"Is it about Khaine?"

"Yes it's about – wait a minute, how did you know?"

"Isha just gave us a comprehensive tour of the temple mate, this is a Fortress World dedicated to the Aeldari war god."

"And here I had hope you would be gasping at this shocking revelation."

"Sorry Tangmo, no swooning from me."

Laura and Tangmo shared a laugh, because if the Thai commissar had contacted her five minutes earlier the reaction would've been very different. Compared to the rest of the battlegroup, Laura had to admit that she and the girls were getting the easy end of the job, with most of their time spent escorting Isha and Celestine inside the most secure building on the planet. Being surrounded by hot women of war was also a nice plus.

"Oh, so Isha knows about this?" Tangmo went on.

"I do lord commissar," Isha popped up behind Laura's shoulder and waved her greeting at Tangmo's hologram shinning from the British inquisitor's data-pad. The proximity was making Laura very giddy. "If I remember correctly this was a planet situated on the frontier of the Aeldari Empire, tasked with safeguarding the border. Fortress World like this one is commanded by a military governor, who is also a disciple of Khaine."

"And then everything went to shit after the Fall," Tangmo grunted and Isha nodded sadly. "After Khaine was shattered all the Fortress World predictably collapses, which would explains why the ancestor of the Federation managed to win in the first place."

"Have you found any alternative entrances to the underground complex yet, lord commissar?" Celestine joined the conversation, effectively sandwiching Laura between her and Isha. She can feel the blistering jealousy radiating from Yuki.

"Yeah, we found a big ass door leading to that black spot," Tangmo told her. "Did you find anything similar?"

"We have, lord commissar," Celestine and Isha traded smiles. "After we have examined the temple from top to bottom we found an inert platform on the lowest chamber, encompassing the entire floor. Farseer Celalira is leading a cadre of Bonesinger and Sororitas in hymns and prayers to decipher the mechanism of the platform."

"Are you saying they respond to sound?" Tangmo pressed on, very much intrigued by this development.

"Yes lord commissar," Isha now said. "When we first reached the platform, myself and Celestine made a vocal harmonization and the portal reacted with a pleasant hum. I personally inspected the inner working and molecular makeup of the temple and discovered that it uses harmonic resonance as a mean to power the entire structure and the surrounding buildings."

"Okay cool, the temple uses music to function, but I'm more interested in that little tidbit you just said. Did you and Celestine sing?" Tangmo's eyes grew to comical saucers when the Aeldari goddess and the Living Saint nodded their confirmation. Mouth hanging open, the Thai commissar turned to the British inquisitor. "For the love of the God Emperor, please tell me you got that on camera."

"I did," Laura nodded vigorously. "And mate, words can't describe how beautiful it was, and that's coming from me."

"Can we please get back to the situation at hand?" Oh right, Celestine's personal shadow known as Greyfax was here. Groaning in annoyance, the lady inquisitor barged into view and bestowed Laura and Tangmo with an extremely unamused look. "Have you managed to breach the entrance?"

"Not yet, the Bonesingers just arrived and we're fortifying the university campus, can't be too careful with the Ynnari yo," Tangmo responded then gave Greyfax a challenging look. "Have you made any progress?"

"We're figuring out the acoustic sequence needed to operate the platform," Greyfax told him. "Have Yvraine encroach on your position yet?"

"Saw a couple of scouts snooping about, I tried to say hello but they all scurried away, but no, they haven't tried anything yet," Tangmo grunted, "wouldn't count on that lasting though. What are you guys doing now?"

"Heading back to the platform, we're taking the stairs," Laura panned the data-pad to show Tangmo the spiraling steps they were taking. "For all their mastery of space and time and reality, the Aeldari appear to have no concept of escalators or elevators."

"If you would recall lady inquisitor, this temple was built over by the Federation and had remained underground for many millennia before our arrival," Isha spoke up. "Not even such unmatched creation can triumph over the merciless march of time."

"You got that right, all turns to dust eventually," Tangmo agreed then glanced off somewhere in the distant. He nodded then turned back to Laura. "Alright, we're gonna try opening the portal now. Oh yeah I almost forgot, have the rest of the STC been extracted yet?"

"That's why we're heading down mate," Laura panned the camera again when they reached the platform, showing Bonesingers and Sororitas busying themselves across the grand circular chamber the size of a football stadium. "Turns out the data inside the STC was half complete, the rest of it is inside the deeper sanctum."

"Looks like you got everything under control," Tangmo tipped his awesome commissar cap at Laura then spun at a commotion rising off screen, "gotta go dude, duties call. Yo, be careful with the guitar man!"

"That's not a bad idea actually," Yuki slipped in beside Laura after she terminated transmission, the Japanese exarch had a thoughtful look on her face as she observed the hall. Candelabras and hovering fae lanterns were placed at artful intervals across the chamber, casting a pleasant watery illumination of orange and silver across the seamless floors, walls and ceilings. It almost made the vista of glorious war and death peaceful. Funny how a little change in coloring can make the Bloody Hand God appeared an angelic savior as opposed to being the personification of destruction. A large churchly organ of gilded skulls and bones had also been carried down here, the hulking iconic musical instrument of the Adepta Sororitas were getting tinkered by several dozen novice nuns in chainmail habits. Not one to be outdone, the Aeldari had also brought along a large multilayered harp with strings of shimmering gold, the pillars and harmonic curves swooping up like wings of swans taking flight. Laura didn't miss the challenging gazes passing between the two groups, bloody hell she loved a healthy competition.

"What's not a bad idea?" Laura asked, one of her brow quirked questioningly.

