I actually didn't know that I could write another Chapter of this but I ca't really leave anything undone I just can't stand it so enjoy
"If music is food for the soul what then of Screaming?" Konrad Curze Primarch of the Eight Legion
"Flayer" Xan Kuras greeted Variel as they herded the small gretchin-like creatures that they had learned from their captive that those creatures were called goblins.
"Xan Kuras" Variel greeted the Night Lord "you have something you wish to ask of me" Variel stated there was no other reason for a warrior like Xan Kuras to approach him.
"as a matter of fact I do" Xan Kuras answered. "the similarities between these creatures" he spat the last word out as those they disgusted him "and the gretchins ins undeniable only that they are shorter and have smaller heads. I was not able to confirm it but I was wondering if perhaps you could see if any of these rodents were releasing those filthy spores the gretchins and orkz do?"
Variel shook his head "I too shared your concern but from what I have discovered upon analysis that these goblins do not in fact release any form of spores so for the moment we are safe. Though perhaps these ones have learned how to suppress that innate ability of reproduction of theirs though I did see several ones that had feminine features so perhaps they have a different method of breeding, similar to most other species of humanoid." Variel answered "however I think if we need to be sure I will have to take one under analysis later. Hopefully the similarities are only with the appearance" Variel added, the consequences of it being otherwise might be disastrous.
Satisfied Xan Kuras tilted his helmet in polite thanks, well as polite as a Night Lord can get "my thanks perhaps the War-sage may allow you to, I would too be interested to see if they were related to those filthy fungus apes" he answered. It was no secret that the Tenth Company who had fought in the Great Crusade ten thousand years prior hated Xenos as much as they hated the imperium and the that they had betrayed. Or according to some of them like Talos the Emperor that had betrayed them by casting them aside on his ascension to godhood. Either way they hated Xenos and after what had happened Tsagualsa there hatred for a specific pointed eared xenos grew even more.
Variel was more interested in in dissecting one of them and putting it back together however he was more concerned with finding any signs of human life, if they could then they would most probably be able to find some youth and try to regrow their ranks, Variel knew that twenty five Astartes while formidable would not be able hold a strike cruiser like the Covenant of Blood. In the meantime they would have to make do with what they had and with whoever was unlucky enough to be captured by them and then lobotomised by Deltrian. Making a provisioning noise about the situation they were in Variel moved towards the apothecarion needing to see what he had to work with. For a brief moment Variel wondered what became of Talo's successor Decimus but then apothecary quickly crushed that thought and continue his walk towards his destination.
"So you are telling me that your species is called the Kaldorei and that yours is just one of many species on this planet?" Malcharion asked, while he was not trying to be intimidating the War-Sages presence alone would be enough to unnerve fellow Astartes. After all he was one of the VIII Legions finest commander during the Great Crusade, if he didn't have such a commanding presence something would have been wrong. The Xeno Keina Shadowsong as she had named herself nodded in confirmation to his question."And that you came from a small settlement called Astranaar, Is that correct" the War-Sage continued. Keina nodded once more. "you were attacked by servants of this demonic legion called the burning legion correct and were about to be sacrificed when the Soul Hunter and Xarl showed up and interrupted the right after they had dealt with your captors you expressed a desire to come with them here as you believed that it would be safer with them for the time being?" Malcharion questioned just going over the facts that Talos had reported to him and her story, they matched and it didn't seem to be practice. Keina nodded once more. "very well then" Malcharion stated "I believe you, though the questions remains what do you know of these creatures called goblins" Malcharion asked.
"Goblins?" Keina asked in confusion before she realised "I should have know" the Sentinel stated.
"I take it that from your comment you are not on friendly terms with them and that their behaviour is typical" Malcharion stated.
"uh yes, Goblins fancy themselves inventors when in the end they are just scavengers that take other peoples work and use it as their own, they are only loyal to money and will back stab or hinder you if the mood strikes them or as a joke" Keina answered her words a bit bitter.
