Present
– Rykad Minoris, capital –
Elena woke up in a foul mood, feeling unrested, and stared at the ceiling for a few minutes, waiting for the feelings to go away.
Well, that precognition had been awful. Getting murdered in dreams was never any fun, especially when the stabbing feeling would not quite go away. The Triumph was going to go sideways, she was sure of it now.
She got up to her feet and cleansed her face, the cold water washing away the remnants of the nightmares. She'd grown used to them with time, but they had been really strong lately, ever since she became a Rogue Trader. Maybe the rumors about the ghosts haunting the ship weren't that stupid after all. Or maybe her fate to come was complete and utter martyrdom.
Times like these were good ones to kneel down and pray. She spent some time offering her prayers to the God-Emperor, contemplating His guidance. Then she clasped her black armor on and quickly braided her long hair in her back, checking her weapons twice for any default.
Finally, Vox-Master Vigdis informed her that they had arrived and were stationed into Rykad's orbit. The transport shuttle was ready for her and her retinue. Another shuttle would transport her guards and wardens. Evayne Winterscale, now healed from his wounds, had asked to witness her Triumph, to pay her his respect for the help she had timely provided his father's protectorate. Elena had agreed to it.
The Rogue Trader headed through the bridge, towards the shuttle. Inside, her retinue was already waiting for her, ready for the procession. Abelard had brushed his ponytail back perfectly and wore his most medalled uniform for the occasion, his swords clean and sharp. Idira somehow made an effort for the Triumph occasion and had conceded to brush her tousled hair and put on some official-looking robe, which looked gauche on her. Argenta had not bothered giving in to the tradition and still wore her battlesuit and bolter. Lady Cassia stood by Evayne's side, looking regal in her noble clothes, having put on one of her most elegant dresses and tied her hair in a beautiful updo. The young Winterscale had also cleaned up his clothes and his noble bearings were obvious in the luxury of his adornments and posture. His two eyes had been replaced by augments ; they were natural-looking enough, except for a discoloration and a metallic reflection at times. The two of them were discussing in a hushed tone. Elena had no idea what they were saying but they were the epitome of two nobles courting. On the other side, Heinrix and Pasqal were conversing softly. Whatever the topic was, it seemed to upset Pasqal whose mechadendrites moved around in a displeased way. Heinrix just had that magical effect on people.
When she came in, Abelard glanced at her skeptically. She thought she could overhead him as he bended towards Idira, whispering quietly :
" Tlass. Could you…err…maybe suggest to the Rogue Trader that going to a Triumph in combat suit might rub the governor the wrong way ? He might think we're just going to execute him."
" Why would I do that ? Are you asking that because I'm a woman ?"
" Well, this isn't exactly my place to say things like this…"
"Then don't ! And I'm not going to either. She can do her Triumph in rags for all I care. I don't like this governor anyway."
Elena ignored their whispering as she scanned her surroundings.
" Where's the armory rack ?" she asked sharply.
She was on edge, weary, and still feeling unsettled by her dark precognition. She just knew something bad was going to happen and she wanted to be ready for it.
" Rogue Trader," replied Abelard, " the diplomatic shuttle does not have an armory rack."
Her eyes narrowed.
" Then change the shuttle. I don't want this one. It's too exposed. Take the combat one."
Even though they didn't raise their voices, the other members of the retinue fell quiet, noticing her agitation.
" It will be done, Lord Captain." Elena made a note of Abelard's reactivity. The Seneschal took his vox : " Change of plan, Helmsman. We're taking the combat shuttle. Get it ready for departure right now." Ravor's voice sounded displeased on the other side of the vox, but Abelard ignored it, gesturing for the retinue to get out of the shuttle.
" Is anything the matter ?" asked Cassia hesitantly.
" I foresaw something terrible happening in the near future. Assassination, murder, death ; you name it, we're getting it. So leave the pretty clothes behind, put on some armor, take your grenades and keep an eye out. "
Elena couldn't stop her hand from reaching her chest, where Kunrad had stabbed her. The dreams had left her old wound tingling and hurting. Her expression closed up as she tried to mask her pain.
The rest of her retinue was now observing her with caution, as you would for someone unpredictable. Elena was used to this look, though a bit disappointed by it. They don't have faith in my omens yet. Everyone is like that at first. They never believe me.
Her gaze grew colder. " I don't like repeating myself", she said. Her coldness did the trick, as her companions bowed respectfully and headed out of the shuttle to grab their gears in the armory's rack. Poor Evayne looked a little intimidated by her.
