the Father." Neither Sigur, or I cared to look back to hear one of the armored women hiss through their helm, "It'd be sacrilege to allow it in flourishing! By the Saint it'd be a service to do away with all this disgusting waste!" This came from Helena more then likely as a flamer's barrel came within inches of those passersby who quickly bolted in hearing such words. Unaware I intentionally reached outward to soothe one of those I called friend who almost froze mid step.
It wouldn't do us any good currently because our target will know of us. I stepped over pieces of garbage which seemingly kept on piling designated areas of dumping and occasionally hollowed out forms akin to a human picked through them for food. There will be a time to invoke the Emperor's light to bring these souls back to his divinity Sister Helena, trust me when that time comes you'll have your moment to do a holy duty. Patience in the valley of darkness leads many astray, so don't become one of the lost themselves.
Subtly placated she went quiet although roughly shoved any dirtied forms away if they dared to get too close. Sigur commented somewhat wisely much to our collective surprise, "Burning trash like this is wasting your holy fires woman. Four of you won't be enough to turn everyone here to ash, I'd bet they'd swarm you faster and have you strung up like some whore bites too hard. Seen it once, ya know? Throne do I wish I had a pic to record it for your...zealotry."
Even I didn't have any mental imagination to believe him wrong. Thirty thousand people and only four Sororitas with several canisters worth of promethium fire wouldn't make a dent in this place. They'd probably die by suffocation from smoke if there were a chance. Somehow I doubted Tartarus left this place as it were without something in place, a means to an end and wasting resources on stabilized deck full of people wasn't worth her efforts. It fell on the ship's crew who left it be probably due to how convenient they'd get on long voyages through the warp itself. Either way I felt disgust because it'd be a necessary evil to maintain happiness and morale at best.
"Better to keep enemies close because there's no where else to run too." I stated almost tiredly much to Sigur's barking laugh, "Throne! You got it kiddo, I'd say it's a paradise compared to being spaced." We kept marching through crowds of people who all went either quiet, still or utterly terrorized to move anywhere not in front of us. I caught glimpses of tattooed men, or women who eyed us warily whilst wielding makeshift weaponry. It seemed even in this isolated hell gangs still sprung up and I had plenty of bets they'd be united against a foreign force.
Paradise or not, I couldn't fault anyone believing their only sense of familiarity on a ship would be this place. It mirrored any city despite how disgusting and utterly hideous said place was yet in an under-hive I'd call it a step up on a bad day. We kept up a brisk pace not stopping for anything for possibly an hour at best. I kept my hand trained on a las-pistol set to an over charged setting after I consulted the Mechanicum for blessings on the machine spirit to keep itself eager. They'd been adamant to placate it after several blessings to their machine god, I had memorized several prayers adequately if it failed and required renewal of purpose.
Onward we traveled deeper and deeper into this slum of metallic misery. Few dared to watch us, or impede our destination as numerous degenerates of whores, drug dealers and other such commodities became common place. Occasionally children of either sex were dragged into containers meant for specific tastes much to my surging anger, I'd been close in my previous life in suffering that fate but I'd been useful to run. Most seemed to put on smiles of cooing faux eagerness yet some would not hesitate to slit a throat if given the chance.
Often bodies were hanging from makeshift poles with nooses of chain indicating territorial lines being adjusted. Overall it paled in comparison to any actual hell hole yet this came close to mirroring it ever so delicately. But soon trends among them started to get clearer. Most of these people weren't human as mutations ranging from extra limbs to outright insanity where men, or women had three to five eyes with crude hooked nails relative to claws. Teeth morphed into oddly crooked fangs with faces no longer resembling humans at best.
They were often hiding away in darkened corners distancing themselves from normal humans. More than once yellowish eyes flickered angrily, or desired no instance of crossing our path. Sigur seemingly navigated crooked pathways without too much worry only to on occasion cross hands with those who'd known him. Beyond that very little occurred to only increase an anxious sense that refused to soothed due to a lack of interaction. I'd only grown to notice how clustered the streets had become due to clutter, people or a lack of an inability to move converted containers which loomed overhead siphoning off dimming lights.
Scantly covered women ranging from either humane to not so conveniently made way to avoid us altogether. I lost count at several dozen within arms reach who hurriedly went out their way whenever a Sororita's helm followed movement. Once, or twice a belching flame shot forward driving away darkness but they were merely tests to see weaponry constantly maintained. Although some got awfully close to inhabitants if our presence didn't outright deter them to move, so I imagined being burned alive finished off any doubts. Then again I reasoned if anyone kept themselves to observe us they had ulterior motive to attempt something less than passive.
