This is fan fiction and is unofficial and in no way associated with Games Workshop Limited

Chapter 10 A war within

Risia groaned and shifted feeling pain all over her body. The chair of her cutter still held by the metal giant that had saved her. Solorin wasn't moving though. His visor of his helm staring blankly off into the distance as if a robotic toy that had been turned off. "Solorin you alive?" Risia wheezed out reaching for the buckles on her seat. No response as she tried to move the giant armored arms that held her chair to his chest.

A click and she was free of the seat trying to move through Solorin's grip of the chair. The crack of a las rifle quickly made her duck back in as several other shots struck Solorin. "Shit are you kidding me!" Risia then hissed out holding her leg as pain about made her black out. She must have broken it, an odd bend in her thigh giving her the answer she needed. Pushing her head to the armored chest plate of her savior, she fought off the urge to hurl the contents of her stomach out onto the floor. Where was she? Looking about in a half daze, Risia could see that it was one of the hive cities many temples to the Emperor. Broken plascreet lined the floors, and their entrance had destroyed many of the ornate stained glass windows. "Solorin, sleeping right now is not the best idea." She half-joked hissing as she tried to slip back and through his arms to stay behind him. Voices were calling out, and she knew that they would soon try to flank her.

More las shots tore into the ground and armor as Risia laid out her leg straight, pulling out her pistol she could only wait for them to make a move. A significant amount of fire coming from behind her was working at keeping her head down. She had to think of Solorin too, if he was alive, she would need to get him to safety. His armor was impressive but not invulnerable.

The language was low gothic so probably some elements of the PDF or such. She had to admit they knew what they were doing keeping her pinned. Did they even know they were firing on a space marine though? "I AM INTEREGATOR RISIA SHETANI! You will cease your fire at once by order of the Inquisition!" The incoming fire lessoned for just a moment before increasing even more so. "Yes, defiantly not on our side." She muttered checking her pistol.

Suddenly the armor moved a bit. Solorin groaned a bit. "What is this pleasant vibration I feel on my back?" The space marine was rolling the chair off him and slowly stood, forcing Risia to shift and hide as he put the chair down in front of her. "It's about time you woke up from your nap Solorin." She scolded. "I am becoming an old dog Risia; you have to allow me my naps." Suddenly Solorin lurched forward as a rocket of some sort struck him forcing him to turn and scowl, though Risia couldn't see anything through that blank mask. Sparks flew off his armor as one of the plates was damaged badly. "Now that was no pleasant rub."

"Sorry Lord Interrogator, but this may hurt a bit." Risia picked up on the sarcasm in Solorin's voice, but before she could react he put an armored boot on her side and shoved sending her sliding across the marble floor and into another room. Screams followed Risia as it was not only her leg that broke during her violent landing, but it seemed like she could feel a wide range of injuries flaring out as she came to a stop in one of the side rooms of the temple. Risia was able to see that at the same time Solorin pushed her, he heaved the cutters cockpit seat up and over and hurled it towards the direction of the incoming fire. The seat had not even hit the ground, and the grey space marine had pulled out his weapon and started to fire. The deafening clap of his blot pistol sounding out and screams begun to fill the room.

Risia hated it all. She hated feeling weak and worse she hated the idea of being in Solorin's debt. Her master was wise though to have sent the space marine with her. Maybe a lesson in humility but it still rubbed her the wrong way. Laying out for a bit to let the nausea stop "I'm pathetic." She growled out. Damn it Issa got the jump on her, the purger and now this. Was she even worth something to Banal? Solorin's words came to her, about how he cared for her and it made her fluster even more. Letting out a scream of frustration Risia sat up and started to drag herself over to a side door. "I will not be made a fool by that ape!" The comment only to herself till her com in her helm went off. Cursing as she realized her flight helmets com was still working. "This ape feels honored that a privileged feline like your self would think of me in such a way!" Solorin's voice was enraging her. "Do not talk to me in such a way!" A laugh came across the com "When you are done with your self-pity Interrogator, these rats are dug in just past your doorway. They have a launcher that is proving to be…" a loud explosion rocked the room followed by the sound of falling masonry. The coms let static run for just a moment, and it surprised Risia that her heart jumped a bit at the thought of Solorin being taken out. "To be a bit of a hand full. If your ladyship is willing, please assist this old dog with taking it out?" Risia let a hiss of breath out, relieved that Solorin was still alive and quickly forced herself to the doorway to look out. Three figures were running tubes back and forth to a fourth that was hiding behind a fallen statue of a saint. All three were some sort of stoat, quick of foot but rather slender in build. All of them wearing Planetary Defense Force uniforms.

