In the grim darkness of the far future, there are rare days of light and celebration. Such was this day, a festival in honour of a successful crusade, purging an entire sector of xeno's and corruption. The driving force behind the campaign were Ultramarines, the Emperor's finest. Their commander in charge was one of the chapter's heroes, Captain Chadius. He was a large man, even for an Astartes, and pacing gloriously in the front of the victory parade, he was a sight to behold. His armour was freshly painted and polished, the regal blue trimmed with gold shined beautifully in the warm sunlight. An oversized aureate cape of scaled flakes strewn over his shoulders dragged behind him, a royal river of fabric gracefully caressing the dark pavement beneath.

Behind him, two squads of equally attired Ultramarines marched in rows, holding elongated halberds with sharpened blades. Long parchments fixed to them with purity seals danced peacefully in the calm winds, a playful performance of their own. A massive crowd with smiles decorating their faces for the first time in ages cheered loudly for their blue saviours, waving flags with the Space Marine's colours and insignia. It truly was a joyous occasion, a well-earned event paying for thousands upon thousands of dead, mutilated and desecrated.

Chadius gazed at the sky as his attention got seized by a flock of Cherubs, fluttering above, dropping rose petals from bushels upon the blue armoured Marines. He took a deep breath, enjoying the moment and taking in the overwhelming sensory experience with his eyes closed. Without paying attention, his next step was brought to a halt as his boot got stuck in a slightly opened manhole. His momentum made him trip over and stumble unglamorously on all fours. Instinctively, the nearest guard rushed to help his captain. Blinded by the sunlight reflected by the fallen leader's golden cape, he got tangled in it and dropped to the floor next to the Captain. The crowds' cheers went dead silent as the guard's halberd met its edge with the neck of the first toppled Astartes.

It felt as if the time had stopped as not a single breath could be heard while the freshly decapitated head rolled away from its body, leaving small red puddles and drops in its path, stopping in front of a child nearby. The silence got replaced by shrieks and screams as the crowd grasped what they have just witnessed. The shocked child's eyes were locked on the bloody remains at her feet when a nearby Cherub descended towards her and started dropping the crimson petals on Chadius's head.

»Barbra, don't look at it! «
The little girl was taken away by a uniformed guardsman, while the rest of the throng remained staring at the Ultramarines.

In the darkness of the underground, a set of red eyes peeked from the tilted manhole.

»Wut'z happenin'? «
»Shut yer yabber or tha pinkies will see us. «
»Shur iz lotz of yellin'. «
»Izn't a parade today? «
»Ah, ya right! «
»Wait. Dat tiny humie iz staring at us! «
One of the guardsmen lost in the commotion rose his finger and pointed it at the mysterious hidden creatures.
»There! Monsters! Hiding in the sewers!«
Nobody heard him, so he started grabbing their arms and shoulder straps to get their attention. With the escalating chaos around them, nobody acknowledged him. Irritated, he turned and headed towards the heavy metal cover himself.
»Hah! Looki there. Tha humie is komin, all feisty. «
»Shut it, Raralfor. Ya know them kant know we're 'ere. «
»Ugh. I say, pummel tha pinkie. «
»No. We go. «
»Fine, but I'mma pummel tha next one. «
»I'll pummel yer gob if ya don't run now. «
»Frak you, Leogronk. «

The red eyes disappeared and the manhole started closing. The guardsman was nearly at the cover when he darted on the ground, jamming his lasguns bayonet under the iron ring just before it closed. He used all of his strength trying to open the floor gateway until the heavy lid clanked open with a loud dong. Just as he peeked inside, he caught the last glimpse of a stubby, muscular green arm right before it disappeared in the deep darkness.

Adrenaline rushed through the guardsman's veins as he stood back up and started shouting.
»Monsters! I tell you, monsters! They are down there, I saw it! It killed the Space Marine hero! «
»Move. «
In reply, a white armoured apothecary of the Ultramarines pushed him out of his way as the armoured giant tried to reach the beheaded body. While the move was not aggressive, it was enough to make the soldier lose his balance and tumble backwards in the open hole. With a wet smack, he crashed in the shallow stream of questionable liquid, smashing his helmeted head on the rail next to it. Last thing he saw before he lost consciousness, was a blue armoured Astartes closing the cover, shouting at somebody nearby.

