Chapter IV
Seth hadn't believed the air could be getting any worse, but down in the tunnels it was warmer and muggier, somewhat like a cave or mine. Some tunnels were large enough for a Space Marine to stand upright, others a child might have been able to crawl through, but they all made of grey rusting metal. Without night googles it would have been impossible for them to see anything in the darkness, and there was the constant sound of water dripping as well as their own echoing footsteps. Jane had taken the lead, eventually stopping at a crossing of eight pipes. She nodded to Brennan, who reached for a black box-like apparatus, a scanner, from his backpack, placing it in the crossing's center, where Jane linked it with a small hand-sized monitor. The monitor was to serve as a map, while the scanner would remained at the crossing to frequently update the display. On command it began working, humming peacefully, while Seth and Brennan took position at opposite sides of the crossing. The former Guardsman prayed that no Genestealers would become aware of their presence; he didn't believe they could survive an attack, and his shoulder moved stiffly as the feeling of unease overcame him.
After a few minutes, which seemed like hours, the humming behind him stopped. Seth didn't turn around, only continued to wait. He heard her going to Brennan shortly before she approached him. Jane was holding the monitor, which showed them a green glowing holographic depiction of the the Underhive's pipe-system. It also showed heat signatures, most notably those of life forms. Another thing he noticed was that it shone too damn bright. Why didn't they just wave a "Here are the tasty humans, yum, yum!" sign in the air. The medicae pointed at a handful of tunnels, all leading to a large chamber, where most heat signatures had been detected. The Brood's nest no doubt; and they were almost directly above it. His eyes wandered over the 3D model, to his relieve finding no life forms near them. If the synapse link between the Tyranids was as sophisticated as Nicomedo claimed, only one would have to discover their activities to send the entire brood their way. Jane pointed at certain pipes, and Seth nodded in raffirmation.
…
Jane felt almost claustrophobic in those tunnels, and the warm rubber of her breathing mask, squeezing against her face was only making things worse. It was incredible warm in general, the several layers of clothing becoming a burden more than anything else. And then there was her own fear: for about two decades now Jane served the Inquisitor, but even with her experience gained over the years this environment was making her feel like a rookie again. There was no cover, just a straight path and many ways to be caught off-guard by something coming through the inlet pipes. She saw from the corner of her eye how Seth was clutching his rifle, while only Brennan seemed calm, or at least there was nothing indicating anything like strain in is posture or demeanor.
Jane smiled: it was always good to have Brennan along. The old bounty hunter was the longest standing member of the Acolytes, experienced and calm in battle. Ever since her second mission, he had kept close to the medicae in battle, kept her save and had taught her most she knew about combat. In this environment he seemed like a life-insurance with a semi-automatic weapon.
They went deeper into the tunnel system, until the small monitor fixated on her arm vibrated softly. Her head turned around when Brennan put a supportive hand on her shoulder, nodding encouragingly when their eyes met. The first explosive charge was to be set here right above a tunnel leading to the main chamber: the idea was to have several detonate on time until only two tunnels remained for the Kill-Team to enter and purge the Xenos, while diminishing the risk of being flank, funneling the masses into a confined space where they couldn't use numbers to their full advantage. Nicomedo had suspected the brood to be occupying one or more underground cavities, and ordered any structure unsuited or capable of compromising the purge prepped for destruction.
During the next hour or so, the three continued in this manner, moving as quietly as their equipment allowed them to be, stopping at every sound of unknown origin, and there were plenty. It was very clear they weren't alone, something like footsteps occasionally echoed from other parts of the sewer system. More concerning was whatever sounded like someone scratching several knives over the rusty metal; the picture of long claws came to Jane's mind, and she felt her throat tightening. However, they were never attacked. Maybe, Jane figured, no one had ever challenged the Brood down here and they had grown more careless, believing the Acolytes to be some stray mutants or gang members, when the xeno's heard them sneaking through their territory. Jane suppressed the thought of terming it "hunting ground". Finally only one charge remained.