"Slorin, there are four members behind the fallen statue. One launcher, three support." A crackle was coming over the radio. "At your ladyship's leisure." Was his only response. "I'm going to kill him." Which got a chuckle over the com. Ignoring the laugh, she took aim with her pistol and open fired from the doorway. The Stoat with the launcher dropped as four of her shots found their way through his armor, followed by one of the three others screaming in pain before her pistol ran dry. The two others turning to take aim on her. Risia was quickly trying to reload taking cover, but before she could, Solorin came flying over the statue. The wounded Stoat didn't even get to cry out as the giant space Marine landed on him crushing his body under the pure weight of his armor and one of the other two still standing gave a blank look as his body was bisected from the collarbone to the hip. Solorin's combat knife having made its way through the thin armor and as stoat was falling apart, a deafening clap came from the Marines bolt pistol. The third PDF stumbling back and as the round detonated, it forced him to distort and then fly apart instantly killing him.

"Shit!" Risia screamed out making Solorin's helmed face jerk and look her way. "We should have kept one alive." The Marine gave a mock opps look and shrug before pulling his armored boot up. The Stoat he landed on still half stuck to it as he shook his leg about trying to dislodge it. "Old habits die hard." He quietly said as he scraped the rest of the dead Stoat off his boot with his knife.

Sighing Risia settled back against the wall listening and waiting to see if anymore PDF was about. "They have com's," Solorin said picking up the Stoat he had bisected by its helmet. The upper half dangling leaving a string of gore to say out of his body cavity as Solorin turned him about in the air looking over his gear. "So I would not doubt that others know where we are."

Risia had to agree with Solorin, com gear attached to most of the dead PDF's equipment. Solorin had killed at least twelve total. Their bodies laying where they fell showing that even with the space marines humor he was still a killing machine at heart. "This will hurt a bit." A hiss from his armor produced a basic medical box that he was able to open and pull out some things. It amazed her at how nimble his large hands were picking through some of the things he would need. "What are you doing?" Risia muttered watching. "We have to get your leg splinted, and then we must go. I'm sure the only reason they have not attacked us is that they are looking for some weapons with a bit more of a punch."

A grinding sound filled the room as the large space marine yanked the rebar out of the wall. Straighten it was an easy task before he started to set her leg. "This will hurt." A curt nod was all Risia gave as Solorin began to fix her leg and bind it tight. She tried her best, but a hiss of pain and then a scream sounded out making her fall onto her back. It took a bit for her vision to focus and to realize that Solorin had rolled her on her side. The contents of her stomach laying out on the floor making her nose flare with its stench.

"We need to find a com station." Came her weak reply. "Somehow we need to get ahold of Banal." Carefully the ground fell away from her as Solorin picked her up, lifting her and cradling her in his hands. "Very true but first we need to find a place that we can regroup and recover. We shouldn't go too far in case Banal sends a recovery team." A groan rolling gout from the puma. "If he even thinks were alive or worth recovering."

Solorin just shook his head walking out of the doorway and peeking down the hall. "You have a lot to learn about Banal, Risia." When it was clear, he made his way down it quickly making the cougar hug to his armor trying to keep her body as still as possible. "When you have worked with him as long as I have you will find out that he is much more a soul that struggles with many things than an unyielding and cold metal wall that you think he is. You and him bed regularly do you not?" Risia huffed "And what does that have to do with this?!" she snapped out.

"Of all the times, you and Banal have bedded, have you ever felt it was a cold mechanical need or that he looked down on you like you were just some plaything?" Risia growled out unable to really fight back as the world kludged past her with each long stride the space marine took. "I do not want to have this talk right now Solorin." She simply said. "Very well Interrogator but it is useless to dwindle about in this self-pity. If anything, this above all else would be what Banal despises the most." Risia went quiet as she was thinking on it. The giant wolf's words meaning more than a jab in her ribs to her and that was one reason why she wanted to stop talking about it.

Solorin slowed having heard something and gently placed the feline down on the ground against the wall. Wincing she gave him a confused look before he put an armored paw up to keep her silent. Pulling out his combat knife he turned the corner and heaved it. A gurgling scream was the reply as the massive wolf turned the corner. "Good gentlemen! I have lost my knife have you seen it? Oh goodness, how did it get in that bloke there!" His words confusing whoever it was that he was talking to and soon after the screaming started up again. Bolter fire and the blood-curdling screams followed.

"Solorin you are a monster," Risia muttered listening to the fight. She laid her head back against the wall fighting the urge to close her eyes. The shock was kicking in, and she knew she had to stay awake. A body slid out into view forcing her to pull her pistol. The female stoats face was blank, her mouth opened in a silent scream as Risia realized it was just her upper half that had slid out. A dark crimson stain smeared the floor from the direction where Solorin and the fighting was. Sighing Risia lowered her pistol till she noticed that the stoat was not quite dead. Her eyes gave a slow blink with her mouth slowly closing and opening.

