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

activated my vox link and listened to the chatter. A captain named Helma had taken over from 'Olinthre' I could hear her yelling orders over the link, and much to my surprise, all three organisations were working well under her. They'd already taken the eighth floor, and the sixth was very near to falling.

All the elevators had been searched and activated now, and it turned out I was right; the only one trapped was the one we'd checked.

I couldn't help roll my eyes at that.

We finally found the elevators, and after Roldar exchanged a few words with the leader of the guard, we got on and began our descent.

"Torris said you did know everything," said Roldar. "Are you ever going to inform us of this shit?"

I swallowed. "It's uhh complicated."

"He's dead, isn't he?" said Jelket. "Taryst is dead."

Taken off guard, I couldn't help but flinch and share a glance with Arlathan.

"That's...Awfully presumptuous of you, Jelket," said Arlathan.

Jelket sniggered cynically. "So it is true, so for how long? How? Why? Who did it?"

He sounded disparagingly uncaring as he asked his questions.

"It's complicated," I hissed.

"Yeah, I bet," said Roldar bitterly, "and what makes you so damn special that you get to know all this shit? I've been in this organisation for twelve frigging years! Why do you get told this and not us?"

"I only know this 'shit' as you keep insisting on calling it because I went through 'shit' to find it out," I snapped. "I lost the girl I loved, I got the ever-loving shit kicked out of me I...I."

I exhaled, trying to calm myself. "I earned it; believe me, I frigging well earned it."

"You'll have to tell us how sometime in the future," growled Jelket.

"I'll make sure to write it into my memoirs," I said sarcastically. "Give you free copies when it's done. I'll make sure to write it in graphic detail, every kick and punch and splatter of blood because I'll surely remember it all in such detail."

"Why?" demanded Roldar. "Why did you keep it a secret? Why did you lie?"

I sighed. "Because in the situation I was in, I had no choice, Roldar. I didn't want to keep this shit a secret, but it was the best way to go under the circumstances. We had to; there was a mission we needed to complete."

"What? Taking down this Edracian, right?" said Roldar. "Didn't Brutis say he was an Inquisitor?"

"Him being an Inquisitor, doesn't that give you a clue that there's heavy shit at stake?" I hissed. "That Brutis Bones is also one too, doesn't that also add to it? You're a soldier; I understand that you don't think so much in the grey as I. But sometimes secrets need to be kept. If Taryst had bothered being truthful with you from the outset, then perhaps none of this complicated matter would've come to pass, and I wouldn't have been forced to lie. I apologise for it but do not regret it."

Roldar was about to open his mouth in reply when the elevator found the ground floor, and with a ding, the doors slid open.

Roldar and Jelket picked up my stretcher then moved into the foyer. Arlathan following just behind.

"Alright," sighed Roldar after a few long seconds of silence. "I guess I kind of understand. But you will tell us eventually, right?"

"Yeah," I said and meant it. "I will when the time is right."

Roldar briefly looked over his shoulder, and he clenched his jaw, which said, why not now?

I just pursed my lips and shook my head.

 

 

For a good ten minutes, we again carried on in silence as I continued to fight to get my limbs moving and listened to the vox traffic. We were doing well, the sixth floor was just taken, and only the seventh remained.

It was Jelket who broke the silence, "so, Attelus, where are you from?"

I sighed, small talk, really? But still answered, "Elbyra, a small agri world bordering the Halo stars, you?"

"Archaos," said Jelket. "Was in the Archaosian 39th as a heavy weapons trooper before joining up with Taryst."

"How'd you get out?" I said, thinking that talking about this might help with any reservations the Mercenary might have about me, also hoping his backstory wasn't as tragic as Olinthre's and Garrakson's.

"Saved up my pay and bought my way out," said Jelket. "Took me a good twelve years but got there eventually."

I frowned; twelve years? How old was he anyway? Signing age was eighteen (on most worlds anyway); he must've been at least thirty but seemed much younger. He could've lied about his age, though.

"Colonel Barhurst recruited me only a few months after I left," Jelket said on. "Been with the organisation for a year, now."

I nodded absently, barely listening, being still on the vox.

"Yep! Working for Taryst was a pretty sweet gig," said Jelket. "Good pay, mixed with pretty easy-going work. Not getting shot at was pretty good, until now, of course where I've been shot at more times in the past six hours than I have in an entire year."

"Uh-huh," I muttered while changing my link's channel to hear what squad twenty-three were up to; they were on the forefront of the fight, battling with a group of Brutis Bones' Hammers in a large recreation room.

"I've also killed more times in the last six hours than in six months!" he said. "Lost count after seven, even managed a few good headshots. With not much time fighting, I've been putting a lot of hours at the shooting range and..."

Anger suddenly overtook me then, and I snarled, "yeah! Thanks for reminding me how much of a sweet time you've had doing nothing while I was busy fighting and constantly killing over the past few months, and by the Emperor, you can blabber on, can't you?"

Jelket flinched. "Yeah, sorry, I'm just not good with long silences."

Roldar snorted. "Tell me something I don't know, try working guard duty with this frugger," he said in good humour. "Running his mouth off seems to be one of his only talents."

"Hey!" said Jelket with feigned hurt. "I resent that statement; I've got tenth highest accuracy rate at the range!"

Roldar sighed. "Yeah, I know; I know you've only told me that two hundred times now."

