Tales of the Amber Vipers Chapter 311
Through the snarled wreckage of the lower reaches Maru Kysoto limped. The Librarian-Dreadnought was a sorry sight, his armour battered and adornments scarred. The fight with Novak had left mechanisms leaking and his step dragged. His right arm hung limp, the embedded Katana blade sparking when the tip touched the deck, as it did with every lurching step. The damage to Maru was significant but the wounds to his spirit were deeper.
Maru replayed events in his mind. He had intervened to save Coluber's young braggarts, and in doing so may have sacrificed the last chance to restore his bloodline. Auriga could not remain unaware of these events, the psychic Bow-wave of Maru's powers would be instantly visible to any other Psyker. If Auriga judged their compact broken, he would destroy the legacy of the true Amber Vipers, cast their memories into shame and snuff out the faint hope of their revival.
Maru wished he could blame passion and unthinking reflexes. He yearned to plead he had acted without forethought, charging to battle with bloodlust or self-righteous purpose. He could not. A Librarian did not act on impulse, every action must be considered and deliberate. Maru had made a choice and must accept the consequences. To think that any exercise of power, great or small, came without cost was the road to Chaos.
Forlorn Maru made his way back to the Mortuary deck and there he stopped. He gazed upon the statue of his dead kin, and the coffins at their feet. Though many lay empty, others bore the bones of the fallen. Their spirits lingered in this place and Maru felt their judging eyes upon him. Though they spat upon the name of their Primarch they retained Fulgrim's drive for perfection. Utter commit to the moment of action, without doubt or hesitation, this was their credo. Maru had fallen short of that standard, he had wavered in purpose, he had failed them.
Maru looked upon the statue of Nottaru and spake, "Honoured Founder, Last of the Third and First Amber Viper. I stand before you, lost and ashamed. Last of your blood I thought myself, and was content to pass into death, but the spark of a new future hangs before me. I am duty bound to seek it, but my hearts lead me astray. I beseech thee to intercede with the Most Glorious Emperor to send me a sign, show me the path and I will follow."
His words rang loud in the silence but then another voice cut in, "Praying to spirits, is this Heresy?" Maru sensed the presence slipping and knew it was Auriga. Yet he was surprised when another entered beside him. Maru's rear-optics picked out a glittering figure in red holo-scales, Posix the envoy of Mars. The Librarian's interest was piqued and he lumbered about, facing them for dignities' sake.
"You came?" Maru hissed.
Auriga strode with a confident air, "I have to speak to you, but first answer my question. Do you pray to a ghost?"
Maru replied without shame, "The teachings of my Chapter hold that a valiant warrior's soul joins the Most Glorious Emperor in death. If they deem us worthy, the dead may intercede with Him on our behalf."
"You do not pray to Him directly?"
"Address the Golden Throne?!" Maru gasped, "That would be impertinent!"
Posix broke in, "What is this? You said there was a matter of great importance to be discussed. Instead I find a hostile Dreadnought!"
"Be at peace," Auriga assured him, "Maru here is my source, he is on my side. It seems he has suffered damage though; would you consecrate his frame while we speak?"
Maru eyed the Magos as he went to work, extending hands tipped with multi-tools. Grumbles of lack of proper dignity and votive candles issued from the hood, but in moments Maru felt his systems being restored. Posix worked fast, but Maru was not set at ease. Had Auriga told this Magos the shameful truth, was he another conspirator? Maru dared not guess.
"So, it seems you have been busy," Auriga noted.
"I did what had to be done," Maru deflected without conviction.
"Yes, I sensed the outpouring of power. Strange that you intervened when you did. One could be led to question your motives."
"You question my commitment?" Maru retorted.
"You give me cause to," Auriga replied, "You acted against our shared interest. That leads me to wonder where your loyalties lie."
"Do not question me," Maru snapped.
But Auriga sighed, "If Coluber knew what I knew, he and his gets would destroy you. All of this would be smashed to dust, and all the memories of your kin would be lost. You gamble with your gene-lines' very survival."
"My loyalty is to my Chapter and my Brothers, my True Brothers," Maru stated.
Auriga sighed, "Words are easy, but deeds are harder. You have spent time with Coluber's band, spilled blood alongside them and broken bread... metaphorically speaking. Bonds formed in battle are hard to set aside. I do not blame you for being conflicted, I would be too. Old Brothers measured against new ones, a challenging decision for the sternest soul. I wish you had time to resolve this conflict, but time is one thing we do not have. We must act soon, but if our purposes are divided... well..."
