Hello again, everyone, and welcome back to my Warhammer/Mass Effect crossover.
Thank you all for the wonderful support and feedback I received last chapter. I greatly appreciate it.
Now we're starting to get to the good stuff. Not only does Shepard have a Space Marine and a pair of Guardsmen onboard, he has a Psyker, who's also an Inquisitor. If you're wondering how things are going to progress from here, I can say this for certain. Things are going to get very interesting.
As always, leave a review, and enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own the Warhammer or Mass Effect franchises. They are the respective properties and trademarks of BioWare, Electronic Arts, Games Workshop, etc. Any material original to the franchises belongs to their respective developers and publishers. Any material not original to the franchises is of my own invention. I do not own any music listed in each chapter. Any music listed belongs to it's original composers and/or artists. I do not own any art listed in each chapter. Any art listed belongs to it's original artists and/or designers.
SSV Normandy
Imir System
75.185.M3
Back onboard the Normandy, Shepard appeared calm and tranquil, but that was only on the outside. His mind was whirling with thousands of questions, all of which were focused around their newest member of the crew. He had to admit, he had never before seen a Psyker in action, and before he'd met Tyrellus, he'd never even heard of a Psyker.
Now, however, he had seen what an extremely powerful Psyker was capable of, and it legitimately terrified him. Not even the Reapers are as terrifying as a Psyker from the universe Tyrellus came from, he thought to himself. He literally cased a Collector to melt into a puddle of goo, while crushing a Praetorian with his mind alone. What the hell have I gotten myself into?!
Just as he thought this to himself, the doors opened, with the man in question walking inside. Outside of the field of battle, Mortellus was deceptively handsome, with the Inquisitor having changed out into an outfit similar to what he had worn in battle. Unlike his outfit, where there were clearly armor plates installed into his armor, this was all cloth, though Shepard had a feeling that the material that made up his clothing was far stronger than any that the Council Races had ever devised.
Apparently, Mortellus had sensed his confusion, and his dread, as he said, "I know that the display of power I put on yesterday was… extreme, Shepard. To be honest, I was aggravated, especially by the foul xenos that were attempting to abduct the colonists. You have nothing to fear from me, however."
"I wish I could convince myself of that," Shepard replied, a frown on his face. "I heard Tyrellus tell me that there were individuals like you around. Now that I've seen you in action…" He trailed off, not wanting to finish the sentence.
"You are afraid of what might happen if I lose control," Mortellus finished. "Rest assured, Shepard. It will take more than anything that this universe can send at me to make me lose control. I was taught by a master Psyker on how to control my abilities. With that being said, I believe a reintroduction would help clear the air here."
"Agreed," Shepard nodded, knowing that would help break the ice quite nicely. "My name's Commander Shepard. I'm a former Alliance Commander, as well as the captain of the SSV Normandy. Oh, and before you ask, I'm not affiliated with Cerberus. They're just providing the funding for my mission, nothing more."
"I know," Mortellus replied. "You resent Cerberus for some of the experiments they have done. You are wise not to trust them as well. They are like cultists of Tzeentch, who backstab each other with plots and schemes in order to gain the favor of their master."
"Who?" Shepard asked.
"I will explain more later. No doubt Tyrellus withheld the information on the Ruinous Powers since you were not ready then, a wise decision on his part. As for myself, Shepard, I am Coræven Mortellus, a Primaris Psyker of the Imperium of Man, and a member of the Inquisition. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance."
Shepard had to admit, Mortellus was friendly and well mannered, though he wondered how much of that was a show, and how much was the truth. Again, Mortellus sensed that, as he smiled and said, "You do not fully trust me, Shepard? Very good. You would have made a fine Inquisitor were you born in my universe. However, in this case, I was ordered by the God-Emperor to serve you as though you were a Lord Inquisitor."
"That's comforting to hear," Shepard nodded, relaxing, but only slightly so. "You mentioned that you'd explain more about these 'Ruinous Powers.' Who are they?"
"I will explain, but not here. There are too many eyes and ears listening, and not all of them are benevolent. Perhaps in your private quarters?"
"Sure," Shepard nodded. "Also, are you comfortable with -"
" -Working with xenos?" Mortellus finished. "The God-Emperor of Mankind informed me as such before I fell unconscious. I will not harm any xenos that you have recruited, or will interact with. If they try anything, however, they will know the wrath of an Inquisitor and a Psyker. Now, let us go to your quarters, Shepard. I have much to talk about."
