Chapter IV: Humanity Has A Cost
The metal abomination is trying to keep up from what I can tell last time I looked back. I was astonished at Acolyte Porcia's order to double time away from the cylinder shaped walker when it appeared before us on a rooftop. I remember barely escaping the buzz saws swinging in wide arks as it landed much too close for comfort. Once the sound of spinning disks of death die down I take another look behind me. The "Killer Can", a nickname I remember sharing with Spike, with no ranged weapons and stubby legs, tries to catch up to the Acolyte and I. The monstrosity becomes a distant shape, and I'm barely able to hear a deep, raspy voice shout out.
"GIT BAK E'RE SO I CAN CHOP YA INTO BITZ!" yells the voice that sounds like a throat filled with nails.
The large star dims to an soft orange as it gradually lowers below the horizon. Night is coming quickly and Acolyte Porcia looks exactly how I feel: exhausted and hungry. I'm willing to rest anywhere as long as one of us keeps watch, but the attentive disciple who treads ahead has specific plans. The destination is close, I can just feel it. I'm probably just trying to be optimistic. As I question whether I'll survive any longer the pearl colored figure in front of me slowly rounds the corner of a structure. I follow turning from one wide boulevard to another. The only change I see between the two paths is their names, which are numbers painted on the metal ground. I'm ready risk death by chainsword to stop for a moment when Porcia finally halts.
"Great, another factory that looks exactly the same as the last fifty we've passed," I state in my mind, knowing I would be missing a tongue if I let the thought slip.
I watch as Porcia approaches the vast and ornate entrance numbered 1138. I examine the white and black Mechanicus emblem adorning the solid, iron gate until it splits. The massive doors open to the sides and I witness a Tech-priest dressed in a crimson robe emerge. His, or rather its mechanical extra limbs move in controlled patterns above its head. It marches up to Porcia with infrared, optical lenses focusing. I slowly approach and as I get closer I take note that the priest has no face. Instead a steel face plate engraved with gold trim, and a red hood conceals its entire head. I glance away, trying to appear alert by aiming Pepper II to the right of our position. Suddenly I hear something sounding like grinding gears, which makes me turn back to face the man-shaped machine.
"Acolyte Porcia, you are quite…early and why are you not with all your assigned personnel?" grates the crossbreed, his optics shifting in my direction then back to their origin point.
"Fabricator Locum, I understand this might sound strange, but I was instructed by your Psyker to reach this place quickly and the stormtroopers would have hindered my swiftness," Acolyte Porcia declares without any hesistation.
"Ah, yes Lilith must have contacted your mind out of hysteria."
"Excuse me, Fabricator?"
"Well, you must comprehend that we have witnessed many greenskins pass by Edifice 1138, so out of anxiety, Lilith must have lead you out too precociously," the Tech-priest explains with I can imagine is amusement. "I assume that the leader of this one's squad ordered him to be join you?"
"Yes, however he has been keeping up so far, so there is no issue," clarifies Porcia without even looking my way.
"Interesting, now if would please follow me," concludes the synthetic hybrid gesturing us to enter Edifice 1138.
Sentinels, Basilisks, Trojans , and many other vehicles are being constructed while the three of us tread toward a staff elevator. Multiple Engineseers board the lift, making me feel a bit claustrophobic. After two minutes I'm sweating profusely into my face mask from all the excess heat and I thank the Emperor when we finally reach the third floor. I immediately compose myself upon arrival and try not to look tired.
"Welcome to Central Dogma," bellows the head tech-priest making a motion with his hand in a presentational matter to red robed entities working on hundreds of green, transparent screens in a dark-lit room.
"Looks more like a cerebrum to me," I mutter making my two superiors stare at me. One with curiosity and the other with annoyance.
"Quite…anyway, this place is where we shall encounter Inquisitor Talonius upon his arrival, which should be in about six hours," enucleates the Locum while viewing a screen attached to his left hand.
"I am grateful, also I'd like to know if there is any place for repose in this facility," inquires Acolyte Porcia, answering my silent prayers for rest.
"Indeed, I'll send you to the dormitories right away," replies the mechanical being in a flat tone. It must be disappointed that we don't want to see its "little toys."
Once reaching the dorms, which are on a floor below ground-level, a servitor guides me to a vacant chamber with a thick cot jutting out of a metal wall. The room also contains a hologram transmitter and compartments for storing cybernetic attachments. I take off my helmet and face mask and begin trying to contact Sergeant Clye on my portable vox-caster. I'm not able get a signal probably because of the machinery moving above. After an hour of dosing off in my tan, under-armor uniform I hear a knock on the door. On the other side of the doorway I'm greeted with another red-robed engineseer. I'm about to ask what's going on when a I hear surprisingly young, female voice.
"I knew you would come," murmurs the woman while lifting her hood.
I'm able to distinguish her short, black hair and strangely purple eyes while trying to understand what she could possibly want.
"You do not recognize me?" inquires the peculiar priestess."I am Lilith: Psyker and Magos Biologis."
"What is it you require ma'am?" I ask out of confusment.
"Please conceive that we have met before, but I sense something is blocking your memories."
"I don't understand."
Lilith sighs and lifts her gloved hand to my chin. At her touch something flashes before my eyes. It was the little girl from my dream.