»Who opened this? Someone could have fallen in there, by the Emperor!«
Then the shaft went completely silent and black, as did the guardsman's mind.

He did not know how long has he been unconscious when he finally started waking up. His blurry vision slowly tried to focus as he was lying on a piece of old mouldy furniture in a dark room, poorly lit by several candle lights.

First, he noticed the environment, a cold, moist combination of brick and rusted metal pipes, leaking in random spots. He rolled on his back with a groan and stared at the ceiling as piercing pain overwhelmed his head. Touching it, he realized that somebody has bandaged his injury. Not a lot of time could have passed as the red stain under the wrapping was still wet, the half-coagulated blood sticking to the soldiers' fingertips.

Holding his hand in front of his face, he observed a small group of giant green shapes. Startled, he sprung upright, ready to flee or fight. Dizzy from the sudden rush, he tumbled towards the brick ground, but was intercepted by something rough and leathery. The meaty bulk was a palm, belonging to an Ork who was looking at him with intrigue.
»You'z awright, humie? Ya took a tumble an' hit yer hid. «

The voice was deep, grunty and poorly articulated. He tried to move away, but the green hand kept holding him.
»Xeno filth here? Kill me now monster, or let me fight you with dignity! «
»Foit me? Pinkie, who ya fink fixed yer melon? «
»Wait. You helped me? That makes no sense. We kill each other, we are enemies.«
»Haha how kan we be dat, if ya don't know us? Ya must'v rattled yer bucket hard. «
»I told ya, we shood'v leave 'im. «

That came from the shadows in the back, from the largest form, barely detectable in the darkness under a stony arch. The massive hulk stepped forward in the weak light. In that moment, the guardsman's mind cleared enough to grasp his surroundings and situation. Staring at him, four Orks stood side by side in nervous silence. The largest one wore black leather pants and a red tank top, both weathered and torn. Healed cuts and broken tusks indicated that he was a brawler, sluggish and impatient. Next to him, somewhat distracted was the smallest one, wearing bent broken parts of a Space Marines armour, painted poorly in purple dye. While keeping an eye on the human, he kept fiddling with some crude machinery.

Leaning on the furniture in front of the injured man, the third Ork seemed excited at the new arrival like a child getting a new puppy. With a very jovial demeanour, he gave the impression of a toddler. Wearing a padded t-shirt of dirty orange colour and brown tattered shorts, he even looked like as if somebody tried to pretend that an Ork was a human youngster. Lastly, the guardsman's eyes stopped on the nearest greenskin who was still gripping him around the waist.

The Ork seemed somewhat more sophisticated in stature, standing proudly upright. Same as the other two, he had a casual attire, wearing blue jeans and a leather jacket.
»'Tiz not nice to stare, humie. «
»Maybe he dun understand gud. Maybe he bonked 'is hed too hard. «
»I say. Perhaps he just appears to be rather flabbergasted, wouldn't you say so, dear brethren? Albeit dazed, he at least overcame the deep descent that traumatized both body as well as his spirit all the same? «

The guardsman stared with his eyes open wide at the orange clad Ork.
»You... you spoke? I mean actually spoke fluently, not like the rest of your kind? «
Just before an answer could be delivered, the Ork in jeans interfered.
»Dun mind him, humie. Sumone stepped on 'is hed when he wuz a lil fun guy still. He dunt know how ta speek good since den. «
»I'm so confused. «
»See? He broked 'imself. I say we krump 'im. «
Sensing the Orks violent intent, the human recoiled a bit, trying to escape
»Brother dearest, must you be so crude? Is it not fathomable to your thick cranium that you are frightening the poor creature? The sapien is shaking in his footwear. «