Nodding at that, Shepard began leading Mortellus to the elevator. Passing through various doors, he could see the other members of the crew looking warily at Mortellus. This was because some of them had seen the combat footage of Mortellus in action, and Shepard knew that the fact that he was capable of melting a Collector was nightmare fuel. Doing his best to dispel the thought, he walked into the elevator with the Inquisitor and hit the icon for his quarters.
Once they arrived, they stepped out and, moving through another door, entered the quarters proper. As they did so, Mortellus stopped for a moment, his eyes glowing blue-white as he extended his arms and hands. Shepard was about to ask what was going on when he heard a series of tinkling sounds. Looking around, he found a series of what he realized were surveillance bugs on the floor. "That's a useful gift," he remarked.
"That it is," Mortellus agreed. "I often used such methods during my time in the Caligari Sector. Unlike Cerberus, however, I am far better at hiding those devices than they are, though I commend the effort they put into doing so. I simply know where to look."
As they sat down, Shepard watched as a glass of bourbon floated over, with the glasses seemingly filling themselves. "Showoff," he muttered as Mortellus telekinetically offered him one, which he took a moment later. Well, I do need a drink, he thought as he downed the contents with one gulp. Looking at Mortellus, he asked, "You were saying earlier?"
"Yes, the Ruinous Powers of Chaos," Mortellus replied. Leaning forwards, he said, "First, however, I must give an explanation on the Inquisition. No doubt you have already heard from your three new companions about the Ordos that I serve. I wish to dispel some of the myths around the organization, though what you learn of my Ordos must never go beyond the confines of these walls. Agreed?"
"I do," Shepard nodded. "While some secrets can get people killed, others have to be hidden for good reason."
"Good. That makes this far easier then." Having drank his fill of bourbon for the day, Mortellus made himself comfortable and said, "To start off, the Inquisiton, more formally known as 'The Holy Order of the Emperor's Inquisition', is the secret police of the Imperium of Man. Members of the Inquisition, such as myself, are charged with safeguarding the souls of Humanity from all threats, from the xenos and mutant, to the heretic and the Ruinous Powers. Our authority is such that we answer only to the God-Emperor of Mankind."
"I see," Shepard noted. "That reminds me of the Spectres?"
"How so?"
"Spectres are the Citadel Council's right hand, and are usually sent in to stop conflicts from happening before resorting to the military. Spectres operate above the law, and they answer only to the Council. Their mandate is to protect galactic peace at all cost and, if necessary, to help wage war against the Council's enemies."
"I see… you are right in that the Inquisition reminds you of your Spectres, though unlike your Spectres, we are far better equipped and trained. We do not need to purchase our own armor and weapons."
"That much I can agree with you on. Tell me more."
"Very well, Shepard. Within the Inquisition are three Ordos Majoris, which you would call divisions: the Ordos Malleus, Ordos Xenos and Ordos Hereticus, with each one handling different threats to the Imperium. The Ordos Malleus, for instance, is tasked with destroying any threat that comes from the Ruinous Powers of Chaos and their foul servants, while the Ordos Hereticus is tasked with rooting out the sources of various rebellions and heresies within the Imperium of Man. In addition to the Ordos Majoris, there are a number of what you would call subdivisions, which we call Ordos Minoris."
"Very interesting. I've heard, though, that there are Inquisitors that go a little… too far with their methods. Is that true?"
Mortellus winced, though he knew that Shepard had asked a perfectly legitimate question. "Yes, I'm afraid so," he replied honestly. "Some Inquisitors go a bit far into their work. I, however, can assure you that I do not become too deeply involved in my work. I am also not without mercy to those that have broken the God-Emperor's commands."
"Name one instance where that was the case, if you may."
"That I will. There was one incident when I was in Segmentum Ultima, where I was investigating a cult worshiping Slaanesh, one of the Chaos Gods. I found a man that was being forced to worship against his own free will. He begged for mercy, explaining that he had a wife and family that were being held against their free will."
"And?"
"A normal Puritan Inquisitor would have silenced him on the spot, regardless of his pleas for mercy. I, however, could sense that he was telling the truth, and that he had fought every step of the way, despite being powerless to do nothing but obey. I pardoned him for his crimes, though I informed him that I would silence him if he did so a third time, whereupon I healed his wounds and, with the God-Emperor's help, purged the Chaos attempting to infect his soul. Since then, I have heard that he and his family have been doing quite well."
"I see," Shepard nodded. "You mentioned these 'Ruinous Powers' for quite some time. Tyrellus mentioned them, but I was wondering if you knew more, since he didn't tell me then. I take it that's taboo in your culture?"
Mortellus nodded. "It is, but we are not in my home universe, and it would do well if I were to inform you of the Ruinous Powers, and why you should never strike a deal with them, if you value your life and sanity."
