Present
-– Warp travel –-
As the days passed by on their trip to Footfall, Elena found herself thinking about Rykad Minoris often. Though she never brought the subject back up and showed no sign of it, she couldn't quite get the thought that she had done wrong out of her mind. It seemed to prey upon her, waiting for any moment of loneliness to creep back in.
There was a time in her life when Elena hadn't been bothered with guilt. When things had been certain. But she could tell that some events in her past had started spreading the seeds of doubt in her, and as her newfound status gave her a liberty she had never fathomed possible for herself, the seeds were now sprouting and taking roots. It was wrong. It was a fault to doubt and to question. It was the path to corruption and madness. She knew that. And yet…
As she battled the feeling of guilt and self-doubt, she thought about losing herself into more merrier memories, or simply pushing the matter aside as if Rykad hadn't meant anything to her. To turn a blind eye to it and just ignore it.
She'd been taught an important lesson upon that, once. That hiding from the feelings was prone to lead you to your damnation. She recalled the memory, calling back the teaching to her mind.
*** Glimpse of the past
– Black Ship, childhood –
Elena quietly entered Mistress Maria's office on the guard's command. Maria was sitting behind her desk, her pretty chestnut hair strictly styled in an auster bun. Piles and piles of files and data slates surrounded her, but still, and despite her small height, her magnetic attitude captivated the child. Maria's nostrils widened with disgust when she looked upon Elena.
" So, just to be clear. You found this child hidden in a repair conduit that had been unused for decades on bay 5."
" Yes, Mistress Maria."
" And you said the girl must have been hiding there for a few days, considering you discovered her famished and covered in her own feces."
A flash of disgust on the guard's face. " Yes. We believe she'd been there for four days, at least."
" So, technically speaking, she wasn't on bay 4 when the incident happened."
" No. We didn't realize her absence at first…the morgue told us someone was missing."
"Interesting."
Maria turned towards Elena, who was sitting in silence upon her chair. She looked down over her file.
"...Elena Martyr, how did you know the conduit wasn't sealed, exactly ?"
" I saw it in my head, Mistress Maria."
" And why did you happen to find yourself in this conduit ?"
" I didn't want the sobbing lady to eat me, so I felt I must go there and crawl as far as I could so that I would be safe."
Maria paused, her brows furrowing, and wrote down something on her file. " Child, tell me, why did you think the…Sobbing lady…was going to eat you ? Was it something you saw ?"
Elena nodded. "Yes, Mistress Maria."
" For how long have you known ?"
" A week or so, Mistress Maria."
" And you didn't warn anyone else ?" asked Maria, her voice so sweet you just wanted to talk to her, to please her and gain her attention.
Elena squirmed over her chair.
" I told my friends, that's all, but they didn't listen to me. Anyway, they wouldn't have been able to go into the conduit and stayed there waiting."
" Do you know what happened to your friends ?"
" I…I have an idea." Elena fell silent, troubled. She didn't want to recall the weird vision of the woman's belly tearing up, revealing a crawling mouth filled with horrendous fangs, chewing on the flesh of the other children. But Maria didn't relent.
" What do you mean, child ? Did you have another vision, perhaps ? Maybe you could describe it to me ?"
" I don't like thinking about it. It makes my head hurt really bad. I just know it's bad."
" At least your preservation instinct is high", murmured Maria, raising an interrogative eyebrow. She tapped her elegant fingernails over the table, and addressed the guard :
" All the denizens of bay 4 have been dealt with following the incident, haven't they ?"
" As per your orders, Mistress Maria. Except for…well…this one, since she wasn't there at the time. Should we proceed to rectify the situation ? "
" Hmmm-hmmm. Let me think for a second." Maria turned once more towards her, her voice like honey. " Waiting for days in the conduit…laying in your own feces…didn't you get bored ?"
Elena's face reddened with shame and embarrassment. " I…I…I played with my toy."
