Resistance

It was... not completely unforeseen, but it did happen when he least expected. It had been a day since Sister Abigail had been taken by the Tenno, hopefully to receive the help she needed, but that was not his concern now. He had done as he had been ordered. It was all he could do. He was no mender, no Apothecary. He was a Space Marine, an ender of life. An Angel of Death.

Abrahaim was fighting hard to slow a Grineer incursion on one of the colonies orbiting the once moon called Ceres when a group of humans in reasonably well put together gear started fighting beside him. They were skilled. They stayed in cover, fought as a team and used communication and coordination to negate the enemy numbers. There were not more than two squads worth of them, but they were reasonably good. Their attire and armor were rough and ready looking, but it was serviceable and their weapons were fully capable as well. They all wore an odd insignia. A circle with a diagonal line through it. It wasn't any group he knew, but he did not know much of this system.

They did not get in his way, or hinder him at all. He appreciated that. Indeed, they covered his flanks, aiding his delaying action to allow the straggling human survivors of this doomed colony to get to safety while he held the Grineer's attention. It wasn't hard to hold the clones' attention. The distinctive rapid chattering bark of his Heavy Bolter was music to his ears. Almost as musical as the screams of the clones as they were hit and died. As he fired, he spoke quietly.

'What is your life?
My honour is my life.
What is your fate?
My duty is my fate.
What is your fear?
My fear is to fail.
What is your reward?
My salvation is my reward.
What is your craft?
My craft is death.
What is your pledge?
My pledge is eternal service'

Was it his imagination that some of the humans were speaking the same lines he was? No, It wasn't. They were imitating him, drawing strength from his faith. As it should be. He was Adeptus Asartes of the Blood Angels Chapter. It did not matter what he had been before. He was one of the Emperor's sons, a champion of humanity in its darkest hours.

'The enemies of the Emperor fear many things.

They fear discovery, defeat, despair and death.

Yet there is one thing they fear above all others.

They fear the wrath of the Space Marines!'

He ran out of targets and his Heavy Bolter fell silent. No more Grineer charged. His eyes narrowed under his helmet as the humans beside him stared around warily. He had a good position, the humans had heavy cover. But if they moved forward, they would be cut to pieces.

"Do not advance!" Abrahaim commanded in their common tongue. "They will try to flank us-"

"Whoever you are!" A loud voice shouted across a suddenly silent battlefield. "Whatever you are! Meet your doom!"

Abrahaim nodded as a huge armored form appeared in the near distance. He carried a huge spiked hammer. Other Grineer life readings were apparent on his sensors, but none shone themselves. Some kind of challenge? No. Grineer had no honor. They would flank him, attack the humans from the sides or behind then swarm him. His armor and weapons were mighty, but his chief weapon was mobility. Rob him of that and even he could be overwhelmed.

"Fall back." Abrahaim commanded. "Now." He laid the Heavy Bolter down and drew his pistol and chainsword.

"We can't leave you!" One of the humans snapped as a shot rang out. The bullet hit the monstrous Grineer's armor and glanced away harmlessly.

"This is a trick to get around or behind us." Abrahaim declared. "I can escape no matter what. You cannot. Fall back. Now!" His Heavy Bolter vanished in a wash of golden light and he smiled grimly as he saw his regular Bolter replacing it. It likely would do about as much good against such heavy Grineer armor as the human's rifle had, but it was lighter and would slow him less than the heavy weapon. He picked it up, checking it automatically. The machine spirit had anticipated his needs, it was loaded with Kraken ammunition. Armor piercing. "There is no glory in pointless defeat! Go!" He thundered.

The human stared at him and then nodded jerkily. "At least tell me your name, warrior."

"I am Abrahaim." The Space Marine declared.

"Steel Meridian honors you, Warrior Abrahaim." The human said as he backed away, his rifle ready. "I wish we could reward you as you deserve."

"Duty is its own reward." Abrahaim said calmly as he scrutinized his foe. Then the humans were gone. "I am Abrahaim of the Blood Angels." He declared to the huge Grineer as he strode forward, bolter ready. But no other Grineer showed themselves. The newcomer hefted his hammer.

"I am Lieutenant Lech Kril!" The massive Grineer said firmly. "And my hammer awaits your skull!" He seemed to still as Abrahaim stepped closer and it was immediately apparent that the Blood Angel was just as big as Kril if not a little bigger. "Finally! A worthy foe!"

"Worthy?" Abrahaim hawed and spat. "You are a filthy clone. A mutant and heretic both. In what possible way could you or any of your degenerate breed ever hope to match a true Space Marine?" He slung his bolter and drew his chainsword. It revved in his hand. Ready.

"You are powerful." The other said as the two goliaths started to circle, sizing one another up. "Why aid the bases? You owe them nothing!"

"You are Grineer." Abrahaim said quietly. "You will never understand. For that? You have my pity." The other froze but Abrahaim was not done. "I will grant you the Emperor's blessing. And if I meet another copy of you? I will do the same. As I will for each and every one of your filthy kind!"