As she was securing her helmet to her belt and packing her own grenades, Heinrix approached her. On the other side of the rack, Idira tilted her head slightly to eavesdrop as the Interrogator asked :
" We have rooted out the cult's leader. Has you precognition anything to do with the Final Dawn ?"
Elena purposefully focused on counting her ammunition. She didn't want Heinrix to be able to read anything upon her face.
" I don't know", she said, her voice sounding more hoarse than she'd like.
Heinrix sighed, and added patiently : " Rogue Trader, just tell me what you think you saw. If it is important to my quest, I need to know."
" I am not in the habit of explaining myself to outsiders", she rebuked sharply. She could tell that didn't please the Interrogator, who tensed. " But fine. I had a feeling of extreme, unnatural coldness, and death. Someone was orchestrating it all - someone abnormally tall, like a giant. The city behind it kept changing, once here, once mechanical. Voigtvir was linked to this, still fighting with me. And then it was dark, eternally so."
She paused. She couldn't check her ammunition anymore, that would just look maniacal now. Her being on edge was already bothersome enough without having to look crazy on top of it.
Glancing at Heinrix, she could tell he had really listened to her. What she said made him react - a flash of surprise, anger, pensiveness, even concern. She realized he understood things from what she said, more than her actually. It made her unsettling precognition even worse, as it seemed to make sense to him, if not to her.
" You understood that", she said matter-of-factly.
" Some of it. I am not at liberty to talk about it. " The mask was back again, hiding his worries, but something lingered on in his gaze, pensive. " Focus on your Triumph for now. "
She didn't know why she expected him to share his observation. She could tell that was a deadend. Elena didn't know if she was angry that he hid things from her so blatantly, or glad someone paid attention to her precognition for once. The indecision put her in an even fouler mood.
As she brushed past him ungently to get to her seat, Idira whispered to her : " Don't worry, Lord Captain. I'll have your back."
Somehow it made her feel even worse.
The rest of the day passed by in a haze, as Elena barely paid attention to the governor or the Triumph. She could tell Medineh was slightly insulted by her lack of formalism. She hadn't been the most upstanding Rogue Trader to him. Fortunately, Evayne's presence soothed things, as the young Lord demonstrated his diplomatic talent by compensating Elena's foul mood and cold behavior.
They began the procession in the streets of the city. The capital was crowded with citizens raising flags, posters, expressing their gratitude by showering her and the procession under applause and cries of excitement. Her wardens marched at her side as she stood on a tank decorated to the glory of the Imperium. Behind her, Aurora's corpse was exposed for all to see, her dead body crucified like a puppet or a scarecrow. For a long couple of hours, it seemed like nothing would happen and her omens had been for nothing. From her viewpoint, Elena couldn't quite gather her retinue's reactions. They were marching alongside the wardens, stoical. Abelard was on her left and Argenta on her right. They both were scanning the crowd. So her paranoia had rubbed off on them - or they were simply too dutiful.
However, as time passed, Elena couldn't quite shake off the cold drop of sweat. Her eyes darted along. She knew something bad was coming, but she didn't know where it would come from. From the crowd, shouting her name, chanting glory to her dynasty ? From the governor and his escort, walking behind her ? From the air, perhaps ? She felt her paranoia accentuate as she refused to relax.
At some point, the Master of Ceremonies decided to stop the cortege, and turned happily towards her. Her uncomfort and over-vigilance seemed to have gone unnoticed by him or the citizens, or maybe they took her stern attitude for a sign of authority somehow. The Master cleared his throat and beamed, his voice sugary : " The grateful citizens would like to present gifts to their redeemer ! Let us begin ! "
In the front row of the crowd, Elena's gaze fell upon a young father holding his child over her shoulder. They seemed happy. The child was pointing to her, looking delighted. But this vision slowly fell upon itself as Elena's diviner intuitions deconstructed it, each piece slowly separating from itself, unfolding into a new kaleidoscope of possibilities.
Under her eyes, she saw the flesh falling from the bone of the child, and felt a pain she had never felt before, something that pushed the air out of her lungs for all its violence. The crowd started to blur, the living decaying to death in front of her. A feeling of sorrow and oceanic loss nearly overwhelmed her, as she felt the pain from losing not once loved one, but an unfathomable number of them. The flash was so intense, so violent, that Elena, for all her training and experience, recoiled in fear, bumping against Aurora's corpse behind her. Never had she had to deal with a vision so bleak and so…vast !
" Lord Captain !" That was Abelard's voice on her vox, sounding worried. " Are you feeling well ?"
