This is my first attemp at writing a Warhammer novel. Warhammer is
copyright Games-Workshop.
Greetings. My name is Inquisitor Roscoe DeSoto of Ordo Malleus. I once had the dubious privledge of meeting with a certain individual some time ago. Upon first meeting, my first instinct was to slaughter him where he stood. But something in those eyes, in his manner, indeed, something in the fabric of his very soul stayed my hand. For the first time in my life, I was afraid. It all happened during my stay on Arx, near the Eye of Terror. I was investigating several attempts of the forces of Chaos to breach the alternate route out of the Eye. ( The only other route being the Cadian Gate.) I was in my temporary quarters after a fruitless day at the grindstone. This particular assignment was very puzzling to me, so puzzling and mysterious that my patience was giving way to frustration. Some people say that every Inquisitor enjoys a good mystery. I don't. What was so very peculiar was that every time the Chaos forces pushed against the Arx defences, they would pull back at just the moment they could have triumphed. Being from Ordo Malleus and sesitive to the Warp, I could sense a presence lashing out to the forces of Chaos, beating them back mercilessly. Who or what was doing this? It was so very baffling, because I knew I was very close. I was convinced that it had to do with the Dark Angels, for once every battle was done, I could trace the essence of someone's soul to what is now the collapsed gravity well of what was once Caliban. Could the Lion have left behind some sort of defense against the forces he so despised?
"No."
I swivelled around in my seat, and in the same motion drew the laspistol that was resting in my shoulder holster, only to find no one there. I knew I had heard someone. Delving into the inside pocket of my armored trench coat, I fished out my psi-tracker. There! Someone is here! The tracker indicated a strong presence in the far corner of my room. Fearing that a Chaos Daemon or some other warpspawn had infiltrated the base defences, I dove for my psi-cannon on my bed, about 10 feet away. I didn't make it. I smacked headlong into some sort of invisible shield. Turning my thoughts to secondary weapons, I reached for my force sword,the Bane Blade, communing with it even as I drew it from the scabbard. It was when I had my sword halfway out of the sheath did I see him. He stood taller than me, about the same height as a space marine. His red and black robes reminded me of a Chaos Noise Marine I once had the misfortune of meeting. His eyes were tortured as only he could be. Looking back, I can't explain why I did not wholly draw my sword and finish him. He looked at me and saw the indicision in my eyes. He spoke:
"So death will not yet find me." His voice was like thunder, rumbling through both the physical and non-physical planes.
" You are he who hunts me." He stated
Regaining my wits, I replied , "I am."
" Why?" He asked.
" Because I wish to know how and why you keep driving back the Chaos forces. You are obviously one of them, yet you hinder them. I want to know why."
His eyes glimmered. " Ah yes, the eternal question of why. Is it not enough that I do it? Who are you to question my motives?"
Needless to say, this line of questioning was confusing me. I knew he knew who and what I was, so he was not questioning my identity or my purpose. It ran deeper than that. Then it struck me that he was questioning my ability. My ability to understand the answer he would give to my question. What answer could he give me that I could not understand?
" I think I can handle any answer you give me." I replied, still keeping my hand on the hilt of my sword.
He looked out the only window of my room. " Once, long ago, I had everthing my heart desired. Then, in an hour of great need, I turned my back on those who trusted and loved me. I betrayed everything I believed in. I did this out of a greed and selfishness so absoulute that they had clouded my judgement. It was not until afterwards that I realized that my actions were orchstrated by the Chaos Gods. But my then It was too late. I had committed an act so despicable that I could never forgive myself. In the years that followed, I roamed aimlessly, keeping to myself whenever possible. Whenever I surfaced, all the emotions that make the Chaos Gods what they are surfaced with me. Then, I realized my only hope was redemption. And the only way to do that was to find the other half of a two piece puzzle. That is why I am here. I am searching for the other piece. When I leave, your task of preventing the forces you so hate will increase tenfold."
A buzz from the comlink on my desk. " Sir, you asked to be informed of any activity in this vicinity."
I looked back to where the figure stood. He was gone, vanished.
" Sir?" the comlink hummed
" Yes, what is it?"
" A squad of Deathwings have just arrived at bay 3."
I sat bolt upright. I felt like a landraider had just been dropped on me. It all at once occured to me with whom I had been conversing, and now the Deathwings........