"How much further must we travel to stare at this filth ridden infestation?" Alicia called out towards Sigur who merely laughed, "Soon enough." I kept my mouth quiet in favor to idly tap the las-pistol's handle comfortingly. I'd gotten too comfortable among the thrall of mutations again and despite months removed I'd reverted into stalking out potential avenues of escape. There was very little room to maneuver except risking a climb to garner ground over any aggressor. Hopefully our guide would prove to be exceptional eventually.
Strangely enough the very path dipped downwards as though on an angle. It took me considerable time to realize it'd been a holding area for smaller ships to have been repaired, or inspected given the sheer scope of width as containers slanted over. The Pit is an accurate term to describe a place where the lowest of low gather in this place. Unfortunately again more shadier sorts of people didn't make way as opposed to those beforehand. It seemed being the lowest of low they were not afraid, or deterred by so many power armored individuals who roughly shoved back any who'd been too daring for their tastes to being with.
"These people don't fear us." I stated simply to Sigur who'd seemed at ease yet his hand was below a cloak indicating familiar habits. He exhaled lowly before grinning to look down at me, "With no hope to escape to above decks, or leaving this place? Let's just say the women here will suck ya dry and eat ya for the best time possible kid, so don't get lost in here." I frowned since mutants as a rule of thumb either preyed on people foolish enough to venture in their territory, or outright murdered those who thought of them as inferior. I tended to stay away due to them having no qualms in seeing an easy target back on my old world.
"If they try anything I won't pretend they'll be granted a merciful end." I glanced over towards four power armor people who were getting awfully close to unleash their weaponry. More then once an oddity of a person tried to inch closer to only witness a belch of fire warding off darkness where they'd been naturally suited. The man only shrugged partially as if it weren't too much of an issue, "Then fry them up and call it the Emperor's work. Many wouldn't shed a tear for those lingering here so it's on their ass to avoid being cooked alive."
Hissing tongues once of low gothic whispered from corners, or came from above to which I stared hardly. Forms in ragged clothing with various deformities were leering as though tempted by a great prize. I felt heat behind my skull to suddenly drive away the darkness to reveal figures whose outlines ranged from an eager pink to cautious yellow and a bright red. Dozens at least, but as long as they stay away I'm not going to have them burn yet. These beings are so detached from what was human I doubt I'd be able to humor a thing as mercy, I can't afford it.
Sigur looked upwards frowning rather openly as he spoke a bit mystified, "Strange folk to see usually but never saw this many last time." He stopped suddenly holding out an arm to block me from going any further. I noticed exactly why to which the four Sororitas behind paused as well to only recoil in sheer infuriating disgust at what we saw together. I only raised both eyebrows asking my guide who stood rooted, "How often does this happen?"
Half a dozen mutations were feasting on a barely alive person who gagged pitifully for air. It could have been a woman, or maybe a man but I saw only chunks of flesh being consumed. Blood literally oozed off pooling underneath into a mockery of marination. Peering through I counted exactly seven due to outlines shimmering of pure angered red and a sense of hungering bluish wisps signaling satisfaction. I felt disturbed due to a fact I had seen worse on my old world and compared to daemons I'd sat this was just morbid.
The consumed person's eyes weakly widened clawing at air in our direction forming silent words. Kill me, please. Sigur frowned deeply debating on action as I asked him, "Is this way the quickest?" He only nodded exhaling again, "Yep. Usually this isn't so lively but if we take a detour, it'll take another hour or two depending on locals." Crunching bone caused even him to wince in sympathy as I glanced again towards a small horde of cannibals.
"Then they're an obstacle." I revealed somewhat vindictively to look over towards Anora nodding to her to do what had to be done. Please kill the person being eaten at least, we'll grant him that mercy of the Emperor's will. We can't linger here anymore. The power armor helm sharply looked over stalking as a flamer leveled all too eagerly. Sigur warily mentioned all too amused, "Making friends with some shady folk, kid. Can't say they'll be happier."
These cannibals paused immediately as eyes various in size dimly flickered when they all stared. I stared without flinching to see amber near orange orbs dimly lit underneath fading lights overhead and they tensed seeing Anora coming to stand beside myself. You think you can win? One rasped out allowing raw blood to seep onto the deck's metallic exterior. Another looked upwards growling madly at nothing seemingly yet I found out all too clearly.
"Wait...please." A soft scratchy voice pleaded as I glanced to see someone warily approaching. It looked human much to my slight impatience but it belonged to a girl roughly older than myself. She appeared to be in early teens, "Bad man...betray us." Her gothic alone seemed strained when I motioned for Anora to stand down momentarily in order to reply, "You live with them?" I gestured roughly to half a dozen bloodied cannibals.
