Chapter 2
The red ambient light of the ship shined brightly on the dark of the Thunderhawk. They are in the cargo bay, at least her and more 29 sisters waiting in front of the cargo door. They stand ready for the task at hand, some of them already have their helmets on while others were opting to go without the extra protection. Silviya was one of the former, she didn't like the prospect of having her face exposed to enemy fire or debris, to be honest, she didn't even get why some of them opted to not use the extra protection.
But could you complain? Most of them were expected to die in any way shape or form for the glory of their Emperor, so dying with or without doesn't matter, what actually matters is your willingness to die in the name of the big E. Don't take this the wrong way Silviya is a convict devout on her faith, not once in her entire career she doubted the might of the Emperor, even so it never affected her willingness to sacrifice herself for His purpose.
Her real problem was the fact that she has lost so many sisters already for idiotic and suicidal reasons. Emilia died trying to fight four Khornate berzerkers alone, the reason? To her, even the mere presence of heretics calls for retribution, doesn't matter, how many or how strong they are. To be honest, though Silviya is not against the idea of purging heretics, she only knows better that it has a time and place to do so, jumping out of your Thunderhawk with only a chainsword and a bolter pistol in the middle of four Astartes is not a good idea. Amelane died doing a suicidal charge with her flamethrower gas tank against a Cultist Rhino tank, again not a very bright idea, since she found anti-tank mines in one of the guardsmen corpses, but before she could even share her plan, Amelane had already rushed the enemy vehicle.
But the worst of all was Brigith her canoness, the one who had recruited her into the order. She accepted an optional mission to go into the eye of terror with some Black templars to do recon, she went alone, she didn't even let other sisters go with her, not even Silviya.
She didn't tell anyone this but to her Brigith was like a mother figure for her. The canoness was the first person in Silviya's life that really cared about her well-being. She always asked if she was feeding properly, if she was taking the necessary rest for her training, she even made a dish called "spaghetti" only for her.
Obviously that she made this dish in secret, the militant Sororitas has a clear rule of "no attachments", including with yourself. Is expected from the likes of her total willingness to put aside her own life and the life of her sisters for the Imperium goals. They are instruments for the inquisition and the empire, and again nothing wrong with being a tool for the Emperor's ambitions, but she wants to be a useful tool, to do its job for the longest time and in the most efficient way possible. Is that so wrong? She asks herself as her reverie is cut short as Jessitta approaches her.
Jessitta is Silviya's best friend, the two have grown up together. Jessita has pale skin, blue eyes, she is taller than Silvya and the most striking of her features is her long ebony hair. The two are inseparable since her young age, Jessita was braver and bolder of the duo while Silviya was smart and cautious.
In their younger days, they used to raise hell on their convent with their shenanigans, usually, Silviya would dare Jessita to do something stupid that would ensue in a chain of events that would inevitably make them pay penance for their transgression. These penances being your average beating with a rod, pray 3 Ave Emperor's, or compulsory fasting.
But something in them changed when Brigith died. Jessita became serious and overprotective of Silviya, even managing to arrange for her to be assigned into Silvyia's squad, sometimes even becoming overbearing. But she knows that Jessita is only trying to help so this doesn't bother her so much. And Silviya became more distant and doubtful of the standard Sororitas tactics, seeing it as sometimes suicidal and unwise.
"Hey trouble-maker how are you doing?" Jessita asked feigning disinterest.
"Fine. Besides the fact that the home that we fought so hard to protect is being destroyed by heretics..." Silviya stated tiredly.
"Don't be such a baby! We will take this place back just you wait, the Emperor never allows evil to go unpunished." Jessita answered excitedly.
"Yes, but we will not live to see it...Did you forget our orders?"Silviya rebuked.
"No...But look at this way, when we become part of the Emperor's light we will watch from above the many conquests and victories of His faithful children!" Jessita stated with determination in her voice.
"Yeah, I know...Hey, you know what? You're right, we are Sororitas and we will do what must be done! We will give our body and our souls to the Emperor and we will be his might and his justice, let our voices be heard cause we are Brides of the emperor!" Cheered Silviya as the entire Airship started to scream war cries.
They are close to the ground now, she can hear the fire of bolter on her sides, where the gunners are shooting at targets on the ground. She can hear the distinct sound of revving axes and combat, the usual for this kind of gig. They are now descending, they should land in less than thirty seconds, thirty-five if you count the time it takes for the door to open. Kathina, Sabina, and Alatea join her and Jessita. The quartet now together completes the squad known as Celestine Fury led by Silvya.
"Did you mean it? What you just spoke?" Jessita asked quietly, knowing all too well that Silviya doesn't appreciate this approach to combat.
"For the first time in my life...yes I mean it. It's time for us to fulfill our duty. Our sisters are waiting in the holy light." This seemed to calm down Jessita.
