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As the days- No as the hours of every day ticked by I was getting nervous. Over a week and a half had passed Elor made it perfectly clear I was on the clock and that time was very well running out, especially for him. I didn't know how long I had through and that did not help my growing anxiety. Tinker had found that Aquila lander and had been working day and night to reinforce the hull and widen the cockpit so he could fit in. Engine-wise it took some serious scrounging to find some main engine and replacements for the thrusters. The best part of this downed vessel and the Ork's sheer lack of organization meant that some serious scrounging by the Orks or Gaunts would eventually turn up something.

That there was a chassis that could be used to speed up and make the construction safer, plus all the parts about the vessel were good. But it soon filled me with dread at what the next shoe dropping would bring. That is how this goes, how it's always gone. I get lucky then something comes along to complicate manners and now I'll have to solve it.

At first, I wonder if an Ork counterattack was in store for me. But my Lictor scouts kept reporting back nothing and with the dead trees, sheer lack of foliage, and the general destitute landscape. I would undoubtedly notice if Orks of all things were coming here in force. The ship was being cleared out and most Orks found within were little more than Gretchen or boyz too underdeveloped to be a threat and were either killed as snacks for my brood. Or had my Genestealer implant them to serve as quick labor for Tiner and his mechboyz. Just so I could keep more Gaunts at the perimeter, which was a very tight crescent at the entry point I was using. Sure I could have dropped some more troops but I didn't want to give an outwards impression that I was here to stay.

I was going to leave and didn't want the Exodites to think otherwise and ask their Craftworld kin to help bulldoze me to the ground. After killing Absalom that is. With the Ork rooted out as the main threat to me, it would have to be the Eldar. I was just going to assume they were going to attack anytime tomorrow until I had Absalom and was in space. I was staring into the ruined landscape when Tinker sent me a message, he was happy as an Ork could be, and focusing on him told me he was floating the aircraft around the hanger. He finally got it working, it was already sealed up and had its wing patches together so how it was time to get Elor out here for the next and more complicated aspect.

A sizable escort followed me out of the camp. The tents had been cleaned up to deny cover for attackers. The parts of the wooden walls that weren't knocked down came tumbling over soon enough. Anyone attacking would need to run a course of splintered wood, slowing any infantry down, in theory, that is. It might not actually help. But the opening killing field where an attacker could either charge from the south or venture through a broken down vessel sure would.

My bodyguards shielded me as always until I found a branch I had placed a few days prior. It was about hip height and had a smaller stick grown out to make it an impromptu Y. Untying the cloak from my waist it fits easily on the hanger I had found. It would stay on in case the wind decided to pick up, which was my primary concern here.

So I just tied an obviously made Eldar cloak to a branch I had placed days ago. And I couldn't help but groan exacerbated.

"Oh God, I hope no one else watching me finds this the slightest bit suspicious..." Elor spoke about being impatient so perhaps it would take a long for him to show up.


I was right, Elor didn't take very long to get back to me, a bit too fast really. Showing up that very night I put the signal up.

"Was he out there spying on me? Was the man that eager to get her out of here? Just how far were things escalating with the Exodites that Elor felt the need to wait outside my encampment for the first sign that I was ready?" That got me nervous as some Gaunts lead him past the kill zone and to my little hut. I tried to stow those emotions as he entered to not give the impression that I was feeling off about something. To try and look unconcerned and ready for what should be a quick trade-off. She was there, of course, I wanted to reinforce the idea that I was taking good care of her.

"Found what you were looking for?" He did really sound interested in my answer, the niceties he tried using on me were clearly nothing more than an attempt to drive me towards a specific action. Ideally leaving the planet after handing over his lady friend.

Nevertheless, I nodded as my answer. "I'm ready to exchange her for Absalom, can you make things happen on your end? Will the girl's family assist in any way?"

"I have found support in the most likely category, they shall ensure everything goes according to plan." His answer was plain and tone civil, which I decide to interpret as a good sign.