She wore ragged clothing barely concealing a scale like flesh along her neck and arms yet looked somewhat humane. Her head lowered submissive due to a Sororita leveling her flamer as though eagerly awaiting an order, "Yes, they family." Her eyes weren't lying despite myself pleading internally to be such a thing. I saw no ill-intent based on a meek coloration akin to fear so I forced myself to only demand plainly, "Tell them to move, or we'll do it for you."
Alicia outright wanted to do the galaxy a favor by intoning disgusted, "Vile mutants! Why waste breath on these scum?" The younger mutant girl practically shrunk herself as I said it again a bit more civilly then necessary, "Please! I'm not going to say it again so just tell your family to move! I'd rather not waste time on you, or them to get to where we need to go because of whatever happened between them and him."
She had an expression lightened thankfully to which screeching growls emitted out of her throat gesturing to what I'd assumed were family. I winced finding it unpleasant to hear as several guttural growls met up to hiss disdainfully at us. Nonetheless I patiently fingered a pistol's grip ready yet it proved unnecessary when half a dozen bloodied humanoids dragged the sorry bastard of a bad man away into another darkened alley. A meek smile met my eyes as she spoke up, "You...smell sweet. Kind, but you from...above?"
None within the group designated themselves to answer yet I took it upon myself to do so. Despite most mutants some generally weren't too bad to talk too, or so from my experiences. I gave an answer, "Yes I'm from above decks on the ship. Why?" I prompted to which I felt a surreal sense of awe from this girl who nervously scratched her neck. A few dried scales flaked off much to my wince since it wasn't pleasant to witness.
"I...not met person from above." Sigur started laughing loudly once he elbowed my ribs for good measure, "Aw how sweet! Throne this is too good but wow, I think she likes what she smells and see's, kid!" Anora stepped forward partially shielding myself from a girl who shrank back terrified partially being obscured by the container's shadows. Two wide eyes were incredibly fearful of another who found her existence repulsive at least.
We're wasting time humoring a good deed. I lamented mainly to Anora through my latest link to which I started moving bypassing bloodied puddles. Before I even got several steps forward the mutant girl panicked whispering anxiously, "No...not that way! Danger!" The Sororitas next to me briefly tested her weapon to force a scream of fear into existence. I had to say I gave this girl credit to stand her ground if not being able to run anywhere.
"What danger?" I questioned somewhat humoring a blessing this mutant had from the Emperor in staying alive. Emboldened due to my tendency to speak she stammered, "Sick...bad sickness." Looking up to Anora and then to Sigur who both either were confused, or not so willing to allow a mutation to walk free said nothing. Even if it didn't matter to my job on hand I couldn't help but notice it was where we'd been journeying.
"Sigur when's the last time you went to the Pit?" I inquired somewhat curious as he shrugged thinking back, "Ah well? I'd say probably a week before you got some of us killed and had me down here with you today?" Months in between visits left room for anything to happen in this kind of place. It might as well have been years so getting some information would do me use, "How bad is it? This sickness you say is down here?"
Her face lowered painfully even if it didn't actually mean anything to our task. She whispered tiredly, "Started...week ago. Pit full of sickness...but this different. I know you!" Even Sigur looked taken back when this mutant girl pointed to him, "You sick...you bad man." Said man exhaled smoke only nodding after a moment grinning rather smugly.
Ignoring a near feral anger appearing I managed to deflect eyes which were now literal slits. I only kept myself partially exposed to dissuade any attempts from anyone of us, or this girl to try anything to Sigur who seemed well at ease. Speaking slowly I managed to point towards where we'd be going to find another man, "Do you happen to know about a sick bad man named Jov Varlid?" I'd expected little response but to hear an almost feral like shriek of rage making my ears nearly bleed wasn't expected honestly.
Distant shrieks sprung up before the girl growled again ceasing those roused by her own actions. I eyed an alley seeing shapes moving suddenly and stopping. Thankfully she replied lividly making even Anora lower her flamer, "He worst...food he is! We...see him but no touch from above!" I should have been concerned yet for mutants such as these to know of our target? I was impressed since it wasn't often one person could make so many want them dead, or worse off.
Nonetheless I made a decision towards the guide who'd been leisurely enjoying this spectacle far too amusingly. Jerking my head I said, "Let's get a move on! Odds are Jov is where he's at and this just confirms most would be happier to see him gone, so lead on." The man shrugged before we all started moving yet I bypassed the somewhat curious mutant to say, "Sickness, or not! Jov will be judged because of what he's done above decks and I can say he won't live to see tomorrow, I can promise you that much."
The girl questioned suddenly curious while tilting her head over, "You...name?" I saw no harm in saying it even if it wasn't necessary, "Marcos." I didn't bother asking for her own because odds are I'd never seen her again. Though it never hurt to have others know who I was down here, if anything it'd make things easier whenever I'd return for some reason. I'd bet anything Tartarus was using this entire deck as a means to an end for tests.