"Celestine Fury! Prepare your weapons, we will give them hell!" Silviya screamed from the top of her lungs making all the battle sisters cheer on.
But inside her own mind, she wasn't so happy. It was exactly the opposite, this operation seems too much like the one that ended Brigith's life. They were literally walking to their deaths, for a good reason? Yes, but it doesn't need to end now, not on this way. But she can only sigh as the doors open to their inevitable demise.
Nine years ago:
A younger, smaller, and furious Silviya without the scar on her lips is marching to her canoness chambers. Through the entire convent, her footsteps can be heard. The convent looks like an old gothic church, having a lot of sharp angles and points, in the main area where she is right now, is a great chamber filled with candles and incense.
The walls are decorated with a lot of skulls and paintings. The skulls are from sisters that came before her. It's part of the tradition of her ordos, if the body of the sister in question is retrieved she must adorn these walls, to reminisce on their glory as well as their purpose, that is to give their life to the Emperor.
While climbing the stairs she is approached by a running Emilia. She has green eyes, white hair with streaks of red, an eyepatch on her right eye, and the same size and age as Silviya. "Stop Silviya! It's her duty, she was trained for this. You must respect her decision!"
Silvya didn't acknowledge her presence, she just kept climbing the stairs, she was almost there, that's when she felt the tug on her arm. Emilia was holding her elbow "Let me go, Emilia. I'm warning you...".
"Or what? Will you fight me? Would you fight one of your sisters? For what? For a sister that is doing her duty?" Exclaimed a very agitated Emilia.
But her talk was cut short as Silviya punched her straight on the face. Making Emilia spill some blood from her mouth. But before Silviya could do anything else, the other sister punched her on the gut, which made Silviya coil, using this opportunity Emilia uses a knee kick on her face.
Silviya stumbles back as Emilia pounces on her which leads to both of them falling the fly of stairs. On the way down they keep punching and biting one another. They fall a good forty steps before hitting the ground hard.
They land on their stomachs face to face, they stare at each other, as Silviya give a war cry, stands up, and runs into Emilia's position, the other sister does the same as they meet halfway, they exchange some blows, they keep on this rhythm for some time as they hear a thunderous voice booming around them.
"WHO ARE THESE INDIVIDUALS THAT CALL THEMSELVES SORORITAS, BUT ARE ACTING AS A BUNCH OF RABID DOGS? WHAT SHAMEFUL DISPLAY IS THIS?" They both hear coming from the stairs. At this moment Silviya and Emilia, with their faces bruised are holding each other's collar, holding their fists in the air ready to deliver another punch.
They look at each other and then to the top of the stairs that not so long ago they were fighting. Above the flight of stairs were a very horrified Jessita and a very, very pissed Brigith.
The two immediately untangled. They instantly went to a kneeling position with their foreheads glued to the ground, this is a normal repentance position. Whenever a sister did something bad she would immediately go to this position and wait for their fitting punishment.
"I leave you two alone for only some minutes, and you are already fighting like a pack of wild animals? I demand an explanation!" Exclaimed the canoness. Brigith was old for a militant sororitas, she was at least fifty years old, surprisingly enough she didn't look the age. She was huge having at least two meters, electrifying grey eyes, and various tattoos on her face. Silviya knew the true purpose of the tattoos, Brigith's face was filled with battle scars, and for some odd reason, she didn't like it, so she decided to cover it with tattoos. Yeah, even Sororitas had some kind of vanity it seems.
Emilia started talking when she was cut off by Silviya "It was my fault, I delivered the first blow! She was only trying to talk to me." She confessed, maintaining her position on the ground.
"I this true Emilia?" Brigith's voice boomed on the spacious chamber.
"Yes canoness, is true. I was talking to her about the importance of your duty, but she didn't want to listen, so she lost her nerve and attacked me" Emilia stated in a matter-factly way with her forehead still glued to the ground.
"Hmmm...you two will have one week of compulsory fasting. Only water from now on for a whole week. And I expect you two to be in every exercise. Am I clear?" The canoness stated waiting for their compliance.
"But Silviya attacked me first canoness, I was defending myself. Why must I receive the same punishment?" Emilia asked exasperatedly.
"Yes, but you two raised arms against one another. You know very well the punishment for infight! Your punishment is mercy compared with what I could've done. Now go! Back to your station before I change my mind." The canoness angrily shouted.
Emilia and Silviya hurriedly got up and started to go on their way before they heard the booming voice again. "Not you Silviya! You come with me."
They trade looks with each other as Silviya goes back to where they were. Brigith started to climb the stairs, and without a word, the sister started to follow, on the way up she trade glances with Jessita. Who could only look at her with concern.
