A/N: Can I take moment to gush? Okay I get to Gush. Hard to believe that it hasn't been a month and this already have 1,000+ views and 20+ favs. I never expected that! To those you have have followed, faved or commented, thank you. I have tried to respond to your comments and suggestions as I have been able to. Your comments are as fuel to the flames of creativity.

Feel free in future comments to offer suggestions as to what you would like to see. Also, please comment not only on how you like the story (Those are great) but please let me know if you feel like there could be improvement in some of the following: Grammar, descriptions, character dialogue, action etc.

Enjoy!

Bouncing down the road towards the wooden home, Ruby dreaded the moments to come of telling Merith of the death of her loved ones. When she breached the perimeter of the once tranquil forest, she had been surprised to find Merith and Celia, already carrying rucksacks and ready to go. They had an extra three packs set aside for the two Brody's and Ruby. Ruby flinched when she saw the extra packs, knowing that they wouldn't be needed.

She slid her truck to a stop in front of the mother and daughter, jumping from the vehicle the moment the wheels stopped turning. She didn't look at Merith's, avoiding the woman's icy eyes and trying to keep her back to the woman. Ruby started grabbing the extra bags from the ground and throwing them in the bed of the truck before she was halted.

"Where are the boys?" Was Merith's first question, her voice calm yet confused. Ruby stopped what she was doing and stared at the peeling blue paint on her truck.

"Ruby?" Her voice was getting more agitated.

"I…. I found them…" She whispered. She slowly reached into her pocket and gripped the ring she had found tightly, hoping that it would somehow disappear so she wouldn't have to show Merith. She turned slowly to the woman who had only shown her kindness and prepared herself mentally to break her heart. Still staring at the ground, she pulled her arm from her pocket opened her hand, palm up, to display Brody's wedding band. "I'm sorry Merith…. They're…" She chocked on her words, unable to continue. A sharp gasp filled her ears and she was unable to look up and meet Merith's face as she felt the ring gently taken from her hand.

"Mom? Where's Dad and Brody?" The little voice cut through Ruby's wavering defenses, and she dropped her face into her hands. The dire situation they were in was completely forgotten as burning tears leaked from between her fingers.

She felt cold hands grab hers as Merith gently pulled her hands from her face and grasping Ruby's hands in her own. Ruby managed to look up through blurry vision to see Merith, whose own eyes were red and wet. She brokenly inhaled and threw her arms around Merith and began to sob, "I'm sorry… I'm sorry…" over and over as a mantra against her guilt and grief.

Ruby felt Merith tense up underneath her, but before she could even withdraw, the widowed woman spoke, "Ruby… we need to go. Now!" Merith pulled away from her and Ruby saw the look of dread upon Merith's tear-stained face as she looked over Ruby's shoulder. Turning, she saw what she feared. A lone black and white creature stood at the edge of the forest, hunched over with claws shining in the sunlight. Its long tongue stretched forth as its oblong head twitched from side to side.

Ruby dried her eyes on her dark sleeve, the soft fabric reminding her the home she once had. More importantly, it reminded her that she still had a home here. Her mouth twisted into a frown at the thought of losing it. 'Not this time' She swore. "Merith, I need you to trust me. Stay in the truck, and hold Celia. They won't touch you, I promise!" She pulled Crescent Rose from its home upon her back, and it whirred happily as it prepared to rip and tear. She saw Merith grab Celia and hide in the truck as she had asked. Before the door to the cab shut she added as she turned to the foe, "Be ready to leave if I… If I can't stop them."

If Merith responded, it was lost as the massive xenos stepped forwards, tilted forward towards Ruby and screamed.

Ruby flinched as shrill bestial screech assaulted her. She wanted nothing more than to cover her ears at the sound. Merith and Celia screamed behind her from the truck, and Ruby spared a glance at them to see blood dripping from their ears. Shock filled her at the impact the simple noise was having upon her two wards. "Stop it!" She shouted, though it went unheard.

