**Author's note, there was a problem concerning the upload of this file, so if you saw this before I properly fixed it, sorry!**
Elsewhere:
Librarian Usharnn Zin's psychic senses crawled with mute danger as he searched for his assigned seat, picking his way around the twenty or so veteran brothers and humans gathered here in this secret place.
"Thank you all for coming. Praise the Emperor for allowing us all to be here today," a veteran marine named Valach stated before the gathering of both astartes and mortals in a wide presentation room within Fort Pykman, a Deathwatch stronghold deep within the Ghoul Stars. He picked his way through the rows of seating, his formal black robes brushing against the knees of others who had already been seated. There weren't many people here, and only the most trusted individuals of the Fortress had been invited here this evening. Watch Master Utorian Denash himself was in attendance, and he stood watching the gathered group behind the veteran with stern eyes. Valach raised his hand in a wide sweeping gesture. "It is understood that this an unorthodox meeting, esteemed friends of wisdom, but recent concerns must be addressed before the Emperor's blessed eyes. Please be seated."
All eventually settled uncomfortably. The Librarian knew in both his hearts that this meeting would be dangerous, and was wondering if any news on his mentor had been uncovered.
Librarian Usharnn was a little over two centuries in age with fair hair and watchful green eyes. He had an unnerving presence that was legendary among the Dark Angels he had served with previously. Near him, he observed the souls of his Deathwatch brothers glimmer with tension. He had personally gotten word that his mentor here, the Venerable Librarian Tay'Vahl, had not reported in after an emergency reconnaissance mission. The senior Librarian and four others had been sent to the area that had been divined to be connected to the dreams and visions of the flaming gold eagle-phoenix, and now, he was missing. Usharnn prayed that it was a simple delay, or perhaps an issue with perturbed time in the Warp.
Too many sensitive brothers had been plagued by strange dreams and waking visions of a fiery gold bird and a white-haired gold witch in the last weeks, and recently, a door in the Omega Vault had opened within Watch Fortress Erioch far to the south. Within a vault, a small clockwork gold eagle stood atop a small metal disk. The disk apparently contained information, but what was on it was still being extracted by the blessed brothers of Erioch. In his dreams and visions, Usharnn had seen both the furious gold eagle, and the woman of power with two swords and long white hair. In his dreams, he witnessed her fighting Chaos Marines in black armor as she was wreathed in a powerful golden light. On top of all this, a new Warp rift had broken open to the northeast. Because it coincided with all the recent metaphysical sightings of the fiery gold bird, the new rift was unofficially being called the "Phoenix Anomaly" until word came back from Terra on what it would be named.
A hush came over the meeting room as Valach prepared to speak again. Presently, all the marines were in their formal robes, and not wearing their power armor. Also standing before them, a female Inquisitor from the Ordo Malleus was in attendance. She stood beside Utorian Denash, leaning on a slick metal cane topped with an elaborately carved grinning skull. In size, she was small, and only barely reached the height of the breastplate of the Watch Master beside her. What she lacked in physical stature, she made up for in strength of mind.
This was Dolorez Verpestyn of the Ordo Malleus, and she commanded great respect. She held a residential position here in Fort Pykman, and operated as a liaison between the rest of the Inquisition and this remote outpost. The Inquisitor wore her white hair in a tight bun, and was dressed in a formal black coat with elaborate gold and red epaulets on her shoulders. Multiple medals and purity seals were affixed to her clothing, demonstrating her esteem in the eyes of the Imperium. Her hard eyes were as cold as granite, and she often wore an expression that could crack ceramite. Dolorez was in her second century, and while rejuv treatments kept her skin smooth, her frightening eyes always displayed her venerable age and potent psychic abilities. With a continence that could wilt flowers, no Warp corruption could hope to hide before her penetrating gaze. She and Tay'Vahl were some of the most feared and respected residents of this Watch Fortress. It was an unnerving sign that she was here, and Usharnn prayed for the strength he would need to confront whatever news that would be revealed here this evening.
"It goes without saying that nothing spoken of in this room leaves this room," Valach spoke, projecting his voice. "We have many sensitive matters to address here: On top of the great tragedy of the occurrence of the formation of the Great Rift, and the appearance of the new local Phoenix Anomaly, the recent findings within the Omega Vault seem to be linked to visions of the gold fire-eagle that some of us have been having. Erioch has informed us that the disk is still being decrypted, but assures us that they will share their findings as soon as they are uncovered. In an effort to investigate recent events, an elite reconnaissance team in one of our fastest vessels was dispatched 441 hours ago after a divination session with Venerable Tay'Vahl, our eldest and most respected Librarian, who claimed to have a sense for where we should investigate. Their mission was to uncover any information concerning this mysterious gold eagle, which was theorized by some here to be an esoteric xenos weapon, used to disrupt the collective unconscious here in this region."
Dolorez stood dispassionately nearby, watching everyone. The fact that she was present was very much a bad sign.
"As of 15 hours ago, the Fidelus Oculus is now considered missing. This could be a simple difficulty with Warp travel, but the psykers in our number claim that they may have run afoul of trouble. Through the good fortune of the Emperor, we were able to intercept a cryptic astropathic call from Venerable Tay'Vahl. Alas, we can no longer reach him."