They don't say anything as the two go in opposite directions. She arrives at the top of the stairs, and from there she can see the canoness quarters. The door is open, she can see light coming through the opening. With a sigh, she approaches the door, and with a light push, the door opens with the distinct sound of old wood and hinges. Brigith is sitting on her inquisitorial desk staring Silviya down, waiting for the sister to enter.
Reluctantly Silviya enters her canoness chambers and closes the door behind her. She sits in one of the chairs in front of Brigith. She can feel the strong stare she is receiving from the electrifying eyes of the older sororitas. "So care to explain your sudden outburst?" She questioned while tapping her fingers on the old wooden desk.
"I...I...I was coming to talk to you about your mission." Silviya sadly stated.
"Hmm...about what exactly?" Brigith further questioned.
"Emperor forgives me for what I'm about to say...but your mission is suicide! Everyone knows that no one that went to the eye of terror managed to return!" Silviya remarked somberly. Brigith only waited for the younger sororitas to continue.
"If it managed to further the Emperors' agenda, but no! Every troop, expeditionary force, and resource never returned. Not even one single message has made it through the warp, so we could manage to gather some intel. So if we cant conquer it, raided it, explore it or even gather some intel why bother going in the first place? You are far more valuable here commanding and guiding us! Emperors know the difference you make in all these people's lives." Silviya concluded exasperated.
Brigith waited for Silviya to calm down, and sighed before continuing "Silviya it's my duty...I know that you can't understand this right now. But I must do this. They need me, it's our purpose to fight not only for the Emperor but for his servants too and they need a faithful as well as a skilled warrior to protect the recon party. Not only that but they are sending black templars to help too. If they are sending Astartes on this you can be certain that it's for a greater purpose."
"But you will die! No one returned from that hell hole. If they need a faithful and skillful warrior send me! I will gladly sacrifice my body and soul to the Emperor in your place!" Silviya exclaimed as she pushed the chair back and kneeled on the ground with both hands together in what seemed a praying position.
Brigith laughed a little at the determination of the young one but her laugh was cut off by her commanding tone "You are not ready for something like this! You didn't finish your training, as well as you have the most potential of all my girls to take my place as a canoness. So it would be a waste to send you to your death so soon, you have another purpose Silviya. I know from the day that I've met you that you would be the difference in our order."
This made Silviya widen her eyes "What do you mean another purpose? What purpose is that? My purpose is to die serving the Emperor!"
"Yes, it's the purpose of all of us. But your purpose is not only that! You will bring forth the glory of Saint Celestine with you! Your cunning way of doing things will be necessary for the coming strife. Bravery and boldness accomplish many things, but sometimes that is not enough. So promise me that you will keep doing what you do best." Brigith stated.
Before Silviya could continue Brigith circled the desk and hugged her. For the first time in all their time together this is the first hug they ever shared. They were very close but they tried to keep some respectful distance from each other since in their ordos attachments was something heavily frowned upon.
So it was the very first time that this has happened between the two, she couldn't even process what had just transpired before the older Sororitas released her as fast as she had embraced her.
"Always have faith! Hold that close to your heart always...never stop believing in His light." The older sororitas spoke with teary eyes "Now go Silviya, you have duties to attend to, and I have mine."
Silviya goes to the door, she is almost out when she hears Brigith saying "I will be waiting in His light, we will see each other again, so don't you worry. Until then farewell sister." She takes a good look at her canoness, she tries to remember every possible detail of her face before nodding, and then she proceeds to close the door behind her.
She just stands there looking at the door. Lost in thoughts she manages to notice something she didn't before in her casual sororitas robes on her left shoulder there was one single tear stain.
Present:
The doors open and the occupants rush outside to combat while shouting in unison "FOR THE EMPEROR!". Celestine Fury has already been briefed on the objective that is to find and rescue as many Guardsmen they can, gather them, and guide them to the rescue ships. In the briefing, they were organized into three teams Alpha, Bravo, and Charlie, thirty in each team. Three Thunderhawks for each team and each team is assigned for one side of the trenches. Main objective: Gain time for the guardsmen and military personnel to board the rescue ships. They have at their disposal 4 Avengers Strike Fighters to clear the path for the landing zone, which are taking care of the coming hordes of heretics trying to maintain them far away from the trenches.
Silviya and the Celestine Fury go above the trenches running in their power armors, firing bolt fire in any Khornate Berzerker on the way and inside the trenches. They run until they spot two lone guardsmen running from one Berzerker. "Nine O'clock, one enemy. He's pursuing two soldiers. Interfering now!" Silviya commands on her squad comms.
"Very bright of you to drop off the only gun that could kill them Sigilus!" Screamed Erick as he and Sigilus kept running away from the mad Astartes.