She pulled up the scope of her weapon to her eye, aiming for the screaming beast. The weapon kicked against her lithe form as she fired. The round entered the gaping maw of the creature silencing it instantly. The head flew back under the impact and it fell with a metallic clang as the claws bounced off its own chitin.

Ruby smiled bitterly as she watched it fall, "Chew on that!" Quickly her humor faded as from beyond the now silent corpse, more black and white forms poured from the forest. Their white teeth contrasting sharply with their blackened carapace as saliva dripped from their mouths. She stood alone, a one-woman wall against a slathering tide of chitin and teeth.

Inhaling deeply and closing her eyes, she guided Crescent Rose behind her, the blade caressing the ground gently as she felt the world around her. She could smell the pollen of the flowers planted in the garden and hear the wind as it blew the familiar scent towards her. She could feel the ground beneath her feet rumbling under the stampede of clawed feet. Her brow furrowed at the unfamiliar noise that didn't belong, that needed to leave. This was her home, and she would not let them have it!

She exhaled and opened her eyes. Silver irises were clear of grief and sorrow, all that remained was the fire of determination. Firing her weapon, she careened towards the writhing mass before diving, boots first, into a sea of monsters. They shrieked in excitement as they welcomed her with opened arms, claws extended and mouths agape in a twisted mockery of a grin.

The xenos never stood a chance.

Cade and his squad stood in a massive gargantuan hangar bay, filled with the voices of waiting guardsmen and praying tech-priests, watching the silent battle raging around them in space. "You know," Said Grandy, "I have always hated being on these ships. If we die, it's not even our fault, we have no say in the matter." Her words were nearly drowned out as yet another flight of Valkyries swooped into hangar with engines aflame.

Lovelock nodded in agreement from where he leaned against the bulkhead as the ships landed, "You have to admit though, it's pretty to watch."

"Pussy." Said Grandy, pushing Lovelock gently on the shoulder. Cade sighed as the two devolved into an argument. Sadly, he agreed with Grandy. But at least there were several meters of adamantium and plasteel in between them, vacuum, and the battle that raged thousands of kilometers away.

Through some Emperor guided stroke of luck, the Warp had plopped them down right in the middle of the invasion, there was still time to save the world. The Battle-fleet had arrived to the beleaguered world of Teitam only hours before and the battle for space above the world was quick and violent, but still ongoing.

They viewed the distant explosions as the Navy fought valiantly to protect the Distant Hand and its sister ship Valiant Hearts from the Tyranid swarms. Blue suns were born and winked away as some Imperial weapon detonated. Their view was blocked momentarily as a small Tyranid vessel flew past the docking port. Beams of sapphire energy pierced it as it was passing and acidic blood spurted from the creature, splashing on the shields of the port. It sizzled and sputtered, the one portion of the battle that was audible in the vacuum of space. An Imperial Interceptor swerved around the now lifeless Tyranid, banks of lascannons still burning orange in the void.

Trunks came up next to him, his helmet was askew and dark bags were underneath his eyes as he looked at the sizzling blood nervously. "Not sleeping well Trunks?"

"No sir, this will be my first time actually seeing an alien." Trunks paused to rub his eyes, "I didn't sleep a wink last night." He helmet tumbled from his head as he ministrated to his eyes. It clattered to the floor and the rough material bumped against Cade's boot. Cade bent and picked up the fallen flak helmet, as he turned it over he found a picture held to the top of the inside of the helmet. It was of three individuals, one was Trunks, his portly face easily recognizable with a happy grin plastered on it. The other two were unknowns, but they had the same portly features as Trunks. He turned the helmet up to Trunks so the picture showed, the Trooper smiled, "My parents, they're pretty proud of me."

"Well, there is a lot of you to be proud of." Cade said as Trunks took the helmet from him and reset it on his head.

"Is that a fat joke Sir?"

"Possibly." His grin only grew wider as Trunks scowled at him. "But you're a good trooper Trunks, you'll be fine." The scowl diminished somewhat from Trunks face as he continued, before turning thoughtful once again.