After we left that junction of road Sigur chortled by nudging me cheekily, "No goodbye kiss, or ask her name kid? Such a let down!" Ignoring another headache I only stated the truth which presented us an oddity, "At least she'd made herself of value for us to ignore wasting time. Seems like there's a sickness which would explain why you said you'd never see so many of those cannibals, so I'd say it's forcing other mutants who aren't usually seen out of hiding."
It wasn't uncommon for occasional plagues to spring up so I dug into my pants pocket to wrap a clothing around my lower face. It'd been uncomfortable yet I wasn't going to take chances beyond already being unprepared for a viral infection. The Sororitas armored helms had inbuilt filters which would be adequate and as for Sigur? I could care less really at the current moment. Right now I wasn't taking chances to think I didn't breathe in whatever was on this deck.
"We should have purged those vile monstrosities! Their mere existence is an affront to the Holy Father." Anora said to me almost vexed to which I replied without missing a beat, "And walk in sheer ignorance to a place of disease? The Emperor protects those who are willing to offer his divine grace to the faithful that hold true to their tasks." My friend scoffed based on her silence yet it settled a lingering disappointment to know what I said held merit. I'd say encountering those cannibals was ideally a curse and blessing altogether.
Still I held true to our end goal whenever we found our target, "This only proves to me Jov won't be able to repent for his sins after today." Anora approved without doubt if anything since he didn't deserve to have the Emperor's mercy to repent before being judged. I hardly felt sympathy of a man who'd done so much to be hated, I doubted I'd ever feel anything remotely close to mercy save for one bolt round to his head. But trying in finding him would be only the beginning until that end manifested itself.
We rounded another corner leading outwards into a far more opened area. Although as we got closer to a series of brighter containers distantly I paused in smelling something incredibly foul. I gagged briefly pressing the clothe closer to my mouth. What in the name of Emperor smells so hideously bad? This can't be normal! Next to me Sigur hunched over suddenly spitting out his lho-stick coughing up a storm verifying my thoughts.
"Fecking shit!" He covered both mouth and nose hissing muffled, "Someone step in grox shit, or clean their damn pants?" In a rare occasion did smart rhetoric come from any sister of battle but Anora retorted rather smugly, "Perhaps you can check your own for once." Sigur glared irritated to raise a mere finger at her, "Spit, sit and spin on it woman, I'll enjoy it more." I tightly kept my nose from inhaling as few times as humanely possible until I remembered what Tartarus had said about psykers using their senses.
Focusing I cut off feeling to my face to make akin to numbed and a spiral of odors relented finally after several moments. It still reeks, but I'll manage to hold my guts inside. Shuddering I weakly spoke up albeit muffed, "This isn't normal for down here?" Sigur all but confirmed with his hands cover all available avenues of breathing, "Feck if I know! This is a new one for me kid, so...ah feck me, I got something for this shit."
The man cut an entire section of his cloak to tightly wrap it around his own face. Resembling myself he all but seethed, "Shit's still unbelievable! Throne!" Several Sororitas were chortling finding our expression comical, or rather Sigur's own as he gagged a few times. Even I winced still not even sure I'd be able to stomach anymore of this stench. No way in the name of the Emperor would this stench be considered natural.
I'm glad you find our misery so amusing! I sourly projected to Anora who again laughed lightly due to my miserable glare failing to appear angered. We managed to continue a bit strained yet Sigur kept on gagging, "Throne! It's getting worse!" His lho-stick got smothered due to him saving it for another usage without vomiting. Perhaps our misery could be offset by the trooper complaining more and more to get me to chuckle quietly.
We followed Sigur's muffled cursing until an alley opened up into far more clearer detail. I stopped immediately just as he'd done so whispering, "The feck?" I only mirrored what he said while hissing out, "Fecking sickness? This...this is...not even close." The armored sisters followed our gazes to where I'd could only imagine as an outbreak of absolute damnation and look more closely related to a scene from hellish nightmares.
Hundreds of bodies were moaning in apparent despair, or sheer hopelessness due to their sickened forms. All around people had fallen over each other, or hung out of windows crudely sharpened to vomit out murky reddish white streams. They lined both sides of a street that once had activity normally meant for a busy scum block. I even saw gangsters with their tattooed faces clutching at their throats dying on bloated tongues with black soars hanging out. Men and women alike cried out madly scratching their faces off due to blackened boil infested flesh as puss occasionally popped out oozing yellowish muck.
