I did it! I actually updated in a timely fashion!

I have a lot to say in A/N this chapter. The pertinent ones to this story will be up here, other announcements will be after the chapter.

First: Thank you for your wonderful comments. I'll have you know, I lose sleep when I update because I'm so excited to hear from you. So... Thank you? But really, thanks.

Second: After some serious consideration, I am changing the rating of this story to M for violence, gore, Warhammer 40k. The usual.

Third: I mad a slight edit to Chapter 1 and removed the very very first scene that was only four lines long. If you don't remember it... Good. Also with edits, I cried when I saw my spelling errors in the last chapter. It's the last time I will write a chapter in three hours and update right after. Expect those errors to be slain immediately.

Now... On to the story!

While a certain red-headed individual was in the process of recovering, Inquisitor Rory Knox stood within the Governor's office of Hive Kastle. It was an opulent room, filled with large crystals mined from the bosom of the planet. Diamonds, emeralds and rubies shimmered in the blue light cast by the cerulean sun that touched the horizon. The light reflected from the fractals, casting a kaleidoscope of colors across the room. It was greedily absorbed by the blood pooled on the floor that seeped from a gaunt and sharp cheeked man who sat slumped against the desk, a burning hole in his skull.

The Governor had been quite the bleeder, his blood pooling until it reached the Inquisitor's boot.

Inquisitor Knox kicked the corpse aside and strode to the window, leaving bloody boot prints with each step. He stared off into the horizon to view the ravaged world, a formerly righteous mining and hive world. Billions of souls had dwelt upon this world in the massive hives. Each hive was a civic marvel, stretching kilometers into the sky and several more into the planet. Layers of buildings, hablocks and manufactoriums over stacked atop each other over the millennia crafted these teeming human hives, millions upon millions of souls inhabited each. It was not uncommon for generations of families to pass without ever seeing the light of day such was the size of an average hive.

Those billions of souls scattered throughout the various hives had turned from the Emperor, laying siege to their own homes and slaying their own kin. Inquisitor Knox was not a merciful man, he would return the favor blood for blood, eye for an eye, life for a life.

Clouds lazily drifted past his windowed view kilometers above the planet's arid landscape. He cast his eyes down to the edge of Hive Kastle itself where a defensive wall stood defiantly dozens of meters high, manned by guardsmen and conscripted civilians. Outside the walls, masses of traitorous humanity writhed like maggots eager to reach a rotting corpse. Time and again they had flung themselves at the wall and time and again they were thrown back. But it had become a near thing, pyres burned both inside the walls and without as the dead worked to outnumber the living.

For months they had held, reinforcements arriving only several days before in the form of the 744th and 555th Cadian Regiments. Their troop transports had braved the orbital defenses and punched through to deliver the precious cargo. Many such vessels did not survive the gauntlet, but the reinforcements had been worth the risk, having already seen bloody combat. They had been dispatched to reinforce the most critical points. News had only arrived hours before that a single company had held the underground railyards until they could be sealed. The stories that emanated from that particular conflict were of special interest to the Inquisitor.

A knock at the door drew the Inquisitor's attention to the interior of the room where a door opened at the far wall. He glared as someone entered uninvited, a fat and wheezing man stepped through the portal into the Inquisitor's presence, his eyes down at several scrolls he carried in his arms. "My Lord Governor, I hav-"

"I'm afraid you will have a hard time speaking to the 'Lord Governor,'" said the Inquisitor as he took a seat at the surprisingly clean desk, "he is rather indisposed at the moment. But don't let that distract you, continue your report." Inquisitor Knox began pulling out several drawers until he found what he wanted, a safe with a DNA scanner.

"Inquisitor Knox?! My Lord what… What have you done?" The man stuttered as he shifted his arms and dropped several scrolls. The Inquisitor did not answer, merely standing and drawing a thin rapier from his waist. A elegant guard with power cells encased his hand as he held it lazily in his hand. The Scribe, his face turning pale, gulped and pulled out a particular scroll from his hands, stepping closer to hand it to the Inquisitor. "Hive Gate has fallen L… My Lord."

