Tales of the Amber Vipers Chapter 270

Three days later Zar-quaesitor sailed through the outer system, leading the last ships on a course for the jump point. Her route was leisurely and her drives hummed at a cruising pace, there was no need to push herself anymore and the last few weeks had been harrowing. The scars of atmospheric burn still marked her prow, despite ceaseless scrubbing by vac-suited labourers, and her systems ached from the strain laid upon them. So she took her time, nursing her wounds as she sailed out of the system.

Kerubim peered out of a deserted hanger bay as he tried to pick out other ships. The youth had arranged for this docking port to be empty, having a need for solitude. How greatly his situation had changed, he reflected, mere weeks earlier he had been a prisoner on this ship, now he had the authority to command menials. Recent events had seen him gain a veneer of authority, being seen to converse with Belisarius Cawl on the bridge had brought him to the attention of many. His name was known, there was no hiding him anymore, no hiding his strange existence.

Kerubim lifted his hands and peered at the silver skin once more. He had continued to leave his gauntlets and vambraces off, seeing no pressing reason to replace the missing plates. Perhaps in time he would, but at present he wished to examine himself more. The microscopic machines that kept Kerubim alive were still doing their work, correcting Cawl's mistakes. If what he was told was true then they would not do so forever, over time they would dwindle and he would simply stop living. How strange for a Space Marine to know his days were numbered, it was an empty core at the heart of him, but also a reminder. Time was not on his side and he had so much to do. Complete his studies as a Techmarine, find some solution to Brontes' heretic existence and then return to his Chapter to pass on what he had learned. No, time was not a commodity he enjoyed in great measure, so he'd damned well get on with living.

He heard a pair of footsteps closing and saw Brontes and Jordig entering the hanger, making their way past discarded fuel bowsers and mindless servitors tending to shuttlecraft. The Primaris Marine had replaced his missing plates and Brontes was perfectly restored, as flawless as the day he first set foot upon Zar-quaesitor. Brontes had proved himself many times over, yet Kerubim knew he would never be accepted by the Imperium, he couldn't even talk around the bulk of the crew.

Kerubim stepped to meet them and said, "Thank you for agreeing to meet with me."

Jordig looked about with a wrinkle to his nose as he sniffed, "This is not a typical place to meet."

"I did consider an observation blister," Kerubim confessed, "But if we've learned anything it is that Zar-quaesitor is not safe. Many factions vie for power, many ears listen. I deduced a hanger is less likely to be monitored by hidden eyes than an observation blister."

"Hide in plain sight," Brontes muttered, "You're learning, but why ask us to meet at all?"

Kerubim turned to the stars and said, "Look there, that glint off the bow, that's the Tezla."

"Rumour has it Cawl sent Wulfe to take command," Jordig commented, "Magos Explorator Wulfe."

"Has a nice ring to it," Kerubim agreed, "He's earned it, but you did far more Brontes."

"I don't follow," Brontes grumbled.

"You saved us more times than I can count," Kerubim sighed, "Stopped the Hungering, fought your own kind. As far as I'm concerned you have proven your loyalty and pure intent. You are no rampaging Maletek Incarna, you should be recognised as such."

"You are deluded if you think your Imperium would ever accept me," Brontes snorted, "You fleshbags are caught in a vice of ignorance, you'll never convince them to not attack me on sight."

"We are forced to agree," Jordig sniffed, "Brontes' very nature is heretical, if Mars ever learns he is here a reprisal fleet will only be the start of their displeasure."

Kerubim sighed deeply, "I wish I had an answer for that, I wish we could make them see Brontes' worth, but I know it would never happen."

"I think you're about to suggest something dangerous," Brontes growled.

"Aye," Kerubim agreed, "You can't exist like this anymore, you deserve so much more. So I think the next time Zar-quaesitor jumps it's best if you left the ship."

"And go where?"

"Anywhere you want," Kerubim explained, "You can travel as a free being, able to chart your own destiny. You earned that much at least."

"And you'll come with me?" Brontes asked.

Kerubim shook his head and said, "No, I have to remain here. I have studies to complete and am tasked to return to the Amber Vipers. You however have earned the right to leave."

