"Normal speech"
"Gothic around non-Imperials."
"Mental Links."
"Ship Names."
AngelForm: Thanks. I try to please. What Ba'al meant was that being in the service of Anubis drove Suen nuts. But maybe he's still floating around. Cowards die in shame.
Benevolent_Scribe: Heresy Through the Wormhole will probably be the bloodiest book ever. Period. I'm aiming for something in the region of two depopulated galaxies. The history of the Emperor is sketchy at best. Games workshop shuffled allot of things while not changing some of the older cannon. So here goes. The Emperor was born as a result of awakening of the Chaos gods (according to the stuff I read). With the Ascension of the Ancients into the Warp Chaos was effectively choked off thus the need for the Emperor as a counter balance was lost. So no there is no Emperor but the potential for Him remains. It's all causality in the end the difference that originally separated the two is relatively small but has led to a huge change. Hope that answers your question. Prior combat in one word: Epic. Hatred is eternal.
Skipper 1337: No she's alive. Sorry if that wasn't clear. I was saving Levis for this chapter and I'll think you'll understand why. The Tau'ri or Terrans, well most of them will never leave the solar system. However if O'Neill, Haynes and Angelus ever get the chance they want to clean Terra up a bit. The Imperium looks to them for guidance so it's more the other way round as their cultures become infected with ours. I like Ba'al always have. He's just so much fun to watch and write. So I'm not planning to kill him off, yet, but he'll find that his 'big reveal' is rather ineffective now. But the master of manipulation won't go out that easily. The Furling language is frustratingly complex; involving mental, physical and verbal communication so the translators have a very hard time. They basically pick the closest translation that makes sense. So it comes out like a riddle or nonsensical phrase. Take the Furling's name for the Imperium: Wind. As in something that is quick, powerful, irresistible, young and vibrant, soothing to some and deadly to others, an intangible thing that affects everything it touches and that is born from the 'water' which is their name for the Alterans. The riddles of Kheb were to promote thinking by making you approach a subject from many angles. The cause is different but the effect the same. Sorry for the delay. A mind without purpose will wander in dark places.
Levi never had a taste for alcohol. Sure he could appreciate it and even agreed with Angelus that it was fun to drink. He just never understood his Captain's desire to down the stuff like the entre Universe's supply was about to spontaneously explode. Still, he had to emit that the clear liquid that some old man was dishing out with gusto was good. Downing his third cup of the stuff the Space Marine Librarian beckoned over the old man for a refill. Beside him McKay looked slightly apprehensive. Not that Levi could blame the man-god. The first of their, would be, rescuers had arrived and spent the next hour screaming incoherent babble while running around in a circle. Right now the man was staring at the Space Marine and McKay with something between utter terror and extolment.
Shakily Kevl struggled to his feet. Half a leg of meat was slung over one shoulder and in the other hand an entire jug of the local beverage was being waved around with vigour. "A toast! To the Space Marine Levi!" The Bolo Kai slurred. The entire rebellion roared their agreement. Swaying slightly the man continued. "And to the most polite army killing god I've ever met. McKay of C'tan!" The warrior screamed before falling over in a heap. The assembled humans shouted praises before downing their respective drinks.
Levi just shook his head is acceptance. McKay's new title had arises from a quickly aborted attempt to explain just what in the Emperor's name had happened. The Pegasus locals couldn't wrap their heads around the idea of a kilometre long, interstellar, energy being, that feed on stars and people. So they had just assumed that C'tan was some strange and powerful civilisation. Ronon was the only one that seemed to understand the scientific babble the two Imperials spouted. And he seemed more than eager to erase the memory with copious amounts of alcohol.
"Shouldn't we be trying to, you know, get back?" McKay whispered to Levi.
The Librarian frowned down at the scientist. "Yes. But first we must locate the others and if possible purge the Wraith and their followers."
McKay pushed off one of the louder warriors who had swung an arm around his shoulder while rambling on about how he defeating a Wraith in single combat and sighed in resignation. "I guess. But how are we going to find them?" McKay wondered.
Necrontyr medical technology was the most advanced in the Universe. Asides from giving his body an overhaul that left him looking like the definition of perfect health; it had also rendered him immune to every poison, toxin and generally bad chemical in existence. So even though the scientist had drunk enough to euthanize an elephant or two, much to his annoyance, he had failed to get plastered. Levi like all Marines was naturally stoic and had deigned to drink only a little. Leaving the two of them as the only ones that could think, walk and talk straight within several square kilometres.
"The army that will, by their own admission, follow us into the depths of the Warp and back." Levi said gesturing at the men and women. Many of whom were now dancing on the table or each other.
"Oh. So that's where the slaughtering the Wraith comes in. That makes sense." McKay reasoned getting a nod from the blue armoured man.
"Yes. Now I would tell you to get some rest but you can probably go on longer than me. Speaking of which. Any hunger?" Levi asked his hand sliding gently to the Force Sword at his side.
"Well, I would like a chunk of the boar thing." McKay replied pointing at a large roasted beast off to his left. Said lump of roasted meat levitated off the table and started to float towards him.
