Tales of the Amber Vipers Chapter 343

The fat round flew from the barrel of the weapon, seemingly slow to Reddam's eye. It shot through the crowd and impacted the nearest Black Legionnaire, then ignited in a blinding flare of burning Phosphor. The Traitor became a pillar of flame, blazing fiercely as flames tore through the joints between Ceramite plates and incinerated the flesh and bones beneath. Raw fire clawed through the respirator and raked the lungs while eyeballs popped as the jelly within boiled. There wasn't even time to scream before the cur collapsed as a pile of ashes and cherry red Ceramite plates, reduced to nothing.

Reddam's autosenses whited out to preserve his vision, but he knew the other Traitor was still out there. In an instant he calculated where the scum was, then allowed a minor shift to the right, assuming they would have veered away from the blazing aura. His arm flashed and the spear shot away, crackling energy enveloping the end where it cut the air. A sharp crack resonated in his ears, a sound of something heavy hitting the floor and Reddam knew he'd struck true. Moments later his autosenses returned, revealing the Black Legionnaire laid out, the Power spear buried deep in his hearts.

"Nice cast," Joffel breathed in awe.

"Thank Wrexal, he created the opening," Reddam dismissed as he jogged over and retrieved his spear.

"How did you get back to us?" Kerubim asked the resurrected Amber Viper.

Wrexal slapped the Phusil, then touched his brow before placing two fingers to his heart. The marine had no vocal cords to speak but Torvus translated, "He says he woke up alone, didn't find us but heard shouting and came to help."

"Good job you did," Tebes sighed, "We were in trouble."

Wrexal tapped his vambrace thrice and Torvus translated, "He's glad to help, and its damned good to have you back Brother."

Anaxar interrupted, "Sorry to break up this touching reunion, but our problems aren't over. Look..." Reddam glanced down and saw his kill had vanished, leaving no trace they were ever there. The other was gone too, both bodies disappearing in the moment he wasn't looking. Reddam knew what that meant, the Traitors weren't finished, the shattered chronology of this ship wouldn't let them die. They would return, and soon.

"Anaxar, which way?!" Reddam barked.

"This way!" the hoary old Marine called as he set off in a dead run.

Reddam and the rest fell in as the turns came and went. Through the bowels of the ship they headed, charting a winding course. Reddam's sense of direction was keen but he was struggling to keep track. He guessed they couldn't head straight to the launch bay, not without running foul of the twisted temporal traps of the ship, so they had to steer around the obstacles. Anaxar led them a merry dance around the snares, sometimes racing down broad avenues, at others squeezing through service corridors so tight they had to travel in single file.

The ship grew stranger as they headed on. At one point Reddam was running down a passage so pristine the scents of shipyard incense and purity wax hung in the air. The next turn they were galloping along a juddering corridor, where the sound of guns firing shook deckplates and alarums wailed. Then through a passageway so heavy with dust he thought his respirator would clog. There was no rhyme or reason to the changes, random pockets of time coming and going.

"Where are the crew?" Larus pressed as they ran.

"They come and go," Anaxar replied, "Wasn't entirely alone these many years, but most of them are no help. Trapped in their own cycles of time. Majority of them went stark raving mad, the rest are shells of men, without any wit to speak of."

"And how did you survive the Black Legion?" Kerubim enquired.

"Mostly by avoiding them, fighting when I had to, running when I could," Anaxar spat, "They love chasing me, but I have an advantage they don't."

"We could really use an advantage right now!" Joffel barked.

"Where do you think I'm heading?!" Anaxar hissed.

"What?!" Reddam yelped.

Anaxar screeched to a halt, coming to a stop in a nondescript junction. Reddam couldn't see any difference from the others they had passed, but Anaxar grinned toothlessly as he set his trident butt-down. Reddam was about to ask what had happened but then he spied looming shadows racing towards them, chainswords in hand. The pair of Black Legionnaires, coming at them again. No mark upon their plate could be seen, no hint of the damage inflicted, and they charged headlong into the fray.