"Unfortunate," Said Inquisitor Knox as he reached across the desk with his blade. He stabbed it into the corpse of the Governor on the other side in a quick and clean motion. He withdrew the blade, blood glinting on several centimeters and let several drops land on the DNA scanner. With a hiss, the seal of the safe broke, chilled air drifting in sublimated clouds from within. "It was only a matter of time. We will now alone stand before the full force of these Heretics. We will have to prepare."

"How, my Lord?"

The Inquisitor looked up, eyeing the man who had lived in ease for likely his entire life. "Simple. Everyone is to man the walls."

The man nodded, "I shall prepare a decree for you my Lo-"

"No!" Knox barked before turning back to the safe, opening the lid and smiling at the contents within. "No, you will not 'prepare a decree.' I think you will deliver it in person."

"P-Pardon?"

The Inquisitor reached into the safe and pulled out a crystal decanter, and amber liquid swirling within. "Ah, Golden Tokay, the finest wine from the Calixis Sector. I wonder how many of our Emperor's precious tithes were wasted procuring this." He pulled the finely made lid from the decanter, letting the potent smell reach his nostrils. His mouth watered in anticipation before he placed the lid back and set the chilled container onto the desk. "What I mean… Whatever your name was… Is that you will find yourself a lasgun, a pistol, or even a mining pick, and you will be at the wall within the hour." A cruel and humorless smile cross his face as he stared at the now shaking form of the scribe before him.

"But my Lord," Spouted the man, panic running across his face, "I'm… I'm-"

Another individual stepped through the door, armoured in carapace armour that covered nearly every centimeter of their frame in thick plates. An emotionless mask covered their face, the gentle hiss of breathing emanated from the grill. A hellgun rested on their back, a weapon normally used only by Cadia's elite Kasrkin. The newcomer bowed and made the sign of the aquila over their chest. "My Lord, a Salamanders strike cruiser has arrived." Their voice was modulated as it cracked through external vox casters, accented but undeniably male. "Their commander wishes to speak with you."

"Thank you Prious, I will take it here," Knox waved his hand in dismissal, "Oh, but take this man with you. I want him at the top of the wall at the south gate." At his words, the scribe fell to his knees, panicked pleas falling on deafened ears. The armoured soldier slapped a gloved hand to his armoured breast with a satisfying thunk. He grabbed the babbling man and dragged him from the room, panicked shrieks audible for several minutes afterwards.

Pulling the crystal decanter closer to himself, he rummaged through the desk before finding an equally decadent glass to fit the expensive wine and pouring himself a few centimeters. The few mouthfuls he poured already worth more than thousands of collective commoner's lives. Taking a small sip and basking in the delight of the rare liquid, he turned his thoughts to the news recently brought.

Space Marines. The mightiest warriors of mankind who alone could claim the Emperor as their progenitor. Specifically, the Salamanders Chapter was here. It was unexpected. But considering their homeworld of Nocturne was but a few sectors away, it was not unusual. They would prove useful for the Inquisitor's plans for the defense of this world. He tapped a few buttons on the desk of his newly acquired office and holographic pixels formed in the center of the room to reveal a giant of a man.

The Salamander was clad in magnificent green armour, the pauldrons adorning his shoulders a bright yellow with a black flame on the right, while black face of a serpent adorned the left. A flamer, which in his hands was a pistol but in the hands of a mortal would have been a full-size flamer, was at his hip while crackling lightning claws extended from his right hand. His head was lacking the usual helm with the grim vox-grill, alowing the Inquisitor to see the man…correction…the demigod, that was the Space Marine. His skin was dark, the color of charcoal, while his eyes burned red as if a forge was lit behind them.

Knox sat a little straighter and dipped his head slightly in respect, "My Lord of the Adeptus Astartes, your presence is unexpected, if timely."

The Marine's holographic gaze swept the room, settling on the corpse of the Governor before the desk. His jaw clenched, his muscular neck bulging slightly before he settled back to the Inquisitor, seeing the rosette displayed on his shoulder. "Inquisitor. I am Commander Man'at." His voice was deep and rumbling, like the collapse of stone pillars. "Report." And quick to the point, Knox could appreciate that.

Knox tapped his fingers on his desk as he relayed to the Marine the state of the defense. It was stubborn, determined, but ultimately, they would drown in the sheer numbers of heretics. Knox also relayed a greater fear that perhaps the heretics were not unsupported by darker forces.