Auriga reached out with his staff and touched the statue of Nottaru. It was the lightest tap and yet Auriga's power was keen. A crack split the face of the honoured ancestor, which became a rent down its chest. In seconds the entire facade crumbled, the statute which had stood for millennia shattering apart into a cloud of dust. Maru was aghast, the last image of his founder was destroyed, but dared not protest, not while Auriga could easily do the same to the gene-seed.
"I trust my point is clear," Auriga growled.
"As crystal," Maru uttered resignedly.
"Words again," Auriga sighed, "I require more, I require proof."
"What sort of proof?"
"I brought Posix along for a reason, I want you to kill him."
"What?!" Posix blurted as his head snapped about. The Magos' arms were deep in Maru's mechanisms but his reflexes were fast. Gun barrels extended from his arms as he whipped about, las-talons ready to fire. Maru was faster, his mind flickered and telekinetic chains wrapped about the Magos, locking him tight. Maru's arm was working again and he lifted the Katana high, ready to dissect Posix in one blow. The Magos was helpless, unable to move as the sharp edge began to descend.
"Stop," Auriga ordered before the blow landed.
Maru froze, blade an inch from touching cloth, "Is this a test?"
"Yes, and you passed. Well done. You can let him go now."
Maru let Posix free and the Magos staggered back snapping, "You dare threaten an envoy of Mars!"
"Lower your voice, you were in no real danger," Auriga sniffed.
"You ordered him to murder me!"
"I wouldn't have let him kill you, but I needed to know if he was willing to. His intent was pure, he is committed, more so than he knows."
Posix shook out his glittering sleeves, "First Velpecula, then Castabore, now me. This place is dangerous for Adepts."
"Pick better allies," Auriga snorted, "Now Maru, our first attempt to recover our relics fell short. I intend to try again, but this time we shall not strike for the Forge. This time we strike for the Gates of Perdition."
"The Cerberii?" Maru started.
"Indeed, a full strike against the vault, to seize the contents. I shall claim my prize in one fell swoop."
Maru wasn't convinced, "Those gates are well guarded, and the guardians will not yield. A heavy toll in blood will ye reap."
Auriga sighed, "A blood-price shall be paid, but I sense the crack in fate that will allow entry. We can rush the Gate and be inside before they know what's hit them. All I need is Coluber's gets to stay away, that's where you come in."
Maru was suspicious, "You do not wish me to blow the doors off for you?"
"Your commitment to the principle is sound, but I wonder if your arm will weaken when asked to cull one you call a friend. It's not the same as killing a stranger. No, I think a better use for you will be keeping Coluber distracted. Go to him and tell him you foresee another attack upon the Forge, keep his squads away, till it is too late."
"A lie?" Maru accused.
"Strategy," Auriga sniffed, "All warfare is deception, I seem to recall that being written somewhere."
"For my kins' sake, it must be so," Maru sighed.
Maru was unable to protest but Posix spat, "Error-shunt-abort! What about the relics, what about the STC's?!"
"Once we hold the vaults of the Cerberii, Coluber will give you whatever you want," Auriga explained.
"He won't give in to extortion!"
But Maru countered, "The Gates of Perdition hide weapons of dread power and fearful might. Even Coluber does not dare grasp that Briarthorn. He cannot allow those weapons to be loosed, he must yield, he will have no choice."
Auriga smiled, "We are all about to get what we want. You shall have the STC, Maru will have his future back and I shall have the Corposant and through it the means to return home."
"If it works," Maru muttered, "I hear Cawl's inventions are less than the majestic triumphs he purports."
"That shall be determined in the testing, but either way my exile shall be ended. Victory or death, as Ryneon would say."
"What of Ryneon?" Posix pressed, "He will not agree to change targets."
"I can be very persuasive," Auriga scoffed, "He will agree to my plan, I am sure."
"Then our paths are set," Maru sighed.
"Indeed, there is no more time to waste here. Make sure Coluber is distracted, our attack will commence as soon as you clear the path."
With that Auriga left, taking Posix with him. Maru was left among the rubble of the past, alone with the memories of the dead. A future beckoned but he was not sure if his lost kin would approve. The dishonours he had embraced to make it real weighed upon him and he could not help but wonder what further shames he must endure before this was over.