Brennan tapped her on the shoulder. "It's just around the corner. Let me set it, while you two get the scanner back. I'll meet you at the exit." He whispered.
"You're sure?" Splitting up sounded like a bad idea.
"A few minutes less we're going to spend down here." The next thing he said was in a strangely merrily voice, though that could have been caused by the distortion from the mask. "If anything happens, they'll go after me and not you."
"And I thought I was the one lacking oxygen in my brain." Seth mentioned, his breathing heavy and with drops of sweat running down his face.
Brennan stretched his empty hand towards Jane, who sighed but gave him the last charge. "Don't get lost. Once it is set follow this tunnel until the second to the right, up the ladder and at the top left, third right, first left and finally up the slope we came down."
He tapped on the vox communicator in his ear. "I'll just ask for directions should I forget."
The other two nodded and left the Bounty Hunter; thanks to lighter equipment and weight in general, they could move faster now, almost jogging down the tunnels, careful not to step into the puddles of water to make treacherous splashing noises. After the third turn, close the scanner, Jane stopped abruptly, hand lifted and eyes fixed on the monitor. "Emperor, no." She gasped with Seth looking over her shoulder. The display had just updated again, and now heat signatures gathered around Brennan's presumed location.
"We have to go back!" The Storm Trouper had given up on whispering and was about to turn around, as Jane quickly grabbed his arm. "What?!"
She ignored him and contacted Brennan. "Brennan, do you read me?"
The vox crackled with the Acolytes voice. "I read you, something's wrong?"
"I have multiple signals heading towards you…"
"Of course, this was too damn easy. Stick to the plan, I'm halfway up the ladder, if I'll run I might get to the slope in about ten minutes…Aaargh!"
"Lucien!"
"That's it, let's go!"
"No." She could hardly believe what she said, what she was going to say. "They're too many, look at the screen! If we go everyone dies, and all was for not!"
"Are you bloody kidding me?!" Seth gaped at her in disbelieve and started running. She sprinted after him and rammed him, bringing him to a fall, partly thanks to his current, still weakened condition.
"We won't make it in time, and you can hardly fight. We must complete our mission; he told us to stick to the plan."
"When he wasn't under attack!" He snapped, in his adrenaline rush managing to throw her off his back.
"Do you honestly think you could take them?" Jane held up the screen, and saw whatever confidence had been in his expression fade. There were over a dozen now heading for the ladder. "We have no choice, but to withdraw while we still can."
She earned no reply as he got back on his feet and pulled her up. "Then we've got to run."
Neither Seth nor Jane had spoken during the entire way up from the Underhive to the Adrastos' briefing room. They were exhausted, sweating and still shaken from what had happened. Jane's mask was removed, and Seth could see from the corner of his eyes her face, derived from any color, yet she managed to straighten herself up before they entered the assembly. Once again everyone, Acolytes and Marines, had gathered, waiting for their report. Nicomedo didn't address Brennan's absence; as a psyker he maybe knew about it already, Taylor however looked questioning from Jane to Seth, as if waiting for an answer.
"Give your report, Acolytes." Nicomedo spoke calmly.
Jane stepped forward, connecting the scanner to the strategium table in order to upload the map, and recited what they'd learned on their mission, as all eyes studied the hologram, which was slowly circling above the table. Seth paid little heed to her words, instead studied the faces of his fellow Acolytes and the Inquisitor. Interrogator Mandrake was listening intrigued to the report, taking extensive notes on a data slate; it was questionable if he had even noticed their missing associate. Nicomedo was equally focused on the medicae's words, his face stern and the healthy eye narrowed as he regarded the tunnels more closely. Seth continued and found himself exchanging looks with Taylor. He was the only one who seemed concerned, with his mouth forming silently Brennan's name. With Seth's gaze turned to the ground and his fist clenched the Untouchable understood, and when he looked up again, the Storm Trouper could see Taylor grit his teeth, a shaken expression on his face.