" What toy ?"
Elena felt stupid. She presented the wooden figure of a hound she had stolen from Gideon as she had escaped. Maria extended her hand and Elena gave her the figure.
" A foci. Quite common for diviners." Maria rested the figure over her desk, not giving it back to Elena. "Also the sigil of a noble boy that was assigned to your bay. Am I to understand you stole this from him before abandoning him, fully knowing what would become of him ?"
Elena looked at her feet. " Y-yes."
" Unbelievable. Do you know, Elena, that I had a lot of hope for this boy's future ?" Maria sighed, pinching her nose. " But with your kind, one has to get used to twists and surprises. It seems I had overestimated him…and underestimated you. Perhaps, after all…" Maria now looked pensively at Elena, who stood there silently, confused.
" There is still one more thing I want to know, child. Didn't you get scared into the conduit ? I imagine it was all dark and lonely up there, while the monster roamed around. Surely you've heard things that would be terrifying."
" My father told me that, when there were things that made me upset, I should imagine myself in a happy place. Because I remember things very well and sometimes if I think about a memory hard enough, I can stay there for a bit and it calms me down. So I don't get upset or scared or sad."
Maria seemed amused by that. " Your father taught you well. Emotions are your enemy, Elena Martyr, especially the most negative ones. Fear, anger, sadness…they should be tamed, like some dangerous animal, and never unleashed. What you describe with your crude wording is a process called dissociation. It is a basic and simple technic, that bring relief to your kind." Maria paused, and her eyes focused as she gazed directly into the child's eyes, piercing and imperious. " Diviners like you often use the method you described and like to project their minds into another time, poking into the future or reliving the past. However, you should know, child, that this is not without risk. I have once known a young girl who had to go through terrible things and couldn't face them anymore. She did what you did and locked her mind in a place where she thought she would be safe. Her present was so horrible that it was the only way for her to endure her suffering. And, as you may guess, she lost her way back. She imprisoned her soul into a time that would not be. That left her an empty shell…and you don't want to be an empty shell, child. For there are things in the universe that would only look too kindly on taking the empty seats for themselves. That's what happened to the sobbing lady. All this to say, child, that it's exactly when times are bad that you should face them head-on. "
Elena knew from Maria's tone that this was a teaching, and a grave one, and she tried to pay attention to it. However, the ideas were complicated for her young mind and she was only left with a sense of unrest.
The guard, at her side, was looking perplexed.
Maria paused and adjusted her writings, apparently barring a whole section of text to rewrite it. After she was done, she added :
" Now, child. You may have more to you than what meets the eyes. Considering the loss on bay 4, which you managed to escape, you may prove to be useful after all. It wouldn't do to just dispose of you yet. I'm telling my guard to bring you up to bay 7, which may prove more suitable for the level of your newfound abilities. And I have to tell you a secret."
Elena looked up in interest as Maria bended forwards, continuing in a honeyed, hushed tone :
" I am sending you there on a secret mission. I want you to spy, with your little eyes, anything that makes you feel bad. You said you saw the sobbing lady being a monster. I want you to look out for more monsters in disguise. Can you do that for me, child ? It is very important for me, and equally so for your future. Do not disappoint me."
Elena's heart beat in excitement and her eyes gleamed. At least someone noticed her ! Asked her a service ! Sent her on a secret mission !
" Of course, Mistress Maria !" she said in excitement.
" Remember, Elena, this is a secret between us", repeated Maria patiently. She laid back on her chair, looking slightly amused. " You can get your…toy…back. After all, you'll be more useful with your foci around. Guard, I believe my instructions are clear. Get this one to bay 7 and bring her to me on a weekly basis. Any other escapades of the little one should be reported directly to me for appropriate decision-making. Oh, and one last thing. Put the girl in a shower next time before bringing her to me. I don't want my office to smell like a sewer."