Man'at nodded, his nostrils flaring being the only display of anger at the Inquisitor's report. "Thank you, Inquisitor, we will do what we can to stymie their advance." The Marine turned away and barked an order at some unseen serf. He turned back to the Inquisitor, "I must speak quickly, we are taking fire form the orbital defenses. A Thunderhawk containing a squad of my brothers is en route to the surface."

The Inquisitor expected no less, "Thank you, my Lord, I will put them to use."

The Marine's attention was diverted away from Knox and he sifted slightly, legs bracing against whatever surface he stood upon as it moved beneath his feet. "Our time is out. Use my Brother's wisely Inquisitor. Not even you are free from my wrath if they fall needlessly."

Knox nodded, "Of course, my Lord." With a grim nod, Man'at vanished from the room. Feeling victorious, Knox poured himself several more centimeters of wine, twirling the golden liquid around the glass and sipping it slowly. Licking his lips and savoring every drop, he hesitantly placed the decanter back into the safe and stepped around the desk. He had Space Marines to greet and direct, and how he relished the opportunity.

Perhaps everything would turn out as planned after all.

Ruby sniffed and wiped her eyes and nose on her sleeve. For the first time in what seemed like hours, she felt stable. But stable was as strong of a word as she would use to describe her mental state. The dead faces, with Bearings hollow eyes staring most accusingly, still lurked within her mind. For now, she had driven back the darkness, but the guilt waited, ever in the shadows, whispering, 'killer… killer… killer…" She shuddered at the memories, her fists clenching as memories, both real and phantasmic, threatened to rise again.

Cade's hand on her back shifted slightly. With a slight blush, she remembered exactly where she had broken down and that she was now curled up defensively next to Cade. But it was only a moment as she relaxed and allowed herself the comfort of being held by another person. Her social anxiety was vestigial when compared to the healing the physical contact brought to her troubled soul. The simple presence of another human was an anchor to reality. Somebody was with her. Somebody cared. Such was the catharsis brought by the contact that if Cade had been truly aware of the importance of his presence, he would have held her all the more tightly.

As it was, he couldn't see into her mind and did the opposite of what she felt she needed and pulled away slightly, "Hey Skirts, are you okay now?"

Ruby shook her head in response. She felt far from okay as she suppressed the sudden and surprising anger she felt at the question and the withdrawal. She reminded herself that he had been with her for perhaps hours while she had cried, but she didn't feel ready to face reality as she hesitantly allowed him to pull away.

"What happened?" Asked Cade as he shifted so he could see her more clearly. Ruby's legs were still curled up underneath her, her knees atop one of his legs, making the position awkward for face to face conversation.

Right… She had never even said a word to him and assumed he knew what was wrong. She opened her mouth to speak but felt already the tears beginning to beg for release, her throat tightening. She decided to speak, letting the tears again flow as she told him everything. The way she had failed Bearings and how she had watched him die. How his dead and accusing face had joined the others she had killed. She told him of the words the freckled-boy in the plaza had said. Everything. But this time, although the tears fell, she didn't break down, determined to be strong. Hiccups still shook her frame, but they were infrequent.

Through it all, Cade listened intently, occasionally offering a comment but primarily allowing her to vent her emotions. The electrical light of the Hive gave way to an artificial dusk as she spoke and the alleyway became more deeply shrouded in shadows. Silver and violet eyes scintillated faintly in the darkness.

When she finally finished, drifting into silence more Cade posed a single question, "Feeling better?" A repeat question, but relevant.

Ruby hesitated before nodding faintly as she wiped her eyes once more, a common theme throughout the conversation, "Yes…No…I don't know!" She growled, though it came out as a distraught purr, and pressed her knuckles to her forehead in frustration. "How do you deal with this? How are you so okay?"

Cade sighed softly and shook his head, eyes shut in the darkness, "I don't know Skirts. Cadian's are raised differently. We are taught from birth to kill and accept death. We actually hold celebrations for fallen soldiers if they died with honor. Even more so if took a half dozen xenos with them."

Ruby's eyebrows knit together at the thought, "So… You don't see faces of those you killed?"

"Did I ever say I didn't?" Cade asked, his face a grim mask.

"O…Oh." She said, dropping her head again to her chest. She ran a finger along the Tyranid derived scars that crisscrossed her forearm.