Pity and disgust ran through Risia before she pulled up her pistol to place a well-aimed shot into the stoat's head ending her suffering. A sudden rush of loud footsteps came to her ears as Solorin rushed back to see why she had fired. He stood there taking las rounds and kinetic rounds against his armor. Seeing the stoat, he merely said. "Do not waste rounds on this filth, we will need every bit of ammunition we can get." All the while the rounds bounced and ricocheted off his armor. This was the Emperor's will encased in layers of ceramic and plasteel, and it gave Risia a flush of pride.

Solorin though quickly looked back down the hallway before bellowing out. "My knife! What have you done with my knife!" picking up a broken piece of masonry and chucking it as hard as he could with a sickening crunch. The Space Marine was a lunatic! It made Risia smile at the absurdity of it all. She didn't know what had happened in Solorin's past to make him like this and she would never admit this, but she was glad that he was who he was and that Banal had seen it fit for him to accompany her.


Sharue looked about the room where she stood, or at least she felt like she was standing. In truth, she was asleep in her bunk and the old grey wolf that she had come to know as Crowin was sitting there. She knew she was on his ship, he had told her that much at the very least. Somehow she could project herself. It was really confusing to her, but she slowly sat crossing her legs. This was something different, an escape that she needed. Where everyone on the cruiser she was stationed on was hostile to what she really was, this old wolf accepted her as a psyker, he knew more about what she was and was willing to talk to her about it.

"Green eyes you're back." He didn't open his eyes or look about he just simply knew. His own projection creating the room she was in along with his own version of himself. This time he was in just simple robes with burning candles and other items littering the floor. "Yes, I have been able to project myself easier with what you have told me. I am still baffled as to what all of this means." Sharue felt as if she was a simpleton being spoken down to by some elder, wise well beyond his years.

"It will become easier to understand the more you learn about it. Knowledge is power and power corrupts though. With this, you must learn many things before learning the next step. You have to take it very slow, but I sense that is not what you would like to talk about this night." It unnerved her how he could almost read her mind. He would always scold her for being an open book.

"I have been coming to you for a better part of a month now. You have taught me a lot that helps me understand, but I do not understand the hate that is directed towards what I am, what you are." She had been with Corbel for a good bit. Ever since the hell she had seen, he had sought her out and slowly coached her, helping her through those nightmares. "I would think that being a psyker would be a good thing, that it could be used for the betterment of my squadron. Why do they fear me so much?" The fox was almost in tears. The stress and anxiety of the situation was grinding her down. Her only escape from it was with Crowin.

"Because they fear what you are connected to." He simply said. "The Imperium now is built on ignorance and fear. It is a form of control that guides the masses to do the will of the Imperium." His eyes finally opening to look to her. "Another lecture from the Father?" Sharue nodded "Not directed at me but the hatred and fear that he stokes up with my fellow guard. I feel like those I would call friends would turn on me." Corbel gave her a look that told her that she was not far from the truth.

"The dogma that is preached cannot be avoided or changed. The fear, however, is warranted and if not justified to a degree. After all possession, corruption and many other factors play into this fear. You will learn that what you are connected to is one of the Imperium's greatest foes." The old wolf looked on over at her with a curious but stern look. "How do you feel about it? Do you hate them for that fear?" Sharue thought on that shaking her head "No, I guess not, but it makes me afraid of what they would do to me if they found out."

Corbel shifted facing her a bit more. "Sit, I think you know that it's not a what if but a when. Eventually, they will find out. Will you go willingly to the black ships or would you fight for your life? A soul dedicated to the Imperium would and should obey the laws put forth. It might mean death or servitude as something that would see your life shortened." Sharue snorted a bit sitting. "Call me selfish then because I would rather live out my life as I see fit. That part makes me mad a little. The fate forced on me by everyone."

"Yet you are here with the 301st, forced conscription, a dangerous and usually short-lived life, but you still seek your commands and your fellow soldier's approval." Corbel pointed out. "Which you feel a connection and bonding too otherwise you would not care about what they think and be eager to leave them. I do not think that you are so vain that you feel this way because of a need to have everyone like you." Again, Sharue felt like she was being looked down on. Not in a condescending way, just in a way of someone who has long since transcended the feelings she was fighting with.

"I feel stupid and lost, you're a Space Marine. The first I have ever seen or talked to. It would be easy for you to be a psyker, no one looking at you like you were a monster." Sharue was young and still holding on to that woe is me feel, but the Marine just chuckled. "You don't know about the Council of Nikaea, where the choice was made to ban and outlaw all my brethren's abilities. The All-Father saw the dangers of what these abilities could do. Though back then psykers were not as persecuted as they are now." The wolf grunted thinking back on his age, while he was not truly as old due to his warp accident, his way of thinking had long since become obsolete.