An uncomfortable shifting of bodies as a scroll was produced within Valach's robes. The veteran unfurled the document and began to read:
"Kolch has been cracked! A new Necron war fleet surges, advancing to the southeast! The Deadly Desert is no more, scoured by divine light..." the Librarian paused, watching the reaction of all those in attendance before continuing. "And now, the most mysterious part of the message: 'she's off to see the Wizard, the wonderful Wizard of...'"
Valach rolled the scroll closed, and no one noticed Usharnn's despair at the news. Even though the cursed Broken Desert of Nubua had apparently vanished, and a new Necron fleet had appeared, the more difficult news for the Librarian was that Tay'Vahl was missing. That was very unfortunate, and a great loss if to the Fortress if true. Usharnn had studied under him for decades. Strangely, the Librarian's psychic senses informed him that Tay'Vahl was not dead, but beyond that, he could not divine further on the fate on his mentor. Valach spoke again: "Unfortunately, his astropathic communication was interrupted, possibly by the advancement of the xenos of Kolch upon their craft. We do not know what 'Wizard' is spoken of here, but with Dolorez Verpestyn's valuable insight, we may have a new direction in which to inquire."
The Inquisitor didn't hesitate in walking forward. With a dismissive shake of her cane, she shooed Valach away from the podium like an impatient grandmother. Dolorez immediately began to speak, psychically projecting her voice to strongly carry in this meeting room, "Thank you. This is all very alarming. The language the Librarian uses here is highly troubling. The words 'divine' and 'Wizard' are most worrying to me, especially from one as moderate and as exalted as Tay'Vahl in temperament. But, I am not without rational consideration of extraneous events causing such a venerated Librarian to say such things. I am hesitating in my proclamation of Excommunicate Traitoris against Venerable Tay'Vahl, but between the visions many of you have been experiencing, and now this, an investigation must be initiated into possible daemonic activity within this very Watch Fortress. There is a definitive possibility that this gold bird is a potent Chaotic-corrupted construct, perhaps of xenos craftsmanship. It is with reluctance that I theorize that this machine's corruption may have been used against us, and is snaking into our subconscious as a Warp-infected disease. So, it is with a heavy heart that I announce that I have personally summoned the Inquisitors aboard the Inevitable Wisdom and her sister ships, and they will be here within ten days to begin an investigation into those who have experienced visions of the gold bird. Their assignment at Rhadabus was recently concluded with... success, and as we speak, they make haste to our location."
The noise of uncomfortable (and outraged) marines shifting in their seats was audible in the meeting room. They were being investigated? Usharnn bristled internally, not voicing his objection. The brothers he fought with here were among the most pious astartes he had ever encountered! To accuse those of this stalwart and loyal Watch Fortress of daemonic corruption because of a few dreams of a gold eagle was absolutely appalling!
Dolorez then turned her icy eyes directly to Usharnn, and smiled with all the warmth of a dead black star. "Of course, those with nothing to hide have nothing to fear. It is a matter of simple procedure, really. We have to be certain." The small woman looked outward toward everyone present, staring down each marine who dared to even consider objecting. "You will not inform anyone beyond this room of this. Simply note and categorize each of your number who has been experiencing visions of a gold bird, or a white-haired sorceress. Everything will be handled with professionalism and good care when the Inevitable Wisdom arrives, and I am sure all will be well." Forget the barghesi, her smile was one of the most chilling things in the Ghoul Stars. "This is all that there is to speak of at this time concerning the gold eagle; I have finished speaking what needs to be said. I will now give you over to Valach once again to report on the movement of the new Necron fleet. Praise the Emperor, and those truly loyal to Him."
A murmur of quiet conversation rippled through the gathered group as Dolorez stepped away from the podium. This revelation that they were being investigated by the Ordo Malleus apparently had surprised even the Watch Master, who wore a grave expression as he stepped over to confront the Inquisitor, who simply smiled fearlessly up at him. Usharnn's psychic senses prickled with uncomfortable tension as many of the marines felt apprehension race through their hearts. The Librarian then knew that he was not in the minority for seeing the gold eagle in his dreams, and that the majority present here had seen the entity. No one here liked this.
For the brave Deathwatch brothers of Fort Pykman this evening, the most fearsome thing in the galaxy wasn't the innumerable threats of xenos in the Ghoul Stars, but the incoming vessels of the Ordo Malleus as they raced across the stars to their distant location, called to them by a mere tiny mortal woman with a soul of great ruthlessness.
Elsewhere:
"And so, it is with great upset that we now officially report that the Nome Kingdom has woken from their Great Sleep. We also confirm with certainty that the ancient vessel, Fate's Sundering, has been visibly witnessed on Kolch before its ruthless pursuit of another Mon-keigh vessel. The pursued vessel suffered a failure within the Sea of Souls, and was lost to the dark entities within. After this event, Fate's Sundering, which is presently known as the Divine Retribution among the Mon-keigh, appeared to unmake itself. It completely vanished, and could not be located anywhere. It is only within the last day that I have been able to pinpoint its location once again during my meditations. The location of Fate's Sundering is now many thousands of light years to the west," Evoray Nox spoke to the group of Aeldari elders of Quilan within the large hollowed out space within a gargantuan tree. An open window offered a pleasant breeze, and the summer air was balmy. Night birds and trilling insects sang their song in the damp evening outside. Most in attendance were natives of the Exodite World, and wore minimal clothing when it was warm like this, even to this important meeting. This bothered the Farseer, but he did not voice his irritation.