"I take it then that what we do to the ones we have captured is of no concern to you" Malcharion stated.
"One's you've captured, Uh what do you mean" Keina asked a bit confused.
"We intend to have our tech adept Deltrian lobotomise them" Makcharion explained.
"Lobotomise?" Keina asked unsure of what the unfamiliar word meant.
"When you lobotomise someone you are making them into a servitor" Malcharion stated.
"is that some type of servant?" Keina asked. The sound of rolling thunder answered her and she stepped back.
After he had finished chuckling Malcharion answered "yes in a way they are they are also without free will and unaware in a sense, in essence the perfect worker who never complains. The down side to it is that you have to program them to do complicated tasks otherwise they are only capable of the simple ones"
Keina was horrified that such a process could exist. Gasping eyes wide she took another step back "you're" she began "you're not going to do that to me?" she asked.
"If you want us to we might consider it" Malcharion answered. Keina could not tell if he was joking or not "Is there anything else you can tell me about your world?"
Keina then told him. She told the War-Sage everything she knew from the battle of the Ancients to the third war to the conflict with the Horde throughout this Malcharion only listened and asked her to expand on some of the things he was saying. "So there yo have it that is everythin I know" Keina said after talking to Malcharion for about two hours. Suddenly her stomach growled and her face flushed in embarrassment.
Malcharion was amused by this sudden event not understanding why she was embarrassed by the fact that her body needed nutrients to sustain itself. "I believe that you might want to feed yourself I will asked one of my Legionaries to get you some ration bars" he said.
Keia nodded in thanks and could here the a clicking noise from what she out to be Malcharion's mouth.
"Well it seems that we will have to take you to the cargo hold to get them" Malcharion stated. Vandred who had the unfortunate duty of holding the sleeping Leina walked up from behind his captain and beckoned for Keina to follow. "When you desire to leave inform us I will send four of our number to accompany you" Malcharion stated.
Deltran Grinned but then again Deltran always grinned. The skeletal like face he possessed was capable of no other expression. He had just finished lobotomising the specimen that Xarl had given him. The the grin on his metallic skeleton like face was for a rare moment genuine. This would make the process of the next fifteen easier now that he had something to help him work with immediately he set the new servitor to work while he did have one of the bleeding eyes with him in case something happened that he couldn't handle Deltran did miss the other members of the Mechanicum that were on board the covenant with him as he could have used their help with this arduous process the first of he small green creatures was kicking and screaming and Vorasha knocked him out clean so that Deltran could have an easier time with the process. The Tech adept nodded in thanks to the legionary and continued his work. It was then that he received a vox hail from Malcharion "What is it War Sage?" he asked not halting in his work.
"Honoured Tech Adept" Malcharion began "what is the estimated time you will be able to finish you labours?"
"Well given the current rate about two to three hours" the Tech adept responded. "But the variables may change so it could take-" but Malcharion cut him off.
"That is good to know meet me aboard the Covenants bridge when you are done" he stated before cutting the link.
Deltran continued with his work before Vorasha said "I think you should show the War-Sage the fruit of your labours when you are done, Yes yes."
Deltran had not been capable of making a sigh in centuries but he would admit that Vorasha's way of speaking did make him want to voice his displeasure without looking up he answered. "Your opinion is noted" he stated before he ordered Vorasha "bring the next one."
Keina since she had been captured felt a relief of sort though the food she had been given the Night Lords as they called themselves told her were called ration bars were foreign to her they did give her the nutrition she needed so that she could at least relax somewhat. Her daughter Leina had gobbled down three of them in great succession earning what she had been able to understand as chuckles from the Night Lords that had accompanied her. She didn't know if the two who saved here were assigned to watch over her but she new that now there were four of them. It seemed that the one called the War-sage had not lied to her. She was startled when her daughter asked one of the Night Lords a question. "Mr what were your parents like?" she asked.
