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Eustis lead them quickly through the tunnels. The Librarian could sense the girl was close to the surface, fortunately not deep below. Ommegang carried his combi plasmagun at his hip while scanning their aft movement for any sign of the traitors. Eustis could sense they were very close now as they rounded a blind corner. The tunnels were silent except for the cadent sound of their boot soles constantly hitting the hard stone ground.

"We won't be able to go round the Wolf Brothers when we come back around." said Ommegang. "They will be ready this time."

"It is imperative we reach the girl first. There is no telling what those scum would do." Eustis replied.

"Of course." said Ommegang. "The large one looks to be the most troublesome to me."

"Yes indeed most certainly." agreed the Librarian. "That one is touched by the warp... demonically possessed. You could smell it like burning sulphur."

"I noted they are lightly armed. If we can form a barricade we should be able to take out a good number with gunfire."

"Well then keep an eye out. I must focus on the search. We are so very close now."

Ommegang dropped an automatic mine charge behind him as they continued through the tunnel. "A present for them plus it will alert us to their imminent approach."

They both grinned for a moment.

"How many rounds does your combi have?" Eustis asked Ommegang.

"The plasma barrel is fully charged."

+++ Aboard the Strike Cruiser Mourning's Glories +++
"My Lord we have detected the arming code for an Exterminatus level detonation from the planet surface." reported the navigator.

Goffenstein steepled his fingers together as he sat upon his command throne. "How long until detonation?"

"It could be anywhere from less than an hour to the next zenith. The signal is deeply coded and we can only partially decipher the binary signal."

"We must send an extraction team immediately. The Commissar is to head it." replied the Admiral.

"That's a death sentence." said the navigator.

Goffenstein bristled "Not necessarily. I have given the order now see to it." he snapped back.

"Aye my Lord it shall be done."

+++

Wubba came first around the bend in the tunnel. He had grown in stature since the first altercation levitating above the ground as he sped forward. His face took the form of a snarling wolf's head with row upon row of serrated fangs extended from his open jaws. Wubba howled like a Wolfkin as his serpentine eyes sighted the two Imperialis.

Ommegang lifted his combi plasmagun and slowly squeezed the doubled pair of triggers engulfing the possessed in a superheated blast of searing plasma. The Daemonic essence within Wubba flared to the surface soaking away the burning energy. Ommegang then struck the Wolf Brother across his skull with his thunderhammer. Wubba faltered for a moment then the daemonic quickening raced through his blood lifting his spirit. Ommegang's servo arm caught him by the neck slamming him hard into the wall. Wubba braced his muscles as he rebounded driving his lightning claws free from his gauntlets.

Ommegang head butted the possessed then smashed him again with a cuffed blow from his thunderhammer. The Wulfkin howled in frustration as his claws clattered harmlessly off the black plates of void hardened artificer armor. There came the sudden pain of the sharp blade of Eustis' force axe paring through Wubba's chaotic armor cutting effortlessly through the skin and sinking deep into the bone. The Librarian silently lipped the command phrase to activate his axe. Wubba felt his very soul begin to slip away sucked through the rend in his pierced armor. It happened almost instantaneously and then all that was left was the smoldering daemon within. It screamed like a wailing banshee smashing aside the Techmarine in a fit of bestial rage.

Eustis' eyes blazed red with psychic energy as he released an offensive spelling repelling the daemon. He heard Ommegang grunt as the Techmarine slowly lifted himself up. There was a wide crack in his chestplate and a pauldron had been torn loose. The Librarian's eyes blazed again as he cast an ancient spell of exorcism learnt long ago on Terra. The daemon hissed as it slapped him aside unraveling the spell in a fit of blind black rage. Eustis covered himself with a kine shield taking the brunt of the savage blow. ++ Get up Ommegang... I need you. ++ Suddenly the Techmarine was beside him again slamming down his thunderhammer double fisted square into the daemon's leering face. It fell back raking away chunks of the wall to stop its fall.

Again Eustis spoke the spell of exorcism. Ommegang threw himself in front of the daemon absorbing the next blow. The Librarian smiled as he felt a click within his brain as the trained neuronic pathway fired transmitting the spell into warp space. The daemon screamed as a warp hole opened sucking it from the very fabric of reality.

"Those daemons are tough." said Ommegang as he righted himself.

"Absolutely, yes indeed." agreed Eustis.

