Victory is-! Um… oops?

He didn't remember starting to run, but Ricardo was in motion, Cypher right beside him. The few remaining Skitarii from Kay's apparent attack were falling to his fire along with the Dark Angel's even as Kay collapsed against the stasis pod, her left arm bloody around a metal crossbow bolt and her sword falling from nerveless fingers. A force field of some kind slammed up in between the onrushing pair of enraged warriors and the trio around the stasis pod. Cypher shot it once with each of his weapons and nothing happened. Ricardo started to scan it, looking for weaknesses as Cypher paced around the edge, seeing a hole, a vulnerability, something!

The field did not block sound and Ricardo felt his blood boil as Gornal stepped forward and kicked Kay's sword away from her scrabbling fingers. The Lord Inquisitor was gloating.

"You had no chance, you foul thing." Gornal was saying as he kicked again, his boot slamming into Kay's bleeding arm. Kay did not react. Indeed, she did not take her eyes from the Magos who rushed forward.

"Do not damage it!" Magos Rebekah said sternly. "We cannot duplicate the workmanship. We must keep it as intact as possible." Kay screamed as energy washed over her, odd green energy. It surrounded her and started to close in, but then it stopped, held away by golden energy. The Magos stared at her, apparently disconcerted.. "This is sub-optimal."

"Delivered as promised, Magos." Gornal said with a grunt as he turned to look at Ricardo whose hate filled glare should have rendered the elder Inquisitor to ash. "Always late, boy."

"And as always, you are a moron." Ricardo snapped. "You have no idea what you are doing. Stand down, now! In the name of the Imperium!"

"This is for the Imperium!" Gornal snarled, his eyes drawn to Cypher who was stalking back and forth in front of the shield like a cornered cat. "And you? Traitor! You dare to side with him?"

"I do not side with him." Cypher retorted. "I side with her." He nodded to Kay whose face was strained as the Magos did something else. The green energy pressed in, but then it was tossed back as golden energy powered from Kay again.

"This is new." The Magos now sounded jubilant. "The Omnissiah will be very pleased."

"Your Omnissiah can go fuck itself." Kay gritted out as something flashed nearby. Outside the shield. Ricardo ignored that to try and find a way in. He had to help Kay! She gave a sharp cry as the green energy pressed closer in. "I will not serve you subhuman scum!"

"Nobody said you had a choice, abomination." Magos Rebekah replied, appendages flying as her energy swept towards Kay again and again. It was repulsed, but each time, the energy came closer to Kay. She was weakening. Whatever was happening, Ricardo bet that energy wouldn't do good things when it touched Kay. "You will serve. You should be pleased. You and your progeny will-" She broke off as Kay surged to her feet and the energy that had been surrounding her vanished in a clap of raw golden power. One look at Kay's now golden glowing eyes and Ricardo knew the worst had occurred. Kay had just lost it. "What? No!"

"Kay! Stop!" A new voice shouted as Kay's sword flew to her hand again and she staggered forward. Gornal had reloaded his crossbow and was aiming again, but Kay lashed out almost absently and his bolt pistol went flying. It hit the inside of the shield and skittered away in a scatter of sparks. He stared at her in shock, but she ignored him to advance on the now terrified Magos. He raised his hand and blue green lightning reached out to connect him and her. She ignored it!

"KAY!" The new voice screamed again. Ricardo went still as two female forms appeared at his side. He didn't know either of them. One wore Sororitas armor, the other Inquisition witch hunter armor. The Sororitas gasped and spun to the newly come Inquisitor. "She cannot hear me!" The Sororitas shouted. "Why can she not hear me?"

"I don't know. The shield or her rage or both." The new Inquisitor was cold as ice, her eyes scanning across the area with infinite patience and an utter lack of pity. "A strong shield, but that fool has made a serious mistake. Aeldari! Now!"