"McKay." Levi said with an exasperated sigh ignoring the whoops and yells of the resistance fighters as they watched the meat fly towards McKay.
"Okay no." The Terran scientist replied shooting a glare at the Space Marine. Two of his finger formed in to lengthy blades and sliced off a chunk of the meat and the plate it was carried on. "Though I do wonder what Wraith tastes like." McKay added as he sent the roast back from whence it came hoping no one noticed the chunks missing from the plate.
Levi shuddered he couldn't help it hearing McKay talking about eating people, even Xenos, was weird and disturbing. "That is the creepiest thing you have ever said. Please refrain from such things, it is scaring the locals."
McKay looked at the faces around him. Most were staring in shock or awe. McKay suddenly felt very exposed and quickly tired to apologise. He never got the chance before a slightly drunk Ronon slapped him on the back. "That's the spirit! Tomorrow we take the castle!" The Runner roared.
His troops answered the cry with one of their own. Shortly afterwards the meal descended into chaos as everyone tried to do their own thing. It was a good night to know a ex-star-god infected Terran male and his Space Marine bodyguard/executioner.
He strode through the torch lit halls with grace and power. Humans scurried out of his way like rodents; bowing and muttering his praise as he swept past. A smirk wormed its way onto his face as his yellow eyes wept over them. His destination came into sight and he let his cruel smirk widen in anticipation. The faceless Wraith drones didn't even acknowledge him as they swung the massive reinforced doors open. A single ordered was placed in their minds as he passed. No one enters. Not even waiting for a reply he stepped into the dimly lit room.
The doors slammed shut behind him rattling on their rusted iron hinges. Deep in his mind he bemoaned the level of technology the humans possessed. Or that they allowed them to have he corrected himself. Two heads turned towards him illuminated by the single dimly glowing crystal that hung from the roof. One looked terrified and the other looked thoroughly amused. Of the other two occupants one sported thinning white hair and wrinkles that should only have afflicted a human thrice his age. The other was unconscious but still un-fed upon. Strange energy based weapons lay on the table for further inspection and a small book titled 'Imperial Gate Legion Primer' sat next to them.
"Ah. I see that you have lowered yourself to speaking with me." The amused one growled. "You want to know about them? Don't you?" He continued in a sickly sweet tone.
"How do you know?" The Wraith hissed baring his sharp teeth in anger.
The other gleefully chuckled. "I have my ways." And it was true; the feeling of dread that had washed over him was becoming far too familiar. And powerful.
"Then speak!" The Wraith shouted. His patience was wearing thin and the other only survived on his whim. The two clashed in a mental battle each seeking to overpower the others mind.
"No. I want something first." The other Wraith replied slamming down stunningly powerful mental barriers. He turned away from his host and vanished into the shadows.
"Name it." The Wraith growled slitted eyes scanning the darkness. Even with his enhanced senses he couldn't find his aggravating guest.
The voice came from behind him little more than a whisper but the implication wasn't lost on the Wraith. His guest could kill him quite easily. "I want a command. I don't really care where. But it has to be as far away from the last Lantean city as possible." And then the voice vanished from behind him.
"Why?" The Wraith asked. It was a strange request. The best hunting was to be found in that half of the Galaxy.
"None of your concern." The other Wraith answered from the other side of the room. A victorious smile creeping across his face.
"Fine. I'll replace one of my more incompetent Commanders with you. Acceptable?" The Wraith asked with a dismissive wave of his hand.
"Very. Now in return I'll tell you everything I know about the insane god you seem so interested in." Came the reply. Suddenly all the taunting mirth had been lost from the voice.
"Much appreciated." The Wraith said with a small mocking bow. "Commander Levis."
"You're kidding right?"
"No. Not really." Levi replied with a deceptively friendly smile. Outside the first rays of sun pierced into Ronon's tent illuminating the war council.
"I like it." "Me too." "Sounds good." Where the muttered agreements from the other leaders of Ronon's rebellion.
"Quiet." McKay growled sending a small glare at the three men. The three men suddenly found the dirt on the floor very interesting.
"Enough." Ronon commanded slamming his hand down on his table. "It is a good plan. But it seems to rely too much on McKay and Levi."
"What's the problem with that? Between the two of them they could probably storm the castle themselves." One of the leaders said with the other two nodding furiously in agreement.
"Not necessarily they could open fire from orbit." Levi corrected. Both his and McKay's senses had detected the presence of a Wraith Cruiser orbiting the planet. Although it would offer a chance to truly work out just how powerful McKay had become. Goading the orbiting warship into firing on them wasn't that clever.
"And that's why they have to believe we're still just the little insignificant rebellion." The confirmation that his revenge on the Wraith was little more than another twisted game to them had left the Satedan bitter.
"And just how are we going to escape? When these two..." The oldest fixed Levi and McKay with a small glare. "... start doing unnatural things?" The man hissed his old gnarled hands tightening around his cane.
"Simple. We're not." The Runner replied with a cruel smirk.
"What?" Everyone asked at once.
"Once these two get involved the whole thing will dissolve into a blood bath. At that moment we'll break through their centre and take the castle." Ronon said moving the pieces on the map.