"It's not my fault! it was your trap that tripped me! If you weren't so shitty in marking your traps I wouldn't have dropped the gun!" Sigilus responded angrily.
"GET BACK HERE YOUR LOYALIST SCUUUUUM!" The mad Astartes furiously screamed.
"What!? For your information, I have never seen any guardsmen fall into my trap. And you know why? Cause there is a huge arrow in the WALL POINTING TO THE FUCKING TRAP!" Erick screamed even more loudly.
"AN ARROW COULD MEAN ANYTHING BUT A TRAP! TRY USING A SKULL INSTEAD!" Sigilus responded even more loudly.
Their debacle is cut short as they turn left ending up in a dead-end, shortly after the marine is in the entrance of the corridor. "YOU CAN'T ESCAPE DEATH FOREVER! IT'S TIME FOR YOUR DEMISE. NOW LOYALISTS BE KIND, DO ME A FAVOR...AND DIEEEEEEEE!" Said the hulking monstrosity revving his two axes well above his head ready to strike the two.
They both close their eyes waiting for their demise, but fortunately, it never came as they hear the distinct sound of a bolter gun and the all too familiar sound of meat being torn open by gunfire. Soon after the sound, they hear a loud *CLANG* as the body of the marine falls limply on the floor.
Erick opens his eyes, and the first thing he sees looks like an angel he can clearly see that is a sororitas, but the way she just saved their lives, the awe of never seeing one, and the way that the sun is behind her back made her look like an angel to him. When he was a teen he heard many stories about the battle sisters, but many thought that it was pure fantasy or legend, made to inspire and comfort fearful guardsmen.
But his admiration is cut short as the sister and her group jumped inside the trench. He is approached by the one that looks like the leader "We are here in the name of the Emperor to rescue you and other guardsmen." Said the figure. She used what appears to be an Astartes helmet but different in a kind of way, it didn't have mouth vents, a huge Black Fleur de Lis on the front, a vertical red stripe, and two little red lenses. Well, at least the familiar sense of being stared deep into your soul through that visor is the same as when he met an Astartes years ago.
"Thanks for the rescue, that was a close call. Erick Clarke unit 661 and Sigilus Black unit 882, we are at your service!" Erick answered formally.
"At ease soldier, we need you both to follow us. We are here to regroup and escort the 41st to the rescue party." The unknown sister spoke.
"I don't want to sound stupid, but before we continue I need to pick the plasma pistol that I dropped some corridors away." Sigilus said apologetically.
One of the sisters using all-black armor on the back took one plasma pistol from her holster and approached Sigilus, she pointed the gun at him. He jumps back scared, certainly thinking that his request earned him his death, but before he could do anything the Sororita spins the pistol around, with the pistol grip now facing him. Reluctantly Sigilus picks up the gun and retreats back to Erick's side.
"Now that everything is ready, follow me you two." Commanded the leader of the group. The squad of Sororitas turns their backs to them and starts moving into the corridor.
Erick and Sigilus stare at each other for some seconds before hurriedly following their saviors. The two hear on their comms the worried voice of Sarah "Boys I lost visual of you two. Status report?"
"We are fine Sarah the sisters saved our asses. One berzerker came rushing into our position as soon as they arrived. But we are fine for now." Erick reported to the marksman of the squad.
Their talk is cut short as the sisters signal with their hands that they halt. They crouch, the first of the formation pointing the bolter gun to the end of the corridor. He and Sigilus copy the formation of the sisters.
At the end of the corridor, two guardsmen come running, and soon after behind them two berzerkers bounce on the wall and proceeded to follow the two. The sororitas leader then shouts "Guardsmen on the ground now!" both of the running men throw themselves on the ground as the group of sororitas fire their bolters on the hulking heretics.
They resist the first volley of fire but soon enough they fall dead on the ground, centimeters away from the fleeing guardsmen. The Sosoritas stands up and rushes to both men's positions. They help them to stand up, the leader approaches the two "We are here to rescue you, I need that you stay with them behind us the entire time! Our main priority is to take all of you out of here." The two men only nodded and proceeded to stay with Erick and Sigilus on the back.
The group led by the sisters goes through the trenches trying to find any wandering guardsmen or one in a dangerous situation. They manage to find a small group of five before the leading sister received what appears a radio transmission. At the same time, Erick comms comes to life as he hears Emeritus's voice "White Thunderhawksss with red Fleur de Lisss are approaching our posssition, some of them are landing inssside the citadel, I think that's our ressscue! Thanks to the Omnissssiah! Just in time, our defenssses can't hold much longer, they dessstroyed all the auto-turretsss and mossst of our mortarsss!"
Emeritus couldn't even finish speaking when the leading sister turns around and addresses the group "The transports have arrived, we will take you all to evac. Follow me, soldiers!"