Ricardo's eyes went huge as the woman's hands clapped and a webway portal appeared inside the shield. It was right beside the stasis pod! Even as the Magos retreated and Kay pursued, half a dozen tall, thing forms in white armor ran out of the webway and surrounded Gornal, shimmering xenotech power swords poised and ready. Another Eldar strode from the webway and Ricardo's eyes went even larger as the Eldar raised his hands. Eldritch lightning flashed from the xenos' hands to strike something behind the stasis pod and the shield that had stymied him and Cypher simply vanished. The Eldar which had to be a Warlock, set himself in between Gornal and the stasis pod, his own blade at the ready even as the Banshees surrounding Gornal keened in readiness. He might be able to teleport away before they cut him to pieces. As angry as they seemed? Doubtful.

"Kay!" The newly come Sororitas screamed as Kay lashed out, her blade tearing an appendage from the cowering Magos. "No! Stop!"

"Help me!" The Magos begged. No one paid her any mind. Everyone's eyes were on Kay. No one moved as Kay took another of the Tech-Priest's limbs. No one dared move. No one seemed to be breathing as Kay raised her sword again. But then Ricardo felt something nudge him. A familiar feeling. He stepped forward.

"Lady Kay." Ricardo took several steps and moved to stand just beside the enraged daughter of the Emperor. He was well within her reach and he knew he had no chance against her even if she hadn't been so enraged. It didn't matter. "No one is denying your anger. No one is denying your right to your anger. Georgia is safe." He slowly bent to one knee. "You are not."

"This thing must die." Kay sounded more feral than woman as she growled at the Magos who tried to retreat another step, but fell and huddled on the ground, her visible face terrified. "Insults to me are meaningless. But she hurt so many, she hurt my daughter!"

"Lady Kay." All eyes were on Ricardo as he bowed his head. "I know what you are. Some may deny it. I will not. You are not an abomination. You are the Emperor's creation. His one, true daughter."

"What?" Magos Rebekah and Gornal both shouted that, but everyone else ignored them.

The newly come Sororitas stepped forward as well, her face ashen. She also took a knee beside Ricardo, somewhat in front of Kay.

"Hail, Kay." The Sororitas said formally. "We honor our oaths to the Emperor, our shield and protector just as you always have. You always were the best of us. Now I know why and I am honored to be here, now."

"I..." Kay repeated, her eyes slowly losing some of the terrible golden fire that had shone through them. "I..." She stared at down at the fallen tech-priest and then at her own hands which were still glowing. "What have I done?"

She sounded so lost and alone in that moment that even Ricardo's war and death hardened heart went out to her. He felt his eyes burn and from the expressions he could see? He was hardly the only one as the fire that lit Kay's hands winked out.

"You defended yourself and your blood." The newly come female Inquisitor said firmly as she strode forward. She too took a knee. A clatter sounded nearby as Bjorn stepped into view. His hull was marred with xenos blood, but his weapons were not active as he too bent. He could not kneel in his walking tomb, but he showed respect. Cypher knelt beside him. Other forms in Dark Angel colors moved to stand by Cypher and then they too knelt. "I see your mind, Kay and you are worthy of him."

A dozen Elysian drop troopers appeared behind the dreadnought. They stared at the scene, eyes huge. Then they too, knelt. Others approached and they knelt. General Sentars was among them. In moments, the only human standing besides Kay was Gornal, whose face was pasty white.

"All he ever wanted was for humanity to know peace." Kay said weakly as she stared around at all the kneeling people. "That is all. He fought for humanity and bled for humanity and it was never enough." She was crying as she stared from bowed head to bowed head. "I cannot be him. I cannot."

"No one is asking you to." Ricardo said softly. The unknown newcomer Inquisitor shook her own head as Ricardo had to add. "No one is that stupid."

More than one of the guardsmen who were watching snickered at his words. The Inquisitor at his side frowned at him, but Kay smiled a little forlornly.

"We are human." Kay said sadly. Then she looked at the Dark Angels and at Bjorn. "Well, most of us are." She turned to the Eldar who hadn't moved. "Thank you." She said quietly.

"We owed you a life." The warlock said formally. "The debt is paid."

"I acknowledge that the debt is paid. However, Liriel of Craftworld Ulthwé's soul stone is attached to the Hospitallar." Kay replied just as formally. "I know not how to remove it without causing harm to either."

"We can do so without harming her or your blood." The warlock was still being formal. "We will do so and see her home."

