Authors Note:
Here we go again!
GENERAL WARHAMMER 40K DISCLAIMER: I own nothing except for my characters and some of the palces or weapons.
Lysander grunted as he heaved the metal scraps onto the growing pile. His wound had healed about a week or so ago and Alpharius had ordered him into physical exercise.
Alpharius did not talk very much but when he did it was either in reply to a question or giving Lysander an order. The rehabilitation regime was a mix of running and strength. The marine had started with having Lysander just do standard laps around the camp and then proceeded to give him weights to run with. The strength training was very basic and recently had become cleaning the camp of all the random scrap.
Lysander finished dumping the scrap and headed back to the center of the camp. According to Alpharius this area had once been the bridge of an imperial ship. Luckily the bug presence had been minimal and he had cleared them out shortly after arriving. As Lysander entered the main camp Alpharius motioned for him to come closer. Alpharius pointed to an autopistol on a bench.
"I found some old auto weapons for you to carry, the ammo is worth more then the gun itself so only use it sparingly," warned Alpharius.
Lysander reached down and picked up the pistol feeling the heavy weight. The gun grip was wrapped in a worn rag and the slide was sticky. Not only was the gun a rusty brown color but also Lysander could see actual rust setting into the barrel.
Alpharius picked up a cleaning kit and handed it to Lysander saying, "Learning to clean and fire the gun will be a part of your training everyday. Only fire 5 rounds a day in training and shot form ten meters."
"Should I start carrying the gun with me?" asked Lysander.
"Of course, never leave yourself defenseless," explained the marine, "without a weapon chances of the bugs and gangs killing you rise, now start cleaning it."
Lysander stared at the gun unsure of where to begin, "Um, I'm not really sure how to take it apart."
"Then learn to."
Lysander stood up from the workbench and pulled back the slide. He slipped it in his belt and walked up to Alpharius.
"I finished the gun, what else needs to be done?" asked Lysander.
"Actually, I have a surprise for you, I was not left on this damned hulk with no supplies," said Alpharius," Using some of the extra tech and one of the gangers skull I made you a servo-cogitator."
A small skull with a trailing mechedendrite floated out of the darkness. The skull had a red bionic eye and half of its scalp was a shiny metal color, The mechadendrite had a connection utility on the end and a small plasma flame attachment.
The skull floated towards Lysander and beeped twice. The skull shuddered and the bionic eye emitted a small scanner light.
"Stay still," said Alpharius, "It is linking to your genetic structure."
The Skull moved around Lysander and poked him with the mechadendrite. Lysander reached out and ran his hand along the smooth metal of the skull. He could feel the heat from the circuit lying beneath the top and the slight vibrations as the small antigrav projector kept it in the air.
"The skull will help you with some of the repairs that need to be done," said Alpharius, "I installed the basic modules and an Adaptive Learning Module to its memory core."
Lysander poked the skull making it wobble slightly and asked," I thought that machines were not supposed to learn and adapt like humans."
"You are correct, in the imperium it is a criminal offence to harbor or create anything resembling an AI, but we are no longer members of the Imperium so the same rules do not apply. We are not the blind servants of the Emperor and use every tool we may to survive," explained Alpharius.
The skull shuddered and rotated twice. The metal cybernetics began to crackle with sparks as electricity ran along the circuits and wires.
"Information Request: What is the identification of this unit?" asked a metallic monotone voice.
It took Lysander a minute to realize the noise had come from the skull. He stepped back and stared at the skull.
Alpharius chuckled. "Ah, that. I took the liberty of installing an audio interface."
"What does it want?" asked Lysander.
"I believe it wants a name, choose whatever you want its certification number is 5R33," replied Alpharius.
Lysander thought for a moment. The skull would be accompanying him everywhere it seemed like so he would need something other then a string of numbers and letters. The skull had once belonged to a boy on the hulk and now it was Lysander's companion. A name swirled in his head and clouded out all the other options. Janus. The skulls name would be Janus.
"Janus," said Lysander, "its name will be Janus."
"Processing Input. Acceptable ID. Will proceed to initiate systems reboot," said Janus. The skull floated over to a shelf and set down. The bright red light of bionic eye slowly faded into a dull grey metal.
Alpharius turned away and began waling to the workbench. As he left he called over his shoulder, "Tomorrow you will be fixing the energy routers. It is a long walk and lest I checked there were some bugs in that section."
Lysander groaned but acknowledged his fate. As he trudged off to bed his mind was alive with worries and apprehension. He had not fought and bugs since being rescued and thought of his chances. He was stronger and faster, he had weapons of course, but the bugs were in swarms and had armored shells. Would his training pay off or would the bugs finally claim him?
As he lay under the blanket a small red light floated towards his cot.
