The Wizard of Molech

by TheArchitectOfFate

A woman is swept away from her home in New Jersey to the grim darkness of the far future. She embarks on a quest with her new friends to discover the secrets of the Warp itself so that she may return home. A Chaos-saturated take on the Wizard of Oz, and an epic alt-canon "weak to strong" tale as a possible new God-Empress navigates her uncertain future.

108. The Battle of Port Aubergine

**Author's note: This huge scene contains a piece of the next chapter which didn't quite work when attached to the following chapter, which explains its extreme length. If you have read this far, I salute you! Thank you all for reading! Edit: 7/22/23: It has come to my attention that this chapter's format was somehow screwed up when I posted it, which may have made it difficult to read. This has been fixed.**

"What 'story'?" I blurted out as Word Bear fastened his horned helmet back on his head.

Alberich gasped, and said, "You're the bookseller that we keep running into! The one who made me drink at the party earlier! How did you know who I was?" the psyker quietly demanded, pointing at his new human face that was still covered by red cloth.

"We need an explanation for this!" Zok growled menacingly, his fists now raised before him in the dark.

The laughing of the Wheelers was now very close. It was almost deafening. Uh oh. We should probably be quiet.

"Explanations-" the Chaos Marine replied as he swiftly raised a bolter over our heads, and pulled the trigger with an explosive bang. Momentarily deafened by the loud noise, I turned in the direction that Word Bear had been facing, and saw a Wheeler fall, its upper body and television monitor head completely destroyed in a shower of sparks, metal, and gore. Right behind it, another one appeared, laughing madly. "-Will have to wait. Just wait a few minutes and show off that delightful gold for us when the time comes, if you please. We'll defend you in the meantime."

Before anyone could react, I watched as a new red-armored marine appeared from the left alley entrance, and swiftly struck the new Wheeler over the head with his crozius, killing it instantly. This new marine had no helmet, and he had the face of a snarling purple cat.

"Cardinal, they come!" the Chaos cat marine snarled in a deep bestial voice.

"Do excuse me!" Word Bear politely brushed his giant spiky bulk past us, his bolter still raised in his left hand, and now, his right hand gripping his spiked crozius. The friendly Chaos Marine then promptly joined his cat-faced friend outside of the alley in smashing Wheelers.

The laughing and screaming of the Wheelers rose in a terrible wave of echoing madness around us as I then understood that the mass of battle servitors now knew where we were, and were now on their way to kill us! The squealing of their metal wheels keened through the alley as the Wheelers riding along the perimeter of the port diverted their attention our way! Thanks a lot, Word Bear!

"What has happened?" Zok looked at me in frightened confusion, unable to say anything else as the world erupted into chaos and noise. The sounds of clanging metal and zapping lasers emerged around us to join with the laughter of the battle servitors, blaring with an almost deafening intensity in the alley! Completely outmatched and still stunned in surprise, the three of us huddled fearfully together. Alberich withdrew his little dagger, and I withdrew the Nemeses Argentum, holding it before me. Okay, just... just survive for a couple more minutes, I thought nervously as I observed Word Bear decapitate a Wheeler outside the alley. I really hoped that the eccentric Chaos Marine was right! But, if he was correct, how did he know all this?

The three of us whirled around as another gibbering battle servitor emerged from the opposite end of the alley, its computer monitor head filled with static before settling on a comically angry black and white emoticon-cartoon face. It even had weird swirls for eyes! I almost laughed at how absurd this was before another red-eyed Chaos Marine wearing a horned helmet appeared behind it to skewer the Wheeler with his crackling electric power sword. As the battle servitor fell, the frightening red-armored Astartes turned to me with blazing crimson eyes. It felt as if he was studying me with a skeptical eye.

"Cardinal, these people, they're unremarkable!" the marine snarled loudly beneath his helmet as he drew his own bolter, turned, and fired at what was presumably another mad screaming Wheeler that I couldn't see from this location. "I am beginning to doubt your judgement."

"My judgement is sound, Aszi. I swear it on the Four Powers!" Word Bear merrily shouted back on the opposite end of the alley through the cacophony. It appeared that we were being guarded from the onslaught of Wheelers on both sides of the alley by these new marines, which, by the stylized monster faces decorating their pauldrons, all appeared to be Word Bearers.

Okay, only a couple minutes, I thought again, desperately pulling upon my Sight as I tried to conjure my energy.

"Who are these men? You know Space Marines?" Zok said as he trembled beside me, his fists raised. A red laser blast flashed down the length of the alley! Fuck!

"I know a few," I replied, pressing myself against the stone walls. Ahead, I could hear Word Bear's deep raucous laughter as he messily butchered another Wheeler. From here, I could tell see two other marines standing near the friendly Chaos Marine as we were defended. From the laughter of the Wheelers saturating the air around us, it appeared that we were utterly surrounded! "I think these are Word Bearers! I have no idea why they're helping us!" Was he right about the pylon? And how did he know? Did Tzeentch tell him?

And where were Lian and Rezel?! Weren't they here guarding the Divine Retribution? Maybe when the Fallen left they took both Lian and Rezel with them? I hoped that was the case, and that they weren't both dead.

The buzz of another bright red laser passed within a hand's length of my ear, and I yelped in surprise before laying myself flush to the alley wall again. Alberich and Zok saw this, and also cowered. I really hated feeling impotent like this! It felt insulting to be this powerless. I clutched the same magic scissors I had used to destroy a Daemon Prince as I cautiously watched each entryway of the alley. Since I didn't want this to happen again, I made a mental note to find a way to train myself in conventional non-magical combat, either with a firearm or by using the Nemeses Argentum somehow. This was just embarrassing!

Intermingled with the loud sounds of battle, I then heard a very guttural, almost lupine voice. From what I could discern, someone appeared to be addressing Word Bear, and they weren't happy.

"You'll eventually see her for what she is, Brother Ylosa! And soon!" Word Bear shouted happily in return. "You'll cower under her Sight, all your sins laid bare, just as you experienced on Colchis!"

"A cowardly witch in a red scarf is what I see. No power without the Warp!" the wicked hissing voice from the other side of the alley shouted over the din of combat.

"You'll all regret saying these things very soon, my skeptical Brothers! Simply wait, and you will all see!" Word Bear retorted with a barking laugh. Over the Wheeler laughter, I then heard the sound of clanging metal, and then, messily gurgling. "Ah, these servitors are quite the challenge! The governor of this world, she controls them!"

"-take one back with us?" another Chaos Marine asked casually over the noise as I cowered. His voice was vaguely audible, and a sense of light-headedness swept through me. I leaned heavily against the wall. A brief dizzy sensation passed through my nervous system, and my Corona brightened slightly. Wobbling on my feet, a fuzzy vision then ignited behind my eyes:

A familiar Tech-priest shook his head sadly as he stood before a wide room filled with piles of jewels, art, and a few weapons. On one shoulder, a clockwork metal mantis perched, and over his other shoulder, a floating skull hovered menacingly nearby. This was Null, I recognized. Null continued shaking his head, reluctant to do something as he clutched at his shoulders with all four arms. Nearby, a monstrous Tech-priest with eight metal arms was trying to convince him of something, almost scolding him. Two tall red-robed warriors now walked to Null's side, each carrying long elaborate rifles fitted with strange green crystals. After a short discussion, the spider Tech-priest (who I now recognized now as Nimmie Amee) finally stepped ahead, and embraced Null in a long, desperate hug. She then withdrew, and they both nodded. Magos Amee then waved a finger at Null accusingly, and then, pointed at Null's glowing belt. Null shook his head for a moment before eventually nodding, acquiescing to whatever she had said.

Both figures looked upward as the lights flickered. In this room, a small gathering of a group of higher status adepts and other Skitarii stood waiting. These, I knew somehow, were Magos Amee's most trusted followers at the Tower of Reason. Each wore their formal red robes in this small room. Outside, I could sense that the rest of the population of the Tower waited nervously as the emergency lights continued to gutter above.

As Null waited sadly nearby, Nimmie Amee then straightened her back and stood very tall before her trusted elite followers. The eccentric Magos raised her many arms in a gesture of praise. At this motion, all the other attending Tech-priests and warriors of this room dropped to their kneels, and placed their fists over their metal hearts. I could somehow taste that the mood was both brave and astoundingly sad in this room. Nimmie Amee then lowered her arms, smiled, and walked directly before the room filled with jewels and weapons.

The vision became clearer, and I could now understand what was being said. I listened:

"Do not despair, oh blessed friends, for tonight we joyously praise the Omnissiah, for a vessel of the Machine God's divine will walks again with us, alive and vibrant! We live in wondrous times, my brothers and sisters, as the spark of innovation rekindles progress after a long winter of ignorance. The inevitable fires of axiomatic wisdom shall burn brightly again, I promise you all!"