"A guitar," Yuki waved at the musical instruments and the nuns and elves currently harmonizing with the Bonesingers, "it would give the performance a nice extra layer."

"Yuki makes an extremely legitimate point," Nikki spoke up, one hand stroking her chin. "We're in a temple dedicated to the Aeldari god of war. I don't think Khaine is the kind of dude who listens to Secret Garden or Enya."

"Get a drum kit down here and we'll be set," Lita smirked and started rolling her shoulders in eager anticipation. "It's been too long since I let the animal loose."

"I believe we should be a bit more circumspect first," Isha offered the quartet a light smile. "Once we get a bearing on how the chamber reacts, other musical elements can then be added."

"I guess you're right, but I'm requisitioning them anyway," Nikki flipped open her data-pad and did exactly that. When she was finished, the Ukrainian exarch stashed the data-pad back into her belt and watched as the novice sisters completed their work on the gothic organ then arranged themselves into four pristine rows of six before the instrument. They stood with parade ground stiffness as sister Verity the hospitaller strode up to the gilded organ, bowed her head in silent prayer, then sat down on the cushioned seat in front of the keys. Slowly placing her fingers on the polished white bars, Verity inhaled deeply then pressed one note. The sound echoed across the chamber, a haunting wail that was soulful and beautiful, the Battle Sisters across the chamber all paused in their task to listen, their visages one of contentment. Verity lifted her finger and the sound had barely dissipated when a chiming vibration rippled through the circular confine, the timbre crisp and clear as opposed to the organ's more grandiose acoustic. When the musical pulsing passed Verity raised her hand and waved at Alnelle, the Aeldari medic returned the greeting with equal heart from her seat at the harp.

"Alright, now we're talking," Lita nodded appreciatively. "So which songs are you lot playing?"

"I believe a warm up is in order," Celestine summoned the Ardent Blade and held the magic sword daintily high, the posture the Living Saint adopted reminded Laura of a symphony conductor. "Sister Verity, Alnelle, please proceeds with the first sequence of the Hymn of Terra, slow the tempo down a bit and be wary of how it effects the environment."

"As you command, my lady Saint," Verity and Alnelle gave their answer simultaneously, the pair traded nod and was turning back to their respective instruments when a group of non-combatant eldars adopted the same choir line as the novice Sororitas. Celestine raised the Ardent Blade, time itself stood still in silent anticipation, none dared to breathe until the Living Saint swung the sword down and the empty vacuum was shattered by a super nova of music. The thunderous resonance erupting from the organ and the harp was a sublime blend of power and melody, the rising notes carrying a tangible weight that almost knocked Laura off her feet. As her ears adjusted to the roaring symphony, Laura felt a smile tugging her lips as the timbre easily enveloped the chamber, the fact that Celestine was vigorously conducting the entire affair only made this more glorious. The Hymn of Terra was everything she expected from in-universe music of Warhammer 40k, a rumbling cadence of churchly Gregorian grandeur filled with dark melancholic undercurrent, the combined vocalization of the nuns and the elves was gloomy and forlorn. Although her Latin was rusty, Laura can decipher the lyric and was not at all disappointed that the song was about sacrifice, war and martyrdom. The composition was rising in crescendo, building to a rousing finish when Celestine suddenly swished the Ardent Blade harshly across the air, bringing the music to an end.

"Well done ladies, a most stirring performance," Celestine twirled the Ardent Blade around her fingers. "Next I want you to perform the Aeldari musical piece Lost Veil of the Stars. Bonesingers, kindly add your instrumentations to the symphony please. Like the last time ladies, same volume and tempo and cadence, on me."

The performance was not what Laura had expected. It was an orchestral piece, that much was evident by the grand melody and rising octave, but what differentiated the Aeldari's music from the Sororitas's performance was the intricate placement of each notes and the many unorthodox rhythms and frequent meter changes. In layman terms, the Aeldari were playing Progressive Metal. It took a moment for Laura to get use to the avant-garde musicality, and when she did it felt as if she could touch the colorful spectrums of each note now permeating the hall in a riot of ethereal sound. Laura was honestly pissed when Celestine ended the Aeldari's composition, bloody hell she was moments away from reaching nirvana!

"Did you notice any changes with the chamber, lady inquisitor?" Celestine turned expectantly to Laura.

"Huh?" Oh shit, she was supposed to be watching the chamber and see if the music unlocked anything! "Uh…well, let's see…"

"The tiles and friezes on the floor shifted, my lady Saint," Lita swooped in for the save and Laura mouthed a thank you. The Mexican Warseer waved her Singing Spear at the center of the chamber, and yes the panorama of Khaine striding triumphantly across a victorious battlefield did change, if only minimally. Here and there figures moved, and Laura swore Khaine himself was holding his sword differently. "Our hypothesis was correct. Music is indeed the key to unlocking the path ahead."

"Our task now is to find the right key," Laura did not like the wicked grin Celestine was giving her. "Since you were so enraptured by the performance lady inquisitor, perhaps you can judge which composition is more optimal."

"I'm sorry, what?" Laura blinked dumbly at the Living Saint. "What do you mean more optimal?"

"Which performance did you liked better?" Celestine stabbed the Ardent Blade to the ground and struck her trademark warrior saint pose, "those belonging to the Adepta Sororitas, or the Aeldari?"

"…This feels like a trap, holy shite," Laura blurted, sweat breaking out across her forehead when Isha joined Celestine, like the Living Saint the Aeldari goddess was equally curious. "Seriously, I don't like where this conversation is heading."

