Chapter 8
" My Lord " an old grated voice pronounced aloud, his frame weak and ill-managed. He seemed to blink in and out of existence, barely managing to hold on.
" My Lord " He spoke again, his voice this time begging for a response. His hands cracked and creased, you could hear the pain in his joints as they struggled to move from their static position.
" My Lord " His voice now cried out, the last sliver of hope that lay within it, slowly dying out as time moved ever so constantly. His hands moved, shifting his staff to allow for a more comfortable posture but even that seemed to be pain similar to the fires of the warp.
" My lord " he called out again, his eyes moving, searching for a glimmer of the figure he so desperately sought out. His neck, craned beyond normality, weakened from years of idleness struggled to support his now falling head.
"....My…Lord " He called out, his eyes slowly closing shut as they could not support the weight of themselves having been open for as long as they had crossed into here, never once closing in fear that they may lose sight of the being they sought.
Then suddenly, there were steps. Slow methodical trained steps that seemed to take eons to reach him, they were loud. Echoing through the silent halls yet so quiet that it could have simply been mistaken for the wind.
The head of the man slowly turned towards the direction of the steps, his dripping eyes never once changing their position seemingly stuck forever on the same sight. The steps moved closer and closer, with each movement seemingly causing the body of the man to move even more.
Then it stopped, the echoes and the soft breeze all at once. But the man hadn't stopped, no - he continued to move. His eyes widening as he felt the weight, the drain had suddenly come to an end. More than that, he began to feel alive once more.
His once dying isolated thoughts now began to spin and whirl as they came to terms on his current predicament, his once frail dry body that seemed starved beyond possibility slowly began to become larger and larger.
His armour seemingly remaking itself as they grew and their colours returned with the man's revival, his hunched back slowly reformed itself as it straightened and strengthened with each passing second.
Soon the man stood, towering above like a giant. His mind slowly but surely returning, as his memories followed and flooded in right behind it, his lips pursed and tapped seemingly unsure as to whether they would work. Then his eyes, once adrift and lost, soon found its focus as they looked upon the figure that stood silently before them.
" My Lord " His voice croaked out, still returning after being stuck in a decaying process for what might have been centuries unending. But the man looked forward, his eyes glistening at the presence before him.
" Finally…finally you have arrived " He cried out to the figure who in turn simply watched, his expressions hidden behind an old mask.
The man, despite towering over the figure by several feet more, stared down at the figure in reverence and praise. Soon, he fell upon his knees which seemed to give out on him despite never once breaking under his figure in years.
" I have waited and waited for your arrival….for centuries without ever once doubting your return. Your son….father….waited for you " The man - no, the astartes said to the long standing figure who in turn simply stood with no reply.
" I believe you have the wrong person " The figure who had stayed silent up until now spoke up at the words of the kneeling being, his body shifting mildly as he seemed despite being covered up….uncomfortable.
But the Astartes seemed unperturbed by such a reply, still staring at the mask of the figure like he could see through it, like he could tell of the expression behind it. Then he stood up, closing his eyes for a few more seconds before he spoke.
" I do not. Come now, there is much to do " The Astartes replied shortly after to the figure who seemed to relax at the sight of the massive being standing up to begin walking away. His armour glistened within the darkness, resembling a mixture of green and blue, perhaps cyan but more refined.
More graceful and darker, undisturbed by the lack of light or the ages by which it had spent here. His helmet adorned with strange markings in the colour of dark purple, his staff seem to shimmer and release a short brief streak of purple lightning.
As his back soon came into view, you could see the mighty power pack attached to his back. Similar in colour to his armour with a single very outlining difference with it, a decoration of some sorts or perhaps an emblem or trophy. Attached to the middle of the pack, its base forming a circular structure.
One could see the formation of a beast, a presumably large beast based upon the length of its necks. What was strange however was that it had three necks which extended and bore fruit to three separate heads that curved like those of dragons in myths.
" You must have a lot of questions lord, but first I am Akhmose, Psyker and former leader of the Hand of the Hydra warband" The Astartes spoke after a few seconds as they began to walk together, introducing himself before the figure.
The figure did not respond, rather he stared at the moving figure of Akhmose. Wondering if maybe he should respond with his own designation but decided that he would not speak out until asked to do so.