"Leina you can't asked people something like that" Keina chied her.
"Are you sure you want an answer?" the Night Lord asked.
Leina nodded. "Yes" she said firmly before adding a "please" onto it.
One of the other Night Lords laughed causing both of the Night elves to flinch at the sound. "Tell them Talos there really isn't much to tell though."
"If you say so Mercution" Talos replied to his fellow Night Lord. "Like most Sons of the sunless world my father was a murderer like his father before him" he answered. "Just to let you know I never knew who he was" he added. "My mother was an indenture that grew old long before her time at the age of thirty she looked at least sixty I suspect she was diseased.." Talos stopped there remembering the fate that had befallen his mother and how he had not recognised her "If only" he briefly thought.
"I'm sorry that my daughter asked something that brought up painful memories" Keina apologised..
Talos did not know whether he should be offended at that or not. Being pitied was not something someone in the eighth legion was used to. So he didn't reply as the words said to him were to foreign. Luckily it was Xarl who replied for him. "Don't shed tears over it it happened over several mortal lifetimes ago" he explained.
"How old are you?" Keina asked interested.
Underneath their helms the NightLords were smiling she would never believe their explanation which was why they gave it to her. "We have been sighted and lived over ten thousand Years ago during the era where we come from known as the Horus Heresy and we know we were there" Ruven answered.
"By Elune you're that old" Keina gasped.
"As I was saying before you interrupted me we lived back over ten thousand years ago, but for most of us are only in our third century." Ruven continued.
"How is such a thing possible?" Keina asked confused.
"With the warp anything is possible" Xarl grunted the distaste could be heard in his voice.
"So what happens to us?" Leina asked with an innocence only a child could have.
"Well we were told to escort you to where ever you wanted to go when you left." Talos answered.
"You're letting us go just like that" Keina stated.
"Yes you have not done anything overly offensive like your fellow green-skinned natives." Talos explained. "Is there anywhere you can go?" he asked as they led the two out of the ship.
"Yes" Keina answered before thinking of the home she had lived in. "There is a place."
"Does this place have a name?" the one named Mercution asked she could see that he held some advanced form of Rifle in his hands it was bulky and massive even for one his size.
Keina nodded "Its name is Astranaar."
"Lead the way" Talos stated.
At that point Leina had walked up to Talo's leg and clung onto it into a hug. "Thank you" she stated.
Talos nor the other Night Lords didn't reply the words were too unfamiliar.
Malcharion looked at the lobotomised greenskins and nodded "As always Deltran you have outdone yourself" he stated. No one present could tell if he was being sarcastic or sincere.
"You have my vocally expressed gratitude" Deltan answered. "though you do have a reason for calling me out here?" It was not a question.
"Actually yes" the War-Sage answered before several Night Lords carried in four bulky objects, we found these with the green-skins that you lobotomised but we wanted to wait until you finished your work before we showed them to you" he stated. "According to one of them who you lobotomised these things are called 'shredders' while I am no Techmarine I definitely know that something like this even if it was made by the green-skins we know should not work."
Deltran nodded "I understand" he replied. He too wondered how these contraptions worked though part of him was appalled at what could only be described as poor craftsmanship.
"I trust you will be able to figure this out." Malcharion stated.
"Yes" Deltran answered the tech adept grinning at him. But then again Deltran always grinned.
"We're finally here" Keina stated.
Talos could here his brothers vox their frustration over the vox they had spent three hours walking around in circles following her directions when it could have only taken two hours for her fragile frame to walk the distance. "Good let us get this over with" he stated. Though through his helm he saw the tell tale signs of smoke on in the distance.
As they came into view of the settlement Keina dropped to her knee's "No" the sentinel stated.
The Night Lords had seen the cause of her grief the settlement she had called 'Astranaar' was aflame with figures running through it. "Looks like the creatures we killed before" Xarl voxed to Talos noticing the Satyrs.