"Oh no lady inquisitor, you are wholly mistaken about our intention, we are simply asking for an honest opinion," Isha's words were bright and friendly, but there was no denying the clear mischievous gleam in her eyes. "Which did you find more pleasing? Sororitas or Aeldari?"

"I'm gonna be a coward and say I like both. Seriously, the compositions might be different but they're both unique and beautiful in their own ways, and I'm a fan of both. Just because I like chocolate doesn't mean I can't like vanilla too," predictably Laura's diplomatic answer earned her very unimpressed looks from Celestine and Isha, along with audible groans and scoffs from the Aeldari and Sororitas main characters. Before the Living Saint and the Aeldari goddess can make further inquiry, Laura held up a stalling hand. "Regardless of which style I prefer, it's clear that the songs are not having the intended effect. Sure, the carving moved a bit, but not by much."

"The lady inquisitor is correct," Farseer Celalira got up from where she was crouching with canoness Amaryllis and swept her critical eyes across the chamber. "Music is needed to activate the temple, yet the building was hardly stirred by the performance."

"What did I say? Khaine doesn't like classical and new age music, he wants something harder – aha!" Nikki threw her fist in the air when a group of Fire Dragons carried a guitar, a bass guitar and a drum set with double foot paddle into the hall. "Now we're fucking talking!"

With the help of the Battle Sisters and the Aspect Warriors, Laura and her mates swiftly went about setting up their instruments, placing everything down at the approximate middle point between the Sororitas organ and the Aeldari harp. Since this was the 42nd millennium, combined with technological upgrades from the Dark Age of Technology, the amps had been rendered wireless and were controlled via the data-pads, all connected by Bluetooth. Soon enough Yuki and Nikki had slung the guitar and bass over their shoulders, while Lita seated herself down amidst a crescent of drums and cymbals. Being the designated singer, Laura went through a sequence of harmonizing and humming to warm up her vocal cord.

"I didn't know you four play instruments," Isha asked as she and the main characters gathered around the quartet, all of them quite surprise by this discovery.

"Since we're always fighting, we never got the chances to show off," Nikki grinned and played several slow Blue notes, earning many appreciative quirks of brows. "And now, you lucky ladies and gentlemen shall witness our first performance. The question is, what should we play to activate the platform?"

"Okay people stand back, let me work my magic," cracking her knuckles and wearing a grin of uttermost confidence, Yuki stepped forward with sashaying hips and got into position, placed her fingers on the strings and held the guitar pick at the ready. "Alright Nikki, follow my lead. Let's see if Khaine will react to this."

Verity and Alnelle, along with the nuns and the elves who had performed the choir earlier, now joined the main characters as the Japanese exarch chose a chord and swung the pick down. The blaring sound was crisp, clear and delightfully distorted as Yuki started breaking out a mid-tempo rift. It was soon complemented by the deep powerful booms of Nikki's bass, Laura smiling when she recognized the song. The solo of Sabaton's Shiroyama echoed across the hall, enrapturing nuns and elves, many unconscious bobbing of heads abound. Not one to be left out, Lita added the thunderous pounding of her drums to the epic song about the last stand of the samurai, completing the musical ensemble. It was a nice simple start, and since she was currently not contributing to the song, Laura stopped headbanging and focused her attention on the carving on the floor.

Nikki was dead on with her hypothesis, a grin splitting Laura's face as the carven vista of war and combat started moving, the marble white bone construct flowed with serene consistency, countless warriors and sorcerers moved ponderously to the motion of vigorous bloodletting. Laura was watching what looked like an archaic Dire Avenger cleaving an adversary in two when Yuki smoothly changed the song, the tempo dropping a few notches as she played the solo from the new Kamelot song called Bloodmoon, Nikki and Lita easily matching speed with her. For the next several minutes the trio went through a medley of metal songs, the main characters had dropped all pretense of stoicism and were simply enjoying the music, with many of the less orthodox Sororitas and Aeldari actively headbanging, hopefully Celestine and Isha can prevent a mosh pit from happening. After the Kamelot song was done Yuki got more intricate and strummed the opening of My Hope Is Gone from the venerated Galneryus, her face one of euphoric trance. Cheers went up from the bloodthirsty Sororitas when Yuki, her head wind milling fiercely, upped the speed and shredded Amon Amarth's Twilight of the Thunder God, followed swiftly by Dragonforce's immortal classic Through the Fire and the Flame. When the last note was struck and Yuki brought the jam session to a stop, the main characters were hollering their appreciation loudly, and amidst the cacophonic ovation Laura herd bony clicks as the platform's mechanism locked into place, the panorama on the floor and wall taking on a greater violent aspect befitting Khaine.

"Thank you, thank you, we're here all week!" Yuki blew kisses at the crowd, wiped sweat from her brow and walked up to Laura. "Anything changed?"

"Hell yeah it did, see the wall and the floor?" Laura waved energetically at the aforementioned features and pleased murmurs rumbled from the main characters. "See that? The friezes and carvings had gotten a lot more vibrant and life like. Look here, this used to be a marching army, now they're charging those other blokes over there."

"A very correct observation lady inquisitor," Celestine grinned as she and Isha walked over to the center of the chamber, the Living Saint and the Aeldari goddess then proceed to look down at the complex iconographies and symbols that wove together into a fierce mosaic of Khaine's roaring visage. "This definitely wasn't here before. I have to say, the visage is indeed very intimidating."

"The likeness is…detailed, one does not easily forget wrath and slaughter made manifest," Isha sighed, it was clear that even in better times there were memories she would prefer to forget. Shaking herself out of the dark ravine, Isha traced her finger across the floor. "The machinery controlling the platform had also been activated. You can see cylinders protruding up across the hall's outer edges. It is clear that the music is having a positive effect."