"Query: What is my masters name?" asked Janus. The hollow voice was slightly less metallic and had taken on a child's inflection.
Lysander looked at the floating eye. The rest of the skull was hazy in the darkness. "My names is Lysander, but you can call me Sander." Answered Lysander.
"Acknowledged. Initiating perimeter identification and subsequent sweep."
The stress and hardships of the day overwhelmed Lysander and he fell into a dreamless sleep.
"Sander," said a sharp voice.
"What is it?" said a groggy Lysander.
"Sander," said the voice again this time accompanied by a jab with a metal object.
"I'm up, I'm up," said Lysander. As he lifted his head and set his legs on the floor the hazy shape of Janus came into view.
"Alpharius has requested your participation in repairing energy routers," stated Janus, "It is suggested that you enter area with full combat gear and energy synapse repair tools."
"Got it, tell Alpharius that I will be back later tonight," said Lysander.
"Not possible," replied Janus," Alpharius left approximately thirty-three minutes prior for an unspecified objective."
Lysander considered his options. Simply proceed with thejob as instructed or wait for Alpharius return. The thoughts of puinishment laps quicly discouraged any qualms about venturing into the Hulk.
"Get the energy repair tools and meet me near exit C," instructed Lysander.
"Acknowledged," replied Janus.
As the skull floated towards the workshop, Lysander walked towards the armory.
The doors opened with a sharp his and Lysander looked around the room. The bolt weapons that usually occupied a rack in the corner was missing, and the chainsword that usually rested on the wall rack was missing. Alpharius had clearly gone out in full combat load.
Lysander reached for his locker and pulled out the flak jacket inside. He set the jacket on the desk and grabbed his combat boots. As he laced the boots he considered his weapon options. He reached into his locker and picked up the belt with his pistol. He slotted two extra mags in his belt and attached a knife to his thigh.
Lysander thought about Alpharius warning of bugs and picked up a sheathed gladius. He clipped the blade to the belt on his left side and walked towards exit C.
When he reached the door Janus was waiting. The skull held a large pack in its mechadendrite that should have by all rights pulled the skull from the sky. Lysander took the pack from Janus and clicked the door button.
As Lysander walked through the corridors he reviewed the route. Most of the path was in safe areas. The last four hundred or so feet were in areas he never had entered. The distance of unknown area was small, but that was still four hundred feet of exposure. Lysander walked the path removing any debris that had fallen in his way.
The door to the energy routers was ahead and Lysander walked towards it. He had stepped over the last grate when it exploded upwards. Lysander stumbled forwards and fell onto the ground. He rolled over and ripped his pistol free. The bug was disoriented from ramming the grate and shook its head. The bug was larger than most, but was nowhere near the size of one of the mind beasts. Lysander squeezed off two shot and the crack of gunfire was loud in the closed space. The beast twitched and fell back into the hole. Lysander could here a skittering noise as the beast scurried away.
"Janus, open the door!" shouted Lysander as he kept his pistol pointed at the hole.
"Preliminary scans show signs of locking programming. Orders?" asked Janus.
"Open the damn door however you can!" answered Lysander.
The hall fell deadly silent; the only breaks in noise were the beeps from Janus.
"Open," said Janus.
Lysander loosened the knife in his sheath and entered the room. The room was large, and covered in rubble. Despite searching the whole room there was no sign of eny routers. Lysander walked over to where Janus was scanning a terminal in the wall.
"What have you found?" asked Lysander.
"Nothing relating to any energy related installations. I have identified a map of surrounding rooms," replied Janus.
"Bring the up," instructed Lysander.
A map of the rooms around him appeared on the terminal. As Lysander studied the map it looked less and less like a engineering room and more like a crew quarters.
"There were never any energy routers here," growled Lysander.
"Is it possible that Alpharius was misinformed?" asked Janus.
"No, he would have had to check the routers at some point so there no reason for him to give us a wrong location." Answered Lysander.
"Sander, you need to see this. Scanners indicate a number of life forms headed towards our locations, orders?" inquired Janus.
Lysander looked around the room noting entrances and debris that could offer cover. He quickly ordered Janus to close doors on the right and entrance sides. Lysander ran towards the fallen metal scrap. AS he ducked behind the cover he could hear the doors closing. Lysander checked his pistol and set a mag on the ground beside him. Janus floated over and hovered behind the metal.
"Doors are closed, enemy will be here within thirty seconds," Informed Janus.
Lysander kneeled next to the metal and rested his arms on the side. He aimed the pistol at the door breathing deeply. The entire room shuddered, then the doors blew inwards. One of the larger beasts was lading a pack of smaller swarms. Lysander aimed at the leading beast and fired off a shot. The round pinged of his carapace and hit one of the smaller bugs. The beast slowed down allowing the swarm to overtake it. Lysander could count fifteen total bugs charging. He pointed the gun at the swarmed and unloaded the whole mage. AS the swarm kept gaining ground six of the bugs fell to the ground dead.