"And by plan, you mean late night in the coming days you'll being Absalom here to trade, correct."

"Behind you encampment, the opposite side of the ship by the large gash in the side father's towards the stern." When I raised a brow and rolled my hand he elaborated. "The method I came in front it far too guarded, and my consistent bartering with you had raised... Oh what is the word... Concerns. If this trade is to occur with the least possible chance of interference, then it must occur behind the location everyone has been scouting."

"Alright, I get that, and when exactly can you make this exchange?"

"Tomorrow, night, it's a new moon, and far darker, I shall come to you, simply place the cloak out there and remain standing there, your companion will be brought there with a light escort. Is that satisfactory?"

I smiled. "More than satisfactory." Tomorrow night I'll get Absalom back and get off this world at the same time. It was almost too good to be true and I couldn't help but get a voice trying to write off all the ways this could end poorly.

"If that is all I would like to make my own preparations for my departure. Tomorrow night sounds well enough." I suppose letting him know just how imminent me leaving could only help my case. Simply by suggesting I'd be off his homeworld as soon as possible.

Elor gave a passing glance at her and nodded. She seemed to mirror the gesture and I took it as a sign they were eager to finally have her back as I was with getting Absalom back. "Then with that matter sorted, I shall make the necessary preparation in moving your companion to here. You shall have the far simpler part of waiting about here."

I extended my hand and maintained the happy grin, he shook it with only a few seconds of staring that I chalked up to wanting this to be over. I was of similar thinking really, and the two Eldar quickly shared some words in their language.

"Nice and easy, I'll get Absalom back then we'll be off looking for greener pastures elsewhere." Things were progressing well, but somehow, in some way, I felt like that could still change in an instant. That perhaps tomorrow I was either going to leave or some people were going to die...


I remember when my family was going to Disneyland for the second time and I was so excited I woke up at four in the morning and couldn't go back to sleep. I just got ready and sat in bed because I was worried if I started up the TV it would wake somebody. That's pretty much what happened here. I got zero sleep, just checking with Tinker to ensure the ship was fueled up and ready. It could lift off and hover and I couldn't find any cracks in the plating that could have let air escape. Looked over every inch of the interior really. Then inspected the wound of my hostage and ensured she was well fed and presentable. Had my Gaunts clear a path directly to the hanger in case I needed to run. Had the Biocrusier position itself over the opening I was supposed to meet Elor at. Checking the lasgun and still not being able to tell how much ammo it had, and just shouldering the thing. Finally, the armored vest Absalom had brought me a put to use, at last, going under my shirt to maybe hide the fact I was afraid of being shot.

Then just sat in the hanger bay focusing on the sights, sounds, and any other sensations my brood was getting. It was all I could do, as sleep wasn't much of an issue for me anyway. It was relaxing to do so, in some weird way. To focus on my consciousness expanded outwards to encompass all these creatures with their own bodily functions. Yet they weren't individuals, just bits and pieces of me, like cells in the body but I could detect every single one of them. I don't know how I was able to handle it nor figured it out, it was like this thing they implanted into me automatically did much of what was needed. Like the synapses in my brain zapping currents to get my lungs moving, it was so off yet now they thought of removing it seemed ludicrous. As if I was thinking about carving an organ out.

"If this thing is a parasite why am I still in control of all of my motor functions... Or am I?" The Hybrids could switch between acting perfectly human to being little more than automatons. Could I just be free without the intelligence of a real Hivemind around? Could this thing in my head be waiting for a connection to lock me into becoming just an extension of the Hivemind? Or was I really a Hivemind myself?

That existential crisis was what I tossed around my head for a while before coming to an answer.

That I wouldn't know until it happened, so just don't come near any existing Hivefleet.