"Which I do, though it might not look like it."
"That you are right." Clearing his throat, Mortellus said, "The Ruinous Powers, Shepard, is one of the names given to four entities that live in the Warp, as well as their countless servants and soldiers. They are also known by other names, such as 'Chaos Undivided' or 'Chaos United.' Regardless, they are the greatest threat to the Imperium of Man, and to reality as you and I understand it.
"As I said earlier, there are four of the Chaos Gods, each one being a representation of an emotion or concept. I know of them due to my training as well as an… incident that happened a long time ago."
"What happened?"
"I will tell you in due time, Shepard. However, your education into Chaos, and why you must avoid them at all costs, must continue. I have a few illustrations that can help explain." Reaching into his robes, Mortellus pulled out what appeared to be a pack of cards, before pulling four of them out and setting them on the table face down.
"To begin, I will start with the one that I detest the most, though I despise them all," Mortellus explained. A moment later, he flipped the leftmost one up, allowing Shepard to view the contents.
Looking at the image on the card, Shepard could see a creature that had a monstrous face. It had no nose, only nostrils, horns that extended from the back of it's head, yellow eyes, orange-red skin, and a mouth filled with teeth that would make a knife look like a blunt stick. In addition, there was a lot of blood in the image, as well as a seemingly uncountable number of skulls. When he saw it, Shepard could feel a primal revulsion towards the entity the image showed. "Who is that?" he asked, a hint of disgust and horror in his voice.
"Khorne, the 'Blood God,'" Mortellus explained. "It is the Chaos God of hate, rage, violence and bloodshed. It was the first of the Chaos Gods to come into existence, and every act of violence, whether done by it's followers, or it's enemies, fuels his power. It is often said that it cares not from where the bloodshed and violence flows from."
"So, if I happened to kill an Blue Suns mercenary…"
"Khorne would be empowered by the violence thereof."
Hearing that, Shepard felt sick to his stomach. Fuck, he thought to himself as he realized the implications of this. That means that, even if I were to kill lawfully and justly, this… thing, this… monstrosity, would benefit from that. Standing up, he said, "Fuck!"
"I know what you mean," Mortellus nodded. "I sense the revulsion and disgust that you hold towards Khorne, even though you have not encountered them before. That, Shepard, is your soul rebelling against the existence of such a creature, the horror upon seeing something that cannot, and should not, be.
"Still, I understand why you feel so disgusted. You fear that, even though you've been working to do what is good, that you have only been fueling that God-Creature's power. While you are right to be worried, Shepard, I know that your pursuance of a non-violent solution to your problems denies that Chaos God such power."
That was a relief, though a small one at that. "That… helps a little," Shepard frowned. "Still, I can't believe that such a… a monster could exist. Now I can't help but be sorry for you guys."
"While your pity is misplaced, I understand where it comes from. When you are ready, we will continue. Just remember, Shepard, I am telling you this so that you can avoid making deals and serving these vile entities. Should you encounter a Khornate with your current gear, however, I would suggest backing off quickly and running away."
"You said it." Sitting back down, Shepard watched as Mortellus put the card that showed a representation of Khorne back into the deck. A moment later, he flipped the next one up.
This one, while not nearly as bloody as the previous one, was still unnerving, even for Shepard. It showed a being that had more than one pair of eyes in it's blue feathered skin, particularly on it's face. In addition, there were a number of hands, all of which were covered in blue feathers. Near the bottom of the card, he could see a number of tentacles, while the edges of the card had been decorated in a manner that gave the edges the illusion of an ethereal glow.
Mortellus, sensing Shepard's question, said, "That, Shepard, is Tzeentch, the Chaos God of ambition, plotting, change and psychic powers. It also goes by many titles, such as the 'Changer of Ways,' or the 'Master of Fortune', the 'Great Conspirator,' and the 'Architect of Fate.' Of them all, it is the one you should be the most wary of, though you should be wary of all of them.
"It is created and sustained by the desire of change, which is an essential part of nearly all forms of life. Any form of dreaming, imagination or desire for change fuels it's existence, and it has magic as it's primary domain, since magic is change driven by force of will. It also loves knowledge in all of it's forms, and it's followers can be especially dangerous, as a result."
Hearing that, Shepard frowned once again. Damnit, he thought to himself. Now I can't help but wonder if every scientist and engineer in existence is in danger of falling prey to this… thing. "Well, I guess us smart guys have to get rid of this thing somehow," he frowned.
"That is why the Inquisition fights against the Ruinous Powers in a never-ending battle," Mortellus explained to Shepard. "We fight and die in the dark, so that others can live without the taint of Chaos infecting their souls. It is a harsh existence, yes, but it is one where the rewards for resisting Chaos are great and innumerable."