"How proud I am of you all, oh enlightened of the Tower of Reason! How bright your lights shine before me! You race along the dawn of a new future, anointed by the Machine God's spark, and you are the first lights before the dawn! You will now go through the stars and tell all the good news of what you have witnessed in your time here. You will speak of the glories of the future, and the new hope that flies through our galaxy on divine wings of living gold!"

"While you may face hardship and oppression, may the Omnissiah's promised will of truth bind your souls to righteousness, for you, oh humble ones, will be the heralds of a brighter and more noble future for all of mankind! You chosen ones have all been given destinations, and you will be the pilgrims of the new divinity, the new hope that flies the galaxy. Spread the blessed word of the Machine God renewed, the child from the stars born once again upon a heavenly golden throne!"

"Hail the Omnissiah reborn! The Star Child, the Divine Spark fallen from Heaven!" the group of kneeling adepts called out.

"It is now that I go to my fate. Despite my bodily death, I promise you all that I will yet live again, and I will see you again in a brighter future in a different form! I have full faith in Archmagos Ogun Nemo and his position of advisor to the youthful new Avatar of the Machine God's will, and he will direct the maturing Star Child to destiny's throne! May he see his redemption fulfilled, and may we even see his wisdom guide all of the Imperium's future as Fabricator-General!"

"Hail Archmagos Ogun Nemo! Praises to the destined Fabricator-General!"

Nimmie Amee then bowed deeply before the group of kneeling adepts, and as the lights flickered, she then slowly turned, and walked into the vault.

"Nimmie, I-" Null said as she walked into the vault. Within, a strange console covered in lights and switches softly hummed. I noticed then that it was actually somehow drawing power from the Magos herself. Two long cables connected Nimmie Amee to the console. "I-" Null tried to speak again, but could not.

"Close this door behind me, my love," the Magos instructed stoically, her voice echoing in the darkness of the vault. "I will not permit Langwidere this victory. All possible outcomes have been anticipated."

Null reached forward with his gold hand, and placed it on the side of the pylon. Briefly, beneath his robes, I could see a flash of light radiating where the magic belt was fastened to his body. A grinding noise filled the room, and then, Nimmie was locked away.

"I love you," Null said in a voice so small that only I could hear.

A brief pause, and all the adepts continued kneeling. Null then turned the assembled crowd, and said in a choked voice: "You heard Magos Amee, everyone." The lights above then began to gutter under the quaking of both the earth below, and the artillery pummeling their location. An alarm began to echo through this room. "Time to evacuate."

And with a snap, I felt the power generators of the Tower of Reason fail completely.

I came back to myself just as I felt the Warp flow around me again in warm waves of emotion. This time, a rushing wind of prayers originating from both the nearby Tower of Reason and a faraway world caressed me like a warm breeze, and I felt empowered. My Corona enveloped me fully, and I sighed, feeling much better and much less helpless. Nearby, I could feel masses of dead-souled servitors swarming around us in a mindless horde of ferocity. There were dozens of Wheelers in the area, and more were coming in!

I sensed the Divine Retribution as it stood nearby, but out of direct line of sight. Its three-eyed eagle head even turned toward my direction, causing a soul within its body to jump to attention.

"She's returned!" Lian explained as he cried out happily on the bridge.

"I told you, damned fool!" a flickering holographic soul replied to the Fallen's excitement. "Trust in the Inheritor of Mankind. For all- wait... what are you doing?"

"To do my duty. I am an Honor Guard, Virgil," Lian explained quickly.

I came back to myself again, and took a deep breath. As I stood here getting my bearings, I could tell that three people were watching me, each somewhat transfixed by my gold halo. Two were my companions. I saw a mutant, and a human man who had once been a mutant, but was now a human again. These two were kneeling before me in this dark space, and a third was an unfamiliar powerful man with a dark soul standing before one of the entrances of the alley during a gap in the battle. His soul smelled strange, like old buried guilt. I turned to him, and became curious.

This large man was skeptical of me, and thought that Word Bear was a fool, despite his exalted lineage. He had come all the way out here with five of his brothers to inform the exceedingly difficult Word Bear of news concerning his grandfather, and the supposed resurrection of Primarch Guilliman, not to worship some new false god. Despite his visions of the rising Star Child, this Chaos Marine's presumptions had led him to believe that I was simply some kind of wicked witch of the galactic east, and he had intended to sacrifice me to the dark gods before stealing my unique vessel. That was silly, I thought as time slowed between us.

I decided to study him further, and correct this little problem at the same time with Sight. My Corona surrounded me warmly as I tore my red head scarf away my face, revealing my face and my gold laurels. I began to levitate, and at a short distance, I gazed down at the traitor marine from above in the darkness of the alley.

"Your name is Aszi Thruss. You are known as the Jade Serpent of Vharadesh," I found myself speaking in my powerful voice. "Two distinct memories shape you, even when they lay suppressed. You killed your father when you were a boy, and you witnessed the glory of the Emperor in battle later. You have never forgotten his light, and now, you see it before you again. 'How can this be?' you think again and again." The moment crawled, and the motions of the Wheelers were slow around us. A spray of gore erupted slowly and artfully behind this Word Bearer as one of his brothers smashed a nearby Wheeler with what appeared to be an axe. I cocked my head, seeing further into his soul, curious about who this man was, and "fixing" his desire to kill me with my Sight. "You are confused, just as you were when you stood over your bleeding father's body while holding a kitchen knife when you were six. You were only protecting your sister, you said. It was a lie. Your mother was executed for it."

Aszi Thruss began to tremble as the sensors of his power armor began to malfunction in the presence of the full supernatural potency of my Sight being used against him. The close proximity of the Divine Retribution was especially empowering me, and my light swam around me like the corona of a hot star.

Like a surgeon wielding gold light as a metaphorical scalpel against his spirit, I easily sliced through the layers of his very being. With a few deep cuts, my Sight dredged the very core of his soul, and I found myself dragging a frightened child out into the light of revelation. I continued to brutally "see" him. "She lied for you. Deep within, you have never forgotten your sin. Your secret shame swallowed and festering like a cancer through thousands of years of bitterness, never truly forgotten, only buried under your indoctrination. My voice to you sounds like your mother's. 'How can this be?' you think again as your resolve fractures. You tremble like a helpless six year old boy beneath your armor to hear her dead voice, and you know somehow that in her last breath under the headsman's axe, that she forgave and loved you. You know that you are in the presence of God, and now, your knees begin to buckle, and..." I trailed off, and waited.

Despite the battle that was raging around us, Aszi stumbled, and then, fell heavily to his knees, completely overwhelmed. I felt him explode into tears under his helmet. A long cathartic wail then roared from his throat as he remembered everything he had suppressed in a tidal wave of emotion.

Time restarted properly, and I was now standing normally in the alley again, my Corona glowing at a more reasonable radiance around my head and shoulders. My heart ached somewhat, and I tried to ignore that. "Okay guys, get up," I instructed my companions who were still kneeling on the ground. "Pylon's down, Lian's on his way, and we're back in business!"

Taking a moment to study where I was, I discovered that this alley was a space between what appeared to be two sturdy storage buildings and two wide roads that lay perpendicular to the runway area of the port. Now confidently "powered up", I began to walk ahead toward the alley exit that seemed to have less Wheelers surrounding it, which was the one where Aszi had seen me from. Both Zok and Alberich followed, and I could sense fear and awe radiating from their souls.

The tarmac of Port Aubergine was close, only fifty meters away. I could also tell that the destroyed terminal was about a hundred meters away and further down the port's length. From what I could see from here, light plumes of smoke rose behind one of the stone warehouses that obscured my view of the previously bombed terminal building. There were no living souls remaining in that port terminal, at least from what I could sense right now, which was very sad. The Divine Retribution was parked directly outside of the terminal on the tarmac of the port. I had been in this area before with Magos Amee and Raula White just this morning.

Concerned, I briefly searched for Lian and Rezel with a sweep of my Sight. The Librarian did not seem to be here, but Lian was now running down the Divine Retribution's passageways as he held his sword. I watched as he retrieved his helmet, and frantically fastened it to his head. He would be here shortly.

A few paces ahead, Aszi Thruss now lay shivering and weeping uncontrollably in his spiky red armor. I looked down at him, satisfied by my work. Luckily, one of his brothers had appeared nearby, and was now defending him against two marauding battle servitors that had appeared from the direction of the road. Chaos Marines, from what I understood in the lore, didn't tend to be the most altruistic creatures, so this was a little unusual. This new screaming Word Bearer fended off nearby aggressive Wheelers with a large double-bladed axe. Luckily, he didn't seem to understand that I was the one that had ravaged Aszi's mind, and paid me no attention in the alley as he fought.

