The star-coated clear sky of night and the rays of moonlight wafted into the lounge as Arlathan held the vox horn to his ear.

'As per your request, I have sent out the astropathic communications,' said Enandra. 'Hopefully, they'll be received soon, and we'll get reinforcements. I have also had the Audacious Edge and The Xenocide begin moving into the system as close as possible if you need Stormtrooper reinforcement but to keep the potential of detection low. I fear me going down waving my rosette might not be a good idea right now. Are you sure you do not wish for backup yet?'

Arlathan gave Tathe a glance, the former commissar, Karmen and Darrance loitered in the lounge as Vex sat at the vox caster, headphone pushed on one ear as he monitored vox traffic, then he would glance, then type on his cogitator ever so often.

'Yes, mamzel. We need to gather more information first,' said Arlathan.

'Are you sure it is worth the time and resources to infiltrate the Arbites? You have enemy Chaos Marines on the planet.'

'Yes, mamzel, we must not forget our true enemy and how they work, and if the Adeptus Arbites are not allied with Etuarq's people and aren't corrupted, making sure they can be allies will be worth the effort.'

'I see,' said Enandra. 'Your logic is sound, Interrogator. Maybe if they aren't aligned with the heretical elements, they might investigate the incident at the medicae facility and uncover the evil horrid things that are going on there. Make sure to inform Dellenger that I think he did an excellent job and not to beat himself up too much about it.'

'Of course, mamzel,' said Arlathan. 'Heard anything from Attelus yet?'

'I have not, Arlathan, but I did not expect to hear from Attelus for a little while yet. But wait for another eight hours. If Attelus has not reported with me, I will not call you, so would you have Karmen Kons go incorporeal and check on him?'

That made Arlathan pause, and he exchanged a glance with Karmen. 'Understood, but it could be risky.'

'I know, but I have faith in Karmen's abilities to remain undetected.'

'Yes, understood, Inquisitor.'

'You sound off put by this, Arlathan. You know I care for my people. Why are you surprised?'

'Not sure.'

'Okay, Arlathan. Well, you have walked into a veritable shit-storm, and thus, I wish you and your team the best of luck.'

'Thank you, mamzel, Enandra, we'll need it.'

She cut the link.

Arlathan looked at Darrance and nodded. The master assassin nodded back and then left the room.

He turned to Karmen. 'No sign of any psychic activity?'

Karmen pouted and shook her head. 'No, if they had psykers looking over the city, it might have occurred when I was recovering from covering our escape. The psychic blocks on us would prevent them from finding us, anyway.'

'I know that, Karmen. But what about our prisoner?'

Karmen nodded. 'I placed a temporary block on his mind during our interrogation; it was a rushed one, though, so not comparable to ours. I added it on top of his original one. If the enemy did use psykers to find us, and it did not work, hundreds of enemy militia would have besieged this shit hole of a building already.'

Arlathan thought on that, trying to think of a good "Attelus" paranoid way of doubting Karmen's logic, but he couldn't find anything.

'How long before we can penetrate his block, do you think?'

Karmen sighed and shrugged. 'Good question. It could take hours. It could take weeks.'

'I'd just put a las round through his skull and leave it at that,' said Tathe. 'That frigger is nothing but a liability. But I'm just a mindless foot slogger incapable of the nuanced thinking special snowflake Throne Agents need to be capable of.'

Karmen smiled. 'I know that isn't true, and you more than know that's untrue.'

Tathe just shrugged.

'Actually, I think you make a good point, Tathe,' said Arlathan as he stroked his chin. 'If we fail to get into his mind by the day after tomorrow, you can "take care" of him if you so wish.'

Tathe gaped, but he seemed to recover quickly. This made anger rage through Arlathan. Did Tathe think he was so petty that he wouldn't take on his consultation?

'Hmm makes sense,' said Karmen. 'We have to let the prisoner recover, so what do we do now?'

Arlathan sat on one of the couches and reclined back. 'We wait and let the stealthy boys do their thing,' he said.

Whether it was night or day, it didn't matter to Dellenger; either way, he slipped from shadow to shadow, street to alleyway to rooftop, in complete silence. His new cameleoline cloak wrapped around him; he hadn't left his cloak and flak armour behind as he'd placed it into the standard-issue backpack he'd been using since he first joined the Guard so long ago.

He could barely make out Darrance and Delathasi in the gloom, which was impressive, to say the least. Dellenger also found it somewhat amusing that all the people whose names began with "D" were the scout/stealth specialists. The three of them were approaching from the east, while Kalakor came from the west. The Space Marine was going to act in support this time for a couple of reasons. First, unlike the medicae facility, the Adeptus Arbites' buildings were fortresses designed to defend and resist infiltration. So thanks to Torris's knowledge, they had to get creative with their ways in. Ways too small and tight for even a highly agile Space Marine like Kalakor.