A sad smile tugged her lips as she recalled Maria. The harshest woman she'd ever seen. Even to this day, as an adult now, the mere idea of Maria inspired some kind of childish awe into her soul. She wasn't sure the Mistress would have approved of her becoming a Rogue Trader. She would have deemed this position unfit for a psyker. " Your kind is supposed to be tamed, child. You can't go around with a title like that. It'll make you believe you don't need a muzzle anymore."
Elena would have to prove her wrong, a feat, in her experience, close to the impossible.
As cruel as the teaching was, and as awful as she felt about Rykad Minoris, she had to endure the teaching and move on. It only shed a light upon her new responsibilities. As a descendant of the von Valancius dynasty, how many lives now depended on her ? In order to never reproduce what happened on Rykad, she had to get to work and understand her new duties better.
That was as good an excuse as any to try to do something productive with the time she now had at hands. Ever since becoming Rogue Trader, Elena had had no time to reflect upon her position or get to learn about the ship. She rectified that, by calling Abelard, Vigdis, Ravor and Janrus to daily meetings. She asked questions about the ship, Theodora's protectorate, administrative reports ; if at first, her initiative made them stand awkwardly in the dinner room, they soon began to open up. Who wouldn't want to talk about their lifework and their passion for hours, if given the chance ? Ravor made her tour the artillery bay and met the soldiers operating the ship during combat maneuvers ; she visited the torpedo stocking bay and was given a lengthy presentation of the various qualities and flaws of the weapons at the disposition of the ship, as well as tactics advice. Vigdis talked her through the various experiments and discoveries conducted on the ship to improve its performances. Janrus was more than glad to explain his trade, and, though Elena didn't quite follow anything, she tried her best at paying attention to his reports. From Abelard, she learned more about Theodora's past and the state of the protectorate. She read about Janus, Kiava Gamma, and Dargonus.
She could tell that her efforts to understand Theodora's legacy pleased her officers, and especially her Seneschal, who spent hours with her, talking her through the various productions and materiels her worlds could produce and how they could trade it to improve the wealth and influence of House von Valancius. Elena had never seen an agri-world before in her life, but she was now able to compare the qualities of different vineyards based on soil analysis. Abelard gently tried to demonstrate by ordering the chef a tasting session, which ended up with Elena so drunk that the Seneschal had to call it a day. Toughness wasn't her strong suit. They never talked about that again.
Dealing with the other consequences of her choice on Rykad meant that she now had to look after refugees in her own ship. She delegated the task to Argenta, feeling it would suit the Sister's attitude. Argenta had asked to come down once with her, and showed her the installations she had put forward to help the people. There, Elena had been greeted with awe and gratitude, as the people she had saved paid her their respect with what little they still had. To them, she had become a heroine. It wasn't until later that day that Elena realized Argenta had brought her there on purpose, as a way to try to lighten her burdens.
For all Argenta's good intentions and charitable soul, the amount of newcomers didn't please her high-ranking officers. They didn't lack food nor place, but still…it wasn't like the refugees would pay for anything they were given. To settle the matter, Elena had to ask Argenta to put them to work, so that they'd at least be useful.
Another companion of hers insisted on bringing her along to witness what she had saved of Rykad. Pasqal and Abel had oversaw the installation of the Holy Miraculous Reactor into one of the most protected bay of the upper decks. The Electro-Priests kept tending to it, not allowing the rest of the ship to come close to it. Only the Rogue Trader and her retinue had received the honor to visit the holy relic. From what she gathered from Pasqal's explanation, the reactor was somehow defused and inactive for now.
Well, if she was going to be an opportunist Rogue Trader, at least she was going to go all in. Elena negotiated with the Electro-Priest, offering them to restore their Cenobium unto Kiava Gamma. Leaving the Winterscale's protectorate for hers was a bold move, one that could not go without consequences. However, the fact that she'd chosen to save the relic in spite of any other consideration had gained her the respect of the Priesthood of Mars, and the Electro-Priests accepted to settle over Kiava Gamma. Surely the relic would fit well in a forge world and her influence could only grow from possessing such an artifact. Maybe it could even prove useful in time.