"That would be a suicide attack!" The eldest leader shouted rising to his feet and slamming his cane on the table scattering the pieces.
"It's better that waiting for them to kill us!" Ronon roared back sweeping the disrupted pieces from the map and fixing the man with a withering glare.
"I must disagree." Levi said his face passive but there was an edge in his voice. "McKay and I will turn the field of battle into a swirling melee." The Space Marine said cowing everyone with his stare. "Your forces must disengage or they will be engulfed and destroyed. Once their formations are crushed, their leaders dead or fleeing and their moral shattered. You must strike like a mailed fist in their side. The heretics will not be able to stand under such a devastating blow. Then we shall enter the under-defended castle and take what we need." The Space Marine said centuries of warfare shaping his thoughts.
"Fine." Ronon conceded. "But I will the one to kill the Count." He announced with finality.
What Levi would have done for a single tactical fusion warhead or possibly a Whirlwind or two was best left unsaid.
"Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elder berries!" Drifted over the soon to be field of battle.
One of the Count's soldiers who was, for some inexplicable reason, insulted by the strange remark turned to his companion. "What does that even mean?"
The older man spat out a mouthful of stale bread. "Don't know about the last part. Last I heard a hanstyr was a four foot lizard that spat acid."
"Now that's just mean." The younger Wraith worshiper grumbled.
"Don't know about that kid." His friend replied a grin growing across his face. "It is a good description of your old woman." The grin widened when the younger man started to splutter in anger.
Another roar arose from across the field. Just out of the tree line the rebels had gathered in a surprisingly organised formation, just out of cannon range. And having established themselves quickly commenced lobbing jeers and taunts at the castle's defenders. The Count's forces, with the permission and oversight of their gods, had quickly mobilised outside the castle. The sun beat down on the two sides as it climbed mercilessly overhead. The Count's army was stuck under the harsh gaze of the hydrogen sphere while the rebels lounged in the shadows of the forest. Quickly the men had become disgruntled as they boiled in their heavy leather and metal armour. Exactly as the plan demanded.
Ronon watched as yet another of the precious cannons was removed from the ramparts. McKay's rampage had destroyed most of the mobile ones. He surveyed his soldiers; the old the young, men and women. All gathered under his banner to fight against the oppression and predation of the Wraith. It filled him with unquenchable fury to think that they were all pawns to amuse some arrogant Wraith.
"The Emperor is on His Throne. All is right with the World." Tales of the Emperor. His Space Marines. The Imperium. The Replcions. Things so magnificent that they chilled his blood and ignited his soul. Levi had gather quite an audience and the phrase had struck a chord for some reason. Even Ronon would admit that it suited the mood.
Ronon looked back into the forest towards where McKay and Levi waited for the signal. With a resigned sigh the Satedan mounted his horse, the only warhorse in the entire rebel army. The others sat upon farm animals, the sick and the old, horses that had no true place in battle. The Runner hands ghosted over his pistol, the one McKay had loaned him and the hilt of his jagged sword. His horse stamped the ground in anticipation while the others simply chewed on the grass. It was time.
"No retreat, no surrender; that is my last order. And by our choice we will stand and fight. For too long have we suffered under their hands. For too long have we been terrified of the night. No Longer! A new age has begun. An age of freedom, and all will know, that we gave our last breath to obtain it. Today we prevail or die! Forever we are free!" Ronon roared. The people, his people, screamed back waving their weapons, fists, banners or helmets in the air.
As soon as he saw the steely glint in the eyes of the men around him he crushed his knees into his steed's ribs. The beast snorted before racing forward at full gallop. Behind him his pitifully small cavalry followed without a moment's hesitation. The thundering of hooves drowned out all else except the pounding of his heart as Ronon rushed towards his long awaited revenge.
The Count's men were startled by the sudden attack. Panic swept through the ranks as the wedge of horses charge straight at the centre followed by a wave of near crazed foot soldiers. Precious seconds were lost as Lieutenants and Captains fought over who should have the Wraith weapons or where the crossbowmen were. The mounted troops at the flanks mixed into their own formations in their eagerness to engage the rebels. Both sides dissolved into anarchy as the men were crushed by their own horses as the troops tried to untangle themselves.
Ronon pulled the energy pistol from its holster swinging the black weapon around he began firing wildly. With his other hand he pulled out McKay's pistol to take pot shots with. The other riders readied their low quality black powder weapons. Bolts of red energy ribbed through men with ease leaving charred smoking holes in their wake. Nine millimetre bullets churned their way through flesh and bone shredding internal organs and sending bone shrapnel in every direction. Ronon's borrowed pistol clicked empty so he threw it aside settling his free hand on the hilt of his sword. Behind him a wave of thunder erupted as the black powder detonated. The makeshift blunderbusses, muskets, pistols and general slug throwers launched a torrent of melted down iron and lead at the enemy.
The formations faltered as the first two rows were exterminated. Bloody shreds of meat all that remained in front of the rebels' charge. The rows behind were to slow to lower their spears to prevent Ronon smashing into them.
