Title: Angelus Erroneous: Fabricati Diem
Author: Spike
Chapter: Seven
It would be fair to say that out of all of us, Deacon had the greatest battle experience.
And such an assumption would be the understatement of the century.
Sure myself, Bishop and Jessie have had considerable experience within the military, and even Xerxes and Laertes knew enough about combat to at least pick up a gun and using it kill someone but all of these was surpassed by Deacon's understanding of combat. Out of the six of us, his knowledge of firearms was also without equal. Deacon could identify any sort of weapon with nothing more than a simple glance, he could tell the reliability of any weapon by just looking at it and he could sense an empty magazine of bullets just by picking up any gun. Henceforth, we relied upon him for weapon maintenance and ammunition rationing.
However he doesn't talk much – he came to this planet with Laertes and Jessie in the same prison ship that crash-landed here. Since then he has been keeping pretty much to himself, speaking only to answer questions (with answers as minimal as possible), and only showing any contact with the rest of us when we took in our weapons for inspection.
And the more than occasional time when he's threatened lives.
Funny how it always seems to be me.
All other times, he is rarely seen and the few times we do see him he is practically never seen without a cigar protruding from his mouth.
According to Jessie and Laertes, he was always like this on board the prison ship. Consequentially, none of us know anything about Deacon. And within time the lack of knowledge evolved into a frustration. A frustration that triggered all types of questions: Who was he? Where did he come from? Why was he consistently silent? What happened to him before he arrived here? Does he even like us? And what are the chances of him turning against us?
And what's with his ruthlessly homicidal intent?
It wasn't any use asking him directly for he would react with either silence, ignorance, walking off or, on several occasions, pulling a gun on us.
Finally it got to the point where another source was sought out.
When the prison ship that gave us Laertes, Jessie and Deacon crashed landed on this miserable rock, we did perform a looting upon it, looking for material to use, like we always did.
Only on this occasion we took vital date form the ship: The prisoner data slats.
Normally we don't swipe that kind of thing – usually the computers and other data outlets on board Imperial spacecraft are either used once only for finding out what was on it (not that it's ever been of much help to us). Only then they are used for either relaxing against or being thrown at any Orkish assailants.
But on this particular occasion, this was a prison ship. And like any other prison ship, the data slats were of some importance to use as it contained the prisoner slats containing records of each and every prisoner on board that crate.
That in my mind, was reason enough to take with me.
After all, why leave that thing lying around when anyone else could find it?
Since then, I took regular looks into the records - when no one was looking of course. I managed to bypass the intense security measures and gained permanent access via the usual methods of retrieving the necessary requirements from the bodies of the dead wardens (including slicing off any necessary body parts – Gotta love that part). This allowed me to take a look through the records of each and every prisoner on board the ship.
Hey, we're criminals standard on a planet that's beyond the interest of Imperial space! Therefore we can do whatever the fuck we like!
At first we looked through them all, observing all the hideous mugshots and studying the extensive list of crimes that been committed by each and every member.
Therefore, I didn't really pay much attention to Deacon's file when I first encountered it. However, it was only days later when I realised how futile he was at answering any questions, that I re-considered this and went back over his file.
Further contributing factors came in the fact that he was consistently menacing and looked ready to kill us all for a measly cred.
And he would most likely pummel a fist to the face then face questions of such nature.
Amazingly, Deacon didn't suspect anything. Neither did he seem bothered with the fact that such material could be left on the ship and found out quite easily.
Should he find out however, it would most likely result in a something both hideous and painful.
Anyway, it is through this method that I was able to find out what I currently know about Deacon. It came in the form of a testimonial he gave once he was incarcerated.
This document came as part of the criminal record stored in the database.
Deacon came from Necromunda where he became known for his skills with firearms. He had to be one of the best: He lived in a region owned by House Goliath called Arges X. Whilst House Goliath are known for being exceptionally industrious and possessing territories that were utter wastelands, this particular region was ravaged even by their standards . Under the Goliath's hands, Arges X became mainly an industrial complex – that was the only thing that could be reaped out of the miserable surface of the hive. But in spite of hardship, Arges X managed to prosper and built up huge single metropolitan area for all its inhabitants to live within. Gradually it expanded. But nothing dared venture out beyond its confines. Such was the extent of the damage caused by the industrialisation that there was no telling how it affected the areas surrounding Arges X. Stories proliferated of monsters and other nasty beasties but some people whisper that the stories weren't exaggerated….