The next few hours dragged on at a snail's place. I had a Termagant place the cloak on a stick out where it needed to be as the sun dipped below the tree line. I took my hostage, who knew what was happening so she just followed along with her head held high. No doubt trying to look as proud as she could to her kin. Even though she was missing an arm and held captive for quite some time.

It didn't take long to traverse the rubble and ended up at the opening, or just the massive gash at the side of the vessel. Like a meteorite rammed into it and then fell out, the side looked more smashed than torn off. My Tyranid Warrior loomed over us, ready to intervene if anything went wrong. Thirty Hormagaunts formed a curved screen around the entrance while forty Termagants formed a firing line behind us. It was extremely dark, even with my enhanced eyesight I could barely see anything. Then we just waited, the sun dipping lower and lower and I wonder just what Elor was waiting for.

I could feel Absalom in the distance as the two of us could speak telepathically.

"Do you know what this hold up is?"

"They two seem to be arguing, I cannot say what... Elor seems adamant about something."

"Adamant about what?" I asked more myself than Absalom.

Eventually, they were moving and I steadied myself for the slightest hint that something was wrong. But everything was riding smooth, Elor only had five guards and simple shuriken rifles. They made it about ten yards from the Hormagaunt shield before stopping. They all had a lot more body armor encompassing their forms with a glow emitting from it, plus they all had helmets. Which could be for them to see better.

"As promised your companion safely delivered." Elor held a warm smile and gestured at my hostage. But I seized her by the arm, I just had this feeling all of a sudden.

"We'll do a simultaneous exchange, you walk out I'll walk out." I started to move with the Tyranid Warrior taking positions beside her and his smile fell at the sight of the synaptic creature moving. Nevertheless, he also took Absalom's arm and moved to join me. Although he was a lot slower so I ended up exiting the Hormagaunt screen before relinquishing my hostage. He did the same and they took up positions opposite one another and I tensed at the moment. Waiting for anything to occur as Elor gave a once over of her before turning to nod at me.

"Then our exchange is done, I... appreciate the care you took of her and the attempt at diplomacy. I'm certain this could have ended with vastly more blood than it has."

"I'm glad you took the risk to make any of this happen." With that we turned and moved back, this was all fine, perhaps I was feeling a bit paranoid back then but otherwise- Why is Elor running?

He took her and bolted back and I did not like the implications that held. I wanted to shove Absalom in front of the Tyranid warrior's bulk to shield him but the man beat me to it, no doubt hearing my thoughts. He grabbed me and try to spin me around but as soon as I was in front of Absalom a sniper took his shot. A blue beam lit up the darkness and shot through Absalom's back and out his lung. The angle of it was sharp so it seared through my armored vest like it was nothing and missed my right lung but burned through my gut then fully exiting out my back.

At once the Tyranid Warrior scooped both of us up in either hand to flee. Its back was pelted with sniper fire but it shrugged off the pain from having chunks of its body burned off. It couldn't ignore the Banshee's raining from the ceiling. How they got up there nor how any of us missed then I didn't know but my Termagant firing line was completely unprepared and soon I had the Tyranid Warrior dropping me off at the entrance to the ship so it could join the melee. Twin Termagants followed me as my Hormagaunts were picked off with surprising speed and shuriken fire joined in cutting them down. As cloaked warriors spilled out of the darkness.

I cradled Absalom in my arms and ran as fast as I could down the rusted, ruined hallway to the evacuation ship. The man coughed out blood and I felt his mind impart into me a desire to just drop him and bolt for the ship. To save myself and protect the brood overall.

Absalom was slowing me down and I could have taken the offer and followed through, and if I was able to punch myself at that moment I would have. As I legitimately considered the act. He's my responsibility, they all were, plus with backup inbound to flank the Eldar and plenty of Gaunts and Raveners bolting or sliding through the metallic halls. All coming to engage the attackers closing in just behind me. Only the Termagants shooting ragged bursts back at them and the rubble I had to climb over kept me from being shot. But it was enough it was more than enough even with my gut still bleeding profusely.

