Few things nowadays can surprise my overstimulated mind, long enough that taking more than a second to look at something is often unnecessary. But I suppose being seemingly teleported from the breakfast table and appearing in the middle of some crash site might be worth a second glance.
I found myself in a fairly typical jungle. Awash in humid air and greenery, vines surrounding me on all sides. Conveniently the canopy of leaves above parted in such a way as to allow for flickers of daylight to stream in. Creating a strangely beautiful view of a black sail ship.Which at a glance crashed down creating the massive hole between the leafs. This also explained the absolute mess of fallen tree trunks and mulched earth down below. Not to mention the black vessel which now sat practically split in half. scattering crew and cargo in its descent, like rain in a storm.
Okay just breathe yep, just in and out, in and out. I need to cover my bases, right… survival basics 101.
first step, where am I.
Claiming a shred of calm I used my Peripheral vision to look around and...
Jesus Christ, how the fuck am I getting down from here.
As best as I could tell I was hanging almost right above the crash nearly three stories high at the top of the trees
I was high enough in the air that making out specifics was difficult but with what I could see, it made the Terror of being lost in a jungle seem like a mercy.
the reality of the situation being far worse.
It was not so much the body's I saw that made me pause but what their presence represented.
Gray skinned humanoids wearing blackened leathers, and form fitting clothing. Skintight, designed to look both enchanting and dangerous. if the occasional
spikes on the shoulder pad or wrist guard were any indication.
But it was the symbol on the ship and on the bodies of the gray aliens, yes aliens. Because although they looked human enough I was far too aware of those specific icons and their connotations.
Imprinted on the ship's flag illuminated in clear daylight In all its glory. Was a black sun with a gray elongated skull in the center of a bed of white and gray.
Better known as the Kabel of the blacksun, which unless I blackout on a plane going to a cosplay convention, the people below me are.
Eldar… dark eldar, of all the universes why this one.
How did I not realize it sooner? What I looked Down at was one of their prisoner transport vessels. My near obsession with fiction giving me more knowledge on a universe that never existed than my very own.
Further evidence of my conclusion being the many varieties of body's that were 'freshly Cooked or broken on the grass floor. The leith body's of the elder formed a stark contrast to what looked like a mix of human, tau, vepeds and other similar and other more strange creatures.
That detail really did not mean much in the face of my next problem though, Of course that being.
HOW.AM.I.STILL.A.ALIVE.
Sorry my oxygen Deprived brain got the better of me. I meant to say, why am I still alive.
Assuming my Previous life was not some fear induced fever dream. The sheer knowledge of what being captured by these monsters meant, makes only one response appropriate.
A bolt round to the head.
Yet I'm still here, unless I was born in this tree… unlikely. with the only other reason I could have been in this predicament being. Either I was too weak to end it then and there or I never had the chance.
The chance, the chance to do what?
I could hear my breathing pick up and my exhales became labored and stiff. Not even caring about the chance of falling, I tried to move.
Turns out my gods are not so kind.
For all my effort I barely moved an inch. My Labored breathing and the distant songs of birds being my only reward.
At first bearly understanding what was happening, I stopped. I felt something that was for sure. Like a phantom pain, my body did move right? But my head did not shift. I tried again looking around fearing my neck was broken, my remaining years after, forever paralyzed. The very real sensations of weight being pressed firmly on my back kept the dread away. The fact I could feel at all being a small relief.
but as my desperation mounted the feeling of my limbs moving was still very much real. With considerable effort I could push,pull and Squirm. It felt like I had a mountain on my shoulders.
Then I saw it. As if the universe was diswading me
From further action, way down below something moved. at the very edge of the clearing.
It was a broken piece of the ship thrown all the way down into dirt and gravel. Moving noticeably the chunk of blackened metal being easily 5 meters tall and about one and a half wide.
frozen, I locked stiff in fear of what might come Beneath. So I waited agonizing over second after second. But that thing at the edge of my vision would not move.
It's alright a whisper in the back of my mind told me. There's nothing that can hurt you now. the words washed over me filling my mind with an eerie calm. Without thought I stood up with effort. What the hell could survive being crushed like that.
as I worked Abused muscle tot, groaning, from the impossible weight on my shoulders I stood to my full height.
The piller being lifted until it fell with a bang.
The pressure on my body, pleasantly disappearing. Making me voluntarily sigh in relief. With whatever was below the metal pillar now revealed to be…
What the fuck
Way down below stood someone. All though too far to make out any distinct details they at least seemed unharmed. All though bearing no clothing whatsoever.
Well that's par for the course on a slave ship, but it was just the fact they seemed to lack something somewhat necessary for survival.