Elena saw the looks of worries and concern over the crowd, the smile upon the Master of Ceremonies. One of her hand went to reach for her weapon, as she used the other to click on her vox channel :
" No ! They're dead, Abelard ! They're all dead ! "
She couldn't quite hide the tremor of horror the vastness of her vision had inspired her. For her retinue, who didn't know her well but has seen nothing but calm from her, surely sensing her losing her grip would prove worrisome. And those moments had been few enough in her life for Elena to know that it was a sign of extreme danger.
For whatever reason, she knew the corpse she had just bumped into while recoiling was now looking at her. She felt the empty socket's gaze on her back, as a voice not her own resonated in her mind : 'They are all going to die. To die befuddled, never having seen the Truth. And it is all because of you, O enemy mine.' Her sentiment of horror redoubled at feeling the alien voice creeping inside her skull without her consent. Voices in her head was really not her thing at all.
" Take the people away !" Elena shouted, certainty in her voice. The moment she had been dreading was happening now.
As the warden and the guards started obeying her, suddenly a vague sense of extreme coldness hit her, as a headache started to form. She couldn't help but wince in pain. In the cortege, Heinrix and Idira both had stopped, seemingly feeling the same thing she did. The Interrogator had stopped walking, his hands to his temple, gritting his teeth as if in pain. As for Idira, she staggered and fell to her knees, clawing for Abelard's arms.
Idira cried out : " What…they're coming out of the darkness…they're stealing the light…the darkness is insatiable. The Rogue Trader was right ! And behind them, behind the thieves, an ineffable eye follows, watching, watching….arrrgh !" she howled out in pain and fell to the floor, trembling and hissing. " Not now !" she quivered, pushing her hands to her ears, her plea desperate as she tried to rein herself back in.
Abelard swore under his breath, trying to break free from Idira's grip in order to reach the Rogue Trader. " Argenta ! To the Rogue Trader, now !" he ordered, noticing that the three psykers seemed to have been struck at the same time. " Tlass, get a grip over yourself !" he added, trying to put Idira back up.
To Elena, things were happening as if in slow motion. She could take in all the details, from Abelard's irascible desperation, to Argenta climbing the tank to join her ; Pasqal was moving forward, his axe at the ready, while Cassia was approaching the tank with concern.
But nothing could focus her attention more so than the apparition of a ghost, in the form of Aurora. The warp was so distorted around the apparition that Elena had to muster all her training to resist the madness it inspired her.
" Behold !" said Aurora's ghost. " The Final Dawn !"
The crowd was already beginning to clear away from the scene in panic, the guards barely trying to impose some order.
Elena clenched her hand to her chest. The pain was excruciating now, as if her whole body was on fire. Her other hand tried to take a grip over her rifle, something, anything, but her strength was fading out. Helplessly, she looked up at the sky above, and saw something so impossible and heretical that she thought for a second she had indeed lost her mind. The sun…was surrounded by a flash of green light…and was gone. Just like that.
Eternal darkness settled over Rykad as the shrieks of those citizens that were unprepared for this turned into mad heretical cries for battle and for blood.
" Rogue Trader ! " That was Argenta's voice, her bolter already blazing as she shot at a few people attacking her in sudden, frenzied madness. " We must get out of here, now ! You're too exposed there !"
But this didn't concern Elena anymore. As if in a dream, she put the hand she had pressed over her chest in front of her face. It was filled with blood.
Somehow, the wound Kunrad had inflicted on her re-opened. The hemorrhage was so violent, so sudden, that it felt like being stabbed all over again but this time the knife had twisted and intended to kill. Elena staggered, her eyes settling over the frame of the Sister of Battle.
" …help me…" was all she managed to say, before falling into the arms of the Sister of Battle, her words barely audible as blood gurgled from her mouth.
" Seneschal ! Rogue Trader's down ! I need medical assistance now !"
– Argenta's point of view –
The Rogue Trader staggered and fell into her. Elena looked as if she was trying to say something, her black eyes pleading for her help. The Sister hadn't seen what had happened clearly in the erupting chaos. A sniper might have tried to murder the Rogue Trader, as she had predicted herself a few hours before. Argenta promised herself she'd be more careful next time the Rogue Trader issued a warning.
For now, her eyes roamed the area, in search of an exit plan. With one of her arms, she put the Rogue Trader over her shoulder easily, like she had for other sisters and soldiers hundreds of times before in training and in battle. Elena's weight would unbalance her shooting, of course, but she didn't bother as she opened fire over the approaching horde of heretics. The numerous rounds of bolter ammunition dissolved them easily.