However Arges X was particularly notable for being rife with anarchy and disorder – and for a region controlled by House Goliath, that is saying something. It was the type of world where it was every man for himself and one where the Enforcers continually fought a losing battle against the various anarchists who conducted acts of terrorism and spreading the pollution far beyond it's capacity. Not a day went by without something being blown up and several people being killed. The Goliath Gang had next to no power and only remained in their position just to appreciate the spectacle and to wait for everyone to kill each other over control of the region. They couldn't appeal to the Enforcers or any higher-ups for help because a) they couldn't be bothered and b) doing so will come into conflict with the outlaws who managed to fight their way into establishing a foothold on Arges X and hung onto it with a tyrannical iron grip. No one had any fear of the Enforcers or the Watchmen because they were too busy watching their own backs. Some desperate folk even tried to escape the mayhem by wandering into the wasteland beyond Arges X – but those who did were never heard of again.
Ultimately, Arges X was a haven for troublemakers across the Necromunda and not the type of place for an honest man wanting to make a peaceful life.
Being born and raised in such a dangerous place, meant that Deacon had to learn various combat skills in order to stay alive. Thus, his education came in the form of learning how to use a firearm: he was taught how to hold a laspistol before he could walk. And even from that early age, Deacon managed to develop a great aim and, as he got older, he began utilising many more pistols. By the time he was ten years old, he graduated into the usage of shotguns, lasguns, autoguns and even boltguns!
Thus, by the time he arrived at his mid-teens, Deacon had acquired a substantial knowledge of every firearm known to the Imperium and how to use it. Also, he acquired several ways to kill a man with his bare hands.
Being in such a hell-hole, there wasn't much in way of employment opportunities. There was only way anyone could get anywhere and that was through the usage of the gun and their own wits. Therefore, at the age of eighteen, Deacon's combat skills were brought to the attention of many gangs but the one who got there first was a Van Saar gang calling themselves the Black Dragons. But what made this gang unique was it was part of the Watchmen: A faction of gangs who had a clean enough record (as unlikely as it sounds) to be granted a degree of authority in keeping order around the Underhive. And seeing as Arges X was a hotbed of criminal activity and chaos, many Watchmen gangs flocked there, keen to make their mark.
Thus, the young Deacon was taken into the Black Dragons, under the guidance of a man called Vladmir. And, from there, quickly made his skills as a master assassin known. As the months went by, and his kill–total increased, Deacon built up a solid reputation across Arges X. Everyone feared him and every crime-lord wanted to hire him for themselves! Assassins were hired to hunt down Deacon but he eluded every one of them.
However, the partnership between Deacon and the Black Dragons wasn't to last forever: After four years working for him (a surprising large amount of time for a hired gun to work in Arges X) Vadimir eventually slipped up. As a consequence, he and his gang were ambushed by some outlaws. In the battle that followed, the Black Dragons were badly mauled and Vladimir got his throat slit. Deacon however, managed to evade capture and, keen on self-preservation, immediately sought out a new employer.
Whether by luck or his own survival skills, Deacon managed to claw his way through the scum of Arges X and built up an even greater reputation as a hired gun of exceptional ability. Now with his ties severed from the Black Dragons and being free to choose his own employment, Deacon found himself being faced with offers of work all across the region. Everyone, whether they were crime lords, little-known gangs of motley repute, minor figures wanting a rival dead or just some loan shark wanting some obstacles removed, wanted to utilise Deacon's expertise with firearms.
Consequently, Deacon went from one end of the planet to the other, offering his services to the highest bidder and killing anyone with any weapon on hand. He didn't care who he was hired by – thus, he frequently found himself fighting for two factions who had an intense rivalry with each other at the same time. Like most hired guns, the only master he heeded was the pay-packet. He did his job without question and did with professionalism, whilst solidifying his reputation as the best hired gun in Arges X.
However, Deacon sometimes exhibited strange behaviour: He occasionally hired his services out on the prospect of just how much intense battle was and how much fun he got out of it. These instances, although few and between, seemed to indicate that he had a gleeful outlook on battle itself. Reports even suggested that when the combat was ferocious and heated, he would often be found howling with laughter as his guns blazed and the people around him tumbled to their deaths. Such a peculiar way of operations made approaching him for a task an even more intimidating experience.