She started to go faster at some unknown location, they turn left and right before arriving on a ramp where they could see the transport craft slowly landing. Some guardsmen are using semaphores to help the ship safely land in the confined landing space. But before they could celebrate a missile flyby them, hitting one of the boosters of the ship making the craft lose control, and forcefully landed a little off, with its body in the right place, but the front being in one of the nearby trenches. Soon after they hear one of the doors of the vehicle opening as some sororitas using the same armor as the one leading the group. The only difference being in the white and red details of the armor, and the devices on their gauntlets that looked like needles.
They made a perimeter near the fallen ship and started shooting in some unseen enemies, that they couldn't see since they are inside the trenches.
Erick opens his radio channel to Emeritus "Emeritus I need you in my position right now! We have a downed ship needing emergency repairs!"
The voice of the mechanicus soon spoke "Roger coming to your location, I'm near you ssso i won't take long."
Erick then addresses the battle sister "My mechanic is coming to repair the ship he should be here in an instant." Before she could even articulate a response, true to his word came in running Emeritus.
"Ssso did I take long?" Asked the mechanicus.
"Actually no. It must be a new record for you! thirty seconds?" Asked a very amused Erick.
"What the...? How did you manage to get here so fast?" Inquired the shocked sister.
The mechanicus raises his robes, causing the entirety of the group, minus Erick and Sigilus, to look away, only for a second later they realize that he was showing mechanical legs. He lowers his robes again "I recently upgraded thessse babiesss so I could run even fassster than an Assstartes, the only problem being that it needsss conssstant maintenance or it will break." Emeritus said proudly about his work.
The main sister only hummed, before asking "661 could you leave him here to repair the ship, there are more coming, and I believe that we mustn't wait for the repairs of this one to finish, so I would strongly advise you to come with us, and leave the mechanicus to do its job."
Erick was ready to reject the advice and stay with his squadmate, but Emeritus beat him to it "Don't worry Erick I will fix thisss ssson enough, after my job is done I will go with them. We will meet again after thisss insssanity isss over."
He was going to stay behind with his friend, but the confident way that the mechanicus spoke left no space to argue it. So he did the only thing that he could do in this situation "May the Emperor be with you, my friend." The mechanicus looks at him with what looks like a happy expression before nodding and going on his way to repair the downed ship booster.
The sororitas only nodded at him and proceed to run to another corridor of this maze of trenches, they all follow her as fast as they can. They pass some corridors before they all hear. A huge sound of what appeared to be a horn coming from the skies above them. When he looked to the source of the sound, he saw. A huge battleship with pink colors on it and the distinct symbol of Slaanesh on its left side. He could only say "Shit..."
The deafening sound of something blasting coming from the ship made them all widened their eyes as one of the sisters screamed "Its drop pods! They are sending chaos marines!" She didn't even finish speaking when one of the drop pods fell on top of their trenches in the right of their positions outside the dug-out holes.
Soon after the door of the pod blasted revealing four space marines. Erick had already seen some shit on the battlefield, but this was on whole another level. They have bright pink armor covered with human skin, with obscenities drawn on them, some look highly artist and others crude and childish, they have their faces covered in piercings of different kinds, each one of them had a collar made from human parts, varying from human arms to genitalia, in the crotch area of their armor is some kind of leather with a zipper on it and their tongues are huge but the worst of all to Erick is the way they are looking at them. He could only describe it as "the face you make when you see your favorite food that you don't see in ages". So yeah talk about menacing.
One of them started to scream "HELLOOOOOOOO MOTHERFUCKERS! WE COME HERE IN PEACE, WE JUST WANT TO PARTY, HAVE SOME FUN YOU KNOW...maybe dance a little, talk and make friends."
One of the guardsmen of the group asks "Really!?" This causes that the entirety of the group to slowly turn to look at him.
"YEAAAAH! IF FROM DANCING YOU MEAN RAPE! TALK TO TORTURE, AND MAKE FRIENDS WITH LITERALLY SKINNING YOUR ALIVE TO MAKE A NEW HAT! BOOOOOYS LETS PART..." He is cut off as Sigilus shoots him with his plasma pistol leaving only half of the chaos marine standing "Shut the fuck up." Sigilus says angrily.
After the shot the sisters start to shoot at them killing another but the other two jumps in another corridor of the trench, making them lose sight of the heretics. "Sisters formation! Make a circle around the guardsmen, let's rush to the evac zone." Said the battle sister.
They run a few good meters, before hearing the Thunderhawk engine. They are close to the way out of this mess. But their happiness is short-lived as one of those marines comes running through one of the side corridors grabbing one of the sororitas by the neck, then he starts using the sister as a meat shield. They all aim in the direction of the abhorrent marine "HMMMMM THE SMELL OF FEAR NEVER FAILS TO TURN ME ON! LOWER YOUR GUNS AND I WON'T KILL HER...AT LEAST NOT BEFORE HAVING SOME FUN!"
