I got inspired by the
Fictional Rejection thread, where people posted the test briefs they sent to
GW in the hope of becoming a Freelance writer. One of the briefs had to be a duel between an Ork and a Space Marine, which had to feel sufficiently grimdark (I mean,
epic). Writing a bog-standard combat scene between an Ork and a Space Marine is something I haven't done yet, so I decided to give it my best shot
Hope you enjoy!
---Duel in the smoke---
At first, the world was filled with noise.
Virgo’s ears were still ringing from the explosion as he pulled himself up from the debris. The Earthshaker shell had landed right between his tactical squad and the Ork horde, resigning many to the embrace of death. His vision was impaired by the smoke the blast had left behind, a grey mist obscuring the battlefield around him.
As the ringing faded out, Virgo felt the ground tremble softly. He couldn’t see or hear what it was, so he was forced to rely on his other senses. He stood motionless, taking in each movement of the earth. The trembling came from somewhere in front of him, that was certain.
Tremble.
Tremble.
It were footsteps. Large ones. Heavy ones.
Ork ones.
The trembling was heavier now, each footstep pounding the earth like a hammer striking an anvil. The ringing sound had almost disappeared.
There it was.
From the smoke rose a dark silhouette, monstrous in size and shape. It carried a large axe in one hand, and a crude pistol in the other. Virgo watched as it seemed to sniff the air, looking for a suitable prey.
It had found one.
The ringing sound in his ears disappeared fully right as the Ork charged, a mighty roar escaping its throat as it swung its axe in a large arc, aiming for Virgo’s head.
Virgo ducked to the left, the blade’s edge missing his head by an inch. He rolled over and landed back on his feet, after which he looked back at his attacker.
He saw the Ork stumble forwards into the smoke, the momentum of his swing having knocked him off-balance. Judging by its size and behavior, it was a Nob, something of an elite amongst the greenskin horde.
Still crouching, Virgo used the brief reprieve to check his gear, noting the absence of both his Bolter and Bolt pistol. What was left of his original equipment were a grenade, which would be wasteful to spend on a single Ork, and his combat knife.
His line of thought was broken when a bolt slammed into his shoulder, the pauldron splintering under the impact. He fell backwards unto the debris, as he saw the Nob’s silhouette rise from the smoke once again. Thinking quickly, Virgo grabbed the first heavy rock he could find and hurled it at the silhouette, hoping to prevent the Ork from taking a second shot. The Emperor was with him apparently, as the rock hit the Nob straight in the eye, causing it to stagger backwards in pain.
Virgo pushed himself up as fast as he could, and then ran straight at the wailing Ork, hunching as he braced for impact. The Ork had barely wiped the blood out of its remaining eye before it was rammed by the charging Space Marine, who planted his shoulder firmly into the Nob’s stomach. Virgo smacked the Ork down unto the ground and jumped on top on it, punching the Ork numerous times in the head. In one swift movement, Virgo pulled his combat knife from its sheath, raised it over his head and brought it down straight into the Nob’s neck.
Virgo’s victory was short-lived however, as the Ork merely grunted in pain and slammed its right fist into Virgo’s head, sending him flying. Virgo crashed back into the debris, his head spinning and blood dripping down behind his ears. He looked up to see the Ork still slouched on the ground, blood pouring from its wounds. The Nob was breathing heavily, the knife still stuck in its throat. It groaned as it stood up, and slowly raised its pistol for the killing blow…
Only to be interrupted by three bolts striking it from the side, two detonating in its midriff and one reducing its head to a gory paste. The headless Ork dropped to the floor, as Caius, one of Virgo’s squad members, emerged from the smoke. Caius stepped over to the Ork and brought his heel down upon the corpse, repeating the action until his greaves were covered in thick, crimson blood. He then casually walked over to Virgo, reaching out a hand to his fallen brother.
Seems like you ran into some trouble, Virgo, Caius boomed, his vox emitter lacing his words with static.
It would appear so, Brother, Virgo replied, as he took his brothers hand, who pulled him back on his feet.
You were lucky today, Virgo, Caius continued sternly,
Let us hope you are as fortunate next time, lest you end up like that, as he looked back at the Ork’s corpse.
Virgo laughed heartily.
I do not fear death, Brother, he smiled,
certainly not with you around. You should be promoted to the Honour Guard, really, you seem to have a hidden talent for being a guardian angel.
Caius slapped him on the shoulder pad, a soft rumbling sound coming from his helmet. Virgo recognized it as the old warrior’s amused snort.
Very funny, Caius replied, taking a good look at Virgo.
Seems like you’ve lost your weapons, Brother.
Virgo groaned.
Aye. The explosion must’ve swung them away. No chance of finding them in this blasted smoke, though.
Caius nodded in agreement. He reached to his belt and unholstered his sidearm.
We’ll look for them later, he said, as he handed Virgo his Bolt pistol,
Now, we must regroup with the rest of our brothers. With any luck, we won’t have to save them from rampaging Orks, unlike certain individuals.
Virgo smirked at the remark.
Don’t speak too soon, old friend. Who knows, maybe I’ll have to save you next time, he replied, as they starting walking into the smoke.
Caius only grunted in reply. As they passed the dead Nob, Virgo crouched down and pulled his combat knife from the beast’s throat. In the distance, bolter fire and screams could be heard.
It was going to be a long day...
