Where Nightmares Take Shape
Zareen felt her eyes forcefully open, finding herself in the familiar cockpit, an ozone odor surrounding her. Confused and unable to see outside as she failed to ignite Aletko’s reactor, she slammed onto the hatch release and jumped outside.
Dropping down from her giant, she stared at the world around her, amber eyes wide open and lost.
A forest surrounded her, not the one from Ag’Dresil’s realm, nor the one from Onerth… but another.
“What is this place?” She asked—but no answer came, her companion was silent.
As she took a step, she felt her stomach revolt before falling to the ground and vomiting a mass of blue flesh and bone. “P-probably the warp translation…” wiping her mouth clean with her arm.
“H- hello?” a voice appeared from her left, soft and young, very young.
As she looked up from the ground, there hid a small child behind one of the trees, only her face was visible, she could not have been older than seven standard years.
“Hi?” answered Zareen, getting up from her unfortunate release. “Do you know where this is?”
“Oh its the forest. Can’t you see?”
“Yes but I meant, what world are we on?”
“Planet? This is Juvio IV, are you lost miss?” The child left her tree, and walked ever so slowly towards Zareen.
“You could say that…” The location meant nothing to the pilot, for all she knew this place could be on the opposite side of the galaxy. “What’s your name?”
“My name’s Bonara but everyone makes fun of it, I prefer Bo.”
“Its a pretty name in my opinion, I’m Zareen. Nice to meet you Bo”
“Say miss, why are your eyes like that? And your teeth? And you-“
“It’s because uhm— I come from a very different place. On my world everyone looks like me.”
“Oooh I see! That’s so amazing! I want eyes like you!”
“You really don’t… but why are you out here on your own?”
“I ran away… my parents give all their attention to my brother because he’s so talented but for me they only give stupid dumb labor…”
“Oh… I’m sorry to hear that.”
“I got mad earlier and screamed at them and so I ran away.”
“Still I think your parents might be worried about where you are.”
The child scoffed “Screw them! I’ll just live in the forest on my own.”
“I— don’t think that’s a good idea. The forest could be filled with dangerous predators, and finding food and water will be really difficult. We should find your parents.”
“Fine… our house is in that direction.” As she pointed and began walking, Zareen looked behind at the silent Alekto. For now she had to abandon it, until she better knew where she was.
As both walked for several minutes in the dense forest, it suddenly began to clear, revealing a small town very similar to those that dotted Onerth. Continuing their path towards a lone house on the eastern side of the town, a figure ran out towards them, seemingly her father.
He ran for Bo before embracing her tightly. “Throne sweetheart you gave us a terrible scare, why did you run away?”
“I was mad but now its fine I guess, thanks to my new friend, Zareen.”
The man looked up from his child to stare at the creature before him. Eyes widened as he stood up and reached for his stub-pistol, aiming it at the woman. “Emperor! What are you abomination?”
“I—“ as the realization set in she tried calming Bo’s father. “I’m a normal human, I don’t mean any harm I promi-“
“Lies! I know corruption when I see it! Throne’s mercy – you’re one of them! The things from the deep woods! You seek to gut us!”
“No I swear!”
“Dad please, she’s not a bad person!” wailed Bo, trying to grab her father away to see reason.
Seeing the man’s finger begin to tighten on the trigger, she moved like lightning and dove into him. As they hit the ground, the weapon misfired into the open sky. Zareen grabbed the stub-pistol from his hand, scraping the flesh open with her talons and reversed their roles.
“I am not your enemy!” she added, now standing over the downed man, gun in hand. Blood dripped from her talons – his blood. The scent made her mouth water. She vomited again, this time bile and sparks.
“Za- Zaree your eyes… they’re glowing.” Bo began backing away, she too finally seeing the creature the pilot had become before tripping over roots as she scrambled back.
“No no I’m sorry, please I don’t mean any harm. I just want to get home…”
The man stood up, his hand covering the open wounds “The only home for you is deep into the darkest hells!”
Zareen threw away the pistol behind her and brought both hands into the sky. “Please, I am trying to show you and tell you that I am not what you think I am. Maybe I look a little scary, but I do not wish to inflict any harm—I just need help.”
“The tales speak of liars, cheats, and illusions from the forest… You are convincing no one, beast.”
“What must I do then!?” she yelled before sensing a presence behind her, a danger.
The pilot spun around quickly, coming face to face with a woman wielding a sickle as she swung it downwards. In an instant Zareen grabbed her assailant’s hand, digging sharpened claws into frail flesh and reflexively stabbed into their stomach with her free hand.
“Illiona! NO!” roared the man as he leaped to catch his falling spouse.
“Mom? MOM? MOM!” followed Bo as she got up, trying to help her father in saving the dying woman.
Zareen’s entire world crashed around her as she realized what had just happened, warm blood still trickling from her trembling hand, crackling like static where it dripped, eating holes in the grass.. “No no no no no no I— I’m sorry I didn’t— It was an accident I swear.“
“Please darling! Please talk to me! No no breathe, damn you! The Emperor protects!” wailed the father, as he embraced the woman, blood spilling onto the green grass below.
Bo stood up and stared at Zareen, tears streaming down her innocent face “You killed her! LIAR!”
“I- I- I never meant for this to happen!” screamed the mutated woman, incomprehension crushing her. She then took off and ran back into the forest, tears mixing with blood from pierced lips creating a path of weeping fire.
Ninety three years in the warp, training against monsters and abominations—now she was the grotesque creature. Deep into the forest, laughter erupted, dark and cackling laughter.
The forest rejected her now, boughs snapping at her corrupted flesh. She ran until her lungs burst into flame, until she became the monster the child named her.
She continued running until finally she reunited with her other-half. Alekto remained motionless, exactly as she had found the Knight that fateful day on Onerth.
Swiftly she climbed up its adamantium shell, slipping once as the blood that stained her hand made her lose her grip. She leaped into the cockpit and closed the cage.
Nothing happened. Only silence broken by Zareen’s uneven breathing.
“Griffin! Damn you! Answer—”
Nothing.
She curled into a fetal position upon the throne, claws digging into her own arms as she curled up. “P-please… I’m lost… I don’t know what to do…”
…
“Don’t leave me… I don’t want to be alone…”
For four hours, the only sound was her tears boiling on the control panel
Silence was suddenly broken by the sound of loud banging from above. Someone was trying catch her attention.
She hit the internal switch which lifted the heavy adamantium hatch above her, and stood on the throne, poking her head out.
Before her was two men, crouched on the carapace, wielding autoguns. Their uniforms reminded Zareen of those from the Planetary Defense Forces. Upon catching sight, the two soldiers immediately training their weapons at her, the leftmost one roared at her “ARMS IN THE AIR. NO SUDDEN MOVES!”
With shaking eyes, she followed the order—Zareen was fully capable of slaying both men… but enough blood had been spilled today.