One would think the shot and blood loss would have made me weaker but I still surged on. That scar on the back of my neck was thumbing like a vein, telling me it wasn't just adrenaline spurring me onwards. The strength I held allowed me to maintain a steady pace even with the heavy man cradled in my arms. Plus I had a preplanned route to the Aquila for this exact situation. The Lictors and Genestealers leaped out from an air duct or side room to eviscerate a foolish Eldar. Focused on me and not on any potential threats around them. All these elements combined told me leaving Absalom behind was completely unnecessary, I could make it to the ship with him.

But would he live that long?

My mind said yes, he was going to be fine, it was a single burning shot that cauterized fast and a bit of pressure would seal it right up. Like I was for me, I didn't even feel any more blood leaking out. The telepathic link we shared told me a far harsher story, I healed better because I was part Tyranid and he was a brainwashed human. His left lung was filling fast and his breathing growing harder, I knew the strain Absalom was under to stay awake. I did what I could to reach out and encourage him to hang on. To use every drop of strength to work through the pain and hold the wound shut. It was helping, he was holding on, but I knew blood was leaking out from both sides of his wound. A void steadily opened where he was and I fought to keep it away, to close it, but ultimately there was little I could do.

It was the equivalent of watching a heartbeat monitor go wilder and wilder while desperately calling for a nurse. Expected here there was no one, I had nobody that could heal Absalom, and this jolting sprint was not helping his condition. It was only at the approach of some Hormagaunts and Raveners did I feel there was a chance for him to rest.

They sprinted past to do battle with the Eldar assailants and I dropped to my knees and laid Absalom. The floor was too cold and hard but it was all I could to besides rip my shirt clean off, with strength that momentarily shocked me. I pressed the fabric to his wound and I didn't even try having him speak as I knew just keeping his eyes open was a challenge. So instead I used our link.

"You're gonna be okay, this will be fine, we have a moment so just relax." The powered blades of the Banshee's hacked into the biological scythes of the Raveners and pained the walls with purple ichor. They fought gracefully while my Tyranids fought like the animals they were. I felt the immediate combat, the drop pods finally land and unleashed its murderous cargo into the Eldar. Not to mention Tinker getting the Aquila's engine's started up for our getaway. None of it could nor would distract me from the fading life in my arms.

"Great Carrier, I cannot survive..."

"You will, not don't say that!" More and more of my brood dropped as they tore down open Eldar after Eldar. It was not a fair exchange rate, I was losing far more of my troops than they were. "We're going back into orbit and seeing the family once more. You can't if you don't hang on!"

"There is no way for me to live through this... Great Carrier, I am fortunate to have been a part of the brood it was an experience I wouldn't trade in a lifetime. But for its sake, for your sake, I must pass..."

"Forget the brood you cannot die, don't you dare! I demand you to live- Absalom!" He faded fast, letting the void consume his place in it. I tried stopping it I really did, but his mind was made up and I was far too late to dissuade him. His body fell limp, and a black space opened up where he was and I just stared at the empty eyes and accepting smile Adsalom's corpse wore.

It wasn't just him dying that stabbed a hole in my heart... it was the fact that he assumed it was for the good of the fucking brood that he died. That it would benefit everyone if he died so that I might move off and escape.

A Hormagaunt landed near me and I draped his body over it and locked myself to its back. We sped off and my mind screamed out one order to every single Tyarnid planet side.

"Kill every. Single. Eldar you see, and then take their spirit stone and crush it in your jaws!" As before I could've just will what I needed out to them. But I said every word and ensured I felt every crunch as many of my brood followed through when possible. For a moment I was them and worked my jaw as if I was consigning the unfortunate Xenos to a fate worse than death. It went on like that until I reached the hanger and the Hormagaunt leaped onto the ship. Without a moment's hesitation, the Ork Mechboys aimed at the hanger door and opened up with bullets and rocket fire. The ladder of the two munitions being enough to blast a hole big enough for the ship to exit. The Orks were completely silent as they broke off soon after to join in taking out as many Eldar as possible and smashing Spirit stones.