Heinrix had talked to Pasqal and the Magos visited the Priests every day, checking for any sign of corruption or chaos. For now, there was none, but they were going to travel with them for a while and they were not safe from a change of situation.
Speaking about Heinrix, things had been…complicated, ever since she opposed him and chose not to exterminate Rykad. Though he made a point of not bringing the subject up directly, he redoubled courtesy every time they met in a most hypocritical and sarcastic way. Elena now understood that the more Heinrix was polite around someone, the more likely he was to lash out at some point ; all of this unnerved her deeply. Though he would not, technically, reproach her anything directly, his attitude of cold politeness was a perpetual reminder of their quarrel. Their conversation would go along something like this :
(stoically) " Lord Captain."
(with an air of grandeur)" Master van Calox."
(looking unhappy) "..."
(with a touch of overly fake politeness) " How are you faring today ?"
(sarcastic grin and words dripping with fake concern) " Perfectly fine, why, thank you. I hope the same can be said about you. I have heard that sometimes, after hard trials, some people have trouble sleeping out of remorse. I certainly hope this doesn't trouble you ?"
(snapping in annoyance) " ….I thank you for your concern, but I assure you, you have nothing to worry about. I'll be on my way."
(unjoyful) " I wish you a most pleasant day, Lord Captain."
Their encounters were all the more irritating because the tension that grew between them, though it had simmered down, never truly went extinguished.
As they grew closer to reaching Footfall, the thought of Heinrix leaving the retinue grinded on Elena's nerves. All these mixed-up feelings were transparent enough : she knew there was an attraction there, at least on her part. As they were reaching Footfall, their encounters grew scarcer. Maybe Heinrix was deliberately avoiding her to focus on his reports. Or he'd grown bored of trying to poke at her guilt and regret to see if there was any at all. She regretted that his absence was so noticeable to her, whereas Abelard and Idira rejoiced about it. She overheard Idira expressing her relief with Vigdis. Something in the way the two women quietly conversed side by side hinted at a hidden familiarity. Elena didn't ask questions.
Though it may have been better to let the matter rest and pretend nothing was happening, Elena decided to try and have an actual conversation with Heinrix before they went their separate ways. Taking advantage of one of the rare moments he'd come up to the bridge to talk with Pasqal, she ambushed him on his way back to the elevator leading to the residential deck. It was pretty easy to surprise him, considering she knew at all times where her retinue was when they were sufficiently nearby.
" Lord Captain", he began (stoically), the glint of surprise at finding her in the middle of his way already giving way to his usual facade. He glanced at the cursive, probably trying to guess if there was anything or anyone of interest that would explain her sudden appearance here.
" Heinrix", she replied. The change of etiquette and the first-name basis made Heinrix raise an interrogative eyebrow. Before he could comment upon that, Elena added : " I'm taking a walk. Come with me."
There was no refusing a Rogue Trader. WIth a strained expression, Heinrix nodded, gesturing for her to take the lead.
Elena led them into the elevator and decided to go for deck-20. It was one of the finest parts of the ship and the one that looked the most like a city in miniature. In particular, it held a sort of alleyway of commerce and gardens. It was always busy, bustling with life and passers-by, which guaranteed its impersonality.
" To what do I owe this visit ?" asked Heinrix, crossing his arms, on the other side of the elevator.
" I hear we might reach Footfall tomorrow", she said.
" Yes. Once that is done, you can consider the Lord Inquisitor's task complete", he replied, dispassionate.
" I am well aware of that." She fidgeted, slightly uneasy, and looked at the Interrogator more openly. " I find it distasteful that we have to part on such regrettable terms. "
Heinrix looked back at her, slightly surprised at her straightness, and then back at the doors of the elevator.
