The man knelt beside Spirit Tiger's bed, his massive hands placed on Spirit Tiger's head.

"Your clan name is and always will be Spirit Tiger, my son, but the name I chose for you when you were born was Ardo Malisse, and your brother I named Yusuf Malisse. I entrusted your care to the village when your mother died giving birth. But, you and your brother have surpassed all my dreams. I am proud of you, Ardo."

Ardo looked up into his father's face and smiled.

"Brother Captain Felis, I am sorry to interrupt, but you are wanted in the artificer's chambers."

Leo Felis nodded and stood up, then slapped his armored chest in salute. Ardo echoed the movement and instantly regretted it as pain flared through his body.

Ardo watched his father walk away, but something nagged at his mind. A voice, low and sinister, whispered in his ear.

"Ahh, so he is your father. Don't you feel angry at him for all the years you were left without knowing your parents? Aren't you enraged at the fact that he abandoned you? No? Well, you're stronger than I thought."

The voice began laughing, and Ardo felt like his head was about to explode. He screamed, his hands reaching for something-

And then he woke up, bathed in sweat, his lungs bereft of air. A light came on and his friends approached him.

"Ardo, what's wrong?"

Ardo looked over at Esahc and inhaled, his lungs filling with blessed air. He chuckled slightly and shook his head.

"Nothing, nothing's wrong. Just a nightmare, that's all. I'll be fine."

Esahc eyed him suspiciously, but he returned to his bed, and the others followed suit. Within minutes, they were all asleep again.

Ardo didn't sleep however; afraid the voice would come back and quest in his mind, searching for some ounce of hatred, feeling with icy tendrils. He rocked back and forth on the bed, willing himself to stay awake until the light of Bengaal's sun crested the mountains.

He was already dressed and ready when the reveille call was sounded, and he was the first out onto the parade ground. He looked around, noticing there was something different, but he couldn't tell what it was. He realized then that the Instructor Sergeant wasn't there. Instead, there were two other Marines, one wearing black armor, bearing a strange weapon and wearing a helmet that looked like a Lootera's skull, and the other who was carrying a long staff and wore a suit of strange power armor that had a curved metal hood over it.

As the other neophytes filed out, the Marine in black began to speak.

"Your Instructor Sergeant is not here today because there is nothing more he can teach you. He has moved on to fight in the Carixx campaign against the Necrons, and he should return within a few years."

"Enough about former teachers. I am Chaplain Marcos Antinian, Supreme Tiger Priest of this Legion, and beside me is Balaz Gyan, who is the Master Tiger Father, as well as chief historian of the Imperial Tigers."

The librarian took a step forward and held out his hand. Ardo looked for a moment, and then a spark ignited a whole ball of fire in his hand.

"Does anyone see what I am holding?"

Ardo nodded, which brought a smile o Balaz's face.

"What am I holding then, Ardo?"

"You're holding an orb of fire in your hand. But, how can someone hold fire?"

Balaz laughed and replied, "It is not fire, my dear boy, but pure psychic energy. The thing is, only Psykers, people who are very important to me, can see this energy."

Balaz turned to Marcos and said, "Brother Chaplain, I believe I have found my new apprentice."

Marcos nodded and turned to the recruits.

"Everyone, follow me. We will have you tested to see what you will become."

Ardo watched as Yusuf, Esahc, Abhay and Varen followed the Chaplain. He felt a heavy hand rest on his shoulder and he looked up into the scarred face of Balaz.

"Come neophyte. It is time to fulfill your purpose."