"This isn't sickness!" Sigur anxiously looked around feeling absolutely disgusted in seeing people he'd normally see puking out blood, "It's a fecking plague!" He hastily stood back when one person reached out moaning pitifully trying to escape their torment. The trooper kicked one man too hard as a groan of agony escaped due to a jawline breaking as though it were brittle. I kept my lips tightened since bones snapping like glass wasn't exactly pleasing to hear.
Anora, I need you and the others to keep any of these people back. Emperor knows what will happen if they get a hold of Sigur and I! I looked towards them all who looked to the one I requested too. I called out to the trooper who backed away clearly uneasy, "Stick close to me! You and I damn well know this isn't some common cold you get. Unless you want to get burned alive for getting caught in the crossfire, Sigur."
The man had no complaints ironically enough only agreeing seeing this misery, "Burn these fecks alive for all I care kid!" We practically stood back to back as I allowed the sister's to take point. Their bulk only served to briefly make myself feel secure, if only to gauge what insanity I'd just stumbled into this time around. Throne what a damned mess, I can't believe this is happening! I swear by the Emperor if Tartarus knew about what's happening down here...I'll lose it!
Inevitably I only asked him a single question dreading an already obvious answer, "How much further is the Pit?" Sigur gave an almighty groan signaling a not so great answer, "From here? Fifteen minutes if we're lucky, at worst half an hour." Somehow I managed to keep a straight face while communicating to the Sororitas to keep themselves slightly ahead of us. Take point while have the rest of you cover our flanks and rear, I have a bad feeling to think we're going to need a lot of fire blessed by our Emperor based on what we're seeing.
Tingling sensations ran down my spinal cord to such potency I focused on seeing beyond what was physically. As soon as I willed myself I felt both eyes widen in absolute horror. What the feck is going on down here! Tendrils of sickly pale green were literally radiating off every single person dead, or dying around us as we traversed further to where we'd have to go. I stumbled as though walking through dense smog so thick I barely saw the four Sororitas's outlines flash a dim white, or red keeping myself centered.
"What is this?" I whispered tightening my grip on a face clothe blockading some of mass of greenish orbs which were hastily veering away from wherever I walked. I couldn't stop feeling warnings running down from guts to brains in a never ending instinct to flee. Throne I barely kept up with a brisk pace as hundreds of bodies formed masses of waving tendrils of this sickly greenish pale fog ascending upwards akin to ooze. My mind must have been warring against sanity due to how some tendrils looked to resemble fingers clawing upwards.
Uncertain I voiced out to Skit ordering him all too fiercely, "Skit! Do you have any sort of tasks to filter air and detect anything out of place?" The servo-skull casually hovered nearby before clarifying technicalities, "Acknowledged acolyte Eius! Auspects detect...error, error! Unknown anomalies detected...apologies this unit cannot verify substances, error...processing attempt halted due to interference of auspects acolyte Eius."
His consistent failures caused Sigur to speak up a bit confused, "Does it always do that?" I shook my head quickly covering my mouth tightly again, "No fecking way! Something's in this air we're breathing and Skit can't identity it? Emperor have us!" I tried in vain to see through a smog so dense I barely saw my flickering whitish hand wave itself to clear away a piece of it. I had no idea what the feck we were walking through and I felt my guts churning coldly.
"The hell you mean kid?" Sigur retorted hotly as I shot the damned truth to his face, "Unless you're a damned psyker like I am! What I'm seeing doesn't make any throne forsaken sense!" Shapes started forming distantly even squinting didn't go me any good. They looked humanoid at least yet I coughed suddenly finding a putrid smell seeping past established barriers meant to minimize smell. I couldn't understand what in the Emperor's name I'd been combating.
Unfortunately everyone head of Sigur and I stopped immediately yet I heard the trooper next to me whisper, "Holy...shit." Groans ranging far and wide greeted my ears long before I looked on horrified. Slouched over figures emitting huge tendrils of this sickly green masked half shaded shadows behind and in front. Yet there was one thing that stood out among all this disgusting senses, I gnashed both sets of teeth to tell my friends these things had to die!
"Anora!" I shouted out in alarm making her form look back alarmed while the others stood their ground, "Kill them! They're just like those people who were tainted by Chaos on that other planet!" Black spirals hissing in a strange silent manner clawed beneath streams of pale sickly green towards our very bodies! Sigur tried stopping them calling out, "Wait kid...wait a feck they're just..." All other attempts ceased when four sisters of battle unleashed an inferno so hot and intense it drove away everything akin to the vanquish a smog effectively.
Ear shattering shrieks of damned met our hearing collectively as zeal guided flames incinerating all in their path. Torrents of pure hot white fire mixed with blessed yellow destroyed every trace of an infection tainted as my heart thundered anxiously aware. In mere moments Alicia cried out over the damning horde of voices, "Rejoice heretics! For you shall be purified in the Emperor's name, rejoice and repent for your vile existence as it is our holy mandate to purify you wretched scum! No mercy for the heathen, no pity and no remorse!"