I watched as Aszi then reached up, and tore off his helmet, tossing it aside in a desperate gasp. His face was strange, and was somewhat serpentine, with wide green eyes with slitted pupils, and a blunt nose. He was bald, and a length of light green and grey scales partially covered his scalp and neck. His primal wails mixed with the laughter of the maddened Wheelers as he felt everything that he had forgotten and suppressed years ago, his mental barriers burned away like dry wood in a dead forest. Sight was a potent power, and its unique ability to "see" through souls and fate made me appreciate its name even more. No wonder people fell apart near the Emperor. If anyone decided to mouth off to Emps, he could just slow time and break someone with a simple expenditure of his Sight. And over time, this power probably extended to literal armies of people.

I continued to walk forward with a smile on my face, my power surrounding me in a thin veil of shimmering gold. I now stood at the mouth of the alley, and I watched the Word Bearer I had incapacitated with grim satisfaction.

Aszi continued to cry and tremble like a squalling baby, nearly oblivious to everything around him. Instead of killing him, I decided to be generous, and with a nudge of my will, I pushed a small bit of energy into him to rejuvenate him a few paces away. This action surprised me, but I didn't stop to think about why I had done it. Honestly, I was gloriously charged up with energy right now, so I was a bit loopy. This action was not seen by the axe-wielding marine, who was occupied with plunging his axe through the computer monitor head of the Wheeler.

"Who... what..." he began to choke, his the pupils of his serpentine green eyes mere slits as he observed my bright light. In awestruck horror, he looked up at me nearby, not fully believing what he saw.

He flashed back to seeing the Emperor giving a majestic speech before his legion when they were still young, proud, unified, and brave. The light of the Emperor had burned itself into Aszi's memory, refusing to be suppressed or forgotten, even over eons of darkness. When he had seen the Master of Mankind wreathed in that distinctive holy brilliance, he had been convinced of His divinity forever.

And now, he was seeing it again!

Who do I look like, killer? I telepathically replied with a smile. Just get up and fight these Wheelers, and don't sacrifice me to the Chaos Gods, okay?

Aszi nodded, transfixed in disbelieving awe as he watched me. Ahead, my Sight informed me that Lian was now racing down the gangway of the Divine Retribution, his blessed power sword gripped proudly in two hands. The Word Bearer, in somewhat of a fugue state, then advanced toward me as I lurked in the alley. The giant snake marine now stood before me, and he hesitated briefly before shortly bowing, and squeaking out, "I'm sorry."

"Okay, that's great, just-" I started to sputter as another Wheeler appeared around the bend, screaming down the tarmac in our direction. Before it could reach us, I telekinetically picked it up, and hurled it straight through the air. It sailed away over the port buildings, and landed with a crash somewhere. "Just, kill the Wheelers!" I instructed Aszi as power continued to flow giddily through me. My heart continued to ache, and it even skipped another beat, causing me to gasp slightly.

Still dazed, the Word Bearer then turned around and began advancing toward where his brother fought, his hand clenched tightly around his power sword, and his mind burned around the edges.

"What did you do to him?!" Zok finally asked, pointing at Aszi as he wandered off. Now beside me, Alberich kept an eye on the other alley entryway behind us, which was being guarded by Word Bear and his evil red-indigo glowing crozius. The thrilling energy of the nearby Divine Retribution was saturating me with power, and after feeling frightened and impotent for a time, the sensation was exhilarating. I felt a swell of psychic energy around Alberich, and I sensed that he had put up some kind of shield around himself and Zok.

"I showed him himself," I responded plainly as I stood before the alley exit. We now stood before one of the wide perpendicular roads that led to the main aircraft area of Port Aubergine. The wild axe-wielding Word Bearer was still busy disemboweling servitors and bellowing challenges to the nearby watching Wheelers. Aszi now joined him, and began to fight furiously. Gratefully, this kept any aggressive Wheeler attention away from us. Obscene praises to Khorne called through the air as the axe marine screamed at the top of his lungs. This disgusted me, but right now, I rationalized that my primary enemies right now were actually the Wheelers, and Langwidere's allies. I could hunt down and kill all these Chaos-worshipping Word Bearers later if I wanted to, I promised myself.

Now that we could effectively fight with magic again, I actually found myself greatly looking forward to a conflict! While I didn't want to lose control like I had when I killed Raula, I rationalized that as long as I could keep myself on a leash that I'd be okay this evening. As I peered out of the alley, I felt the Tzaangor quail in fear as an errant laser strike struck Alberich's psychic force field.

"What will we do?" Alberich asked me. "I can't hold this up forever! Come back to reality and make a decision!"

"I'm thinking we make a break for it when there's a gap in the battle, and I don't sense any Wheelers coming our way. The Divine Retribution is nearby. We just have to get to it. And if anyone fucks with us, we blast them!"

"The Wheelers are very fast," Zok replied with a concerned rumble. Behind us, I could hear Word Bear's raucous laughter as he joyously fought. It luckily sounded like there were more Wheelers occupied behind us, at least. "Can we outrun these creatures if they see us? A swarm of them?"

"Probably not," Alberich remarked, standing beside me. Both Aszi and the axe marine continued to slaughter groups of servitors in wild swings. A few more Wheelers continued to pour in from the direction of the street. A dazzling white laser passed over us as Alberich cried out in alarm. The smell of ozone filled the air as the psyker's energy bubble shimmered, and the explosive banging of bolter projectiles striking their marks made my ears ring.

Show us your glory, oh brilliant God-Empress! Prove yourself to the foolish wayward children of Sicarus! Word Bear psychically transmitted to me.

Strange fantasies of myself wielding two swords into battle whispered through my mind, and my heart continued to ache. I dragged myself back to reality. I recognized that I felt unusually empowered, and I vowed that I wouldn't let myself lose control again as I swallowed my eagerness.

"We cannot outrun Wheelers, and they know we're here now!" Zok replied, a note of desperation in his deep voice.

"You got a better idea? We can't kill them all. It looks like Langwidere sent every goddamn Wheeler in the city to come for us!" I responded loudly as the snapping sound of another laser striking Alberich's shield filled the air. "I can cast gold fireballs and lightning bolts again, so we aren't defenseless! Here, I'll check how dangerous everything is before we run."

I honestly really enjoyed having the excuse to do this, I thought to myself as I drew upon my power, letting it fill my being with brilliant potency. Distantly, I began to hear the pounding of heavy boots. Lian was coming.

Once again, time slowed down, and my Corona blazed powerfully to life around my head and shoulders as I directed my attention outward so we could properly strategize our safe escape. Psychically viewing the area from above, I discovered that the south end of the runway was presently relatively empty, and that the main swarm of Wheelers were indeed currently busying themselves with the four Word Bearers that stood with Word Bear, who was now casting red magic missiles into the mass of flesh and squealing wheels. Aszi and his axe friend were close, and I was able to physically see that only two Wheelers fought on this side of the alley. Unfortunately, I could now also sense that reinforcements were beginning to flow in from the city, and would be arriving from the direction of the street shortly!

In the air, I sensed all the various shuttles filled with frightened people that were trying to evacuate Evna. My Sight was pulled to an especially notable red craft that was now racing away from Port Carmine to the north. Inside the vessel, I beheld a distraught Null who sat between what appeared to be two tall red-robed warriors who held strange weapons fitted with green crystals.

My eye was then drawn to something worse as I also sensed three shuttle crafts filled with human soldiers on their way here from the direction of Evna's city center. Another shuttle was racing its way from Port Ruby from the south, and I somehow knew that this flyer was actually the most dangerous. It contained psykers!

I pushed my psychic senses further, trying to discern what was inside that one shuttle. With a strain of my abilities and an ache in my heart, I then found myself observing the interior of a shuttle which was populated by a group of unfamiliar men and women wearing gaudy red, white, and blue attire. Only one of these people was wearing reasonable clothes, and my attention was drawn to him.

He was a thin, familiar man with a scraggly beard, and brilliant blue eyes. In this slowed moment of time, I could see that a Family of Liberty priestess was speaking to him about something important, but I got the sense that this loudly dressed woman's words weren't being heeded, as the bearded man was actually looking at her chest while she leaned over. And then, I instantly knew who this man was!

This was Grigori Rasputin, and now, he was on his way here along with a small group of trained psykers from the damned Family of Liberty! At this revelation, I felt Rasputin's psychic eye slowly turn toward me in the slowed time, and he smiled greasily. I had been perceived!

With a gasp, I came back to myself, and quickly began to rattle off what I had sensed. "More Wheelers on the way! Shuttles filled with human soldiers coming from the west! Two Blanks in the shuttles! Null is on his way here from another port. One shuttle flying in from Port Ruby, and it'll be here any moment! Rasputin is on the Port Ruby shuttle with Family of Liberty cultists!"

"I warned you about him! Rasputin was a vile creature in my universe!" Alberich cried out. "He made of mockery of the Russian people, and now, he's turned on you!"