That being their head.
The place was a bloodless stump. Beyond that it looked just odd. maybe if I just, Without even realizing it I raised my arm up, getting a mirrored response down below. I raised a leg and the copycat followed suit.
I jumped up and down not even moving the vines curled around me but the body did everything I desired as though we were … I was.
Okay I'm not that big of an idiot. I could put two and two together at the sudden lack of pressure on my back mysteriously disappearing with that sheet of metal over there but this. The Understanding of where exactly my body was fairly self evident.
but this did not change the morbid horror of watching it walking around without you. Although the intuitive understanding of how to walk over or across the debri was very strange. coordinating your body from a distance of three stories through wreckage was not fun.
My legs moved left when I meant to move right or Vice versa. Not to mention, avoiding cuts or scrapes from sharp metal. Although I tried as best as I could to avoid it ever so often I would snag my foot or ankle on something but strangely although feeling or seeing the collision, I felt no pain or saw any wounds after the fact.
How am I getting down?
Deciding to move my body closer towards the tree that was suspending me, which was growing at the edge of the clearing. I realized two things.
Based on the angle my head was hanging from, I will not be able to see my body climbing up which would make it practically impossible to even try. Second me being just a head even If I could throw something sharp enough to cut enough of the vines loose. The fear of any amount of force being enough to finally do me in left me anxious.
This is really freaky and I don't think there's any survival guide that can help me now.
Like a good marionette my body miming out my own confusion lifted up a hand to it's none existent chin, scratching as though deep in thought.
"Well this sucks." As though the gods themselves were punishing me for even saying those words, some fat jungle bug found its way to my face.
"No shoe , shoe." The Bug ignored the protests of what it might have thought to be some extra ripe fruit that cried out in disgust. All the while My body jumped up and down, arms swinging at invisible flies. "oh god someone please help!"
Boom
At the end of the clearing opposite myself and the ship a ball of pure azure blue Energy rang out . Enveloping grass dirt and whatever body parts were littered there. Thankfully the shock blew the fly away. The culprit it would seem was within a small ditch. Standing out clearly dazed was a form of fire warrior stabbing around while holding a glowing alien pistol.
But before I could speak gray and black shapes
Moved down below
From my Birds Eye view the picture just clicked.
three elders moving like sharks to blood. waltzing off objects and obstacles in showy elbert somersaults as if the jungle around was a stage.
Two of them Both bold held an identical single edged serrated dagger. Gleaming even for all the way down below with a sickening green tint. The third running between them clad in broke armor, carrying in a two handed grip a war glaive. Despite how heavy the whole getup looked the armored figure still managed to cover an astonishing amount of ground keeping up with the other two.
All three moving at speed toward the single Tau alive. who, still shocked from the crash, did not even notice death approaching until too late. The head snapping towards the elder. Clearly panicking, they tried to raise their pistol.
Panic of a different kind filled my chest, as a life before my eyes no doubt was going to be taken. At a glance each figure had around 250 or less meters to cross before closing in. My sense of panic peaked; my own body flopping around haphazardly still had at minimum 300 m straight through the wreckage of the craft to even be seen by the killers on the other side.
I should warn her before…. Before what?
They will find you next. A colder, more calculating part of my mind began to speak. You know what they will do to you.
Images of unimaginable tortures being subjected to any unfortunate enough to be captured flashed across my mind. Being skinned alive will be considered enjoyable in comparison. The Voice said in a neutral tone
time seemed to freeze as a handful of seconds slowed to hours. The tau moving on shaking legs turned sluggishly only now realizing danger was but less than hundred meters away. Fingers reaching for a sidearm far too late to change the outcome of their fate.
Three killers and only one you. How can you help? My heart picked up speed as the beat, beat, beat, thumped in my ear.
"I don't no" my lips opening my voice barely above a whisper.
as a deep knowing took hold. They're about to die. And I'm just going to watch.
Of course you're not all by yourself, I could help. My mind was filled with snapshots of the tau below joining the broken bodies around the crash site. Those images distracting me enough to not notice the far more sensual change the voice underwent.
It was Obvious, what would be the right thing to do.
"Okay." As the word left my lips I saw for the last few moments three eldar bearly 10 m off from clashing in. the helpless alien only seconds from gaining a solid aim on one of their assailants, who began laughing. Faces too far away for me to see, yet I had no doubt that they were smiling. The tau like me was given the chance to see death. The only difference between me and them is the fact they had a front row seat.
Then I risked a blink.
I expected to hear screams. Calls for help and laughter of the gleeful murderers down below but I did not expect music.