None of the assembled elders that sat around the oblong table said anything, so Evoray continued: "On our way home as we traversed the webway's corridors, I was struck with a vision as well. The area of space known as Sebastian's Malediction has now somehow vanished. I do not know how or why this was, but we were close to that region as we followed Fate's Sundering. It may be the fault of the gold vessel, or it may not. Further study is needed."
"Vanished?" A stately woman wearing a finely woven wraithbone crown and a roughspun tunic stood up to speak. Her name was Breath of Soul, and she was one of Quilan's most esteemed elders. Enigmatic and often unseen, she was in near constant communication with the World Spirit of this wild world, and was held great respect. Breath of Soul was tall, striking beauty with violet eyes, and her long onyx hair was woven through with tiny flowers that bloomed according to her emotional state. Right now, small green and white flowers blossomed in curiosity around her crown. "If what you say is true about this ancient vessel, then how could it simply vanish? And now, its wreckage has reappeared?"
"Not vanished as in destroyed," Y'Linn, the Keeper of Lost Ledgers spoke up next to Evoray, closing a large book and placing it on the wooden table. She then stood up. "Fate's Sundering is rumored to possess many capabilities that are unknown to us, and much of its history seems to be lost. We cannot easily categorize what this vessel can do, but my presumption is that since the aviatrix knew that we had witnessed her, that she may have willed the vessel to simply phase itself out of existence to avoid our further attention."
Quiet rumblings of both awe and worry raced through the meeting of Aeldari. "You were seen?" a scarred warrior clad in striped animal furs with a head topped with bright ginger hair now stood up, tapping the jagged bone head of his spear against the table. "Could this Fate's Sundering follow us here? Could it reappear above our planet to hurt us? Have you brought us doom? Tell us our future, offworld Farseer!"
Evoray's crew nervously glanced at one another as they sat near him. The Farseer remained standing, and angled his chin upward, straightening himself against any more accusations that might come his way from Exodite ignorance. "I assure you all that Fate's Sundering is now quite far away. I have recently seen through the weavings of the threads of fate. I-"
"You said that the Yngiract of Kolch were doomed to be destroyed by a solar flare soon, offworlder! And now, Roquat the Red now possesses a silver army behind him. His madness will one day turn to war, as he has promised us so many times. What else have your divinations spoken to you that might be incorrect, offworlder?" the ginger warrior spoke again. Another savage warrior sitting beside him growled, baring sharpened teeth the Farseer's way in a threat.
"As I had stated before, the Fate's Sundering classical designation is named such because of its ability to rend fate like a knife cutting fabric." The Farseer made a chopping motion with his hand to punctuate what he was talking about. "The vessel's unique aura can upset predictions, and disrupt divinations simply because it is active. This seems to be passive and proximity-based, as when it is close, I sense the threads of fate bending and twisting out of order, as if-"
"Speak plainly!" the sharp-toothed warrior interrupted with a shout, slapping the table with a clawed and callused hand.
"Predicting future stuff becomes not easy-good when big scary bird ship is close," Evoray spoke with a pinch.
"We must all keep our civility, my brothers and sisters," Breath of Soul gently intoned as she stood again, her hair flowers blooming tiny stars of calming blue. "Evoray and his crew have done us a great service in informing us on what has been troubling our blessed World Spirit. We have more of our Craftworld friends arriving, and they will be able to assist the offworlder and the Keeper of Lost Ledgers with her studies here. This has been decided, and the World Spirit blesses it so."
"More offworlders, that's just what we need. More trouble from the damned stars. We need to stay within Quilan, not invite further trouble from offworlders," the warrior in the striped skins sat back down, his face pulled in a contemptuous sneer.
"We will soon be hosting three scholars from Craftworld Alaitoc, and a select few esteemed envoys from other locations. They will be working with the Keeper of Lost Ledgers to study the miraculous machine that sang through our dreams like a birth cry of Isha. It is the right thing to do, brave Arix. The World Spirit will welcome and bless any wayward children, for we all come from Isha's arms," Breath of Soul spoke diplomatically. Half the elders began to grumble in their seats, but others conceded with gentle nods. The issue had been solved. "We thank you for your service to the world of Quilan, Evoray Nox, Y'Linn, and your brave crew of offworlders. You have helped us uncover a grand mystery, and we are in debt to you, fair ones. We will grant you each a favor if it is something we can deliver to you."
Evoray had not expected that, and his eyes widened in surprise. The other Aeldari of his crew were also pleasantly surprised, and two of the rangers even gripped their hands together in happiness. "A favor?" the Farseer quietly asked. Breath of Soul smiled. Evoray immediately knew what he wanted. "I have but one request, elder. Keep the knowledge of my twins secret from any Craftworld kin. I wish my son to rest in peace, and for my daughter to live a peaceful life here in Quilan. My Craftworld brethren have a... use for twins." Aeldari twins were prized for an abominable reason, as one twin could be forced to pilot a Titan construct containing the other twin's dead soul into battle. The Farseer had heard malevolent rumors that souls could even be extracted from a World Spirit, and he did not want that to be true. The notion made him sick when he thought about it. "My desire is that I wish my son to rest. I want to know that he will be forever safe within Quilan. Let no one trouble him."