Cade gently patted her knee in a friendly gesture. "I don't know though. Maybe they'll go away, maybe not. But you need to take your mind off of this. Trust me, thinking about it too much isn't healthy."

"But how?"

Cade gently shifted her so her knees were now away from him, allowing him freedom of movement, "Well, for starters, I think I offered you a drink a few hours ago."

"A drink?" Ruby asked, sniffing softly as one tends to do after a heartfelt cry, "How will that help at all."

He looked at her incredulously, pausing all his other movement. "You mean to tell me you've never had a drink of amasec?" Ruby shook her head. "Oh, we'll change that right now. Come on, let's get cleaned up and get a drink, I think Grandy has a stash. Let's go borrow-" He made to stand, placed a foot out only to have it give out underneath him and he fell back to the floor cursing. "Damnit Skirts! My leg's asleep now."

Ruby let a small smile cross her features, but it disappeared quickly, trampled by the guilt she still bore. She stood as Cade struggled to regain his own feet, stomping his leg in an attempt for force blood back into the limb. "Cade…" He hummed at her, still tapping his foot against the ground. "That song you sang… I didn't know you…" She blushed slightly and dropped her head to avoid eye contact, "What I mean is…"

Cade chuckled, stepping back to her and grabbing her sleeve, pulling her forward towards the alley entrance. "If I knew my singing was such a lady killer I would do it more often."

Ruby gasped, mortified at the thought, "No! That's not what I mean! Just-"

Cade laughed again at her, still pulling her forward out of the alley way and into the light. "Does Skirts have a crush on her dashing Sergeant?"

She stomped her foot in frustration as she was tugged forward, "No! I'm just trying to say thanks you jerk!" Her ears were burning, and she was grateful for her hair to cover them.

Cade winked at her, "You're welcome." He smirked, eyes twinkling with mischief, "But next time, shower before you try and snuggle with me. You stink."

The rest of the way back was a mad dash as Cade sprinted away laughing. Ruby chased after him, red in the face and ears as she attempted to hit him. It was mostly good natured… Mostly… People in the largely deserted streets stared at the duo in confusion, their game so out of place in the grim mood of the hive. But for the first time in hours, Ruby was too embarrassed to think. Too distracted to hurt, and she was okay with that.

Several punches and kicks at Cade later, Ruby stepped from the shower, the blood from others and salt from her own eyes washed away. Cade had been right, she had stunk of blood and bile and the simple act of cleaning had been refreshing. Currently, she was in a public washroom, something that was common in a hive where billions of people lived and many could not afford their own shower in their home. She was grateful for it. The Guard had been quick to commandeer the washrooms for their own troops. The 744th Regiment's Colonel had a good understanding that men fight better when they feel like humans. A thought so out of the norm compared to other regiments.

She stepped up to a mirror and wiped the steam from the glass. Seeing herself for the first time in what seemed like weeks. Her face was paler than usual. Dark circles inhabited the space under her eyes while her eyes themselves were puffy and red. "Wow Ruby. You look terrible." She said to herself.

She stepped from the mirror and grabbed her bag, pulling forth another set of fatigues, her last so blood stained that she hadn't even bothered to keep them-Someone would find a very bloody set of fatigues in the shower- She pulled on the various clothes, but she paused at the shirt. Opting to leave it in the bag and remain in the just her tank-top. It was incredibly hot in the hive after all. She finished her ensemble by strapping her combat knife around her thigh.

Stepping back to the mirror she admired her hair, black and red like always but longer than usual, coming past her shoulders. After she dried it, she deftly pulled it tight into a pony-tail, a few wayward bangs remaining just how she liked. She smiled to reflection in the mirror faintly and gave herself a double thumbs-up. Her arms providing a perfect analogy for how she felt. One arm scarred and damaged, still bearing the teeth marks of a Tyranid, while the other remained soft and whole. A parallel between her life here, and the life she once had. Her arms dropped to her sides and her shoulders slumped as she stepped from the mirror. She grabbed her pack and left the building, making her way back towards her squad's barracks area.

This late at 'night' the streets were mostly deserted. Even though they were deep within the hive and spared from immediate danger, martial law had been enacted. Civilians were cleared from the streets and so Ruby walked alone in the pseudo-twilight, the ceiling hundreds of meters overhead lost in the gloom. But down on the street, bright streetlights providing ample light to see by.