Wrexal lifted his Phusil but Anaxar pushed the barrel down, "No need, I've got this."

"You can't escape us this time!" a deep growl issued from the leader of the pair.

But Anaxar cupped a hand to his mouth and called, "Eat Kroot-droppings, you grox-fondlers!"

Reddam gripped his spear tight, ready to fight but was surprised when the first Traitor was flung sideways. He blinked, for no shot had struck the filth, no bolt round or shotgun had touched them but the cur staggered as if struck in the side. Again he flinched and a crater formed from nowhere in his pauldron, and another across his belly, invisible impacts striking from nowhere. Then his head exploded, spraying brains across the wall.

Reddam was astonished but the other was not yet dead. The Black Legionnaire fell to his knees, blood gushing from a vicious wound across his belly. It looked like a chainsword had been rammed into his gut but his head came up, "There is no escape."

"For you," Anaxar sneered, "Me, I'm getting out of here."

"Nobody..." the filth hissed but then the rent in his belly ripped upwards and his hearts fell out of his chest. The cur collapsed face first, then suddenly was gone, they both were, leaving no trace behind.

"What..." Joffel gasped, "The ever-living Frak, just happened?!"

Anaxar grinned, "Their deaths caught up with them."

"I don't follow," Kerubim groaned.

"They died in the ship, they always die, always the same way. Their deaths are a done deal see, they are cursed to repeat them for eternity. Good job too, kept me alive. All I had to do was stay ahead of them and they die again."

"Are they..." Reddam started, "I don't have the term for it... are they... gone?"

"Usually don't see them again for a few sleeps afterwards, I think we're safe."

"Interesting as this is, hadn't we better keep going?" Larus interjected.

"Too right, come on!"

Anaxar led them at a brisk pace, not so hectic but fast enough. This time they headed straight for the launch bay and Reddam was heartened when he began to recognise the surroundings. In a few minutes they reached the heavy door and saw it was as pristine as ever. Kerubim moved to the runepad but the rest took up guard, in case more threats emerged.

Anaxar looked up, "So many days spent looking at this door, so many times wishing I could step through."

"Never tempted to leave?" Joffel asked.

"Leave?!" Anaxar spat in disgust, "I wouldn't dream of it."

Larus sneered, "Oh I see, afraid to die in the vacuum beyond, if the Thunderhawk wasn't there?"

"No, I just would never abandon you lot to this accursed ship!"

Reddam was touched by the sentiment, but then a sharp cry from Torvus drew his eye, only it wasn't the Brother-Sergeant who was in distress. Wrexal was slumping forward, blood fountaining from the wet ruin of his neck. The silent Amber Viper, so brave and stoic, fell onto his face, crushing his Phusil under his bulk. Torvus fell to his knees, heaving desperately at his squad-mate's pauldron, only to be stunned when Wrexal disappeared, leaving no trace he had ever been there.

"Where'd he go?!" Torvus yelled.

"His death caught up to him," Anaxar lamented.

"What does that mean?!" Torvus yelled.

Anaxar's voice was grim, "Wrexal died here, and so he will always die. I warned you, I told all, don't die here. The ship has him now, he's part of it. Wrexal is stuck between tick and tock, he will never escape."

"Don't say that! He was right here!" Torvus bounded up, hands grabbing the naked Marine. Torvus was young, he was conditioned and well-honed and clad in power armour, he effortlessly lifted the withered old warrior and slammed him into a wall. Everybody stood aghast but Reddam reacted, throwing his hand out to catch Torvus' pauldron. The Sergeant swung his arm to break contact but Reddam yanked him back with a harsh cry, "Stand down Sergeant!"

Torvus was conditioned to obey and let go, but he snarled, "He said Wrexal's dead!"

"He is," Anaxar spat, "You saw him die twice!"

"He came back, and he'll come back again. We can take him with us and break the cycle."

"It doesn't work that way," Anaxar groaned.

"You don't know that!"