"You scared Sarge? Of what's down there?"

Cade blinked in surprise at the question. He didn't answer immediately as he adjusted his immaculate uniform, smoothing out invisible wrinkles. "Do you want the Sergeant answer or the Cade answer?" Looking at Trunks he saw his mouth pulled to the side in a look of 'You're not dodging the question this time.' "Fine," said Cade, "I'm terrified. I've been on fifteen planets in twelve different sub-sectors." He chuckled darkly at Trunks' surprise at the number, "Yeah, you could say that I've seen some shit. But I'm still here, I'm still breathing, and I'm still fighting and I'll keep doing so until the bitter end. The Emperor protects Trunks, He kept an eye on me after all." He continued with a crooked smile, "I'm sure he'll keep an eye on you." He glanced over at Trunks who looked thoughtful as he stared at the floor past Cade.

Trunks looked up and stood a little taller as he finished, "Thanks Sarge…" He smiled again before looking at Cade conspiratorially, "Is that why you never wear your flak armor?"

"Oh, not you too!" He laughed at the question as he jokingly answered, "Grandy already gives me crap that she has to wear it and I don't! I'm a sniper and flak armor is just too noisy."

"I thought we were required to wear it."

"Be a sniper Trunks, and you'll be free." Cade clapped him on the shoulder before adding under his breath, "Not that it helps anyway,"

"What was that Sarge?"

"Hmm? Oh noth.." He was spared from his explanation as a curse pulled him from the conversation. He turned his head to see Grandy putting Lovelock in a headlock. The poor male trooper's face was turning red as he struggled to get her arm from around his neck. Trying not to laugh at the small display of disorder, he put on his best 'stop acting like children' voice, "Hey," he said to Grandy and Lovelock, "I enjoy this lover's quarrel as much as the next guy, but until you two can get a room, get ready to board."

Grandy let go after giving Lovelock one more light punch on top of his head. "Sorry sir!" Said Lovelock breathlessly as he put as much distance between him and the abusive trooper. Grandy merely grumbled and mockingly saluted Cade.

A green light flashed in the hangar as a voice came over the loudspeaker, drowning out the noise of the ship engines and flight crews that milled about, "All crews, prepare to drop in t-minus 5 minutes. Emperor be with you all." Those same flight crews jump into action, the hangar a sudden flurry of motion as men and women jumped into the cockpits of their vessels and fuel lines were disengaged from the ships.

Cade's squad stood next to one such vessel, a Valkyrie. Colonel Drake, who commanded the Regiment, had decided that a quick drop in Valkyries would be safer than large troop ships. They were to secure a safe zone so they could bring in the tanks and artillery if the battle in space was won. The if wasn't reassuring. At this juncture, Cade had an unsettling feeling that they were simply bullet sponges. Still, Valkyries were well armored and armed. Jutting from the nose of the craft were a brace multi-las barrels. Pods of small rockets hung from each wing of the craft which were of some comfort.

Speaking loudly over the noise of the hangar, he addressed his squad, "Listen everyone, I want you all to stick together when we land. I don't know what to expect down there, but if we stick together, we have a better chance of survival. Understand?" A chorus of 'Aye sir' and 'Yes Sarge,' met him. "Good, let's rock," He slapped in a power cell into his longlas as punctuation to his sentence.

"Sarge," Came Lovelock's voice, "that was easily the cheesiest thing I've ever seen."

Cade grinned as he pulled open the sliding door into the Valkyrie's troop compartment, "I have my moments." Before leading his squad into the Valkyrie, the hum of the engines more akin to a roar in the confines of the troop compartment.