"But not enough effect," Nikki tightened her high ponytail, looking absolutely gorgeous all the while, and then turned to Laura. "The music was great but incomplete, the vocal is missing. So how about you stop ogling me and start thinking of a song to sing."

"Your damn fault for being hot," Laura winked cheekily at Nikki. "I'm all ears mate, got any specific request?"

"I'm thinking Nightwish," Lita twirled the drumsticks playfully around her fingers. "After the Sororitas performed the Poet and the Pendulum, I'm having a sudden craving for more Nightwish. Seriously, we haven't played it in a while."

"Okay, but which Nightwish?" Yuki asked. "The band has its ups and downs dude, personally I'm fond of Stargazer and Imaginaerum but we kinda need to agree on the era we're performing."

"I'm thinking Wishmaster," Nikki made her suggestion. "That album feels the most robust."

"True, but we have to take the backing instrument and choir into consideration also," Laura waved at Verity and Alnelle. "With that in mind, I'm leaning toward Dark Passion Play or Endless Form Most Beautiful. We can eliminate Human Nature out of the equation because that was shite."

"You'll find no argument from me there," Yuki concurred then cast a pouting look at the guitar in her hands. "Kinda wish we would be picking songs with more solos and riffs."

"Some new era songs are guitar intensive," Laura said. "We can try Shudder Before the Beautiful, Bye Bye Beautiful, Amaranth, Last Ride of the Day, Storytime…"

"Are you done making your pick yet?" Canoness Galatea interrupted Laura's very deep contemplation with an impatient huff, arms folded crossly over her chest. "Yvraine and the Ynnari could already be inside the subterranean structure, we do not have the luxury of wasting time."

"Will you relax?!" Laura shot back. "We need to pick the right song for maximum effect and that shite ain't easy!"

"Why not just pick a song from the album Once?" Galatea retorted snappishly. "As you yourself and lady exarch Yuki had said, the music must be stirring while also incorporating orchestra and choirs. Considering that Once sat at the junction between what is widely regarded as old and new Nightwish, this seems like the most logical choice."

"…Fucking hell she's right," Laura and her mates were rightly baffled by Galatea's insightful knowledge on Nightwish's musical career. "I'm sorry, but how did you know all this?"

"As much as I hate to admit it, you and lord commissar Tangmo's recommendation of ancient Terra music have been very well received by many, myself included," Galatea added the last part shyly, earning snickers from her canoness buddies. "That is the reason why I know about the troupe Nightwish and their many artistic creations."

"I'm glad you like them, goes to show that great music is timeless," Yuki nodded at Galatea then snapped her fingers suddenly, a bright smile plastered upon her face. "Guys, I think I got a song picked out."

"Okay, which one?" Lita leaned over the drum set, her posture one of eagerness and enthusiasm.

"Dark Chest of Wonder," Yuki said, earning appreciative nods from Laura, Nikki and Lita. All in all, it was the perfect song for the occasion. "Think about it, the song's fast, energetic, and the instruments are balanced out so that the guitar and orchestra don't overpower each other. Personally, I think it's one of the greatest Power Metal song ever made."

"I couldn't agree more," Laura waved over Verity and Alnelle, the hospitaller and the medic broke away from their respective group and came to stand before the British inquisitor. "Righty ho then ladies, I'm gonna assume that you share the canoness's taste in music. If you don't, I can bring up the song right now."

"It's the opening track from the album Once," Verity traded very cute smirk with an equally sunny Alnelle. "We know it."

"Remind me to buy the both of you a couple of pints after this," Laura gave the pair a friendly smack on the shoulders, maybe a little too hard if the pained squawk was anything to go by. "Oops, sorry loves, don't know me own strength. Now run along and get your choirs ready, this will be epic."

"I'm gonna have to ask everyone to relocate to the edge of the chamber," as Verity and Annelle sprinted back to join the others, Yuki walked up to the main characters and started herding them away from the impromptu band. "We're about to blow the roof off this place, figuratively speaking, and we don't know what's gonna happen to the chamber, it could blow up for all we know. So please, for your own safety and the health of your eardrum, step back."

"I have wings lady exarch, I shall remain where I am," Celestine said then turned to Isha. "You on the other hand, should join Elnys and Greyfax."

"I'll be perfectly fine here Celestine," Isha remained where she was, perfectly at ease despite the Living Saint's concern regard. "And if something bad were to happen, I'm sure you'll swoop in and rescue me."

"How romantic. Just a bit of warning love, not everyone is a fan," Laura bestowed the annoyed Greyfax with her trademark shit eating grin. "Suit yourself my lady saint, your eminence." Laura made a quick look over herself and scratched her head. "Okay, how am I gonna sing this? There's no way my voice can carry across this bloody place."

"Not a problem," Lita snapped her fingers and Laura felt more than saw a transparent bubble enveloping her head. It did nothing to impede her sight or breathing, yet she could feel that something was there, "its eldar magic. Use your thought to control the volume."

"Oh, you mean…" Laura opened her mouth and belted out a beautiful mezzo-soprano that left a little vibration in the air, her mates clapping at the little vocal warmup. "Now that's amazing, thanks Lita! Oi Verity, Annelle, you lasses ready yet?"

"We are lady inquisitor!" Alnelle returned to her place behind the harp and held up a thumb to signal her readiness, Verity responding with the same gesture.

"No time like the present then," giving her neck a few warm up rolls, bracing her muscle for the headbanging to come, Laura went to stand with her mates and waited until a deep silent had completely settled across the chamber, a stillness so absolute that the very air had taken on a frozen quality. When she deemed that the excitement and anticipation has reached its peak, Laura spoke.

