Names had power.
To know the name of something was to understand it, for it is the expression of that object or person. Everyone knew that, some had fought a war over it while others knew the significance through experience. It is what brought her here, to the abandoned city, the mess of abandoned buildings and unstable ground. A shadow of a once bright future left to rot in the wake of a tragedy
Zwei being the curious dog he was, had wandered off into the city leading his young owner along with him. Inevitably the ground bethen her feet gave out causing her to tumble down into the depths of the city's subway system. Except she didn't end up where she thought she would. Instead of seeing abandoned train cars and rails, she fell into an alcove to the side of the tracks; it was barren with only a large lump in the rear of the alcove.
With only the light of the broken moon she looked closer. It was clearly a machine, which shared a resemblance to the Atlesean Paladins she had fought, but was more curved and sleek than the Paladins. It had a clearly defined head with 2 exhaust pipes in the rear, what looked like an extremely large rotary cannon on its right arm while the left hand had a large mechanical hand. It was severely damaged with heavy denting and tearing, with a large gash on its left side exposing wiring as well as a severed right leg. It was caked in dust and covered in rubble. Curious, Ruby approached the robot with hesitance and carefully placed steps. She carefully wiped the dust away from an embedded banner in the robot's body with the word "RYLANOR" engraved in artistic lettering.
Then the great machine sparked to life. The exhaust pipes began to smoke with thick black smoke and the dead eyes of the helm lit up a dim blue. It turned its head toward Ruby shaking some of the dust off in the process exposing the semi metallic purple paint underneath. The head or helmet had a golden laurel crown with a weird grill where the mouth would be and reinforce plating along the cheeks.
' ?' It spoke in a deep choppy metallic voice clearly straining it voice.
The sudden question caused Ruby to jump from the machine and onto the ground frightened before scuttling away from the machine..
' . child' it demanded as its speech began to normalize
"Y..y..you're under Mountain Glenn she managed to stutter out
The ancient machine took the time to observe his surroundings, finding the hold in the ceiling and the shattered moon in the night sky 'What Planet am I on?' It demanded again
"We'll Remnant, what other planet could we be on" though she could not see his face she could feel a shift it it's mood. Gathering up all the bravery she had she asked on the question "Who or what are you?"
The machine stared at her for a second before announcing proudly 'I am he who remembers, he who remembers the past to shape the future, I am of the original third legion, I am Rylanor the Ancient of Rites'
"Ruby Rose" she responded more confidently " if you don't mind me asking what is the third legion?'
He stared at her again before contouring with another question 'how long has it been since all life was wiped from this world? How long since I slew the traitor?'
"I don't really understand what you're asking, Mountain Glenn has been abandoned for years but there's still life here"
'Then what happened to this hab unit'
"It was overrun by the Grimm, they tried to escape to the tunnels below the city but that failed to… how long have you been down here?" She said slowly approaching the machine
'I have sat for millennia waiting. Not here exactly but somewhere similar. I've waited a millennia to avenge my brothers but now I know not if I have succeeded' he said with rage slowly building up
"You've been here for a thousand years…that's…so cool were you created by the ancestors of Vale and then locked away or…" she began to ramble different possibilities
'ENOUGH!' He commanded 'have you not been listening, I am not from your world and not a machine. I come from an empire that spans countless stars and houses billions upon trillions of humans. An empire of majesty and science not ruled by religion and superstition but logic and reason. I was a defender of this empire, a proud Legiones Astartes from Terra the cradle of humanity. A leader amongst the third legion from its earliest days.' Rylanor said with pride
"So all these lesions are giant mechs or..."
'No we are the Emperor's finest, perfectly created to serve his will and bring the light of the Imperium to all humans. I am in this machine by both choice and force.'