Helena on her flank sung fulfilled to boom over a fellow sister, "Twisted in flesh and in soul! Begone from our sight to be damned by the Holy Father who watches over us all! The Emperor protects!" She laughed delighted in seeing scores of moans turn into screeching pleas inaudible as I looked on seeing clearer and clearer through retreating smog of taint. It'd be reasonable to finally breathe without feeling ill, or sickened as they pushed into masses of fleeing forms. I watched it all not even feeling a hint of hesitation to regret what I'd been witnessing.
"By the throne!" Sigur vigorously waved off charred flecks of once tainted flesh, "Overcooked smells worse than the live, or dead ones! Kid...you're one of a kind!" He took shelter near my left side whistling foully impressed, "I take it back! I like the overkill you brought along and I won't complain if I can smell properly again. Shit stinks!"
I kept my eyes glued to blackened corpses in various states of charred ash searching for any signs of corruption. There! I stalked forward unhindered by infernos not even a few meters ahead to see something shimmering in a sickly brackish green and black smoldering. Tartarus stated to fully embrace those of Chaos are bestowed horrific, vile and unclean tainted symbols to signify their devotion. And she isn't wrong, I can...feel this disgusting sensation reeking to infect my own skin for Emperor's sake!
"Sigur." I called out simply while unsheathing my knife to lightly avoid physically touching this corrupted icon wrapped around the corpse's neck. Lifting up some sort of burnt symbol I motioned him to inspect it, "You can't see what's inside of it, but I can. Notice a few markings of any kind?" The man's form flickered much to my puzzlement before his own limb pointed to several, "Ya, I see it! Perfect conditions despite this poor bastard screaming, oh...I see what you mean. Ah feck my life and call it peachy."
An eight pointed star wreathing in greenish black glowered almost angrily as I glared to whisper rites of purification, "In the name of the Emperor bless is he in his light! Seek to cleanse and release this corrupt creation by your name!" Yellow beautiful light invoked by my own education and power shattered a wooden idol into dust. It infused briefly battling for supremacy until the Emperor's blessed divinity destroyed a meager piece of daemonic influence.
Unwillingly I began musing to see signs of coincidences, "I'm starting to think Jov's month long silence isn't just a fluke. Plus with a plague on a deck no cares to give a damn about and now confirming Chaos's vile corruption?" Tartarus sent me here no less a day after such an outbreak occurred due to the girl's testimony and I was expected to seek out my target in this concocted scheme! Raw hot rage filled my very being when I saw four power armor figures detailing friends who I'd come to respect, care and it was so damned convenient to have an incentive in them to live above all odds.
"You bitch!" I swore looking up towards higher decks where more than likely the Inquisitor sat comfortably observing everything, "You fecking bitch!" I roared kicking a charred corpse to ashes due to an internal terror she'd planned everything. A test of fire and blood, a trail without exposing myself to unknown danger and she'd be able to watch me die, or succeed. I'd been too damned naive to not see these signs align for something so trivial!
Sigur barked out laughing grandly clapping finding my rage too rich, "Now you see why my captain asked why? You must have pissed her off because I'm here stuck with ya!" His laughter shed tears to have my eyes glower lividly yet I restrained myself barely. He's her mole to see my progress, if he dies prematurely she'll fecking know somehow. Probably linked into his head to view everything without lifting a damned finger, feck you Tartarus...feck you!
Kneeling among flesh turned to ash did I seethe enraged realizing I'd been fooled. I'd genuinely believed she had a task I could be capable to do without too much trouble. Too easy, too simple and far too damned trusting which landed me in this controlled mess of a test. Traveling through the fecked Immaterium proved a catalyst for anything beyond the gellar field to enter all too conveniently. I hated the woman so much I resisted bellowing to unleash damnation and fury on anyone not close enough to be spared if I considered liquidizing brains. If I survived I'd vow to make the Inquisitor regret in forcing me to become the monster she expected I'd become...as promised.
Dressed in robes with hair unbound with a glass of wine in hand Jalena Tartarus smiled condescendingly watching feed from a servo-skull. Her eyes partially crinkled finding genuine amusement in what her misguided apprentice assumed. A cool chain embedded with holy blessings on one simple, if not deceivingly innocent necklace with the Imperium's aquilla hung around her neck to place itself evenly on an exposed chest. Tattoos in high gothic enchanted by those well adverse in garnering protection and strength of the Emperor were on display.