"Your request is beautiful, and it shall be granted. But, I sense that there is something else that troubles you, Farseer," Breath of Soul spoke with a voice that reminded him of warm summer wind, filled with life and vivacity. Time almost seemed to slow down as he sensed the grandness of the World Spirit begin to reach through the elder standing before him at the table. His hair stood on end as he felt the presence regard him.
Evoray said nothing, and turned away, not wanting to talk about his lost wife. He still loved her, despite what she had done. She had joined the Harlequins many years ago, and had left in the night, abandoning their two twin children, Fillja and Illryli. Any and all psychic methods he had used to pinpoint where she had gone to had only led to visions of Cegorach mocking him, taunting him that Evoray's wife was now wedded to the Laughing God. He failed to see any humor in that. Evoray simply wanted to tell her that her son was dead. It was the right thing to do. His eyes began to wet, and then...
Zerine is safe, Farseer. Evoray heard a soothing, but unfathomably powerful psychic voice that resembled Breath of Soul blended with countless other singing souls, touching him with peaceful kindness. He turned to the elder in this drawn out moment in time, and saw that her hair flowers were blossoming in all the colors of the rainbow, and even some new colors that he had never seen before. The innumerable voices sang gently to him in his mind in harmony, caressing his very being. She travels with her troupe, Mask of the Veiled Path, and they dance across the stars. Soon, she will be visiting a Mon-keigh world once known as Ev, and now known as Tar Vigaz. Afterward, she dances to the Dark City. This is all I am permitted to tell you. Go and peace and speak to your wife, Evoray Nox. Tell her that her beloved Illryli is safe in the arms of Quilan, where he will rest eternally.
The moment started back up again, and now, all the elders were standing up as if the meeting had simply ended normally. Breath of Soul smiled at Evoray, and spoke up so that all could hear. "Evoray Nox, you are permitted one of our crafts to use for what you wish in gratitude for your service to Quilan. May you find what you are searching for."
The Farseer was stunned, and stood speechless as silent tears fell from his eyes.
The elders all turned around in surprise at this proclamation, but it appeared that no one wanted to argue. Y'Linn reached to his hand, and briefly grasped it in comfort. Evoray looked down at her, and she blushed, looking away as she stood up. The young Farseer then observed his ragtag former crew, who now stood around him, all wearing quizzical expressions.
"I-I'm going to see my wife," Evoray spoke, his voice suddenly held in a choke of sorrow grasping at his throat. "I have to tell her that my son is dead. If anyone wants to come with me, you can, but..."
Immediately, three Rangers and one Seer came to his side, and announced that they wanted to come with him. The Farseer watched as Y'Linn began to pack her books away, intentionally not making eye contact with him. She had to stay on Quilan and study the secrets of the gold eagle with the other Craftworlders when they arrived. Fate's Sundering was desperately important to the future of the galaxy, from what he had heard, and only very few Aeldari knew of what it could do. More research was desperately needed. Aside from this, even thinking about putting Y'Linn in danger again after all that she had been through after Kher-Ys made his heart strangely ache, and with a resolute sigh, the Farseer began making mental plans for his sojourn into the wilds of the galaxy again.
Elsewhere:
Tay'Vahl hated xenos. He absolutely loathed every alien he had every laid his formidable psyker senses upon, from Tyranid genestealers, to Tau dignitaries. All were harmful obstacles in the path of mankind's pursuit of righteousness. All were inherently evil, and all should be purged from existence. The only good alien was a dead alien, he was often known to say. He had seen so many foul species of xenos in his long six centuries of life, that he had lost count. He had the infamy among his brothers of bettering an Aeldari Warlock in psychic combat, frying the loveless fey wretch from the inside out with electricity conjured from the depths of the Warp.
The Librarian had seen and witnessed much in the way of alien depravity over his many years, but the situation he now found himself in was both dire and peculiar. After the Fidelus Oculus had been run down by an angry Necron fleet, their vessel had been bound in chains of force, and was dragged inside a gargantuan Harvest Ship that was encrusted in colorful jewels along its hull. As they prepared for their valiant end, some sort of unknown energy rocked their craft, rendering him and his brothers unconscious nearly instantly.
Tay'Vahl awoke wearing a tight metal collar that suppressed his psychic abilities, and had been shackled to a cold metal chair in an equally cold metal room that was a cube about five meters squared. He had been stripped of both his armor and his body glove, and it appeared that he was now completely nude aside from the collar around his neck. His crewmembers were nowhere to be seen, likely in similar metal rooms. A small screen was mounted on the wall before him, and the faint outline of what he assumed was a door was discernable next to it. It buzzed and flickered, but displayed nothing but static. The Librarian resigned himself to the knowledge that he had been left alive so that he could be tortured, and so, he began to silently pray, asking for the strength he would require to face the end of his life with dignity.