" Elena", he began, and his voice had ever so slightly softened saying her name. Only a very perceptive ear would have picked up on that, and Elena was quite insightful. He paused, and added more harshly : " I am unsure at what you're trying to achieve here, but if you are trying to cajole me into simply ignoring your deeds at Rykad, then I have to inform you that this undertaking is doomed to fail."
Elena sighed and pinched her nose. " I am not cajoling you into anything. You're too stubborn for that anyway", she reproached, and her forwardness once again seemed to rattle his nerves as he pursed his lips unhappily. " Also, I don't intend to apologize nor justify my own choices. This burden is mine to bear, not yours."
" Yours, and that of millions of souls who didn't get a choice", he snapped aggressively.
The elevator's doors opened, but Elena remained inside it, feeling her face reddening from the blow.
" If truly saving these people was so against your beliefs, I didn't see you try too hard to impose your course of action. Your rank in the Inquisition could have enabled you to do more. Of course, this would have been…troublesome ", she replied coldly.
Heinrix looked away, grimacing, and said softly. " I guess there are still brands of…benevolent naivety…that I have to quelch in myself. So should you. "
He fell silent.
After a few seconds, Elena exited the elevator into deck 20. Hundreds of people were bustling around and, as soon as the first ones spotted her, stood to salute her. Silently, Heinrix followed her.
All the saluting and the formalities made it difficult to pursue the conversation, so they didn't speak for a while as Elena led them to a quieter area of the market. In the meantime, Heinrix had regained his dispassionate composure.
" Anyway", she added carefully. " What happened and its consequences are on me. You couldn't have changed my mind."
" This is exactly what concerns me", Heinrix commented dryly.
Elena supposed this was the best closure she could get upon their quarrel. There was no erasing the past after all, not that she'd do it anyway. And at least that seemed to clear the air.
" Enough about that", she said. " I wanted to see you to bid you farewell properly and personally, as I doubt there will be time for that tomorrow."
Heinrix looked at her strangely for a second. She supposed Rogue Traders weren't in the habit of being attentionate around Inquisition guests. She knew the man was perceptive and smart, so she didn't hide the glint of something not so proper and not so distant in her eyes as she calmly looked back into his eyes, searching for anything comparable.
She could tell that glint didn't escape his attention. They stood motionless for a second.
" Thank you", he finally said. The lack of formality about it made it genuine. Then the polite mask was on again. " As I've said, this should complete your task towards the Lord Inquisitor. I expect I won't be bothering you again. "
The hidden meaning was pretty clear. Elena nodded in understanding. Though Heinrix hadn't failed to notice her forwardness towards him and didn't opt to rebuke the familiarity, this was as far as it could go. After all, their alliance was one of shared interest…and the greater interest in his eyes would always be that of his mentor. That didn't allow for much connection.
" You didn't bother me. If anything, I'll regret having to do without your professionalism and competence."
A faint, ironic smile tugged at his lips. " Most of the time, people are happy to see me out, and I expect most of your companions share the feeling. You, Elena, of course, being the surprising exception."
She felt it was the closest thing to a compliment in Heinrix's cryptic ways of speaking, though that last sentence could be interpreted in a lot of different ways.
" Then I wish you and your mentor good luck in your endeavors, Heinrix."
" Likewise, Rogue Trader." He nodded respectfully. "I should take my leave."
" Please do."
They separated, Elena heading back to the bridge to attend to her daily reports.
They reached the end of warp travel on the next day. It was a relief for everyone to see the end of it. Elena stood on the bridge by the command platform, her arms crossed, as she listened to her officers' reports :
" Report on warp travel damages : dock 1 is undamaged. Twenty people killed themselves in dock 2. Dock 3 is undamaged. Dock 4 is undamaged. In Dock 5, strange flowers of ice had been spotted and the ecclesiarchy had taken unto itself to cleanse the area with fire and prayers. In Dock 6, a dozen people complained about having strange headaches and bleeding noses. In Dock 7, a latent psyker went mad and was put down by the enforcers. In Dock 8, all food went sour and a hundred infants died from diseases. The Chief Medic is down there right now attending to the survivors. In Dock 9…" the litany went on and on until they reached the bridge. As far as warp travel went, they all agreed to say this had been a success.