Argenta let herself slide over the side of the tank just as a new assault team formed, this time launching heavy grenades. Noticing the movements from the corner of her eyes, the Sister reasserted her grip over Elena's limp body and threw herself on the side, positioning her body in order to protect the Rogue Trader. The grenades exploded in multiple shards of metal and fire, and detonated the top of the tank off. As a result, the crowd panicked even more and the heavy machinery erupted in fire. All the while, Argenta ran as far as she could, holding the Rogue Trader over her chest with one arm, and desperately trying to get her vox running with the second one :
" Seneschal ! Rogue Trader's down, I repeat, Rogue Trader's down ! Anyone copy ? By the Throne, vox link is completely jammed !"
Another explosion. A big one. Argenta staggered and fell on the ground, barely holding Elena. Civilians were running around hopelessly, parents trying to protect their children, people trying to stay alive. It was hard to tell who was a heretic and who wasn't in this mess.
Argenta took a glance at Elena's face. She was so pale. Blood came out abundantly from her chest. She was still alive, but she would need medical assistance quickly. Argenta pushed down hard on the wound, trying to stop the hemorrhage, as she scanned the crowd and the place. Her running away from the exploding tank had put her farther away from the starport, where she intended to retreat. In the complete darkness and the chaos, it was difficult to guess the landmarks but the Sister recalled vaguely the direction to take.
" Lord Captain ! Lord Captain ! Elena ! " she called, to no avail. Elena didn't respond.
Argenta got back on her feet, and headed towards the direction for the starport. Along the way, a dozen heretics stopped her. Those men and women were busy cutting down innocent civilians, screaming for help. The Sister's blood ran with fury. She shifted her weight and cautiously aimed at them. Each shot finds its target. As she laid the last heretic to dust, Argenta marched towards the civilians :
" If you want to live, follow me !"
The group of civilians now in tow, the Sister pushed on. Elena's state was really worrying her now. That's when she finally heard her vox crackling.
" Haneuman on the line. Does anyone copy ?"
" Praise be the God-Emperor, Pasqal, you're alive ! Where are you ?"
" I managed to make my way to one of the main cogitators still functioning. Sister Argenta, you must be nearby. Praise be the Omnisiah, for allowing me to run short-distance communication. Cassia and Winterscale already found me. Do you have the Rogue Trader ?"
" Yes, and she badly needs medical assistance. Get ready and tell Cassia to signal your presence !"
" Understood. We are waiting for you."
So, that meant the Seneschal was still out somewhere, as well as the witch and the agent of the Inquisition. But first things first.
Argenta kept marching forward, pressing Elena's wounds as best she could, while more or more civilians joined her, begging for her help and protection. In the chaos, she managed to make through a light on her far right. In the darkness, it guided her, and soon enough she recognized the crimson hue of the Magos robe flashing in the dark.
" Sister Argenta ! " That was Cassia's voice. The Sister quickly glanced at the Navigator, but noted no trace of wounds, though she looked disheveled and her robes were dusted with traces of smoke and fire.
" I'm glad to see you're all right, Cassia !"
At Cassia's sides stood the young Evayne Winterscale, with a plasma pistol in his right hand, apparently stooding guard. Traces of blood splashed his chestplate. Pasqal got up from the cogitator he had been using, his mechadendrites reeling away, and marched purposefully towards her. Without exchanging any word, Argenta knelt down to gently lay the Rogue Trader into the ground, as the Magos took out a medicare kit from his belt.
" Wound is clear," he analyzed quickly. " No bullets, no shards. Integrity of the right lung is compromised, but death is not imminent." He worked fast, his mechadendrites helping him take hold of the medical tools.
" Any news of the Seneschal ?" Argenta asked.
Pasqal shook his head. " Communications are down and the machine spirits are…uncooperative, preoccupied by their own survival. It was difficult enough to convince this one to bring forth my message. However, all is not lost. The Rogue Trader is alive, if barely, and so is the Navigator."
That meant they could still reach the flagship and do something from up there. " You're right. But I cannot abandon behind Abelard, nor the agent of the Golden Throne. Where have you last seen them ?" She didn't say a word about Tlass.
" Right side of the tank. They got caught in the explosion." Pasqal's voice sounded disapproving. " Priority is reaching the shuttle and making sure the Rogue Trader and the Navigator are alive. I trust the rest of the Rogue Trader's companions to fend for their own. Either they prove victorious, or die trying. The Rogue Trader's retinue is no place for incompetence." At that, he looked pointedly at the trail of civilians surrounding Argenta.
The coldness in Pasqal's tone, his detached analysis made her blood soar ablaze. She was not going to let Abelard die, nor these poor people ! But at the same time, she could not be allowed to leave Elena unprotected. Pasqal, Cassia and Evayne proved a bit too thin of an escort for a Rogue Trader, especially considering her actual state. She felt torn in between these two duties.