“IDENTIFY YOURSELF!” he continued.
“I- I am Zareen Batal, I serve the Inquisition”
“PROVE IT!” shoving his rifle into her face.
“I—“ dread enveloped the woman, she had no proof. Not even the Knight itself for it no longer appeared to head her… “Lilith! You can contact Inquisitor Phoebe. She knows me.”
The man grabbed his vox with one hand, weapon still aimed at the pilot. “Target claims to be part of of the Inquisition—despite… appearances.”
The answer came garbled, unintelligible to the woman, safe for two words. “—any chances”. Trigger finger sliding upwards.
Her skin hissed to life, her fingers curling inwards, instincts screaming bloody murder.
‘Not again no…’
But before the men reacted to their order, the vox continued. Whatever had been transmitted surprised them, muscles relaxed as they returned to simply pointing their weapons at Zareen.
“Do not move a finger… creature. Someone will be coming to see you.”
‘Who? Could it be Lilith? Did she find her?’
As long minutes passed, neither of the three moving as hair. Then the vox erupted once more, the left man voxed back “Copy that.” Followed by barking more orders. “No sudden movements! You will leave that cockpit and come down onto the floor below! If I see any other moves, you die.”
Zareen nodded and pushed herself upwards onto Alekto’s carapace. The PDF men stood just outside the dark pool her body cast – as if it might bite. Once her boots hit the ground she came face to face with a visibly older man, his face showed such age she could only have guessed he was at least a hundred to two hundred years old. Eyes piercing like golden talons, he wore a large ample coat, black and red, Imperial insignia aplenty. A heavy rosette dangled from its chain, tarnished, its edges chewed as if by teeth. When he breathed, the air smelled of grave soil.
An Inquisitor.
“Miss Batal I presume?” his voice reminded her of Phoebe’s, cold, calculating, and powerful.
“Y-yes… who are you?”
“I am Inquisitor Ravenmyre, Rorkon Ravenmyre. Ordo Malleus. Pleased to make your acquaintance” he lied, teeth flashing like a scalpel.
Zareen did not respond, whoever this man was… she did not trust him.
“The men here tell me you identified yourself as serving the Inquisition, specifically Lady Phoebe, is that correct?”
She nodded, not wishing to share any more than absolutely necessary.
“Fascinating… For Baarneas’s pupil to stoop this low.” Clicking his tongue. “I must say I did not expect anything else, but perhaps now that vermin will face justice. Baarneas was a fool to think corruption could be leashed. And now his mistake wears his face.”
“Vermin?! Lilith is an agent of the Throne! Bare her name from your lips!” Her eyes widened, teeth shining in the evening light. The two PDF men at her side backtracked a few steps, autoguns trembling.
“I beg forgiveness. I meant no disrespect. I spoke too swiftly.” Rorkon bowed lightly, a charade… “Perhaps I should explain myself better; Once upon a time, Baarneas and I stood side by side in our fight against the Archenemy. However in his naive folly, he took it upon himself to raise and train a tainted cultist, blinded by this worm, he believed it could be molded into a faithful and dedicated agent of the Emperor. Wrong he was as the wretch corrupted him—until with a dagger to his back, it took his place. Now mocking our organization, disguising itself as an Inquisitor, it continues to spread its vile influence. You are but more proof that Phoebe is tainted and must be stopped.
“Lilith is not tainted! She serves the throne with utmost diligence! She would sacrifice herself if it meant preserving the Imperium!” yelled back Zareen.
“Spare me the lies dog. That one corrupted such as you would try and defend a traitor is brimming with irony.” He voice became accusatory, as if begging retaliation—followed was his left hand falling behind is back.
“Shut your damn mouth!” Zareen leaped forward, claws aching to tear at feeble flesh, with veins glowing blue through her skin.
Before both soldiers could react, Ravenmyre without a flinch, sidestepped to the right before strapping a collar to her neck as she fell passed him.
“WHA-“ she barked before feeling her entire body electrocuted with such power that every muscle tensed, crashing onto the dirt below.
The Inquisitor clicked his tongue “No no, a dog does not attack without their master’s approval.”
Laying on the floor, unable to move, feeling herself lose consciousness, Zareen roared defiantly “I’LL KARKING KILL YO-“ as she fell senseless for the first time in ninety three years.
Alekto showed no reaction, still slumbering silently—lest for a single faint flicker in its damaged optics.
“There are many manners you must learn dog.” Rorkon ended the electric storm once he felt confident the grotesque mortal was incapable of thought. Smoke rose from the pilot’s skin, minor arcs of lightning still struck over her, as if reacting to the corrupted blood inside, sizzling in protest.
“You two, contact Admiral Amadorn. Tell him to bring a transport large enough for a Knight to these coordinates.”
“Y-yes sir!” in unison, quickly glancing at each other—as if silently confirming between them that what had just transpired was real.
The Inquisitor turned back to the fallen woman before him.
“I believe it is time for our Ordo to convene… Finally I will show them all the truth of that harpy—not even the Emperor can save you now.” He smirked, barely hiding a sinister chuckle.
The last to enter was Sasin, her mechadendrites pressing onto the door’s controls to seal the room behind her. The air was heavy, fused with the odor of inquisitorial rites performed only moments before. Every member of the retinue was gathered around Lilith as she leaned back on her desk—at least every remaining member.
Sasin spoke as she took her place into the half-circle “I apologize for my tardiness, Lady Phoebe.”
“I hope it’s because you have something new to report?” answered the Inquisitor, her hands clinging to the desk behind her, almost tearing into it.
“I do, the biological sample we found in the hangar corresponds to at least fifteen different kinds of flora.”
“That definitely narrows it down…” interjected Gastel, his voice tense, all of his hopes resting upon any shred of news that might pinpoint their missing friend.
“Yes and no.” The Magos continued. “Cross referencing the data with local flora only reveals two possible origin points.”
“That is assuming it’s from this corner of the galaxy though.” He continued.
“Yes but… I prefer to stay hopeful.” The vox-born voice crackled slightly as she ended her report, emotion defying cold programming.
“And those two planets are?” added Talleia, she too had grown restless, hair was disheveled and unkempt.
“Scioc III and-“
“Juvio IV” interrupted Phoebe.
“That… is correct.”
“I received an urgent communique moments ago, classification theta. It is addressed to all Ordo members in the sector.”
“Theta? Do you think—“
“That it pertains to Zareen? Yes I do believe so. Even more so due to who called for this extraordinary reunion. Inquisitor Ravenmyre.”
“That karking grox-arse?!” roared Gastel, everyone recognized the name.
“Emperor… that disgusting maggot in a coat probably has her.” Continued Talleia. Lilith let the heresy slide, even she felt every body in her body repulsed by the mere mention of the man’s name.
“Very dangerous / Possibly a trap / You cannot go.”