Buckling in, Grandy and Cade sat near the starboard door, while Bearings and Lovelock took the opposite side. Grandy pointed up above them, maniacal grin upon her face, "Dibs," She said simply. Looking where she was pointing, Cade saw a massive Heavy Bolter on a hydraulic limb, ready to drop and fire when the doors opened. The bulky belt-fed weapon was a more than welcome sight. The .998 calibre mass-reactive shells were a Tyranids worst enemy, easily able to punch through their armor and detonate amongst the squishy organs. Cade shook his head and gave a thumb-up to the bloodthirsty trooper.

They remained in silence for the remainder of the wait, the pre-drop jitters settling in. They performed their various rituals. Trunks was praying while Grandy was sharpening her knife. The gentle shick of the blade along the whetstone was surprisingly relaxing. Lovelock and Bearing were playing… Rock-paper-scissors?... Cade shrugged and went back to his own ritual, aimlessly flipping the cap on and off of his longlas scope.

"Prepare to drop in 3…2…1…"

With sudden acceleration, the Valkyrie flew from the hangar before rotating and diving straight towards the planet. A strange mix of weightlessness and inertia held those within the small vessel as they barreled towards the earth. In the compartment of the Valkyrie, they were left in the dark, no windows were there to provide them with a view of their dive to the planet. They could only pray they would make it as the ship shook and bucked them in their restraints as they entered the outer atmosphere.

Thankfully for all aboard it was over quickly as they finished their entry and entered more stable elevations. Cade looked as his squad, they all were looking okay except for Grandy who was looking rather green. "Don't you go puking in here Grandy, that's a side of you I don't want to see!" He yelled over to the sickly looking trooper. She covered her mouth and flipped him off in response, before she gave in and pulled open the side door of the Valkyrie. She leaned her head out, carpet bombing the ground far below with the contents of her stomach.

Cade had a slight moment of wondering what it would be to fall from this height before he spotted something in the distance. It looked like the sun was glinting off of something metal. Pulling his longlas scope up to his eye, he saw a lone building, surrounded by hordes of Tyranids. He saw a flash of red and the glint of metal once more before it was gone again. Dropping his longlas he removed his restraints and leapt for the vox near Grandy. Yelling through the vox to the pilots, he could only hope they were in a listening mood, "Hey, I think we have got people down there, head…." He realized that he had no idea which direction they were facing, "Head right!"

"We are heading to the drop-zone, that's our orders!"

"Screw orders! There's people over there!" He yelled back in irritation.

It was silent on the other end, only crackling of static before, "Fine, we'll do a quick flyover." The ship responded with the words as it turned towards the building in the distance. As they drew closer he was able to make out more with his rifle scope. There was someone down there! And they were putting up a hell of a fight. Tyranid corpses littered the ground in piles. He looked so see where the soldiers were but saw only one person. A lone figure, swinging a massive scythe as they battled an endless tide of Tyranids.

Cade was so shocked at the display of martial prowess that he paused, before he saw one monster creeping up behind the Red Warrior. Bringing his longlas up again, he fired from the rapidly moving Valkyrie, his aim was slightly off and the beam hit the creature in the arm, slicing through the offending limb which plopped into the bloody mud. The lone figure turned and with a single swipe, cleaved the Tyranid in two.

He finally had a decent look at the person. Again, he was surprised, it was a young woman dressed in a red and black ensemble, trailing a crimson cape. She fought with incredible skill, dancing around another Tyranid Warrior before her massive scythe spun in a vortex of red and the Tyranid was suddenly much thinner, all four arms littering the ground around it. As the Tyranid fell, he was able to see a small cyan truck. Within was a little girl and another blonde woman, both of which held tightly to the other.

The red caped woman looked up at the sound of engines and began jumping up and down, waving her arms. She stopped as another creature leapt for her, she quickly dispatched it with a blast from the end of her weapon. She ran up and over the collapsing creature, leaping from the corpse and elegantly cleaving another two Tyranids before gravity took a hold of her. Landing, she speared the blade into yet another Tyranid warrior. The blade pierced through, chitin spraying the air behind it.

From the side came another Tyranid, a massive beast that bowled the thin woman over, crushing her into the side of the truck. Cade winced as he viewed the impact. If she wasn't already dead from the impact, then her time was quickly running out. "Pilot! Get us down there now!"