"What's your accuracy rate, Roldar?" I asked, finding all of this very amusing.

"Fifty-sixth, last time I checked," Roldar replied hesitantly. "I'm more of a close-quarters guy myself, give me a lasgun on full auto at medium to short-range, and I'll fry 'em before they can think."

Not me, though, I thought with a smirk.

"What's Attelus' rate?" asked Arlathan, causing me to crane my neck up to glare at him witheringly, and he just smirked back.

Jelket shrugged. "I don't think Mr swordsman here's been at the range enough to get one."

"I only logically need to go once to get an average, Jelket," I sighed. "It's based on averages, right?"

"Well, I've never seen you on the record," said Jelket. "And I've looked way, way back."

"How far back?" asked Arlathan.

"Past the three hundred mark," said Jelket.

"Ooooh, not even close," said Arlathan as he inhaled sharply. "That's gotta hurt."

"And what's yours?" I snapped. "Surely the Magistratum keep records for their practice range?"

Arlathan grinned and shook his head. "Sorry about this, kid, but I'm seventh at the range and first at hand to hand."

Roldar let out a long whistle. "Nice! How'd you manage that?"

"Yeah, well, I can dodge bullets," I stated before Arlathan could reply.

There was a long moment of silence.

"Grox shit," said Roldar.

I opened my mouth to argue but abruptly shut it, thinking better of making them believe it.

"Yeah, sorry, just wanted to win this pissing contest," I said.

"And that is exactly what it is," said Arlathan.

"Can you move now?" asked Roldar. "We'd appreciate it if you could; I'm getting a bit tired of carrying your stretcher around."

"Stop," I said. "Let me try to get up."

Roldar and Jelket did as told.

Slowly, shakily I sat up and slipped off the stretcher. It took me a good few minutes, and when I was finally on my feet, I almost lost balance entirely. It was only because Arlathan stopped me that kept me from falling on my face.

"You alright?" asked Arlathan, and I replied with a nod.

"I just frigging hope this doesn't happen every time she uses that shield," I muttered through clenched teeth as Arlathan stepped back, and I began slowly walking on, struggling for every step.

"What?" said Jelket.

"Nothing," I sighed. "Don't worry; I said nothing."

"But you said something," said Roldar.

I just grimaced, shrugged and placed my forearm against the wall for support as I walked.

"Let's just move," I growled. "Anyway, Roldar, where's the rest of your squad?"

Roldar shrugged as he fell in step with me, showing remarkable patience at my slow pace.

"Our squad were ordered to guard the elevator controls along with some of the Moody Hammers, but we got a call for help, so me and Jelket went to help," said Roldar. "left Halick in charge. Shit! If I'd known we'd have to haul your sorry arse back, I'd have sent him and Jelket instead."

"Gee, thanks," said Jelket sarcastically.

I smiled. "I appreciate the help, I do. If you want to, you can head back to rejoin your squad now. We can carry on from here."

Roldar shook his head. "Nope, sorry, we're staying. We've got our orders, and despite you being a snarky, paranoid little shit, you're not too bad."

I didn't reply to that; I just furrowed my brow at the backhanded compliment and carried on.

 

 

It took us almost half an hour to reach the exit. In that time, I listened to the comm chatter as Jelket and Roldar always talked, their dialogue mostly consisting of good-natured teasing. I couldn't help be impressed by their wit, trading barbs back and forth with surprising speed and regularity. Jelket was exceptionally quick and witty; despite Roldar being his senior, it made me smile. It was obvious they were true comrades and good friends; it made me want to laugh; it made me want to cry again.

A thought had occurred to me as we walked, and I'd turned to Arlathan.

"Shouldn't you be with your men?" I asked.

Arlathan shook his head. "I've left my second, Delyth, in charge. He knows what he's doing; they'll do fine without me."

I'd frowned; his tone implied Arlathan believed he'd do better without him. It was obvious his confidence had taken a hit since the daemon attack, but perhaps even worse than I'd first thought. I almost felt sorry for him, but it seemed he was re-thinking his attitude; perhaps it was for the better.

We'd just walked through the guards at the west exit and were headed toward Arlathan's Magistratum command truck waiting for us in the courtyard when I heard the call over the vox, the last of the hostiles were reported killed. Funnily enough, it was Verenth who had the honour, despite his injury.

We were in the truck when we got the call over the vox; all of our commlinks beeped and showed a call on channel fifty-six. We shared silent glances and quickly tuned in.

"What's this about?" growled Roldar.

"It's probably Brutis Bones going to make some uplifting, awe-inspiring speech about our victory," I said cynically. "If you can call it that."

Jelket frowned. "Then what else would you call it?"

For a few seconds, I thought on that, with the buzzing of the active vox in my ears as I tapped my index finger on my sharp chin absently.

"A single small step," I said. "A single, minute step on a road as long as this galaxy's length, one which I'll continue on walking, even if it eventually kills me."

I wanted to say. 'Even if it kills me a thousand times,' but wisely refrained.

Roldar and Jelket shared glances.

"That was awfully poetic of you, Attelus," said Jelket. "Do you think you'll make it to the end of that figurative road?"

"Yes," I said with a smile.

Roldar furrowed his brow and opened his mouth to respond but stopped as Brutis Bone's voice abruptly burst into our ears.

"This is Inquisitor Brutis Tybalt of the Ordo Hereticus, and I address all of you today