Secret War: Warhammer 40,000 by Ben Agar (reading eggs books TXT) 📖

Brutis' brow furrowed, and he pursed his lips. "Fair enough. The vehicle numbered two-two eight has been set aside for your transport."

Without ceremony, Castella, Darrance and Hayden nodded then started toward the stairway leading into the depot. I could hear Darrance mutter something about 'who died and put him in charge.'

I went to walk after them but stopped as Brutis said my name.

With a smile, Brutis dismissed everyone else then he and Wesley approached me. The Inquisitor's heavy footfalls clanged across the metal deck.

"You're good," he said bluntly. "I saw you and that Castella woman fight the daemons back at my base. You're good; I am indeed impressed. I've met many an acclaimed swordmaster who is twice your age but hold not even half your skill."

I stood, bemused by this sudden praise. "Uhh, thank you," I said hesitantly.

"Yeah, I would get you to join my band, but there's one small, tiny problem," he said, and his eyes narrowed. "I don't like you."

I frowned and realised I should've seen this coming.

"I know your kind, manipulative, scheming, arrogant. Smart arse little bastards like you I have no time for," he said on. "You may have everyone else fooled, but not me."

He clenched his jaw. "I know what you did up in Taryst's grotto. You led the conversation, made me have to confront you about your miraculous healing then because you knew your allies would stand up for you."

"I-I don't," I stammered.

Brutis shook his head. "Do not even attempt to deny it; I see potential in you, young man. But with those with potential, if they live long enough to live up to it. Can only be bad or good for the innocent people of this great Imperium. There is no in-between, isn't that right, Wesley?"

Wesley nodded. "Usually, I'd be averse to such black and white thinking, but in this instance, I make an exception."

Brutis smiled and turned back to me. "I really should kill you, but I am not sure I can and even if I did succeed. I'd then invite the ire of all the 'friends' you've manipulated onto your side."

His face turned grim. "All that I say, Attelus is this; don't make me regret letting you live. Because if you do live up to that potential and it is anyway harmful to this Imperium, to my Imperium of Mankind. I will hunt you down, and I will make sure you die the most painful death you can imagine. Do I make myself clear?"

All I could manage was a wide-eyed nod.

"Good!" he said, back to being friendly in the blink of an eye. "That is all; you better not keep your allies waiting any longer."

Again I nodded and drunkenly turned to walk away, not exactly sure what to make of that.

+He really sees straight through you, doesn't he?+ said Karmen.

"Shut up, Karmen," I growled as I began to descend the stairs.

It was early morning, five-thirty local time according to my wrist chron to be exact, and during this time of year, it should've been sunrise. Not that you can tell for shit with the constant smog covering the sky above in black.

Have I said I hated hive worlds already? Well, I do, whether they're Malfi or Scintilla or Solomon, I frigging hate them. I guessed growing up on a more liberal, progressive agri world like Elbyra would make one that way.

I stopped and swiftly, smoothly sidled into the shadows—one of my knives now drawn and clutched tightly to my chest.

Two figures emerged from around the next corner, mere shadows walking through the constant smoke.

I clenched my teeth and waited as they walked toward me, and it didn't take long for them to come into view. They were a pair of ragged, beaten locals sporting thick grey, wiry beards and wearing torn old trench coats. Dregs, scum, the lowest of the low, this was one of the few parts of the over hive their kind could inhabit. But something about them seemed off; they moved with a little too much confidence for my liking and looked too much to be the 'typical' homeless person.

I wondered just how many of the locals living around here were Edracian's goons in disguise. I also pondered if any had seen the 'Olinthre' scouts and reported it back to Edracian already. Not that it'd matter any, he already knew we were coming; he had to know.

One thing also gave them away; they weren't talking, only walked silently, surveying their surroundings with a subtle zealousness I couldn't help admire.

They didn't see me, though, as they passed by barely a metre as I crouched in the shadows.

Once they were out of earshot, I whispered, "Karmen? Can you read their minds?"

+No, I cannot,+ came her reply. +If I expended more power, maybe so. But I will be at risk of being detected then. Usually, it wouldn't take me so much; even when I'm at this far range, it would be a safe bet to say their minds are blocked.+

I smiled and shook my head. "Of course they are, oh how I love being right. By the way, I have a bone to pick with you."

+Okay.+

"If you can use your powers so far and so effectively from your body, why did you need to go to the Twilight bar at all? If you'd stayed behind, you wouldn't have fallen into Glaitis' trap."

She sighed. +That mission may have required my full strength; we didn't know exactly what we were going into and also...also.+

"Also, what?"

+Also, I was ordered to eliminate you and your three acquaintances once we'd secured Brutis Bones. That would've required my full strength, I am sure. I would be with you now if I could be.+

"Hmm, makes sense," I whispered, feeling unsurprised in all honesty; I had rejected Taryst's offer to join his organisation; that would've been my punishment if all had gone according to his plan. Good thing it hadn't.

"Tell me, Karmen, would you've killed me?"