The largest Ork in red got agitated and started roaring and stomping towards his disabled brother.
»Fragging frak! I told ya, if ya dun 'ave smart thinks, keep yer maw clumped! I say dis iz a bad idea. «
He swiftly turned around and grunted away from them, angerly fisting the brick archways as he passed them.
»I hope you find it possible in your heart to forgive my brother, dear human. I am afraid that he tends to be a wee bit of a clod, but in truth, he only has our protection in his interest. As I am quite sure you are aware, your kind is not particularly fond of us, per se. Ergo, we do try our best to avoid contact. But worry not, we have no ill intentions against you. «

The blue clothed Ork finally let the guardsman from his grip.
»Ya, whut Michael said. We like ya humies. When iz dark, we go upsewer and do battlin for you's if sumwon attacks. «
Confusion replaced fear on the face of the injured soldier.
»Michael? His name is Michael? «
»Ya, we like ta make fun ov 'im becaus he special. So, we gave 'im a humie name. «
The Ork started laughing and snorting while slapping his thighs aggressively.
»Yes, indeed brother. Rather amusing jest there on your behalf, I must admit. Bravo. Trully, we mean you no harm, human. We choose to use these underground systems as our domicile to survive. You needn't have a worry. As we now know, my name is Michael, that there is Leogronk, the bulging mass of muscle is Raralfor and the armoured tech wiz is Dongrob. «

While each of them waved at the guardsman, Raralfor greeted him with an annoyed nod. A few moments of silence passed until Dongrob interrupted the awkward tension.
»And wut'z yer name, pinkie? «
»My name? My name is Aprillien. «
»Aprillien eh? Noice ta meet ya. «
Leogronk palmed his hand and shook it.

The rattled soldier was just calming down and accepting the bizarre situation, when a fifth creature approached them. An old, raspy voice rolled through the bricked corridors to the Orks and the guardsman. Following it were the sounds of soft padded footsteps and a heavier object thudding against the wet floor with each stride.
»I see that you have met my students-warriors. I am glad that you are handling the introduction-greet well. «
The newcomer was cloaked by the darkness of the underground, his appearance still a mystery.

»Well, yes. I don't have much of a choice, do I? I doubt that I would reach the exit alive. As baffling as it is to see Orks who don't kill on sight, I am sure that – «
The rest of his thoughts stayed in his mouth as the stranger walked out of the shadows and Aprillien was left speechless. The creature was human sized and covered in dark thick fur from head to toes. Above a long snout with sharp fangs, a pair of yellow eyes looked at the human with interest. Most of it was covered by a raggedy violet hooded tunic, closed with a rope. A pair of clawed paws were stepping closer and closer with a naked fleshy tail dragging behind. It stopped in front of him, using a wooden cane for support.

»I do not resent-mind your stare. I realize that I am an unusual-strange sight. But believe me. As my Ork fellows-sons, I also will not hurt you.
His words were delivered with haste. The sentences were squealed out with uncohesive breaks, unfamiliar to Aprillien.
»What... what are you? «
The rat like thing seemed jittery but calm at the same time.
»Skaven, we are named-called. Flinder is my name-name. «
»Skaven? But you are supposed to be extinct for ages. «
»Extinct? No. Slayed-killed many many? Yes. Gone to hiding we did. We were always here, hiding. Never show-see again. «
»This, all of this, all of you, are incredible. No one will ever believe me. «
A paw grabbed his shoulder. Flinder leaned on the root staff that he was carrying, his rat like amber eyes seemingly enveloping Aprillien's soul from the inside of his burlap hood.