"You are one! We are many!" Lech Kril snapped.

"You are flawed." Abrahaim replied. "Cheap, flawed copies. I will grant you the mercy you desire." His chainsword was up and ready.

"All I desire is your death!" Krill screamed as he charged. "The Queens demand it!"

"Your queens can kiss my butt." Abrahaim replied easily as he slid aside from the ponderous blow, deftly slicing his sword at vulnerable looking parts that hung off the Grineer's body armor. Two hoses flopped loose, some kind of coolant flying freely. Abrahaim's eyes narrowed as he dodged another ponderous swing. "Too slow, Grineer."

"Stand and fight, coward!" Kril snarled as he tried an overhead slam that hit the deck and sent shockwaves through it, but those did nothing to the other armored form who lashed out and tore another tube off his enemy's backpack thing. "Die!" He screamed as he spun, but Abrahaim dropped under the hammer's arc. He lashed out, but his chainsword glanced off the heavy armor with no effect.

Power sword would be nice right now... Abrahaim thought as he slid away from the infuriated giant. Kril was obviously enraged, but he was far from uncontrolled. More like a Space Wolf berserker than an unthinking brute. That made him very dangerous. That hammer would hurt if it connected. He focused on avoiding the strikes for a moment, hoping his enemy would tire, but the huge Grineer showed no signs of fatigue. He had to end this before the other Grineer approached. Which they would. Soon.

The Space Marine took a chance and paused just for a moment. As expected, his opponent took the chance for an overhead swing. Abrahaim dodged the blow, but the shockwave still sent ripples through him as it hit the floor...and stuck! The Space Marine did not hesitate, he struck with all the wrath and fury of an Adeptus Asartes. Kril gave a scream as the chainsword bit deep, deep into his backpack, severing the last of the hose like things before biting deeper and deeper. Kril jerked, trying to pull his hammer out of where it was tuck and at the same time, trying to fend off the rending teeth of the chainsword. But he could not do both and in moments, the sword was through the armor's back mounted housing and biting deep into cloned flesh.

A pulse of energy came from the armor and Abrahaim tucked himself into a ball to roll with it as it tossed him back and away from the now rising Kril. Was it the Marine's imagination that the Grineer was shaking as he finally managed to pull his hammer free? No. The Grineer was moving slowly. Red was falling from the rent backpack in sheets as Kril tried to raise his hammer again and it fell from nerveless fingers.

"No..." Kril said with a snarl as he stumbled. "Not... not possible..." Abrahaim rose and set himself, but his enemy fell to his knees and stayed there. "Not..."

"Nothing is impossible." Abrahaim replied coldly as he raised the chainsword again. The Grineer spat at him and then screamed once as the chainsword came down on the vulnerable neck of the armor. The whine of metal teeth tearing through metal armor was ear-splitting, but music to the Space Marine's ears. "My faith is my shield! My fury is my sword." The head of the armored titan fell off.

"Not bad." Another voice sounded and Abrahaim spun, sword up. But the two Grineer looking at him did not attack. Indeed, both were just watching. Both female. He knew them. Ven'kra Tal was shaking her head. "Kril always does fight more with balls than brains, but not bad at all."

"The enemies of man will fall before us." Abrahaim said sharply as he unslung his boltgun.

"I knew I knew your voice from somewhere." Ven'Kra Tal said quietly. "The aberrant scout." She... did not move to attack. Trap. This was a trap. Abrahaim glanced left and right, but nothing shone. "I am not here to fight. I am here to talk." The other did not move, but her Manticore axe was in hand.

"If that is a joke..." Abrahaim said coldly. "It is not funny. Grineer do not talk. They take. You know how this must end. Do not waste my time, Grineer."

"You are not human." Ven'Kra Tal said calmly. "Not a base. So why fight for them?" She sounded honestly curious. "Why throw your life away for them?"

"Why throw your life away for your Queens?" The Space Marine countered. There! Enemy life signs all around him, closing in. But not attacking? Why? Then he tensed. They wanted him to flee. So they could follow him, track him to his base. He slowly relaxed. "Interesting plan."

"We are Grineer." Ven'kra Tal said calmly. "Serving is what we were made for. What we were made for."

"We do share that then, if nothing else." Abrahaim agreed calmly.

"You were Grineer." The female sniper said quietly. "We will find out what happened to you. We will find that pocket of the Void again."

"You will find nothing." Abrahaim said with a snort. "Not that I expect any of you clones to be able to find your asses with both hands and a map." The soldier with the Manticore surged forward and Abrahaim smiled under his helmet as she charged.

"Sprag!" The other screamed, but it was too late as Abrahaim met her charge halfway.

A long and painful time later

He... hurt.

All of the Grineer had fallen. But he was hurt. It had taken concentrated pounding from several heavy weapons including the leader's sniper rifle, but his armor had finally been penetrated. It hadn't done them much good. All of the Grineer lay still behind him as the wounded Space Marine stumbled from the battleground.