Meanwhile Jane had finished and stepped back from the strategium table, taking her place behind the Inquisitor, next to Seth. Apothecary Seneca now spoke. "We will split into two teams; the first team led by Inquisitor Nicomedo will consist of brother Tullius, Maccius, Quintus and Nadim. Brother Cornelius, Cyrus and Acolyte Taylor will serve in the second under my command. Inquisitor."
Nicomedo lifted a hand. "Before we discuss our strategy I'd like to talk with my Acolytes Pravin and Nelson first." He looked over to them, his face unreadable. "This will only take a moment, my Lords."
Seneca nodded and with a gesture Nicomedo instructed the two operatives to leave the briefing room. The three left into the empty corridor; already Seth could hear the Space Marines reason about the coming battle, until the heavy metal door closed behind them. Nicomedo turned to his Acolytes, his arms crossed in front of his chest. "Now; what has happened to Brennan?"
Jane hadn't mentioned it during her report, and now looked like she was lost for words, so Seth took over. "He was ambushed by Genestealers after we split up: we went to retrieve the scanner, while he set the last charge."
Nicomedo nodded. "Unfortunate, but we can now proceed with our mission, thanks to your data."
The Storm Trouper couldn't believe the lack of reaction he got from the Inquisitor "Unfortunate? That's all you can say! We shouldn't have left him behind." Seth snapped; the anger and frustration had boiled up in him long enough, his fists were still clenched, knuckles white and his face turned red.
"You had no choice: to search for him could have, would have compromised the entire mission. It was our priority to find the nest and prepare our attack. It is bad enough the Genestealers found him; now they might learn about our activities."
"That's what you're worried about?! One of your Acolytes has been taken by xenos!"
"Lucien Brennan is dead, Seth!"
No reply, not even a gesture, just…silence. Seth stood there, staring at Nicomedo, Jane had her eyes closed, her face directed away from them, fighting tears. The Inquisitor could see the shock in his Acolyte's eyes, as if only now Seth had completely realized that his comrade had died. "You were a Storm Trouper, you were in the Guard; you saw thousands of your fellow soldiers die in service of the Emperor. Pull yourself together: this is no different." Nicomedo objurgated him, his voice calm but also brimming with anger; Seth could feel the temperature dropping, the words feeding into his mind. It was rare the Inquisitor enforced his words with his psychic abilities. "You will never talk to me in such a manner again, Acolyte." He turned to Jane. "Pravin: return to the medical bay, and prepare for treatment. Apothecary Seneca has provided samples of Tyranid poison and started working on the antidote; you'll assist him once he returns from the meeting." She nodded quietly. "You're both dismissed."
...
Seth marched through the Adrastos' corridors, fuming with anger. It wasn't simply Brennan's death that brought him into turmoil, but the lack of reaction he got from the others. Both Jane and Taylor hadn't said a word, though at least it had seemed like they were in mourning; if they'd only opened their damn mouths. Mandrake hadn't even noticed as it seemed, but Seth hadn't expected much from the Interrogator, who rather spent his days with books in his obsession with information, than spending some quality time with those who kept saving his sorry ass over and over again in battle. Though Nicomedo should have shown some sort of concern or grief that his longest standing member had been killed; and yet he'd remain stern and astonishingly cool. When other Acolytes had met their end the Inquisitor had mourned with them, not aloud maybe, but one had seen it by the way he had carry himself. In those times Nicomedo had spent more time with his Acolytes. Seth even remembered him sitting down with Jane when Vega and Durai had died, the first time the medicae had lost someone in combat.
"Seth, wait!" His thoughts were interrupted by said medicae's voice.
"Shouldn't you be helping his Lordship?" Seth growled at her.
She seemed to be taken aback by his hostility, giving that she stopped in her tracks and kept silent for a moment. "I want to talk about today, what happened to Brennan…" Jane began, but her words had hit a nerve and he spun around.
"You! You didn't even want to try to help him! We left him because of you!"