+++

Squee listened to the muffled sounds of the intense battle just outside the shut hatch door. She heard bolters thunder and chainswords cry. Suddenly there came a sucking sound along the seal of the hatch first pulling loose debris and dust through the cracks. It continued until Squee could hear the very air leeching through the rubber gasket. Clutching Fortius to her chest the young girl slowly backed away from the hatch as she felt the pressure begin to slightly lower and the temperature dipped. The hatch cringed as it started to buckle. One by one each bolt shot loose like a bullet fired from a gun ricocheting around inside the chamber. Involuntarily Squee generated a kine shield as a thin drop of bright red blood ran from one nostril. Finally the hatch moaned as it came loose imploding upon itself. Squee forced herself to relax as she focused on maintaining the barrier. She could feel the soft fur of the mouse nestled in her hands, it's whiskers brushing against the skin.

The large looming figure of a Space Marine superimposed itself within the void left behind by the destroyed hatch door. The Astartes wore bright red lacquered armor with bronze patterns of dragon interleaved along the surface. Half his face was bionic with a gleaming green eye lense fitted into the half face plate. His half mouth attempted to strike a smile but turned into what looked like a grimace. His gauntlets were open to either side as he levitated over the smoldering remains of burning debris. ++ Hello ++ he telepathectically spoke within Squee's mind. Polished gemstones embedded into his armor glowed. ++ I have come to take you away from this nightmare ++

"I don't know you." said Squee as she mentally bolstered her kine shield. "Don't talk inside my head."

"Like you I am a psyker. You are very young with little experience. Psychic powers are things such as you creating an invisible wall to protect yourself. It is very dangerous to use the gift untrained and you are at serious risk." said the Astartes.

"Who are you?" asked Squee.

"My name is Phobos. I am from an ancient Legion who mastered their psychic powers. We can help you learn how to use yours safely. You will be with others like you.

"Those outside want you for their own purposes... It won't be pleasant if you are taken by either party. I won't force you to come with me. It's your choice." said Phobos.

"This world is going to die along with everyone on it." said Squee.

Phobos looked around the chamber intently taking in everything quickly. "You've armed the Extermantius protocol. If you come with me there is still time." His half face softened a bit and his half lips formed a true smile.

"There is somebody else who came to save me and I trust them. I must talk to him first before i can decide." said Squee.

Another image began to project through the barrier entering the chamber. A large pair of wings unfolded revealing the astral projection sent forward by Ustis. He had adopted the form of the a Griffon again snarling its gaping beak in a psychic shriek directed at the Thousand Son. It blasted the Sorcerer knocking loose dust from the ancient armor. ++ Step away from the child ++ Ustis shrieked again knocking down Phobos for a moment. ++ Now ++

The Sorcerer's half mouth turned into a downward arc as he frowned. He stretched out his arms letting forked bolts of lightning play between the fingertips of his gauntlets. Phobos struck like a hammer directing at thought blast at the Griffon. Ustis closed his wings shielding himself from the attack.

"Please stop fighting!" cried Squee. Tears ran down her cheeks as she huddled in a corner. "I'm scared and you've frightened Fortius."

Slowly the apparition of the Griffon unfolded dissolving back through the barrier. Phobos stood alone.

Phobos contained his psychic energies turning to look back. He found the room empty. The countdown timer began to rise in volume as it ticked off the final moments. Warning klaxons chimed in as the barrier opened revealing the tunnel opening leading up to the chamber. Outside was empty as well except for the wind caused by the exchange in temperature. Phobos pulled forth his auspex and looked upon the glowing green screen. There was no sign of any life nearby.

Phobos incanted the spell of levitation quickly guiding himself towards the summoning node. Klaxons mounted every 20 meters were pulsing with the doomsday alarm. "Maybe it had all been a trap." he thought to himself as the walls began to vibrate and cracks appeared rupturing through the surface. A huge piece of masonry came loose from the ceiling nearly crashing into him. Phobos shut out the external sounds and touched a chakra gaining a deep reserve of energy. His form sped like a bullet guided through the maze of death.

As Phobos finally made his approach to the point of egress the ceiling buckled and caved in around him drowning out the sounds of the wailing klaxons. The summoning point was so close but barricaded by the large falling debris. The Sorcerer spun in place shifting from one side of the panel to the other avoiding the rain of sudden death. A point of light emitted before him like a single ray of light cutting through a dense cloud in the night. Quickly it expanded opening into a cone of safety shielding him from ruin. A gloved hand emerged from the opening. ++ Take my hand ++ came the soft telepathic voice. Phobos reached out and grasped it hard with his bionic hand. The grip was surprisingly strong pulling him up into the cone of light. Once within the sounds of the explosions attenuated until there was utter silence. He looked up into the emerald eyes of a beautiful young woman clad in a tight black body suit staring down upon him. Long red hair floated around Her face framing it like a nimbus. ++ Who are you ++

Phobos crosses over the inner portal of the boundary finding himself in a strange new surrounding. The female stands off surrounded by a cadre of Astartes clad in black plate and wear the emblazoned icon of the Deathwatch upon their shoulderpads. One of the Marines towers over the rest with a servo arm attached to his backpack. There is also an old Commissar wearing an eye patch and fitted with a bionic arm. The female has a silver pendant with the symbol of the Inquisition embossed pinned to her stiff collar. It was the same one worn by the girl he suddenly remembers...