Such behaviour certainly raised a few eyebrows but, since Deacon did his job and did it well, no one thought about complaining.
Besides, what difference would one more madman make in the Underhive?
However, Deacon's life as a hired gun may have resulted in some benefits but it also yielded an equal amount of bad things. One time, he was hired by a secretive mob of Delaque that ran a minor crime racket within the depths of the Arges X underworld. Deacon's new found employers, who referred to themselves simply as M, didn't say much about themselves, but he gathered that they were newcomers to the world of crime and were keen to make their mark as a faction that weren't one to be messed with.
The mission they had set up for Deacon was a simple one: He was to attack a rival Orlock gang, known as the Hellhounds, and assassinate their leader. The employers said it was to make their presence known to the rest of Arges X, but Deacon couldn't care less: If anything, such intentions were no different than anything the rest of the many crime syndicates of Arges X could come up with.
The only difference was that these M bozos were offering a substantial amount of cash. And that reason was as good excuse to fight for this mob as any.
The plan was that Deacon will accompany the leader of M as he goes to a secret, pre-arranged meeting with a small confederation of the Hellhound's members. The Hellhounds were provided with the knowledge that this gathering would be the means of casting aside any past misgivings and establishing an alliance between the two gangs in order to work to the eventual goal of total domination of Arges X.
Strength in numbers if you will….
But in reality, the meeting was a front for an ambush: For as the leaders of M and the Hellhounds meet, the many soldiers of M will be luring under cover and, at the precise moment, launch an attack that will wipe out the Hellhounds' leaders out of existence! And should everything go to plan, this operation will then cremate M as a major player in the crime syndicate war of Arges X!
Naturally, Deacon had his doubts as to whether M could pull of such a stunt. This plan was the oldest trick in the book (and just the type of thing one would expect from House Delaque) and, if anything, the Hellhounds certainly would be up to it. Nevertheless, he kept his mouth shut – after all he was being paid quite handsomely for this job.
However what M was careful not the mention was that they were such newcomers to crime syndicate wars of Arges X that the Hellhounds weren't even aware of their existence, let alone be intense rivals of each other……..
On the night of the meeting, the leaders of the Hellhounds and M met at the pre-arranged location – it was an abandoned warehouse, one of many, in one of the more disused areas of Arges X (of course being on a planet in the grip of a never-ending crime war, this may not have been the first time that the warehouse in question was used for such a purpose). The leaders of M awaited the arrival of the Hellhounds whilst Deacon waited with the rest of the group within the confines of the shadows.
The actual details of the incident are sketchy to say the least (I guess the sod who typed out the prison records wasn't there to provide an accurate eyewitness account) but it seemed that the Hellhounds were too smart for M: obviously realising the lack of authenticity in the fledging crime syndicate's intentions of making a mark in Arges X, not to mention the fact that M were part of the already suspicious House Delaque, they instead sent another hired gun to deal with the misguided fools.
I guess being on a planet dominated by a never-ending war between rival crime syndicates also means there is also a seemingly never ending supply of hired goons to rub certain people out…..
Anyway, according to the prison record, the hired in gun in question was a meat-axe from Necromunda by the name of Grinder. And apparently, he was strong, and capable, enough to really bring down M completely.
Again, what actually happened in that warehouse was never made clear within the record itself but when the Watchman burst into the warehouse, no doubt being led there by an anonymous tip-off from the Hellhounds, they found all the members of M butchered. Not one of the aspiring crime syndicate was left alive. After a thorough search of the warehouse Deacon was found. He was the last survivor but he was at death's door due to an enormous wound to the head.
Exactly what had happened in that warehouse was never made clear – but what mattered was that there was not one scrap of evidence in the warehouse that indicated that the Hellhounds had masterminded the massacre of M. The only one who would ever know was Deacon.
He did receive the necessary medical attention to save his life. But once that was done he then found himself imprisoned for his dealings with the various crime syndicates on Arges X. This incarceration didn't last too long however because he was eventually rescued by a break-in.
Obviously his skills were in as a greater demand as ever.
However the incident within the warehouse had turned his whole world upside down. The brain damage from the wound made everything difficult for Deacon's life as a hired gun. Now, his motivations became less about the money and survival – now they were more about the heat of battle. As such, Deacon started growing very selective about what tasks he was offered. Now, he seemed more interested in accepting missions that involved him killing a large number of enemies. Why, there were some instances of Deacon accepting a mission only to be disgusted by the small number of people he killed along the way – This resulted in either refusing the pay or killing his employer.