Moreover though, there was the pressing issue of the new title that was being attached to him now. He wondered if the Astartes were truly mistaken, referring to him as father and lord. Maybe a similar being was meant to be here and he had, unfortunately, arrived before said person.
It nagged and pressed on his mind, the certain idea that he was respected or perhaps considered important more so, to also be referred to a title as grand as lord who even those high up in Krieg command did not have much less being referred to by that from an astartes.
So he stopped in his steps, halting their march. Akhmose also stopped at his tracks no less than a second later, showing his attentiveness to his surroundings. He turned to the figure a bit confused as to the reason for the sudden stop.
" We must keep moving lord, there is not much time to spare " He voiced out, urging for the continuation of their movement.
The figure - the soldier however reached his hands for his hands, tracing them to the hooks and edges of the mask. Quickly he removed his mask to show his face to Akhmose, fully expecting a change in the way he saw him or even begin to question who he was.
But Akhmose did none of those, rather he seemed more taken aback by his face. Almost like he was lost upon it, he stared so intensely that 53897-7119-01 wondered if he made a mistake removing his mask.
" A - Apologies lord, we must continue now " Akhmose said,breaking out of his brief stupor. 53897-7119-01 put his mask on and nodded in agreement before they continued to move, with Akhmose not changing how he referred to him even with the mask off. It would seem he really knew what he was doing.
As they pushed forward Akhmose began to talk…to explain the current situation they found themselves in. He began to explain how and why he was here, along with the reason he believed was the cause for 53897-7119-01 lack of his true persona.
" I had a dream, perhaps more of a vision than a dream. It was glorious, Lord ... .I saw it, saw it all yet I saw nothing. It was like a shadow of your great long plan….of your…mission " Akhmose spoke out, his voice a mix of reverence and praise.
" I saw you, in your human form. Your plan…whatever it was even if I do not know it fully seemed to have worked. Your form was remade and dimmed, barely noticeable to most out there. The great game continues in the warp and we work in the shadows tempering the imperium " He continued, his voice heightening with each passing second.
" I have tried my best to prepare for your return, to aid in your plan to be personally involved. My warband has worked to bring all we can, to gather all we can in hopes it will be as so like the days of old and legions." he continued, pausing briefly as he sought to think.
" We have predicted much based upon my visions and worked to the best of our abilities to see it come true ... .but certain things we could not affect or change. I do not know how much they managed to progress since I lost contact with them centuries ago " He said before pausing, his back turning to face 53897-7119-01 who kept moving behind him silently and wordlessly.
He stared for a few seconds, seemingly trying or deliberating on whether he should release the next words from his mouth. He thought to himself how his father…this incarnation of him seemed unbothered, he walked like there was no weight, like there was no force pushing him back…draining him of his life force.
It was one of the reasons he hadn't pushed farther inwards here, he couldn't keep up with this place. It began to kill him, and began to fight him even harder than before. It did not seem like something you could stop, only postpone.
He remembered how it drained his very soul like a hungry beast, how his steps felt like carrying mountains upon his back. How his body dried up and sought a replenishment of resources it expended, resources he did not have.
He couldn't afford to fall back, he couldn't risk pushing forward ideas so he stopped. He stopped and began to wait, a few decades in and he wondered if he should fall back for the effects the place had on him was worsening. But to his horror, he realised that it was nigh impossible.
He found it hard to even turn, much less raise his body to perform such an act, he truly believed he would die in this place but then he came. The one in his visions, he felt the weight and the force slowly dissipate within his presence.
He felt the place throw back whatever it took from him, like a beast regurgitating back its meal. He felt life once more in his body, his movement became fine like a new machine. The weight was practically non-existent and the place seemed to no longer wish to fight him.
All this, once his lord came. All this served as proof that his dreams, that his visions were real. He wondered if he even noticed, if the place even thought to do to him what it had done to him. Maybe it did and his lord simply ignored it, maybe it didn't, recognizing his presence in respect.
He decided not to, choosing to refrain from asking such pointless questions. He had too short a time to waste satiating his growing curiosity, his internal feeling to hear words from his long lost genesire.
" Once you return, it shouldn't take long for them to recognise you as I have. They will serve with loyalty as I did and would have " He spoke out before turning back to the front, quickening his pace a bit.
