Adelana sat in the eating chamber and took another fork full of the food laid out on the table before her and stared at the wall. Thinking things over, she didn't know what she was going to do, working in the Audacious Edge as civilian staff did seem perfect, but would Inquisitor Enandra accept her request? Would she even let Adelana leave service as a Throne Agent? Three years ago, when Adelana watched her world die, she'd threatened to commit...commit...to end herself. Still, the Inquisitor hadn't liked that using the saying "only in death does duty end." and that Adelana had "potential". So would she do it again? Force Adelana into continuing fighting?

A sting of anxiety shivered inside her chest; she couldn't go back; it was too much. Too much.

She clenched her teeth and managed to smother that feeling. Adelana couldn't handle it any more. It was ironic she of all people should be driven to take down that bastard Etuarq it was her world that died because of him. Adelana frowned, wishing Seleen was here, she was always supporting and held wisdom in her advice.

But what was worst of all was the guilt, when she'd said sorry to Attelus earlier, she'd meant it. She felt like she was abandoning them, and she was, but she just couldn't do it any more. The bloody horrible conflict on Sarkeath and all the horrific shit she'd seen and done in the three years since the death of Omnartus, it was too much. Far too much.

Attelus seemed to understand, and she hoped he would speak on her behalf if Inquisitor Enandra refused her request to leave service. But, she doubted that the Inquisitor would let her leave the organisation even if she allowed Adelana to stop fighting. She knew too much, or maybe if Enandra did, she might have Karmen Kons erase her memories of the vital secrets.

Her or the mute psyker Selva, assuming she was still alive the life of a Throne Agent was dangerous...Frig, now, to borrow a saying from Attelus, that was the understatement of the millennia! That or adjusting for time dilation, during their brief time on Sarkeath decades could've gone by back in the Calixis Sector. Adelana wished that they had an Astropath, but for some reason, the Inquisitor neglected to lend them one. Their Farseer ally could do it, Adelana was sure, but that would blow the secret of Attelus' alliance.

Although, it was obvious now that Enandra knew full well about it and this assignment had been a test to confirm it. Sarkeath was in the Gothic Sector which in galactic terms was south-east of Adelana's native Calixis Sector and, many, many, many light-years away, if they'd tried to travel there by the warp currents it would've taken months upon months or even years depending on how tame the Immaterium was between the jump points into material space.

But in the Webway it'd only taken them a couple of weeks, maybe that was why she didn't give them an Astropath? Because she knew if they completed their mission, they would come back to the Calixis Sector so fast, they wouldn't need one?

That was yet another uncertainty for them when they arrive back, now with the confirmation of their alliance with the Eldar, how will Inquisitor Enandra react? Adelana knew, like Attelus, Inquisitor Enandra was a dyed in the wool pragmatist; she was also a Radical she knew the lengths they had to go to defeat their enemy and, maybe, allying with Xenos might be the least of that. But, the point was they'd kept it a secret for the whole three years they had been under the Inquisitor's employment and...

Adelana pursed her lips, forcing her mind into silence using the meditation technique Autarch Raloth Arlyandor had taught her and Attelus during their time travelling to Sarkeath. She decided she needed to talk this over with Attelus and soon.

Adelana grimaced at that thought; she wasn't sure she wanted to speak to him now he was spending time with her...

Speaking of Raloth Arlyandor, she hadn't seen the Autarch since they'd first been picked up from the surface of Sarkeath. The Eldar, excluding the healers going in and out to look after Dellenger, had kept their distance this time around. No meetings, nothing, Adelana suspected this was because of Commissar Tathe and his men.

'I see you are quite deep in thought.'

The booming voice next to her made her jump so hard and fast, she flew off her chair like a bolter round and fell to the floor. Luckily, the wraithbone softened to save her from hurting herself.

A huge black armoured hand grew into her blurred vision. 'My apologies, I did not mean to frighten you.'

'Damn it, Kalakor!' Adelana snapped. 'Frig it! Emperor, damn it!'

'I gave you an apology, mamzel Adelana.'

Her heart still smashing, Adelana rolled over to look up at the Space Marine who towered over her like a hive city spire back on Omnartus. 'Just...Frig. Just please do not do that ever again!'

'Understood,' said Kalakor. 'I shall endeavour to never frighten you again. Unless the mission requires it.'

'W-what? Why would a mission require you to give me such a fright that it'd almost killed me!'

'The future is not pre-ordained; there might be a requirement for it in the future; you never know.'

Adelana couldn't even begin to think of a response to that, so she spent her energy getting to her feet instead, ignoring Kalakor's outstretched hand.

'Is there something you want, Kalakor?' she said, still fighting to regain her breathing.

'Indeed, I wish to discuss something with you.'

Adelana wanted to sigh but found it almost impossible, she could guess. 'What?'

'You are leaving the Inquisition.'

It was a statement not a question and exactly what Adelana thought he would say. 'Yes, I am. So, are you going to lecture me? Tell me I'm weak and pathetic and only in death does duty end and crap?'

'No,' said Kalakor, as he laid his huge hand gently on her shoulder. 'I wish to say that I understand.'

Adelana gaped, and that was all she could do.

Then without further word, the huge Astartes turned and left his power armoured footfalls somehow not making a sound, and Adelana couldn't help wondering for the hundredth time, just who in hell was Kalakor?