"Once, I had a dream, and this is it."

Lita smacked her drumsticks together four times to set the tempo then swung them down on the waiting percussions, the moment the first note erupted from the drums and cymbals Yuki and Nikki strummed the guitar and bass with unmatched precision. The Japanese exarch and the Ukrainian exarch struck up the opening riff with skill, speed and aggression, the heavy instrumentation reaching its zenith when Laura unleashed a Marco Hietala's growl. The music paused for a single second before continuing, this time backed up by Verity's organ, Alnelle's harp and the full complement of Sororitas and Aeldari choir. Laura let the music washed over her, fiery auburn hair wind milling as she headbanged to the epic Power Metal song, the melodic cacophony was a maelstrom she willing embraced. But she didn't let her enjoyment missed her queue, for when the moment come she belted out her part, singing in sync with the choirs.

"Once there was a child's dream!"

And then the song truly begins.

"One night the clock struck twelve, the windows open wide!"

"Once there was a child's heart!"

"The age I learned to fly and took a step outside!"

As Yuki unleashed her solo, made more epic by the backing choir who added their own melodic flare to the ensemble, Laura saw the chamber changed through her rhythmic headbanging. What had once been gentle flows and cresting waves had now morphed into a tempest of the most vivid vigor, carven soldiers and war machines that had stood with parade ground crispness were now transformed into an army engaged in waging war, all moving to the Immortal Spirit battlegroup's roaring music.

"Once I knew all the tales!"

"It's time to turn back time, follow the pale moonlight!"

"Once I wished for this night!"

"Faith brought me here, it's time to cut the rope and fly to a dream!"

Celestine spread her wings in alarm and Isha scooted closer to the Living Saint when the floor at the center of the chamber began revolving slowly. As the music continued the slabs broke apart into five rings, each moving to its own direction and speed and getting smaller until the one in the middle disappeared and was replaced by an empty void. Vibration traveled up Laura's legs but she knew, although not quite understanding how, that there was no immediate danger to her mate and the main characters. So with that in mind, she sang the chorus.

"Far across the sea! All the burdens gone, open the chest once more! Dark chest of wonders seen through the eyes of the one with pure heart, once so long ago!"

Following Isha urgent pointing, Laura grinned when the cylinders that had sprung up earlier transformed into the likeness of a sword hilt, similar to what the Howling Banshees and the Dire Avengers carried but more ceremonial in design. The blades and pommels were studded with gems that resembled oversized Spirit Stones. The oval jewelries were glowing brighter in response to the song. They were real fucking close to activating this bloody temple, prompting Laura to go into opera mode.

"The one in the Big Blue is what the world stole from me, this night will bring him back to me!"

Fiery red and orange were blazing from the big Spirit Stones, flashing and waving in sync with the music like a concert at the Webley Stadium. She was lost in the song now, and when the choir finished their part Laura gave it her all with the closing chorus, super excited to see what's coming next.

"Fly to a dream, far across the sea! All the burdens gone, open the chest once more! Dark chest of wonders seen through the eyes of the one with pure heart, once so long ago! Fly to a dream, far across the sea! All the burdens gone, open the chest once more! Dark chest of wonders seen through the eyes of the one with pure heart, ONCE SO LONG AGO!"

Explosive pyros and fiery sparkles raining down from the ceiling would've been a super epic way to end this mini concert, what they got instead was Isha frantically stabbing her finger forward with joy, "look!"

Panting, Laura took off her awesome inquisitor hat to fan her sweaty face and glanced in the direction the Aeldari goddess was pointing, and felt her weariness drained away. The chamber was alive, from the highest peak to the ground she stood upon the Aeldari temple was radiant with blooming golden light, bright and warm and very pleasant on the eyes. The most startling of all was that the friezes and murals were now moving. Ranks upon ranks of Guardians marching with crisp synchronicity, Dire Avengers swooping down to eviscerate fleeing enemies and great warriors in armor similar to the Avatar of Khaine lording over a field of corpses, it's like a dozen movies were simultaneously playing across every surface of the chamber.

"Beautifully done babe," Yuki strode up to Laura and planted a kiss on her cheek. "One of your best yet."

"You were amazing too," Laura upped the affection game by pressing her lip to Yuki's own, a brief little thing that left the Japanese exarch red and flustered. Not far away Nikki and Lita were giving the scene a very punchable dorky face. "All of you were great too, I'm touched, truly."

"Don't sell yourself short lady inquisitor, you played the role of a prima donna perfectly," Galatea, along with her canoness buddies, the Celestian squads and the Howling Banshees strode up to join the quartet. Although she tried to hide it, there was no denying that the Martyred Lady canoness really enjoyed the performance. "Alas, the time of singing has passed. It appears that her eminence Isha is requesting our immediate attention."

"Oh yes, she waving very energetically in our direction," Laura reciprocated the Aeldari goddess's wind milling arms with a playful salute, but before taking off she glanced at the discarded guitar and bass and drum set. "Can someone please pick this up? The organ and harp too. Also, set up a forward base here, we're about to descend into the actual underground portion of the temple."

"Gonna be a damn hassle though," Nikki drew her Aeldari sniper and made quick check on the scope and magazine. "Remember how long it took to get down here? Fucking stairs man."

"That won't be problem any longer, lady exarch," canoness Crestienne was tapping her earbud, a grin playing across her lips. "If the radio chatter is any indication, the musical performance has activated the temple. Portals that were once closed had been opened, and the inner workings are now functioning at maximum capacity, the Bonesingers are already figuring out the controls. One such mechanism that had come online is the escalators and the elevators, according to reports the floors are now akin to anti-grav platforms and are carrying people and materials to their destination."