" You would have reached it eventually but it would take you too long, I have seen this. Too long that your plans will be delayed, so I sought out this place to help you, to clear the path far enough for your plans." he continued to explain as they pushed forward.
But then, something strange happened.
The once cold dark air suddenly mysteriously began to change, not as if they had moved to a different place but rather like a key had turned causing it to begin changing at some command.
It was a strange thing to witness but even stranger was the astartes in front 53897-7119-01 began to slowly whittle into dust. His armor and flesh, all moving as one. Seemingly unable to stop or even slow the process.
What's more strange was that the Akhmose didn't seem to realise this even when 53897-7119-01 decided to stop and alert him to the changes happening to his body.
But he never stopped, never looked back. Just simply going, talking to the 'lord' that was in his mind, still walking with him. Completely unaware of his increasingly dire situation, 53897-7119-01 attempted a few more call outs which went unnoticed.
Within a few more seconds, Akhmose was no more. Any fragment of his being if it was ever present remains only in the mind of the lone soldier here.
53897-7119-01 stood there for a few seconds, his mind replaying what he had just seen. He didn't like the idea of going forward at the thought of him simply dissipating in such a…non impactful manner.
But he also couldn't really afford to back down, if nothing else he could leave messages and signs for the next group that might come here. Moreover his life could be used to further advance whatever mission the astartes was one.
He knew not what it was but it was most likely essential given the outcome which led to his death. He wondered if the reason he had not been affected yet or made it this far was because the Astartes had essentially used his life to 'clear' the way.
Which most likely means, in order to further progress. More people would have to die….an acceptable outcome.
So he began to walk once more, choosing to see how far he'd make it before he would be killed and as a way to send a message. He bit down on his thumb and used his blood to write upon the ground messages to detail his findings.
Luckily, this seemed to work for him which was more than enough. His life still had further use now.
[_[]_]~Changing Tides~[_[]_]
" Report " A drawn raw voice said, his focus was on a pair of vox transmitters that laid bare in the room.
Connected to a large intricate network of multiple Vox transmitters, human operators could be seen seating in specially created seats.
Some were listening in to minor chatter while others were issuing reports or receiving them, this particular pair was isolated from the rest and had no operator.
At least, not human.
The vox voice caster chittered and broke into many minor breaks and cuts. There was only silence after the voice had spoken, a nerve breaking silence that seemed ready to tear its way into physicality.
Then, there was gargle and movement from the vox. Seconds later, a low grunt could be heard coming from it.
" Authorization Code " a voice came back, it was even more rougher and ragged than the previous one.
It carried with it a tone of suspicion and a fleeting tiredness. It made the hair feel heavy and its contents only helped to ensure such a feeling.
" 13611216811892119 - Null " a short methodical reply came soon after.
Like it had been practiced and repeated a thousand times in perfection. Neither a stutter nor hesitation, the numbers rolled off like a simple piece read from a book.
It was a slow steady reply, once that soon saw the silence and occasional breaking of the vox units returned.
Then shortly after, the other voice then replied once more. Though this time, there was a hint of confidence in it. Like it was a reply that should have been expected.
" Phase 1 of Null was successful, " He said.
The being on the side of the vox caster unit however seemed calm and un-impressed, rather feeling more like a master still in the middle of a death game.
" How many are we looking at? " He asked.
" 19 " a quick short reply came just as quickly as the question.
" How goes the war?" Another question came soon after, the vox caster going mute as it transmitted it.
1, 3, 5 seconds and there was no reply. It seemed like the being on the other side had suddenly gone, perhaps distracted by something else.
But then, there was a voice…no, a scream that broke through the vox caster.
It was a scream that caused many in the room to pause and give quick glances to where the isolated vox unit was.
But then, they returned to what they were doing.
" Trying to re-organise " The voice responded once more as another scream could be heard, it was a male's voice.
Old, maybe in his late 50s or perhaps more. There was an audible crack that rang through the vox, another voice seemed to plead for their life.
Someone over could be heard even if faintly, they could be heard crying for mercy, for forgiveness.
" How long?" The being asked, there was a hint of annoyance in his voice now. Whether it'd be because of the scream or the delay caused by the need for reorganization…none will know.
