Ripping Nails

[MolotovKraken]

‘There are other Apothecaries,’ another figure said, in a voice that was little more than a harsh, mechanical growl. ‘You should know this, given that you claim to have trained many of them.’Fabius turned. ‘And how many of them are willing to deal with you, Vilius? Given your reputation, I imagine that it’s not many.’ He gestured dismissively. ‘Besides which, those I taught are in as much danger as I am, if not more. ’‘Meaning?’ a voice trilled. Fabius looked up at the gaudy figure, clad in silks and feathers over its heavily modified, form-fitting battle plate. He recognised the so-called Second Sensualist of the warband known as the Ripping Nails. ‘Meaning, Glorian, that any who provide sanctuary for my students may soon find themselves under attack as well. Unless we can stop them. ’‘I was under the impression that you’d already tried, Clonelord,’ Glorian countered. ‘And they nearly killed you for it. ‘Yes.’ Fabius frowned. ‘I underestimated them. It will not happen a second time.’

‘One wonders why we ever elected you lieutenant commander,’ a harmonious voice hummed. The sound of it made Fabius’ teeth itch, even over the vox.‘I don’t recall asking your opinion on the matter, Caradistros.’‘Lord Caradistros,’ the Noise Marine corrected. Another latecomer, and like Volupus he was nothing but a pale shadow of the originals, despite the airs he gave himself. Fabius waved the interjection aside. ‘How quickly promotion comes to the undeserving. I remember when you were nothing more than a humble line officer.’ He looked around. ‘I remember all of you. And I remember how I helped each of you ascend to your current position, though you might wish otherwise.’ He struck the floor with Torment, causing the projections to flicker. ‘I am calling in my marker, brothers. Fail to honour the bargain we made and I will see to it that you pay, in this life – or the next. ’‘Or we could let them kill you, and watch as daemons tear your soul to shreds,’ Glorian said. ‘You have lorded your fleshcrafter’s skills over us for centuries. Forcing us to come crawling to you, to beg the wise man of the mountain for his largesse. You are no better than that dog Eidolon, or that preening jackanapes Lucius… You think that because you were with the Phoenician at the beginning we should bow before you. ’‘Not at all,’ Fabius said. ‘I think you should bow before me because I am your superior. More, without me, you would not exist.’ Anger speared through him, sudden and hot. ‘The Legion itself would be dust on the winds of history without me. I saved it. I saved you all, whether you admit it or not. You owe me. ’‘We owe you nothing, Clonelord,’ Vilius snarled. ‘You have been well compensated for your services. More than well. And now you wish us to second ourselves to you once more? For what?’ ‘The chance to war on the enemies of the Dark Prince,’ Quin rumbled. The Pilgrim stepped forward from where he had stood, silently observing. ‘Do you know me, whelps?’ ‘Narvo Quin,’ Volupus said, almost singing the name. ‘One of the Heroes of Byzas. Your voice is among those which echo in the dark moments, guiding our song.’

‘The Pilgrim was right. Fulgrim himself pleaded your case,’ Vilius said, as he followed Fabius into the meeting chamber. ‘He graced us with his presence, and told us to come here, saying that we would be rewarded for our service.’ He looked at the others. ‘And so we are here. A gathering of the Third fit to make Eidolon gnaw his vitals in envy.’ ‘Something most of us would dearly love to see,’ Glorian added. Along with Vilius, Caradistros and Volupus, they had been joined by Gorgus, who seemed not at all out of place among the hulking legionaries.

Fabius did the same. He wondered if this was the extent of the aid Fulgrim had promised him. He hoped not. He had a feeling that what was coming was a storm unlike any other. One that not even a force such as this could weather. He tapped the floor with Torment. ‘As pleased as I am to see you all, we have little time for reminiscences. I expect that the enemy is even now on the way – or soon will be. ’‘How can you be sure?’ Glorian asked. ‘We had a hard enough time finding this world and we were shown the way.’ He leaned back in his seat, fanning himself with an ornate fan made from the feathers of some unknown species of avian.‘I have certain… sources of information,’ Fabius said. ‘Suffice to say, they are on the move and drawing closer with every passing hour. ’‘Good, I have no patience for long sieges,’ Volupus said, slapping the table with his palm. ‘Give me a quick rush of death any day. ’‘I fear you shall have it, and in spades. ’‘Then what is your plan, lieutenant commander?’ Vilius said. ‘Enlighten us as to your grand strategy.’Fabius smiled. ‘My strategy, brother, is neither grand nor overly complex. ’He paused. ‘I have initiated the Omega Protocol. ’‘Meaning?’ Glorian said, after a moment’s silence. ‘It means he has called them all home,’ Saqqara said. ‘Who?’ The Word Bearer’s smile was an ugly slash across his scarred features. ‘Every benighted abomination created by his hand. They are all coming here. ’‘Not all,’ Fabius said. ‘Only a third, at most. Those who are in positions of authority – or are under the protection of other powers – will remain. Every clan, pack and hive will send a third of their number through the webway gates. They will follow prearranged routes to Belial IV, where they will be evacuated to the Omega Redoubt.’

‘And a copy of you as well, I bet,’ Savona said. ‘No.’ Fabius was silent for a moment. Then, ‘It is not a place for our kind. No Astartes will cross the threshold of Omega Redoubt. The secret of its location will die with me – this version of me.’Glorian narrowed his eyes. ‘So what does this have to do with us, then? ’‘It will take time to complete the evacuation.’Glorian laughed. Volupus and the others looked at him in confusion. He looked around. ‘Don’t you see? He called us here to die. We’re supposed to hold the line while his precious freaks escape to a hidden paradise!’ Silence followed this outburst. Volupus and the others turned to Fabius.‘Is this true, lieutenant commander?’ Vilius purred. Fabius smiled. ‘Obviously. ’Another long moment of silence. Then, Ramos chuckled. The sound caused the air to vibrate painfully. Caradistros and Volupus joined in, until the whole room reverberated with the sounds of their mirth. Savona looked around, a puzzled expression on her face. Glorian leaned towards her, a too-wide smile on his cracked marble features. ‘You have much to learn, Lady Savona. I would be happy to tutor you, if you wished…’Savona bared her teeth. ‘You should know that I’m wearing the armour of the last man who offered to tutor me.’Glorian jerked back, eyes narrowed. Vilius laughed harshly and clapped him on the shoulder. ‘She has bite, this one. I like her. ’‘You would,’ Glorian said. Vilius gave Savona a look at his own splintered, iron teeth. ‘Of course, if she ever threatened me like that, I would twist her pretty head off and keep it as a souvenir. ’‘If you are quite finished,’ Fabius said. ‘Indeed,’ Gorgus said. He pounded a scarred fist against the table. ‘We must discuss strategy. I demand the spearhead.’

‘I have heard this story before,’ Bellephus said. ‘It is an old story, but a good one.’Fabius turned. ‘What?’‘ A new humanity calls for aid,’ Bellephus said. ‘An army of xenos horrors creep forth from the nighted caverns of the webway. And so the warriors of the Third gather one last time. One final stand against the blood-dimmed tide.’ He looked around the table. ‘One final spark of ancient glory, before the long night consumes us all. Is that not what we all desire, in our hearts? The chance to show our worth to the Phoenician, even as we did so long ago?’ He pushed himself to his feet and slammed his fist into his chest. ‘The chance to be the heroes we were, before Horus dragged us into the dust. ’The others were nodding. Even Vilius and Glorian. Their gazes shone with glory-lust and they leaned forward eagerly. Ready to play the hero, one last time. ‘Yes,’ Fabius said. ‘Let us make our fathers proud of us.’