Extremus Fors Chapter 26

Novak's ears were still ringing from the clap of thunder. The noise of the intruder's entrance had made the ice walls shiver and caused rains of snow to fall. They were still pinging off his helm and pauldrons, and the echoes rang loud as they carried down the passageway. Novak's shock was hardly lesser, one minute they had been walking down this empty tunnel, the next an intense wave of pressure washed over them, then five Space Marines burst from nowhere in a flash of light. Novak didn't know what to make of that, but his first instinct was to draw his sword and attack.

Ajax beat him to it, pointing his assault cannon at the nearest and growling, "GIVE ME ONE GOOD REASON NOT TO KILL YOU."

The prone warrior lifted his head and barked, "Point that blunderbuss somewhere else, before I remove it."

"NOT VERY CONVINCING."

"You dare point a weapon at a servant of the Golden Throne, take your idle threats elsewhere."

"I DON'T KNOW WHO YOU ARE BUT YOUR LIFE ENDS HERE."

The fallen Space Marines tensed, ready to spring into action. Novak wasn't sure they could make it, they were in a vulnerable pose and looked drained somehow, weary and slow, but he was sure they would try. Yet before either side could open fire Arvael dove to intervene, holding his arms aloft shouting, "Stay your anger! These warriors are known to me, they are loyal to Him on Terra."

Novak blinked in shock as he started, "Arvael, you know these curs?"

"I do," Arvael answered, "You look upon the Chamber Militant of the Ordo Malleus."

That caused a stir and Novak growled, "Inquisition, that's the last thing we need."

"DON'T BE FOOLED BROTHER THIMARL," Ajax growled, "I KNOW PERFIDIOUS ALPHA LEGION WHEN I SEE THEM."

Arvael countered, "No tricks, they are truly what they appear to be. They are Grey Knights."

Novak's shock grew as he cried, "Grey Knights?! Impossible, they do not exist!"

"You haven't changed Novak," the fallen one said, "Dense as ever."

Novak glared back, "I haven't met you."

"I assure you, you have," Arvael sighed, "You just don't remember it."

Novak took a second to process that then understanding dawned, "You mind wiped me?!"

"The Grey Knights are secret, none save Chapter Masters and Librarians are permitted to recall meeting them. Hypras here examined Third Company before the Primarch put us on trial. I helped excise that memory. But as to why he is present on this moon… that remains unexplained."

Hypras heaved himself out of the snow and brushed off his plate. Novak looked upon his silver plate and saw many strange icons, unknown heraldry and totems whose significance was lost on the Champion. What he saw was a powerful Librarian, equal to Arvael at least, probably greater. His manner was haughty and superior, something about his expression hinting he was sneering at the Storm Heralds. His fellows rose behind him, armed with strange collection of weapons. Novak reckoned himself the equal of any Space Marine in combat, but he suspected these strangers would be full of surprises.

"Arvael," Novak hissed, "A word, in private."

"DON'T GO ANYWHERE," Ajax growled, "I CAN GUN YOU DOWN AT A HUNDRED PACES."

Hypras didn't look at all impressed as the Storm Heralds backed up the tunnel, creating a little room. Novak was sure with their genhanced hearing these Grey Knights would be listening in, so activated a private vox-link. He waited a moment then spat, "You mind-wiped us?!"

Arvael sniffed, "Of course I did, it is not your place to know certain things."

"Do you routinely keep secrets from the rest of us?!"

"Yes," Arvael stated bluntly, "I am a Librarian, it is my role and you all agreed to have your minds wiped when you came on this mission. Don't pretend you didn't accept this, you all know the Librarius deals with the forbidden and redacted. We deal with secrets and the Warp, so the rest of the Chapter does not have to."

Geryon interrupted, "What I want to know is how they appeared like that… Teleportation?"

"Psykanna arts," Arvael corrected, "The Gate of Infinity, very rare, very powerful and beyond risky. I wouldn't dream of attempting it, I'm not sure Echeb would either. One would have to be utterly confident in one's abilities to even think it."

"So…" Novak needled, "This Hypras is more powerful than you?"

"Extremely so," Arvael stated without rancour, "Compared to him I am but a rank amateur."

Novak was surprised by the candid admission but Cortha interjected, "Less concerning than how they got here, is why they are here."

"You think they seek the Daemonsword?" Geryon asked.

Cortha replied, "Echeb warned there would be other questors, the Inquisition would stop at nothing to claim that blade for their nefarious purposes."

"We can't let them find it," Novak spat.