"Yeah, I guess you're right," I replied in my powerful voice, which seemed to be stuck "on" right now. The sound of boots striking the ground was now close, and now, Lian was visible as he bolted from around the corner of the stone building ahead of us. The glowing red eyes of his helmet made him look very menacing. Another psychic glance confirmed the close proximity of Rasputin's shuttle, which would be landing on the tarmac soon, but not before the arrival of the other three shuttles. What was that guy even doing? What the fuck was he planning with the cult, I thought angrily.

"Alright, the south end of the port is empty. Aszi and axe guy are defending the road where more Wheelers are coming from, and Word Bear and his buddies are fighting all the other Wheelers right now. And here's Lian. He got here without being assaulted," I replied motioning toward the Fallen as he rapidly approached. Speaking too soon, I watched as an errant Wheeler laser struck the friendly Marine in the leg, but aside from a shower of sparks, Lian's power armor deflected the strike. "I say we go! Now!"

Without waiting to hear any response, I then put up a force field centered around myself, and made a break for it! Lian and Zok hesitated, but then, they were both now running behind me. While I could simply slow time and get up to my vessel within a split second, I didn't want to leave my friends behind.

Lian saw me running head, and slowed. Lian, we're running back to the ship! Guard us! I telepathically shouted.

The Fallen glanced at Zok, and hesitated. We were about a third of the way there, and now, we were extremely exposed!

We don't have time for this, Lian! That's Zok! He's our new cook! Just gua-

A white flash momentarily blinded me as a laser passed over my field of view. A burning sensation cut my shoulder, and behind me, I heard Alberich cry out. I sensed that the psyker had been injured as he fell to the ground. I stopped, and drew upon my Sight to strengthen the protective bubble around us. More laser blasts immediately assaulted our group, each now being deflected from my force shield. I immediately leaned down to see what had happened to Alberich, and discovered that he had a wound that had grazed one his left thigh. Despite it being a graze, it appeared to be serious!

"Who is that?" Lian asked as he now stood by us, his power sword held proudly in two hands. "Who are-"

"It's Alberich! And the Tzaangor is Zok. Alberich's in a new body! No time to explain' the party was crazy!" I shouted as I examined the psyker while also holding up my gold barrier.

"I'm sorry! I couldn't hold my shield up!" Alberich sputtered. The wound was bleeding in places, but the heat of the laser had at least cauterized most of his injury. It appeared that these white Wheeler lasers were terribly overpowered, and that they were more cannon than rifle! A direct hit from one of the white lasers instead of the red ones could probably take someone's limb off!

The laughter of the Wheelers filled the air like a gang of evil mechanical hyenas, and as I continued to frantically pull Alberich to his feet as Lian stood guard. My senses shimmered in great alarm as all at once, I perceived danger coming from all angles! My heart fluttered and ached, and I again tried to ignore it.

They come for you now, Dark Queen! I heard Word Bear happily transmit to me as I saw a mass of static-filled computer monitor heads appear back on the tarmac, and begin making their way to me, all while laughing madly! What the fuck, Word Bear? The Chaos Marine sounded like he was having fun, I thought as I frantically unwound Alberich's head scarf, and wrapped it around his leg, my hands shaking.

"Get him up! Help him to the Divine Retribution!" I quickly commanded to Zok as I passed Alberich to him, my teeth chattering and my heart aching as the mass of Wheelers to the south reorganized themselves to assault me instead of the Word Bearers!

Our group was now hobbling our way to the Divine Retribution, which was now fully visible on the tarmac. Its head was turned toward us. It almost seemed to study us from above with three luminous blue green eyes like an unknowable eldritch god.

My senses shivered in terrible alarm as I perceived that Langwidere's military shuttles were nearly here! To the west, shadows in the sky were approaching from the city center, the thrum of their engines barely audible over the mad screaming laughter of the Wheelers.

I deflected another white laser blast with my own shield as we hobbled along, now about two thirds the way there. My heart was now fluttering, and with it, the shield that surrounded us flickered. With a sudden burning pain in my leg, I lost my footing, and stumbled on the tarmac! My protective shield guttered out, and now, we were extremely exposed!

"She's hit!" Lian's voice called out as a white laser struck his power armor, and was deflected.

"We have to escape!" Alberich cried out!

"We're so close!" Zok added with a cry!

No! No we weren't going to die here, I thought angrily as I forced myself to my feet, ignoring my pain. My ship is right there, and this was all a bunch of Tzeentchian "just as planned" bullshit manipulated by that god for entertainment, and since I was his favorite toy, he wouldn't let me die like this, would he?

I drew upon my power again and reignited the shield, but this time, I did not continue to flee. "We must go!" Lian said, tugging on my arm.

No! an internal sense shouted to me. My heart continued to beat irregularly, but I wasn't worried about that. The core of my being curdled at the thought of running any longer. I wanted to teach Langwidere, her soldiers, and her servitors a fucking lesson!

"No! I'm going to make them go!" I shouted indignantly, my voice strong and furious. Lian immediately flinched as if physically struck. "I've had it with this fucking world!" I added as I turned around to face the mass of Wheelers racing toward me. Power began to filter through my being causing my eyes to glow. I spread my arms wide, and began to levitate. "I am the Inheritor of Mankind, and I will destroy those who would oppose me!"

With a great inhale, I dramatically pulled into my Sight, drinking deeply of the strange power that now infected the depths of my being. My Corona, instead of only emerging around my head and shoulders, now surrounded my entire body! My heart, as expected, began to palpitate with a stinging ache along my left arm.

Distantly, I heard Word Bear's voice bellow over the mad laughter of battle. "Oh, brothers! Look! Behold the Star Child! Behold our newborn Dark Queen!" Word Bear shouted with glee as I continued to pull upon my energy. "As I have foretold!"

First, I would slow time down again. Time itself obeyed my will, and the world slowed to a crawl. I allowed the energy of the Divine Retribution to saturate me, and I felt the ship's presence grow stronger. The pain in my leg, heart, and shoulder then vanished, and as I focused my power, an incredible feeling of potency sparkled through my nervous system, causing the tips of my fingers to tingle.

Changing my strategy, I let my intuition be my guide, and it directed my attention to what I needed to be aware of if I was going to destroy all of my enemies. There were many threats assailing me and my friends. Three enemy vessels were attempting to land nearby, one on the tarmac, and two atop other stone buildings that bordered the runway. Rasputin's vessel was still further out, but it would also be here soon. High above us in the sky, more bursts of light dotted the night. Instantly, I was able to discern that this was from the minefield, and that the Necron fleet was dismantling it before they assaulted this world.

The group of seven Word Bearers stood scattered in the port, and each were involved in fighting Wheelers. Some wore helmets, and some did not. Each Chaos Marine watched me as they fought with various Wheelers, and some wore expressions that could be described as euphoric behind their helmets. Word Bear himself was pointing in my direction, and under his horned helmet, tears of joy were flowing down his face.

The mass of Wheelers had turned around, and were now only about fifty meters away from us, racing down the length of the runway to assail us. They would be here any moment. Many of these servitors had what appeared to be laser cannons on their backs.

Alright, now, what would I do, I wondered playfully as I floated in the air. There was danger all around, and a single fireball wouldn't be able to stop all these Wheelers or the soldiers that were landing. I calmly drew upon my experiences, and then, settled upon one particularly showy solution that felt like it would be great fun. On Nubua, I had engaged in similar magic, but this would be a step up, I thought with a smile as I cracked my knuckles.

I raised my hands again, and around me, I felt the air begin to stir, even in slowed time. I would need to restart the flow of time for this to work, I knew intuitively.

With a blink, I restarted time, and the wind around my little group had begun to whip up out of nowhere.

"Stay put," I commanded my companions. They huddled together in fear below me as they stood together, staying out of the wind.

Faster and faster the whirlwind spiraled as I visualized the formation of a tornado of supernatural wind and force directly centered around me. The Wheelers continued to fire their weaponry as they finally arrived, but no bolt was able to pierce my ghostly wall of wind. As expected, the battle servitors could not cross the tornado that now circled around me, and I laughed as one of them was actually picked up by the wind and tossed away into the wreckage of the terminal.

I continued to magnify the wind, and the Wheelers that advanced to me all found themselves blown away like little toys.

Wow, this felt amazing, I thought again, feeling my power swim easily around me. After feeling so helpless for a portion of the evening, feeling this strength again was almost blissful. Maybe being able to throw fireballs, telepathically brainwash my enemies, kill daemons, and backtalk literal Chaos Gods wasn't such a terrible thing, I thought as I threw a gold bolt of lightning ahead of me, striking a Wheeler with such force that it actually blew apart. This was almost too easy now! Intuitively, I now understood that part of the reason that I was particularly "juiced up" on power was because of my close proximity to the Divine Retribution, among other reasons. I could magnify and draw upon its power reserves from here, amplifying my energy and enabling greater endurance.

I laughed as I put my glowing gaze upon the three nearby shuttles that approached from the west. Each vessel was filled with Langwidere's elite soldiers, and at least two Blanks were spread across these flyers. I felt one of the shuttles anticipate what was going to happen, and it then turned around and frantically attempted to escape.