Sharue sighed a bit and just tried to relax and offered a smile. "Well, I am glad I have someone to talk with and be able to feel normal if just in a dream. Sometimes I wake and wonder if I'm going fracking crazy." Corbel shook his head. "This is no dream that much I can say for sure. We should practice though as our time is short."

Practice comprised of the Runic priest teaching her how to define and build her mind. How to show how to resist the temptation of the power, if anything it was to help her not rely on her power. Corbel explained that a strength of a psyker came not from the power itself but the user's ability to control it and know when to use it. "As you get better at controlling yourself and your power the more you realized that a nail does not need a power maul to pound it in and that a small rock could do the same job with less damage and less effort." Was one of his many points. Corbel was very careful to never touch on how to use her abilities to kill or damage others.

"Ok, you may take over." Meaning she could create her own mindscape. The old wolf was powerful and could easily kick her out of his mind whenever he wanted. In fact, one time when she got mouthy he did so. She spent the next few hours doubled up in the head emptying her stomach into the toilet. Corbel had forced her to apologize and submit to his will after that and, while she felt humiliated, she did and was glad for it.

Taking over Sharue was eager to flex her muscles so to say. The world changed quickly, changing from the grey room to a world of stone and metal. The lower hive coming into reality and becoming the place where Corbel and herself stood. It was empty, the buildings pulled from her memory and Corbel nodded looking about. "You need to be more creative." Corbel simply said before raising his hand, and a huge mechanical worm came bursting from the wall and smashed into a tall pillar bringing down part of the hive. "If all you can do is rely on things you have seen in the past you will fail when the unknown assaults you." Sharue's mindscape wavered, and slowly it was being forced to turn into Corbel's vision. The mechanical strands shooting from the hole that it had come from forming the rock around it into living metal.

Other things started to happen too as clawing arms came ripping up through the ground and the more that this happened, the more unstable Sharue's mindscape became. He had explained that an assault on her dreamscape was an assault on her mind. Each barrier that is ripped down gave her opponent that much more control. It scared her, the fact that she would have to worry about someone invading her mind in some unseen battle, one in which she could not ask for help. "Control it Green Eyes."

She focused not only did she have to visualize her mindscape she must fully believe in it. She had to imagine her world pulling the arms apart and repairing the damage. Which did happen, large chunks of rock sprung up from the ground and severing the limbs off and started to absorb the damage. Each formation becoming a new pillar. Things were going okay till suddenly a hand came up out of the ground and grabbed her leg.

Letting out a shout of surprise, Sharue merely let her mindscape fall apart. Losing all concentration as it started to rattle and crumble. "No! NO!" Frustration bellowed out of her and all of the sudden a green flare sprang out of her body and crushed not only the hand grabbing her but everything in its path. Pillars crumbled, large hab units collapsed with a rumble of motor and rockcreet.

Sharue didn't see that she had also sent Corbel tumbling back into ruble behind her. Heaving and huffing she turned to find Corbel standing and walking her way. "I'm sorry." The words tumbling from her mouth before she could stop it. "You cannot rely on rage to save you when things go bad green eyes." Corbel's eyes looked at her sternly, and it felt like he was looking right into her soul.

"Aye sir, I wo….."

"I won't do it again," Sharue said out loud and opened her eyes up. What just happened? Sitting up quickly she looked about. She was back in her bunk in the bowls of the heavy cruiser. Sleeping figures of her squad were laying out in their bunks having not taken any notice of her.

"You were starting to talk in your sleep again." The voice made her jump and clench her paw to her chest. "Frack, Van!" She grumbled as that uneasy feeling started to make itself known. Feeling it creep on over her much like when someone has that uncomfortable feeling that something is wrong. Though it was a feeling that she had grown used to over the months, she had been with him.

"Damn it, you scared the shit out of me!" Her paw swatting at him. Over the months she had grown to like Van in some ways and hate him in others. She couldn't call him a friend, but she did trust him. Him being here explained the sudden jump from Corbel to here.

One thing that was not known to Van was that she was talking with Corbel. While she did trust him, it just seemed like something she should keep to herself. Van offered a smile as he took the swat to the shoulder. "You have been a bit eager to rack out as of late. Somewhat odd for someone who is having bad nightmares. Figured you would start doping up and sleep less."