As he meditated on his service to the Emperor, his keen hearing noticed a change in the display before him. It was now flickering. The Librarian readied himself, but then, was genuinely surprised.
The screen now displayed the word "HELLO" with a small ":)" noted after the word. What in the Warp was this?
"Xenos, you should get this over with," the Librarian called out into the metal room, knowing that the aliens were observing him in his bound state. "I know you can hear me, and I know you are watching me. The games are tiresome. Face me without cowardice!"
The "HELLO :)" vanished from the screen, and then, more words appeared.
"WE R ON R WAY PAYTCHENCE HUMAN SIT RELX HEER"
The Librarian found confused at his circumstances, and as music began to filter in through the torture room, and Tay'Vahl struggled both physically and metaphysically against his bonds. The music was actually rather pleasant and evocative, which made no sense whatsoever, considering that this was likely a Necron Tomb Ship. Was this being done to unbalance him? To erode his sanity before the true tortures began?
"Whatever you are looking to achieve with this music and these words, xenos, it will not work! I have lived six centuries exterminating vermin like you from the stars, and I intend to spend six more centuries doing the same!"
The display changed once again, simply to ":)". What did that mean? If he turned his head, it almost looked like a smile?
Behind what he assumed was the closed door, Tay'Vahl's keen hearing could hear two grating synthetic voices in discussion, their tones angry and guttural. Or, were they pleased? One could never quite tell with the dead Necron race, as they lacked true emotions entirely. His torture was likely to be very clinical, methodical, and unfortunately, very effective. The Necrons were brutally uncompromising lords of time and space, soulless automatons who held an incredible grip over the laws of physics. At least he wasn't about to be tortured by the Drukhari, as he knew those fiends would achieve gratification and sustenance from his suffering.
The music concluded, and the door slid open. A Necron with a single eye and long red robes strode in. By its shape, the Librarian could determine that this one was a male, and he unfortunately stopped right outside of the distance that Tay'Vahl could reasonably spit. The door slid closed behind the creature. The alien stood there, cocking its unnaturally-shaped metal head and seeming to observe him with his singular emotionless eye. He did not move.
"What are you waiting for, metal worm?" Tay'Vahl growled at his visitor, displaying his teeth in a threatening manner. Many years ago, he had his beginnings on Fenris as a Space Wolf before joining the Deathwatch, and despite his normally stoic nature, his fangs were still sharp. "You seek to break me, a Librarian of the Deathwatch? My kind is devoted to the destruction of your kind. Without these bonds, I would tear you to scrap metal with my bare hands."
The red-robed metal alien simply stood watching him, and did not speak. While most Necrons wore bodily embellishments of metal and other cold esoteric substances comprising of silvers, blacks, and greens, it was unusual that this one wore what appeared to be an actual robe of thick fine fabric, and in a deep cherry red color that he had never seen any Necron wear. The robe he wore swam with strange runes and symbols as the alien watched him impassively.
"Well?" Tay'Vahl asked fearlessly.
"You will be attended to shortly, human. The Nome King seeks to speak to you personally. You should be honored," the xenos finally spoke in a deep hollow voice. "If we were to remove your collar, you would possess potent psychic abilities, and seek to fight us. Am I correct in this assumption?"
"Why don't you try it and find out?" Tay'Vahl bared his teeth and smiled eagerly.
"Mmm," the Necron made a pensive noise, and made a gesture that was almost human, placing a long-fingered metal hand to his chin as if in thought. "Ultimately, we mean you no harm, and despite how your situation appears here, we simply wish to speak with you without you trying to break us. I can even assure you that your crewmembers are all still alive, but similarly imprisoned as we conduct our investigations. My name is Kaliko, Chief Steward of the Nome Kingdom, and second in command here aboard Grandiloquent Abundance, the grand jeweled Harvest Ship you ride upon." The alien even offered a short bow in greeting.
"You mean me no harm? Laughable! You strip me naked of my armor, and bind me in this room! I could not care less about who you are and what you want. It is better for you if you get on with whatever tortures you have planned for me, worm," Tay'Vahl spat a thin line of acidic spittle in the direction of the Necron, which fell short. The xenos did not appear upset at this.
"It was all a safety measure for us, human. Many of our kind have underestimated space marines, imprisoning them with their armor, only to find themselves shattered into a thousand pieces when their backs were turned. Our intention is not to torture, but to ensure everyone's safety," the alien named Kaliko spoke with cool impassivity, shaking his head as if weary. Again, the gesture was quite human, and very unsettling. "Consider that we actually do not intend to hurt you, human. We only wish your cooperation for a short time. A plan has been drawn up to release you, if all goes well. A word of advice: If I were you, I'd watch my tongue in the presence of the Nome King. He is quite temperamental."
As if on cue, the seamless metal door slid open once again, and more unusual red-robed Necrons filtered into the room. At their center, an especially tall and bejeweled creature approached, a tinkling plated cape of rubies swaying behind him. This unusual alien's form was embellished with swirling patterns of emeralds down his skeletally long limbs, and a sharp jewel-embellished crown reflected the light of the Necron's baleful green eyes. In his right hand, he held a tall thin staff of black metal topped with a small emerald orb that emitted a faint light. This alien wore a disturbing smile as he strode forward to Kaliko, who bowed in response. The Nome King said to his Chief Steward, "Thank you, Kaliko. I think I can take it from here."
