"Vicconius!" The voice was calm but insistent. Vicconius stood, and turned to the familiar sound. "Brother-librarian Adonai, you have news?" Adonai stood before him. Unlike Vicconius, the librarian had not escaped the ravages of time. His face was lined, his eyes sunken and his hair white. Vicconius often thought that it was only the marine's terminator suit that kept him standing, yet he knew that Adonai was as powerful a psyker as he had been whilst on Caliban. "I have touched the minds of our betrayers," the librarian stated. "They are close and they know we are here." "How many," Vicconius cut in? "They are few. They have a psyker, and," he paused, "Lexus is with them." Vicconius nodded. "Once again he seeks me. Once again he trusts in the false-emperor to guide his hand." He laughed mirthlessly. "Once again he shall find his trust misplaced. Antonius!" The terminator appeared from across the room. "Organise your men. Brother Adonai, cloud their minds, we shall have our vengeance!" * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The cantilevered elevator doors slid open and Amael followed Lexus and squad Uriel inside. The elevator swayed disconcertingly and jolted upwards. At least this part of the hive still had power. The lift shaft stretched into the darkness below, visible through the metal grill the marines stood upon, and more darkness above. Lexus hit the control panel and the elevator stopped. Reluctantly the doors creaked open and they stepped out onto the next level of the hive. Amael tensed. The metal catwalk before them looked the same as the scores of others they had traversed already, but something did not feel right. He glanced at Zechariah, trying to read the psyker's expression, but the librarian betrayed no sign of unease. Amael turned back to the corridor. A sudden knowledge burst into his mind and he dropped to the floor. From the doorway at the other end of the catwalk, stormbolter fire erupted, shattering the calm and chewing into the metal walls. Amael's bolter was already returning fire. Beside him the other Dark Angels took cover and opened up in support. Bolts ricocheted from all directions, sending showers of sparks and shrapnel over them. Amael strained to make out their assailants, but could not detect their forms. And then, as suddenly as it had begun, the firing stopped. Beside Amael, Ariel locked another clip into his stormbolter. Lexus rose and motioned for them to advance. Smoke rose from the flooring and supporting pillars around them, spewing from small craters made in the metal. "Where in the name of the Lion are they?" Lexus demanded quietly. They reached the end of the catwalk. The corridor beyond led off in three directions, two further catwalks arcing out across dark metal chasms. They chose the closest and followed its path, moving in single file. They had made it only a few metres before hell erupted around them. An access hatch in the in the low ceiling flew out in a ball of fire, and an obsidian terminator dropped to the floor, chainfist whirring. Zechariah fell instantly as the traitor decapitated him and filled his body with stormbolter fire. More Fallen appeared from the other end of the bridge. Uriel's roar rose above the din as he charged followed by his squad. Apollyon's assault cannon filled the hive with fire and metal as the Deathwing fought their way forward. Amael and Lexus moved up behind, shielded by the superior armour of their brothers. The librarian's slayer was cut down, the ceramite of his armour shredded, but the other Fallen had the advantage. "Fall back!" roared Lexus, retreating back up the bridge, sending volleys of plasma towards the traitor marines. Amael dropped to one knee and poured covering fire up the catwalk. Lexus' voice pierced the din again and Amael rose, emptying his bolter into the Fallen. Slinging it over his shoulder, he reached for his power sword as the air around him was split by heavy weapons fire. The catwalk shook knocking Amael from his feet and into the railings beside him. The already weakened metal buckled and ruptured as it took the full force of his power armoured form and he slid helplessly into the abyss below. He fell for a few seconds, hit hard metal and lost consciousness. Uriel thrust his lightning claw hard into the chest of a black terminator and fired his last shells into the abomination's helm. Righteous fury coursed through his veins, fuelled by the sight of the winged sword displayed mockingly on his foes' armour. Beside him, Boreas crashed to the ground, his suit rent in a dozen places, blood leaking from his torso. The Deathwing's charge had pushed the Fallen into the corridor beyond the catwalk, but they were outnumbered and more traitors were advancing fast towards them. Ariel and Apollyon flanked Uriel, their weapons spraying fire into the oncoming marines. Uriel heard Lexus order the fall back but paid it no heed. Even if he could disengage, the urge to visit retribution on the unclean was too strong. Discarding his impotent bolter, he bellowed his battle cry, drew his honour dagger and met the black tide head