Title: Angelus Erroneous: Fabricati Diem
Author: Spike
Chapter: Nine
And so we journeyed on - through the mountain range that Bishop was keen on exploring. We walked in silence, each of us lost in our own thoughts but still wary for any type of ambush.
But it wasn't the prospect of an Ork attack that had me worried. Jessie was still walking ahead of Xerxes and myself, still keeping her back to both of us. She hadn't spoken a word since the journey began and she never once broke her vision from what was up ahead. No doubt the bitterness was still seething….
Along with the possibility that she may try to turn against us…..
And behind us still marched the ever present threat of Deacon. The homicidal lunatic with that all-powerful heavy stubber. Still, at least he was more talkative – even though all he said was a mixture of sarcasm, intimidation and threats to kill us.
So far, the morning had proven to be quite unspectacular – we had not been bothered by the Orks at all. Surprising yes, but more so considering the monster Orks I had encountered earlier that morning.
What is also off-putting is the fact that, for the first time in a long time, we were walking out of the jungle and into the open! Considering we were in a position to be easily spotted, it was any wonder why the Orks hadn't spotted us yet.
As we journeyed across the mountain, I kept a wary eye on the jungle that lay at the bottom of the range itself. Chances are, there could be some Orcs lurking there and I certainly don't want to take any….
Wait a minute.
What was that?
I stopped dead in my tracks, my gaze focusing on the jungle below. I could've sworn that I saw something…..
"What's the matter?" Xerxes asked. "Narc? Something wrong?"
"I saw something down there" I muttered.
"What?" the Rogue Trader replied "Is it more Orks?!"
Although I couldn't see his face, I could still sense some urgency about him - evident in his voice and the mistakable click of his lasgun being readied.
"Where?" he inquired.
"Down there" I said, pointing. "In amongst those trees"
Just then I heard a pair of heavy feet approach.
"What's going on here?" growled a voice that could only belong to Deacon.
"Narc claims he's seen something" Xerxes replied.
"What is it?" Deacon rumbled, his voice suspicious.
"I saw something" I mused "something metallic….
"Metallic?" Deacon muttered "Here? That's absurd!"
"Hold on" Xerxes replied, his voice in a reasoning tone and his eyes squinting at the trees. "He could have a point – there could be some Orks lurking nearby"
"If there are then I would more than happy to introduce them to my stubber!!"
I said nothing – my attention being invested fully into my gaze focusing on the jungle below. I swear I saw something….
But concentration doesn't come easy when there's a full range of voices going on at once:
"What are you looking for, old man?" Xerxes inquired.
"You better not be having me on, small fry!" Deacon rumbled.
"What's going on back there?" came a voice that sounded like Laertes "I'm hearing shouting."
"Narc claims to have found something!" the Rogue Trader replied.
"What is it?" said Jessie.
"I'm not sure – he won't tell us!"
"Then why bother?" Jessie replied.
But regardless of what my companions were saying, I paid little attention for I was trying to locate my little discovery.
"Which was right about….. there!"
And with a jab of my finger, I pointed towards the jungle.
There, in amongst the foliage was a small, but still quite visible, glint of silver.
"Where?" Xerxes demanded.
"There!" I exclaimed. "I saw something metallic! In amongst those trees!"
"I can't see a damn thing…." Deacon muttered.
Muttering some sort of curse under his breath, Xerxes reached into belt and pulled a small cylinder-shaped object. With a flick his wrist, the cylinder immediately expanded into the shape of telescope.
When it came to viewing things from a distance, this telescope was the only item we had for such a purpose. It is a primitive object in this day and age (my days in the Imperial Guard taught me the importance of having viewing goggles) but it gets the job done. Emperor only knows why he keeps that thing – he claims it is a prized relic from his days as a Rogue Trader.
But I know better and can deduce easily that he stole it from somewhere.
After all, who would use a telescope in the middle of space, anyway?!
Anyway, Xerxes began looking towards the area with his telescope, his facial expression one of scepticism.
But it didn't take long before he caught sight of something. And his expression softened into one of disbelief.
"I don't believe it" he muttered.
"What is it?" I asked.
"See for yourself" Xerxes murmured, handing the telescope to me.
I then stared down the shaft, wondering what was this object I had discovered and why it freaked out the Rogue Trader.
It didn't take me long to find out what it was.
There, nestled in amongst the foliage and well hidden from normal eyes was a ship.