" Pasqal's right", chimed Cassia, inviting herself into the conversation. " I loathe to say this, but we have to trust the Seneschal's competence on this matter. We have to press on while we still can. I can see the heretics regrouping towards the starport. As for the citizens of this world " Cassia's mutated eyes swept over them " they shall only prove a burden to us. We must move quickly, and we cannot do so with so many people in tow."
Something in her face grew harsher. Argenta had been here when they first met her, but had forgotten just how imperious she could be, and just how fearful and dominating her will was. As Cassia's eyes grew colder, the citizens started recoiling in fear.
" What are you doing ! Stop this ! " shouted Argenta. " No, no, don't go - I'll protect you !" she held her hands towards them, trying to reason with them, but Cassia played a trick on their minds, and the fear they experienced made them run away from the place, leaving the retinue alone.
Argenta blanched, her hands quivering with fury. Cassia was no innocent girl after all. She just made these people run off to certain death with a blink of her eyes, and showed no emotion for it. The only thing that mattered to her eyes was the Rogue Trader and the ship. Ironically enough, Argenta was certain that Elena, if she was not unconscious, would not have stood for this.
She could tell Cassia's prowess made an impression on Evayne Winterscale. The young man paled, shocked.
" There were children with them", he said, his voice sounding weak.
Cassia looked away for a few seconds, her cheeks reddening, and then back to them, asserting her leadership over the group. " Like I said, we need to move fast and our priority is the Rogue Trader's survival. Pasqal, how is she ? How come you have not injected her with adrenaline stim yet ?"
" The wound…keeps reopening. " He sounded surprised. " Its origin must be tainted by heretic sorcery. It is beyond medical means to heal her. All I can do is stop the hemorrhage, but I cannot bring her back. And, should I stop applying pressure to the wound, she'll die. Keeping the unit Elena von Valancius alive will require all my attention.."
Cassia breathed in. " You're right…this wound has an echo in the Immaterium. We need the biomancer to fix this. And I don't know where he is !" She clenched her hands together, refusing to give in to fear. " Oh, Sister Argenta, what shall we do ? You see, we need your military expertise now more than ever."
Argenta grimaced. She would not forget how Cassia sent the innocent she had taken under her protection to die. But her duty was also to save the Rogue Trader. The Sister gestured to the starport. " There is nothing we can do here. Our only hope lies with the ship. Pasqal's right, we have to get back there. Pasqal, Cassia, you need to tend to the Rogue Trader and carry her. Evayne, I see you look capable with this gun. Cover for them. And as for me " - Argenta pressed her bolter to her heart - " I'll lead the way. Follow me !"
**** Glimpse of the past
– von Valancius flagship, warp space, during Voigtvir's mutiny –
" Blast it !" said Theodora through clenched jaws. " Master of Whispers, find Edelthrad immediately. Seneschal, locate Tlass and the Sister of Battle - both are to remain at my side. Arch-Militant, with me - I must go to my study, and it appears that we might encountered heretics along the way. As for you, Elena…"
Theodora glanced at her thoughtfully.
" If I may, Lord Captain ?" Kunrad's voice was soft and cautious. " If our goal is to bring Edelthrad back, I could use some support. "
" Then it's settled. Elena, go with Kunrad and find Edelthrad. Do no let me down. I require you both, do you understand ?"
" I hear and obey, Lord Captain", replied Elena.
Theodora nodded, and exited towards the elevator.
Kunrad led the way as they headed towards deck 18. He looked at her. In the darkness of the cursive, his white scars contrasted against his flesh. " Are you ready to head to 18 ? It's a long way ahead, and you don't even have proper gear…"
Elena waved dismissevely. " Don't worry about me. i'll make do. Just lead the way. "
Kunrad rummaged in his pocket for something. " Of course you will. Lady Theodora will never have someone she can't rely on as her one of her heirs…but this is no longer relevant."
With a pop and sharp crackle, something hit her in the abdomen - and a gut-wrenching pain erupted in her body in response, paralyzing her. She passed out.
Only to wake up in another darkened room. This one was bigger, more ceremonial, even solemn. So, she wasn't on the residential deck anymore. She opened her eye to the sight of two henchmen looming over her. Apparently, one had been kicking her side. As she regained consciousness, so did the unnatural, sharp pain - she pressed her hand down on her wound, feeling the blood taint her gloves.
" Careful, careful - be gentle with our guest. She as an important mission to complete during our visit to the Warrant Chamber." Voigtvir looked down at her. " You are back with us. Delightful."
She frowned and hissed on the floor, getting ready to use her psychic abilities to toss away the useless henchmen and snap the traitor's neck. But the pain - the blade - it did something to her mind, rending her unable to reach to the immaterium. It scrambled her mind, making it hard to articulate any thought at all.
