Venenum Filios Chapter 22

Under the ground there was only darkness, a thick cloying veil that hung upon everything. It was not a still darkness but a busy one disturbed by the skittering of vermin and the passage of countless insects. It was claustrophobia made real, edged with old nightmares from the dawn of time and the fear of the lurking predator in the gloom.

Suddenly that dark was broken, pierced by a single ray of light. The thin beam illuminated the tunnel, opening the way for a lone individual, approaching fast. He was a giant, clad in blue Ceramite armour which bore the spiral in a starburst icon of the Storm Heralds. It was Persion and he was making his way up the tunnel, Friction axe in hand.

From the brow of his helm emerged a single beam of light, lighting the path before him. It was a feeble illumination by normal standards but more than enough for his autosenses to draw upon. He could see the dank passageway stretching out before him, branching off occasionally. He had raced away from the battle, not sure that the Soul Drinkers would not pursue him. So he had taken random turns, straying from the path he had come down before. He was fairly certain that he had shaken any pursuit, but an unfortunate consequence of this was that he was completely lost.

As he ran Persion replayed the battle over and over in his mind, watching it again with the perfect recall of the Transhuman. He watched the Soul Drinkers fight the Alpha Legion again, examining the memory for any hint of deception. He knew all too well how devious the followers of Chaos could be, they would do anything to trick and manipulate an opponent and yet he could discern no trace of falsehood. The fight had been vicious and fierce, both sides fighting to the utmost, seeking only their enemy's destruction.

No matter how many times Persion replayed the events he couldn't find a sign that it had been a pretence and his gut told him he had been watching a real fight. The implications of that were troubling, if these Soul Drinkers truly were loyal then the situation became infinitely more complex. That Chapter had been declared Excommunicate Traitoris, by Imperial law the Storm Heralds were obliged to destroy them without hesitation. Yet could they do it, could they eradicate another force of loyalists?

Yes, Persion decided glumly, yes they could if it meant their own Chapter's salvation.

Persion thought then about Ferrac, that lone warrior who had shed blood with him and then set him free. Ferrac had seemed a brutal executioner at first, forlorn of hope yet had shown surprising honour at the end. Persion could not help but wonder how many times the Soul Drinkers had faced similar situations that the Storm Heralds now faced, how many honourless choices had they been forced to make in order to survive. They seemed cold and ruthless, yet beneath that gruff exterior there dwelt be a solid core of virtue, a vestige of honour yet in their souls. Persion's musings were interrupted as an unexpected violent cramp seized his limbs along with a churning sensation that clawed at his guts. "No, no, no," Persion gasped in pain, "Not now damn it."

It was the Phage, returning to wreak havoc upon his body. In the heat of combat he had almost forgotten the vile disease running rampant in his body but now it returned with a vengeance. Persion felt tremors building in his hands then his knees went weak and buckled beneath him. He tried to ignore it, to press on through force of will but it was pointless to resist. His legs gave out and he fell involuntarily onto his hands and knees in the mouldy gloom.

Persion had never felt so weak before, never had his body failed him like this. It was inconceivable to an Astartes to be rendered so helpless and he couldn't help but wonder if this was how mortals felt all the time. He managed to lurch over to one side and sat down, feeling his head spinning around him as he tried not to pass out. Persion had no idea how long he sat there, feeling his body wracked with cramps and darkness tingeing his vision. He had to move on, he had to complete his mission but right then he could even lift his arm. Everything felt so distant, so far removed from him that he couldn't quite remember why he had to keep going.

Suddenly there was a loud crump in the gloom and the sound of voices, Persion heard feet approaching and rolled his head to look outwards. He saw the bulky shapes of Transhuman warriors closing in on him, but hidden behind the glare of lumen beams he couldn't tell if they wore Alpha Legion scales or Soul Drinker purple. He weakly raised his axe in a feeble gesture but it was futile defiance indeed. Suddenly a voice cried out, "By the Throne, look its Persion!"

The bulky forms closed in and the light split open to reveal that they were wearing Storm Herald blue. They were his Brothers, come to save him. Persion felt many hands lifting him up and arms slipped around his waist, leaving him to be carried between two Brothers. He knew he should greet them but right then his thoughts were too sluggish to make the connection.

He felt himself being carried along for a time, then he was laid down again. A blurry white shape came at him and distant words rang in his ears, muffled and half-formed. Then suddenly a cold rush swept through him, driving out the foggy confusion, leaving him clear-headed and alert.

Persion blinked and saw Apothecary Memnos crouched before him, his Narthecium withdrawing an injection syringe from his armour's interfaces. Persion swallowed, his throat feeling red-raw and croaked, "Memnos, what happened?"