This change in motivation was certainly unexpected and certainly put a small number of Deacon's contacts off from hiring him again. As such, Deacon found the demand for his skills shrinking and times when he didn't have anything to do. Familiar faces turned away and previously well-paying employers shunned contact. Not surprisingly, the Hellhounds, knowing all too well of Deacon's reputation and his past dealings, kept their distance.
Also, this change in behaviour also meant he grew careless. Previously, Deacon was well aware of the enemies he had made in his time spent as a hired gun - so he went to the effort of covering his tracks and making it near-impossible for anyone to catch him. Consequentially, many of his enemies were left guessing and Deacon had a greater awareness of self-preservation. But now, thanks to the accident, he had grown more careless. He didn't go to the same extent of concealing his actions as he did previously – and other times, he had just gotten sloppy.
Therefore, it was only a matter of time before someone sold him out.
And that's exactly what happened.
Considering at that point in time Deacon's career as a hired gun was already going downhill, it wouldn't have taken much for it to be brought to an abrupt halt. That moment eventually came when was Deacon assigned by a crime syndicate in ambushing a group from a rival syndicate. According to the testimonial on the database the syndicate in question were a group of Escher known as the Girls of Carnage and they had employed Deacon previously on many successful missions. However, at that time they had a tough assignment that needed completion so, perhaps out of desperation, they offered it to Deacon. Perhaps seeing a chance to get some money and regaining some credibility, he accepted.
With this latest assignment, it was his task to provide covering fire whilst his employers moved in to swipe a parcel from under the noses of a rival Ash Nomad gang, the Brotherhood of Panthers.
It was a simple task of easy completion but it was not to be.
Because of it's importance, the parcel was hidden in not the metropolitan area. No it was hidden in amongst the wastelands. Of course since no had been there before, this was a mission for either the utterly brave or the completely insane. Deacon however didn't seem too bothered and insisted on seeing it through.
So, Deacon and some of the Girls of Carnage went ahead- after sneaking out of the protective walls of the metropolitan area (even if Arges X was a planet dominated by crime wars, the one law that did remain was no one was allowed out. Not that anyone wanted to do that anyway) and headed for a particular location within the wastelands.
It was a cluster of abandoned houses, each one being crude in appearance and looking like they had been made out of mud-brick and other such primitive materials. It was anyone's guess as to who made these buildings and how long they had been there for.
Anyway, the parcel was located within one of these buildings. The only question was which one…..
Of such a determination wasn't going to be easy: As soon as Deacon and his group entered the cluster, they were greeted with a full blast of lasgun fire. Quickly, the women sought shelter.
It didn't take a Tech-Priest of Mars to find out that it was set-up: Suddenly the fact that this package was so well-hidden within a particular location of the vast wastelands now stunk like Nurgle Plague Marine. Nevertheless, when faced with such hailstorm of lasgun fire, Deacon and his group decided to go out fighting.
Sensing the heat of battle, Deacon then heeded the call of his new-found battle lust. He then leapt out from hiding, guns blazing in both hands. He didn't wasn't too interested in survival or whether or not he actually hit anything. What mattered was the heat of the battle, the rush of adrenalin and the sheer pleasure of gunning down some worthless piece of trash that was dumb enough to stand in his way.
As a result, he was left standing, firing at the enemy from behind cover. The only thing is, there was no enemy: All that he could see was blinded by smoke and his battle-lust. As a result, several of the Goliath gangers he was firing at had all disappeared from view, leaving Deacon firing off shells in a random fashion.
This time however, he was caught (unsurprising really) and taken to the Enforcers. And being a repeat offender, this time action was taken and Deacon was deported off world, on a one-way trip to the Penal Legion.
I can certainly say that the document was interesting reading – The Deacon described in that conflict sounds very much like the Deacon we know here on this miserable rock. But what bothers me is that the Deacon who gave the testimony does not sound like the aloof, ruthless Deacon that I have come to know.
The document certainly told me what he had done prior to his arrival here but not entirely his reason. I mean, I can see something behind his trigger-happy outlook as well as his strong perceptions of treachery (which admittedly is kind of odd considering it's from a former hired gun).
But still, it makes me wonder what he's hiding in that head of his…….