Ronon held on for dear life, even as he cleaved a man's head in two, as his horse reared up. With a might thump it smashed its iron shod hooves into the men that opposed it. Crushing them under its considerable weight. A second later, with a meaty thump, the rest of the cavalry arrived. Riders were thrown, horses screamed in pain as they died, men hollered as they were split open or trampled, bodies arced through the air propelled by the force of the impact. The noise descended into the clash of steel and the hoarse screams of men. Ronon was thrown from his horse as the animal was impaled by three spears. Landing in a crouch he decapitated the two nearest men before blowing a hole in another's torso. With a snarl the Satedan leapt at his foes.
McKay stood on the branch of a tree overlooking the battle. The waves of energy flowing over him were almost intoxicating. Such fear and pain and sorrow. It was beautiful. With a wistful sigh he watched as the second wave of foot soldiers smashed into the rapidly disintegrating battle line.
Ronon was cutting a bloody swath through the Count's forces. But he was being surrounded, the flanks had finally sorted themselves out and the mounted knights were readying for a charge. Arrows streamed from the castle uncaring if they struck friend or foe and the occasional explosion announced the few cannons that remained. McKay was almost bouncing with excitement.
"It's time." Levi announced sparing the battle a glance.
"You sure?" McKay fought hard to keep the joy from his voice but failed if Levi's raised brow was any indication.
"Yes. In front of their knights should be pleasantly noticeable." The Space Marine stated.
"In the Emperor's name." McKay stated as he dropped to the ground next to Levi.
"I would ask you not to blaspheme." Levi muttered.
"What's a little blasphemy between friends?" McKay joked as he grabbed hold of the Marine's power pack.
"It'll get you killed." Levi deadpanned. McKay just chuckled as they vanished in a dome of darkness.
Brunen loved this feeling. The powerful muscles of his horse as it propelled him towards the enemies of his gods. The weight of the sword held high in his hands. The rustling of his armour with each movement. Through the thin strip of vision offered by his helmet he fixed his eyes on the rebels' left flank only seconds away. So it was no surprised that the brief flash of darkness deeper than the void of space was missed.
McKay's Lantean designed eyes swept over the charging knights. Their locations were noted and adjustments made for motion. With a wave of his hand all the ferrous metals they wore suddenly became super charged.
Brunen had enough time to feel the tingling of static running across his skin before it discharged through him and his horse into the ground. His blood boiled, bones burned to dust, muscle tore themselves apart, fat ignited, organs liquefied; the last thing he felt was his brain melting. Brunen fell from his suddenly limp ride as he died in spasming agony. The entire two hundred strong force of knight died in a flash of light. The wall of dead flesh collapsed to the ground expending their momentum. The stench of burning meat washed over the two; Levi was far too used to such things to be effected and McKay no longer cared.
Levi quirked an eyebrow at the display. McKay smiled; his eyes wide, Necrontyr symbols flickering into life along his body and ripples travelling along his skin.
"Retreat!" A voice screamed from behind them. The rebel army broke away and fled through the sudden hole in the encircling army. Many of them shot terrified and grateful looks to the two bizarre warriors as they ran past.
The Count's army was flung into disarray again. The left flanks charge petered out when their horses refused to get closer to McKay. The centre was too bloodied to do anything other than regroup, the left foot soldiers were too far away and the right had just witness McKay's miniature genocide.
"Fatum iustum stultorum. (The just fate for fools.)" Levi muttered as he drew his Force Sword.
"Abandon all hope." McKay said gleefully before he vanished.
Levi caught a flicker of green beside the knights that remained. Then the screaming began. A hail of arrows rained down on Levi, before they even got close they burst into blue flames. The Librarian's eyes pulsed with unnatural light before the ramparts were engulfed in a firestorm. Human sized balls of blue flame fell from the stone walls as more screams were added to the symphony McKay was creating.
The Captain just stared. He stared at the man, no the monster, that was advancing upon them. Before he could realise what was going on he felt a blade slide in between his ribs. Turning his head as the long sword was cruelly ripped from his torso he saw the frenzied face of his Lieutenant. The man was laughing as blood ran from his eyes and nose, a trail of drool dripped from his mouth as he swung wildly at the man next to him. As the darkness overtook the Captains vision he saw his own man start to massacre each other.
Levi let his control leave the Wraith worshipers. They had started murdering each other regardless of his interference. Even as that cluster, for there was no proper formations anymore, turned into a bloody battle royal another larger group charged him. Singling out the leader, A Lieutenant that was keeping his men in good order, Levi launched a single lightning bolt. The burst of other worldly spawned electricity struck the man in the stomach. The unfortunate man screamed as his intestines boiled before the acids, alkalis and enzymes began to melt his own organs. He died in excruciating pain moments later. The momentary pause and back step the men took was all Levi needed. With a swing of his Force Sword a wave of incandescent blue flames leapt forth and consumed the heretics. Without a backwards glance the few survivors of the group that had killed each other suddenly died of asphyxiation as their brains were tricked into ignoring their lungs.
