Armorum Fidei Chapter 49
"So they're not going to wipe us out?" Praxi dared to ask.
"Would they send down an Archprimate if they were?" Resita countered.
"Just wanted to be sure," Praxi sniffed, "If we are to die I'd like to know first."
"Our deaths would not be so meaningless, the God-Emperor would not allow it," Justini stated firmly.
"At least it would be quick," Heleyna muttered.
The foursome were standing on the back of Currens Ecclesia, the forlorn ruin still standing where it had ground to a halt. The damage was even more severe than Justini had feared, the defences were slagged, the Templums defiled and proud spires left broken stubs, like rotten teeth in a gum. Justini doubted the Walking Church would ever move again, but the signal had come that the Cardinal's envoy would meet them on the roof, so they had come and cleared a landing pad.
Justini' back ached with the effort of shifting dead bodies and fallen rubble. Even in power armour it had been onerous. It had taken the four of them hours to secure a pad, she supposed they could have summoned more aid but the remaining Sisters were busy and the preachers inundated. From this lofty perch she could see the crowds gathering again. They had been joined by another Train-city in the last few hours, bringing thousands of fresh converts, ready to be enjoined in the glorious embrace of the Adeptus Ministorum's bosom. More people were joining them daily and the Imperial Church had its work cut out trying to keep up.
Justini's musings were interrupted as Praxi asked, "So that woman... what exactly was she?"
"An abomination," Resita hissed, "She made my skin crawl."
Heleyna frowned as she retorted, "Strange, I didn't feel anything off about her. Save for her habit of signing everything, she was hardly unusual for an agent of the Throne. I mean, compared to Space Marines and Custodians she was no threat."
"She was," Justini countered, "Just not in ways we understand. The galaxy is filled with dangers of many varieties and the God-Emperor fashioned many weapons to meet them."
"You approve of her?" Praxi asked.
"It is not for me to approve or disapprove. The God-Emperor's plans are beyond our knowing, trust in His will and be content in playing your part."
Heleyna sniffed, "Either way she seemed satisfied we aren't tainted, so that's the end of that."
Justini was going to comment again but her eye found what she was looking for. From the heavens descended a regal Aquilla, trailing fires of reentry from its wings. Unlike the first visitor this one was replete with heraldry, icons of holy significance and fleur-de-lis of the Sororitas. Red and black stripes adorned the wings and it was accompanied by a pair of Thunderbolt fighters, who peeled off and began the long haul back to orbit as their charge came into land. Buffeting wings scoured Justini's bare face as the Aquilla folded its wings and extended landing claws, settling on the pad with precise bursts of thrust.
Silence fell as the engines spooled down and the Sisters clutched their weapons tighter as the rear hatch began to descend. From the dark interior a combat squad of Sororitas emerged, their plate nearly identical to the Celestians. Then a stern woman with heavy jowls and obsidian eyes set in swarthy features stepped out, casting a disapproving eye over the gathering. Her plate attested she was a Canoness in her own right, but she was not in command. Finally a short man emerged, hunched by heavy robes and a pointed mitre upon his head. His hair was greasy and lank and his face bore an insincere smile that did not reach his eyes.
The Celestians stood still as the pair closed and the woman barked, "Who is in charge here?!"
There was a brief pause then Justini stepped forward and answered, "Sister Justini, blessings be upon this meeting!"
The woman looked down her nose and said, "I am Canoness Umbria, come to assess this mess, and I do not like what I see so far."
"Canoness, have we given offence?" Praxi asked.
"You do not know, but Phantea and I were old sparring partners. We clashed on many things, I'm sure she cursed my name as much I hers, but yet we respected each other. I cannot believe Phantea fell prey to Xenos domination, it is insulting to the entire Adepta. And to think you claim to be blessed with His favour, where she was not, I doubt it very much."
"Come now," the man chided, "Do not terrify these fine warriors, who have suffered so much. I am Archprimate Jakson, Cardinal Tembow's envoy to this expedition and I must say we are surprised to find any of you still alive."
The squad bowed as they made the sign of the Aquila and Justini dared, "Excellency, may we ask what you have heard?"
Jakson replied, "Word came that Suna was invaded by Psybrids, in numbers not seen for centuries. An expedition was gathered with remarkable haste to repel the attack, but it was expected that the planet would be overrun before we arrived. Your initial vox-missives have stirred great controversy, not only your survival but the divine miracles you claim to have witnessed."
Justini proudly affirmed, "There is no doubt that the God-Emperor's spirit has touched this world. Here in this very church, I beheld His presence, He saved me from Xenos' witchery."