"That I will definitely do," Shepard nodded, determination in his eyes. "If those two, or any of the others, try to lay a hand on my team, I'll personally beat them to death with my damn bare hands!" He popped his knuckles as he said this.
"Your courage and determination is impeccable," Mortellus nodded. "Do you wish to continue?"
"Yes." With that, they continued. Putting the card with the image of Tzeentch away, Mortellus pulled out the next one.
There were very few images that could make Shepard throw up, though this one very nearly caused him to do that. The green hued image showed a corpulent man or woman pouring a flask of green colored goo into a cauldron of some sort. On the figure's arm, which was visible, there were sores, pustules and many other disgusting things associated with sickness and decay.
"What the hell is that?!" Shepard asked, feeling his stomach roiling enough for him to reach for a nearby vomit bag.
"That would be Nurgle," Mortellus explained. "It is the Chaos god of mortality, morbidity, disease and physical corruption. It is responsible for many of the plagues and diseases that exist in my home universe. It too, like Khorne and Tzeentch, came into existence when Mankind was still on it's homeworld."
"Shit, and I thought Omega was bad in terms of sanitation," Shepard winced. "This thing is worse! Why the hell would anyone want to worship such a… a monstrosity?!"
"Those that are weak of heart and soul," Mortellus explained. "In addition, many of it's followers are, quite disgustingly, jovial and friendly, despite being infected with such disease. This is because they see their sicknesses as a gift from Nurgle. It is often regarded as 'Papa Nurgle' or 'The Ghastly Grandfather,' because of it's seemingly paternal nature. Make no mistake, Shepard, that paternal affection is naught but a mask to conceal it's true nature."
Shepard frowned, though he kept his hand resting on the vomit bag. Already, he could tell why Mortellus, and every member of the Imperium of Man, was fighting against such monstrosities. Those things, in his honest opinion, were a perversion and an insult to reality, reason and logic. As such, he reasoned that the last one might be the worst of them all.
He wasn't wrong in that regard as well. Putting the card with the image of Nurgle away, Mortellus flipped up the last card. Almost immediately, Shepard knew that his guess was correct.
The entity shown on the card was that of a person, though their gender was undetermined. In addition to it's whitened skin, it had snakes and other creatures slithering around it. In addition, it wore a crown on it's head, though Shepard felt only revulsion towards the thing. "What is that?!" he asked, disgusted, and horrified with what he was seeing.
"Slaanesh, the Chaos God of lust, excess, pleasure and pain," Mortellus replied. "It is the very embodiment of hedonism and pleasure, all of which fuel it's existence. Many of it's followers dress in rich, flowing garments that have it's symbol woven into it's fabrics. Even their most militant followers don't deny themselves of this hedonistic lifestyle."
Putting the cards away, he said, "Now you understand the very threat to the Imperium that I, and thousands of other Inquisitors, fight against all our lives. Now you understand why we do what we must to destroy the Ruinous Powers once and for all. If those things were to win, then all life would suffer at their hands, both in the mind, and in the body. It is why we kill the mutant and purge the heretic."
Now that he had seen all of that, Shepard fully understood the reasoning behind the xenophobia that Tyrellus and the two Guardsmen showed. Now he knew that it was justified by the threats that they were having to face, both from without and from within. All this time, and I never knew… he thought to himself. I never knew the horrors they have to face on a daily basis.
However, he knew that there was a hint of hope amid all of this terror. If the Imperium of Man could survive against such horrors and threats, then the Systems Alliance and all the Council Races could as well. He knew that he and his team could withstand such horrors. I was killed by the Collectors, he thought to himself. There's not much more you can do beyond that.
Turning towards Mortellus, he said, "I understand now, why you do what you do. Either way, I won't let that happen to me, my team, or anyone else, if I have anything to say about it. They can try all they want, but they will not corrupt me or those that I know and love."
"And why is that, Shepard?" Mortellus asked, though he began to get an inkling of why Shepard was saying this.
"Because if I allow them to, then they've already won," was the reply. "If I do not, however, then they can't do a thing to me. They'll just have to kill me, and even then good luck, because I'll avoid being consumed by them. I'm a survivor, Mortellus. I survived a Thresher Maw attack on the planet of Akuze, I survived a battle with Sovereign, and I came back even when the Collectors 'killed' me.
"In addition to that, I have friends and allies that stand strong with me. Those Chaos Gods think that we are weak and corruptible, and while they might be correct for most, they won't find it like that with me and my friends. I won't let their desire to make me afraid destroy who I am. If need be, I'll go to their realms myself, and I'll beat them into a bloody pulp. With. My. Damn. Bare. Hands!" He cracked his knuckles before his hands became fists.