"You give me too much credit, Marcos." It'd been interesting viewing every action he'd been undertaking which weren't too rustic in practice, "Your actions brought you to where you kneel. Perhaps next time you'll learn to be far more aware of potential consequences." Sipping the liquid modestly entertained she'd been keeping tabs on her young, naive and misguided apprentice with nothing short of critical intrigue. Months of preparation were showing signs of progress, if not a bit foolhardy yet it was a step in the right direction.
Peering towards a terminal screen did responses on its exterior return rather informatively. Jalena, why do you torture this latest subordinate of yours? It's unbecoming of you. Her eyes narrowed bemused replying to that line rather sardonically, "Coming from you of out all my colleagues? I'd take that as a compliment given your track record of survivable candidates." That reply sent back in real time garnered another response from another viewing a similar feed.
The boy's deductive reasoning is a little raw, but I do enjoy his potential. She's chosen a rather suitable asset to our Emperor's agents. The inquisitor sitting leisurely merely replied back rather flattered, "Albeit foolishly naive, too trusting and quick to judge." The first stream popped up yet one could heard a sinister pleased chuckling. Sounds like someone I knew when they were trained, perhaps he's your penance for past actions of a radical.
Not even deterred in mincing courteous to a colleague did she state, "And yet your effectiveness in being unable to quell minor cults is legendary moot when rendered by our ability of Exterminatus, puritan." Age old lines of faith and traditional had merit, if only when situations arose to utilize alternative methods to destroy Chaos infestations. Her apprentice had his work cut out for him without having herself spend any relevant resources, an unexpected sign of their Emperor and quite convenient to say.
I tend to agree with our colleagues liberal methods, even I cannot refute her fact. Despite their veiled insults none dared to disagree with an interesting opportunity in reviewing an acolyte when dealt with parameters outside their intended goal. Bygones be bygones my fellows, so what do you wager for your apprentice Jalena? I do believe favors are owed, or to be gain if one plays to their strengths on this opportunity of games.
Absently brushing hair back to have it lazily fall over shoulders did a pair of eyes gleam intrigued. Unlike her colleagues previous experiences in gauging their own, or past apprenticeships on various other colleagues she'd been privy to one thing her own excelled it. Marcos tended to expose far more by blindly throwing himself on a personal crusade to vindicate his own actions. Despite disobeying her original orders he'd proven to be a unique catalyst to root out deeper powers at work, a talent and skill few hoped to match in their lifetimes seeking out their enemies. It was a perfect means to an end without wasting resources.
"I do recall one of your own is a psyker whose just a bit older than my apprentice." She typed musing to the one who held such a retinue in their grip. The reply was equally matching given it risked her own investments. And I recall you have one presently, a raw and unbounded one at that! Such recklessness only matched by an unmatched growth based on our observations from your reports on that planet...Mastoria, correct?
Of course they'd dare her to use a freshly minted psyker onto the rewards in their games. She accepted merely out of amusement Marcos held a tendency to defy odds, "I'll accept your wager, if only to include several items I'd been seeking for my research." The response was immediate in good faith which spoke volumes of interest in her investment. Agreed Jalena, I've never been slighted by your methods but it's your lack of caution! Fueled by your insatiable ambitions that tend to make me wary of unforeseen dangers.
Openly laughing while shaking her head did a warning leave itself plainly, "Then you'll come to know my apprentice would drive you mad." The other had been observing for a time interjected gleefully based on how rapid it'd been written out. If this one dies quickly, I'll require a favor from you both. If he proves to be resilient in our Emperor's grace to defy his imminent demise, I do believe reports to both of your liking have been amounting in your area's of influence. My agents are most eager to reveal your ineptitude to our coven, if you'd accept my friends?
Jalena narrowed her gaze considerably to mock this particular individual, "And whose area of influence fell to a daemonic incursion even with aid of another inquisitor?" Her words proved to be a bulwark as an agreement fell in place. And even with Astartes assistance you personally slew several acolytes and your recent apprentice who'd fallen under Chaos's tendrils, friend. Our Lord Inquisitor was most displeased by your...methods of choice.
It'd been by their coven's lord and master which redeemed said individual in hunting down near suicidal targets to earn back favor. A task only accepted zealously and completed with ruthless force not unheard of in their circles. Bygones be bygones, I grace our God Emperor with absolute conviction to never flee, or fail in his ordained tasks friends. Your infallible habits do not make you, or I above human nature which tends to reveal it's ugliest depths to seek our vengeance whenever they're slighted as you face...Jalena.
Neither she, or other colleague dared to refute an individual whose proneness to push humans to their limits. The fact it'd been spotted to haggard a sense of trust to them both as to what could happen, if one unbound psyker refused to stop themselves from attaining power. Jalena's lips frowned due to a delicate balance she'd walked to know there was considerable dangers now and into the future, if Marcos got any ideas to strike back after this convenient series of events. While a child at heart, a human didn't forget pain and rage aimed at one perceived to be responsible when given assurance they'd be trusted with simple tasks.