They see the sister struggling in his grasp, as the hulking degenerate with his long tongue caresses the captured sororitas helmet.
Silviya can't believe what is happening to Jessita right now. How could they not hear the coming chaos marine? They were careless. Her shocked state is interrupted by Jessita's comms "It's alright...you can all shoot me. My purpose ends here. Kill the heretic, we will be seeing each other very soon my sisters."
Silviya could only stare numbly at her best friend before nodding, she, Kathina, Sabina, and Alatea take aim. They start to squeeze the trigger. Jessita in the last act of defiance screams from the top of her lungs "FOR THE EMPEROOOOOOOR!"
But before any of them could shoot, the distinct sound of lasgun fire is heard, in a blink of an eye the head of the hulking monstrosity has a huge hole. The heretic looks at his own forehead and utters an "Oh..." before falling to the ground, crushing Jessita, who rapidly pushes herself from the downed body of the vile creature. "I really, reaaaally hate Slaanesh devouts," Said an annoyed Jessita.
Silviya and Jessita exchange glances before composing themselves. Jessita picks her gun from the muddy ground, shaking it a little, to try to take some of the mud off the bolter rifle.
"We are almost there so keep up you all! Return to formation!" Silviya ordered.
The group returned to the formation, as they kept advancing. She could already hear the engine noise. They were near the craft, the hospitallers were already waiting for them. But something behind her caught her attention. One of the guardsmen, stopped along the way, he was looking straight to the ground, his already white skin was even whiter.
"Everyone to the ship!" She ordered as one by one everyone boarded the rescue vessel. But units 661 and 882 are still in the same place. It appears that the tall and bald man is trying to speak with the catatonic soldier. "You two need to get inside now!" Ordered the sororitas.
"I can't...he's dead...he can't be dead." The catatonic soldier sadly stated.
"Who's dead? We don't have time for this and you must leave immediately!"
"Emeritus...he died doing his duty. Unfortunately, I can't go on without his body, he deserves at least a proper burial."
No one noticed not even the degenerate in front of them, but he gave his position to Sarah. And if Emperor wills it, she will get there before they have to do something terrible. How will she manage to take this shot? Simple actually, she is on the walls that surround the citadel. She has almost a 360ยบ view of the battlefield.
He prays that she is near their position, if not so the situation will have a not-so-good conclusion. The vile Astartes is licking the helmet of one of the sisters, her squadmates are raising their weapons, now would be a perfect time Sarah...They are squeezing the trigger, now would be a fantastic time...
He's already accepted that one of their saviors was going to die. But his thoughts are interrupted by an all-familiar lasgun shot that pierces the head of the heretic. He only manages to see the former Astartes falling to the ground. He looks in the direction of the walls "Thank you, Sarah! Now go support Emeritus position and give him cover while he's repairing the fallen ship!"
He only hears a short response "Roger" before contact is cut off again. Perfect now he only needs to evaluate the situation before entering the ship. They are almost there he can hear the engine noise. "Emeritus status? Are you ready to leave?"
Erick receives a strange noise on team comms "Guys...they overrun usss... I couldn't fix it in time, they were ssso many...*cough*cough* I took a bolter ssshot in the stomach, ssso I don't have much time*cough* I jussst want you guys to know that before us I've never learned the meaning of what a family isss, you know being a mechanicusss and all. But after I met you all...I get it why caring and be cared for isss ssso good. I love you guys. Now let me go with a baaang."
A strange sound followed, as the radio in Emeritus channel became static. "Sarah, is 641 KIA?" He ordered. Some time passes before he hears the short answer "Roger, 641 KIA".
Sigilus tried to approach him carefully "We need to go, Erick, we cant continue here! We need to keep going. He wouldn't want his sacrifice to go in vain."
To be honest this very moment the only thing that Erick hears is his own thoughts. He knew Emeritus for ten years. They went through so much together, so many happy moments but as well as horrible ones. Moments where they thought they would all die. Gamma squad had originally twelve members, that with the passing of time ended either dying or disappearing.
The quartet was the last remainings of the Gamma squad. The group had already been reduced to three members. His inner turmoil is cut off by the Sororitas voice "You two need to get inside now!"
The only thing that went through Erick's lips were "I can't...he's dead...he can't be dead." And just like that, the inner turmoil comes back with a vengeance.
"Who's dead? We don't have time for this and you must leave immediately!" The armored lady ordered as she approached him.
"Emeritus...he died doing his duty. Unfortunately, I can't go on without his body, he deserves at least a proper burial." Erick stated his decision.