"We have no leads to follow," Arvael countered, "Trailing through empty ruins is getting us nowhere, maybe Hypras can point the way."

Novak snorted, "You propose teaming up?!"

"Either that or wander about down here till an Exterminatus falls on our heads."

"YOU JEST," Ajax growled, "THE SPACE WOLVES ARE NOT TO BE TRUSTED."

"Grey Knights," Arvael repeated, "Focus on the present venerable one, do not drift into the past."

"I AM AS SHARP AS I EVER WAS, AND I SAY THESE CURS ARE UNTRUSTWORTHY," the Dreadnought growled.

Novak agreed, "The Honourable has the way of it, we should send this lot packing."

"You don't make decisions here," Arvael spat, "I was placed in command of this mission."

"You haven't been acting like it," Novak snorted.

"I am now," Arvael snapped, "We need to find out if Hypras knows anything."

Novak was going to argue more but then a soft cough from the servitor-mule echoed. Novak had almost forgotten the Pariah, sitting unregarded in his blankets. He'd been there since they restocked Ajax's assault cannon from the supplies, fuming in silence as they wandered the deep tunnels and caverns of this icy moon.

Gently he spake, "I don't understand what happening, who are those newcomers?"

Cortha snarled, "Tell it to keep its nose out of this!"

Novak spoke aloud, "Just keep quiet, we're dealing with it."

Arvael spoke up, "Brothers, one more thing: keep the Pariah secret."

"You think they won't notice?" Geryon scoffed.

"If they ask tell them he's a serf," Arvael ordered, "We do not want the Grey Knights to know we have a null."

With that he set off, striding back to the waiting Grey Knights. Novak was troubled, Arvael may know this Hypras, but it seemed their encounters had generated no trust. The fact Arvael wanted a secret reserve was unnerving. Novak had no choice save to follow the Librarian's lead, but resolved to keep his sword drawn at all times. The mere thought made his other hand ache, missing fingers throbbing in phantom pain. It was merely irritating to an Astartes, but Novak wondered if it was a premonition of danger. Novak groaned to himself, "Grey Knights are real, Legion of the Damned are real. All I need is for the bloody Sanguinor to show up and this crapstorm will be complete."

Hypras waited for them to close and his face conveyed disdain as he declared, "I am not accustomed to being kept waiting."

"We have discussed the matter and elected not to kill you," Arvael replied archly.

"As if you could," Hypras retorted.

Novak suspected that was slightly more boast than Hypras was letting on, they did seem drained, yet already strength was returning. Arvael waved to the gathered crowd and said, "I greet you on behalf of the Storm Heralds. Meet Champion Novak, Chaplain Cortha, Techmarine Geryon and Honourable Ajax."

Hypras replied primly, "I am Librarian Hypras, Brothers Agriff, Mordad, Galhuan and Pelleus. Not that you'll be allowed to remember that."

"You dare?!" Cortha spat.

But Arvael quickly intervened, "Know that we had already committed to the wiping of all memories after this mission concludes."

"That eliminates one problem," Hypras sniffed, "As to the rest…"

It was then that Ajax took a step forward and growled, "YOU SEEM TO THINK YOU ARE IN CHARGE, YET WE ARE THE ONES WITH THE BIGGER GUNS."

Hypras merely looked up and commented, "Ajax… you are mentioned in the archives of Titan. I researched you when I examined your brethren. Our encounters have always been, adversarial."

"I HAVE NEVER MET YOUR KIND."

"You have, but those memories were taken from you."

Ajax had been mind-wiped too, Novak realised, more than once by the sounds of things. That explained a lot. How many times had the Honourable been mind-scrubbed, how many times had his recollections been hollowed out and personal history revised. No wonder his attention wavered and awareness strayed. Time alone had not worn down his intellect. Ajax had been privy to forbidden history, but it seemed certain things were hidden even from him.

Geryon interrupted, "It would be a grave error, were we to come to blows. Perhaps we should focus on recent history, like how you came to be here?"

Hypras lifted an eyebrow and remarked, "Your aura betrays no surprise at our meeting."

"I was part of the Crusade, before joining the Storm Heralds. There were rumours and sightings, talk that the mythical Grey Knights were no myths. More people than you suspect treat your existence as fact."

Novak was amused by the sour look Hypras let slip, but the Grey Knight said, "We were exploring this moon when we ran into traitors. Beastmen and Traitor Marines. I had to conjure an escape, before being overrun by the horde of Jubila."

"Jubila?!" Novak started, "He's here too?! That smug arrogant bastard, I knew he wasn't dead!"

"Be that as it may," Cortha growled, "You avoided mentioning why you are here."