"Kinda suck that we have to walk our arses down here, but this is good," Laura shrugged and took off with her mates to where Isha, Celestine, Greyfax and Elnys were gathered, more specifically the hole that had appeared during the performance. A thought then occurred to Laura and she tapped her earbud. "Oi Tangmo, we just got the temple working, what's happening on your end?"

"What the hell did y'all do?! Everything is working perfectly!" Tangmo's outrage clashed greatly with the good news he was bellowing out. "I was just tuning up the guitar for an epic Judas Priest solo when the fucking place lit up and the portal fucking opened!"

"Tough shit cunt, that'll teach you to be slow," Laura cackled villainously. "But everything is fine?"

"Yeah, we're good, currently prepping for a nice little trek into the center of the earth," Tangmo told Laura. "What about you? How are things?"

"Just dandy thank you very much, we're practically at the main entrance," Laura slowed down and winced when she saw Isha leaning over the hole, half her body was perched above the void in a position that usually precede a long fall. "I'll give you a call when we're inside love, talk to you later. Stay safe."

"Oi, can someone please grab her legs, the fuck?!" Yuki waved at the kneeling Isha, causing the Aeldari goddess to back away from the hole with a guilty squeak. She then stood up and smoothen her simmering armored skirt. "Your eminence, for the love of all things holy, can you please not do that? You're giving me a heart attack!"

"Apology lady exarch, but I assure you I was in no danger," Isha made a small motion with her hand, similar to how a mage do their magic, and a platform of pristine white sprinkled with veins of pulsing red rose up from the abyss to fill the hole. After that was done, Isha started making headcount of the main characters like a teacher in charge of a school fieldtrip. "Ladies and gentlemen, please do not make any sudden movement. This could cause a little startlement."

With unconscious ease Isha made a few flowing motions with her hand and patches of Wraithbone detached itself from the floor, despite her warning alarmed squeals and colorful curses erupted from the main characters. Laura shamefully admitted that she was one of the individual who screeched out the verbal distress. Thankfully she didn't jump around and retained enough wit to observe her immediate surroundings. She was currently standing on a Wraithbone circle with Yuki, Nikki and Lita, said Wraithbone was hovering on empty air without any visible method of propulsion, the space wide enough for the four of them to stand comfortably. The main characters were likewise standing on floating platforms. The Aeldari were poise in bearing as they energetically conversed with each other. The Sisters of Battle on the other hand were collectively trying get away from the edges.

"Is this safe?" Celestine was a lot more composed than her nun compatriots. The Living Saint was sharing a platform with Isha, Greyfax and Elnys.

"Oh absolutely," Isha declared with confidence and waved her hand gently down, prompting the platforms carrying Laura and her mates and the main characters to descend at an easy speed. "Temples devoted to Aeldari pantheon was built with ease and comfort in mind. I had simply awakened the place to its full potential."

"How are you controlling the temple?" Celestine asked as they entered the subterranean shaft proper, a vast cylindrical space lit up bright by a constellation of swirls and dots of incandescent red and orange and gold, painting a vivid panorama that bespoken of a time long before the first ancestor of mankind crawled out of the sea. "Is the temple listening exclusively to you?"

"Warlocks and Farseers and even human psykers can interact with the temple now that it had awaken," Isha's face turned granite suddenly then, "oh no."

"What's wrong?" Celestine asked, the Ardent Blade in her hand flaring blue. The change in countenance from the Living Saint and the Aeldari goddess were not missed by the main characters, all of whom proceed to adopt a battle-ready stance, weapons held tight and trained forward.

"The temple has been activated, meaning that Yvraine and the Ynnari can command it also. This includes other entryways scattered across the city, all of which are connected to this singular nexus we now occupy," Isha shook her head with a sigh. "By the stars, I should've known, if I had only thought things through then the Ynnari would still be blind to our progress."

"Yvraine and her ilk entering the underground was inevitable, she would've found a way inside regardless," Celestine placed a companionable hand on Isha's shoulder, immediately lifting her spirit. Greyfax watched the interaction with annoyance but did nothing else. "If anything, you've given us a head start. We'll surely arrive and secure the subterranean level before the Ynnari."

"Thank you Celestine," Isha nodded and Celestine withdrew her hand, however the goddess's mood remained gloomy. "But I've inadvertently put all of you in harm's way."

"The only harm would be the one we're about to reap upon the Ynnari," the usually stoic and proper Elnys spoke up, the Dire Avenger handmaiden made a show of priming her shuriken catapult and shouldering it. "That harlot from Commorragh will not lay a hand on you, this I swear on my life."

"I dearly hope it won't come to that," Isha offered Elnys a playful grin. "That is quite an impolite statement you've just made about lady Lelith."

"With all due respect your eminence, I was not speaking about Lelith Hesperax, even though such label can be equally applied to the woman," Elnys gave Isha a deadpanned look and it wasn't long before the goddess caught on. "If intelligence gathered from Primarch Jaghatai Khan and the Drukhari of the battlegroup is accurate, Yvraine spent a significant time competing in Commorragh many gladiatorial pits. That would conveniently explain the boorish behavior she directed at you, one can leave that damnable city but you can never wipe away the stench and filth."

"She hides it well enough," Celestine and Elnys shared a smirk before turning to the panorama etched into the shaft's vast interior. The artistic rendition was of such startling detail that the grand tapestry appeared three dimensional if you stared long enough. "The craftsmanship is remarkable, Isha, what are we seeing right now?"

