A blur on the horizon caught his attention. It was large, black and moving fast towards them. Dust swirled around it as it powered onwards. As it got closer, what had been a single entity separated into smaller specks. The sun glinted evilly off exposed metal surfaces. "Hell's teeth!" he cursed, "The Ravenwing!" Beside him Sergio pulled at his arm, "Varas! Look!" The marine was pointing to the west, where a huge white bird was descending from the heavens. Varas sank to his knees. Already the roar of engines could be heard bearing down upon them. This was the end. Six of the other marines seeing their leader give up, bolted for the desert. Behind them a number of the black specks moved to intercept. Sergio struggled to pull Varas up. "Move!" he screamed, "You know what happens if they take us!" Blue lightning arced in front of them, and the nightmare forms of five terminators materialised from the warp. The sun gleamed blindingly off their white armour and their weapons were levelled at the remaining fallen. "Yes," said Varas in a low voice, "I do." As the first Ravenwing bikes ground to a standstill behind them, Varas raised the bolt pistol to his head. "I got away once. I won't let him have me now." "Halt!" a voice barked, "In the name of the Emperor!" Varas fired. His limp body toppled forward into Sergio's arms. "Drop him!" the voice commanded. Sergio lowered the body of Varas to the ground and turned. A marine in black power armour stood before him, bolt pistol in hand, the mark of the winged sword upon his shoulder. "You don't even know who I am." Sergio said mockingly, despair gripping his heart. Another bike pulled up besides them. Sergio felt a chill surge through him, as its rider approached. He was clad in bone white robes now, and seemed taller than he had done only a few minutes before. "Hello Caines," Sergio managed, injecting as much venom as he could into the greeting. "Silence!" roared Lexus. The chaplain prodded at the prone form of Varas lying in a widening pool of blood on the ground, and then returned his gaze to Sergio. "You should be thankful that you are still alive heretic!" he goaded, "Varas will burn eternally in the fires of chaos. But I will do everything I can to save your soul!" The chaplain's eyes burnt into the fallen Dark Angels mind, forcing Sergio to avert his gaze. Finally, Lexus turned away, disgust evident on his face. "Brother Pluvius," he addressed the Ravenwing sergeant, "take these men to the transport. And assemble your men. Our work here is done." THE END |
DAY OF JUDGEMENT By ( Jacob Stow ) |
FABLES OF THE UNFORGIVEN |