"She has earned all the honor I can give her." Kay said weakly, her rage finally releasing her completely. "I..."

Ricardo was in motion as Kay fell. He caught her and the Sororitas was instantly at his side, armor scanners whirring.

"Kay!" The woman said sternly when Kay started to struggle. "Do not move!"

"Always bossing people, huh, Celestine?" Kay smiled weakly as the pair laid her out straight. Ricardo did not react, but his mind was whirling. Celestine? Saint Celestine? The mighty Sororitas hero who had helped revive Roboute Guilliman? She didn't have wings or a huge sword, but he almost could see the power roiling off her now.

"Only when you do not do what you are told, Kay. I am told medics are coming, hold on sister. And you will listen to them this time." The legendary Sororitas smiled at her stricken sister, but her eyes were worried as she stared at the crossbow bolt that still stuck out of Kay's left arm. "This… I don't know this weapon. Inquisitor?"

For a moment, Ricardo wasn't sure which Inquisitor she was talking to. Then the newcomer rose and stepped forward, her eyes on the bolt as well. Her mouth was set in a grim line as she took hold of it and pulled it free of Kay's armor with a quick yank. Kay did not scream but her face paled. Kay slumped in relief, but the female inquisitor snarled something vile in a language that Ricardo was suddenly glad he did not know. She didn't raise a weapon or make any threatening gesture and it didn't matter. Everyone moved out from between her and the now visibly fuming Gornal.

"Where did you get this?" The woman's tone was calm, cold and assured. She was angry. Ricardo knew she was angry, but she was so tightly controlled that it was impossible to tell. A guardsman ran up with Gornal's pistol. He handed it to her and she took it, examining it closely as Gornal sputtered. "Fine craftsmanship, but no maker marks. I am waiting, Lord Inquisitor Gornal. Where did you get this?"

"Whoever you are!" Gornal said savagely. "I bear the authority of the Conclave! You cannot interfere!"

"No?" The woman seemed bored now. "Well, Lord Inquisitor Gornal. Just so we are clear on things, my name is Katarinya Greyfax."

That name. Ricardo felt his bowels loosen a bit. From Gornal's expression, he might have just lost control of his bladder. Just like Celestine, this was a legend come to life. Alongside Celestine, Greyfax had fought on Cadia. Where she had come from before that was vague, but after? She had been instrumental in reviving the Ultramarines Primarch and the events that led him to Terra. She was Ordo Hereticus just like Ricardo, but so much more so. She was a free agent, not bound to any one sector. She went where she willed and she did what she willed and only fools stepped in her way. Her specialty was finding the corrupt and the faithless who pretended to be faithful. She had no mercy, no pity and no patience for some things. If she wanted Gornal dead, he would be before he hit the ground and no one would dare say a word.

"Ah..." Gornal actually gibbered. If it hadn't been so serious, with Kay hurt and all, Ricardo would have treasured such a moment.

An Elysian medic ran up and at Celestine's nod, knelt down beside Kay to start checking her wound. Kay looked at the other Sororitas and smiled a little forlornly. She looked to where the Elder were crowded around the stasis pod now and then back at Celestine.

"You move fast." Kay said with a wan smile. She bit her lip as the medic did something to her arm, but then relaxed. "I thought you were on Crusade."

"I was." Celestine shook her head. "I am. But when Greyfax told me about a massive surge in the warp here and your message hit the Sororitas net at the same time..." She smiled as Kay winced from whatever the medic was doing. "Subtle, Kay. Really subtle."

"Bite me, Celestine." Kay said weakly as the medic finished up whatever he was doing. He looked at Kay and his face was grave. "Say nothing." She said under her breath. The medic stiffened and looked at Ricardo and the Saint who nodded.

"What did she do?" Ricardo asked. "Not that I am complaining or anything, but I never expected to see you or Inquisitor Greyfax here."

"We are not." Celestine said sternly. Ricardo stared at her and the Saint shook her head. "There will be no official records of our presence here. One reason I am not in my usual armor."

"I wondered." Kay looked a little better, but not much. "Webway?"