To be honest that was one of the reasons that she enjoyed her time with Corbel. The nightmares were not as bad when she was with him. "Yea, yea." Sharue tried to just shake the question off. Relaxing back on her bunk and looking about in the darkness. "The Sargeant would have my ass if he caught me doping up. You saw what he did to Bron? No way I will ever let anyone put a lash to me." Van gave a shrug. "Better than getting around through the back of your head." Which was true. That was for a repeat offense.

Sharue took some time to take a deep breath and take in her surroundings. The air was stale and had the hint of Iho smoke in it, the room was hot, the amount of bodies crammed in and pour air circulation made it a bit stifling. Then again it was always a bit too warm for her. The thick arctic coat on her had to be shaved down often to keep her from overheating.

"So, when are you going to let me in on what is in store for me with Issa?" Sharue was getting bold enough to start asking questions. "That is a talk for a different day." That answer always flustered her. "I wish you would tell me." The sour tone in her voice letting him know she was not happy about being left in the dark. "To be honest, I don't know exactly. Issa has her reasons though, and for now, we sit and wait. First thing I learned in the job," He never said Inquisition and was quick to scold her when she talked about Issa openly. "Was that it was mostly years of boredom followed by moments of insanity."

It was nice to have Van talk more with her. When they first struck out he had seemed very cold-hearted. That and the blanking ability he had always made others uneasy around him. Her ears flickered as both of them quieted down. The soft grunts and pants coming from somewhere in the darkness forcing a smirk from Sharue. "Seems we're not the only ones up." Van merely shook his head. Sex was not looked on like the gangs of the hive city. Females were not valued because they could pop out bodies for the war effort. In fact, it was a bit dangerous to have sex in the guard. Not only would you get humiliated if someone in charge caught you, an example being when Eric had been caught banging one of the Navy gals on deck eight. He had brought her down to the bunks, and the Sargeant had found him.

The lights came on, and everyone was woken up. All the Sargeant only words were "Continue." While everyone was told to watch. Needless to say, even if Eric didn't mind a crowd, he didn't like the angry glares coming from his fellow squad members. The glares due to them losing sleep over his actions. For females, it was even worse though. If you were to get pregnant, you were still expected to pull your weight. It was something that horrified her to no end, imagining herself trying to fight a battle with her bulging gut pushing out her uniform.

Van must have picked up on what she was thinking about. "Well, you could always have me in your bed." The playful jab making her swat him again. "Frack no!" She hissed out. "Shit I haven't even been with Eric all that much." She still had a tough time telling Eric no, in fact, she had a hard time telling any male no, but she was learning. Just like she did with Van. It was nice to have the feeling that she could say no without getting into trouble.

Van offered a rare chuckle "Well I am going to rack out. Try to get some more sleep." Sharue just nodded as she laid back down and sighed. The rack was thin, and the blanket was a thick green wool thing that itched her nose when she pulled it over her head. Sighing again she just relaxed, it was doubtful that she would find Corbel tonight. Sharue only hoped that she would not have the nightmares like she usually did.


Corbel opened his eyes slowly. His dark sanctum was all that meet his gaze along with a few of his faithful. Candles had burnt low allowing the light to flicker and give it a ghostly look. "Are you done for today, my lord?" Corbel took a moment to gather his thoughts before answering. "Yes, that is all for today. I believe the blank that is near her severed the connection." The sanctum lights came on slowly, illuminating the room. Several serfs were sitting and bowed facing inwards. The only figure out of place was Corbel's Sargeant, who was looking at a bit shocked.

"You are bleeding Brother." Dabbing his fingers at his nose and eyes, Corbel nodded. "Yes, she truly is an Alpha plus. She almost killed me by mistake. Thankfully she does not comprehend just how strong she is. Just a fraction of her power escaped during this session, and it took most of what I had not to become severely injured." While Corbel was trained and had the better experience, the fox just had raw power. It was like having a river dam opened on you. He honestly had doubts whether or not he could defeat her if she were to bring just a portion of her potential to bare.

Getting up he turned looking to his lead serf. "Ready my cell, I will need to rest and think on this." The Sargeant walked in behind him. "You really should just end her Brother Corbel. Before she becomes something that you cannot handle." Corbel knew his sort. Better safe than sorry. It was easier to just kill and move on and hope that you didn't just kill off something that could save a lot of lives.

"Brother Sargeant Nathen, if we all thought like that then we would have no one left to keep this imperium safe from the screams of the warp. All psykers have a darkness lurking and ready to take advantage of any weakness. Her path is a complex one, and I am not ready to condemn her to the void. She is an ignorant and scared child that can grow up to be a monster or a saint."

"But most children cannot destroy entire planets." Nathen pointed out as the pair of them walked out of the sanctum and into the hallway. The ship was lively, a mostly serf crew keeping the large cruiser alive and working with only a small attachment of actual Space Marines onboard. Serfs would move to the side and bow as the pair walked along the hallways. "That is true, she represents a grave threat but if she were born a male, she may have become one of us to and could you imagine that? Sadly, the Inquisition is involved, which complicates things considerably."