Umbria growled, "A dangerous claim to make, presumptuous and arrogant even, to claim a personal blessing. This must be verified via excruciation."
"You doubt us?" Resita gasped.
"Many have claimed divine favour over the aeons," Umbria hissed, "Most turned out to be duplicitous traitors, scheming foul murder."
Jakson however held up a hand and said, "We shall establish the facts in due course, but I am inclined to think these Sisters will prove truthful. Look at this place, look at the gathering. So many Train-cities, so many people brought into His grace. Miracles have occurred, hallowing this Holy ground, a blessing indeed. Never has Suna seen such marvels, reports must be sent to the Cardinal of this great triumph at once."
Justini heard the trace of avarice in his tone and glumly realised this Jakson smelled opportunity. Suna had at last been converted to the Creed, and doubtless Jakson was already angling to take all the credit for himself. The man was revealed to be an ambitious ferret, career-driven and lacking in faith. Justini had no use for his kind, to serve the Golden Throne was all she desired, but the man's authority was required to get them off Suna. He would need them alive to attest to the miracles they had seen.
Justini drew in a breath and said, "If we can be of no further service, perhaps we could be sent to await your pleasure in orbit?"
"Yes, yes," Jakson replied absently, "We must bring down preachers and Deacons to teach the masses. This sanctum must be rebuilt, from the smallest gears to the highest spires. Every blessed stone must be cleansed... so much to do."
Umbria eyed them warily and said, "The shuttle will take you to orbit, do as instructed and don't wander off. We will speak again."
Justini and the others bowed again and made their way to the Aquila as the Archprimate went to peer over the side of the church. They paused outside the shuttle hatch and Praxi breathed, "So we truly are leaving Suna, I thought this day would never come."
Heleyna snorted, "We may the first Sororitas to ever leave this mudball."
"Well, I never doubted it," Resita sniffed, "Though I am saddened that Lexia's bones will lie here forever."
"She died in His service," Justini stated, "We can ask no more for ourselves."
Praxi eyed her warily and probed, "And what of Phantea?"
"She fell from grace and was lost," Justini affirmed.
"Justini," Praxi urged, "We can't just dismiss her, given what we found out. She and you may well have been mother and child."
Justini's heart grew cold as she hissed, "She was never a mother to me, if there was a blood tie then she chose to turn her back on it. I owe her memory nothing, not one single tear. She was a liar and a fraud; her sins dragged her down and broke her. That is why the God-Emperor did not intervene to save her, Phantea's faith was shallow and weak, a cracked vase unable to hold water."
"But you are worthy?" Resita snapped accusingly, "Beware the sin of pride sister."
"Thank you, I must beware of becoming arrogant. I simply trust in His guiding hand, that we walk the road He laid down for us. Humble faith is all we need."
Heleyna snorted, "Ha, she's more concerned over her Paragon Suit, admit it."
Justini grinned, "I did come to enjoy its grace and power. I must petition for it to be brought with us and repaired. It is a noble way to fight a war."
"You just liked looking down at Space Marines," Praxi jested.
"That too," Justini confessed.
"Well, you're not getting me into one of those things, I hate staggering about on stilts," Praxi scoffed as she turned and ducked into the shuttle.
"I don't know," Heleyna mused as she entered, "One with a big mace would do for me."
Resita followed with a curt, "I shall pray for you two, may He visit you in your dreams and knock some sense into you both!"
Justini paused before entering, casting one last gaze over the bleak horizons. Suna had been a place of revelation, her past and her future made clear. Always she would carry this truth with her but there were burdens she was not willing to bear anymore. Slowly she reached up and pulled the string from around her neck, yanking the ring from under her gorget. She held it up before her eye and examined it, seeing the plain metal sparkle in the wan light. So much of her life had she invested in this trinket, pouring her hopes and dreams into an inanimate object. Like the people of Suna she had placed her faith into a false idol, a dream of a perfect mother and a family connection. Like these people she had seen how hollow that belief had proved, unable to endure a true crisis.
She opened her hand and let the ring drop to the ground, leaving it to be lost amid the rubble of Currens Ecclesia. She let go of her mother's memory and failures as she did the token, there was only room in her heart for one being, only one who commanded her allegiance. Unto Him she dedicated herself heart and soul, casting aside all other concerns. Then she turned to depart Suna with a final declaration, "I have the God-Emperor, I need no other family than that."
The Storm Heralds will return in their antepenultimate adventure: Extremus Fors.