She sighed again. +No, I would've tried my best to take you alive, I swear.+

I clenched my jaw, unsure whether to believe her or not. But without a further word, I was moving again, quietly but quickly and keeping low so my shade wouldn't show in the smoke. I had a printout of the map of the area in my pocket, but I didn't need it. My sense of direction, as innate as always, led me through the maze of hazy alleyways. Having to stop six times more to sulk in the shadows as more 'locals' passed by before I finally found my designated destination. I was allotted by Hayden, who'd marked it with an "X" on my map.

A three-story, old and long-abandoned restaurant, set in a 'T' junction as it met the main road. By and far not the tallest building that towered about, it was precisely why it was chosen.

I walked up, checking my sides while trying not to look too suspicious and st the door. Found it unlocked, and quickly I slipped into the darkened interior, silenced pistol drawn and raised in my right, a throwing knife in my lowered left hand.

The place was an utter mess, old torn ruffled paper browned with age laid scattered all around. Immediately a state of melancholy fell over me; the building would've been nice fifty years ago. Tables and chairs scattered everywhere, rusted, broken, beaten, turned over or against the walls. The air was thick with moisture and the strong stench of rot, making it hard to breathe.

Trying not to gag, I moved silently through the mess, careful to keep an eye out for anyone hidden in the shadows.

I ascended the wide, worn stairway up to the first floor, finding it much the same as the ground and the second. The third was much the same but had a large porch facing eastwards for what I'd cynically call the "view." I made sure to check every inch of every floor, the kitchen, behind the bar, everywhere, just in case. The odds of anyone being here were high; if Edracian could see the future, he could know I was going to be here.

But there was nothing, no sign that anyone had been near the place in months. I wasn't sure whether to like that or not. As quickly as I could, I set the invisible laser trip alarms, one at the front door, another at the top of the third story staircase and switched their signal to my comm link's channel. They were given to me from Hayden on the drive over, courtesy of Glaitis very' personal and very illegal arsenal. Of course.

Eventually, I ascended the staircase leading to the roof. Like every other roof in this hive, it was flat with a thick rockcrete buttress around the edge. But there were even more tables and chairs scattered about—the seven to eight-story buildings all around towering overhead like very tall, disapproving parents scolding a four-year-old.

I smiled at the terrible simile and crouched down near the west-facing wall allotting me a good view of Edracian's building, about a kilometre through the rockcrete forest. It was an excellent choice on Hayden's part, as it gave me a good view but not too good so that I could be seen. The Edracian's base was, as per the schemata, a big, grey, unappealing rectangle, but one I could admire; I was never a fan of anything overly ostentatious and fancy. I looked at it through my scope, activating the low light vision and could make out quite a few guards patrolling the wall and courtyard; I counted twelve on this side at least. All of them made no effort to disguise; they were carrying an assortment of solid projectiles and lasrifles and wearing armour.

"In position," I hissed over the vox.

"Good work, Attelus," Hayden's voice crackled. "Although I'm sorry to tell you, you're the last to get there."

I frowned, unsurprised but suspecting that none of the others had been so thorough in checking their areas. In this galaxy, paranoia seemed more a positive attribute than negative one. In some ways, anyway.

"What have you found?" he asked.

"About a dozen guards on my side," I reported as I panned my scope, checking if anyone was in the other buildings, I'd positioned myself where even those with the higher ground would find it hard to see me, but it was good to check, you know, just in case. "Eight on the wall, four in what I can make out in the courtyard. It seems Edracian has thrown out all discrepancy. All the windows have been boarded, and I can't see any signs of life in the buildings about."

"Encounter any "locals" on your way there?"

"Yeah, eight total, patrolling in pairs. Blatantly scouts. I'm surprised Edracian would allow such sloppiness from his peons."

"Or we're just that good," said Hayden, sounding uncharacteristically smug. "Did you take them out?"

"No," I said. "Killing them might've triggered some sort of psychic alarm or some such. Karmen also told me they'd been mind blocked, so it's pretty much confirmed. They're Edracian's goons."

"Good thinking," said Hayden, "great minds think alike and that crap. Alright, we've got three-quarters of an hour before the rest of the force arrives. We've still got to scout forward and check for traps and more patrols. Report back once you've done. Good work, and watch your six."

I smiled about to make a retort but said instead, "thank you."

"You're welcome, kid; just remember you owe us. You owe us big."

Then he cut the link.

"Fair enough," I sighed.

The attack came, surprisingly enough, straight on schedule. Two thousand total of Brutis' Hammers, Arlathan's Magistratum Enforcers and "Olinthre's" mercs advanced on Edracian's mansion-fortress from the north, south, east and west.

Using the intelligence gathered by my allies and me, they killed Edracian's scouts. I watched as they exchanged fire from the buildings around and listened to the comm chatter. In total, the scouts lasted a good ten minutes before they were finally overwhelmed and killed. We lost seventy-eight men, most of whom were Brutis Bones' goons; they only lost twenty-five.