Suddenly she punched him right in his face, actually making him stumble backwards against the wall. Stunned Seth stared at her, only now seeing the water in her eyes. "You think I don't care?" Jane snapped; her voice even quivered as she spoke. "He was my friend, our friend! Do you have any idea how much I hate it to have left him behind!" Seth didn't answer, merely holding a hand next to his chin where she'd hit him. When she continued her voice had calmed down somewhat. "He's always been with this team, with us in the field like a bodyguard; who knows how often we got out of a tough situation because of him; always calm, always in control…"
"You couldn't help but feel encouraged." He muttered in conclusion.
"I didn't want to leave him behind, but what choice did we have? What could we have done to save him, Seth?"
There was nothing to be said, or at least Seth didn't know what to say. They kept scowling at one another, his thoughts still in turmoil. He wasn't a stranger to the death of comrades; he'd seen thousands of fellow Guardsmen lay down their lives for the Emperor. The Inquisitor however had been wrong on one account, because this was different: Nicomedo's Acolytes had always been a small group, how could they've not become close-knit? This weren't just people whose faces you'd seen once or twice before they died or were relocated; they had fought and lived together for decades. It was more like a family, with a lot of issues certainly, but Seth couldn't think of a better word for it. And now the eldest and most reliable part was gone.
About two after her confrontation with Seth, and a lecture on Tyranid inflicted injuries and poisoning by the Apothecary, Jane had retreated back to her room, freshly showered with wet hair clinging to her skin. The stench from the Underhive however had proven very persistent. She sat down on her bed, in no hurry to get dressed or do anything at all for that matter; all she wanted was to sit there and ponder over the recent events in peace. Minutes passed without her moving a muscle and an empty gaze in her eyes, as she drifted into her thoughts.
A while later Jane could hear the door open, yet the medicae didn't lift her head to see who was coming. "You're alright?" It was Taylor's voice, quiet and worried.
"…No." She could only whisper, split between wanted him to get out or having him stay.
He waited patiently, before he slowly approached and sat down next to her on the bed. There was no arm laid around her shoulders for comfort, not a word he said; probably he didn't know what to say in this moment. "He blamed me." Jane began a slight tremble in her voice. "Said it was my fault we left Brennan to die."
"Idiot." The Untouchable growled, adding concerned. "You believe him?"
"I've been wondering the same thing." Jane admitted, eventually lifting her head to look at him.
"You know how short-tempered he can be; he likes to brood and keeps it all to himself until he boils over. Understandably enough he's at that point now, so all we can do is wait for it to blow over. Do me a favor and don't put too much weight in what he says right now, he'll be sorry for it soon enough."
His words were followed by silence. Jane knew he was right, but she couldn't help it: she felt guilty for what had happened, whether it was justified or not. Maybe they should have stopped Brennan, stayed together, yet then they all would be dead now. She had thought about it over and over again without finding a satisfying solution. Taylor apparently had come to the same conclusion.
"I don't think there was anything you could have done, Jane. We all know that we'll eventually lay down our lives in service; it happened to Vega and Eugene against the Necrons, to Brennan against the Tyranids…it will happen to us. For now I'm truly grateful that at the very least you two got out of there in time." During the last sentence he finally put a hand on her shoulder, and gave her a little, almost careful smile.
Still a bit unassured, she returned it. "Thank you, Taylor."
"Don't mention it." He took his hand from her shoulder, knowing the physical contact with him was uncomfortable, even for a non-psyker, and he waited a while before asking. "You want some more time for yourself, or want me to stay for a bit?"
"Some company would be nice." He nodded, yet didn't attempt to start a new conversation. As time passed the silence began to feel somewhat odd, maybe it also had something to do with her being only dressed in a bathrobe. Finally she spoke again. "So, what about you? Ready enter the belly of the beast? Seems I'll be sitting out this one."
He gave her a rather pitiful look. "Actually, Basil has another job for you."
quidquid agis, prudenter agas et respice finem
Whatever you do, do it prudent and mind the outcome