" May the Emporer preserve my soul.........."
Greetings. My name is Inquisitor Roscoe DeSoto of Ordo Malleus. I once had the dubious privledge of meeting with a certain individual some time ago. Upon first meeting, my first instinct was to slaughter him where he stood. But something in those eyes, in his manner, indeed, something in the fabric of his very soul stayed my hand. For the first time in my life, I was afraid. It all happened during my stay on Arx, near the Eye of Terror. I was investigating several attempts of the forces of Chaos to breach the alternate route out of the Eye. ( The only other route being the Cadian Gate.) I was in my temporary quarters after a fruitless day at the grindstone. This particular assignment was very puzzling to me, so puzzling and mysterious that my patience was giving way to frustration. Some people say that every Inquisitor enjoys a good mystery. I don't. What was so very peculiar was that every time the Chaos forces pushed against the Arx defences, they would pull back at just the moment they could have triumphed. Being from Ordo Malleus and sesitive to the Warp, I could sense a presence lashing out to the forces of Chaos, beating them back mercilessly. Who or what was doing this? It was so very baffling, because I knew I was very close. I was convinced that it had to do with the Dark Angels, for once every battle was done, I could trace the essence of someone's soul to what is now the collapsed gravity well of what was once Caliban. Could the Lion have left behind some sort of defense against the forces he so despised?
"No."
I swivelled around in my seat, and in the same motion drew the laspistol that was resting in my shoulder holster, only to find no one there. I knew I had heard someone. Delving into the inside pocket of my armored trench coat, I fished out my psi-tracker. There! Someone is here! The tracker indicated a strong presence in the far corner of my room. Fearing that a Chaos Daemon or some other warpspawn had infiltrated the base defences, I dove for my psi-cannon on my bed, about 10 feet away. I didn't make it. I smacked headlong into some sort of invisible shield. Turning my thoughts to secondary weapons, I reached for my force sword,the Bane Blade, communing with it even as I drew it from the scabbard. It was when I had my sword halfway out of the sheath did I see him. He stood taller than me, about the same height as a space marine. His red and black robes reminded me of a Chaos Noise Marine I once had the misfortune of meeting. His eyes were tortured as only he could be. Looking back, I can't explain why I did not wholly draw my sword and finish him. He looked at me and saw the indicision in my eyes. He spoke:
"So death will not yet find me." His voice was like thunder, rumbling through both the physical and non-physical planes.
" You are he who hunts me." He stated
Regaining my wits, I replied , "I am."
" Why?" He asked.
" Because I wish to know how and why you keep driving back the Chaos forces. You are obviously one of them, yet you hinder them. I want to know why."
His eyes glimmered. " Ah yes, the eternal question of why. Is it not enough that I do it? Who are you to question my motives?"
Needless to say, this line of questioning was confusing me. I knew he knew who and what I was, so he was not questioning my identity or my purpose. It ran deeper than that. Then it struck me that he was questioning my ability. My ability to understand the answer he would give to my question. What answer could he give me that I could not understand?
" I think I can handle any answer you give me." I replied, still keeping my hand on the hilt of my sword.
He looked out the only window of my room. " Once, long ago, I had everthing my heart desired. Then, in an hour of great need, I turned my back on those who trusted and loved me. I betrayed everything I believed in. I did this out of a greed and selfishness so absoulute that they had clouded my judgement. It was not until afterwards that I realized that my actions were orchstrated by the Chaos Gods. But my then It was too late. I had committed an act so despicable that I could never forgive myself. In the years that followed, I roamed aimlessly, keeping to myself whenever possible. Whenever I surfaced, all the emotions that make the Chaos Gods what they are surfaced with me. Then, I realized my only hope was redemption. And the only way to do that was to find the other half of a two piece puzzle. That is why I am here. I am searching for the other piece. When I leave, your task of preventing the forces you so hate will increase tenfold."
A buzz from the comlink on my desk. " Sir, you asked to be informed of any activity in this vicinity."
I looked back to where the figure stood. He was gone, vanished.
" Sir?" the comlink hummed
" Yes, what is it?"
" A squad of Deathwings have just arrived at bay 3."
I sat bolt upright. I felt like a landraider had just been dropped on me. It all at once occured to me with whom I had been conversing, and now the Deathwings........
" May the Emporer preserve my soul.........."