Even these lights were dwarfed by the luminescence of the Guardsmen's compound as she approached. It was made to hold a single company of Guardsmen at a time in reserve, a small enclave of tents and hastily built fortifications. Razor-wire surrounded the compound, a few gates providing entrance on each side. A motor pool was raised nearby, Leman Russ tanks and Chimera APC's slept in iron silence.

The Guardsmen's compound was another matter entirely. Voices drifted forth to greet Ruby and she paused, just out of sight of the guardsmen posted at the gate. She stood there in apprehension as she thought of the way the troopers had swarmed her earlier that same day. She wasn't ready to face that again. She gripped her bag tightly, pulled on her Semblance, and leapt over the razor wire. She dodged from shadow to shadow, avoiding contact with those around her as she drew closer to her own barracks. She had to admit, it was kind of fun, she felt a bit like a secret agent from the movies she used to watch on Remnant. She smiled at the thought as she slid to a stop in front of her barracks.

Laughter drifted from within as she pulled aside the flap. She stepped inside to see her entire squad present, except for Merith who was called to help with the other wounded. They were all seated at a card table, crates and containers serving as chairs. A small radio was playing a heavy beat that Ruby herself approved of. Several bottles, one half empty, sat on the table with small glasses before each of the troopers.

She was greeted warmly by those there. Even Grandy offering a twitch of a smile as Ruby sat next to Lovelock, his head and arm bandaged tightly. Trunks was in the middle of telling some grandiose story of Bearings dropping a live grenade during training as Ruby leaned over to Lovelock, "So… what's going on?"

Lovelock smiled at her and nudged her shoulder, "If you would actually come around, you would know we are having a little memorial for Bearings." She shrugged back at him, her mood soured at the mention of Bearings. She focused on Trunks, who was just finishing his tale of a Sergeant shooting at Bearings feet for dropping the supposedly grenade at the Sergeant's feet. Everyone seemed to enjoy the spectacle of Trunk's reenacting the panicked Bearings movements as they laughed at the display.

"He was always a little clumsy." Said Grandy as she took one of the bottles from the middle of the table. She began filling up shot glasses and sliding them to each person. One stopped before Ruby and she tilted her head quizzically as she stared at the clear liquid. Grandy picked up her glass, "To Bearings, the clumsy git." She kicked back the drink and slammed the empty glass back onto the table. The others followed suit while Ruby poked at her glass with a single finger, the innocent looking liquid fizzing back at her angrily.

Trunks coughed as he settled his drink back down, his eyes watering, "Come on Ruby, you look like you've never had amasec before!"

Ruby ducked her head, trying her best to hide underneath the table while still sitting up… It didn't work. "I… um… haven't?"

A collective gasp came from three of the assembled troopers and Lovelock facepalmed, "Oh Emperor," He mock-prayed, "Forgive this poor wayward soul her trespass." They began pressuring her to drink further, oblivious that Ruby tried to make herself smaller and smaller with each comment.

She rubbed her bare arms nervously, "I… I don't know guys." They ignored her pleas and continued to harass her. Ruby looked imploringly at Cade, who watched with a ghost of a frown.

He put on a smirk and leaned forward, "Let's give her a minute fellas. She just got here. It's not like its going anywhere." The others groaned, calling Cade a killjoy and other less friendly names. "Besides, I got a good story for you. Remember how Bearings hated latrine duty…."

Ruby's anxiety released and she exhaled in relief. But the glass remained. Ruby gently sniffed at the concoction. Besides burning her nostrils and making her eyes water, the smell reminded her instantly of her Uncle Qrow. It was a pungent, familiar smell that was oddly comforting. Of all the places to be reminded of home, alcohol was the last place she expected to look.

So lost in thought was she that she never heard any of Cade's story. She only knew it was over when she received a gentle nudge from Lovelock. "You alright love?" She hummed noncommittally in response. "You wanna try it now?" He said with a grin as he nodded to her drink, his own drink in his hand.

