Okay, so I hope you enjoyed the short first chapter and if you didn't I hope you'll like this one.
The boy woke up in a hospital bed. He looked around at the beds surrounding his. There were several wounded men being tended to by medicae operatives. One of them had lost an arm. He looked at his scars on his body to find that he was covered in stitches. The blood that was on his arms was gone and a needle was stuck in his right wrist attached to a bag of clear fluid that was being pumped into his body.
"So, you finally came to," He looked to the door where the voice came from and saw the Commissar from the city. "How are you feeling?" asked the Commissar.
The boy weakly smiled. "I'm alright sir." The commissar smiled back. He walked over to the bedside and brought a chair over to the bedside and sat down.
"I am Commissar Tomas McCullin, but you can call me Tom" He stuck out his hand, gesturing for him to shake it. "And you?" The boy hesitated at first, merely looking at the commissars hand. He slowly grabbed the commissar's hand and weakly shook it. "My name is Kevin sir." He let go of Tom's hand, dropping it to his side. Tom smiled sympathetically for a moment. He looked out of the window to the remains of the city. The streets were full of debris and the dead of both sides. One large street leading up to an intersection was littered with destroyed tanks, light tanks ripped apart by cannon fire and chaos armor burning with a corrupted fire from the open hatches. Tom sighed; saddened at the state of the world he learned to call his home.
He turned to Kevin, smiling. "I shall be back in a while, you must rest. It must've been hard in the ruins." The commissar got up and exited the ward. Outside the room, in the corridor of the Medicae, he was approached from behind by a tall man who grabbed his shoulder. Tom turned swiftly in surprise to see a tall man in a black trench coat and a peaked cap with a golden skull with a laurel around it stitched onto the cap. His chiseled face was slightly aged and sported a small moustache of dark hair. His trench coat sported a collection of bright gold and crimson medals.
"By the Emperor, I didn't expect you so soon Landon!" exclaimed Tomas.
Landon chuckled at his friend's jumpiness. "It's nice to see you again too Tom, it's been a long time."
Tomas smiled "Indeed it has. I heard that you are now commandant of a Progenium Abbey now in western Cadia." Landon nodded proudly. Tomas continued "Well that is why I need to talk to you. I found a boy in the ruins of Kasr Kallen, he survived in there by himself during the crusade and was in bad shape when we found him."
"And what do you need me for, old friend?" asked Landon, not sure of his friend's intentions. The commissar sighed sadly as he looked out again at the ruined city. "The whole city was consumed by chaos. There is nothing left for him here, not anymore. I wish to send him to train at the Schola, where he can learn to defend mankind, help in the Imperium's defense one day. He will at least have a future then."
Landon nodded, understanding. "It will not be an easy feat to get him in, many would judge him too old to begin training-"
"Grant him in the Schola, that's all I ask. I will train him myself if need be. I am worthy of retirement, I would return the favour by training students if you get him in. Tomas Reasoned.
Landon thought about this. He knew that his friend was skilled and remembered back in their day at the Schola where he was greater than any of the others, even the elders were amazed by his ability. He would be an invaluable teacher.
He finally made his decision. He smiled at Tomas. "Very well Tom. I will accept the boy in exchange for your service. I hope that you know what you're doing."
Tomas glanced at the boy's cot. "I believe I do, Landon. He has proven he is strong; let's see what else he is." As he said this, the boy began dosing, falling into a deep sleep.
Kevin looked out the window of the Valkyrie transport as it passed by mountains and farmhouses below. It all seemed peaceful as he watched herds of livestock being tended to by farmers and grazing in the countryside. He was used to large cities and tall buildings littering the landscape but instead the gothic buildings were replaced by towering trees and rockcrete pavements replaced by lush green grassland. It was something Kevin could get used to.
The transport slowed down till it was hovering idly in the air. Commissar McCullin turned to him and smiled. "Look's like we're here." He said. Kevin turned to the commissar.
"Sir, I've been wondering where we are going the whole time we've been on this tiny ship, where exactly are we going?" asked Kevin, curious.
The ship began to drop onto a large landing pad in the middle of what looked like a military academy. As the hatch at the rear of the flyer opened he saw young men and women, some in their teens, some even younger, being taught how to handle rifles and pistols, fight in hand to hand combat, and preaching about the Emperor.
He followed Commissar McCullin out of the craft towards a large cathedral-like building that stood out among the other buildings that made up the academy. Kevin quickly looked around and saw students looking at him. Some with friendly smiles, some with looks of disgust, a small group of girls giggled when he looked at them. One even winked at him. He walked up the stairs with McCullin, looking at statues of Imperial heroes, a few statues of Space Marines, a few of Imperial Officers. Kevin had heard of a few of these men, although the majority was not familiar to him at all.
They entered a great door into the cathedral and walked into a large, dark room that seemed to be filled with shadows. Kevin looked around, only seeing darkness and the shady figures obscured in the darkness. They seemed to be observing him, judging him by his gestures.
One of the shadows spoke up. "This is the boy you brought?" it said in an aged, gravelly voice.
Fear took over Kevin. "Yes cardinal, this is the one I observed." Said another, Kevin instantly recognized as McCullin.
"He is too old to start training, I say we dispose of this fool before we-"
McCullin interrupted it "Did I too not start training till late in my life? This boy lasted by himself in a city enslaved by heretics with only a battered laspistol and what he could scavenge! He shows promise; he could be a great asset to the Imperium's armed forces."
The shadows began arguing amongst each other. Voices that had remained silent began speaking up. One of the shadows spoke up.
"Enough!! End this madness! As you all know I am the one who decides his fate. Perhaps we should ask the boy. What is your name, boy?"
"Kevin sir, no surname" he stuttered out.
The shadow nodded, "Ad do you believe in the God-Emperor of mankind, who sits as lord of man and its million worlds on the golden throne?"
"Yes sir." Kevin replied."
"And do you wish to repay your dept to him by giving your life in his name?"
Kevin paused, the shadows watching intently, waiting for an answer from the boy. Kevin looked at the shadow that seemed to be asking the questions. He focused on it, looking into where its eyes are suspected to be.
"No sir." He said confidently, causing the audience to gasp at his remark.
"On what grounds do you think you can say that?" Exclaimed the lead shadow, outraged at the boy's words.
"I do not wish to give my life for him; I wish to follow in his steps by defending the Imperium from those that threaten to destroy it and help its people on the way to enlightenment in His eyes." Kevin said, still looking at the shadow.
The lead shadow smirked at him, impressed by his words and his courage. "Very well then Kevin. You shall begin training at this great Schola as an Inquisitor Acolyte. Your devotion to guide those in the dark to the Emperor's light will be a valuable tool."
Kevin quickly spoke up "with all respect sirs I have always despised Inquisitors for their interrogation of the innocent, believing all of heresy. If I may, I wish to train to become a Commissar, with Commissar McCullin as my mentor."
The figures now revealed themselves to be masters and priests of the schola council. The Schoolmaster stepped forward and shook Kevin's hand. "Very well then. I, Commandant Landon Articus, assign you to train as a Commissar Cadet under the wing of Commissar Tomas McCullin. I hope to see great things from you Kevin McCullin." Kevin looked at the commissar with one eyebrow raised. The Commissar just shrugged. Kevin McCullin got on the road to be Commissar Kevin McCullin.
Okay 3 chapters done, great. I'm off to bed.