" How is Lady Cassia ?" asked Elena.
" She sent words that she was ready for translation to realspace. Nothing out of the ordinary is reported", replied Vigdis steadily.
" Is the rest of the ship ready ?"
" Indeed, Lord Captain, and awaiting your command ! " said Ravor.
" I concur", added Abelard.
" Then begin the translation."
Elena sat on the von Valancius throne as the officers scurried around. There was a strange sense of distortion, but also of fresh air, as they exited the warp and felt the relief of leaving the Immaterium. One by one, all around the ship, the shutters opened, revealing the Furibundus system to them. Stars, planets, and most importantly, a sun in the center of it all : the familiar sight lifted the spirit of the crew.
" Your Ladyship", said Vigdis, bowing to her in front of her throne, " translation to realspace is a success and no other incident is reported. However, we still bear the damages of the mutiny. The Tech-Priests are begging you to take pity on the suffering machine spirits and proceed to repair the ship. As it is, the only wharf available is located at Footfall."
" We'll make the repairs there, then. How long will it last ?"
" A few days, certainly. Maybe it could prove time to give some off-shore time to the crew, to properly mourn the demise of the late Lady Theodora ?" suggested Abelard.
Elena waved. " Granted. Anything else ?"
" Yes. Lady Orsellio has confirmed our augurs's fear." Vigdis paused, as the elevator doors drew open to give way to Cassia, who was heading towards the bridge. Along the bridge, other members of Elena's retinue gathered, reuniting around her.
Cassia seemed beaming with energy. The hint of weariness under her red eyes paled in comparison to the prideful smile that she barely hid behind her calm composure. She bowed respectfully, her long, white hair framing her delicate and unusual face.
" Lord Captain ! It seems I come just in time to concur with Lady Vigdis's report."
" I'm listening."
Vigdis glanced at Cassia unhappily. The Vox-Master didn't seem to look too kindly upon the young Navigator. " Your Ladyship, the warp has been…chaotic lately, and the Astropaths from Footfall are confirming this : all the routes that used to be drawn across the Immaterium have been erased. All systems are isolated, and finding them again will require charting completely new routes. This explains the situation in Rykad system - no Astropaths could reach the system and warn the Winterscale dynasty about what happened in the system." She paused, as the news rippled along the bridge. " Our own worlds are…lost. Janus, Dargonus, Kiava Gamma - we have no reports on any of them." Vidgis stood hauntingly still, a hint of worry in her dark eyes.
Cassia nodded and clenched her talons together, as a teacher preparing to deliver a lesson. " When I gazed into the Immaterium to lead your ship…I saw traces of grand turmoil. I fear our future travels may prove more dangerous and unpredictable than the one we just undertook. As your Navigator, I can only advise you to do everything in your power to get everything you need from Footfall, as there is no way to tell how long the next warp travel might last. Our meeting must have been dictated by fate, Lord Captain, for only the most educated Navigators could dare to endeavor the task ahead of us. "
" Understood", replied Elena calmly after a few seconds, letting the news settle in. Nothing is ever easy around here. She felt she needed to say something more to acknowledge the gravity of the situation, as even Abelard showed traces of concern. Lady Theodora's death, the loss of the routes leading to the protectorate, the utter lack of any information regarding the welfare of the dynasty's worlds, Voigtvir's still escaping them…all that could only strain the spirits of her officers.
She cleared her throat, and made a point of looking straight into the Seneschal's eyes. " Do not fear. We shall unite and reclaim what was lost, and walk steadily the road of thorns, through pain to greatness. The Emperor protects !"