For the seventh time, Tathe tried to call Attelus Kaltos over the vox network and again, he received no response. He sat on his bed in his chamber and eclipsed his face into his hands. Since the Eldar had picked them up the young Throne Agent had spent most of the time either sulking in his room or inside Karmen Kon's chamber. He'd been a pain in Tathe's backside the second he'd met him back on Sarkeath., leading the Velrosian scouts under the orders of that psychopathic bastard Serghar Kaltos, or as he claimed to be named then, Inquisitor Tolbik of the Ordo Xenos to capture Attelus Kaltos. However, Tathe and his men didn't know it.

Serghar Kaltos, the father of Attelus Kaltos. Serghar Kaltos the epitome of the worst aspects of the Imperium of Mankind. The shit-head who'd expend Tathe's and all of his men's lives in a split-second to advance his plans even slightly.

So what did that say about his son? The son who'd slaughtered dozens of Tathe's men and...

Tathe shook his head, well, what did that say about himself? His General Tathe had betrayed them, turned to Chaos, slaughtered too many of Tathe's, their warriors, to count, then...

Then everything went to shit.

Sins of the father, right? Maybe he and Attelus Kaltos had more in common than he thought.

He was still a pain in the arse, though. To Tathe, it seemed the reason Attelus had really recruited him was that Tathe would take over the leadership role, so Attelus didn't have that burden. Since they had finished their battle against the Resurrected, it'd sure seemed that way.

Tathe cursed, he had done enough leading good men and women to their dooms he was sick of it, and now he was being manipulated into it by some little shit who...

He rubbed his eyes, maybe Tathe was taking his anger and grief out on the boy. Tathe was used to people dying around him, but Sarkeath had been hell, such hell that the Elbyran Contingent went from being 7,000 strong to only a few dozen survivors. Dellenger was the only survivor of the elite scout troopers, and he only lived because he was a freak like Attelus.

A freak who believed he was a 1,000-year-old hero of legend. Adrassil, the mercenary, the bodyguard of prince Royd Destrillion Antares himself and one of the greatest warriors to ever walk the earth of Elbyra, and, well...Dellenger was one of the best warriors Tathe had ever encountered, and he had met...

Then something hit Tathe like a punch to the face, why hadn't Dellenger aged? This made Tathe take his face from his hands. As far as Tathe knew, Dellenger had never had any rejuvenant treatments, so how?

But most importantly, how didn't Tathe notice this until now?

He groaned and rubbed his eyes. Emperor damn Attelus Kaltos and the frigging Inquisition! It seemed every damn time those bastards slink out of their shadows; everything just becomes so much more complicated.

And now he was going to join their ranks for some higher calling to stop some psychopathic former Inquisitor who's been causing Exterminatus' across the damn Imperium for a reason the Emperor only knew.

Tathe stood up so fast, he almost fell over and stormed for the door. Enough wasting time feeling sorry for himself, he needed to talk to that little fool.

The little fool who could slice Tathe's throat open before he could blink, but a little fool all the same.

Tathe stormed down the corridor, his jaw clenched, and as he came to Karmen Kons' door he made sure to bring his augmented fist to bear to bash against it, but Tathe pause as he remembered.

It'd been a damned Inquisitor who had cut it off. A new even more potent wave of rage hit him, and it took all his will to take control of it, if he hit this Xenos material too hard, it would probably break his fist and...

'Commissar?' said a voice and it gave Tathe such a fright he almost drew his laspistol, and he turned to find it was the young woman, Adelana approaching him. 'Are you okay?'

Tathe exhaled a couple of times. 'Y-yes I'm okay.'

She tilted her head. 'With respect, Commissar, you don't seem okay to me.'

Despite himself, Tathe couldn't help bark a laugh.

'What's so funny, sir?' she asked.

'Nothing, it's just funny because that's probably the first time I've heard someone say that and actually meant it respectfully.'

Adelana smiled slightly. 'I...I can see why you would find that humorous.'

'You are an intelligent young woman, Adelana; you can appreciate the irony, can't you?'

She shrugged. 'I guess, I just haven't being used without any respect, so...'

Tathe sniggered. 'I just want to talk to your little boyfriend-'

That made Adelana look away.

'Oh, sorry.'

'It's fine. It's fine.' she said, but the sudden hoarseness in her voice showed otherwise. 'So, you're angry at him? At us?'

'N-not at you, but at him, certainly.'

'Because it was him that made you and your men go into the battle which killed so many of you?'

Tathe sighed. 'I...don't know, maybe. But I think that needed to happen no matter what. It's just; everything's gone to shit.'

'Yeah, it has,' she said and tears suddenly shone in her pretty blue eyes. 'I'm sorry about that and all of your men and everything.'

'Hey, it's alright. At least my home-world isn't dead.'

'No...I guess not.'

Tathe rolled his eyes. 'Shit! I'm sorry. I'm supposed to be some great orator and leader, and yet I keep sticking my boot in frigging my mouth today.'

'That's okay. We're all under stress.'

He shrugged. 'That is true, but I, as a Commissar of the Imperial Guard. I should be able to handle this kind of crap.'

'Well, we all have a breaking point.'

Tathe's eyes shot to hers; he supposed she knew that more than most.

Before he could reply the door into Karmen's room slid open, and she stood in the entranceway wearing her form-fitting black bodyglove. Attelus lingered in the background wearing his black flak jacket, grey bodyglove and blue jeans, hands in his pockets, watching with wide nervous eyes.

'You wish to speak to us,' said Karmen, folding her arms across her diaphragm, then she leaned her head out to look at Adelana. 'And you did too?'

Adelana just turned and stormed off.

A smile Tathe didn't like crossed Karmen's attractive face then she turned back to Tathe.

'You coming in or what?'