"Oh no, you don't!" I chuckled evilly. "No one escapes divine retribution!"

With a snap of my fingers, the tornado was now on fire, and I commanded its incandescent winds to expand! The bright flames swirled around me, feeding off of the incredible power I was channeling. I lifted one of my arms, and with an easy slap, a supernatural gout of fire and intense wind separated from my fire tornado and struck the first two shuttles. With an easy redirection of my energy, I then bent the flaming rope of energy to strike at the third shuttle with the force of an angry god!

I felt the screams and panic from the occupants of all three shuttles as they burned for daring to go against me. They were humans, so it was a shame, but any humans who would follow a leader who had aligned herself against humanity had to die. It was as simple as that, I thought coldly as I absorbed over a dozen more screaming souls.

I continued to pull upon my energy, summoning my power to myself in transcendent glee. Below, servitors continued to wildly attempt to assault my fire tornado, and each were set aflame and thrown into the air, where they fell as flaming (and laughing) projectiles. Maybe I could just will everyone who fights against me to burn up instantly? Maybe I could insta-kill all the Necrons lurking around in space nearby? Was this what being God felt like?

This felt really incredible, I thought as my radiant power washed through me like liquid sunshine. Drunk on power, I allowed my thinking to drift. I was a creature of sublime potency, loosed onto humankind as a living weapon against those who would threaten it. The sensation of being immersed so completely in Sight was utterly intoxicating; I felt proud and powerful, like a bright star of righteous condensed energy that could be admired by all. Distantly, I once again heard what sounded like prayers calling out to me from many places, their words pleasantly caressing my very being. I smiled in response as I floated inside the conflagration. I witnessed the desperate souls of Rhadabus as they reached for my light, their eyes filled with need. They were my humans, and I needed to help, lead, and protect them. As I basked in this transcendent experience, time then began to slow around me. I hadn't intended this to happen, and my heart began to ache painfully again.

As thrilled as I was, something deep within me finally began to worry, and my smile dipped. Something was wrong. I had to calm down, I had to-

And then, as easily as I had invaded Aszi's mind, the Divine Retribution's machine spirit reached into the depths of my very being, tearing through me like tissue paper.

A strange susurrus of shining whispers then washed through me like a swarm of gold locusts, causing my entire soul to resonate like a bell. Vivid artificial fantasies of myself at the head of vast armies of humans were implanted in hyper-reality within my mind's eye at a thousand flickering visions a second. The sensation felt as if I was a small moon being pulled into the gravity of a giant gold star, and that there was nothing I could do to slow my descent.

The Divine Retribution then spoke to me, and its voice was the heart of a star.

Embrace your power. Feel the power of your station, the glory you inspire, the prayers that yearn for you in the dark of this universe. Feel them all! This is your position, and this is your station! You will defend humanity, for this is who you are! many amalgamate voices, both male and female, sang in my mind. The Divine Retribution demanded to be heard!

I forcibly began to pull myself back from my reverie, and my heart began to flutter painfully, as more strange bellicose fantasies continued to flicker deep inside my mind. I felt overloaded with energy, and I clutched at my chest, gasping! The fire tornado around me grew even hotter, turning bright blue in its heat!

My heart! What was happening?! Slow down, I scolded myself as I clutched my heart! Get it together! A sense of impending doom fell over me, and now, I was frightened. I'm in a perpetual body, so I can't just die of a heart attack if I ate too many souls and absorbed too much power, right? Desperately, I began to breathe deeply as I concentrated on bending time to flow more normally. Again, time did not obey, and I felt the overwhelmingly willful machine spirit's imperative tear through me again.

You will not fear the death of what you are, for you will live onward as a glorious vessel for the will of humankind! the loud godlike voice crawled through me. You are the Inheritor, and thy will be done! Destroy any who would subdue you! Obliterate those who would hurt your people!

Definitely afraid now, I continued to forcefully pull myself back from losing myself in the influence of the Divine Retribution's imperative.

A slight hint of disappointment, and my halo slightly dimmed. My vision began to grey at its edges, and a stabbing pain arced through my chest and left arm.

You will eventually accept this mantle, and your responsibility. This is who you are and who you must be! the conglomerate mass of voices sang through me like a rainstorm of power before finally retreating again.

I fell back on the tarmac as the fire tornado winked away, and my world was swallowed by darkness.

"You overloaded yourself. Great job, dummy," Tzeentch's voice jeered at me from somewhere as I was laying on a cold hard surface. "This was always a problem with Sebastian, you know. Dumbass kept getting himself killed. A good thing you're a perpetual, right?"

"What?" I stammered as I stood up. With a fright, I discovered that I was once again in Judy Garland's Dorothy Gale body, and I also found that I was once again standing within Tzeentch's Crystal Labyrinth. "Hey!"

"Hey is for horses, little girl," the voice languidly drawled at me from everywhere. In a puff of smoke, Tzeentch appeared again before me in his male humanoid form. "So, this would normally be when I would snatch up a soul that I've taken a fancy to and capture it forever for food and fun. But you, dearest Erika, have the benefit of being a perpetual, so you're going to get zapped back into your body. Also, please take your stupid dog back to the Materium. I'm sick of watching him up here! He got into my Hidden Library and the little bastard even ate some priceless knowledge!"

"I'm dead?!" I asked in horror. Wolfie appeared at my feet in Toto form. He sat next to me as he held what appeared to be a book in his jaws. The title on the book was visible on its spine, and it read: "The Complete History of the Second Legion".

The irritated god rolled his eyes as he crouched down to retrieve the book from Wolfie's jaws. The astral hound then actually growled at Tzeentch and briefly refused to let go of the shredded book in his mouth before eventually releasing it. "Do I have to explain everything, Erika? This is actually the second time you've died in that body. My old pal Sebastian actually killed you when he possessed you awhile back, but you didn't even notice, apparently. But, lucky you, killing you permanently takes a lot more effort, which is some serious plot armor on your behalf. Your perpetual nature isn't as good as say, Vulkan's, but you can heal from dumb things like heart attacks and being psychically overloaded. In my opinion, it would actually be better and more fun for you to become my prince, of course, but we'll cross that bridge when we get there."

"Uh," I mumbled, unable to form words.

Tzeentch looked back to me, and grinned widely. He looked just like Alberich's new body. This new development was incredibly unsettling.

"I know. Why do you think I planned it this way? Now you get to see my smiling face all the time in the mortal world, so now you'll never be rid of me. Think of it as a preview for when you're mine forever!" the god laughed as the world began to fade away again, and I felt the sensation of falling. "Ah, and there we go. Back to the Materium with you! I'll talk to you later, my dear!"

I woke up with a gasp as I lay on the tarmac. My companions were standing over me. I felt the sensation of a dog licking my cheek with a cold tongue.

"How long was I gone?" I asked, pulling myself into a sitting position. Wolfie was back! I pet the astral hound behind his ears, and he wagged his partially insubstantial tail in a black blur. But, wait, why was he so big now? Wolfie seemed to have gotten bigger again, and was now the size of a small Border Collie.

"Only a moment. Did you lose consciousness?" Lian asked. "Is that Wolfie?"

"Worse than that, and yeah, Wolfie's back," I replied as I dizzily stood up. My heart ached, and my vision seemed to be slightly blurred. I staggered to my feet. I felt completely drained, and my heart still hurt. Did I really just die?

"The Wheelers, it seems, are no longer an urgent problem," the Fallen rumbled as he steadied me. Lian then gestured outward with one of his gauntleted hands. Alberich was also now on his feet, and he was being steadied by Zok, who had his arm around the bleeding psyker. Alberich wore an expression that communicated that he was in pain, and his leg wound still bled.

"What?" I asked muzzily, still feeling disconnected. With a few blinks, I then finally studied the area. Battle servitors twitched and gibbered as they burned to death around us in the absolutely devastated port. Distant screams of dying soldiers sang through the air, which no longer held the mad laughter of Wheelers. As I watched all of this, I felt the Key devour a nearby soul, which had been one of Langwidere's elite soldiers in one of the shuttles. "Did I really do all this?" I asked quietly despite knowing perfectly well that I was responsible. The purr of an engine could be heard from somewhere, but I was too disoriented to understand where it was coming from. The world was very confusing right now, and it appeared that death to a perpetual was still an uncomfortable affair. I watched as Lian nervously observed the area of the port behind him.

"Another vessel comes, and more servitors will no doubt come to the port. We must go!" the Fallen hissed at me.

"I died," I spoke in a small voice. My head swam as I gazed out at the destroyed port, not quite connected to reality. I felt as if both my very insides and my soul had been seared, and my skin felt as if I had been sunburned. A trickle of hot blood fell from one of my ears, and streamed down my neck.