I... am... Adeptus Asartes... Abrahaim snarled at his own weakness. I will not surrender to anyone or anything. I will accomplish my mission! I will not let them track me.

He had to evade whatever they were using to try and track him. That was the only possible explanation for his survival. A platoon of heavy weapons led by two powerful Hellions should have killed him. They wanted him alive, so they could find out where his base of operations was. He would not oblige them.

"There!" A shout went up behind him and Abrahaim spun to see a wave of Grineer approaching. "Take it! Alive! The Queens demand answers!"

"I answer to my Emperor, not your filthy Queens!" Abrahaim retorted, jacking a round into his boltgun. He had few remaining however and his chainsword had been damaged by the Manticore wielding clone. He stepped forward, knowing his death was coming, but accepting it. As he moved, he sang.

Without the Dark, there can be no Light,
We have purpose
Without the Lie, there can be no Truth,
We have purpose
Without the War, there can be no Victory,
We have purpose
Without the Death, there can be no sacrifice,
We have purpose
Without the Hope there can be no Future,
We have purpose
Without the Loyalty there can be no one chapter,
We have purpose
Without the Emperor, there is nothing,...
And we would have no purpose

Abrahaim was ready for death. Every Space Marine was. Their job was not to survive. Their job was ensure victory. Death was a certainty for each and every Space Marine. Against fifty Grineer, with his weapons damaged and armor rent and torn? He was dead. But he would die fighting as befitted an Adeptus Asartes. He stepped forward to meet his death.

But... death did not come for him!

Abrahaim went still as the shadows behind the Grineer came to life. Four dark humanoid forms stepped out into the light. Before the half a hundred Grineer could realize they were under attack from behind, three Tenno were in their midst! Blades flashed and firearms roared.

A huge white form was swinging a long, two bladed staff. A form with golden hoops on its helmet was firing calmly and coolly, each shot ending two or three clones. Another was tossing small spherical things that sizzled and threw lightning. Another pulled many Grineer into a whirling ball of energy and he shot them with an odd looking miniature crossbow. It wasn't even close to an even fight. Another, this one white with blue markings on its -her- armor, stepped close, her posture worried. Abrahaim shook his head.

"The humans?" The Space Marine asked, keeping unconsciousness at bay through sheer force of will. The Tenno made a gesture he interpreted as 'safe'. "Good. That is... good." Abrahaim said as he turned to go. "Fare thee well." He paused as she laid a hand on his arm. "I must go. They will track me." She shook her head and he shrugged. "Only in Death does duty end and my duty is to this reality's remnants of humanity!" Abrahaim said sharply.

But then he knew no more.

"Alicia?" Karl asked as the last Grineer fell to his Orthos Prime.

"He is alive." The team medic said as she knelt by the sorely hurt red armored from. "I have no idea how. This stuff is... definitely Orokin tech. but... odd." She was working fast. "We need to get out of here. Can we digitize him in this? I don't know..."

"Not safely." Olim said as he shook his Dual Kama to clean them. "I have disabled the trackers I have detected, but I may not have gotten them all. The armor is shielding him from most scans, digitizing him may only take parts." All four Tenno winced at that.

"Then we carry him." Karl said with no room for argument. "Is it safe to move him?"

"I don't know, Karl." Alicia said weakly. "This is... Half the organs I detect are not in my databanks. I have no idea what they do, if anything."

"According to the game, Space Marines had extensive bioengineered implants." Olim said as he moved to stand by the fallen warrior in red. "Stands to reason that anyone making one would have something to do similar things. But wherever we take him, we have to prove to him, fast, that he is not a prisoner. Or it will get very messy."

"Right." Karl agreed. "The dojo then."

"Karl." Olim was not arguing, not really as he took one side of the fallen red giant and Karl the other. Alicia was scanning as they lifted the still form and started off with him. "We need someone who he will talk to. Someone who he can trust." He paused. "Abigail."

"You cannot be serious!" Karl said sternly. "You really think taking him to the hospital is a good idea?"

"No." Olim agreed. "But... Abigail needs to talk to the Special Forces anyway and she knows him. Or part of her does. So..."

"I am no diplomat!" Karl said sternly. "And that tower is... still forming. We cannot interfere."

"Karl, we have interfered." Alicia said calmly as she kept her scans. Ric maintained a rearguard, rifle ready, but no Grineer showed. "We will get him checked, then take him there. And yes, I think Abigail to talk to him. Part of her understands how he thinks."

"And Cecelia." Ric said quietly. All three of the others looked at him and he shrugged."She is a horrid liar and knows it. I will stay with her."

"I need to work with Quais." Olim agreed. "And you need to get him briefed in, Karl."

"Dojo first for checks and to pick up everyone." Karl said sourly. "Then tower. I will take Quais with me to report to Eliza, then we can work from there. Do not leave him alone with Abigail or Cecelia. But... A guest, not a prisoner."

"As long as he realizes that." Olim agreed. "We are fine. If he doesn't? We have problems."

"Ya think?"