Hearing that, Mortellus knew that Shepard truly meant each and every word. Already, he could sense that Shepard's refusal to allow the Chaos Gods to corrupt him had armored his very soul against their evil. Should he ever be drawn into our world, then he will likely become one of the greatest heroes of the Imperium of Man, he thought to himself.
Smiling, he said, "I had a feeling that you might say that. I also know that you truly believe each word that you said just now, Shepard. You would make for a fine Inquisitor or Commissar in my home universe.
"That being said, I also believe that the Ruinous Powers have yet to learn of the realm that we currently exist in. I will not cling to hope, however, that they never will learn of this reality, as I know they will. What I can say, however, is that I intend to warn your Citadel Council of the dangers of Chaos. Should they heed my words, which is unlikely given their denial of the Reaper's existence, then they will be armored against the forces of Chaos in the mind."
"Let's hope that the best possible outcome happens," Shepard nodded. "However, I also know that we need to prepare for the worst possible outcome. Any advice?"
"I have an idea," Mortellus nodded, "though I will have to commune with the God-Emperor to see if it is the right one, or if we should pursue another option entirely. Either way, I am glad to have helped you recognize the dangers of Chaos, and reject them in their entirety. Should you wish to learn more about me, Shepard, I will be in one of the observation rooms aboard this ship."
"Good," Shepard nodded. "We're also going to make a stop by the Citadel. Anderson would want to speak with me, and it'll be a good opportunity for you to meet the rest of the Councilors. We're also going to be picking up a new squadmate there."
"Then I will leave you to your preparations." With that, Mortellus and Shepard left the Captain's Quarters. One now knew of the dangers of the Ruinous Powers, and the other now knew that the former was armored against them.
. . .
Reaching the lounge, which also served as the port observation chamber for the Normandy, Mortellus closed the door, before using his psychic powers to lock the door tightly. After that, he began to disarm each of the bugs in the room, disabling them with his psychic powers. Once that was done, he knelt and began to pray to the God-Emperor.
Just as he was about to, though, he watched as the room faded away into blackness, before a gold-white light appeared. Using his powers, Mortellus scanned this new psychic phenomena to see if it was from the God-Emperor, or a cleverly disguised creature from the Warp. Thankfully, he sensed the soothing and healing touch that was the God-Emperor's power, rather than the sickness and taint of an entity of Chaos. A moment later, he bowed.
"Rise, my loyal servant," the Emperor of Mankind said to Mortellus. "You have done well in preventing the Collectors from taking all of the colonists on Horizon, as well as in educating Shepard in rejecting the Ruinous Powers of Chaos. Even now, his soul becomes ever-increasingly armored against their taint."
"I thank You, God-Emperor, for Your kind words," Mortellus nodded after standing up. "I come before You with a request. I wish to allow the Systems Alliance, the government of Humanity, to gain access to the knowledge and weaponry of the Imperium of Man. However, I do not wish to cause any alarm, only to prepare them for the war against the Reapers, and eventually, against Chaos itself. If it is a transgression to suggest such an idea, then I beg for Your forgiveness." With that, he breathlessly awaited the reply.
Fortunately, Mortellus' request was anything but offensive to the Emperor of Mankind, as the Emperor's reply showed moments later. "Your request is not offensive, nor is it a transgression against me, Mortellus. Your heart is filled with a desire to prevent what happened to Humanity during the Age of Strife to happen to the Systems Alliance as a whole. Such a desire to protect Humanity is to be commended and encouraged.
"Be wary, however, of Cerberus and the Illusive Man. They claim to serve Humanity, but their words are seductive and poisonous as the teachings of Slaanesh. They seek only to empower themselves, and not Humanity as a whole. Use your powers to weed out those that would only empower Cerberus from those that seek to protect Humanity as a whole. Once you have done so, you will gift them with the gifts that I shall be sending you.
"You will not be alone in this endeavor either. Tyrellus, Tchaikovsky and Korolev will assist you. You are to command them, but you will also obey Shepard. You will also find help on the planet known as Illium. Seek out the Magos-Errant on this world, and he will assist you in your efforts. Now go, and know that I will always be watching over you."
A moment later, the vision faded, with Mortellus finding himself back inside of the lounge on the Normandy. Even though the vision had only just ended, he could still hear the God-Emperor's words echoing in his mind. Even the instructions that he'd been given were now burned into his memory permanently. Bowing before he left, he said, "I shall always be Your loyal servant."