"We sensed a possible incursion of Neverborn on this moon and moved to thwart it," Hypras deflected.

"YOU LIE TERRIBLY, YOU WANT THE DAEMONSWORD."

Novak wanted to slap his faceplate. So much for subtly and diplomacy. Hypras' cheeks flushed with anger as he growled, "You have some nerve!"

"True though," Cortha uttered, "You seek the Daemon that inhabits the Gladius Incandor. We know it is here, there is no other possible reason for you to bother with this planetoid."

"If you think to oppose us you will suffer my wrath," Hypras snarled.

Novak sensed a brewing conflict and desperately tried to think what Toran would say. The Captain had a knack of defusing tension and making allies, often convincing belligerent enemies to work together. How did he do it, Novak had seen it often enough but never really paid attention as to how. Appeal to their better nature, cite mutual goals, offer up his hearts on a platter if he played false. It was worth a try. "Hold! We should not be brawling like mastiffs… over a bone. We all want the same thing… I think… Look in your hearts to find… your hearts… You are loyal… to errr… Him on Terra, as are we… The minions of the archenemy would rejoice if we bicker… Together we can find… our… common friendship…"

Everyone stared at him as if he'd gone mad and one of the Grey Knights, Agriff, muttered, "Was there supposed to be anything resembling a point in all that rambling?"

"He's saying we should put aside our differences and work together to claim the Daemonsword," Arvael sighed.

Hypras' lip curled, "The Grey Knights do not need the likes of you."

But another, Galhuan said, "With respect, we have been walking in circles and time grows short. Perhaps these warriors know something we do not."

"Stay your tongue," Hypras snapped testily.

"Surely you can see the sense in uniting our forces," Arvael pressed.

"I see benefit for you," Hypras growled, "But you ignore the key point: what becomes of the Daemonsword?"

Novak exclaimed, "Surely it is obvious, we cleanse the blade and restore it to its former glory."

"Cleanse it, you mean to release the Daemon?! You frakking idiots," Hypras snarled.

"Watch your tone!" Cortha snarled as he raised his Crozius.

Arvael hastily stepped in to avert disaster, "What are your plans for the blade?"

Hypras drew himself up to explain, "The blade is a temporary prison for a Daemon, we intend to make it permanent. The sword shall be taken to the vaults of Titan, there to lay for eternity. The Daemon shall be imprisoned forever, and the First Enemy shall be reduced."

Novak's jaw fell in his helm as he gasped, "You mean to leave the Gladius Incador polluted?!"

"You intend to release a Daemon Prince," Hypras accused, "You do the work of accursed heretics for them. Think of the millions who will perish if that Daemon goes free, think of the worlds that will burn. Your Chapter claims to care for the lives of innocents, you should be helping us eliminate the threat!"

"That blade is a relic of our bloodline," Cortha growled, "It must be cleansed and returned to our Gene-father. Honour demands it."

"I care nothing for your honour," Hypras uttered snidely, "Your mongrel Chapter should have been wiped from existence."

"None insult an Astartes and live."

"The Daemonsword belongs to Titan and you shall not stop us."

"The Blade of Reason is ours," Cortha snarled, "To stand in our way is to die!"

The Grey Knights hefted their weapons and the Storm Heralds lifted theirs in turn. Novak had trouble believing what was happening, they were actually going to do this, fight loyal Space Marines over a relic. Surely they wouldn't allow this to happen, there had to be way to avert disaster. For the sake of them all someone had to say something, before this all blew up in their faces.

It was then that Ajax's voice cut in, "WE HAVE BEEN FOOLED."

"Ajax?" Novak started in surprise.

"THEY ARE FALSE MARINES. LAZAR SEEKS TO TRICK US."

"Honourable Brother!" Arvael cried in alarm, "You are drifting again, stay focused."

"LAZAR CLOAKS HIS MONSTERS IN FRIENDLY FACES, BUT WE ARE NOT FOOLED. WE MUST WARN INCADLE TO TRUST NOT THE FALSE MARINES."

"Ajax!" Geryon yelled, "Do not…"

But Ajax roared, "I SEE YOU! HERESY INCARNATE, WARP-ADDLED ABORTIONS, UNDYING!"

Novak saw what was about to happen, he couldn't believe it but denial could not stop disaster unfolding. Ajax's assault cannon spun up and a heartbeat later let rip, spewing rounds at Hypras and his comrades. Lost to his ravings the Honourable attacked the sons of Titan, unleashing his fury and setting Storm Herald against Grey Knights in a contest that could only end in blood.