The Space Marine had not even come within ten feet of an enemy since he drew his Force Sword but he had already killed over a hundred men. Two groups came at him from different angles planning to overstretch him. Levi tried to unleash another wave of deadly blue flames. He felt his body resist the attempt and the hissing of the Psychic Hood next to his ear didn't fill him with confidence. With a sigh he readied to engage in close combat.
McKay let out a fit of laughter. Tendril of Necrodermis emerged from his back and gored everything in range again. Bodies littered the ground like leaves in autumn. The knight had died depressingly quickly. Their armour attracted lightening far too readily. Any one that had charged him after that was witness to just how powerful Necrontyr science was. A flick of his hand and a jet of Gauss swept over the cowering humans that dared to oppose him. With a sneer he threwaside the head he had just pulled off its corpse.
He giggled, actually giggled, as he vanished from sight again. The Count's men were terrified, beyond that even. The fact that their minds couldn't process what was happening was the only reason they hadn't run yet. McKay reappeared in the middle of the largest group, blood dripped from him. Once again his fingers had elongated into blades, his feet were in a similar state and the death mask covering his face was split with a huge grin that revealed the needle like teeth within. Men threw themselves away from the silver figure desperate to save their own lives from the rampaging mad man. McKay opened his mouth and a noise came forth.
The noise resonated throughout the group of men. Shattering bones and turning muscle into liquid soup. Everyone around him in a thirty meter radius died as their bodies simply deflated, liquidated tissues leaking from their orifices. That was the last straw as the Wraith followers. McKay threw his head back, green light pouring off his body as let out an ear piercing laugh. The entire left flank just disintegrated. The few tens of men that remained bolted. All feelings of loyalty, bravery or comradeship lost under the oppressive dread that McKay inspired.
The black eyes followed the retreating forms. McKay let out a distasteful hiss, leaving your friends to die didn't sit right with him. Blood leaked from his eyes before the fleeing men were engulfed in an explosion of energy. He felt another ripple in the world, Levi's powers were beginning to affect him less and less, he watched with disinterest as the Librarian wove through time seeding chaos in the mob that the Count's army had become. Levi's devastating burst of power and McKay's predations had forced the remaining solders into a tight group. They couldn't fight well like that, order was impossible to impose and fear ran rampant. With a sound that would have frozen blood McKay vanished.
Levi melted back into the main time stream as he felt McKay phase back in next to him. Being near McKay, when he looked like a psychopath's nightmare given form, was unnerving to say the least. Especially when he felt the pure terror and hunger rolling off the man. McKay waved a hand and several men who had been charging them exploded into clouds of water vapour. The grinning death mask turned towards the Space Marine and Levi fought the urge to snarl. Space Marine don't feel fear they attack it.
"Let's go." McKay said. His voice sounded like razors being rubbed together.
Levi cast a glace towards the forest indeed the remains of the rebel army had reformed and was already charging towards them. With a nod they vanished in a swirl of darkness.
Levis and his host watched the battle. The newly commissioned Commander felt a cold weight settle in the pit of his stomach. McKay didn't, couldn't, have that kind of power. And yet there he was perfectly in control of his self, mostly, as he ate people. Levis wondered if this was the feeling humans had before the Wraith culled them. The feeling was new and wholly unwelcome. Levi, well, Levis knew the Space Marines were powerful but just his luck for Psyker to end up with him. Watching Levi work was terrifying, he threw around far less destructive force than McKay but used it so much better. They felt the castle rumble as a stray blast of something that Wraith science would probably never understand wracked the stone walls.
"Your information seems lacking." The Wraith hissed. His yellow eyes seemed to glow in the darkness.
"They adapt. It's their strength." They weren't strictly his words. He had once asked Thor why the Imperium was so powerful. He had never understood the diminutive alien's words.
"Indeed." The Wraith continued in the same tone. "No matter." He whispered to the screen before turning to a much smaller one. "Sub-Commander! Open fire!" He roared his voice filling the cavernous room. Somewhere the only remaining I.G.L. rifleman whimpered at the sound.
The geostationary Wraith Cruiser powered up its weapons array. A series of purple modulated energy pulses were unleashed from the front of the vessel. They tore through the atmosphere towards their targets below.
Kevl bellowed a challenge as he fell upon his enemies. His Bola Kai blood demanded it. With a swing of the axe he had liberated he beheaded one, split another's chest open and deprived a third of his legs. Blood and screamed surrounded him on all sides and he had never been so happy. On the back swing he freed another arm from its service to the Wraith. He glanced back towards where he had left Ronon. Even at the distance he could feel the cold tendrils of fear that tried to worm their way into his mind. Assured that at least McKay was in that direction he carried on hacking.
Ronon, Levi and McKay prepared to teleport into the castle when McKay's head suddenly whipped straight up. The reason was made obvious seconds later when a luminescent purple tear drop smashed into the ground. The blast missed the fighting by several meters but the shock wave still flattened many of the combatants. The fighting slowed to a standstill as more of the blast rained from the heavens. The second and third impacted right in the middle of the two armies sending men and dirt flying in all directions. Panic set in as a fourth sailed wide while a fifth struck the rear of the Count's forces.