"Indeed he's only human and a child." The Inquisitor spoke absently asserting a shred of truth to which her traditional counterpart pointed out. Even with old reputations and newer possibilities neither side in a circle of influential wished to destroy the other. Frictions were already at an all time high with an influx of threats yet it proved to be ideally difficult to bring in broader numbers of colleagues willing to humor old trivialities for mutual gains. Still therein lie a danger of her own creation which proved to be troublesome at least.
Looking down simply at a rosette where an iconic red encased around the golden skull dimly reflected off a terminal's light. Unknown to most outside their organization and fewer within it a duty lay to pass on mantles to those worthy of adhering to their Ordos. Drinking another quaint amount of wine made an amused smile appear fondly as fingers stroked the metallic piece, "Ironic I'm now in your shoes my old teacher. The Emperor has his ways to make us relieve our most...personal pasts whether we'd admit as your blessings, or path of faith."
Dispelling anymore illusions she returned a reply all too cordial in its texts. I'll take your advice under considerable conditions, I do believe we all agree my apprentice is unique to drive out circumstances not known even to our agents. Has my information of late proved to be...valuable to you, my dear associates? Leaning back comfortably she idly brushed more clothe aside to air out a heated chest due to the exquisite spices laced inside her drink. It was ideally suitable to enjoy the moments in which even her fellows were humbled.
Their responses were too sweet and satisfying to not feeling a measure of pride. His account in facing down a champion of Chaos itself is remarkable, I'll admit if not alluding to a Black Crusade being in premature measures. Her traditional counterpart admitted to which another more impressed response found it very fortunate. I can verify through agents as well from my personal Interrogator who visited that world to conduct an investigate. She verified all accounts to track down to another planet as another potential spot, I have safeguards in place but without the boy's actions we'd have been potentially blind sided by an incursion.
Jalena only replied back with a simple prediction, "And that is why this latest incident will unveil more for us to destroy. Very rare does our enemy seek out one of our own so relentlessly, I'm curious as to why." None dared to refute that statement given their lines of profession and experiences to agree silently. Very few of their own encountered daemonic entities yet alone greater powers in their lifetime, so for a boy of his age to be besieged so quickly?
Do you think he's worthy of his next trials? One question prompted both cautiously and interested as she replied back bemused, "If he proves to be valuable, I'll consider it in a year." That revelation caused a far more traditional counterpart to be fairly impressed. Trails of fire, blood and faith bring out what make a man's soul stand resolute in face of our enemy. Younger ones either die horribly, or cruelly become what they seek to avoid. If they become cruel in their youth, it is far easier for them to accept what must be done when granted authority to act in our Emperor's will.
Peering into her apprentice's servo-skull's feed did she witness him glaring enraged. She read every emotion without difficulty with an indifferent face. But after his screaming faded did his expression turn monstrous to scream at his perceived tormentor. After that he'd gotten to both feet stalking forward with such stoicism it warmed a prospect that perhaps such a thing was indeed necessary for him to even act as any inquisitorial agent. The thought alone only allowed a pair of lips to curl upwards as Jalena Tartarus patiently awaited what her apprentice did next.
End Chapter Twelve
Author's note: So does anyone see something oddly strange about these views here? Marcos for all his determination, will and unyielding resolve to safeguard what he hold's dear is his greatest folly to believe what's around him is the cause of it being endangered. The process of him coming to this rapid conclusion as to who, or what is responsible is simply a feasible approach of logical deduction. It's not impossible to think he'd come to this due to his very own actions.
It also clears some perceived notion Tartarus is omnipotent, I mean she's an Inquisitor but she's not that perfect to think of everything. Oddly enough it also provides depth to what it means when we see things pan out within, or without controlled parameters in the Inquisition's trials of selecting acolytes to advance. We're never really given clarity in novels too much, or at least the inner workings of said organization to which has someone go from start to finish. I've never read anyone attempting to flush out whats a person achieve this end goal.
Admittedly I'd been spurned to write feverishly to really give the scale of this little adventure. Dark Heresy influenced, or not I'd say you as readers have to be enjoying what is going on. It's very rare for someone, or anyone outside a medium to dedicate an amount of time to setting the stages in Warhammer 40,000. At least in my experiences when people try too hard, or simply view the carnage as this universe is notorious to showcase.
Nonetheless leave a review please, I want to see what everyone is thinking, predicting and honestly what they see in it. It's the only thing I ask, demand or even humor because seeing those things pop up tend to be ideally satisfying. So have a good day, be safe and I'll see you next in where things turn far more foul with deeper strings being played.