“If there is even a shred of possibility that Zareen is in his claws… I must.” Her demeanor briefly betrayed by a crackling voice. “I will not abandon her… and even if Rorkon has the Emperor behind him, I owe Zareen my life.”
“Damn right!” echoed Gastel “If I’m not mistaken, they always allow a plus one to these meetings right?”
“Correct.”
“I beg you to take me with you. Whatever that snake has prepared, I’ll be ready.”
Phoebe sighed, her fingers still scraping her pristine desk.
“I don’t care what you’re thinking” he continued “You are no going alone.”
“Bellegymere 44-Delta.” Firmly addressing the Errant.
Almost startled, the techpriest responded in binaric “[Yes?]”
“Prepare combat protocols, there are records of Vanus data in my personal vault, I will make them available to you. Ready your augments for any eventualities… You are to be ready once we arrive.”
The green fluid in his optics morphing into a red glow, his voice deepening itself as mechanical tendrils ceased twitching, remaining perfectly still—ready to kill. “Order Accepted / Preparations underway.” Under the shining light, one might catch a glimpse of the Magos’ form changing ever so slightly as previously covered weapons ports revealed themselves.
“Don’t take this personally Gastel but I know Rorkon better than anyone here. Undoubtedly this is a trap, and I will not make myself predictable.”
“I understand, I’ve heard stories that Bel had a… ‘bloody’ past prior to joining us.”
“You would not be mistaken.” Lilith almost caught herself smirking for a brief instant, the will to make Ravenmyre suffer should he have anything to do with Zareen was almost overpowering her. “If there is naught more to add, you are all dismissed—and Talleia, set course for Juvio IV.”
“Aye aye my Lady.” As her hands moved swiftly to the navilis auspex at her belt, already plotting their journey through warpstorms.
As her retinue left the opulent room, she dug her fingers deeper into the desk and found herself breathing unevenly. A foreign emotion gripped her very soul… rage.
“The sector is at the mercy of a maddened warp-tainted tyrant and you choose to bring back our pathetic feud… Vengeance is no justice. If Zareen is truly in your midst or this is just another childish attempt at revenge Ravenmyre, Emperor mark my words—you will regret this.”
The room was dark, safe for the low pulsing blue hue of her back that mirrored her pained breathing. Zareen lay naked against the cell’s wall, curled up against her legs, shivering. The floor was cold, rough and wet—guards had come to hose icy cold water onto her as they laughed and yelled obscenities—they called her Kyon, an old derogatory Terran word for dog. The air itself was filled with the metallic tang of blood and burnt flesh.
Blood seeped through the metal cuffs that had been tightened far harder than needed, added to the collar at her neck were devices at her hands and feet. Should she ever step out of line or simply for the perpetrator’s pleasure, the devices would emit agonizing shocks throughout her body that burned through her muscles, searing the very flesh they touched.
Zareen had not seen Ravenmyre since he had thrown her into this cage but the guards took turns in keeping the woman awake. Every thirty or so minutes they would activate the torturous cuffs until their victim could no longer breath, then she was allowed respite… until the next round.
In the grim darkness, she prayed… not to the Emperor, nor to laughing Gods of Chaos but to Lilith. She prayed that Phoebe would find her, she prayed for salvation for her tormentors. She had no right to wish for death for her life was her Lady’s, thus she prayed until the words became etched in the very air she breathed.
Hours passed in silence and agony until it was not a guard that opened the heavy door to her chamber, but instead the dreadful figure that had brought her here, Inquisitor Ravenmyre.
The lights came alive with such brightness it blinded her momentarily.
“I hope you’ve grown accustomed to your cell, Kyon. I’m afraid this is the best I can offer to wretches such as yourself.” His voice was filled with confidence and brutal cruelty, each footstep he took like a hammer nailing a coffin shut.
Zareen tried with every ounce of energy she had left to steady herself and get up but failed to lift further than a few meters. Instead remaining on her knees yet still head held high in defiance.
“I w-will make you pay—“ pushing the very words out of her exhausted lungs.
“They always say that and yet never achieve more than extending their misery. Accept your place Kyon and this will be much easier.”
“My n-name is Zar—“
With a snap of his fingers the torture devices activated, sending excruciating shocks throughout her damaged body as she fell to the floor, convulsing in agony until Rorkon grew satisfied.
“I didn’t hear that correctly, what was your name?”
“IT’S KARKING Z—“
The torture resumed, lightning arcing across her skin as corrupted blood sizzled in protest. Zareen screamed as the extreme pain reached hellish heights. Then again it ended as the man continued “What is your name?”
She could barely feel her limbs anymore, her breathing was heavily stunted but her defiance was resolute. “Zar—“
And again.
And again.
And again.
For three unbearable hours Rorkon continued until finally a barrier had been broken. Zareen could not feel anything, not even the tongue in her own mouth. She lay in a pool of her own bubbling blood and vomit, her mind was pummeling in her skull, screaming in agony at having its nerves be burnt out.
“What is your name?”
She grit her teeth with any remaining strength. With hatred in her blood but acute exhaustion everywhere else, she spoke words that betrayed her own soul. “I… I am Kyon….”
Ravenmyre smiled, a brutish crevice upon his face “Good.”
“There will be an important meeting in a day from now. You will be its centerpiece, congratulations.”
His words rang hollow, barely registering any information—instead finally relieved the torture had stopped, for now.
“Until then you will continue receiving the treatment you deserve, isn’t that right Kyon?”
“W-what?” she yelped as guards entered the room, armed with stun-batons.
“Now I hope you do not forget your name by tomorrow. Until we meet again vermin. Oh, and Kyon? Lady Phoebe sends her regards.” Zareen’s broken eyes widened at the mention of the name, like a flicker of hope immediately crushed by further violence.
The Inquisitor turned away and walked out of the room, leaving her alone to face three guards as they approached and began beating the perceived hellspawn senseless. One guard’s own stun-baton began melting as her blood defiantly ate through it, causing them to curse the creature further and retaliate with more vicious cruelty.
As the shuttle hit the hangar floor, the ramp lowered revealing Bellegymere wearing his signature robes as two mechadendrites followed him with conspicuously simple claws—although several other tendrils appeared to be missing from the Magos.
Inquisitor Phoebe was at his side, wearing her usual long black coat, every detail immaculate, rosette scintillating from its chain. Her eyes kept their piercing gaze but appeared even more alert than usual. The ‘wolf’s den’ she called it, to have so many Inquisitors of her Ordo in a single room, each more dangerous than the last.
A servitor came to reception them, entirely metal with beautiful gold accents and a large Inquisitorial insignia on its chest. A vox hidden underneath blurted to life “Identify yourselves please.”
“I am Inquisitor Phoebe of Ordo Hereticus and this is Bellegymere 44-Delta of my retinue.”
The insides whirred as systems acknowledged her voice “Voice confirmed. Welcome aboard Inquisitor Phoebe. Please follow me to the appropriate chamber.”