Levi glanced at McKay just as the good doctor vanished from sight. "McKay don't!" He shouted after the scientist.
The screaming picked up as the six blast tore into the rebels.
"Fool!" Levi hissed before rounding on Ronon. "Let's go."
The Runner started after the Space Marine but stopped when he witnessed the seventh Wraith blast shrink in size before skewing off a strange angle. A quick glance at Levi told him all he needed to know, McKay was messing around with the weapon's blasts.
McKay stood in the middle of the mass of panicked humans. Both sides had abandoned the fight in favour of fleeing for their lives. As the eighth and ninth came racing down McKay extended his arms.
The Sub-Commander sent a glance towards the pilot when the Cruiser shuddered. The lightening flickered and the screen died for a second before returning with the view of their weapons fire pouring down on the planet.
"What happened?" He demanded with a snarl.
"I don't know Sub-Commander. All systems are normal but the engines are taking more power to maintain orbit." The pilot replied frowning down at his consol as Wraith symbols scrolled across it.
"Check again." The Sub-Commander ordered as the Cruiser shuddered again.
"I don't know! It's like the planets mass is increasing." The pilot replied his yellow eyes narrowing in confusion.
The Sub-Commander snarled in annoyance. He stormed over to the pilot, sending a flash of pain into the fool's minds, as he shoved him out of the way.
The Wraith's hands danced over the consol. The frown he wore deepened as the mass of the planet seemingly jumped up again. The ship shuddered once more and this time they noticeably slipped out of orbit. Power was silently diverted from some non-essential systems to the engines.
"You." The Sub-Commander growled pointing at a drone. "Take a team and check for any damage."
The drone purposely walked off the bridge only to be sucked out into the void of space when the ceiling above it cracked open. An organic wall slammed down before the bridge was opened to vacuum.
"What!?" The Sub-Commander roared as the ship violently shook. The lights died completely and the weapons ceased to fire.
"Emergency power is being diverted to the engines and structural integrity!" One of the crew shouted a hint of fear invading the mental link.
"The hull is buckling!" Another shouted as a deep groan resounded through the bridge deepening the fear.
"Launch Darts!" The Sub-Commander said with a gesture. He automatically assumed they were under attack by another ship.
"We can't all communication has been severed." The same Wraith reported.
Another groan rumbled through the air. "Engines at sheer limit."
The Sub-Commander roared in fury as the engines of the Wraith Cruiser ripped themselves free from the ships superstructure in their attempt to counter the force pulling them down. The rear of the Wraith Cruiser bled crystallised air and dead Wraith into the void after the retreating hulks of its now dead engines.
The Cruiser started to freefall straight down. "Report!" The Sub-Commander screamed in frustration.
"Engines dead, weapons dead, hull integrity failing, life support failing, sensors dead and we are falling uncontrollably towards the planet." The pilot answered as his station went dark.
"Hello." A voice said from in front of the now blank main screen.
"Silence!" The Sub-Commander shouted firing his stunner at the human twice.
"That tickles." McKay said with a small grin as the blasts washed over him.
The Wraith just started at him in shock, all of them frozen in surprise.
"I am afraid I'm going to have to eat you now." McKay continued as his body rippled and changed into his more deadly form.
Necrodermis exploded in every direction. The bridge crew had enough time to blink before they were torn to shreds. It burrowed into the organic hull, slaughtered any living Wraith it came across and infecting every system it could find. With a shudder the Cruiser hit the atmosphere and was surrounded by a halo of flames.
Levi looked up as something entered the atmosphere with a bang. Clouds were swirling in an unnatural patter and the air rumbled. A large fireball was plunging right towards them.
"Is that what I think it is?" Ronon asked in awe. It was too surreal to see what he believed to be a Wraith Cruiser plunging through the atmosphere obviously out of control.
"Probably." Levi answered simply with a shake of his head.
The panicked armies had been stopped when the sonic boom washed over them. Now they just looked up at the approaching fireball in wonder as it seemed to shrink in size. That drew Levi attention. The fireball shrunk again but it was definitely coming closer. He could hear the flames roaring now as the thing shrunk again. A dark laughter echoed above the flames as the ball shrunk into something humanoid. The man sized ball of flames smashed into the ground amidst the Count's ragged forces. The blast sent bodies, blood and soil arcing lazily through the air.
"What is he?" Ronon whispered at the sight.
"He is McKay. He reigns over the kingdom of the Materium, rewrites its laws and sculpts its nightmares." Levi answered with a certain solemn awe, glaring at the smoking crater.
The Count's forces just broke after that. They had battle furiously for what it was worth but being fired upon by your own gods and then having a laughing ball of flames land in your midst was just too much for them. They threw down their weapons and ran. The rebels to weary to follow turned towards the castle as they shuffled back into a shadow of a formation. No matter what they would follow Ronon until the end.
The castle's defenders were strangely quiet. No cannons sounded, no archers dared to lose their arrows, no jeers or even any evidence of life at all. Ronon followed Levi as the Marine approached the crater. They made their way across the battle field the dead lay thick on the ground, smoking craters marked the impacts of the Wraith bombardment. The stench of burning human and gunpowder filled the air and the moaning of the wounded assaulted their ears. Many of the rebels sagged in relief as they saw Ronon, other were filled with renewed vigour as their victorious general stride fearlessly towards the largest crater.