"We presume Cawl is not part of this plan," Jordig asked.

"No," Kerubim agreed, "The Archmagos would never let an artefact so powerful as Brontes depart. He is still drooling over my Nanocytes. Brontes will have to travel alone, unless you…"

"Not us," Jordig demurred, "Someone has to stay to keep Cawl distracted besides the Archmagos needs us, he needs someone to stop him going too far."

"This plan is stupid," Brontes declared as he began to rant about not wanting to depart alone. Kerubim however had stopped listening. Something about their exchange bothered him, something was off. He found himself looking at Jordig, really looking, and a sense of alarm swam through him. His hearts became stones in his chest and his throat closed painfully. A sharp realisation swept through him as he stared at the Primaris Marine, cold dread churning his guts. Instinctively his hand drifted to his Adrathic rifle, drawing Jordig's eye and then their gazes locked. Kerubim knew instantly that his discovery had been detected, Jordig knew what Kerubim had uncovered and they were all in deadly danger.

"Brontes…" Kerubim hissed, "Step back."

"What?" Brontes started.

"You should do as he bids," Jordig stated, "He's far more aware than you are."

"Kerubim?" Brontes asked, "Jordig, what the hell are you bleating on about?!"

"That's not Jordig," Kerubim breathed, "Jordig's dead, that's the Hungering!"

Suddenly the bay exploded into action. Brontes' arms came up as his fission-blasters began to cycle. Kerubim grabbed his rifle, bringing it to bear. Yet both of them were too slow, for the Jordig-construct blurred. A hand flashed and came up bearing the plasma-sabre, which ignited with a snap-hiss of energy. Kerubim fired a golden ray from his rifle, expecting the fiend to come at him but was surprised when the Hungering went left. He flung himself past Brontes and his weapon flashed, searing through the back of the Cadmus' right arm, severing power lines. Brontes' right Fission-blaster went dead, as did the disruption field around his fist as the Hungering heeled left, clearing distance.

"Kill it!" Kerubim bellowed as he swung about and fired again, missing entirely.

The Hungering danced back, sweeping the plasma-sabre in a tight guard as he taunted, "You know that won't kill us."

"It'll blow your armour apart," Kerubim snarled as he tried to find a clean shot, "Clever of you to only absorb Jordig's flesh, leaving the armour intact. Should have kept your helm on though, then I would never have seen the shimmer on your face."

"Data accepted with gratitude," the Hungering leered, "We shall make good use of it when we absorb this ship."

"Gagh!" Brontes bellowed as his left Fission-blaster finally completed cycling. He unleashed a crackling red orb, intending to blow the construct apart. The construct however saw the move coming and vaulted behind a fuel bowser, letting it take the brunt. Kerubim winced as refined promethium went up, a wash of heat searing his face. Flames showered down as alarums wailed, screaming of fire in the hanger. Suppression servitors awoke, but too slow for the Hungering was moving.

Kerubim's moment of distraction meant he missed the Hungering vaulting through the flames, plate scorched clean by the fire. He feared not the fire, using it as a screen for his assault. With wisps of flame pouring off him he touched ground, then bounded forward, moving with all the speed of a Primaris Marine. Past Brontes he flashed, who was trying to back up for a clear shot. A pivot of the leg, a curve of the hand and the Plasma-sabre lanced through the back of the left arm, severing power lines buried there. Brontes' weapons went dead, powerless and inert, their only rad-weapon they had available rendered useless.

Kerubim snarled as he spun about, bringing his rifle to bear but the Hungering was attacking. With a blur of motion the construct slammed into him, knocking him back then sweeping the plasma-sabre down. Kerubim was forced to lean into his stagger, falling on his arse lest he be beheaded. He slammed to the ground as the Hungering loomed over, weapon held high for the killing blow. Kerubim had no time to recover, and knew he faced death, but then a huge metal fist swung by, inert but still with the weight of a wrecking ball.

The construct ducked and let the fist sail past untouched as he jeered, "Slow and obsolete as ever!"