"A time that can never come again, what was immortalized upon these bones are the history of the Aeldari people, not the complete history mind you since there are no reference to the War in Heaven, but the formation and rise of the Aeldari Empire," nostalgia played across Isha's visage, memories of both joy and pain coalescing into tears that threatened to overflow. The goddess quickly wiped away the wetness, drawing worried look from many of the main characters. "I'm sorry, this should be a happy occasion. But yes, this tells the story of a time when…"

As Isha took on the role of a tour guide, Laura and her mate scooted closer to the edge of the platform they stood on and looked down. Like the rest of the resurrected temple all was bright and accommodating, but unlike Isha's silvery radiance that made you feel warm and fuzzy, the hue below was scarlet in motif. Laura was however more concern if whether or not the Ynnari were waiting for them. She swept her gaze across the nearing great hall and found it empty.

"You guys see anything?" Laura slipped back from the edge, watching the world from the vantage point of an Olympian was making her dizzy.

"Looks pretty clear to me," Lita said perkily, the elevated view not bothering her in the least. "Also, I've been sending out my psychic power like a sonar ever since we started descending, and I'm not picking anything up. We should be heading straight for a very smooth landing."

"This…is strange," so, Laura wasn't really paying attention to Isha's commentary, it was therefore kinda alarming when this particular phrase caught her attention, "and also very unexpected."

"Should we been concern?" Celestine's eyes glowed just a bit brighter, her focus fixed on a particular hellish scene that was very reminiscent of a biblical hell, with many tormented eldars wrapped in thrones of agony while fire and brimstone burned around them. "I must say, things are turning very garish the deeper we go."

"I don't know if we should be alarm or not," Isha swept her gaze at a scene of terrible majesty, rendered hauntingly in dark carmine was a battle between a mighty warrior wielding a flaming sword and a daemonic figure clad in equally imposing raiment. Noticing how everyone was waiting for her to make an explanation, Isha cleared her throat and said. "The picture you're seeing right now is a battle that was fought in the Warp…a battle I witness before my abduction at the hand of Nurgle. This is Khaine and Slaanesh, the last stand of the god of war."

"How can this be cause for alarm?" Canoness Galatea asked from a nearby platform, her voice carried clear across the shaft. "Is this not part of your history?"

"A history that no eldar should be able to know, because it happened deep in the Warp," all eyes turned to Greyfax, because it was very rare that the grim lady inquisitor would comment on anything besides their current objective. Isha couldn't help but flinch when Greyfax turned to her. "This entire effigy was done after the collapse of the Aeldari Empire."

"Exactly," Isha nodded, her stunned visage can only be described as rude and Greyfax certainly found it insulting. "My apology lady inquisitor, I wasn't aware that Aeldari history was part of your forte."

"It wasn't, but present circumstances had forced me to become more knowledgeable with eldar lore," Greyfax shot Celestine a sideway glance before continuing. "How accurate is the scene depicted?"

"Too accurate," Isha said. "If I didn't know any better, I would've assumed that this conclave of Aeldari was presence at the showdown, and I can assure you that beside fevered tales and kaleidoscopic glimpses no eldar living or dead had truly seen the moment of Khaine's demise."

"Which begs the question," Greyfax concurred with Isha's statement, "how was such event recorded, the psychic shock that followed the birth of Slaanesh should've rendered them insane."

"Well, looks like we're about to find out," Nikki stared down the scope of her Aeldari sniper rifle, the ocular assist pressed tight to her eye socket as a rictus frown drew her brow sharply downward. "Uh guys, there's something big in the middle of the chamber below, and its glowing red like when Kane made his entrance. Seriously, I can't tell what the fuck it's supposed to be from this angle."

Celestine spread her wings and hopped off the descending platform, she was quickly joined by mistress Lithia of the Avenging Knights. The two women were a study of harmonious contrast, seriously, seeing a feathered angel and a dark creature of the night with membranous bat wings flying side by side was cool as all fuck. After circling the object with pretty aerial loops and swirls, Celestine and Lithia landed on the floor of the chamber, even from this distant Laura can tell that the pair had drawn their weapons.

"That can't be good," Laura drew her own hellgun and trained the barrel at the object in question when the platform was finally eyelevel with it. The first thing that came to Laura's mind was that the towering object resembled a pillar of crystalized molten lava, shot through with pulsing veins that snaked across the smooth onyx surface. Heat radiated from the gleaming edifice, the shimmering haze distorting the air around it, and Laura was getting a bit worry about the proximity when the platforms backed away to form a perfect circle around the object. Now that the distant has greatly widened, Laura can see that despite the correct vertical symmetry many curves and grooves sprouted out across the entire length of the monolith, giving the inanimate object a disturbingly organic presentation.

"Okay, what the fuck is this thing?" Yuki waved at the glowing obelisk. "It's obviously follows Euclidean law, which is a relief, but is it manmade? See how everything looped and swirled like a nest of snake coiling themselves into knots?"

"I was gonna say it looked like a freaking deformed tree," Nikki commented then, after glancing over the edge, leapt off the platform when it was two meters off the ground. "Come on, let's get a closer look."

"I don't think you can," Lita said as the Wraithbone fused seamlessly into the floor, forming a pretty mosaic for them to step on. The Mexican Warseer reached out and grabbed the Ukrainian exarch's shoulder before she can take another step. "The heat is pretty bad even from here, you're gonna burn if you get closer."