Strings slowly being strummed,washed over my mind as lights flashed and popped in my vision, the sing-song cherry sweet voice whispering in my ear.
When you speak I hear silence~
Her silky smooth voice wrapping me in an unfamiliar emotion. Pain, regret, joy coloured my vision as hues of Vibrancy I could have never imagine bombarded my senses.
Down below the brawl turning for the worse as one voice cried
"Wait,what are you?"
Every word a defiance~
The outside didn't matter to me, the melody filled with rolling Percussion began to force me to relive a half forgotten memory.
I was one amongst a noble few, bearing his symbol.
"Don't do it."
Metal struck flesh, skin tore, bones broke but the song was louder.
I can hear, oh I can hear~
The singer as if guiding my mind to visions of glittering gold and purple hues. Showed me brilliant white hair and a perfect smile. I was amongst warriors, a band of brothers united. Are wills bent toward a single grand mission too…
"S…stop please!"
The music receded with a high pitch whine. The warm embrace drew as the colors dulled and faded. Her absence became far too cold to tolerate, I attempted to look around, too just get a single glance. Miraculously, my neck started to turn then stop, as her hands pressed firmly on the sides of my skull. Though pleasantly warm, I could just barely see on the edge of my vision. Thin lips, rosey cheeks and a smile filled with serrated teeth.
Chuckling into my ear, she finally whispered.
Close the door on your way out.
My eyes opened with a sting as if I had overslept despite them being closed for just a moment. A gentle wind turning the leafs. Then my brain snapped back to reality.
In the little ditch that the fire warrior once found themselves in the blood of two freshly mold xenos pooled. Their bodies were battered and broken as if hit with a sledgehammer. The third was on the ground, still intact but based on how they were not moving, either unconscious or dead from some unseen injury.
The Tau the person all this was done for was alive. Clawing depretly around a hand that gripped them firmly around the throat. The knew assailants hands were bloody. 'Staring' down at the alien who as a result of the pressure around their throat unclasped some invisible seal. Even for up here I saw crimson hair fell down in messy spread as their helmet rolled to the floor. Aqua blue skin,the calling card to the races namesake but even I from far away could clearly tell that this tau was most definitely a…
"Please… let go of me" even from high above miraculously I picked up her voice. The realization smashing into me.
"Huh.'' Laying down my thoughts so eloquently I Loosen my grip. As my eyes darted back and forth trying to comprehend the flow of events.
The Tau fell down coughing hard and wheezing as my body mirrored the confusion I felt. As if having my torso turning back and forth would explain how this blood bath was created. Or better yet somehow make my single brain cell come up with a rationale to Comprehend how I traveled up words of 600 Meters in the span of a blink.
"Huh." Those words summed up my stupidity perfectly. my body championing my intelligence, looked down at its hands almost dejected in a classic what have I done pose. My eyes flicked to the Tau next , who regained their senses. Like any rational person looking at the horror of a headless body covered in blood. with pure shock, she started crawling away. eyes wide, mouth open letting out an ear piercing scream.
Wincing out at the cry I failed to notice her grab at her pulse pistol pointing it at me clearly in panic
Oh, shit, fuck. I had enough sense to freeze in place
"W…what are you!" Her body shaking uncontrollably as crimson locks fell down in heap over her shoulders.
Maybe I should yell out and drive her attention towards me. "Hi…" before my voice could raise to a shout. Heat pressed firmly into the back of my skull as an image of her getting too startled by my cry that her clumsy fingers pulled the trigger. Leaving my voice dying as a whimper within my throat.
Jesus, okay scrap that… well what else can I do. sweat pulled on my brow as miserable seconds ticked by. My eyes scanning for anything to help my case. I can't talk to her unless she calms down. The image of a man covered in blood does not seem like the most friendly of figures to be fair. I got it, let's play charades.
Slowly I raised my hands…
"No no no, stop, j…just stop."
Fuck,okay I'm a big scary guy, how do I appear less threatening. What do people do when confronted by bears?
What followed was a scene of a headless corpse moving sluggishly around as a shaking Tau waved a gun at it.
The body slowly getting down on hands and knees appearing to cower before the woman.The Tau watching in silence as the body bent low to the floor as her weapon still aimed at the monster. Risking a glance she looked at the scene around her.
Looking around herself. Not just at her would be murders but also at the crash site as a whole. Although her face was out of sight her body language said it all. Shock, confusion and fear. To make this scene any worse for me she reached with a shaking hand to a device on her hip. Pressing a dial which let out a high pitch whine followed by a squeak. Finally calming into a quiet hum. She raised it to her lips and said.
"Command." Her voice gained strength I was not expecting. "I'm still alive and I have located some unknown weapon."