With a few words in an alien language, Kaliko walked out of the room, leaving the Necron ruler with two of his tall red-robed guards, which walked to either side of the king. Each was equipped with a keen warscythe, and each stood with eerie stillness beside their ruler. The Nome King smiled widely and warmly at Tay'Vahl, which was unsettling. Even more unusual were the words that followed from the xenos:
"Do excuse the method of which you were captured, human. My Nomes are still early in our waking, and since the uncouth destruction of our Tomb World, we are suspicious of aliens who would come into our space during this delicate time." The alien waved his left metal hand in the air with a whimsical motion, as if excusing himself for a social faux pas. The creature actually proceeded to clear his breathless throat before speaking again. Was this all a deception to get the Librarian to sympathize with him? "We owe you an apology for this situation, yes. You and those others you traveled with were victims of our impulse for safety in a dangerous universe. Since your capture, we have recently determined that your presence in our system is that of simple curiosity, a gift of all en-souled creatures of higher intelligence. You saw a catastrophic event, and wished to see what it was all about, no?"
Tay'Vahl was actually momentarily stunned by the alien's words and tone. This Necron king actually sounded warm, eloquent, and above all, highly emotive in his speech. It wasn't like anything he had ever seen in all his many confrontations against the terrible metal menace of soulless aliens that lurked in the darkness of the Ghoul Stars. He did not say anything.
"Are you shy? Shall I have any of my Nomes bring you a refreshment? If you were like us, I would offer you limestone pie, and hot melted silver, for that is what we Nomes imbibe. As you can see, our souls are encased in metal, but I have learned that humans require more conventional proteins for sustenance. I have recently acquired a protein paste to feed human guests, so I will have some of that delivered to you if you are hungry." The alien placed his tall metal staff within the crook of his elbow, and began to wring his hands together, seeming to almost fret. "Oh, goodness, I haven't had alien guests aboard my capitol ship in so long! Millions of years, can you believe it, human? I woke up early, but the rest of my people, they slept for many more years, only to wake just a short time ago to our planet being cracked open by a gold bird of unusual size! Speaking of that, I do have a few questions to ask of you, if you would humor this silly old monarch."
Tay'Vahl, once again, could not believe his ears. This was not how a typical Necron Overlord should behave. He even referenced having a soul, which the Librarian knew was utterly impossible. Even the creatures with more distinctive residual personalities weren't as fanciful as this one. If he managed to survive this encounter, he would have quite the tale to tell his brothers back on Fort Pykman. This "Nome King" was either behaving in this odd manner to unbalance the Librarian, or, he was a few circuits short of a cogitator. Maybe a more diplomatic approach would work here, and he could convince the alien to let him live? "Tell me, Necron King, why should I cooperate with you? You have captured and restrained me and those I traveled with, and you have stripped us of our armor. We were only investigating the area, and our intentions were not to assault your Tomb. Perhaps I could be convinced to cooperate with you should you first offer proof of the survival of my crewmembers?"
The Nome King made an exaggerated expression of sadness, and clasped his metal hands together again. "That I can arrange, human. I am not without heart, you see." The xenos turned around, gripped his staff, and barked an order in a foreign Necron tongue. The blank display ahead of it glimmered to life again. Before him, Tay'Vahl was then treated to an overhead scene of Brother Ljor, who was struggling with futile anger against his metal bonds as a single-eyed Necron stood in the room with him. The image then shifted again, and over the next few minutes, Tay'Vahl witnessed images of his Kill-team as they sat in rooms similar to his, each bound tightly, and each attended to by a waiting one-eyed Necron. The message this communicated was incredibly intimidating. Finally, the slouching form of their Navigator was displayed, blood pouring down all three of his eyes and ears in heavy stigmata, apparently completely overloaded, and even possibly deceased. He, at least, still had his robes on.
"My Navigator," the Librarian said, angling his chin at the display. "Does he live?"
The Nome King shouted another order, and another voice responded from an unknown source in the room. "We regret to inform you that your three-eyed friend has died." The alien's expression was now very sorrowful, and he even reached up with a metal hand to brush away a non-existent tear from his cold cheek. His emotion then abruptly shifted, and now, he wore a bright smile. "So, now that I have offered you information on your crew, maybe you can help us Nomes with a few questions?"
Tay'Vahl said nothing, and pulled his face into an involuntary scowl at the alien. He did not want to give up any information, no matter what it was. The indignity of his situation made this very clear to him.
"Still shy? I will ask the questions anyway," the Nome King smiled as he gripped his staff. The emerald orb atop the staff momentarily brightened, and the light that emanated was of a rippling warm white color, like water under a sunset. Distantly, his muffled psychic senses whispered danger as he observed the xenos. The Necron began to speak again, "I'm currently on my way to see family right now, but soon, we Nomes will embark on a new ambitious adventure. We will seek to shatter a hated artifact from the War in Heaven. Its destruction will actually better all races of the galaxy. Maybe you could help us in this endeavor? It, in our tongue, is known as 'Gir'Auda', the Equerry of the Old Ones, and the races that can dream will often witness it in visions. We Nomes, well, we have strange difficulty with dreaming when we slumber, so perhaps you recognize this, and can tell me about it?"