The bugs were almost on Lysander when he pulled out his knife. The gun only had a few rounds left and he needed a weapon that would not run dry. He jammed the knife into the body of the first leaping bug. The knife pierced the chitin and dark purple blood ran out onto Lysander's hand. He ripped the knife free before firing a round into the next bug. One of the bugs slashed at his leg opening up a bloody cut. Lysander stabbed down and killing the bug. Lysander jumped up onto the next piece of scrap loosing off another round before jumping to an adjacent pile. The bugs began to move towards him. Lysander risked a quick glance and could see the beast was still hanging back waiting for the smaller bugs to bleed him dry. Lysander shot another bug in the face before stabbing one in the eye. He wrenched the knife back only to have a bug jump onto his back. The bug reared up and stabbed down. Lysander felt the sharp blade of the bug pierce the flak jacket and stab into his flesh. Luckily the jacket stopped all the force and the blade didn't pierce very far. Lysander reached around and ripped the bug off before throwing it into the wall. The bug slid down and lay still. Lysander shot another bug and stabbed the other. The last one circled, waiting for a moment to strike. Lysander followed turning his back to the door the bugs entered. It was too late when he realized his error. He heard the scrape of chitin against metal and threw himself to the floor. The large beast flew over his head and landed on the ground.
Lysander regained his feet and shot the last bug. The beast turned back and began charging Lysander. Lysander raised the pistol and pulled the trigger. The gun clicked dry. The best closed the gap and leapt at Lysander, with no time to duck or dodge, Lysander braced. The beast was heavier and bowelled him over. The claws ripped through his jacket and gut a gash in his chest. Lysander howled as the pain erupted in his chest. The beast chittered and reared back to strike again.
Lysander kicked up throwing the beast off, he rolled to the side and scrabbled to his feet. He reached for the gladius and unsheathed it. He felt the cold grip in his hand and wondered what he should do. Alpharius had shown him how to fight with a knife but had yet to show him how to use a sword. The beast quickly regained it senses and started towards Lysander. Lysander did not want to be caught off guard by the beast so he started to run towards the beast as well. The beast leapt towards him, but Lysander was ready. He thrust the blade out, but at the last second the beast twisted and batted the blade form Lysander's hand. Lysander spun around facing the beast, hand still ou stretched watched as the beast lunged for him. Before he could scream a brust of flames projected from his hand and hit the beast. The beast shrieked as it died. Lysander felt drained an collapsed to the ground, he laid on the floor panting before pulling himself to his feet and use the gladius as a walking stick. Lysander limped over to the scrap metal and sat down. He picked up the mag and slotted it into his pistol. All of the pain and soreness was quickly becoming apparent as the adrenaline subsided.
He limped to the terminal and saw Janus cowering under the desk.
"Open the doors," said Lysander flatly.
"Acknowledged," replied Janus.
Lysander turned to the door and watched as it opened. He began walking toward it when he felt his body run cold. The feeling was like jumping into a pool of ice. A shape appeared out of the darkness and floated into the room. It was a mind beast. It turned to Lysander and unleashed a blast of energy. Lysander felt the ground disappear and the pile of scrap as it impacted his back. He rose up, too proud to lie down and die. Before the beast could charge another blast a blade appeared behind it. Lysander gaped as the blade promptly inserted itself into the beast forehead. As the mind beast fell to the ground the wielder became obvious. Alpharius stood there, in full power armor with chainsword and bolter strapped to his belt holding a combat blade.
Alpharius walked towards him checking the dead bugs for any movement. When he reached Lysander instead of checking his wounds he pulled his head closer. He looked into his eyes and then scanned him with an auspex.
"My wounds are on my chest and leg, not my head," muttered Lysander.
"The wounds will heal but first I must know the extent of your power," replied Alpharius as he clipped the auspex to his belt.
"What power? I didn't do anything I swear. I don't know how the flames got there," pleaded Lysander.
"So you know it was the flames that I find disconcerting?" asked Alpharius.
Lysander squirmed, "Well yeah, sometimes one of the gangers could do stuff like that, but then the other boys would try and kill him."
"Do you now why they did that?" inquired Alpharius.
"No," answered Lysander, "they would kill him then dump the body in on of the grave rooms."
"The gangs here have learned to fear one thing above all." explained Alpharius,
"When traveling through the warp with limited protection, having a Psyker nearby is like holding a beacon for daemons."
"A Psyker?" said Lysander, "but there is no way I'm a Pskyer."
"My dear boy, your are most definitely one that the imperium would call a Witch."
Authors note:
Thanks for reading, I read some comments and will be explaining all of the reasons for Lysadner being on a hulk. Until next time!
