Hello, felt like writing something a little bit more like a crime thriller, rather than all out war. Hopefully i will continue but that would require some interest in the story.
Bidding War
Uolis didn't expect the automobile to explode but the wave of heat and racket was obviously that of an explosion. It sent him skittering along the ground, grinding his body armour against the parking lot tarmac. He eventually came to a stop, like a flat stone skidding on ice. They had denied his cover, he scurried to the next parked vehicle under sustained fire, a hail of inaccurate sparks and uprooted cement shards just behind.
They didn't want for ammunition, however their accuracy was plainly lacking. Parking himself behind the front axel of the vehicle, the impacts that thundered along the bonnet and thudded into the tires rang in his ears as he drew his Naval Pistol. His refractor was nearly spent, a straight shotgun slug between the eyes had nearly shorted it five minutes earlier. Luckily his broken nose was all he had to show for it. He had already taken one bullet through the brain 20 years before, it had not been a pleasant experience.
The pistol he held was utilitarian, large and of an esoteric, brutally high, calibre. He surged his refractor and rose from the cover, Uolis presented only his profile as he aimed the weapon one handed. He plucked the first of his attackers that came into focus, Uolis had shot a V through the middle of his head by the time his eyes had sharpened. Uolis had to steady himself as the first of the return shots shuddered into his shield, he sent another two bullets down-range, more cack-handed than the first but another gun was silenced by a sting of lead.
He had sowed a moment of panic in amongst the other side, he saw three men sprint to new positions, their forms punching holes in the thick steam rising from vents below. They fled to find cover of their own. Uolis filled the void of aggression, he left his cover in long strides, he stepped a showy strut to steady his aim, the refractor sparked, fused and useless. Uolis drew his sights on the slowest of his attackers, two large Naval slugs forced open the man's ribs with their exit wounds.
'You've picked a poor fight!'
He appealed to them now he had claimed the advantage. One of the men peeked from an alley entrance, Uolis whipped a bullet a couple of inches from his face. He picked out the rapid footsteps of the other man in full flight.
'Are we done? I count four more bullets in my chamber, two score more on my person. And lets face it, I have proved the better shot.'
Uolis holstered his weapon, an excitable smile on his face. The din of Arbite sirens cut through the backstreet ambience, the gun fire must have been reported. The supercharged growl of a Repressor faintly whispered from the expressway overhead. Uolis figured he would greet their arrival, he was in need of transport after all. Van-Sandt's men had delayed him and he couldn't be late for the auction, he would need to gauge the room before placing any bids.
Preoccupied as he was with his thoughts he didn't have time to flinch before the dart punctured his neck. It worked fast whatever it was, his vision swiftly blurring as he turned to look down the barrel of Van-Sandt's needle pistol.
'What'd you dose me with Hekkel?' The words sloshed around in his mouth and came out with a slur. Hekkel Van-Sandt's grin was broad,
'In our business we don't prosper spilling our secrets'
Uolis stimmed hard, he could flush it the old fashioned way, or try a purge from the inside. He chose to fight it with his blood, evacuating in the company of a fellow Inquisitor (For that was what he was, an Inquistor) was seen as bad manners. Sweat pooled on his top lip as Uolis' mind raced, he had 327 anti-venoms but plumping for the wrong one could prove messily fatal.
'It's not lethal, I'm not too sure you want me dead,'
Uolis probed, hoping to be thrown a clue,
'Just in a great deal of Pain. So I grant you're correct on that count dear Quiran. I should really kill you, after all, I had no small fondness for some of those rascals you just gunned down. '
Quiran Uolis managed a small smile. He had narrowed it down to five poisons already, at best he would be out of action for three hours as his auto-immune neutralised the Toxin. Three hours is Unacceptable, he thought, he had to get the right anti-venom.
'Maybe you shouldn't have told them to shoot to kill. This venom you've dosed me with? At least tell me I won't soil myself.'
A claustrophobic anxiety segued into a punishing headache, his whole body was crawling with sweat. Van-Sandt shook his head and let out a girlish laugh.
'No more clues dear Quiran and by the way, you mean toxin, it's only venom inside the fangs'.
Uolis didn't let on he had the information he needed and doubled over with stomach cramps, albeit only slightly overselling it. Van-Sandt disappeared into an alleyway, his long cloak lagging behind.
Ryzan Coral Snake, Psychoactive toxin causing extreme anxiety and debilitating pain in the inner-membrane of the skull, stomach and later on teeth. Quiran was doubly glad he had the anti-venom, he despised tooth-ache.
When the Repressor finally pulled up beside him he was leaning over, hands on his knees, he was trying hard not to vomit. As the modified sliding door of the vehicle heaved open Uolis wiped his face on his neckerchief. Four officers darted out of the red-lit interior, they went immediately to secure the men he'd shot and their, no doubt undeclared, weaponry. He straightened his back and assumed the best posture he could as the final form emerged from the Repressor, it's heavy feet brutalising the ground beneath.
'Rexxus' Uolis let out with a sigh.
'Uolis. You look atrocious.' The great man sneered. His face wrinkled with disgust as he caught the smaller man's smell.
'My agent's tell me you have been down here for three months, did you spend that entirety frolicking in a sewer?
He grinned at his own joke and gave no pause for a retort, he simply continued.
'I see you've come alone, like they requested. That was foolish and mostly indicative of your dubious moral fibre. I for one don't take orders from their kind.'
'Despite your power armour and personal arsenal, I might risk calling you a stubborn old man Rexxus. You haven't the slightest clue about negotiation.'
Uolis showed the red flag of impudence to the seven foot bull, Rexxus did not fly into complete rage at this but his eyes did sharpen with fury.
'I will not negotiate with your kind, Psykers. A power-stake through the skull is my parley. Now before I sever your head and augur the information from your brainpan you should volunteer me the location of this 'auction'. That will conclude our business.'
Uolis knew he couldn't introduce a man like Rexxus to proceedings, the situation would erupt into a bloodbath. Any chance at a winning bid would be lost.
'I will tell you Rexxus, but I must do it
silently, you never know who might be listening.'
Rexxus looked down at the ground, like it had angered him, as he mulled it over.
'Wise discretion Uolis, but I do not appreciate being
probed. The moment i feel anything heretical. The uplink will be severed, with extreme prejudice.'
He made a slight gesture with his right hand, which was lobstered in a powerfist.
'Very well'. Uolis didn't quite contain a startle as the, now active, powerfield over Rexxus' fist issued a loud crackle.
