Traveling to the
Center of the… Ship?
We traveled
off toward the elevator with a squad in tow. Roughly six guys with a mix of
actual combat knives that were nicked and rusted with age, their lazguns having
stopped working years before due to misuse or simply having lost the charge
packs while others ceased working after too many times being charged in a fire.
At least they had fire support in the form of an Eldar psyker and someone with
a more-than-functional plasma gun. Speaking of the Eldar…
As we all
walked, we were mostly silent up until the point that we were outside of the
usual territory of the Wargar and their patrols. At least we avoided combat
with them… At least for the moment. Eventually, however, the Eldar attempted to
strike up a conversation with me. Possibly to pass the time, but our view of
time was a just a hint different… Though, to me time was not exactly important
anymore. Not past ten years, anyways.
‘So, your
plan is to simply gather the tribes that will cooperate and kill off those who
don’t? With rusty knives, spears, and that bulky time bomb.’ He/She commented,
reaching over to give my plasma gun a small poke. ‘Do you even know how to fight?
Considering I found you floating in the void of space and what? Ten years of
actual life experience? I doubt that you could even commit suicide with it.’
While he had a slight point about my general plan, the exact wording of it all
was just a little aggravating. ‘Well, since you have me, I am sure that this
won’t be the death of you.’
“I don’t
really make longterm plans. I make them as I go as to make it more difficult
for others to plan around our plans and simply because the plan can’t go wrong
if there never was one.” I said with a grin, the Eldar holding their nose up
for just a moment as they walked along beside me, the shuriken catapult in
hand. “Besides… This walking time bomb, which it is made well enough not
explode, is our ticket to getting through the Redeemers. Long range, straight
shot, and against a large target.”
‘While I
see your point about the Redeemers, I don’t see why you couldn’t just ask me to
do the work for you. I wouldn’t want to see the person I saved die because of
their pride.’ I let out a sharp huff, giving them a nudge with my elbow as I
did. “Says the Eldar. Racist statements aside… Why did you save me, hmm? A man
with only pants, floating just outside of an airlock. Oh! And Human. I know how
much your kind seem to hate us.” That peaked Carwyn’s interest, at least as
much as a Human might be able to.
‘Well, you
seemed interesting compared to the other… people… around this floating mass of
metal. Your signature just appeared within the Warp. No warning, no reason… You
just appeared and that drew my attention. There wasn’t even any evidence that
you traveled through the warp. It was as if you simply dropped in.’ I hummed
softly, thinking back to the last time that I simply dropped into a dangerous
world without anything… At least I seemed to have my bodymod at this point ‘What’s
a bodymod?’
I quickly
cleared my head as Carwyn spoke, shooting him/her an annoyed glance. “Get out
of my head. Didn’t anyone teach you any manners?” With a huff, my hand reached
over to grab the top of their head and turn it forward. ‘Did anyone teach you?
Granted, I don’t expect a Mon-keigh to ever know something as civil as how to
properly socialize.’ I withdrew my hand and set it back down on the grip, my
finger straight-out next to the trigger. “Oh, they did… I simply do not use
them. Hope you liked what you saw… Next time I will make sure it’s as perverse
as possible. That should keep you out.” I half-joked, half-threatened as our party
stepped up to the mag-lift.
One of the
tribesman told us to stop flirting as we stepped onto the mag-lift, the first
few of our squadmates, then Carwyn and me, then the last two who were keeping
their eyes peeled for anyone to come running in while the first two that
entered kept the doors peeled open. Once inside, they hit the correct buttons
and pulled the lever that activated the mag-lift. ‘Careful everyone. I don’t
have to tell everyone else, but for the new guy and the space elf, we will be
entering Redeemer territory as soon as we step out of the lift. Have to go
through their territory to the staircase and work our way down.’
As the
Sarjant spoke, yes that was how they spelled it, I simply glanced around at
what we had to work with. The Eldar and I were plenty, but as far as numbers
were concerned… We weren’t doing too well. Five of them, me, and the Eldar.
Thankfully… or sadly… the Eldar did not seem to be worrying at all about what
we may run into. Great chainswords with underslung, single-shot flamethrowers
that were being wielded by eight foot tall, zealous beings that are the equivalent
of ogres in this universe. Something to deal with, alright. “If I may make a
suggestion… Though, it isn’t my place. If we take out a leg and an arm, we
might be able to take one out-“
‘Don’t you think we have already tried
that?!’ The Sarjant interrupted with a grunt on his part. I simply held up my
plasma gun, then my pistol, and then pointed toward the Elf- Eldar… Elfdar. ‘Oh…
Right. Guess we could give it a shot this time. Just be mindful of those
flamers. Don’t care if you have plasma or are a mutant, their fire burns hotter
than anything besides the reactor.’ He explained while I took a moment to set
the plasma gun on its maximal setting, just to be sure that we could fight the
Redeemers, if we ran into them. It would require a momentary recharge after
every two shots, but at least it would be better than hoping the less-powerful
blasts would cripple them.
I really am
hoping that we can convince the Redeemers, or at least the Wargar, to our cause…
But, I doubt that I have the proper linguistic skills to accomplish such a
feat. “Carwyn. You’re a Warlock… If we see the Redeemers before they see us,
would you be able to-“ The Eldar reached over to set their hand on my lips,
which I quickly reached up to remove and give them a look. They simply returned
the look with one of that was similar to a person looking at a gnawing puppy. ‘Cloud
their minds so that we pass or fight with what your kind call “Conceal”… Yes?’
They pulled
their hand away and simply gave an apologetic, if still agitated, nod of my
head as I spoke. “Correct. I apologize for that… A full hundred years or so and
I am still not a fan of someone touching my mouth, head, or neck without
permission. Do not do that again alright? I am sure that the great Eldar can
understand not wanting someone on their neck.” He/She gave a surprisingly
understanding nod of their head as the mag-lift slowly came to a stop, the
breaks giving a sharp whine as it did. ‘As I have fought for longer than you
have been alive, even against Dark Eldar, I can understand your agitation. Just
keep in mind where you stand… A hundred years, though? You must have hit your
head on the way out of the airlock.’
I simply
straightened up, my head remaining clear as I spoke. “No, I simply know and
have done more than you are aware of.” As I finished speaking, the mag-lift
slowly opened and, while two of the squadmates kept the doors held open, the
other three stepped out quietly and glanced around. Once we were given the
symbol, we followed suit. We made our way down the current hallway, remaining
low, moving from one piece of cover to the next as we went along.
Once we
reached a crossroads, one of them stepped up to each corner to check before we
went down the left toward the staircase. It seemed safe at first, but as we
made our way down the hallway, one of the doors suddenly opened. I looked to my
left to be face-to-face with torn scraps of what was once a robe and the
hulking, half-armored frame of someone. I slowly tilted my head back to look up
at someone who looked back down at me with the same exact amount of surprise.
Ah… Shit. Can’t ever get through these things without a bit of pain, can I?
Plasma cannon such a good responce to so many problems
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