Levi peered down into the blackened hole. A silver humanoid was crouched in the centre, all features gone from the body only the occasional green Necrontyr symbol floated across the rippling metal. Steam rose from the figure and small fires danced around its feet. The Librarian shook his head in exasperation.
"McKay." He muttered.
The silver head turned towards him. A black orb appeared; it rolled aimlessly for a few seconds before the green rings came into view. Levi tilted his head as the Lantean bionic implant stared up at him. Quickly the second one appeared again focusing on the Space Marine. The fires died out as the air became unnaturally cold. Ice grew up the sides of the crater making Levi take a tentative step back, the Necrodermis hissed menacingly as it rapidly cooled. The metal would shimmer and warped before settling down and taking on the appearance of McKay, it happened in pieces but it was getting progressively faster. With a speed that only the semi-sentient mental could achieve McKay's body reformed.
"Ouch." The scientist groused as he slowly uncurled himself.
"At least he conscious, lucid and not trying to kill everyone." Levi muttered far too worn out to be dealing with the fact McKay just absorbed a Wraith Cruiser. An entire Cruiser!
"Fools! Do you think your selves victorious? Ha! You have only shown that my soldiers were too weak! You can never defeat the gods!" It was the Count. The man was standing on the heavily charred ramparts. He was dressed in the finest cloths, heavily over weight, with thinning hair, short stubby limbs and a bright red face. Either from the effort of climbing the stairs, screaming at the rebels or rage was unclear.
"I heard that line before." McKay muttered as he walked up the side of the crater totally ignoring the laws of gravity.
"Send out the Wraith and we promise your end will be swift." Ronon roared back. His eyes had narrowed to slits and there was an edge in his voice that promised pain.
Murmurs of dissent spread through the rebel army at that offer. Many of them wanted the Count to die in excruciatingly horrible ways. They were silenced with a glance from Ronon.
"Never you fool! The gods are..." The Count never finished his diatribe as his entire body turned into liquid mush.
"Can we just go in now?" McKay asked lowering his hand. Levi just shook his head and muttered to himself in Gothic and Ronon looked a little put out that he didn't get to kill the Count.
"Prepare to att..." Ronon's command died on his lip as the front of the castle literally exploded open.
"Off we go." McKay announced far too cheerily as he marched off towards the gaping hole.
Levi hissed something that sounded like a prayer to have McKay murdered before following after him. Ronon blinked in confusion before running after them. The rebels were confused. Their last big push to overthrow tyranny and oppression had been to watch McKay wave his arms. Not that they were complaining, they were utterly spent. They settle for collecting they wounded. With a collective sigh they decided to loot the castle for all they were worth after securing the rear.
Ronon tentatively stepped into the castle. The rubble of the door and its surrounding wall shifted under his feet as he inched further into the darkness. Levi stood in front of him Force Sword returned to its sheath; the Librarian was looking down the darkened corridors in an attempt to discern the location of the Wraith. McKay was off to the side running his fingers, more accurately talons, over the stone walls.
"This way." Levi said pointing off towards the left.
Ronon nodded and followed after the blue armoured man. He caught a glimpse of McKay walking through a wall before they rounded a corner. The corridors were deathly quiet the few torches that had remained lit threw a dim flickering light around. Levi stretched his senses out groups of people were scattered around the castle. The majority were simple servant but the few guards or soldiers he found soon disappeared as the dark void he had come to associate with McKay appeared amongst them. Upstairs, along dark corridors, through lavishly decorated rooms and through grand halls the two travelled towards their targets.
The Space Marine knew about the six Wraith drones before they were even in the same corridor. He glanced back at Ronon who simply nodded once. With a flourish Lei rounded the corner a wave of blue flames already stretching forth from his hands. Four Wraith drones ignited as the others charged heedless of the deaths of their comrades. Five stunners washed over his damaged power armour, the energy leaking through the cracks and holes left by McKay. Levi grunted as his chest went numb, without a second though he lashed out with his sword. The Force Sword split a drone in two at the waist and Ronon's blade decapitated the other. The remaining servo groaned and hissed as they forced Levi to remain upright. Ronon blink in surprise when the Space Marine jerkily carried on walking. Five stunners at close range would have put most men down, armoured or not. With a shake of his head he vowed that he would try and convince Levi to loan him some Power Armour later.
"This is it?" Ronon asked looking at the heavy doors the Wraith had been guarding.
"Yes." A ghostly voice answered him as McKay drifted through the wall opposite them.
"Shall we." Levi gestured towards the doors.
A feral grin split Ronon's face. "Let's."
Levis felt rather than saw the doors bulge inwards. He was ducking as the two iron covered slabs of heavy wood were torn from their hinges and sent soaring through the air. The two drones were not so skilled or fast. One took a door full on and was sent spinning in a mass of shattered bones and shredded flesh the other's head glanced off the corner of the second door. The drone crumpled to the floor moments later its brains leaking from the gash.