Without a word the trio marched onwards deeper into the ship, and after a long elevator ride, found themselves before a large gilded door. The servitor approached the controls to their left, interfacing through a small mechadendrite, when suddenly the door opened with a hiss revealing a majestic interior.
The room was easily large enough to accommodate hundreds if not thousands, crimson red drapes flowed from the ceiling as a massive exquisite chandelier enlightened the room. The sides were dotted with magnificent chairs with golden accents, each bore an inquisitor’s name—their companions expected to stand beside them. They were all arranged in a circle as to create a empty center for an orator to present themselves. Several dozen figures found themselves in the middle, most with a glass as their hands as they talked to each other. The air was filled with the odor of expensive amasec and various other exotic beverages.
Phoebe recognized certain faces, colleagues she had the pleasure—or displeasure of working along, either as pupil to Baarneas or fully fledged inquisitor herself.
Bellegymere voxed silently beside her “We expected at most 87 Inquisitors but I only count 63, with their companions there are 126 people in this room—excluding us.” His cadence had changed greatly since combat protocols were initiated, now speaking much more fluently—almost human.
“Do you see Ravenmyre?”
“Negative.”
“Talleia said there were no more ships coming, that makes 128 in total when Rorkon gets here.”
“Worst case scenarios revised [Calculating] I still do not advise reaching level Zeta.”
“Noted, hopefully it won’t come to that.”
One of the figures turned towards the new arrivals and waved a glass.
“Phoebe!” it spoke loudly “I thought my eyes deceived me at first!”
“Inquisitor Abahim! Now nice to see you again!” She answered, her expression switching instantly, adapting to the atmosphere. They walked towards each other as Adam Abrahim grabbed an extra glass from a nearby waiter.
Lilith graciously accepted the gesture, taking the glass in her gloved hand.
“My it has been forever! Dare I say seven years if I am not mistaken?” continued the man. Much taller than Phoebe, he bore a large brown beard with short hair, his age apparent through his face. To his left was woman wearing full kasrkin armor, her stare deadpan.
“Yes, you are correct old friend. Much has happened since.” Abahim had been by her side during the tumultuous era after her ascension to Inquisitor, following unfortunate circumstances… He had helped shield Lilith from accusations of heresy and assassination, one of the few that believed her story.
“How are things? I have heard your hands full with the Valenmour excursions?”
“Quite, the Ordo has pleased itself in giving me every new case they can find.” Chuckling slightly. “But things are well otherwise, still alive.”
“Duty never ends! Once you get some decades under that rosette they might start giving you some rest. Speaking from experience!” His laugh carried throughout the entire room. “Although—I’ve also heard you’ve found yourself a Knight amongst your retinue, a rare occurance!”
Phoebe’s smile faded for an instant, revealing her true emotions before she put the mask on once more. “News travels far and wide but yes, she had helped immensely in my quest against House Valenmour—I owe her my life too.”
“Incredible! If it isn’t too much to ask, I would be delighted to meet once this meeting is over.”
“We will have to see about that, no promises dear friend… but Adam, might if we talk to the side—move privately?”
“Of course, anytime Phoebe.” He gave his empty glass to a waiter before falling to the room’s side, away from prying ears and eyes.
“I cannot reveal everything but I wish for you to know something big could happen tonight.”
“If its Rorkon calling for an Ordo assembly, I do not doubt it. After this last failures, he must have something of consequence to risk his career.” He turned to the kasrkin as she nodded back, her hand flipping the safety on her hellgun.
“Whatever happens, will you stand by me?”
“Without a doubt my old friend. Rorkon is mad but he has many allies—it wouldn’t be fair if you were left alone!”
“Thank you Adam, I fear his hubris will take him too far today…”
Suddenly a loud ring shook throughout the room, the call for assembly.
“Emperor Protects Abahim.”
“Emperor Protects old friend.” As both moved to their preordained seats, companions in tow.
Phoebe’s seat was still marked ‘Baarneas’, another jab by Ravenmyre, but she did not let it distract her.
As she sat, Bellegymere remained perfectly still at her side, his red tinted goggles scanning each member carefully.
The lights dimmed leaving only a single spotlight in the center. A man stepped out of the darkness, Ravenmyre.
“Colleagues! Fellow Inquisitors! I welcome thee to to this majestic ballroom, a fitting place for those of our status dare I say. As agents to the Emperor himself, we are expected to be unflinching in the face of the Archenemy. Indeed our work is dangerous, many in this field have fallen to the very powers they have spent their lives chasing. It is an unfortunate reality of our world. However that does that mean we are allowed any mistake, any temptation, any ounce of corruption. Even my radical brother and sisters understand there are limits that must never be crossed—lest we never return.”
Lilith’s grip tightened on the chair’s arms, his every word was aimed directly at her.
“I do not seek to waste any more time than I must to everyone here, for we all have very important duties we must return to at once. However there is one matter of dangerous importance!
Following his cue, two of the waiters pushed a decently-large rectangle object hidden by a black drape aboard a set of wheels onto the center stage, side by side with Rorkon. They grabbed onto it and left it on the floor before leaving with the cart back into the darkness. The Inquisitor continued:
“Inquisitor Phoebe, may I ask a question of you?”
A another spotlight began shinning onto Lilith.
She sighed ‘this is it’, standing up from her chair, head held high as she answered “You may.”
Bellegymere stood still, only his cybernetic eyes twitching, searching for any threats.
“Correct me if I am wrong but you have gained a new member to your retinue in these two years.”
“Correct.”
“Where is that member now?”
She paused before responding, she could lie but knowing Rorkon, the odds he had Zareen in his clutches was extremely likely. She glanced briefly at whatever was being hidden by the black drape, her psychic sense tingling a feeling that sent shivers down her spine.
“Her location is currently unknown.”
Whispers began circulating around the room, Lilith felt the weight of their stares getting heavier.
“Oh? And why is that?”
“That matter is confidential.” She gambled that he had only found her—that he did not know exactly what had happened in the warp.
“Confidential? Interesting…”
Phoebe grit her teeth, beginning to expect the worse.
“Well then I hope whatever is confidential can explain this!” with a swift movement, he grabbed onto the drape and tore it away, revealing the cage underneath.
Inside was a broken, battered, bruised, and exhausted naked woman. Her eyes a scintillating amber, sharp talons in place of nails and a majority of her back was covered in a pulsing scar that glowed blue, its tendrils wrapped around the edges of her face, neck, arms and chest—some even stretched till below her breasts. She showed sever wounds all over her body, dried blood covering much of the woman. Feeling light sizzle on her skin, the broken Zareen painfully moved her head to look upwards, one eye swollen shut.
“I believe this is your missing member.” A sinister smile curling on his lips.