"I'm not sure bout you but I am very much looking for a chance at some sport" Ruven voxed as he drew his gladius and began to stalk forwards.
"Might as well enjoy ourselves" Mercution agreed holstering his heavy bolter onto his back and drawing his own gladius.
Xarl Chuckled offering no comment but took his two handed Chainsword and activated it before doing the same. Talos sighed at his brothers actions. Turning to Keina he asked her "Will you be safe here?" The Xeno nodded to him before he locked his bolter to his waist and drew his own gladius while still holding the power sword. "Very well then" he stated before he left also to hunt.
To the Nihgt Lords it seemed these Satyrs and whatever other creatures were there enjoyed toying with their prey chasing and herding them into ambushes and dead ends. This was something the eight legion understood and could appreciated. Talos smiled despite himself as he cornered the creatures that had just cornered several of these Kaldorei and with his brothers whispered in the dead tongue of Nostramo So all could here "Weep for we have come for you"
To the cornered night elves it seemed as though they too would be finally killed the Saytrs had cornered them and were advancing slowly on the group. Some of the braver ones mainly the children tried to rush out and attack their tormentors only to be grabbed by the stronger arms of their parents or elders and but behind them. It was then that they heard something. It was barely a whisper but it filled all who heard it with dread to the cowering Kaldorei and Satyr alike it was as if a snake was speaking. It was then that a giant clad in the armour of midnight with skull painted on its face and red gleaming eyes appeared from behind the Satyrs. Across its body streaks of lightning could be seen. Its menace was enhanced by the deep low sound of its voice as deep as a nightsaber. For its size it was extremely fast dispatching the Satyrs with ease before most of them knew what was happening. Looking at its bloody work the Giant turned to survey the night elves before clicking could be heard from its voice. After moment it strode away into the smoke leaving the night elves confused and terrified.
Xarl needless to say was enjoying himself. While he did detest having to constantly kill weaklings he did get some form of enjoyment from it. It was clear to him the enemy were not just Xenos but mutants as well. Either way they died the same underneath the teeth of his chainsword. Xarl's thoughts were interrupted by a shout. "You there stand and face me Mal'Kara of the Burning Legion.
Xarl whipped around and surveyed his opponent. A staunch reptilian creature that he could tell had been mutated several times. In stature it was bigger than he was but its movements were in any astartes's eyes sluggish and heavy. Xarl smiled before he did the one thing that would enrage any kind of warrior, he stepped into the smoke and disappeared. Even then he could hear its cries of hatred as he laughed and began to flank it. Coming around he attacked it from behind laying into it with his chainsword the teeth biting into the creatures hide and penetrating it. With a shove Xarl sent it sprawling before speaking to it. "You will die like your fellows did" he stated in a mocking tone that held his mirth. "Screaming."
The creature hissed and spat out blood. "You dare mock me a servant of Sargeras" hissed through clenched teeth.
Xarl smiled. "I can't wait to have the mortals use you helmet as a shit bucket" he stated. As he charged and attacked it.
The duel if it could be called that was short the creature was already wounded and its movements were even more sloppy than before seeing an opening Xarl charged in chainsword raised and cut off the creatures right hand in a brutal motion. The creature wailed in pain as Xarl proceeded to smash his chainsword into its neck and behead it. At the end of it he took one of the chains from his armour and attached the head as grizly trophy as he laughed at the sheer ridiculousness of it all.
Mercution looked down at the corpses of Satyrs his gladius was slick with the horned creatures blood. His display showed the others locations and he moved towards them meeting up with Ruven first. The two Night Lords walked in silence as the found Talos and Xarl. All four of them agreed that it was over too quickly much to their dislike. The four made their way to where they had left Keina and her daughter to find more of them there some where Xenos who had fled the settlement and others seemed like warriors they were dressed in armour possessing some disk blades while others were wielding bows and notched arrows at the fours approach. "What is that going to do ruin our paint job?" Ruven asked and broke out into laughter which Talos, Mercution and Xarl echoed the laugh. the idea that arrows could hurt them was to the sons of the sunless world somewhat ticklish.