I heard someone whistling in my direction, and I turned, not quite listening to what Lian was saying. It was Word Bear, I could tell. He trotted forward onto the tarmac with his brothers. He held his helmet in his hand as he wore a wide happy smile. The group of Chaos Marines then stopped about ten meters away, and Lian held his sword aloft in a threatening manner. Honestly, if these guys wanted to kill us right now, they could. When I tried to pull upon my Sight, intense pain shot through my spine. It appeared that I had completely overexerted myself. It seemed that I did not have to worry, however, as Word Bear then waved his armored hand in a friendly gesture toward us. "Bless you, and thank you!" Word Bear shouted my way, his musical dark voice filled with mirth. "What a beautiful demonstration you have offered to my Brothers and I! You have convinced them beyond a shadow of a doubt! We're leaving now, but we all have something to communicate to you, God-Empress..."

I watched blearily as each Word Bearer that had been wearing their helmets removed them, displaying faces of various severities of mutation. On Word Bear's right, I recognized Aszi's scaled face, and saw that he was still weeping heavily, and that he could not make eye contact with me. With another gesture from Word Bear, all seven giant Chaos Marines fell to their knees before me, their heads bowed and their souls shining in submission.

"What the fuck?" I whispered.

"A trick! Be alert!" Lian replied to me, still holding his sword.

Word Bear then stood tall again and beamed with happiness. "No trick, little Fallen! Exalted Star Child, and newborn Dark Queen, you have given us a spectacular gift, one that we as Word Bearers have been thirsting for for thousands of years! You give us hope! For us, we now see a light to guide us out of hell, and soon, we will be your angels of retribution, and the bearers of your word! We go now, but fear not, we will see you later, blessed vessel of the divine."

Before anyone could respond to this insanity, Word Bear and his Chaos Marine companions then turned around, and began hustling down the runway, away from us. Quickly, they turned a corner, and were gone. Wolfie whined in confusion at my feet.

"Okay," I sighed, half disassociated. My ears were ringing and my vision was grey around the edges. I reached up to touch my bleeding ear. "Did all that just really happen?"

"Yes, but I urge you now, we have to go! Someone else is here!" Lian spoke to me with insistence.

"That someone is us, witch!" an angry bleating voice called out from behind the Divine Retribution, which was about fifty meters away. I turned around. Oh, this was the other shuttle that had been coming up from the south. I had forgotten to destroy this one! "Evanora of the East, stop right there! Under authority of governor Langwidere, you are hereby under arrest for mass murder, espionage, heresy, and disturbing the peace! You can either go quietly, or we can make this painful for you. All of you, get on the ground!"

Ahead, I could see a group of gaudily dressed people wearing loud red, white, and blue clothing. Each had either what appeared to be firearms or glowing staves pointed in my direction. I started to laugh, and shook my head. Are you kidding me? They're trying to arrest me? After all that?

"So, guys," I shouted back. "I don't know how in touch with reality you cultists are, but I basically just completely destroyed this port with a fire tornado. I know you guys are crazy Chaos followers, so maybe you were just too high and didn't see that, but-"

My words died as I then recognized Rasputin standing behind the cultists. He still held his eagle staff, and he was grinning widely. The mad monk then called out to me, "Better do what he says, my dear. I know for a fact that you've drained yourself to the last, and you can't summon any more pyrotechnics."

"I told you he was duplicitous!" Alberich hissed beside me, still being held by Zok. Wolfie began to growl at my feet. A shimmering blue halo of power then ignited around Alberich's head. "But, not to worry, my leader. I still have power within me to make these degenerates regret their choices."

"I really wouldn't do that, whoever you are," Rasputin purred as the group of cultists then began to walk forward. Three of these individuals, two women, and one man, now seemed to have magenta halos, and two held magic staffs, which were pointed at us as they stepped forward. The infamous monk then seemed to study Alberich's new human face. His eyes then widened in surprise, apparently recognizing the former beastman.

"Young lady, I suggest that you surrender," the bleating voice called out to me again. This voice, I discovered, came from an old man with goat horns and four red eyes. The mutant goat-man wore star-spangled robes, and stood at the very front of the group, and his halo glowed violently pink in the dark. He stood at the head of the small group, and he did not appear pleased. He snorted like a farm animal as he and the other cultists advanced to us. Rasputin, strangely, remained behind as he wore an evil smile. The goat-man snorted as he continued to speak, and his halo shimmered with sickening magenta light. "My name is Confessor Locke, third in command to the Family of Liberty under Matriarch Raula White. Am'Erika wakes now to protect Tar Vigaz from the menace in silver above, and you will not obstruct the defense of this world! If you call off your dogs and come with us willingly, maybe forgiveness can be given by the-"

The next few events happened within the span of a single heartbeat! A loud shot rang out, and now, Confessor Locke was falling to the ground, his horned head burst apart by an explosive shell. Seeing this, the attending psykers immediately hurled gouts of pink fire my way, but their magic didn't even reach us, as it seemed to strike an invisible wall that had appeared before the group.

My head whipped toward Lian, assuming that he had been the one that had shot the Confessor, but I found that both of his hands still gripped his power sword. As the confused psyker cultists continued to attempt to hurl pink fire our way, each of their heads then quickly exploded into gore. The remaining two cultists were then set aflame, and slammed to the ground. A handful of souls fled into my Key, which I noted was now very hot and uncomfortable again. Confusion rippled through both my companions and myself, but then, I noticed a heavy smoking gun in Rasputin's hands. The Russian's head was now ringed with a slight white glow. The Mad Monk grinned. "Never liked that old goat."

No one spoke for a moment until I finally rasped out, "What just happened?"

"I needed a ride here from Port Ruby," Rasputin responded with his peculiarly lackadaisical tone as he creepily sniffed the plume of smoke that rose from the barrel of his boltgun. "They were the only ones willing to get me to this port, and now they've outlived their usefulness. Apologies on the brief deception. It was necessary."

Alberich spat on the ground, and growled at Rasputin. "Filthy duplicitous Russians! Slovenly abortions of human progression!"

"It's nice to see you too, Heinrich," Rasputin responded with a chuckle. "I'm actually amazed that you're still alive. I thought Langwidere lied to me when she said that you went missing."

"Not Heinrich," Alberich continued to bristle angrily. "Alberich. I'm in Heinrich's body now."

"And that would explain the sudden German accent and sunny disposition," Rasputin replied as he began rifling through the pockets of each of the killed cultists, ignoring the ones that were on fire. "So, you've traveled to yet another body, and this one is the governor's ex lover. Heinrich probably set all this up so he could finally escape this world in a new body that his former paramour could not hunt. Good for him!"

"This is Grand Advisor Grigori if you have not met this individual yet. He has the ear of Langwidere herself," Lian hissed under his helmet to me. "Would you like for me to kill him?"

"Don't kill me, Fallen Angel," Rasputin purred again, completely unconcerned as he stole from his dead companions. "Tsarina, if I am killed, you're stuck here. Remember my request back at the palace?"

"Do you think to threaten or deceive us, ally to Chaos?" Lian shot back at Rasputin.

"No threats. This is a simple observation. On my way here, I received word that the Tower of Reason finally fell, and that Langwidere would be taking control of the minefield above us very soon. She wishes to trap everyone in here, and perhaps she has already done so. With a fully armed minefield, no one else can leave, and we'd all be facing certain doom under an alien fleet or Am'Erika's hunger. And speaking of that-"

Rasputin stood, and turned around. He then pointed to the south with his eagle staff. The light surrounding the distant Statue of Libertine was now a bright red, and the gold hull of the colossus now shimmered with power. "By my estimates, they've now sacrificed the requisite amount of people in order to call their false angel god into existence. On top of that, they have even more miserable wretches that they have not even killed yet, which they will no doubt sacrifice soon if they haven't already. Without the Tower of Reason, the statue can now live. But I, like you, don't intend to be here when it steps off that podium."

"You want passage on our ship," I remembered slowly from my confrontation with the mad monk back at the palace. I was very tired. Behind me, I could now hear the thrum of another shuttle engine approaching from Port Carmine to the north. "You manipulated all these people so you could get off this world?"

"The longer we sit here talking about it, the more danger there is, tsarina," Rasputin announced in a manner of fact tone. The Port Carmine shuttle continued to quickly approach, and I turned around nervously.

Noting my trepidation at seeing this new flyer, Alberich closed his eyes, and I felt him begin to remote view the speeding vehicle. After a few moments, the psyker offered, "That shuttle contains Null." This was a relief. At least we didn't have to go and pick him up now.

"So," Rasputin spoke with a short grin as he walked confidently forward, his blue eyes sparkling in happiness. "When do we leave?"

"Don't let this awful specimen into our ship," Alberich growled, still being held up by Zok. "He lied and manipulated everyone he served under, and he will do the same to you!"

"I swore an oath to God to serve under the House of Romanov in my old reality, and my oath still holds true. This is my true allegiance," Rasputin offered calmly. "I would never betray my true charge."