»No. No no no. You can't-won't. No one can know. Or they hunt us down. Men won't understand-reason. Men will come, with their tin can soldiers-marines. No. No no.«
The Orks in the back looked at each other nervously, Dongrob fidgeted with a small machine that looked nothing like before when Aprillien woke up. Raralfor cracked his knuckles, a snapping sound like a tree trunk snapping echoed around them.
»Wut master Flinder said, humie. Ya wun't tell enyone. «
The guardsman could have sworn a little flame burst from the massive Ork's eyes. Aprillien recoiled and backed onto the furniture behind him.
»Y... Yes, yes of course. Not a soul.
Another awkward silence stole the moment. The mysterious Skaven was calming down both Raralfor and Aprillien. Michael couldn't take the unpleasant situation anymore and grabbed a circular object from behind him, and tossed it on the human's lap.
»You must be famished, dear sapiens. Here, have a scrumptious bite, it shall make you feel much better in a jiffy. «
The food smelled vile and looked even worse.
»What in Emperor's name is that? «

Leogronk stepped forward with excitement.
»Wot Michael said iz ya look 'ungry. So, 'ave a chomp of dat. Iz delicious. «
Not trying to provoke Orkish ill temper, the soldier dug into the edible disc and carried a fistful to his mouth. The texture was dry and musty, mixed with lumps of fuzzy parts which crunched at the end. The taste itself was like nothing he ever imagined torturing his taste buds with. A vile combination of death, overlapping with a meat like aroma that left a cheesy film on his throat after swallowing it. A blank expression prevailed his emotions as his brain did its best to decipher what assault just desecrated his digestive system. Leogronk jokingly punched his bicep.

»Good, innit? Iz my own invenchin! I start wif rollin yer humies smelly bloks, korpstark or wut ya call it. Den, I cover it wif juice from a squeezed squig that I den cut up and put on top. After dat, I sprinkle on sum shroomies I've grown on meself. «
»You mean by yourself? «
»Whut? «
»Oh no.«
Aprillien tried his best to stop it with his hand, but vomit torrented between his fingers and splashed everything nearby.
»Oi! Wutz ya fink you's doin? Iz hard to find food down 'ere!«
Raralfor towered over Aprillien.
»You really eat that? «
»Erry day, humie! Iz our favrite! Ya fink yer better dan we?«
A giant palm wrapped around the guardsman's neck and torso and lifted him up, making his feet dangle in the air.
»Raralfor! Drop-leave the human! Now! «

The Ork's beady red eyes looked at the Skaven and reluctantly obeyed.
»I'm surry. He really makes me mad. In salted Leogronk's squizza, he did! «
»Remember what I thaught-learned you about understanding and acceptance. «
Two pointy green ears lowered in shame.
»I know. You'z right. «
The overwhelmed human decided not to push his luck. He still wasn't even sure that all of this was really happening. To not escalate the situation, he decided that it was time to go.
»I apologise if I offended you. I think that it is best if I leave now. I am sure that someone must be missing me at this point. I can still sneak back under the cover of confusion up there. «

Flinder gave it a thought, then agreed with him.
»Yes, yes probably a good-smart idea. I shall see you out-up. «
He put his furry paw gently on Aprillien's back and guided him out. The soldier turned back and gave a last look at the four unusual Orks and waved goodbye.
»Goodbye Orks. This has been a fascinating experience. «
»Fare thee well, dear human. May your journeys keep you safe and lead you to us once more on a distant day. «
»Bye« Dongrob looked up from the even more customised machine.
»Be safe, humie. « Leogronk respectfully half bowed.
Raralfor walked up and leaned to his ear and whispered loudly.
»Member humie. Tell no one, or I'll krump ya. «
Then they left and walked towards the nearest sewer exit after several turns of dark tunnels. Aprillien mounted a rusted ladder and climbed up. Before opening the manhole, he looked back at the Skaven, whose yellow eyes still eerily lingered in the deep blackness.
»I hope we meet again, Flinder. I really do. «
»So do we-us, Aprillien. «

A clawed paw waved goodbye and the rat creature dissapeared. Aprillien exited the underground carefully, stood up and looked around. He expected to see the massive crowd, the Ultramarines and even riots, but instead all the streets around him were completely empty, showing no signs of anything happening. He walked up to dried remains of a bloody puddle, covered with a few feathers. The only evidence that he did not imagine the entire thing.
»How long was I really gone? «