Phoebe corralled every emotion in her body to stop herself from immediately unleashing her psychic might onto Rorkon. The bones in her hands almost snapped as she tensed, swallowing blood that trickled from an open wound on her lip from a deep bite.
The room became filled with gasps and open conversations as members questioned what was before them.
“Now! How do you explain a member of your retinue becoming a corrupted wretch! Is that information still confidential?” as he kicked the cage, making the woman flinch and remain on the floor, trembling in fear.
With lightening in her eyes, Lilith’s voice boomed throughout the room, silencing everyone else. “You would dare touch a member of MY retinue?! Under Inquisitorial law, you have no right to torture her so! Regardless of your own personal feelings of pitiful revenge!”
Zareen’s eye turned towards Phoebe, she almost didn’t believe who stood before her. She tried getting up from the floor, dragging herself towards the edge, ever so closer to Lilith. No words came out of her mouth, her throat too weak to speak.
Seeing his ‘pet’ regain a sense of hope, Rorkon acted swiftly, activating the shock restraints. Zareen screamed in agony as she felt her body electrified once more.
“CEASE THIS RORKON.” Roared Lilith, her rage cracking through her professional demeanor.
“Oh? Are you protecting warp corruption now?”
“BEL.”
Instantly, a lone mechadendrite rose from under the techpriest’s robes and shot a powerful EMP from its tip. The wave traveled instantly as it hit the Inquisitor’s remote that controlled Zareen’s restraints, bursting into sparks in his hand—putting an end to the torture.
“You dare attack an Inquisitor?!” the man yelled back, holding his burnt hand.
“Oh now you care for decorum? You are a disgrace! Release her at once before another chair is removed from this assembly room!” Her heart booming in her chest, never had anger taken her so.
A trio of Inquisitors rose from their seats, running into the ring, twelve waiters followed in tow, now instead armed soldiers with dark carapace armor. The woman at the front of the pack howled “Inquisitor Phoebe, you are crossing a dangerous line! One more act of violence and you will be considered an enemy!”
“If a member of my retinue shows signs of corruption, it is my responsibility! Not a maddened fool’s! Your accusations are simply born out of jealousy and pathetic vengeance for Baarneas.”
“Simply jealousy? You are harboring a member of the Archenemy! You are nothing but a corrupted witch!”
“The only corrupted witch was Baarneas! You are unable to accept that one so close to you became so tainted! Your judgment has been clouded in childish hatred!”
“You lying hag!” Rorkon’s untouched hand fell to his side as he grabbed a laspistol. Bringing it to bear he aimed for Lilith and prepared to pull the trigger.
A las-shot rang through the room.
The laspistol melted and fell to the floor as Ravenmyre roared in pain.
Phoebe turned her head swiftly to Bellegymere but the techpriest showed no sign of weapon fire. Instead she spotted Abahim’s kasrkin’s barrel smoking hot.
“Kill her!” continued the pained Inquisitor but before his words even left his lips, his allies fell to the floor, precise shots having hit their spinal cords, bypassing the heavy carapace armor of the soldiers.
“[Zeta activated]” blurted out of Bel’s vox, three additional tendrils had spun out of his robes, revealing deadly smoking las-weapons.
The remaining trio of Inquisitors brought their hands up in defeat, shocked by the efficient brutality at display.
“No! Cowards!” yelled Rorkon as he took the knife at this hilt. “At least I will slay this wretch!” thrusting it at the cowering woman in the cage.
But not before feeling lightening course through his entire body as muscles tensed making the man drop his weapon and fall to the ground, convulsing in groaning pain. Once it stopped, he strained to look above him, Phoebe stood there, lightening arcing in her hand, ready to continue the torture at a moment’s notice. “Touch Zareen again and I will break every bone in your body. Am I clear?”
“You won’t get away with this!”
“I will, because unlike you—I follow the Lex Imperialis, rage does not blind my duty.”
Inquisitor Abahim walked up next to her. “I will take things from here.” He continued, elevating his voice to speak to the stunned assembly. “Colleagues, it appears the show is over. As much as everyone here wishes to return to their duty, we must address this time-wasting squabble. Unless someone is in opposition, I propose we excommunicate Rorkon Ravenmyre from this Ordo. A emotion-driven lunatic is not fit to wear the rosette, he has spent the last seven years trying to slander a real Inquisitor that has proved herself capable and professional. I can vouch for her lady’s diligent work in numerous cases, including her ongoing efforts to end the House Valenmour threat. Everyone in favor, raise a hand.”
A vast majority of the figures still in their chairs complied with the direction.
“With an overwhelming majority, I declare Inquisitor Rorkon Ravenmyre’s rosette is revoked!” Leaning down onto the man, he grabbed the rosette and tore it off of it’s chain.
“And with that, this assembly is complete.” He continued, figures leaving their chairs and making their way out of the room, wishing to return to important matters instead of a madman’s foolish revenge.
With the battle over, Phoebe dropped to the cage, sliding her hand into it and holding it to the shattered soul. “Zareen! It’s me, everything’s going to be alright now… you are safe. BEL!”
The techpriest moved to her side and with a swift shot of lasfire, melted the lock and opened the cage.
The tortured woman did not react, still trembling from the earlier shock.
She removed her hand and spun towards the opening, crouching herself into the cage.
“It’s me, I- I’m here.” Her voice crackling as crystal tears began to fall from her face. She finally saw the true extent of Zareen’s wounds, horrifying her.
Zareen slowly turned her head at the figure in her cage. “A-are… you… real?” words painfully exiting her chapped lips.
“Yes. I’m here Zareen.” A smile erupted out of the tears, relieved at her friend’s reaction.
“Za—reen.”
“Yes. We can go home now.” Phoebe extended her hand again, but this time the woman reciprocated with a bloodied hand of her own.
They backed out of the cage as Lilith helped Zareen through pained motions. Once she was out, the Inquisitor removed her coat and placed it upon the naked woman.
“Everything will be alright now.” She continued.
Zareen moved her head, putting eyes on Rorkon’s body. He was still conscious but unable to gather the strength to move, Lilith’s lightening had hit him very hard. Her eyes widened as she grabbed the blade next to him and leaped forward, bringing the weapon down and deep into the man’s chest. She stabbed him again and again and again as her scar flared violently blue, her talons almost breaking the knife’s handle, until finally she was tackled by a shocked Lilith. “ZAREEN NO! STOP!”
It was too late, Rorkon Ravenmyre breathed no more. His face portrayed silent shock with eternally open eyes as a pool of blood began to build.
The tortured woman lay there on the floor, staring at her bloodied hands—a deed finally accomplished. Finally.
As Phoebe stood up from the carnage, she muttered “Kark!” under her breath.
Abahim stood silently nodding to his colleague as she looked into his eyes, an understanding that what had transpired could be omitted from official records.
It was time to return.
Somewhere across the boundaries of reality, something smiled—and through endless teeth, words escaped its maw : “Welcome home my dear.” Followed by a bellowing laugh that tore itself out of bloated lungs.