She nodded hesitantly as she gently picked up the glass and held it in front of her while the others watched in eager silence. She looked over at Cade who pantomimed kicking back his head and swallowing the whole thing. She bit her lip, then whispered softly, "To Bearings." She brought the drink to her lips and kicked it back then slammed the glass on the table. Her face scrunched up as the cool liquor burned her throat. As soon as she had swallowed it all, she gasped. "Ow!"

The others cheered around her and Lovelock patted her on the back good naturedly. Almost immediately, Grandy snatched the glass from before Ruby and refilled it, sliding back across the table to her. Ruby picked it up with more confidence and swallowed this as well, the burning only marginally lessened. Laughter reached her ears as her face scrunched up again against the burning liquid.

Grandy reached across again only for Cade to grab her wrist and stop her. "Hold on psycho, this is her first time. Let's see how she handles those two first." Grandy humphed but sat back down, leaving Ruby's glass where it was. Cade looked at Lovelock, "Alright, your turn. You knew Bearing's the longest, what have you got on him?"

So it continued. Over the space of the next half-hour, Ruby began to feel a little funny. She got incredibly hungry, realizing that she hadn't eaten since that morning and so dug out multiple MRE's and downed their contents entirely while Trunks stared at her in amazement, "Where do you put it all?" He had asked.

As the hours passed in various levels of drunken conversation, even she started doing unusual things as she became red in the face and the others continued to drink. She giggled at anything anyone said and was constantly reaching out to touch people. Their arms, hands, or shoulders which, for the introvert who once said, 'I don't need friends as long as I can fight monsters,' this was rather of odd. Although Cade and Trunks stopped drinking, Lovelock and Grandy were determined to see who could drink more. This led to some interesting events such as what followed.

"Oi, Shkirts" Said Lovelock, his words slurred as he twirled another glass of amasec, his other hand spread on the table. "Have I ever told you how cute you get when you are embarrasshed?"

"Nuh uh! You don't get to call me that." Said Ruby, giggling even though his misguided attempts at drunken flirtation went over her head entirely, "It's Ruby to you mister!"

"But he does all the time!" Whined Lovelock as he pointed at Cade. "Besides, whose gonna shtop me?" He asked moving to raise his glass once more. A slam on the table startled him and he dropped the glass, spilling amasec in his lap. His attention was diverted elsewhere to the source of the thump, a knife sticking from the table between his fingers, Ruby's hand on the hilt. He slowly turned his head to see Ruby grinning with good natured humor.

"Want to try that again?"

Lovelock flicked his head from Ruby's face, to the knife, back to her face. After a few rotations of this, the math added up in his head, "No Miss Ruby."

Laughing at exchange, Cade reached across and grabbed Ruby's hand and pulled the blade free. "Okay. I think we've all had enough today." Everyone, including Ruby, groaned at him. "Come on, we had the night off, not the next day. And we aren't supposed to be drinking. The last thing I need is everyone hungover, sleep deprived, or…" He looked accusingly at Ruby, "missing appendages."

Ruby did her best to look guilty, but a smile refused to leave her flushed face and she kept giggling. "Hey Cade? You can let go of my hand now."

Cade looked down to see he was still holding tightly onto her hand which held the knife. His own face flushed at the sight. He did his best to look hurt as he let go of her hand, "Why Skirts, you 'cut' me real deep." His pun was met with several groans.

"Ug, you're worse than Yang!"

But they followed his instructions. Cleaning up their space which included carrying a loudly snoring Grandy and tossing her onto her bunk and disposing of the bottles which they weren't necessary supposed to have. After several minutes, there was no sign of their soiree, just a half dozen men and women lying in their cots.

Ruby lay there in the darkness for many minutes, a happy smile refusing to leave her face. She felt like she was on a boat and all of the cares were behind her. The faces, the guilt, the homesickness, none of it seemed important anymore. If amasec could do that, Ruby would certainly not mind having it again. She daydreamed flippantly of home until, eventually, she too drifted into sleep, content for the first time in months.

If only it would last.

More notes!

I have a question, I want to respond to your comments. Would anyone like to be responded to? I mean do you expect it? I honestly have no idea. Would you prefer it via a PM? I don't want to put responses in the comments like I've seen others do. No offense to them, but it annoyed me.

Second! This one is exciting! I'm publishing the first chapter of a new story called Rebellious Song today. It's a RWBY darkish-AU. Check it out on my profile page later today!