" Voigtvir, you two-faced scum ! You are the one behind this mayhem !"
" How perceptive of you, Elena. I'll help you with another insight : I need you here for your blood. You have the option to share it voluntarily - or I will squeeze it out of you myself. " Elena tried to spit onto his face, but Kunrad easily avoided the pathetic attempt and, at his gesture, one the henchman kicked her in the ribs a few times more. She groaned in pain.
" You see, Elena, here we are in the anteroom of the Warrant Chamber. Only one obstacle prevent me from obtaining the Holy Warrant - the gates are guarded by the Sentinel, an ancient device that will only open to a true heir of the dynasty. I expected to do this part myself, but…nevermind. You will offer your blood to the Sentinel."
" What is it, inbred ? Your blood's too thin for the Sentinel ?" taunted Elena, gaining herself another kicking.
" On the contrary", replied Kunrad evenly, " the warp's blessing has raised me too much above your kind, von Valancius. The Sentinel refused to submit to me - but you can help. After all, isn't that what family is for ?"
" I will never help you !" those were probably her last words. As last words came, they were a bit lame, but put all her fury in it, trying to break free once more from the grasp of the henchmen. But without her psychic powers, she was as weak as a baby. The humiliation nearly topped the pain.
" I am afraid that you, Elena von Valancius, have no choice in the matter." Voigtvir produced a strange object - a blade without a handle that shimmered blue in the light. " Try to resist, and I will demonstrate the power that warp holds over mortals. I might even take some pleasure in doing so."
Still seething, Elena glared at him, pursing her lips. Her psychic powers may be gone for now, but she would never doubt her willpower. " I'd like to see you try", she replied coldly.
" You are even more idiotic than I thought", sighed Kunrad. " But I'll be happy to oblige."
The blade flashed in the light, and drops of blood appeared on her palm. It didn't even touch her - yet she felt it has slashed at her from the distance. She felt nauseous, head spinning…and then, whispers filled her mind. This scared her, because she had spent years of her life training in order not to have alien voices entering her mind. That was step one of damnation for a diviner. The whispers increased, more and more, drowning her own mind and replacing every single thought by an urge to go to the door.
" Get out ! I am not your puppet ! " she yelled, focusing on the battle happening in her mind. For a while, the voices recoiled, and Elena felt as if she could regain her mastery. Kunrad's voice distorted with a smirk.
" Of course. I forgot. You might need a little more…push." Another shimmering of the blade, another cut on her face. As the sharp pain erupted, she felt the voices come back, taking advantage of her temporary distraction, and soon she found herself walking towards the door, fighting at every step - but every time she managed to get the voices back, Kunrad just stabbed at her once more, and she was helpless against him.
Her blood boiling with rage, she found herself facing the Sentinel, feeling sick and exhausted from the internal fight she was desperately losing. It was a Servitor, who turned his face towards her dutifully. It leaned forward, dutifully, its jaw opening far wider than any human could. Its mouth was filled with sharp metallic fangs. The vid-screen behind it flashed green with techna-lingua, things Elena had never understood. Unable to stop herself, she put her hand inside the Sentinel's mouth - and the fangs closed into her hand, as drops of blood started feeding it. Several long minutes passed, under Kunrad's watchful eye, and the vid-screen flickered. The blood loss was starting to make Elena's head really spinny. She gritted her teeth to remain standing over her trembling legs, if only not to die crumpled across a wall and add weakness to the humiliation and pain Kunrad had inflicted to her, turning her into a traitor to her dynasty.
" ..high levels of caustic humors. The subject is in a state of heightened stress. Do you require assistance ?"
Where did this voice come from ? It wasn't one of the vile whispers in her mind, who now had retreated somewhere inside of her.
" Who is this ?" she muttered, fighting away the temptation to lean against the wall.
" Genetic code identified. Child of House von Valancius, do you require assistance ?"
That was the Sentinel's speakers. Her eyes widened as she realized it. That was her shot ! Her chance at fighting back !
" Yes, Sentinel. Traitors threaten my life and the safety of the Warrant."
" What are you…" began Kunrad.
Panels in the anteroom started moving, revealing hidden turrets of various sizes, whirring to life and aiming at Kunrad and his henchmen. Paling, the Master of Whispers fidgeted and used something - as a tear in the warp opened in front of him. He jumped into it second before the bullets tore through the flesh of his henchmen and the place he had been.
At least the servitor's jaw released her bleeding hand, and Elena authorized herself to fall to her knees, if only to catch her breath. In front of her, the door to the Warrant Chamber opened slowly. Elena found shelter in it, trying to catch her breath and regain her composure.