Speaking of Torris, Dellenger paused in his advance and looked back. With impressive stealth skill, the ex-arbite was lagging behind them a few metres, Dellenger's old cameleoline cloak covering him.

'You alright?' said Dellenger.

'I'm fine,' said Torris, sounding offended that Dellenger would even ask. 'I don't need your pity. This shit isn't for me.'

'No pity,' said Dellenger. 'You're doing pretty well, but as you said, this isn't your specialisation and-'

'Shut it and hurry it up, you two,' Darrance hissed from the darkness.

Dellenger couldn't help but flinch, and he did as told. The streets were silent and empty, but often Dellenger would catch glimpses of the locals standing vigil around the cathedral at the centre of the city. But they'd already had to dodge two dozen enemy patrols. Since his frig up earlier in the day, they'd stepped up security. They should've done this after Dellenger took out their scouts the night before, assuming they were on the same side.

They climbed to the top of a seven-story tall hab block and knelt to survey the Arbites headquarters, which loomed about half a kilometre away.

Now viewing it this close, it seemed to adhere to the design Torris mapped out for them. Forty stories tall and ninety metres in width, one hundred and fifty metres in length. It was a big, blunt rectangle, showing very little ostentation, unlike most institutions of the Imperium of Mankind, which was something Dellenger could admire. Around the tower, it was a ten-metre-high wall. The main gate was on this side, a vast thing that rose above the wall by another two metres and ten metres wide. On it was the only ostentation, the symbol of the Adeptus Arbites, an "I" with a gauntleted hand holding a scale.

Dellenger slipped out his scope and zoomed into the top of the wall, finding two heavily armoured enforcers on patrol, something Torris had told them about.

'I think you vastly understated how impossible this is going to be, Torris,' said Delathasi, which made Dellenger smile. He didn't expect such snark to come from the young lady.

Torris grinned. 'Guess I frigged up. I never had to infiltrate one of these before. I just lived in it and all that crap. But if we stick to the plan, we can do this.'

'We managed it back on Omnartus,' said Darrance. 'We can do it here now.'

The mention of that planet made Dellenger flinch; he knew now, roughly, the events that led up to the death of the world. Whenever anyone who took part in that incident mentioned it, even offhand, it always had a huge weight. He'd been through many things in his life, many horrible things, but fighting so hard only to fail so badly in one of the biggest fights anyone could ever take part in—the deaths of twenty billion people. Twenty billion, Dellenger was old enough to appreciate how big that number was; a billion was one thousand times a million. A thousand times a million and twenty times that. Twenty billion people who all had lives, dreams, friends, and loved ones as much as one can have in a Hive World in the Imperium of Mankind.

Dellenger had no idea how the young man Attelus Kaltos could do anything, let alone keep going under the weight of the guilt he must carry. Not just at failing to stop it but being indirectly responsible for it happening, even if that could be debated. It almost seemed like the polar opposite of Dellenger's friend Prince Royd who succeeded in saving the people of Elbyra against the skeletons of steel. The skeletons that slaughtered all in their way, the skeletons that no weapon could damage. Even the great Velrosian blades. Elbyra only had millions and millions of people rather than billions. But Royd had sat on that Silver Throne, and his sacrifice destroyed the skeletons of steel in mass in one blast of white light. Royd died, unable to appreciate the amazing thing he did. Attelus survived on to know the horrible thing he had inadvertently caused.

'Anyway, let's move,' said Darrance, bringing Dellenger back to reality. 'We all know the plan.'

Dellenger was finding it easier and easier to become lost in his memories lately. His confession to his friend had seemed to trigger it. He had to gain control of it; Dellenger had to focus on how glad he was to get another chance to make up for his earlier mistakes. So they melted away into the dark, Delathasi, Torris and Dellenger in one way—Darrance in another.

Despite his best efforts, Attelus' eyes finally slammed shut, and his head dropped down until his chin hit his chest. The blackness began to become deeper darkness as sleep overcame him. He clenched his teeth and shook himself back awake.

He found the grey-haired Sister and Satiristine watching him. Both were smiling a bit; the grey-haired Sister's smile was contemptuous, while Satiristine's was genuine.

'I do not understand how you can sleep like that,' said Satiristine.

'I am so exhausted from...climbing and...shit...just please let me free. I'm not an enemy. I need a bed. Frig...'

'Yes, I hope you suffer, swine like you deserve to suffer,' said the grey-haired Sister. 'But I think you deserve worse. If I had it my way, you would be flagellated over and over again until the skin on your back is torn off your back and the muscle revealed for the convent to see. And I would be the one doing it.'