Levis already knew who it was so facing them was just a formality.
"Ah my Runner I see that you have returned to me." The Wraith beside him joked with cruel mirth.
The hand movement was almost too fast for Levis to follow. The pistol was already back in its holster before the Wraith realised he had just been relieved of his arm. Blue blood dripped from the smouldering wound as the Wraith hissed at the three men.
"Xeno." Levi stated. It wasn't a question or a insult it was simply Levis being reassessed.
Both Wraith growled. They were unused to being anything less that top of the food chain. A quiet beep drew all the eyes in the room. The one armed Wraith's grin threatened to tear his face.
"It seems the second Cruiser has arrived." He stated with a smirk. The building shook as an energy blast slammed into it.
Ronon snarled as he blew the smug looking Wraith's face off. Levis looked cowed as all eyes turned to him. All he had wanted was to return to his people and for things to be like they should have been. Was his dream so wrong? Was it not what anyone would do in his place? In this world would he ever find the answers? He never saw the spear of silver that pierced his heart. Blood gurgled out of his mouth as he looked towards McKay.
"Don't tell her." The Terran's serene smile was the last thing Levis saw before darkness claimed him.
"The rewards of tolerance are treachery and betrayal." The Librarian muttered. The building shook again and the groan of collapsing wood echoed through the dark and empty castle. "Burn the body." He commanded. Gene Seed was not going to be left behind no matter what.
Green flames licked around the side of Levis's corpse. The three left as the Gauss began to reduce the body to stray atoms.
Levi pushed Ronon and McKay to the side as the roof shattered under another energy blast. The last thing Levi saw was another purple tear drop heading towards them through the hole in the roof before he was falling.
Kevl shouted at the rebels as another wave of Wraith energy weapons tore into them and the castle. They were retreating towards the mountain range. Another volley slammed into the smouldering castle shattering it. The great stone building that had represented the Wraith dominion over the planet began to collapse into its self. The whine of darts echoed on the wind and the rebels clustered around Kevl.
"What are we going to do?" People screamed as their leader was buried under hundreds of tonnes of stone, wood and iron.
"We will endure. In the mountains we will endure." He replied calmly. The men and woman around him nodded in understanding before running as fast as they could.
Darts swarmed gracefully through the air. Their orders were to kill rather than cull. Purple blasts screamed forth from the nose of the tiny fighters as they bombarded the humans fleeing into the forest. Screaming and explosions resounded all around Kevl as he herded the broken rebels into the forest. He couldn't send a runner back to the camp, only watching in vain as fire erupted from that part of the forest as the Darts zoomed over head. Culling beams and purple bolts rained from the heavens as the Darts harassed the fleeing humans. The victorious army fled into the forest in the hopes they could reach the mountains and safety.
Kevl felt heat and light wash over him before the sensation of falling slammed into his stomach. Then he knew only darkness.
Levi pulled himself upright. He was in darkness. A familiar darkness. The sensation of scratching that had accompanied them the first time they had ended up in a dark cave filled Levi's head again. With a snap of his fingers a blue flame sprang into life in his hand. The pale light illuminated the room. He groaned when it fell upon a floating dark object. The building shook again sending trails of dust floating down from the roof.
"McKay!" He shouted into the blackness.
"Yes." The man's voice was strained and harsh like it normally was when he was working on something new.
"Ronon?" The Marine asked getting to his feet.
"Over there." Came McKay's response. Not that it helped Levi much not everyone could see perfectly in the dark.
Two green orbs danced in the darkness and Levi followed them as they moved around the room. Suddenly a Lantean screen sprang to life illuminating the room in a gentle white. Ronon was indeed sprawled out next to the floating device that Levi cursed to the Warp and back. McKay was typing like a mad man. The gears in the Librarian's mind started to turn as the smile on McKay's face grew.
"Don't!" He shouted. But too late.
The Dodecahedron started to whine and spin. McKay whirled round with a big smile, green light dancing all over his body, as that accursed white light engulfed all three of them.
He watched the war rage beneath him. Strange flying things duelled in the air and light fell from the skies burring away huge swaths of the forest. It had all started when a strange ship fell from the sky and buried its self in the side of the mountain. Then the beach had erupted into fire and death. A runner had been dispatched and now they awaited his return.
His one good eye followed the maelstrom bellow. Strange man shaped things twice as big as himself flew through the air only to be swatted down by glowing yellow lights that appeared from nowhere. Black shapes moved steadily across the beach; light and fire being thrown around with ease.
His hand paused sharpening his axe when he caught sight of the young boy bounding up the steep path. He waited patiently as the lad drew near. Murmuring came from behind him as the others gathered to hear what the boy had to say.
The child collapsed at his feet. His chest heaving as he sucked down much needed air, sweat pouring of him and blood leaking from a large cut along his arm. The boy looked up at the scarred and tattooed face of his leader, his eyes wide and unfocused.
He managed two words before he collapsed. "Space Marine." The words spread through the crowd like fire.
Kevl's burned face twisted into his parody of a smile. He took his axe in his only remaining hand and swung it over his shoulder. Time to come out of exile.