When Ruby saw the Bullhead-type aircraft flying overhead, she cheered in relief. Although she dreaded to admit it, she was slowly losing ground. She had been driven back, under sheer weight of numbers, further and further to the truck. Her Aura was nearly spent. Some of the small Tyranids spat, or fired, acid or small beetles that she had so far managed to avoid while claws would bounce and clatter with Crescent Rose. But too many blows had gotten through past her guard, colliding with her Aura and draining her strength. She needed to end this, but had seen no way to do so until the aircraft had arrived.

A burst of strength surged within her at the newfound hope as she stabbed Crescent Rose through a large Tyranid that reared up before her. The light left the beast's eyes, but as she was pulling the blade free, she was slammed in the side by another massive creature. It barreled forward with her in tow and slammed her into the side of the truck. The truck lifted up onto two wheels from the impetus of the impact. Ruby grunted in pain under the impact as her Aura crackled, red lightning enveloped her as it fell.

Pinned and growling through gritted teeth, she dropped Crescent Rose which was now useless in the close quarters, and grabbed her boot-knife. The large Tyranid lunged forward with maw agape to end her life. Ruby obliged by throwing her arm into the razor filled mouth with her dagger leading the way, all the while screaming back at the creature in denial. The blade pierced the soft tissue within, continuing on into the cranium above. The Tyranid died instantly. As Ruby began to pull her arm free the great beast fell, its razor-sharp teeth gouged into her forearm, tearing large gashes into the soft flesh. She cried out in pain as blood began to run in rivulets freely down her arm, dripping from her elbow as she cradled it to her chest.

Yet the Tyranids did not care for her weakness. They cared only to feed and her blood seemed a delicious appetizer. The smell whipped the horde into higher blood-lust as they poured over the piles Ruby had made of their dead brethren.

But Ruby was no longer alone.

The aircraft she had placed her hopes in swooped down, massive barrels that protruded from the nose of the ship burst into life. With a rapid fire 'crack crack crack' red lasers spewed forth, cutting a linear swath in the never-ending tide. Sweeping back and forth, it pushed back the swarm. The Tyranids began to retaliate with streams of acid which sputtered and steamed ineffectively against the thick metal armor. The Valkyrie responded further as rocket pods whistled and flamed. Rapid detonations made a mockery of the remaining Tyranids. Explosions shook the earth around Ruby as Tyranids, both whole and in pieces, showered down.

The endless tide was for the moment pushed back, and the aircraft landed. Ruby looked on with joy at the escape which she had nearly lost faith in. The aircraft's sides opened and three individuals dropped from the vehicle while another two manned massive belt fed guns that protruded from the doors. A tall black-haired man wielding a scoped rifle began waving his arm frantically at her, beckoning them to run. He was shouting at her, but his words were lost over the sound of the engines and zapping las weapons of the vehicle, but she understood what he meant, 'Run like hell!'

She grabbed Crescent Rose with her right arm, her left bleeding and weak, and tucked the scythe away, its presence for the moment unneeded. She ran around the truck and pulled open the door to Merith and Celia who, to Ruby's endless joy, were unharmed. Merith's eyes were shut tight as she held her daughter close, pressing her head against her shoulder where Celia was sobbing in fear. "Merith! Let's go, come on!" Merith opened her eyes to see Ruby urging her to come out. She stared for a moment in surprise at Ruby, who was covered in blood, both alien and her own. Behind her was a mighty aircraft, a saving angel gifted by the Emperor himself.

The screaming of aliens, which had been blissfully absent for a few short moments, returned with vigor. Through the flames caused by the rockets dove ever more blackened Tyranids. Without hesitation, Merith tossed Celia to Ruby who hoisted the girl in her arms, ignoring the pain that screamed from her mangled limb. Merith grabbed the bags she had packed and tumbled from the vehicle. She recovered quickly and both women ran for the aircraft and the safety it provided. The Imperial Guardsmen knelt around the aircraft, models of discipline, firing over the fleeing women's heads. A grizzled woman manning the large calibre weapon cackling devilishly as the barrel of her weapon began to glow red.