Satiristine frowned and looked side-long at the grey-haired Sister. 'Roliriss...'

'No, Satiristine, it's true,' said the grey-haired Sister. 'And unlike you, my v-'

'Do not say anything more!' Satiristine snapped. 'By the God-Emperor, you are a foul-mouthed...'

Attelus watched on; if he were trying to get them to turn on each other, he'd be happy, indeed. He regretted sneaking in like this that perhaps Enandra had made the wrong call ordering him to infiltrate, especially when the mission was to speak to Soloston. She'd let her prejudice get the better of her, and here he was, dealing with the consequences.

That, and he let himself get captured, of course, but in hindsight, a more diplomatic approach might've been a better idea. Attelus had been out manoeuvred by the Catachan, no ifs or buts about it. Attelus had always thought he was good at stealth, and he was; Attelus had always had a natural affinity for it since he was young. But by the Emperor was he far, far from being the best. He'd learned that while working aside the famous Velrosian scouts and certainly learned it with the Catachan. To say it was a blow to his pride was the understatement of the century.

Attelus also considered pushing past his anxiety, putting aside his pride, and telling Soloston everything. His alliance with the Eldar, even though he was a Perpetual too. Tell him things that he didn't even tell Enandra, hoping Soloston would tell him everything in return. But in all honesty, that would be a vain hope; Soloston seemed the type of Inquisitor who wouldn't believe him about being a Perpetual. If he did, he'd lock Attelus up to perform horrific experiments on him for centuries to come. Which would be one of the worst fates an immortal could be subjected to Attelus was, for all intents and purposes, a radical, and Soloston seemed pretty frigging puritanical. Although, he did know Attelus had visited a Chaos-infected world and hadn't executed him or had him on the torture wrack, so...

Attelus also considered asking Faleaseen to unlock his manacles and help him escape, find his vox, report to Enandra and get her to come down. But...then he'd have to fight his way out, and that'd just make them hate him even more, and he didn't want to...hurt them.

At this thought, Attelus felt his face heat up, and he couldn't help but glance at Satiristine.

Suddenly, the door opened, and the Catachan walked in. 'Sister Roliriss,' he said, his voice full of authority, 'You go on a break, now.'

'Why?' said Roliriss.

'Because you've been here for hours now. Satiristine will go after you come back.'

The grey-haired Sister grimaced. 'Yes, fine. I will be back in fifteen minutes, then.'

She looked at Satiristine. 'Do not try anything funny with Mr Pretty Boy here while I am not here.'

Satiristine's face turned bright red, but it seemed more in anger as the grey-haired Sister stormed out and slammed the door behind her.

The Catachan turned to Attelus. 'Alright, kid, we haven't got much time. Tell me where this snake's carcass is.'

Attelus nodded. 'Thanks, man,' he said, then told the Catachan the rough area.

'What exactly are you going to do?' Attelus said once done.

'Going to have a look myself, of course,' said the Catachan. 'I think you had a point about at least checking. I think the boss has got a bad case of tunnel vision, and so has Canoness Rilistil. He wasn't like this until...until.'

'Until after the Exterminatus of Gurtar?' said Attelus. 'I understand. I more than understand. Obviously, you're doing it behind your master's back. You're sure that's a good idea?'

'Yes, I agree,' said Satiristine. 'Should you not ask for permission first?'

The Catachan grinned and pointed a thumb at himself. 'I'm from Catachan, we don't give a shit for authority, and I find it's better to beg for forgiveness than ask for permission.'

He looked at Attelus. 'My name is Goruan, by the way. Try to remember it, kid, as I'm putting my arse on the line for ya.'

'Goruan, yes, I will remember. I'm sorry, I'm terrible with names.'

Goruan nodded and said, 'I'll get back as soon as I can. Wish me luck.'

'Good luck, and thanks again. I owe you, Goruan.'

'Yeah, ya do,' said Goruan as he headed for the door while waving out a hand. 'Yeah, ya do.'

Satiristine watched the Catachan leave, her eyes unsubtly watching his arse along the way, which caused Attelus to feel a sting of jealousy.

'Hey, Sister Satiristine,' he said, causing her to turn back to him. 'I'd like to thank you too.'

She raised a bemused eyebrow. 'Why?'

'Thank you for treating me like a human being, unlike most other people here.'

She pursed her lips and shrugged, her eyes falling to the floor. 'No...problem. My name is Sarral, by the way, Sarral Satiristine.'

Attelus smiled, another person with an alliterative first and last name. 'Well, it's good to meet you, Sarral Satiristine.'

Satiristine smiled, and it took all of Attelus' will not to glance away. 'It's good to meet you too, Attelus Kaltos.'