As they walked off the shuttle’s ramp, none said a word. Phoebe helped the damaged Zareen walk down onto the hangar floor, her hands now covered in dry blood as well. Mirroring their previous arrival, only a single figure came to greet them, it was Sasin—for the Inquisitor had barred the others from joining, the newly returned pilot was in no condition to find herself surrounded… even by friends.
Lilith handed over Zareen, the latter her stare empty and exhausted, until the Magos Biologis touched her with a mechadendrite as it attempted to scan the woman. Reflexively she struck the tendril away with her palm, “Wh-ho are you?”
Phoebe’s gloves tensed as she took a deep long breath, calming her rising fear at her friend’s words. How long had it been in the warp? “This is Sasin, our medical techpriest, do you not—“
“It’s alright, I’ll take it from here” interrupted Sasin, “I will take care of you, do not worry.”
Zareen turned towards Lilith as if seeking confirmation to which the Inquisitor nodded—then followed the techpriest out of the hangar. As the two disappeared behind steel doors, the Inquisitor sighed.
“Worried for her mental?” voxed the remaining techpriest beside her.
“That and… you saw.”
“Yes—but if I may add, she still appears to be the Zareen we once knew; I do not believe in possession but instead she has spent too long exposed to the warp, based off preliminary examination and records.”
“Thank you for your comforting words Bel—but I am not sure you are entirely correct, I sense something missing from her, something consequential.”
“I see.”
“Either way we should move from here. You are dismissed Bellegymere, cut combat protocols.”
With a blurt of binaric, the techpriest’s demeanor returned to his usual reserved slouched nature, lenses glowing green. “100101 011001 101011 [Confirmed]”
The medical ward smelled of dried blood and alcohol. Zareen lay on one of the beds, eagerly awaiting release from the techpriest’s clutches. As Phoebe caught up, entering the room through the heavy bulkhead door, the pilot looked up to the only face she recognized. “How is she?” asked the Inquisitor.
“Healthy, most the damage is superficial—easily healed. I’ve already given her medicine that will swiftly heal her throat allowing her to speak. However for the… unnatural I’m afraid there is much I cannot do.”
The psyker stared at the woman’s tainted body—the sharpened teeth, avian claws, amber eyes, and her breathing scar… no longer a simple puncture on her neck. She sighed ‘one thing at a time’
“Are you able to speak fine now?” asking Zareen directly.
“Y-yes I feel my throat being born anew.”
“Good, I’m glad. I don’t want to take too much time since you probably want to rest but I have to ask—what happened out there?”
The woman looked downwards, reminiscing—nine decades of war…
“I—trained with Ag’Dresil as was my duty to you Lady. From dusk till dawn and dawn till dusk I fought without end. He would spawn creatures, xenos, daemons, and other Knights, offering infinite scenarios for me to learn. But—it affected me, I let it happen… I hadn’t noticed until it was far too late. By then I was dependent on it, it gave me power, strength… On the ninety third year I—“
Lilith unconsciously gasped at the mention of time, her heart sank. “S-sorry you can continue.”
“It really wasn’t that long” trying to faint a smile, lying to herself. “But as I said, on the ninety third year, Khamosh had found us. We were forced to do battle with the daemon until eventually it preferred to leave, citing that it wished to watch events unfold… That’s when Alekto and I were transported to this planet—and that’s where he found me…”
Phoebe hadn’t even taken the care to write anything down on a dataslate, far too invested in her friend’s tale. “Khamosh… you are lucky to be alive—“
“It wasn’t luck. Ag’Dresil protected me and… I believe it cost him dearly. I haven’t been able to hear him since…”
“You think he’s…”
“No, I can feel his essence in me, my scar pulses with recognition to his name—ever so slightly.”
“Then I would consider myself lucky to have not lost both of you.” She tried to smile as she took the woman’s bruised hands but Zareen instantly flinched away, reflexively expecting the stick.
“I- didn’t mean to.” The psyker’s voice was frail, she could feel the fear in the woman’s mind, her pain and suffering from the torture endured.
Zareen did not respond, simply holding her hands together close.
Sasin’s vox interrupted the awkward silence. “[Work complete] I will be moving to other tasks, if you need any assistance feel free to call over the vox.” One of her mechadendrites pointing at a small portable vox unit beside the bed. “Take care both of you.”
As the red robbed figure left, Lilith echoed the sentiment. “I’ll also leave you alone now, you probably want to rest—“ until she felt something tug at her coat as she tried to move away. She turned around to see what had been caught but it was Zareen holding onto her. The wounded woman simply shook her head, her eyes like a beaten dog—a Kyon.
“You want me to stay? I suppose I can put some work aside—anything for you Zareen.” Returning to to the bed, grabbing a chair and sitting beside her friend, she tried placing her hand directly onto the bed this time—letting the pilot reach out at her wishes.
“It… it was lonely. I tried to keep my promise, I tried so hard.” Tears began forming around the amber eyes, they had a soft glow to them. “But in the end… I forgot them all, every memory turned to dust to make place for more of… this” She stared at her hand, its claws razor sharp, some blood still stained under her nails.
“You remembered me—that’s already a lot.” Lilith smiled at the woman but tears of her own formed as well.
“I didn’t… I recognized the link we shared from when I pledged myself you.”
“Pledged?”
“It’s a Knight tradition, one must pledge their mind, body and soul to their lord, usually the monarch, and serve them until death. Ag’Dresil convinced me to do so since it would help my capacities immensely.”
“And so pledged yourself to me because I’m your Inquisitor.”
“No, I pledged myself to you because… I trusted you. I believed in your judgment of character, and…”
“And?”
“I do not remember exactly why but… I do know the words he spoke then: ‘What closer bond is there than love?’”
Phoebe became flustered at the choice of words but the dissonance of the situation came crushing down soon after as she stared into those deep amber eyes. It had been less than two days since Zareen left with Alekto, since that moment in her chambers—but on the opposite side, it had been ninety three years.
“Do… do you feel that love right now?”
“I don’t know. I’m afraid I barely remember much else about you.”
Lilith eyes became saddened with sorrow, that the person in front of her who was undeniably Zareen was equally so foreign.
Even without psychic powers she saw how pained Phoebe was at the words she had just spoken. “I do remember you like ramassine… I think?” Trying to lift the frail woman’s spirits.
“Dammassine.” Wheezed the Inquisitor slightly, snapping her mind out of dark thoughts.
“And… your room is very dirty?”
“Maybe that detail could’ve remained forgotten.” A chuckle escaped at the odd memories Zareen had kept, but still this was very important. As Bellegymere had mentioned, nothing had truly changed about the woman before her, the pilot’s mind was still very much the same that boarded Alekto before disappearing into the warp.
“Then… could you tell me about everything?” continued Zareen
“Everything?”