The wolves had always been at odds with the holy order. The underhanded mentality and the overall callus use of force disgusted most in the chapter. "First, we need to figure out where she is going, whoever is navigating the ship is very skilled at hiding their tracks. He slips through the waves of the warp in ways that I am not familiar with. They purposely hide from prying eyes. That alone gives me the reason to suspect something is up." Stopping at a T junction Corbel offered a paw to Nathen. "Do not fret, if she is beyond hope, then I will make sure that she troubles the world no more." Nathen took Corbel's wrist and gave a growl. "You are the expert on things of the warp. Rune priests have always been well respected, cast your bones well though. I would not want her to have another ‘accident' that would cost us our oldest member." Corbel just nodded and shook his wrist before turning to head off to his cell.

He was so deep into his thoughts that he almost missed the first hint of the coppery smell coming to his nose. He slowed and soon realized that there were no more serfs in the hallway either. "Brother Sargent, can you hear me?" A short delay before a gurgling sound came across the vox. Letting his own mind wander he could feel the ship, it was still moving through the warp like a small predator. Waiting for a morsel to scoop up but at the same time having to stay hidden and away from the monsters that prowled. He could sense the gilder field still up too. Something had slipped in though, it must have slipped in when he allowed the fox to enter the ship.

"Neverborn, your tricks will not work with me." The wall bulged and twisted as a face slowly pushed out. "You are from a time long past old wolf." The voice was like a mixture of sounds, pain, sorrow, joy, all of them fighting to be the dominant force. A clawed hand ripped through reality to plant on the floor. Its long talons digging into the thick metal plating as its grotesque body was pulled from the very warp into reality.

"I do not know if anyone can hear me, a neverborn is on ship on deck 56 sublevel 2." Corbel called into his vox before squaring up with the daemon. "You will not win here creature, begone to the void you come from." Corbel let his powers flex and watched as the being reacted to it. Its body retreating down the hallway a few steps before snarling and snapping. The question on Corbel's mind was this creature just something that took advantage of the breach or was it sent by the daemon pulling the green-eyed foxes strings.

The daemon was just as tall as a space marine. Its back was kinked and twisted and its body sunk in showing off the many bones it sported in its shape. The skin was slick as if covered in a layer of mucus, keeping the exposed muscle covered. Its mouth sported a jaw that was too big to be considered practical. When it twisted its head back around entirely, he could see dozens of eyes blinking and twisting about in their sockets. What was worse was the smell of it, its smell was that of bile and something sweet giving it a confusing sense of smell.

It almost seemed confused, its elongated head looking about the new surroundings. It gave Corbel enough time to evaluate the situation. He was in his robes, no armor, no weapon. It would seem that he would have to start keeping his armor and weapons on him till he left the warp. What he did have though was his mind and that he could and would use.

Witch fire danced about his hands before he raised one up and sent a gout of warp flame at the creature. Unholy screams came from it as it danced and writhed in pain. It was a minor daemon, but a daemon non the less and even on fire it charged in. Its claws rendered the bulkheads a gnarled mess of twisted metal and wires before trying to crush him to the wall.

"You are weak mortal! I will crush you and your ship! She will be mine, and you will boil in despair!" Corbel had to duck and move down a corridor to avoid the flaming grasp of the daemon. Its flesh bubbling and popping leaving spots where even bones were showing. "So, you are the one behind the scene." A rolling laughter came from the chaotic beast as it paused to smash into a conduit box, pulling it from the wall and heaving it at the Space Marine. This would change things; this creature could be just a tiny fragment of the daemon's whole. It could also be just a minion. The box hitting his kine shield, a flare of warp energy reflecting the metal back at the daemon like a cannon tearing and rendering one of its legs off.

"If this is the best you have beast, then we have nothing to worry about." It gurgled and laughed crawling along the corridor. "I am just a messenger mortal, I was allowed to have my fun but remember every truth has a lie, and all lies have a small amount of truth." Bile was leaking out of its jaws letting out a scream as Corbel tore a conduit off the wall and skewered the monster to the floor.

"She will fall! And it will be because of you! You will bring the greatest harm to her and she will loathe you for it." It said laughing and coughing up acidotic bile. "So please…keep helping mortal. You are doing gre…" It never got a chance to finish its sentence as Corbel's foot crashed down on its mutated head.

"Begone foul thing!" Corbel muttered and watched as the body slowly started to crumble in and steam. It was like it was cinder that had grown too hot and was collapsing in leaving nothing but a fine bit of ash. As the being returned to the warp, the lights flickered back to normal, and things returned to how they should. The damage was real, but the vox unit exploded into his ear. "Brother Corbel please respond!"