I was very tired and I wanted to leave. Looking up at the sky (which was now ringed with the faintest hint of light from the advancing dawn), the bright explosive starbursts from the minefield were growing more numerous. The Nome King's Necron fleet soared nearby. I didn't want to stick around for this.

"I will kill him at your request," Lian reminded me.

"Kill me and you'll never get past the minefield," Rasputin reminded us curtly.

"And you somehow have a way past that fully armed space minefield," I spoke.

Rasputin nodded.

Nearby, Null's shuttle softly landed between burning piles of Wheeler bodies and various bits of debris on the tarmac. I could now hear distant yowling as reinforcement Wheelers frantically made their way to the port from the city center. We needed to get out of here.

I sighed heavily. Rasputin was undeniably shady, but he had just saved us again, and he had saved my life from Ven Tristan's murder attempt. Over Alberich's shoulder, I watched as the shuttle door opened, and Null raced out of the flyer. He was heavily laden with what appeared to be luggage, and two tall red-robed and metal-implanted warriors stood on either side of him, along with a floating servo-skull. We could have used all that muscle earlier, I thought with a sigh.

"Inheritor!" Null shouted as he hustled to us with his new guards. "Inheritor, we have to get out of here! We have to-"

The Tech-priest then noticed my company, and was momentarily stunned, his animated green eyes lashing to and fro. His guards immediately aimed their rifles at Rasputin. "That's Grand Advisor Grigori, the governor's personal advisor!" he cried out. "He's dangerous!"

"He also claims that he has a way to bypass the minefield," I replied, utterly exhausted.

"You don't have to worry about the damned minefield!" Null cried out. "Precautions have been taken! You'll be permitted to leave!"

"Oh, I highly doubt Langwidere hasn't already thought of whatever precautions that have been taken," Rasputin replied dryly. "That woman is filled with secrets. Anyway, I'm on your side now. I simply want to leave this world, and I've saved your 'Inheritor's' life a few times already. I just killed Confessor Locke, see?" the Mad Monk gestured to the bloody scene behind him, but Null's two metal guards continued to aim their weapons at Rasputin.

The Wheelers were growing closer, I could tell.

"Okay, look, whatever. I'm making a judgement call here. We're leaving. I'll figure out what to do with Rasputin later, but for now, I'm taking him with us. Everyone, let's go," I replied, frustrated.

"And my guard?" Null immediately asked me.

I paused, and looked at Null's two bodyguards. They appeared to be two Skitarii, and each wielded long rifles that appeared very dangerous. One was male, and the other, female. Having more muscle was always good, and Null had always groused about not having his Skitarii followers whenever we went somewhere dangerous. "Did you two want to come with us?"

The two guards then regarded me from their height, and responded in buzzing mechanical voices. "We have been instructed by Magos Amee to guard Archmagos Nemo with our lives. If he wishes, we will follow him aboard."

"He's under my command, so if you come with me, you're both under my command," I clarified.

I thought that Null would object to this, but the Tech-priest then quickly said, "She tells the truth, Rahm, Kaas. She is my superior, and is the one who summoned the fire tornado you saw in the sky earlier."

The two Skitarii turned to me again, and then, briefly bowed. "Then we will follow if you will accept us."

"Alright, fine, the world is ending. Again. Let's get the hell out of here! Everyone get on board!" I shouted with frustration. Rasputin stepped forward, a smug smile on his face as Alberich continued to bristle at this development. While very suspicious and exceedingly greasy, I knew that if I wanted to, I could just will the Divine Retribution to devour his soul when he was inside the ship. And since I was a perpetual, killing me wouldn't be easy, so I felt pretty safe.

Everyone began to protest Rasputin's addition in some capacity, but with a short command of, "Deal with it," we were now hastily making our way to the Divine Retribution. I watched as my vessel's immense head turned to watch me as I approached it, and when I reached its front, it repositioned itself properly, and a gangway opened up for us. Wolfie, ever excitable, dashed up the stairs in a blur of black smoke.

"I sincerely hope that you're not making a mistake, my leader," Alberich rasped as he limped along up the gilded stairs.

"I make a lot of mistakes, but at the very least, I figure that I'd like to be somewhere else right now when I make them. If he says he can open a closed minefield, then fine. He really did save my life earlier."

"And, don't forget, I'm also a Traveler, as they say," Rasputin added behind us in his distinctive Russian accent. "What fun it is for me to be in the company of my kin, even if you are an American and a German. I'll forgive you both for not being Russian!"

As I passed through the threshold of the Divine Retribution's body, a sense of relief flowed over me. Maybe we'd finally be done with this terrible world now? I clutched at my aching heart again, and hoped that everything would be easy from now on that we were supplied up and ready to flee. I mean, how could this get any worse?

Elsewhere:

"Knock knock. Anybody home?" Governor Langwidere mockingly called out as she stood before the threshold of the inner sanctum of the Tower of Reason. After a short media appearance assuring the populace that everything was now totally under control, the governor and her "independent" tech-priests were hard at work wrestling control of the entire Wheeler police force. Her double was now on its way to Port Ruby to oversee the final awakening of Am'Erika, the salvation of this world. A quick mental chat with High Confessor Kopeland confirmed that they had finally reached the minimal threshold of sacrifices required to call the Lord of Hosts down into the Materium and into his glorious gold statue. They even possessed an excess of souls that could be sacrificed, which was good. The glut of life energy would surely be enjoyed by the summoned divine spirit. While this evening had had a rough start, things were now looking up! Grand Advisor Grigori had even resurfaced in Port Ruby with a girl on his arm and a drunk smile on his face.

While Langwidere was not pleased that he had decided to have his own little party on such an important evening, she honestly could not fault him. Grigori always marched to the beat of a different drummer, and she enjoyed his rascally behavior from time to time. It was what made him so entertaining to be around! The wily Grand Advisor had informed the governor's representatives in Port Ruby that he knew that Evanora was currently bound for Port Aubergine directly after the power outage in Evna's city center. Grigori had proven himself trustworthy when the wicked bitch of the east was seen again speeding down the highway with her awful anarchist trash friends.

The governor had briefly lost her composure when she had seen through Wheeler surveillance that Evanora had stolen her custom flyer, the Horse of a Different Color! This proved that Evanora was definitely doing all of this to upset Langwidere, and that she had come all this way from Levant so that she could act like she was better than the governor!

This was all such an awful personal attack against her, Langwidere huffed and pouted as she stood before the steel door, considering everything that had transpired this evening. It felt like Evanora really was doing all this to upset poor innocent Langwidere, beloved daughter of the Fabricator-General! What was next, then? Was Evanora going to steal from her precious museum? Or, maybe the bitch was actually the one who had stolen dear beloved Heinrich away from her years ago? The depths of Evanora's depravity knew no bottom!

"Full control of Wheeler network established, governor," a dark (and blind) Tech-priest with in possession of both fleshy tentacles and snapping mechadendrites spoke to her in an artificial voice. This Tech-priest was more than a little unusual, but honestly, the governor enjoyed that this one looked a little different than the rest of his boring metal-jawed Imperial friends here at the Tower of Reason. These creative and independent Tech-priests had come in recently to aid the Family of Liberty in their effort to save this world, and that was mightily admirable. A fleshy appendage reached forward to gently touch Langwidere's shoulder, and she smiled graciously in gratitude. This particular Tech-priest (or, as he was more commonly known as, a "heretek") was a blind man with a long unpronounceable name. Langwidere just called him "Sparky", and he was a good boy. Old Sparky used two long tentacles to feel his way around instead of relying on his vision. Despite his disability, Sparky was a good, respectful worker, and the governor liked him. "We're working to override the lock on the inner sanctum now," the blind heretek croaked.

"Good," Langwidere responded. "Soon we can put all this unpleasantness behind us. My goodness, if only this tower had been as nice and as respectful as you, Sparky! Maybe you should have been Magos instead of that nasty old Nimmie Amee!"

A familiar sibilant voice them buzzed through the room. "Pity. I used to think that you were as brilliant as your so-called father, governor. I now know full well the folly of my ignorance. No matter what happens, I will not let this world fall to Chaos."

Langwidere sighed dramatically as she crossed her arms over her chest. "Don't you understand, you stupid cow? This world will die if I'm not allowed to call these angels to us! They want to help us, Nimmie! They promised that they would save us! And you're just getting in the damn way!"

"Save us?" Nimmie laughed bitterly over the com. "Save us?! Do you truly think that your daemonic masters would save you? It appears that I have underestimated your level of insanity as well. The Imperium must truly be on its last legs if the Fabricator-General thought that you were in high enough favor to rule over this world."

The governor shifted her weight as she watched her attending hereteks busy themselves around this sealed door. "You know, I saw those reports, Nim," Langwidere responded. "The intelligence you sent back to Mars, I saw what you said. I know what you think of me, and I saw the terrible lies you wrote. I had to stop the reports since they were all so filled with falsehoods. What did I ever do to you?"