"Are you mad? Is just a body! He's already in the light of the emperor, that's nothing it could be achieved going after his body." The sororitas angrily argued it.
But before both could continue on their discussion a loud bang could be heard some trenches away. sending a mixture of blood and dust into the air.
Sigilus asked, "Is that not Emeritus position?"
"Yeah...that son of a bitch knew we would go after his body. He probably had a failsafe for this kind of situation. Have your body exploding a bunch of heretics is a good idea, as well as saving us from our own duty to our friendship. He was a genius even after death." Erick remarked tiredly.
"So you two are done?" Asked an annoyed sororitas.
"Sarah, go to evac, we are done. See you on the other side!" Erick ordered.
"Now we are done." the squad leader answered.
But before they could even get near the ship a bunch of guardsmen came running through the ramp in complete disarray the men brushed past them desperate to get into the rescue ship. soon after right behind them, Slaanesh marines came in running from both sides of the ramp.
"Sisters in formation we got heretics, twelve O'clock!" Screamed the leading sister.
The four sisters went into a V shape in front of the cargo doors blocking the heretics out. They shoot their bolters on the coming chaos spawn.
Erick and Sigilus help the fleeing guardsmen to board the ship. But Sigilus notices a wounded guardsman running from one of the abominations, not so far from there. In Sigilus head is simple, jump on the trench kill the marine with his plasma pistol and help the wound guardsmen to the craft.
Before Erick could say anything Sigilus runs into the trench hole right into the middle, of the corridor. He is now blocking the path for the wounded soldier, the heretic keeps going in his direction. He takes the plasma pistol and fires. Everything would be ok if the enemy in question didn't just evade the shot with a ground slide he gets up right in front of Sigilus picking him up by the neck with his strong arms. "YOU ARE NO FUN! I CANT SMELL FEAR ON YOU. WELL IF YOU ARE HERE WHY WASTE IM A RIGHT?"
Sigilus with his standard Imperium knife stabs the monstrosity in the neck. And to his utter horror, the creature didn't even react, it just smiled wickedly "KNOW WHY WE ARE FAR MORE DANGEROUS THAN YOUR AVERAGE KHORNE FAN GIRLS? THEY ARE BUILD IN COMBAT AND STRIFE. BUT WE...OH NO, DARLING...WE ARE BUILD IN PAIN AND PLEASURE. FOR US EVERY SINGLE PAIN YOU CAUSE TO US IS A GIFT. SO NOW DIE PATHETIC LOYALIST."
The pink Astartes starts to bear hug Sigilus. The sheer pressure on his body can be known by the fact that with each more strength that the monstrosity puts on the hug a sickly cracking noise can be heard. Sigilus feels a metallic taste in his mouth. Everything hurts, but he can still do one thing. "Knock knock?" Sigilus weakly asks.
The former Astartes stops mid hug and looks curiously to the guardsmen on his arms "WHOS THERE?"
"The Emperor..." The sound of a pressing button could be heard. The nasty creature understands too late what that sound meant.
A huge explosion could be heard throughout the entire trench including where Sigilus were.
Erick couldn't believe it. It was the second man that he lost to this operation. The first was Emeritus now Sigilus. The inner turmoil was threatening to return. But before he could be lost on thought again. A distinct sound of artillery could be heard. But this time the sound wasn't coming from the trenches but coming from above. He looked to the skies confirming the worst but he wasn't fast enough to warn them...
Silviya was getting tired of this mission. She must have killed already thirty pink Astartes and they keep coming. They are low on ammo and the guardsmen don't hurry, if they keep this up, everyone will be dead.
But for some reason, she hears a sequence of explosions through the entire trench. She can even see body parts flying high in the air. Some cultists and Astartes are on fire trying to put themselves out. This is the perfect opportunity for the soldier's evac.
However, a very characteristic sound could be heard from above. Yes artillery, and the worst of all, the shots are coming in their direction. The world slows down to Silviya at this point as she can see the explosive shells falling all around them. Dust, fire, and body parts fly everywhere she sees her sisters looking around trying to find some cover. Jessita runs in her direction.
Why is Jessita running in her direction? That is the last thing she sees before a huge sound and a shining bright light envelope them.
Everything is black, she can't see a thing, she can't feel her legs, or arms, or anything really. A bright light turns on, it's the only bright spot in this endless sea of darkness. She goes in the direction of the shining light.
She is floating on this sea, swimming to the light.
She is almost there now, if she had fingers she could touch the light by now. But in the endless sea of darkness, she hears a familiar voice.
"Get up! Come on get up! I need you. We won't make it alive if you don't wake up now...wake up! WAKE UP NOW!"
She gasps for air, the sweet sensation of oxygen coursing through her respiratory system is almost as good as praying to the Emperor. Her vision is blurred but she can see some laying shadows in front of her. She is in a sitting position.