++ It is I, Squee... I remember your words rung of truth and compassion that fell day upon the tomb world... You meant your best in your own way... So I vowed to come back amd save you when I could ++

Squee extends her gloved hand towards a contraption looking somewhat similar to a teleporter.

++ Much time has passed since then... A beacon has been armed to call your cabal here... My party and I will be long gone by the time they arrive... Do not attempt to follow and do not mistake compassion for weakness... I could have left you there but chose to ignore the warnings from brother Ustius. We now have a secret we share and my favor is done ++

Thoughtful...

It can end now or move on to the part 2. What I can say is it will only get better if there is some interest.

Thanks for the comment - it means a lot.

Part 2!

You got it !!!

 Dozer Blades wrote:
You got it !!!

Yay!

Part 2 Ancient Terror

The Storm Eagle gunship slipped through the low clouds cutting through the deep valley running between the high snow capped mountains. The air was frigid and frost covered the ground. The gunship was pitch black with no identification markings. It's VTOL engines righted themselves as the Storm Eagle came to a rest hovering in place beside an ancient ruined temple. Slowly the boarding plank lowered and a party made their way down. Squee wore a crafted mask covering her face. Beside her were members of the Deathwatch kill team including the Librarian Eustis and Techmarine Ommegang. Two of the Astartes carried plasmaguns.

"This is where it started." said Squee. Skulls taken from eldar had big bronze spikes driven through them securing them across the closest wall of the temple. Broken pieces of Wraithbone littered the ground providing an eerie psychic residue.

Hmmmm... What s change?!

You'll have to keep reading to find out.

Inquisitor Squee strode into the outer confines of the temple. Ommegang monitored his auspex closely watching for any sign of life. The two Deathwatch Marines armed with the plasmaguns moved forward switching over to auto fire mode. The air was still freezing cold. Hoarfrost covered the ground sparkling under the moonlight. Squee stepped inside the temple passing through the broken doorway.

An Aspect shrine stood in the center with the armored suit of a Striking Scorpion mounted upon the tomb wall. The surface of the armor constantly changed colors attempting to blend into the ambient background. The Scorpion's Claw laid at its side open and unfurled.

The rest of the kill team entered the temple surrounding the suit of alien armor. "Kasun Meh." said Squee through her face mask in perfectly spoken eldar dialect.

The lenses of the Scorpion helm began to glow red and the claw limbered.

Some of the Deatwatch were placing down motion sensors and other recording devices. The hover of the Storm Eagle just above the temple was deafening and dust knocked loose fell from the ceiling creating a dreary mist playing through the midnight twilight like a ghostly mist. "It's an Exarch suit." said the Inquisitor into her comm bead.

"Be careful." replied Eustis. "They can be quite deadly."

++ Then we must remove the sting ++

Suddenly the Scorpion thrashed about as the suit's color changed to livid green. Faster than the blink of an eye the Aspect freed itself from the shrine bolting into a living ram. Precision shot plasma crossfire clipped it cutting a burning groove across the brow of its tall helm. "Don't destroy it unless absolutely necessary!" commanded Squee.

I thought Squee was a cute little girl!

Author's Note

The second part of the story takes place roughly 20-30 years in the future. Squee has been trained by Ordos Xenos to control and refine her psychic powers. She has reached the level of an Inquisitor and the kill team from part one is her retinue along with the Commissar.

Let me know if you have any questions.

I see.

The Exarch's mandiblasters came online targeting the Inquisitor as it quickly closed the distance between them. Squee imagined a superheated forge blazing as her body automatically stiffened. The Mandiblaster shells ricocheted off into a random wall stitching it apart. Squee levitated up into the air spiraling over the Exarch just as it drew into striking range. The Aspect countered by running up the wall then launching itself into a tight spiraling course towards her like a heat seeking missile... Sensing the sure kill then realizing it was passing through her body just like thin air.

ooooh...

One of the Deathwatch fired a snare catching the Scorpion by surprise. The net constricted dropping its prey upon the floor. It fought with all its strength as the kill team watched the Exarch rolling back and forth in a fit of great anxiety. Squee put her boot against its neck shooting a heavily drugged dose from her needle pistol. The dart punctured through the armor piercing through the skin. The Scorpion fought the venom but slowly lost its vigor then collapsed.

Yes... Get 'em!