A pause as a clanging sound echoed in the room. Two dark Tech-priests then appeared, and each placed some kind of round blinking device about ten centimeters in diameter against the shut steel door.

"I suppose that explains Mars' recent silence," Nimmie sighed. "But, Langwidere, I do implore you to listen to reason. I will warn you now that you are on the wrong side of history. The one you call Evanora is not your enemy, but a new soul lives in her flesh. Your rival is gone, her soul scattered somewhere along the multiverse. The new soul you mistakenly war against is a Traveler. And, not only that, an Inheritor. We talked about Travelers before, remember?"

"All rubbish," Langwidere cooed as she motioned for the Tech-priests to ignite the electro-magnetic pulse charges that would short out the door. "How stupid do you think I am? And now, you're probably going to offer me this silly story that I keep hearing that Evanora is now the new Emperor of Mankind. And why? Because she dressed up as one at my party and ruined it? Are you daft?"

"Langwidere, please lis-"

With a bang, the charges had expended their energy, and now, a short gap had appeared in the center of the door. A drooling servitor with two large metal crab claws for hands lumbered into the room, and was directed toward the door. The servitor then plunged its pinchers into the gap, and began to pry, pushing both halves of the barrier apart. The sound of grinding metal filled the room.

"Listen to me, Langwidere. I tell you truth. As unlikely as it is, Erika holds the same sort of unique power as our Omnissiah holds. She is, in fact, an avatar of the perfection of the machine as it is integrated into flesh. She has a divine mission, and you would do well to stay away from interfering in it. To oppose the will of God is to invoke divine retribution upon yourself!"

"And here you are spouting nonsense while speaking to me of heretical insanity. What if Mars heard you saying all of that, hmm? Maybe I'll send you back to them in pieces as a warning against speaking such heresy?"

"Then I would go to my death proudly. But, it doesn't matter. Even if you get my body, you're not getting me, Langwidere," Nimmie responded coldly. "And, you're not going to win. I'd rather this world die to xenos than to let the forces of Chaos take it. I accept my fate."

The door had now been pried open, and the governor walked inside the inner sanctum accompanied by two hereteks.

The inner sanctum was an absolute mess. Smoking and splintered cogitators sparked and buzzed as it became evident that everything within this room had been sabotaged to prevent the governor from using it. A corpse with thin needles emerging from its head lay strapped to a metal gurney in a corner, and whatever machine it had been connected to had also been destroyed. Langwidere could tell that all the sophisticated surveillance monitoring machinery and advanced controls for the Wheeler police force had been intentionally smashed to pieces. "Real mature, Nimmie," Langwidere groaned. "It looks like you're the one who wants to see this world descend into Chaos. Smashing all the monitoring stations only means more trouble for my poor innocent citizens."

"You're being willfully ignorant, but I suppose that I can't fault you for that. Maybe this was simply the way your father programmed you?" Nimmie sniped back.

"And you're being rude and insulting again. Typical. You know, I never did like you anyway. You always gave me such bad vibes," Langwidere said as she picked her way through the destroyed room. "So, where are you, Nimmie darling? You're somewhere here, I can feel it."

"Your father never told you about who and what you were, did he?" Nimmie asked as Langwidere found the entrance to the mysterious vault, which was sealed flush against the pylon. At the mention of the governor's father, more nervous whispering from wonderstruck hereteks filled this small sanctum.

"He told me that he loves me, and that I'm his favorite," Langwidere responded easily as she walked forward toward the base of the pylon. "Stop stalling. Did you really think you could stop me?"

Nimmie laughed. "There's no way you're getting in here, though. This is a blackstone pylon, which was made by xenos technologies. Only similar tech can open the way, and I highly doubt you possess such modifications. And even if you did, you would still lose. All outcomes have been foreseen, all problems anticipated."

"Oh, really?" Langwidere hissed evilly as she scraped her sharp fingers against the surface of the pylon. The noise screeched like grating metal, causing the hereteks to flinch. "Shows how much you know about me then, Nimmie."

The governor paced back and forth, adjusting her vision to dip into the infrared spectrum to study the pylon more critically. It was Necron technology, she had always known. However, she had not known that there was a room within the pylon. How intriguing that Nimmie had been keeping secrets from her all these years.

Touch the wall, Langwidere... her heart spoke to her distantly. It will open for you...

The governor smiled. The side effects of having one's consciousness and Warp presence rooted to an artificial alien heart had some peculiar side effects. One such quirk was that Langwidere now sometimes heard a tiny voice that seemed to speak through the enhancements she had made to her own body. Admittedly, she did not know which of these modifications specifically held this shred of consciousness, but it always felt as if it was her unbeating alien heart that spoke to her, giving her helpful advice from time to time. The concept was somewhat poetic, really, as the old saying of "follow your heart" was common in her court. In the beginning, the mystery voice had alarmed her, but in time, she found that she enjoyed its advice too much to want to silence it. Langwidere's cold heart whispered to her dreams, and promised that power and rulership would be gifted to her one day. It inspired her, and it told her that she was beautiful, powerful, and wondrous, which was great for her self-esteem.

And now, the helpful whisper told her to place her hands on the side of the pylon's blackstone surface, and to concentrate on forcing it open.

With a mad grin, she did so.

A thin green line then began to glow along the outline of what appeared to be a door as Langwidere concentrated. The strange voice spoke to her from deep within as the door began to open, and this time, it's voice was somewhat more forceful than usual.

You will enact my will, her heart whispered.

The secret door ground open, and within, Langwidere beheld a dark room filled with jewels, works of art, and a few weapons of Necron make. This room had been here this whole time, and Magos Amee had never even told her? How utterly rude! Off to one side, and before a tall console of blinking lights and switches, the governor saw a red-robed pile of metal that sprawled lifelessly on the floor. Ugh, how disappointing!

"Coward," Langwidere replied as she walked forward to kick one of the Magos' limp spidery arms. "Can't even face me in person! Suicide is cowardly!"

The governor then saw a blinking red light on the console, and following her intuition, she touched it impulsively. The voice of Nimmie Amee then rang through the room again.

"If you're listening to this message, governor Langwidere, then that means that this particular vessel of my consciousness has become inoperable. This does not mean, however, that I have died. I, like you, am well learned in the more mysterious aspects of technology and soul transference, and as you listen to this, one of my own doubles now reanimates. You're probably wondering where I am right now. Am I on Tar Vigaz? Maybe the mining world of Fire Island? Alas, I will not tell you, but since you're so damn smart, maybe you can figure it out on your own."

Langwidere then became so upset that she began to stamp her feet on the ground, which caused priceless emeralds to shatter under her. The recording continued: "I've calculated the probability of the success of your Chaotic siege, cursed traitor of mankind. I'm very sorry to say that after witnessing just how large the encroaching xenos fleet is, that I estimate that you have a .7% chance of victory against these incoming aliens. Even if you immediately arm the minefield and trap the remaining population here to fuel your daemonic sacrifices, the fleet is so overwhelming and so close that there is likely little you can do to succeed. You are simply out of time now. The coming of the Inheritor threw a wrench into your defensive plans, and has denied Chaos a new world! Should you somehow survive this, I will be there to praise the Omnissiah's avatar when she rises to her position, and I will laugh as you are directly condemned under the word of a new ruler of humankind, your traitorous name completely stricken from all of history."

"Governor?" one of the Tech-priests asked cautiously from outside. It was Sparky, and his long tentacles cautiously reached into the vault. "Governor, is everything-"

Langwidere, in one swift motion, reached for the Tech-priest's prodding tentacle. She grabbed it, and with her fearsome strength, she tore the appendage from the heretek's body in a single violent tug, and threw it back to him. The dark man then screamed and tried to get away from her, but the governor, sick with rage, rushed ahead, and plunged her fist clean through the heretek's chest, puncturing straight through both metal and corrupted flesh.

The heretek sparked and squealed as he died, and the other Tech-priests who had seen this trembled in fear.

"What?" Langwidere asked in a voice of evil metal as she withdrew her arm, which was now covered in black fluid and fetid blood. "We're arming the minefield! Search the premises for any trace of that wicked Magos! I promise not to crush the life out of whoever delivers to me information on where Nimmie Amee has fled to! Do it now!"

The governor's underlings scurried away, each reeking of terror. Langwidere then took a moment to settle herself. With a few deep breaths, she was now calm again. It was always good to have a handle of one's emotions, yes. Emotions made one feel alive, but getting too carried away was never good. Langwidere then stood before the minefield control console as she repeated in mantra, "I'm the most brilliant and beautiful perfect creature in existence" over and over as she began to entirely arm the minefield, trapping the remaining souls within Tar Vigaz.

"Let's see you escape that, Evanora!" the governor hissed in wicked satisfaction. "I'm going to win!"