"After you fire we are going to retaliate after we stop rolling on the ground in laughter at you" Xarl stated.
It seemed that Keina's kin did not take that very well. As several of their faces hardened. "Stop they helped us" They heard Keina's voice cry out.
"Are you talking to them or to us?" Mercution asked taking a step forward. Much to his satisfaction and that of his brothers the night elves flinched and retreated back a little.
"Sentinel Keina Shadowsong you know these things" one of the other Night Elf sentinels asked.
"Calling us things is very offensive Xeno, I think I should kill you for that" Xarl stated thumbing the activation rune on his chainsword and starting to walk forward.
Talos's hand on his shoulder stopped him "Ivalastisha" he said "peace."
Xarl grunted in reply and deactivated his chainsword. Which was a good sign.
"Who are you?" one of the other sentinels asked.
"Why don't you ask her" Ruven stated gesturing to Keina. "She knows" he added.
"Do you know them?" the sentinel asked.
"Yes" Keina admitted "they saved my daughter's life as well as my own while interrupting a summoning ritual."
"What happened next?" the sentinel asked imploring her to continue. "They took us to a craft of sorts that was massive and led me into it, inside the craft was dark and cold. They took me to one who seemed to be their leader and then gave us something to eat before escorting my daughter and I back here when they saw Astranaar in flames they went to deal with the Satyrs. And then they came back to where they had left me and now we're here" she finished her short explanation.
"It is rude to talk of your rescuers as if they weren't there" Ruven commented amused by the turn of events.
"We weren't talking to you creature" one of the sentinels shot verbally at them.
In an instant Ruven was holding her by her throat. "I feel inclined to tell you that I have killed others for less than that" he stated as he held the unfortunate sentinel in his hand as if she were a rag doll. "But fortunately I am in a benevolent mood and my captain ordered us only to kill hostiles" Ruven explained. "Are you one of them?" he finished by asking that.
"Ruven enough" Talos hissed at him in Nostraman berating his brother.
Dropping the Night Elf unceremoniously Ruven chuckled. "Next time I suggest we let Uzas do the talking instead of Ruven" Xarl stated with wry humour.
Mercution looked at the still cautious night elves who seemed even more ready to lose arrows into them after what Ruven had done and said "You do understand the reason we are not bothered by your display of hostility is because you lack the means to harm us" he told them. Even if we weren't wearing our armour you would not be able to really damage us. Your determination is commendable but in all it is fruitless."
"Why did you kill the servants of the Burning Legion?" One of the other sentinels asked.
"Why not?" Ruven challenged. "More importantly what is it to you?"
"Ruven enough we are leaving" Talos said. "First Claw with me" at that they turned and were about to leave when a new voice rang out. "Wait" it asked of them.
The four Astartes turned and saw whatcould be described as a raven mutation into an elf though Xarl swore through the vox that it was sorcery Ruven disagreed. "I cannot sense him using any Warp magics" the Sorcerer stated.
The night elf that was left in place looked aged a venerable. "I believe that we got off on the wrong foot, the Sentinels were over eager in the defence of our kin." she apologised.
"Two sincere apologies within the span of a year Talos you are going to break the Legions record." Xarl joked.
Talos ignored Xarl and statred at the newcomer "And you are?" he asked.
"Who me?" the aged night elf asked "I am Cendir a Druid of Talon."
"And what is a druid?" Mercution was the one who asked.
"Never mind that" Talos stated. "What is it you want? Speak our patience is finite"
"Well" the Druid began unsure of how to say it "I was wondering if you would like to accompany me to our capital of Darnassus?"
Well how did you like that I hope you enjoyed it until next time whenever that is. Please review or PM me if you have any suggestions.
Also note I never quit any of my fics