Memnos replied, "You had a relapse but I got to you just in time. I've treated your symptoms but it's only a temporary measure, I cant halt the Phage's progress for long."

"I'll take it," Persion said as he staggered to his feet, "Where is Captain Toran? I have to make a report."

"Here," came a voice and Persion saw the Captain approaching through a crowd of blue armoured forms. The Captain had his helm off, making him look terrible. His face was crisscrossed by a web of black necrotic veins, dividing his head into a patchwork of sections. He looked as bad as Persion felt and it was the clearest sign yet that the Phage was advancing rapidly.

Persion saw the remainder of the command squad was with him, Furion, Jediah, Novak and Bylan, who alone looked hale and whole. Chaplain Wrethan was there too, utterly silent and grim behind his skull-mask.

Novak spoke up and quipped, "Persion, there you are I said we'd find you laying around, taking your leisure."

Persion didn't smile, the situation was too serious for that and stated, "Captain I've made an important discovery, the Soul Drinkers live, they are here!"

Toran blinked and replied "What?"

Persion said, "The Soul Drinkers, they aren't all dead. There's a force of them here, right ahead of us."

"Traitors!" growled Jediah, "Here?"

"No," Persion countered, "I'm not convinced that they are."

"Slow down Brother," Toran said, "You're babbling, start at the beginning and tell us everything."

Persion drew in a breath and knew he was getting muddled. He slowly centered himself then relayed his tale, he told them of his capture and interrogation. He spoke of the Soul Drinker's parlous state and what he had learned from listening in on their conversations. He related how poorly equipped they were and how desperate they were to find the gene-vault hidden in these ruins. He spoke of their battle with the Traitors and his part in it and how one of them let him go.

When he was done there was silence, then Memnos said excitedly, "So there is Gene-tech down here, we are on the right track."

Toran didn't sound so elated as he remarked, "Remarkable yes but we still have the problem of a horde of renegades and Traitors before us. We never expected to find survivors of that outcast breed, I don't know whether to be amazed or outraged."

Novak muttered, "More treasonous dogs, as if we don't have enough of those already."

Furion's reaction was most curious; he kicked out with the side of his boot, catching Novak on the greave as if in admonition. Persion didn't know why that comment would stir such a response, but he spoke up to say, "I'm not convinced that they are Traitors. Desperate and driven yes but not treasonous, I'm not sure that we have genuine Heretics on our hands."

"It won't matter," spat the voice of Jediah, "If what you say is true then they need to find this vault too, they need the gene-tech as much as we do. If it comes to it would they hesitate to take it all and leave us to die?"

"No," said Persion knowing it to be true, "They are as desperate as we are."

"Then it must come down to us or them," declared Jediah, "Personally I choose us."

"We have to get there first," declared Toran, "They already have a head start, we need to move fast."

Persion knew what that would entail and spoke up to ask, "Captain, how will meet them? Are we going to charge in all guns blazing or try to talk first?"

"Talk?" spat Jediah, "We are Astartes, it is not in our nature to let the enemy fire first."

"They may not be enemies," Persion replied, "Not all of them at least."

Furion commented, "You spoke of one called Ferrac, you admire him don't you?"

Persion nodded and answered, "I do, we fought side by side, I have seen his mettle and it is honourable. I would not like to cut him down without good reason."

Toran sighed loudly and declared, "We will cross that bridge when we come to it. For now we don't know what to expect when we encounter these strange warriors, they may not give us any opportunity to talk. But make no mistake if they fire upon us I will hammer them down until they are dust."

"+What of the Alpha Legion?+" piped up Bylan, "+They aren't likely to let us go that easily+"

Novak shook his head and said, "Traitors on all sides, we are walking into a bloodbath." That brought glares from all around and Persion didn't know what to make of it.

Then Toran stepped up and said, "We're wasting time, we need to get the Company ready to move. Furion spread the word to expect Traitors and Apothecary Memnos dose everybody now, I want us feeling fighting fit before combat is joined. Chaplain Wrethan you will be right at the front, where everyone can see you and draw inspiration from your presence. Bylan I need you to fly the standard high, Novak keep your blade ready and Jediah you do whatever it is you do that makes the enemy piss themselves."

The squad eagerly broke up and headed out to their various duties. Persion however noted that he hadn't been given an assignment and stepped up to Toran asking, "Captain, what the hell is going on around here?"

Toran glanced about to make sure Memnos and Wrethan had gone then quietly donned his helm. Persion was baffled but then a private vox-link opened up and Toran said, "You missed a lot Persion, none of it good."

Persion didn't follow and said, "What could possibly have happened to get everybody so jittery?"

Toran sighed and slowly said, "There's something you need to know… it's about Mylos."