on. Vicconius surveyed the carnage of the corridor. The remains of four Deathwing terminators and a librarian lay strewn across the walkway, and in places, over the walls. He walked over to the broken body of the squad sergeant. The marine's right arm had been hacked off at the elbow and blood glistened on the chin and neck of his exposed face. Vicconius spat on the body and walked on. Four Deathwing only four, and yet ten of his terminators lay unmoving beside the betrayers. He passed brother Zaltys, an honour dagger protruding from his breastplate and a gaping hole between his eyes. His hatred surfaced and threatened to consume him, but he forced it down, knowing that it would soon have its release. He reached the end of the corridor and turned the corner. Antonius turned to him, his power sword still in his hands, blood dripping from its serrated blade. Behind him a crumpled figure lay slumped against the wall, robes torn and stained. "Get him up," Vicconius ordered, glancing at brother Malloc. The marine jumped to his command, hauling the prone form to its feet and slamming it against the wall. The figure stirred. "Brother-chaplain Lexus," Vicconius stated, "It is good to see you again." Lexus met his gaze. "Traitor," he hissed. Vicconius' fist flew, connecting soundly with the chaplain's jaw. Lexus' head rocked back, rebounding of the wall in a spray of blood, before slumping forward. "You will learn some humility brother-chaplain," Vicconius addressed the unconscious form, "You will admit your betrayal, and then you will die." He struck the chaplain again, this time in the stomach. Malloc allowed the body to slide to the floor, where it lay unmoving. "Antonius," Vicconius addressed his lieutenant, "take him upstairs. Ensure that he lives. He has a lot to repent." The terminator hauled Lexus to his feet and dragged him off down the corridor. Vicconius gave a final look around and followed. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The Dark Angel, Amael, lay alone in the dark place, his robes spilling over his armour like a splash of light amidst shadow. He struggled to understand his surroundings, but found himself unable to connect his thoughts coherently. There was no movement in this void, no sound or image that could remind him of why it was he was there. Of the past he could remember nothing, the present seemed unimportant, but he knew that was something was about to happen, something that his existence thus far had merely been leading up to. Seemingly for the first time, he moved to stand and was surprised when he found himself on his feet. And then he was walking at least his feet were moving, for his surroundings did not alter as he moved, stretching into black infinity. Time did not seem to have any hold on this place. He walked for what could have been five minutes, or as easily, five hours. The ground beneath his fleet remained featureless moving neither up nor down. He may have turned as he walked, but nothing existed to betray his orientation. He came to believe that his destination was unavoidable, that he would arrive no matter where he wandered. He knew that this was as it should be. Finally he stopped. There seemed no reason for his journey to end here. The black void remained, and nothing yet broke the silence. He waited. And then the silence fled. Footsteps, distant, but moving inexorably closer, filled the blackness. He strained to discover their origin. In the distance he perceived a glowing light. Curious he tried to approach, but found himself held in position. Still, he thought, it did not matter for the light and the steps were approaching, coming closer with every beat of his heart. He looked again. The light had changed. No longer was it merely a glow, but a man. The stranger seemed clad in robes, his features hidden by a cowl and the light emanating from his form. The figure moved closer. A wave of emotion suddenly swept over Amael. He dropped to his knees, unable to stand, and tears sprung to his eyes. He bowed his head, unwilling to look upon the man that had now stopped before him. "Amael," the man spoke his name, "Do you know me?" Yes," he replied, eyes fixed on the blackness beneath him. "Speak my name." Amael opened his mouth and faltered, the words sticking in his throat. He realised he was trembling. "You are the Lion," he managed, "son of the emperor, Master of The Order. My lord and father." "Amael," intoned the form of Lion el' Jonson again, "Yours is the strength of The Order. By your hand shall I act, by your faith shall I live." Amael felt the touch of the primarch's hand on his head. "What is mine, I give to you, until we meet again." The touch disappeared and the footsteps returned. Amael raised his eyes. The haloed figure of Lion el' Jonson was walking slowly away, his light fading back into the darkness. He tried to rise and follow, but couldn't move. He tried to call out, but couldn't speak. As the light faded, he felt sudden motion and then everything was gone. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * |
E TENEBRAE LUX By Jacob Stow |
FABLES OF THE UNFORGIVEN |