What happened? The sororitas doesn't get it, she can't remember what happened.
She tries to get up but she feels a stinging pain in her left tight. Now she noticed something strange, where is her visor? Is she without her helmet?
"What happened?" She asks meekly.
A figure appears in front of her, he has a familiar silhouette. He's talking but she can't hear him. The figure goes behind her, and shortly after she is being dragged by someone, he puts something on her hands. It looks like a Fleur de Lis...
At this very moment, everything came back to her, every single memory from her early years to now. The blur on her vision subsides, now she can understand what is happening. The object on her hand has the Fleur de Lis symbol but is not exactly the symbol. The drawing is only the decal of her bolter gun. She looks to the location of where she was, and she only manages to see her sisters all sprawled on the ground, with huge pools of blood beneath them, but worse of them all was Jessita.
She was a mangled piece of iron and flesh, spread through the entire landing zone. She cant look at the scene at hand. She feels a weird sensation on her chest, but pushes this emotion back as more Slaanesh marines appeared in the trenches, she points her gun and starts shooting in the heretics' direction.
"That's it! Distract them we are almost there!" Said the familiar voice of unit 661.
"Leave me here, I will hold them off while you escape!" Silviya said while shooting some rushing Astartes.
"No, we are leaving together! We are almost at the ramp!" He exclaimed.
"NO! LEAVE ME HERE! I MUST FULFILL MY DUTY!" Silviya angrily screamed as the guardsmen tried to put her arm around his neck for support. He manages it, even with the heavy armor of the battle sister.
He starts to help her to get into the vehicle all Hospitallers and Guardsmen are firing in the coming Astartes. They are almost there, but she is pushed to the ground, and when she looks up she sees the guardsmen's arm being torn off by a bolter bullet.
Erick sees one of the sisters pushing their leader out of the bombshell range. She manages in time, but unfortunately, the entire device exploded in her. He looked away as pieces of the former sister flown everywhere.
The other three ended up with shrapnel and fire on their entire bodies. The squad leader ended up sitting on a rock slab. Her tight pierced with one of the shrapnel of the bomb, her helmet nowhere to be found. He approaches her, he checks her pulse "Weak.." he talks to himself, as he tries to awaken her.
"Come on wake up. We need to go. We are almost there." he shakes her but still no reaction. He puts his hand on her nose, and she is not breathing. She could have been shell shocked, or her lungs pierced by a fractured rib. So Erick decided to do CPR, he started to do it just like he learned, 1...2...3 blow, 1...2...3 blow. It looks like it isn't working so he starts to get desperate. He looks straight at her closed eyes and screams as louder as he can.
"Get up! Come on get up! I need you. We won't make it alive if you don't wake up now...wake up! WAKE UP NOW!"
On the last scream, she opens her eye gasping for air. She slowly looks around, but she seems kinda off. Probably the shell shock.
She tries to get up but fails miserably not only for the aforementioned but for the shrapnel stuck on her tight.
"What happened?" She asks meekly. At this one Erick is actually surprised, he never imagined that such a meek voice would be coming from a sororitas mouth. But no use on dwelling on this now, they must get out of here. He picks her gun from the ground and drops it on her lap. He makes a signal for the Hospitallers to hold the cargo doors open. He starts to drag the sororitas to the cargo ramp.
However the sister in question starts to move more erratically, and before he could even question, she starts shooting at some Chaos marines that were approaching the landing zone. Good, she is back...
"That's it! Distract them we are almost there!" Erick exclaimed.
"Leave me here, I will hold them off while you escape!" The sororitas said while shooting some rushing Astartes.
Has the blast damaged her brain or something? Cause they are literally on the door to freedom, only a few steps and they are out of this hell hole.
"No, we are leaving together! We are almost at the ramp!" Erick exclaimed.
"NO! LEAVE ME HERE! I MUST FULFILL MY DUTY!" The strange sororitas angrily screamed as he tried to put her arm around his neck for support. He manages it, even with the heavy armor. He drags her limping body to the ramp, only four more steps and they are in. The hospitallers, as well as the guardsmen, are giving covering fire.
But he feels it, the bullet coming in their direction, to be more specific the sister location. He pushes her on instinct, then it hits him, his arm is torn off in slow motion. He almost fell with the impact of the bullet but he manages to compose himself. He is on all fours, he gets up picks the sororitas by her collar and starts to drag her into the rescue craft. He can feel his blood falling from the stump of his arm, but he doesn't care, he is almost blacking out, he sees people helping him to drag the sororitas. He can clearly hear her saying something along the lines of "Why didn't you let me die" or something.
He clearly doesn't care at this moment as he falls on his back, his vision becoming too blur to maintain his eyes open. He feels so tired, only one nap won't do any wrong right?