I laid flat as Tinker's poor flying skills and the rickety aircraft soared out of the hangar bay and rattled as it climbed into the upper atmosphere. We ascended fast and I kept in touch with my brood on the ground as long as possible. Straining my mind as more Eldar were killed and forever dammed to the belly of Slaanesh.


The boarding tentacle made for a decent enough entry point for the Aquila lander, we slid in rather rough but were otherwise okay. Arriving I was greeted by Norma and the other Hybrids who already sensed my pain, they knew the brood had lost a brother and their Great Carrier was hurting now. She came at me from the side and I gently placed Absalom's body on the hardened flesh floor. Just to receive her hug and the others as they piled in to try and suck the dry emotions from my body. To get the sense of failure to leave me alone and they were quite unsuccessful at that but I appreciated the sentiment. Some others couldn't get past to lay a hand on me and instead scooped up the body, they were going to wrap it up in some of the blankets they had. Just to hold the body for now...

"Why the hell did he have to come down there, huh?! Why couldn't he just stay up here with everyone else, this was a risk that I alone should have taken!" I thought angrily and tears threatened to leak out from me eyes. "Why didn't I try and send him back the moment he arrived?! Because he made good company to keep myself from being lonely? That was not a good explanation for putting his life at risk!"

Absalom was dead now because I couldn't keep all the Hybrids, my charges, up here where it was marginally safer. Absalom is dead now, because I lacked the strength to just get him back by force from the Exodites... The Eldar, they were the ones who took Absalom from the brood, Elor was going along with the attack, he helped orchestrate all of it. From the friendly attitude he sometimes brought on after the battle of the landing zone. My niceties and kind attitude towards them meant nothing to those people. This is Warhammer 40K after all. Eldar were arrogant pricks who saw me a a threat to that Maiden world whether I was willing to leave it be or not. I never wanted to take their lush home away from them even though it was the perfect place to settle.

"No not was, is. That location is better than any of the shit places Elor gave me and I didn't trust any of them anyway."

I reciprocated the warm hug from the Hybrids synaptically, the benefit of being connected in this way. And I could feel Norma and many other Hybrids openly purr at me conveying my gratitude through the link. The warmth and kindness was being sent to me from all directions. It was hard not to feel fuzzy at the sensations and emotions ghosting over my mind, they had all been sad from the loss and from how hollow and angry I was feeling. The way they reacted to me, knowing how I felt, and changing their sorrow to try and comfort me. My powers or just willingness and ease in using them had caused a growth in my abilities. So I was able to experience the Hybrids of my brood in the same way as my warriors but in a more pleasant way. I could understand how anyone could think of this as a family and just how well this lie could be maintained.

These people were all victims of the Tyranids. It was only good fortune that I was implanted with this ability. They weren't minions because of me deciding they were- no, I knew they were people. What I choose to do next shall affect them but that world was the one I wanted, for them to live peacefully and for revenge. For this injustice, the Eldar decided to inflict upon Absalom for no other reason than we set foot on a world none of us knew they owned.

I wanted that Maiden world so we could all have a somewhat nice home, secluded from the galaxy at large. To not be running around looking for scraps anywhere we could! However, to do so would require a lot more troops than I was capable of producing. If my ambitions would be realized I needed a really large troop count and the ability to make new troops. I needed a proper army.

There was this one place I knew of, with bioships just floating around in the back of space, and Tyranid organisms far more varied than what I currently possessed. A place currently under attack by a chaos legion with traitors and heretics seeping out from every shadow. A place where the defenders could never truly snuff out the Tyranid threat until a decade later and where I could get my fleet and army variety required to take that green gem world from the Exodites. Show them exactly what happens when they don't reciprocate my calm kindness.

"We're going back to sub-sector Aurelia..."