"She's right," Celestine and Lithia joined the quartet, the Living Saint's feathers faded to scintillating mist while the Avenging Knight canoness folded her bat wings across her chest like a fastened cape. Brow furrowing, Celestine pointed the Ardent Blade at the blackened construct, which Laura swore reacted to the Warp weapon by glowing a bit brighter. She honestly can't tell if this was a warning or simple curiosity. "The power radiating from the monolith is dangerous, but for the moment docile."

"You are correct," Lithia tapped the side of her Batman helm, the visors shining blue as the canoness made her scan. The main characters soon joined them, forming a wide firing line around the monolith and wisely keeping a safe distant. Things were indeed very steamy, Tangmo would feel right at home. "The monolith is alive, down to the molecular level. From my reading I can detect shooting synapses, capillaries and constructs that bears striking resemblance to a nervous system. Brain wavelengths are also entwined with the permeating heat. It doesn't seem to perceive us as a threat for the moment."

"Good to know," Laura adjusted her awesome inquisitor hat and shouldered her hellgun. "How do we proceed then?"

"I might have a way," Celestine stabbed the tip of the Ardent Blade to the ground and shifted her attention to the Sororitas main characters. "Sisters, if we combine our faith in hymns and benediction to the God Emperor I believe we can create a repulsing aura that will negate the heat and allow us to get nearer. Form up around me sisters, let us press forward with haste."

"Stand down all of you, please," the Sororitas all paused in their preparation for a faith based attack, flummoxed by the stern voice reverberating powerfully across the chamber, if it wasn't for the politeness at the end no one would ever believe it was Isha who spoke up. Faltering a bit when the nuns and elves all turned to her, Isha hardened her composure and pressed on. "Your enthusiasm is appreciated, but as mistress Lithia had stated this monolith possessed sentiency, I doubt fighting fire with fire would please it much."

"What do you suggest then Isha?" Celestine asked.

"Stay behind me, my power can soothe the shield. I am known to this monolith," Isha told Celestine and shifted her attention to the main characters. "I would ask that you secure the chamber please, I only need a small retinue to accompany me."

"As you wish your eminence," canoness Galatea nodded firmly, no hint of disdain or annoyance in her timbre as she hefted her power zweihander up at the ready and flashed quick hand signals at the nuns and elves. "Secure the chamber and prepare to repel, the Ynnari must surely be on their way."

"We got your back, your eminence," Laura made a playful salute and joined Isha with her mate in tow. Celestine, Greyfax and Elnys completed the ensemble, all had their weapons drawn. "Head first into the frying pan it is then."

"Nothing so dramatic I assure you," Isha offered Laura a light grin before taking off toward the monolith, poise and prim in her bearing, every inch the Aeldari goddess of life. She made no outward movement, but as the group drew nearer Laura can feel the heat lessening, the permeating intangible barrier receding from Isha. "Yes, I am known here. As you would recall, a shrine dedicated to me took up a large portion of the temple above."

"Lucky us," Laura concurred and now that the simmering heat was not barring their way, the retinue easily reached the monolith within a minute. Standing before the dark looming construct, Laura was able to appreciate how menacingly tall it was. Was this what Frodo and Sam felt when they first gazed upon Barad-dur? "Not gonna lie mate, I seriously don't like this thing, even if it's benign for the moment."

"You need not fear lady inquisitor, for as long as I am here no harm will come upon those within this chamber," Isha squared her shoulders, inhaled deeply as if preparing to dive into the sea, and took the last few steps toward the monolith. "Now, I would ask that you stay behind me and refrain from touching this object, for I am not sure what will happen next."

Setting the output to maximum, Laura trained the hellgun at the monolith as Isha laid a gentle palm on the flat façade, her mates and the goddess's close confidants doing the same with their respective weapons. Laura braced herself for the reaction she knew was coming, either the chamber will vibrate violently as something emerged from the monolith, or maybe a hidden mechanism will spring a dastardly trap on them, hell, the odd of Isha screaming in pain was pretty high. The minutes stretched on and none of Laura's hyper active imagination came to pass, that should've been a cause for celebration but the British inquisitor stiffened when Isha's lips started trembling, sobs soon followed and before long tears flowed down her cheeks.

"By all that is holy, your eminence!" Elnys dashed forward and caught Isha as she staggered back, the goddess would've fallen if the Dire Avenger handmaiden didn't catch her. "What is wrong? Had the monolith harmed you?"

"No, but, by the stars I saw his memories," Isha steeled herself and with herculean effort put a stop to the sobbing. "Oh Khaine, my brother…I'm so sorry."

"Excuse my interruption your eminence but what in the hell is this thing?" Yuki piped up, eldar katana already half drawn. "Is Khaine in there or something?"

"Yes, this is where his soul resides."

"Enemy approaching from the eastern corridor! Make ready sisters!"

Mistress Lithia had barely finished the call to arm when Isha, her face fixed in a fierce determination Laura had never seen her wore, strode purposefully toward the aforementioned direction. Trading utter bafflement with an equally flabbergasted Celestine, Laura and the rest of the retinue went to join the Sororitas and Aeldari, all guns trained on the far wall that had soundlessly opened in the intervening seconds. Pushing their way to the front of the Immortal Spirit's battle line, Laura and her mates joined Isha and Celestine as they commenced a stare down with the newly arrived Ynnari, comprising of Craftworlders, Drukhari and a few Exodites. Predictably, Yvraine and Lelith were leading from the front.

"Yvraine, I beg of you…"

"I am indebted to your eminence and the Immortal Spirit battlegroup for your invaluable assistant in resurrecting this hallow sanctum," Yvraine interrupted Isha, her tone manufactured to be perfunctorily polite, her visage pleasant and welcoming as she drew her sword from its scabbard with deliberate slowness. "Now, step aside."