Ruby tilted her head at this proclamation "how is that even possible"
'The day I became and Astarte was the day I swore to embody and uphold the Imperial Truth and shall do so to my last dying breath. This "mech" you call is called Dreadnought, the only thing keeping me alive. It is my armor and my sarcophagus'
"Why, wouldn't it be easier to heal you?" she said while climbing to eye level. At a closer inspection she could see he was telling the truth. Through the glowing blue lenses she could see the eyes of a warrior, one who has seen countless battles and won
'I am on the cusp of death for now until my death, this machine is the only thing keeping me alive, and as long as there is breath in my lungs. I shall fight to uphold the Imperium" He proclaimed
"But why, why fight when you must be in so much pain?" She said with a hint of sadness in her voice
'It's my duty, no amount of pain shall prevent me from fulfilling my duty, I swore to uphold and defend the Imperium at all cost and shall do so. You are a warrior like I, you must have a duty to something similar'
"Well…I guess yes…I'm not technically a huntress yet but I still feel the duty to help and protect others," she said while processing his words. She pace on the uneven ground stumbling occasionally
'Then you and I are not so different, both warriors swore to protect and uphold our societies.'Rylanor paused watching as the girl began to slowly agree with him, 'It is clear we both serve a purpose, though yours clearly more apparent'
"Yeah you're right…you said your purpose was to protect this Imperium of yours right?" The dreadnought nodded its helm " then you've faced obstacles like this before, obstacles like the Grimm?"
'I know not of these creatures but have face many a for and not yielded to them'
"Then maybe we can help each other," she said with building excitement
He sat there a second before the rotors cannon began to hum and rotate chambering a bolt 'To protect humanity is my purpose and thus shall provide aid to you' he said using the barrel of the cannon and his robotic fist to lift the ancient machine out of the earth. Now being able to see the dreadnought at its full height she could finally take in the details of the machine. The intricate gold accents, the sculpted two headed bird on his gorget, and a hint of what's left of the great warrior through the tear in the armor. 'I am injured but not immobile, lead the way young warrior'
"Y..y..yes sir" she said running off before stopping to look at the giant machine struggle to walk, "Are you sure you're okay to fight, we won't exactly have the element of surprise on the Grimm or the White Fang"
'Who are these Fangs' he commanded as he stumbled towards Ruby using the rotary cannon and the wall as a crutch
"They're Faunus who have turned to violence against humans" she said before quickly interjecting "but a lot of the Faunus are really nice and I don't know why people bully them, they're practically human after all"
'If what you say is true then these ab humanis fight against humanity then they are an enemy, those who ally with us shall be spared, now scout ahead It shall take me time to arrive' he said as he continues to stumble out of the alcove and into the main tunnel
"Will do see ya soon Ry" She said before speeding off, leaving a trail of rose petals
Interesting… She is a psyker yet is untouched by the warp Rylanor thought. It's not Chaos the Abomination was talking about but not natural, possible mutation. He continued this line of thought for a while analyzing it from every angle but was interrupted after a while by a scream.
Rylanor began to hobble with more speed before trying to break out into a run before falling down, his carapace thudding against the steel of the tracks. The sounds of battle soon followed as he brought himself up again. The rage he felt when facing his former Primarch began to boil again before spilling over into the new environment. The betrayal, the new world, and new enemies formed into a new determination. An orange glow began to emanate from his right as the assault cannon began to glow with heat and burn with flames. His exhaust pipes and lenses began to glow orange and spew pitch black smoke and fire while his missing leg reformed with charcoal and flames. It wasn't chaotic energy, it was different, more akin to fighting with a Primarch. With new resolve he picked himself up and sprinted through the tunnels
He spotted a train leaving with several boxy machines around it and dark animalistic creatures around. Spinning up his rotary cannon he let forth a fury of bolts haphazardly shooting anything moving. The bolts ripped through the aura of the White Fang grunts causing more chaos, they returned fire only for their shots to bounce off his adamantium sarcophagus. Charging forth he crushed the 'cab' of one of the paladins. More of those Paladins fired upon him only to be either crushed by his power first or shredded by his assault cannon. Continuing his advance, though slowed by the copious amounts of Grimm flooding the tunnels.
The battle raged for minutes as Rylanor slew the Grimm as if they were nothing, until the Grimm decided to rush down the tunnels, taking this as a sign, he followed them bursting out into a sprint, seeing various holes blown into the tunnel with more Grimm flooding through it, up ahead several hundred meters away was a large hole and what appeared to be a ramp made out of a train. Steeling himself he climbed up the train, emerging into the center of a strange city, with various large buildings, shops and trees around it. The concrete that was the center of the park was broken and shifted along with the copious amounts of the Grimm around there. Reloading his autocannon, he charged forth, crushing the Grimms head and accurately shooting the creatures with his assault cannon. In the corner of his vision he saw the young girl he had met fighting against the Grimm along with a few other girls, though every Grimm they killed was immediately replaced by two more.