The room was the most majestic thing she'd ever seen. In the back of it stood the Holy Warrant - as all as a tower, as wide as a whole bay, its blessed writings centuries or millenia old. She felt awe and inspiration as she gazed upon the relic.
She needed to seal the room. Making her way back to the anteroom, Elena ordered the Sentinel to seal the room and tried to enter in communication with Theodora.
Her vision was getting blurry from the blood loss. She was alone now. Or maybe she wasn't, as she detected another presence coming at her - her diviner abilities finally coming back to her, but weaker, tampered.
" Mistress Elena ! What are you doing in the Warrant Chamber ? How did you…Throne preserves me, what is the meaning of this ?"
Laying eyes over the Seneschal, Elena thought that his appearance was a timely intervention. A miracle in disguise.
– Abelard's point of view–
" Argenta ! To the Rogue Trader, now ! " howled Abelard.
Idira was still clenching his leg. Refraining himself from kicking her, Abelard bent down to get the psyker back up. " Damnit, Tlass, get a grip over yourself ! " he groaned, and something in his tone made Idira flinch enough to stop squirming. " S-sorry…" she said. " But Abelard, the warp - it's tearing up as we speak. We must run from this place ! Wait…dodge ! "
That's when all hells broke loose. Busy with Idira, he hadn't taken notice of the assault team aiming at the tank and the explosion might have caught him off guard, if not for the split-second of warning Idira had given him. It was just enough to brace for impact and protect his head with his arms, as shortly after Idira and him were projected heavily on the side.
Scrambling to his feet in the dust, he was happy that Elena had the whims to make him change his uniform for armor. He wasn't sure he'd survive the blow otherwise. He spotted Idira, laying on the ground. Somehow, she had managed to avoid death, whereas every civilian around them laid dead.
" Lord Captain !" he shouted, and ran to the tank as soon as he'd gotten up, Idira trailing behind him. But the crowd of people fleeing and panicking - even the attack of a few heretics against him, though quickly disposed of - slowed him down. He arrived at the burning tank, with no traces of Elena or Argenta. However, Heinrix was there, leaning heavily against the tank, clutching his right side with his arm. His face was contorted in pain, but his eyes remained sharp with clarity. He smelled of charred and burnt flesh.
" van Calox, you're still alive ! " said Abelard, impressed. The Interrogator looked as if the tank had exploded on him, which must have been the case ; he should be dead by now, but the biomancer was rejuvenating at every passing second.
" Of course I am", replied Heinrix with a grimace. His eyes darted to Idira, and the two of them looked at each other.
" You felt it as well ?" asked Idira prudently. Abelard had not witnessed Idira ever addressing van Calox on her own volition, so whatever it was they were referring to, that must be important.
Heinrix nodded gravely. " We must make haste to the ship."
" We're going nowhere until we find the Rogue Trader ! Where is she ?" cut Abelard.
Heinrix shook his head, grimacing. " Communication is jammed. I think I saw the Sister taking her."
As they talked, they had to shove aside the running away citizens mercilessly, else the crowd would just run over them in their panic.
Abelard tried to guess at what direction Argenta must have taken, but the ever moving crowd and the darkness around him made it impossible to guess.
Heinrix pushed himself away from the tank, straightening, and letting go of his side. He looked better, and seemed to breathe more easily. He gazed harshly at Idira. " I suppose the diviner could tell us where she is."
" Are you m-mad ?" retorted Idira, backing away, but not too much, in case she got carried away by the crowd. " The veil is too thin here ! You know that !"
" I suppose you could see this as a trial of your strength of will in dire circumstances ", replied Heinrix.
Idira's eyes widened.
" Idira" intervened Abelard, not looking at her " if you have any means of getting to the Rogue Trader, you must use them."
" Abelard ! You don't know what you're asking of me - it's just too dangerous ! He's p-pushing me to a fault !"
" Idira, I swear to the Throne, now is not the time for your complaints. Get a hold over yourself !"
The diviner paled, her eyes darting over both of them.
Heinrix sighed. " Pull yourself together, Lady Tlass, and please do not resist. It's a simple technique that will bring you relief." Abelard watched as the Interrogator leaned over Idira, putting his hands over her temples. The diviner nearly recoiled, as if gazing into a snake, muttering pleadingly at Abelard : " F-friendly agents of the Inquisition make me n-nervous !"
Abelard wondered how Elena managed to muster the patience to overlook these two at once. He looked sternly at Idira, denying her his support.
" I'm not being friendly. What's happening is beyond normal cultist scheming. We can't afford to lose a single fighter", replied Heinrix dryly. " Now. It should be easier to focus."