Tapping his vox stud "Brother Sargent, we need to cleanse and purify crew deck 54. I suspect we have lost many loyal serfs and need to cleanse the filth from our ship." Looking at the smoldering outline of where the daemon was he scowled. "Damn you and your words daemon." The problem was he knew it was right. Some of what it said was truth, the issue was what part or was it all truth? There could be a chance that it was all a lie too. "I will be returning back to my sanctum. I have to meditate on a few things, and then I will give you a report Brother Sargent." He added before he got a double click of the vox channel. A quick way to confirm all had been heard.

Snarling as he turned, the hunt was on, and it boiled his wolven blood. Things were escalating faster than he had expected. The smell of blood didn't help the matter any, the daemon had its fun and Corbel did not need to walk the hallways to know what it had done. It excited his old bones, but the daemon's job was done. The seeds of doubt were planted, and all he could do is steel himself for the times to come. Faith that he was right would have to be his armor. "You will not win daemon, I swear on the all father you will not win." He suspected that a pivotal point was coming up soon.



Reed turned to Sharue looking down at the fox as they worked up a training rooms obstacle course. "You're dragging ass Honolin!" Sharue was dragging ass. Horrible nightmares had assaulted her after she had left Corbel to the point where she had slipped on over to Van to try to help clear her mind. The blank helped reduce some of the nightmares, but she still had very little sleep under her at this point. "Working on it." The fox hunching and jumping up trying to grab a bar that was stretched between two pillars. A full pack was on her back as she fumbled and tried desperately to chicken wing and get over.

The room was a mess of boxes, bars, and rockcreet structures that helped 301st keep training even in transit. This course was mainly for strength training. She couldn't help but feel like something terrible was coming. It was just in her bones, and things were really starting to scare her. It was one thing to feel the uneasy feeling around Van but this, this was different.

Her fingers slipped, and she felt herself tumble to the floor and land hard heaving a breath out of her. Reed cursed and started her way back down to help. "For fuck's sake Hon, you're not hung over, are you?" Sharue shook her head laying there trying to catch her breath. Reed was a good friend, well maybe more than a friend. After the night where she got her tattoo's the human had been more willing to pull her off to the side and slip a little bit of fun in from time to time. Sharue didn't mind it, it was nice to have a release, but Reed insisted it stay private.

"No, I just feel, I don't know." A shout coming from the Sargent. "Honolin! Get your ass back up there before I put you on extra duty!" Sharue sat up quick and groaned out "AYE SIR!" getting up as Reed gave her a look of concern. "Well, whatever it is, best shake your ass out of it before the Sargeant beats it out of yea." Sharue knew that she was right. She had to get her head back into the game and do well. Groggy or not you had to push through and get things done. It was the 301st way.

Though it was also the 301st way to help each other out. When Sharue went back for the bars, Emma was already there to help pull her up, and Reed was below her pushing up. "Up you go!" It didn't mean Sharue could slack off though.

Later that day, when she was finally able to relax and settle into her rack, she tried to close her eyes and relax and go through the paces that Corbel had taught her. To clear her mind and release herself from the stress and doubt. Soon she felt herself drifting to sleep and naturally letting her mind wander. Something she had been practicing, it was very odd being in the surreal. Each person had a look that was different from how they looked in the waking time. Reed had a dark glow about her, Van was a hole in space, Emma had this glow about her.

Wandering the ship, she could see things that others could not. It had scared her when she first experienced it, but now that she knew what it was about she felt more comfortable doing it. What she was looking for was the cookie crumb trail that was usually left for her so she could try to find Corbel.

Tonight, there was none, the usual trail was not there as she moved about the ship. It worried her, maybe she did something that made Corbel not want to have her back? She did lose it a little bit during training and Corbel was strict about his training. She always stayed away from the navigator's sanctum. That whole area just felt wrong, and the wards about it hurt to look at.

Then something happened that she had not considered. She felt another presence that wasn't Corbel's. Curiosity got the better of her as she shifted moving through the ship, through the bulkheads, and into another section of the vessel. The naval quarters for officers. It was a new spot for her to explore and she was amazed at the difference. The cold steel walls were lined with polished wood and each officer got their own room and bunk.

"I can see why psykers could be a problem." She muttered. Being able to roam and explore like this would allow one to know what others were doing. The fact that you could not hide things and they could see the hypocrisy of it all would make it hard to keep moral in check. Sharue got a little taste of this on Triton, understanding the difference between the upper and lower hive and how they lived. At first, it hadn't bothered her as much but the more she thought about it, the more she saw how cruel and unfair it was. The irony of it was that most did know that there was a huge gap between classes. The saving grace was that they didn't get to see it on a day to day basis.