But not just any ship – it was one made with a distinct metal, a design that betrayed a circular shape and a distinctive manufacture that betrayed neither Ork nor human origin.
"An Eldar ship" I murmured, lowering the telescope and handing it to Deacon "What the hell would a thing like that be doing here?!"
Xerxes however smiled an intrigued smile.
"I must admit you've certainly picked up on an amazing find here old man" he beamed. "In the terms of scavenging I think we've hit upon an absolute gold mine!"
Just then I noticed Laertes, Bishop and Jessie come hurrying over.
"What's going on here?" Our Fearless Leader demanded.
"I believe that our man Narc here, has made the discovery of the century" Xerxes grinned "He's discovered what seems to be an Eldar ship!"
"What?" Jessie exclaimed.
"You can't be serious!" Bishop sneered.
"See for yourself" Deacon rumbled, handing the telescope to Our Fearless Leader.
Bishop took the telescope and peered through it.
"You gotta be kidding" Jessie muttered "What the hell would an Eldar ship doing here in this neglected side of the galaxy?"
"Well you have hand it to him" the Rogue Trader beamed. "He's certainly found something we can salvage! And from the looks of it, it's been there for a while!"
I mentally cursed – Sure I had a strong connection with Xerxes but the way he carries on like this is certainly frustrating on my part. So what if I found the damn thing?! The least he could do was not make such a big thing of it.
"This sounds like utter bullshit to me" Jessie retorted "There can't be such a thing there!"
"Take a look at your bullshit for yourself" Bishop growled, handing her the telescope.
As Jessie looked through the telescope, Our Fearless Leader turned to the rest of us.
"So what are we going to do about that thing then?"
"I say we should salvage it!" Xerxes said. "If it's been there for a while then chances are, the Orks either haven't paid much attention to it or they don't know that it's there! Either way, we have an opportunity here too good to miss!"
"I agree" Deacon said. "I too would like the firepower that may be in that thing"
"Same here' I added. "If there is anything in there, we can always rely on Xerxes' knowledge of the galaxy to identify it. Isn't that right?"
Xerxes laughed – but it was one that was tainted with utter nervousness.
"I don't think we should investigate!" Laertes said suddenly "We should just leave it there! It's an alien spacecraft and all aliens are abominations that pollute the Emperor's galaxy!"
I don't know what type of reaction Laertes was expecting with this speech – but I doubt he was expecting a wall of silence.
"And?" Bishop eventually growled.
The priest's facial expression then grew into one of complete exasperation.
"We are the servants of the Emperor!" he snapped "We must abide to His will and conquer the galaxy that has been granted to all of humanity as our birthright! So what type of servants would dare commit such an act of heresy by touching the creations of an inferior race?!"
"You forget" Bishop replied, somehow managing to keep a cool head regardless of being shouted upon "We aren't the servants the Emperor – we're just a group of outlaws and desperadoes trying to scrape out some kind of survival. And in this game there are no rules"
You had to admire Our Fearless Leader. He really had the presence, and the rate of intimidation, that made one shut up quick smart.
"But…." The priest began
Unfortunately for him, he wasn't given the chance to finish. Convinced that the argument had been won, Bishop turned to rest of us.
"I say we go check this thing out" he said "Who's with me?"
He then started down the slope. Deacon went after him followed by Xerxes.
Understandably irate with the fact that he wasn't being taken seriously, Laertes turned to both myself and Jessie.
"If you go down there and dare abide to the creations of a hated alien race then I shall consider it my duty to purify you!" he scolded
Jessie looked at him with a hardened gaze.
"Then perhaps I shouldn't go down there" Jessie retorted, her voice dripping with sarcasm "Don't really want to interfere with your good work for the galaxy"
She then turned and headed down the slope with everyone else.
Laertes then turned an infuriated gaze towards the last person left:
Me.
But before he could open his mouth, I merely shrugged and made my way down the slope.
'You will all go to hell for this!" I heard him yell after me.
I just continued on my way – Sure he may declare such threats but he has never been able to seem as intimidating. Yes, he may have said that he would fry us in the 'purifying flames' of his flamer but he has never really made much of an effort to fulfil that promise.
Therefore, as far as we're all concerned he's pretty much harmless.
Okay it may be a big ask being so trustworthy will such a lunatic but personally he's no different from the rest of us.
Besides, what difference does it make when you're too busy watching your back from everyone else?