Reddam's anger peaked, "Sergeant, we don't understand anything. Taking Wrexal off the ship might kill him permanently."

"Better that than leave him here, to die over and over again. Trapped with madmen and Traitors, fighting enemies who can't die, all alone. That's a living hell."

Reddam sighed, "We can't stay."

But Torvus snarled, "We can't leave without him!"

"We must, there are a score of other Brothers who yet live, think of them."

"You go then, I'll stay and look for Wrexal."

Everyone blinked and Tebes gasped, "You volunteer to remain in this living hell?!"

"He's my squadmate, I won't leave him," Torvus declared.

"Damned idiot," Anaxar spat, "You have no idea what you're saying."

"I know what abandoning Wrexal means," Torvus retorted, "Cold hearts, fast blades and unbreakable in our loyalty to each other. That is the Amber Viper way."

"Yes," said Reddam sadly, "So it is."

Torvus was caught off guard when Reddam's spear butt rammed into his gut. He folded over, only to be slammed back by a rising twist of the weapon, he staggered and Reddam drove the haft laterally into him, knocking Torvus down. Quick as a flash the Captain was behind him, spear laid across his throat and both hands gripping tight as he pulled back, closing the windpipe. Torvus thrashed madly, he elbowed backwards and tried to kick but was pinned in a vice. His multi-lung tried to inflate, but the airway was closed and he could draw no breath.

Reddam held on grimly, unyielding in his resolve. He could have broken Torvus' back but held him still instead, unflinching in the face of what must be done. Thirty seconds passed and then Torvus fell limp, overcome by oxygen deprivation. He fell into unconsciousness and his helm slumped sideways. Reddam finally let go as he hissed, "I've lost one Brother to this hellscape, I'll be damned if I lose another."

Tebes grabbed Torvus' body, and along with one of his squad, lifted the unconscious sergeant, "We're going?"

"Yes," Reddam spat firmly.

"But Wrexal..." Kazao protested.

"He's dead," Anaxar sighed, "You can't help him, none of us can. Wrexal is gone, and if you don't want to join him then we have got to leave."

Heads hung low but the decision was made. The Amber Vipers were leaving one of their own behind, unable to aid the dead. It struck the hearts of all, but there was no other way. Reddam understood loyalty could be a double-edged sword, sometimes the good of the unit demanded sacrifices be made. Trying to save one could kill all. Captain Reddam couldn't allow that, he had to accept Wrexal wasn't coming back and lead the living out while they still had the means to do so.

"If anyone cares the doors been ready for over a minute," Kerubim declared.

Reddam ordered, "Anaxar, deflate your lungs and inflate your multi-lung. Head straight to the Thunderhawk. Void is no easy thing to endure without armour, but you'll manage. Everyone else, move out!"

The hatch parted and the wind rushed out into space. Reddam led them through the opening, into the vast expanse of the launch bay. Torvus' prone form was carried along, his wroth would be fierce upon waking but Reddam would accept it so long as he would live. The door closed behind them, sealing off the atmospheric leak. Ahead rested Hellhound, right where they left it. Reddam was relieved, if the gunship had been taken by the ship he didn't know what they would have done.

Steadily he led the squads to the open ramp, Anaxar clinging to Joffel's backpack the whole way as the fluid in his eyeballs evaporated. Up the ramp they marched, into the troop compartment, then it sealed behind them as the air was pumped into the hold. Reddam turned to look back as the ramp swung closed. He didn't know what he expected to see, Black Legionnaires charging after them, or worse Wrexal, racing to catch up in desperation to escape his doom. There was no such sight, only the empty bay and silence.

Reddam watched till the hatch sealed tight, then landing thrusters ignited and Hellhound took off. The gunship hovered in the bay, then rotated and fired main thrusters. Into the black of night Hellhound shot, flying away from this eternal hellscape, back to the blessed safety of the Nest. So the Amber Vipers departed, not once looking back, but knowing they had left one of their own behind, to suffer for all eternity.