With a motion of his staff, the display shifted again. This time, it displayed a remarkable image. It was the flaming gold eagle of his dreams! This was the great gold eagle that the white-haired holy woman of divine retribution rode upon! It was unmistakable!
Although the Librarian had said nothing, the alien began to smile as the globe at the end of his staff brightened like a pale star. "You recognize? Incredible..."
With alarm, Tay'Vahl realized that he had revealed information in his reaction! While he was normally stoic and steady of emotion, he did admit that he had become surprised at the image, but not to the point where his breathing and blood pressure had shifted. His eyes were drawn to the orb on the staff. The more he looked at it, the more he found himself mesmerized by its beauty. The Librarian flinched and looked away. An interrogation weapon!
"Oh, no need to be upset. In a gesture of friendship, I fully intend to let you and your friends go. Your ship, I'm afraid, we need to salvage for spare parts. But, we'll leave you someplace where you can survive, fear not!"
"What is your goal, xenos? What is this game you are playing at here?" Tay'Vahl groaned. What was in that damn orb? He strained his psychic senses against the collar around his neck, and the most he could feel was a vague sense of danger.
"I just told you, silly human!" the Nome King actually giggled, holding one of his bladed hands up to his mouth as dimples appeared on his living metal. "We Nomes are going to do a great service to the galaxy by shattering a terrible weapon of the Old Ones. That's what this bird, Gir'Auda, is. When you are with your fellow humans once again, please tell them of our intentions. I want everyone to know of our grand crusade!"
"It... it is a weapon?" the Librarian then carefully asked.
"Not just a weapon, but a flaming chariot that rides through the stars, and a kingmaker! It has many names, but because it splits fate like a rebellious atom where it goes, records of it keep getting lost. Only the most thorough or the most mad have any records of it at all that haven't been destroyed or forgotten, and we Nomes are quite thorough with our information!"
The King smiled happily again. "You won't spit on me if I walk near you, will you, sharp teeth? You humans can be so emotional!"
Tay'Vahl did not respond, but was beginning to realize that this Necron was mentally unwell, perhaps from a flaw in its systems. The Librarian then calculated that there was a chance that he could actually survive this, but he would need to give the appearance of cooperation. Maybe he could even find out more about the gold bird and the woman that rode it?
The alien smiled and walked up to him to stand adjacent to the Librarian in his chair. "No spitting? Remember, you promised!"
Tay'Vahl had not promised anything, but said nothing. The xenos began speaking again, pointing at the screen with his mysterious staff. "So, a member of my race, a true gentleman and a scholar, but an ignoramus all the same, has come to the conclusion that a human girl flies Gir'Auda now: I believe I may have seen her briefly in person, but I am unsure. There was some... interference in my circuits preventing me from studying her fully." The Nome King's face abruptly shifted into undeniable rage for a few moments, only to calm quickly again, as if assailed by a memory that had infuriated him. With a brief shudder, he was calm again, and said, "Here is an artist's rendering of what she may appear as:"
The image shifted to that of a majestic illustration of a psyker girl in her mid-teen years with long dark braided pigtails and a modest dress as she flew through a raging tempest in the sky. She was depicted with a familiar gold aura as she obliterated flying monkey daemons out of the sky with her holy light. It wasn't the same girl that Tay'Vahl had witnessed in his visions, but the gold energy and the fury was similar. The woman he had seen was older, and had long white hair. Once again, the globe attached to the end of the mysterious staff glimmered, and the Nome King grinned widely.
"Recognition once again, yes? Maybe your human friends know who this girl is? Maybe not exactly the same appearance of course, but maybe something like it? Honestly, all you humans look the same to me, really. She, we believe, is the reason my Tomb World was cracked, and my people sundered! This accursed vessel will fall!" The image shifted again, showing an illustration of the gold construct of the Librarian's visions biting down on a xenos ship with its sharp beak. The illustration caused a feeling of secret glee within the Librarian, who hoped that his emotion had not been sensed. Tay'Vahl noted that the gold eagle had three blue-green eyes, just like his visions had shown him. The Nome King pointed an accusing finger at the image before him. "We will hunt and crush this nasty thing when I meet with my brother and unite our forces! The galaxy will celebrate when it is finally dead! It will one day go after you humans, you see? You are not safe!"
Tay'Vahl noticed that the longer the xenos king spoke, the more agitated he was becoming. His temperament was degrading, destabilizing, so the Librarian had to be careful. "Are you asking us for an alliance here, Necron?"
"Eventually, yes, of course! But we just want information presently before our formal assault. Now I see that the humans sense it, so that confirms its activity in the galaxy." Another pause, and the Nome King became suddenly upset again. "You know, they stole something precious from me as well! Something that I want back. Why does everyone steal from me?"
"Are you asking me this question?" the Librarian asked the unstable alien.
"No, no. You're okay. In fact, I would enjoy more positive interactions between my race and yours, and I will not judge you on this human girl's rudeness. That isn't fair to you, no."