"We needed speed. They offered." Celestine shook her head. "They will demand something for it, but..." She shrugged. "Worth it to see you again, Kay. Even if that bitch Lily is gong to have a heart attack when she sees the message you put on the net."

"I am sorry, Sister." Kay started, but paused when Celestine put a finger to her lips. "Celestine?'

"Kay, you were always a dutiful sister, a good friend and a wonderful comrade in arms." Celestine said sadly. "But now? You are so much more. I will fight for you. All of us will fight for you." Kay was shaking her head, but Celestine wasn't done. "Guilliman couldn't come. He wanted to. When he read your message, he wanted to march right to that convent and 'speak' to Canoness Lily personally."

"He read it?" Kay asked, suddenly shrinking.

"Kay, everyone read it." Celestine said gently. Kay winced and the other Sororitas patted her shoulder. "When I read it, I was overcome with both joy and sorrow. Guiliman asked me why I was crying. I am sworn to aid him and when he ordered me to explain, I did. Every sister who read your message broke down and cried. Not all of them knew you, but we know you now. Not just us either. Guiliman declared a day of thanksgiving throughout the Crusade fleet and I understand the Lords of Terra are contemplating the same."

Kay groaned but she was interrupted.

"Kay!" Georgia's voice had Kay lurching to her feet. She saw Georgia sitting up in the pod which was open. One of the Eldar held the soul stone reverently and was striding towards the webway with it. Celestine offered an arm and Kay glared at her. The Saint shrugged and retracted her arm. Kay staggered towards the pod, utterly ignoring the Magos who lay nearby, not daring to move since all of the Dark Angels had weapons aimed at her.

Greyfax was talking to Gornal who was shaking his head, his face angry. They were enclosed in a hush field so no one would hear whatever they said. But considering Greyfax's reputation, her expression and the fact that she had her hand on her sword hilt? He wouldn't do anything stupid.

"Inquisitor?" Georgia asked as Ricardo moved to stand by Kay who was weaving on her feet. "What? I..." She suddenly realized that she wasn't wearing anything and her face flamed as she covered herself. Celestine shook her head and pulled a long cape from her back to drape it over Georgia who smiled thanks to her. Then the Hospitallar winced. "What happened? We were talking to the Mechanicus."

"They kidnapped you." Ricardo said with a growl. "We have been working to recover you and just managed with a lot of help."

"Why?" Georgia said weakly. "I am no one."

Celestine looked at Kay and then slowly, deliberately turned her back on the group. From the expressions of everyone else? She was glaring at them. They all found things to do, even the Space Marines.

"I..." Kay swallowed hard. "I have to tell you something, Georgia. It is… It will be hard to believe."

"You are my mom." Georgia said softly. Kay stared at her and Georgia's smile became impish. There was a distinct resemblance between their smiles. "I am not stupid, Kay. Why else would you work so hard to muddle my DNA files and yours?"

"The Mechanicus made you from me." Kay said sadly. "They thought you would be able to do what I do. You can't."

"No." Georgia stared around at the mismatched group all around the area and winced. "What else did I miss?" She stared at the Dark Angels who stood by the Space Wolf dreadnought and her eyes went huge. "Um… I heard that those chapters didn't like each other."

"They don't." Ricardo said dryly. "But there are a few things they agree about. Kay is one of those things"

"Oh?" Georgia asked but then everything stopped as a huge detonation sounded in the distance. Celestine was right beside Kay as both moved to shield Georgia from whatever had caused the blast.

"Georgia, I need you to get to safety." Kay turned to Bjorn. "Wolf, can you ward my daughter?"

"Our forces are being pushed back and are in danger of being overwhelmed." Bjorn said quietly. "There may not be a safe place anywhere nearby."

"Yes, there is." Kay said quietly and she turned to the tunnel that had been excavated in the near distance. She shook her head as the ground...folded? A huge hatch was sinking into the ground. "Underground you will all be safe. Georgia, do you trust me?" Kay begged.

"I do, but… What is down there?" Georgia asked with trepidation as the square patch of earth sank deeper and deeper. A small lift appeared in the hole, rising to wait at the edge. Small was relative. It would have held a Baneblade easily. Kay took her daughter in her arms and held her tight.

"My destiny."