They were so close, only ten meters away. Merith was just ahead of Ruby, who was exhausted and carrying a child in her arms. Ruby only gritted her teeth and pushed herself harder. Her lungs burned as she ran and her grip on Celia was slippery with ruby-red blood. She looked forward, focusing on the aircraft when she noticed the tall dark-haired man pointing at her and shouting. She heard a small scream in her ear as Celia slipped from her arms.

Time seemed to slow as she stopped and turned around to see the young girl, who she loved and adored, flying through the air, a fleshy tendril wrapped about her arm. The young girl was screaming for Ruby, but Ruby was deaf as her heart screamed at her to do something, but her mind she knew there was nothing she could do. Celia flew over the heads of the smaller Tyranids which leapt at her, but she was still too far overhead for them to catch. No, the real danger was at the other end. Following the tendril with her eyes, she saw what awaited…. Lictor. As the girl began to fall towards the outstretched claws of the lictor, a beam of crimson seared past Ruby's ear.

And pierced Celia through the heart.

The young girl died instantly and the terror fled from her face. As her small body tumbled from view into the dark mass, Ruby felt a piece of her die as well. Numb, she felt a pull on her arm, spinning her around was a pudgy soldier who began tugging her towards the vessel but she refused to move other than to turn away from what she had seen. As she turned, she saw the tall man lowering his longlas, his mouth set in a grim line. Merith stood with her hands over her mouth from within the aircraft, fate having given her an unobstructed view of the death of her final child.

Ruby was bodily hoisted over the shoulder of the heavy soldier who had grabbed her, who ran and tossed her unceremoniously into the awaiting ship. She continued to lay where she had landed, blood pooling from her arm as the soldiers climbed aboard. The two door guns were still spouting fire as the aircraft began to lift off, away from the screaming, chittering horde which bayed for blood.

As they lifted away to safety, the door gunners finally relented the never-ending stream of adamantine tipped bolts. Silence fell in the compartment as the screaming of Tyranids and the roar of engines was left outside.

The tall man stooped next to Ruby, grabbing her gently as he began to pull her upright. She allowed herself to be lifted without resistance. He began to lead her to a seat when something within her snapped. She jerked away from the man who had killed her little Celia and began flailing her arms at him, punching and hitting him over and over. Her arm throbbed at the abuse, but she didn't care, grateful for the physical pain to distract her. She sobbed unashamedly, heedlessly swinging at the man as blood sprayed from her arm over the interior of the ship and across the man's uniform.

Merith came up from behind and grabbed her uninjured arm, "Ruby, it's not…"

Ruby wasn't hearing any of it as she pulled her arm away from Merith and screamed at the man, "You monster!" in between her punches.

She was too blinded by tears and grief to see, but the man flinched at her words. What he did next was entirely unexpected. Instead of pulling away, or yelling at her, he grabbed her in the restraining equivalent of a hug. Unable to grab her damaged and blood-slick arm, he rather wrapped his arms about her shoulders, pinning her arms to her side tightly. She tried in vain to continue to assault him, make him pay for what he did but found herself unable to move. Trapped, she resigned herself to whimpering softly into his coarse shirt. They stood there for a few minutes before he asked, "Are you calm?" Ruby nodded and he let go, stepping back from her. "I'm sorry..." His voice was filled with sincerity but Ruby's only response was to sniff and wipe her eyes.

Merith came up again and gently grabbed Ruby, pulling her away from the man and towards a seat. "Come here dear, you're bleeding. Let me help." Ruby didn't respond, but allowed herself to be pulled to the corner, where she sat and stared at the floor, dripping blood and tears in equal measure.

*Achievement unlocked: Do Not Cry While Writing This Chapter*

Celia is based on my niece. I just killed her...