That... didn't really make too much sense as a response as to what the Librarian had asked the xenos. Tay'Vahl said nothing in response to this.
A crackling voice echoed in the metal chamber, interrupting them. The Nome King growled and struck its staff against the floor, irritated at the interruption. After a short conversation between the king and an unknown party, the room lightly shook, and was then still. "Forgive the rudeness of my helmsman. We have discovered something important!" The xenos did not elaborate.
"So, to summarize, you want to find this... 'Gir'Auda' vessel, and you wish to destroy it. What crimes against the galaxy has it committed? Humanity, if it is to help you, must know what it is capable of. Tell me what you can," Tay'Vahl asked cautiously again, trying to get the alien to reveal more information.
"This is embarrassing, but you see, the information I have on what it can do specifically, well, it isn't quite complete. It appears to have mounted cannons on its wings, a sharp beak that can bite through the hull of a void ship, and it was seen smashing my Nomes with its talons directly before my planet was cracked. I am also told that this gold ship was once called 'The Anathema' in another language, possibly because it is anathema to all that is good."
The Anathema? Tay'Vahl contemplated who else had been called by that name before by enemies...
"Is it related to Chaos? The Empyrean?" the Librarian asked.
"Oh no, not at all actually! There's even a crazy theory running around saying that it is of holy strength, but I don't believe in such nonsense since the pilot and crew within this vessel currently is comprised of dirty thieves who break planets! They stole my precious from us! Stole it!" The Nome King stamped its foot against the floor, and moaned piteously, his metal voice echoing with intensity in this small room. The door slid open behind the Nome King, who did not appear to notice it as he ranted to the Librarian. "No good creature would do such terrible things, you see? That is why we need to break this vessel! Shatter it like we shattered The Sleeper so long ago! And that is why I'm going to see brother Valgûl, and we're going on a crusade to kill this terrible bird! Tell your humans we are doing this! Tell them that-"
"Your Majesty?" the one-eyed Necron named Kaliko had returned.
"How long have you been standing there, Kaliko? I was just talking to my new human friend. What did you say your name was?"
Briefly considering offering a fake name, the Librarian realized that blatant deception would likely be noted by the artifact the Nome King held. "Tay'Vahl, good King. And since you and I are friends as to your admission, perhaps you can relieve me of this collar? It pinches my skin."
"Oh, of course! My Chief Steward will help, friend! Kaliko, could you-"
"Your Majesty, I am here to inform you that we are now in proximity to a habitable vessel to drop off our exalted guests. The teleportarium is online and ready."
"So soon? I was enjoying speaking to this human. He is a very good listener!" The Mad King then turned back to Tay'Vahl, his features now filled with regret. "Oh, I am so sorry that we have to do this now, but I commanded this vessel to seek and encounter a human vessel and to drop you and your crew off using a teleporter. I am told that to simply fly to a human world and leave you there would cause trouble, and I don't want that. So, this is another option!"
A strange pause as more guttural alien voices spoke over the com. The Mad King then held up its hand, pointing a finger upward as if it had just had an excellent idea. He then reached into his arm, and plucked out one of the emeralds embedded in his body. The alien held it up, displaying it in his hand with a happy grin. "A token of our friendship and to future friendly relationships between humans and Nomes! Here!" the Nome King then bent down, and placed the eye-sized emerald in Tay'Vahl's hand. With great alarm, the Librarian felt his hand close involuntarily around the jewel tightly. "Hold on to that! Valuable!"
"Your Majesty?"
"Yes, yes, Kaliko. Let me just say goodbye. I like this human!" The Nome King then reached around Tay'Vahl, and incredibly, offered him a friendly embrace as he lay completely restrained in his torture chair. The Librarian could not help but make an expression of shock and reproach at the contact of the Necron's cold metal body on his naked skin, hugging him as if they had been friends for hundreds of years. "Safe travels, human!" the xenos then stepped back, and tapped the staff against the floor.
Tay'Vahl blinked, and then he found himself falling on what appeared to be a long elegant dinner table from a height of two meters, along with the rest of his Kill-team. Each of his entirely nude battle brothers smashed against the table, immediately breaking it under their incredible weight. The Librarian's heavy bulk smashed against the elegant roast grox set at the center of the banquet. The screams of terrified mortals rang through the air as Tay'Vahl reeled in disorientation. Captain Tullan was now vomiting in nausea from the experience as he struggled his bulk atop what was once a delicately sculpted white cake. Luckily, the humans had the sense to scatter away from the scene as they wailed their distress. The Mad King had... actually let them go?
The Librarian reached up, still completely nude and now covered in savory grox juices, and snapped the psychic inhibition collar off of his neck. Immediately, he psychically compelled every single mortal aboard this dinner party vessel into both submission and silence. The mortals all froze, some with their mouths still agape in shock. As he and his brothers struggled to get their bearings after the difficult teleportation, he discovered that his expired bleeding Navigator had unfortunately fallen right on the lap of a finely dressed young woman in a white dress, covering her with his dead blood.
They had been teleported aboard a wedding pleasure cruise. The Watch Master would never believe him, Tay'Vahl thought with a sigh.