Idira pushed her palms onto her eyes. " Yes, focus, focus…need to find E-Elena and the others…aouch !..." The diviner stilled, as if a string inside her suddenly tensed, and her head jerked unnaturally from left to right, scrying the area. " Now where are you…so many people here…so many auras…but she's pretty recognizable…" She staggered, opening her eyes once more. The veins on her right eye had exploded, leaving her eye looking painfully red-shot. " I know where they are. I can lead you there."
Abelard relaxed. At least Idira came through.
" Is the Rogue Trader all right ?"
Idira's red eyes met him, as she shivered and crossed her arms. " I…don't think she is. I think her life is on the line."
That put a jolt to Abelard's heart. " Damnit, I'm not losing another Rogue Trader ! It's barely been a week ! Idira, stay close and tell me where to go. van Calox…"
" Just give me a direction", replied Heinrix, clenching his jaws.
" Right. This way", said Idira.
The trio had to force their way through the crowd, as they now were practically advancing countercurrent.
" This is taking too much time !" said Abelard angrily. He was beginning to seriously consider opening his way with swords and grenades. A shred of decency prevented him from doing that just yet, but it faded by the minute as he found his hand hovering over his grenades.
" Move aside !" something in Heinrix's voice, or aura perhaps, was commanding and imperious enough for the nearest people to stumble out of their way to avoid them, and, for a few seconds, they managed to slip past the running crowd. Maybe the Inquisitorial's rosette, even in all this panic, still held a grip over people's minds.
Abelard could no longer guess where they were exactly, as Idira was careful to guide them through less busy streets, leading them towards the roof of the habitations. However chaotic her pattern looked, it proved useful as they found out they had nearly reached the starport.
He heard three rounds of gunshot fire - and sighed in relief. That was the sound of Sister Argenta's bolter. " They're there !" he said, gesturing towards the gunfire.
They headed towards the sound, only to be welcomed by Argenta slowly marching towards them, corpses lying at her feet. The Sister's silhouette contrasted against the pitch darkness, her proud face gleaming with determination and resolve, and it was only at the last second that she seemed to recognize them.
" Seneschal ! Praise the God-Emperor, you made it ! How did you even find us ? We thought we were stranded here !"
" Idira found you", replied Abelard, quickly crossing the gap in between them. " Where's the Rogue Trader ?"
Argenta's face grew pale. " Over there, with Pasqal. It's good you've made it here, Master van Calox." The change of interlocutor unsettled Abelard. " Pasqal thinks your…psychic talents could help her. You made it just in time, too. "
" No time to lose, then", said Heinrix, following Argenta as she guided them back.
Abelard glanced at Idira, nodding towards her with appreciation. After all, if they made it here, it was thanks to her. But Idira, still shivering, turned her head and avoided his gaze.
Argenta led them a few meters away. There, Pasqal was hovering over Elena's body, his mechadendrites ever moving with intention. Cassia and Evayne stood on the side, watching for any other attack.
Abelard didn't quite understand why it was that the Magos's expertise in medicare wasn't sufficient enough to put Elena back to her feet, but the Rogue Trader indeed looked on the verge of death, her face livid and whiter than ever from blood loss. Her eyelids shivered as her eyes seemed to jerk in their orbits and her fingers twitched. So she was still alive.
Heinrix examined the situation quickly, and focused over the Rogue Trader, as a surge of wind slowly rose out of nowhere. Abelard watched in awe as the biomancer managed to bring Elena back from the clutch of death, one painstakingly long second at a time.
" Hemorrhage has stopped and wound is closed, at least ", said Pasqal approvingly. " Beginning adrenaline injection."
Abelard pushed past Heinrix, who now looked weary, and knelt down by Elena's side as the Magos drove the stim syringe into the Rogue Trader's veins.
" Lord Captain", he called, concerned. " Lady Elena. Can you hear me ?"
Elena's eyes opened as her abnormally pale face contorted in pain. " Y-yes", she replied. " By the Throne, that hurts. Aren't you a sight for sore eyes, Seneschal. I feel this situation is beginning to get too recurrent for my taste. "
Her voice was confused, but her gaze seemed to regain clarity by the second. Abelard extended his hand to help her get back on her feet, Pasqal monitoring the process with vigilance, as one mechadendrite gently pushed the Rogue Trader's back when she staggered on her feet.
" You were hurt and passed out for a while. The city fell into chaos. We're headed towards the starport to get back to the flagship. Are you able to walk ?"
Elena glared at him, hissing. " I'll be just fine." She gazed over the retinue. " Fine. Let's move out, then."