Brontes faced him squarely and snarled, "How did you know to do that?"

"Your powerlines?" the Hungering scoffed, "Information: the Jordig-unit has long studied you, long thought about how to disable and destroy Brontes. His data is ours."

Kerubim lurched to his feet, clamping his rifle to his side as he growled, "You killed Jordig you scum!"

"Jordig-unit is not dead," the Hungering countered, "His data is fully integrated, he shall endure until the end of time."

Brontes spat, "Ruuka infected you, didn't he, before the Noxia Interregnum?"

"Oh yes," the construct stated as his eyes darted back and forth, "You cleared most of the Nanocytes but a few had already settled. There they remained, safe from your noxious failsafe, buried deep in the Jordig-unit's bones. Losing our matrix was troubling, but the Nanocytes reset in time and began multiplying."

"Not for much longer," Brontes threatened as he took a step forward.

"You have no means of stopping us and this template is far superior to the ones you have battled before. We have absorbed millions of soldiers, war machines and weapons, but never one such as this. Such speed, such strength, such tactical awareness. The Astartes template is unlike anything we have known. This form shall become our new baseline construct, we shall produce billions of them and swarm across the universe!"

Kerubim snarled in fury at the megalomaniacal cry but Brontes was first to strike. The Cadmus roared as he lurched forward, arm swinging for the construct's head. The heavy fist flew straight and true, but the Hungering twisted right and flashed his weapon, searing a deep groove in the Cadmus' flank. For all his strength Brontes had not a Primaris' speed, Transhuman reflexes honed to their peak, yet there was another Space Marine in the room.

Kerubim slammed bodily into the construct, arms grabbing for the wrists. The plasma-sabre veered left, trying to cut his head apart but Kerubim gritted his teeth and held firm. Back and forth it waved, threatening to kill anything it touched but the pair were evenly matched and neither proved the stronger. Kerubim had survived the Rubicon, his strength was equal to any Primaris' though sadly not his skill.

The construct's foot swept about, catching Kerubim behind the ankle and toppling his weight. It was a veteran move, one only a Space Marine of long experience would know and the boy was caught by surprise. He felt himself staggering, but Kerubim would not be toppled, not alone at least. He dug his fingers deep as he fell backwards, heaving with all his strength. The construct was the one surprised this time and came with him, falling in a heap on top of him. Kerubim's hands moved, yanking and tugging for control, then his knee came up and knocked the construct off him.

The Hungering rolled over and came up, grinning cruelly as he snarled, "Annoyances, you shall both be destroyed!"

"I'd like to see you do that without a sword!" Kerubim snarled as he jumped up, plasma-sabre in hand.

Brontes stomped nearer and snarled, "You won't beat us. Alarms are ringing, more are coming. They will pin you down and wipe your filth from the universe once and for all."

"But how will they do that?" the Hungering retorted, "When we are the very ship they sail in."

The construct's hands flickered, then split apart, breaking into a score of detached digits. Before either of them could act the Hungering dove to its knees and plunged his fingers into the deck, penetrating the floor. Instantly silver veins began to spread, Nanocytes multiplying exponentially as they devoured the atoms that made up Zar-quaesitor. Kerubim's jaw fell as he watched the Hungering take the matter of the ship for itself. They had said the Hungering could not travel as a ship-construct, but it seemed to no longer care. A desperate move but surely one that would see them all dead.

Kerubim backed up as the silver tide grew and gasped, "What do we do?!"

"Run to Cawl," Brontes snarled, "Run and tell him to bring rad-weapons. Hurry, we have to soak this hanger in radiation! I'll stay here and slow it down!"

"But I can't abandon you!"

But Brontes snarled, "You can't do a damned thing here, you can help me by bringing Cawl. Run boy, run if you ever want any of us to see another day!"

Kerubim knew it was true, only the Archmagos could help them now. It tore his soul to leave Brontes to face the Hungering alone, but with unshakable will he did so. Kerubim turned on his heel and sprinted for the exit. He left the Cadmus alone to face the wroth of the Hungering as he prayed aloud, "Omnissiah, let it not be too late already."