Rylanor fought valiantly doing his best to display the superiority of Humanity, he fought on killing the more and more grimm as time went on, he began to fatigue, the strain dreadnought put on him grew more and more, the new leg that had formed began to feel weakened, yet he fought on, crushing and shooting any Grimm he saw.
A low rumble temporarily stopped the battle, a huge armored claw reached out from beneath the Earth carrying a huge mass of bone armor and Grimm along with it. Rylanor's auspects picked up the world's reinforcements flying in yet they still had a ways to go. Standing tall, Rylanor stared down the Massive Ursa major. His cannon was running low on ammo and his strength was diminishing but it mattered not to him. Both breaking out into a dead sprint they clashed in the center.
Rylanor stuck first with various punches to the creature clamming the side of his cannon against the beast face. The Ursa tanked the hits before taking its massive claw and slashing down on the Dreadnaught. It had little effect with the only noticeable damage being a hole clawed into Rylanor's helmet exposing his eye and flesh. Responding to the strike he unloaded the rest of the ammo he had into the beast yet it still stood. Resorting back to using the cannon as a bat he smashed the side against the side of the beast. They traded blows and slammed each other on the grounds and buildings. By this point the breach had been sealed with the sole Grimm being the Ursa. The dreadnought finally got the upperhand, slamming his cannon in a jab before grabbing the head of the beast and pulling up. With a great deal of force, he ripped the head of the beast off before he collapsed to one knee. Taking a moment to breathe he turned around seeing the group of Huntsman cameras and civilians.
A cacophony of questions erupted around the dreadnought, but was turned out by the searing pain Rylanor felt in his down at his power fist he saw it heating up and flaking away slowly like ash. Looking back at the group he spotted a calm man dressed in a green three piece suit.
"Excuse Sir, would you kindly dismount from your mech, I would like to speak with you in private." He commanded
'To do so would require my death'
"You are not one of Ironwoods pet project's are you now"
'I know not of this human, but I am not one of his projects'
"Then who are you"
Rylanor looked past to see a specter of a flaming man, his black armor decorated with human bones, and various arms, mechadendrites and a plasma gun on it back. His arms were bare with only metal covering part of his arms. Behind him stood various space marines each aflame and decorated with bones. Seeing that more of his sarcophagus flaked more he stood taller and spoke proud.
'I am of the Third Legiones Astartes, the Emperor's Children from the Imperium of Man. The one who knows and remembers. I recall the virtues of my legion and the Imperium stand for, I recall the struggles and victories we have fought and gained. I recall the lessons passed down from the Emperor to his sons.' He spoke proudly before making eye contact with the dead Iron Hands Primarch 'I am Rylnaor the Ancient of Rites' He said as his body flakes into ash and he disappeared.
With his final degree he disappeared into smoldering ash, leaving nothing but the videos of his struggle against the Breach. As time progressed, stories of the Dreadnought spread to all corners of the world, Myth and legends from around the beast of what many assumed was a man. Ruby was interrogated after the breach along but any information she knew of the ancient Dreadnought was already known, with only the tidbits of Imperium being of use. But as time passed the memory faded being replaced with another tragedy. But as Beacon fell A legiones worth of flaming space marines watch from a ridge watching and waiting. In the front of the legion, standing tall, stood Rylanor and a Primarch waiting for the command.
Howdy Y'all Sexy Motherfuckers
Here's a fun oneshot that I had rolling around my head and wanted to get to paper. Inspired by the story, the Stringstorm song ( watch?v=X2Hb4bngxJ8) and an art project I decided to write this story. Not gonna lie, I had fun with this and with my idea of exploring the world of Chaos within I might pull a Marvel and make an extended universe. I don't know, I'll think about it. Reemergence is gonna get an update soon and will try to get it out to y'all as soon as possible. Thank yall for reading and I hope you enjoyed it. Till next time