That wasn't what pulled her to this section of the ship though. What drew her to this section was a feeling that another psyker was here in this section. If someone was on ship like her, she would like to meet them. Corbel was one thing but to have someone like her on ship and able to meet in person was something else. Her mind moving through the bulkheads and working about till finally she came across the source. A small, slender human male was working in one of the coms room. Headset perched on his head smoking an Iho stick and drinking some recaf.

He must have felt her as his eyes sort of danced around the room. Pulling his headset off he stood and then looked her way. Sharue watched as the male's mouth opened in a gawk and the Iho tumbled from his mouth. She didn't quite have any knowledge of how witch sight worked entirely. She knew that he would see her in a specific way just like she could see an interesting mix of colors around him. It sort of shifted and shaped into various forms till finally, the first scream reached her ears.

It startled her, did she do something wrong? The male was panicking and reaching for his sidearm and Sharue took that as a cue to leave. Leave quickly that is as she shot back to her body and woke with a gasp. "Fracking hell what did I do?!" she panted out. She hoped that she hadn't done something wrong or given herself away. He was a psyker too, there would be no way that he would be stupid enough to tell someone about that, would he? Thinking on it she guessed that was probably a careless thing to do.

"Why the hell did he freak out so badly?" Rubbing her face, she sat up in her rack sighing. Van wasn't around, probably meant that he was on duty somewhere. Sighing she stood and walked about in just her PT shorts and lose top. She got a cat call from one of the squad members which forced her to smirk but also flip the male off as she walked by. A few laughs rewarded her making her smile more and just shake her head as she walked into the head to relieve herself.

Where was Corbel? That was what really worried her. He felt like the only key she had to a really what she was. The reaction that the other psyker gave her didn't make her feel like he could connect with her like Corbel was. She needed a distraction from it all. Looking about the head, she saw that she was the only one in there. Lifting her shirt, she let her bust fall out and looked at the tattoo on her left breast. That was still a moment of pride for her, well not the tattoo itself but the fact she was accepted into the unit. It felt sort of like this was her gang now and they valued her even more than her lower hive gang she came from.

Her view on sexuality and identity was changing as well. Seeing the hypocrisy in the world was slowly turning her as well as the fact that she felt like she didn't have to fit into her old views. That she could change. Reed had been helpful with that, morals were changing too. When she had first gotten to the unit, she had to detox. Going from a drug user to clean was hard, she had thought that the Sargeant was going to punish her the first few times she was found throwing up and laying out shivering due to withdraws.

"Honolin, we all come here as something needing to be changed. You fight that addiction, and you win. Become better and don't you let it ever rule you again." Was what he had said. He still expected her to do everything to the fullest but instead of making her feel like shit about being an addict he made her feel a bit of pride at overcoming it. Pride, something that went a long way with her. A new sensation that she enjoyed, almost like when Reed would compliment her on her body or when she would do something right while learning something challenging.

A smile started to creep onto her face before she sighed pulling her shirt down and looked up into the mirror before letting out a startled scream. Without realizing it her power flexed and smashed the mirror in shattering it and forcing parts to fly everywhere. A dent almost a foot deep in the bulkhead where the mirror was forcing Sharue to stumble back against the far wall.

Her eyes were wide with fear as she took off out of the head in a bit of a panic working her way through the halls before someone could catch her in there and ask what just happened. "Frack! Frack frack frack frack frack!" she heaved out leaning against a bulkhead after she had ran for a good bit. Thankfully it was the night crew, and there were not many crewmembers on shift.

Taking several gulps of air, she rubbed her face hoping her eyes were not glowing. That had been the first time she had ever used her powers since her fall in the hive city. Her heart was racing hard making her lean over and keep her face in her paws.

That face, the face she saw in the mirror was not her own. It was an ugly skinless thing with an elongated head and just too many eyes. It had been staring back at her, and when she had looked, it had jumped at her. It was like the beings she had first seen at that hell world when she and Corbel had first met. Though it had always been in her dreams that she had seen them. Why was she seeing them now?! Her paws were shaking a bit as she stood up looking at them.

Taking a deep breath, she tried to push her fear down and just thumped her head to the wall. If her dreams were going to haunt her when she was awake, she didn't know what she would do. She hoped Corbel came back again so she could ask him for his advice. Rubbing her face again she pushed off looking left and right down the corridor as she prayed that it didn't happen again. For once she started to pray silently in her head to the Emperor.

"Emperor, I know you don't like my kind but please….please help me…." She prayed thinking it ironic, but she didn't know who else to pray to.


End Chapter 10.