" Months before any good candidates can be gathered, maybe more due to Chaos " A reply came as the sounds of plea and begging soon came to a stop with the audible crack and shattering of bones which the vox faithfully transmitted.
"Hmm, re-organise. We shall handle the candidates " The being ordered.
" Understood " a reply which bore semblance to a grunt came before shortly the sound of the vox disconnecting could be heard.
A short static ensued before the vox stabilized and became silent.
" Get ready to deploy….and contact the mercenaries " A voice rang out in the room, it was a different voice from all others previously here.
" Right away Sir " A reply rang out swiftly as a single space marine ran out of the room after a quick salute.
[_[]_]~Changing Tides~[_[]_]
" Zeta - 19 - Prescient - 002 " a cold mechanical voice called out, a low hummering could be heard from the machine. A low buzzing sound was emitted with each movement it made.
" Input message - target - Prescient - 001. Praise the Omnissiah " a similar cold voice said, though not as mechanical as the machine. It was steady and robotic in nature, void of any emotion.
" Acknowledged - preparing sacred space for knowledge input….process successful. Perform the required rituals to appease this one's machine spirit - awaiting…" The machine responded, its skull shaped eyes gleaming a shimmering green light that soon began blinking as it hovered to the front of its caretaker.
" Acknowledged - spirit of the machine, hear my call. By the sacrament of the machine god, I call upon you. Fulfill your purpose as a cog within the functioning of the great machine, I ignite these blessed items to calm thy mind " The human figure replied before turning to face the table behind him.
On it was a carefully arranged scenery of scented candles, markings and special items needed for this particular ritual. He had spared no expense considering that this message was of unexplainable importance and was to a high authority
He retrieved from his cloak a single stick with a jarred puffed end which he struck on the table, the stick ignited into a small blazing flame. Slowly, he lowered it into the individual candles, lighting them one by one while saying the expected words of rites.
" By the power of the machine, I temper your rage " He said, igniting a single candle.
" By the power of the machine, I prove my faith " He continued, another candle igniting in a hot golden light as wax already began to quickly burn. Hot melted wax, flowing down away from the blazing heat.
" By the power of the machine, I arouse your purpose " He continued as another candle ignited, bringing light to the dark hidden parts of the drawings not shown before.
" Praise the omnissiah " He stated with reverence and zealotry before falling upon his knees, hands clasped together as his eyes closed down to inhale the mixture of the machine gods holy presence
" Praise the omnissiah " The machine repeated in a less zealous way, its mechanical cold voice ringing out instead
" Spirit appeased, awaiting message " It said, causing the human figure to turn to it and continue with his original goal.
…..
Kellnar Secondus - usually mistaken or assumed to be Kellnar II due to the similarities in their naming - was a world within the Kellnar system. Which was along the fringes of the imperium, far from the watchful eyes of its guards and hunger.
Being a hive world - the only one for a distance away. It was responsible for most of the tithe expected of the system every year. Over 5000 regiments of 2000 able-bodied humans are clothed, armed and sent for service into the imperial guard.
Coupled with the products of the hive world which is usually given out according to the contract in existence for over the past history of the imperium. The planet was of great importance to not just the system but the lives of the nobles who lived here.
In that same mindset, it was also a means to great wealth, power and influence for any who could claim hold and control over it. Minor wars and assassinations were a common place on the planet, however.
A few years ago, it saw some major dissent amongst its populace. Usually such things are taken care of quickly and brutally with no hope to grow, but this time was different.
Certain nobles saw fit to play into this, seeing it as a way to improve their standing and eliminate their rivals. At first, it was a minor thing. Not too organized and not really impactful to the overall functioning of the world.
Yet it grew and grew, within years. It soon became a full blown war as accusations of heresy soon began to fly around. The imperium sent a minor force with the goal of re-establishing their tithe lines as well as stabilizing the government there.
They never reported back and it grew only worse. To most currently, the war is still a civil war that was between the nobility. To a growing few amongst the upper ranks, it was clear that this was much much more than mere noble power plays.
To the detachment of Mechanicus' presence in the system, it was simply another day to serve the machine god and to fulfill their purpose as a cog in the vast machine of the Imperium…most of them.