“Well maybe not hour by hour but—about us.”
“That I can but I might be a little biased on certain things.”
“That’s alright, I trust you Lilith.”
Another tear fell from the Inquisitor’s face, not out sadness this time but out of happiness at reuniting with someone far more important than anything the universe could conjure.
After several hours of back and forth, Zareen’s own exhaustion took its hold and the pilot fell asleep not long after, the first time in almost a hundred years. Phoebe let the woman rest as she got up and left the room, carefully closing the door behind her.
There stood two figures, Gastel was leaning against the wall while Talleia toyed with an auspex. As they saw Lilith emerge, they quickly bounced, asking in unison “How is she?!”
“How long have you two been here?”
“Two hours and twenty three minutes now.” Answered the Captain
“None care for that, what about Zareen?” followed the man.
“She is alright, her body will heal in time. Her head on the other hand will require a lot more work.”
“Emperor blessed us.” Sighing in relief.
“There is still… a problem.”
“Sasin told us of—her changes.” Added Talleia.
“No, no that. It’s her memory… She barely if at all remembers anything from before. That includes us.”
“Oh—“ the captain continued, Gastel remained silent, his eyes sinking to the ground.
“It wont be easy but… she is still Zareen, we can teach her again about everything that’s happened these past few years. She is eager to remember.
“Poor kiddo…” he muttered under his breath.
“Nothing a good drink of amasec can’t fix” added sarcastically Talleia.
“I doubt a loss of memories will make her forget how much she hates the taste of amasec.”
“It was simply a jest.”
“But… I wouldn’t mind a glass by the observation deck at this hour.”
“Well what happened to no drinking on the job?” quipped Gastel, shocked at the Inquisitor’s proposition.
“Consider ourselves off duty, exceptionally.”
“Then you are gladly invited, I think we all deserve a glass.” Ended Talleia, as they marched away in a rare moment of camaraderie with Phoebe.
As they arrived at the observation deck, the amber-hued stars shone onto the empty deck, the only light in the room. Talleia left towards the room’s port side to fetch a bottle and three simple glasse, giving one to Gastel and filling his glass.
“So that’s where you hid it.”
“Was that your plan Inquisitor? Lure us here to confiscate our stash?”
“It appears I have been discovered but please, call me Lilith here.” She chuckled slightly, letting her guard down.
“Zareen is rubbing off on you.” As the Captain gave the psyker a glass and poured the alcoholic beverage into it.
“Possibly.”
“Something else sure rubbed between you two.” As he downed his entire glass at once.
“Pardon?”
“Oh— that— was out loud. Uhm permission to speak freely?”
“You’re off duty Gastel, you don’t need my permission.”
“Right… Heh” chuckling with embarrassment.
“Spit it out soldier boy” continued Talleia
“Its just… I found it funny that…” He swallowed his saliva as the Inquisitor’s eyes peered into him, part of Lilith wished to shut the man’s mouth but it was already too late, and where was the harm in it…?
“Speak or you’re not getting a refill.” As the Captain toyed with the bottle, letting it roll on the bench by the armored glass.
“Well when Zareen passed by before leaving with Alekto, there was a distinct smell of almond.” Pointing to his nose as he mimicked trying to smell.
“Yeah so she had a taste of Lilith’s drink before, big surprise?”
“No like, specifically coming from her lips, not her mouth.”
Phoebe remained silent, looking down into the liquid in her glass at her distorted reflection, rotating it awkwardly. Gastel always had a distinctly good sense of smell, rivaling even Herculaar at times.
“Wait you mean—“ Talleia spun her head to look at Lilith, her mouth wide open in disbelief.
The psyker simply reciprocated with an awkward smile
“I— Throne am I dreaming?!”
“Before you lose it, can I have my refill now”
“YOU KISSED?!” as drops of amasec flew outwards in her exclamation.
“Its not that big of a deal…?” murmured Lilith, trying to avoid eye contact.
“Normally I don’t care, Emperor knows how many flings Gastel has had but YOU?! This is the greatest thing that’s happened since the invention of alcohol!”
“Careful you’re going to spill your glass!” yelled Gastel, trying to prevent a drunken disaster.
“Oops, sorry, I’ll sit down.” as she place her glass onto the bench and sat beside it. “But please! Details! Gossip! Anything!”
“Since when is my Captain into gossip?” wheezed Lilith.
“Since my academy days, you wouldn’t believe the underhanded deals that occurred… still it was a distraction from the crushing work.” She laughed reminiscing on her tough upbringing.
“Well… it really was just that. Call it a moment of vulnerability.”
“Details Lilith!”
The psyker clicked her tongue “I think I’ve said enough for one night.”
“A dagger to my heart… You are so cruel.”
They all began laughing in unison, a rare moment between Phoebe and her retinue.
As her eyes opened, she saw bloodied hands, claws dripping in blood as a metallic tang and a scent of ozone overpowered the air. Further at her feet lay a woman, her stomach gutted and exposed, the face was hidden behind a pool of blood.
Quickly she leaped backwards in shock, still staring at the hands of a murderer. In the distance stood a child, not more than ten summers old, she was wailing, tears streaking down the child’s innocent face.
Zareen recognized it as Bo, her final words echoing throughout her skull: “LIAR”
“No no it was an accident— I didn’t mean it!” plead the monster, guts became dripping from her claws, bile spilling outwards as they fell, the smell spiraling into her nose.
“LIAR, LIAR, LIAR” continued the child, with each word her face twisting and distorting until she resembled someone else, someone very familiar: a young Zareen, as she had been on Onerth.
The sprawled woman on the floor morphed into her own mother, still gutted as bile boiled away.
“This wasn’t me—no I didn’t—“
“Its all your fault—but thanks to being such a coward you have become your true self” Her younger self smiled impossibly, face distorting from cheek to cheek. “You are nothing but an abomination now.”
“No… I— I tried to stop it—“
“LIAR! You reveled in it, you let it grow, you felt its power!”
“No no, that isn’t me—“
“It is now! Accept it!”
Zareen remained silent, covering her ears with bloody hands.
“This isn’t the end, you have finally tasted true power. You understand what it costs to become someone who’s known true strength.”
“No no no…” she muttered, weeping.
“Now that you’ve seen the truth, embrace it! With such power you could’ve saved your family, you could’ve protected Onerth! Even now—if you continue this course, Lilith will die.”
“W-what?”
“Yes… the Inquisitor is fated to die… unless you grab this opportunity!”
“You lie! Scheming daemon!”
“Oh but I am no daemon, simply a caring family member… You can choose to head my warning or ignore it, Phoebe’s fate is in your hands.” With the words ‘family member’ the mimic’s face flickered for only a moment into a horrifying rival, Terhil.
“YOU! How would I ever trust a wretch like you?!”