Abelard's expression broke into a faint, appreciative smile. He straightened, taking the cue, and the traces of concern faded from his face, replaced by resolve. " The Rogue Trader's right. No matter the adversity, our protectorate stands strong, and we will defend it !"
That seemed to cheer up the officers lurking nearby. Amongst her retinue, Elena spotted Cassia smiling behind the locks of her hair. The Navigator knew fully well that she merely recited the lines of the von Valancius oath, that she had learnt from the book Cassia had gifted her. She could tell the fact that she bothered to read about it pleased her Seneschal.
" Vox-master, is there anything else I should know about ?"
" Yes, Your Ladyship. The Liege of Footfall has asked to speak with a representative of House von Valancius. He doesn't know yet about Lady Theodora's demise…but the matter seemed urgent."
" I'll meet him, then. No need to announce my title and quality, for now. I'd rather take advantage of anonymity while it lasts. Anything else ?"
" No, Your Ladyship." Vigdis bowed.
" Then set the course and tell the Tech-Priests to get ready for repairs."
" It will be done, Lord Captain !"
As the briefing reached its end and the ship started its slow descent to Footfalls wharf, Elena got up from the von Valancius throne and stretched her sore muscles. She felt she would never grow bored of being at void. Planets, though, were often more complicated.
The arrival of the flagship caused much ruckus on the wharf. Janrus and Vigdis spent a few hours completing administrative files and various bureaucratic nonsense to allow for the repairs. At last, once all was done and completed, Elena asked for her retinue to gear up in order to pay a visit to the Liege.
She exited the transport shuttle, cladded in her black armor, her hair styled up in a severe and strict hairdo, with golden and intricate hair pins locking it into place, her lasgun tied to her back. Abelard followed right besides her, his visor flashing red, and Cassia stood to her left. Her height hid the petite frame of Idira trailing behind Elena's back. Argenta walked by the psyker side, always watching her from the corner of her eye. Pasqal closed the formation, his crimson robes shining bright in contrast to Footfall's overwhelming colourlessness. Heinrix had been gone for a few hours now, to whatever destination of his choice ; she would have to do without a second reliable fighter. She suppressed a pang of dissatisfaction.
Elena felt instantly at home in Footfall. The artificial gravity was too crushing for her taste, but the dark, cramped, noisy and polluted areas were agreeable remnants of her youth.
An elegant woman and two bodyguards were waiting for her arrival outside. As Elena grew closer, the woman smiled pleasantly :
" Your Ladyship ! Forgive me for not welcoming you with the appropriate obeisance. We were told that you would prefer to arrive on Footfall incognito, and so we are trying to attract as little attention as possible. I'm here on the behalf of the Liege of Footfall, Lord Vladaym Tocara. The Liege awaits to speak with you at his residence but, should you have other business to attend to, I can serve as your guide in the station."
Idira grew stiff and hissed between her teeth, her head jerking back violently : " They're coming for us, Lord Captain. Watch out ", she said.
In response to Idira's warning, Abelard sighed and casually placed his hand on his weapon.
Ignoring her guide and eyeing the crowd, Elena sharply gestured to her companions to get ready, as she drew her long-las. The elegant lady took a step back, intimidated. " Pray tell, what are your intentions…"
" Get behind me", said Elena. The lady's eyes widened in surprise as the first bullets hit her and her two bodyguards before she could make a move. I should have been quicker ! Elena jumped out of her stance, rolling on herself to cover behind some crates lying by. Argenta followed her, and quickly took a few shots at the men that had ambushed them.
As she took aim and killed one of the men, Elena couldn't help but marvel at Footfall's hospitality, a place where after barely a minute of setting foot in, you would already be the unfortunate subject of an assassination attempt. It turned out that seemed to be the morning routine of any honorable Rogue Trader.