“You wound me! Have I ever lied to you? Have I ever shown myself to be anything but honest? Or who told you the truth of your father? And who saved you and your precious Inquisitor from Antonius’ fleet?”
Zareen grit her teeth… she couldn’t deny any of his statements.
“I do not wish to kill you my dear, we are family! Now that that bird has left, I have no reason to hunt you down. I care not for the jewel in your Knight.”
“Family? That didn’t stop you from killing Antonius or Kurernias!”
“I did what I had to… even your father understood that. And if I must, I will not hesitate to end you too. Which is why I’m offering an alternative to this family butchery!”
“I would sooner die than to betray everything I live for.”
“Die, death, sacrifice, murder! It all gets so tiresome! Head my offer and you will live freely at my side. You will be immortal! You and Lilith will have a place in this galaxy, together—ignore me and you shall live separated forever by the the veil of death.”
“You may not have lied before but I have no reason to trust a backstabbing tyrant.”
“Then perhaps proof will sway your mind? Take this, a gift from the future.” The mimic handed her something into her hands, it was small, not too heavy but golden—a rosette. Even before she touched it with bloodied fingers, the item had its own blood. It was damaged on its side, a piece broken off—safe for its new scars, it was identical to Phoebe’s, down to the faint marks at the top from the Inquisitor’s own scratching. If this truly was her rosette… Lilith would’ve never parted with it willingly.
Zareen observed the object in shock, trying to find any sign that might disprove Terhil’s words. When she lifted her head, she suddenly found herself in the medical bed, sweating and panting.
“It was all just a nightmare…Throne.” She muttered to herself, until she felt something in her left hand. Shivers flew down her spine as she brought it in front of her—and as she opened her trembling hand, there lay the rosette, the exact same from a moment ago. An icy cold reminder of Terhil’s warning.
The elevator’s doors opened revealing Alekto’s hangar, its shape still encased in scaffoldings, as she walked out, Zareen’s hand shuffled in her pockets, touching the grim warning that Terhil had gifted her. Phoebe and Bellegymere stood by the giant, awaiting her.
“Feeling better?” asked the Inquisitor.
“A bit yeah, at least enough to try this.” The recovering pilot had asked to interface with the Knight, hoping perhaps then Ag’Dresil might return.
“Just don’t push yourself.”
“Don’t worry, I can do this.”
“Systems ready / [Alekto Cleaned] / Ready.”
“Thanks Bel.” Replied Zareen, already climbing up the ladder, eager to confirm her theory. “I’ll yell if something goes wrong.”
Lilith sighed and left for the armored viewing bay. Once on the carapace, she hit the hatch release and entered into the maw. As she jumped inside and sat on the throne, the familiar mechadendrite squirmed out of its sheath and dove into her implant. With the smell of cleaning agent, pain shot through her neck as her scar pulsed briefly a neon blue, voices began to echo in her mind, those of the ancestors—and yet none were coherent. Everything was a blur, with speech that made no sense she tried to focus on anything she could grasp.
Suddenly a deep mutated voice vibrated throughout the cockpit. “It is I you are looking for…”
“Ag’Dresil! You live!” She exclaimed
“N-not exactly.” His voice was pained, stunted.
“How so? What happened?”
“Khamosh’s power was far beyond mine, so much so that I’m afraid Alekto has been purged entirely of any trace of mine…”
“You mean—“
“Yes, I only live within you now. Connecting to the Knight was reinvigorated my essence slightly, but enough to speak once again.”
Zareen paused to think, pondering questions. “Was this your plan all along? Expand the corrupion within my body so the scar could grow and become a vessel for you?”
“No, trust me child. That I may live within you is only a fortunate side effect of your expanding power. Had we not been interconnected, I would’ve perished entirely…”
“I didn’t mean to accuse you in a negative manner… Without your unorthodox help, we both would’ve died to that daemon.”
“I appreciate we see eye to eye. Nevertheless I promise your body will always be yours to control.”
“Thanks. However… despite everything, I still don’t know if I am capable of facing Terhil.”
“Correct we cannot know—but I have confidence you are ready. You have the capacity to face him.”
She did not answer, unsure of the Griffin’s own words, but there was also a different proble; “And—my corruption, do you think its reversible?”
“I’m afraid not. Such a pact with the energies of the warp cannot be rescinded.
“I see…”
“I can however say it has gifted you with immense power. There is even more for you at your disposal, should you need it.”
“You mean to give in further? Cross the threshold at which the scar covers my body? I thought you said I wouldn’t survive that?”
“I did say such words but you can grown far beyond my expectations. I sincerly believe your mortal frame is capable of harnessing this power.”
“But that means I would no longer be human…”
“Correct.”
“I-I can’t, I’ve already failed enough… look at me.”
“I understand your resentment at such a metamorphosis but you must be ready for anything if you wish to defeat one such as Terhil, he who has no limits to how far he will go for power. Our enemy has tasted the same power you now wield—but where you resist, he feasts. The Rosette is not just a key… it is a trap.”
She stared at her hands—the blackened talons splitting her fingertips like rusted nails, the pulse of her scar throbbing in time with the Knight’s reactor. The smell of ozone and clotting blood filled the cockpit.
Ag’Dresl continued “I do not mean to follow prophecy—but I also do not believe Terhil has lied regarding the rosette.” His last words like a icy chainsword tearing through her. The nightmare…
“You… you know about it.”
“As I’ve said, I solely exist within you now.”
“I don’t want to believe him…”
“What other choice do you have?”
“Again!” She slammed her fist into the throne, the scar flaring white-hot. “No choice when my world burned. No choice when the Inquisitor took me. Now you say I must seek to become a monster? I don’t have another choice? Every karking time!
“I didn’t me-“
“I’m tired of not having a choice. Everything has always been the least of two evils… Kark this! I will make my decision based on my own feelings, it will be my choice.”
The ethereal being remained silent.
“There’s always another choice… always….”
The cockpit fell silent save for the drip of her blood on the throne – each drop sizzling through steel like acid through faith. As sharpened teeth pierced feeble lips, her words had crashed through the air
“Kark Ag’Dresil… You have to remember I’m still her.”
“I—“ pausing for a second. Once he had been the voice of reason to the corruption, but now with his own existence in peril, some things had been lost. “I apologize, I did not take into account the human aspect of our quest.”
“You mean my soul?” Zareen’s voice crackled “I’m the pilot, I’m human…. I’m still human… Through it all, it’s still me…” Her grip tightened on the controls, making the plasteel croak under her supernatural strength. “Every drop of this blood is still human…”
From behind the armored viewing bay, Lilith felt a conflict of emotions emanate from the Knight, unconsciously she gripped onto the console beside, her fingers spasming in sync with the pilot’s.
The throne’s machine-spirit wailed as her blood etched winged patterns into its plating – not the sacrifice Ag’dresil wanted, not the monster Terhil promised, but a third path written in fire and steel.
ViperVale 
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