Sigismund Himself Posted November 24, 2008 Share Posted November 24, 2008 The Governor stepped into the sleek craft, his face blank. The records indicated that the Inquisitorial ship had docked a week ago and yet the Inquisitor had only asked for his presence today. How much did the Inquisitor suspect? Had he noticed the Arbites missing from the capital? The late disappearance of the last head of the Imperial Cult on this planet? The stacked arms in the hands of certain PDF officers? The man had had a week to probe and the eyes of the Inquisition were sharp. It was no coincidence that the man had appeared merely a week before he planned to secede from the Imperium. He would have to be careful. Escorted by an impassive warrior whose biceps matched the size of his head, the governor entered a dark chamber. It took a moment for his eyes to adjust and spot the stout figure sitting at a table some meters away from the entrance. The man was bald and fairly tanned. His blue eyes examined the Governor closely, as if his appearance would be an indicator of heresy. His clothing was workmanlike, subtle touches identifying him as a man of power. Around his neck hung a simple chain, an Inquisitional symbol hanging from it. The small device glinted dully from the light coming from the doorway, its true power hidden. In front of the Inquisitor lay a chess board. The pieces and board seemed to have been carved from rock, each piece a masterpiece of craftsmanship. The Governor knew little of this ancient game but enough to see that the Inquisitor, playing white, was in an extremely strong position with little threat to his pieces but lots of avenues to attack the white. The Governor watched as a black piece moved itself across the board, unaided by any visible forces. Taking his attention from the Governor for a moment, the Inquisitor moved a white knight to counter the black rook's attacking move. On the world below, a solitary figure walked across the night streets. The PDF barracks lay in front of the diminutive man. Scanning the area for enemies, the abhuman disappeared over the wall. Minutes later, the figure reappeared back over the barrier before running down the street as fast as his stubby legs would take him. The barracks exploded in flame. Among the dead was a certain Colonel... "Welcome Governor," pronounced the Inquisitor, not bothering to stand to greet his guest. His eyes bored into the other man's, as if examining his very soul. The black queen moved to take the recently moved white knight. The Inquisitor seemed to take his time considering his options, before reaching out to threaten the black king with rook, taking a pawn in the process. As the small figure rounded the corner, he found himself face to face with a Chimera. "Oh, feth," was all that was heard as the Chimera continued on its journey to the burning barracks. As it turned the corner, the small figure sat up from the road. He coughed up blood and grimaced in the darkness. Taking a small device from his belt, the abhuman awaited extraction from the hostile city. Meanwhile, the Holy Father slept. His predecessor had met a mysterious fate, mainly as a result of the current Holy Father's machinations. As it often is, the betrayer fears betrayal the most and guards were posted constantly to guard the man. Yet none of them could stop a true man of faith. A ragged priest walked into the bedchamber, blood glistening on the hammer held in his hand. He was followed by a man wearing the typical garb of the Arbites. The priest gestured to the other man to stand guard outside. He now turned his full attention to the man in front of him. The Holy Father awoke and heard one word before dying. "Repent." Silence sat uncomfortably for the Governor, yet he would not let himself break it. He would not play the Inquisitor's games. Seemingly satisfied with the situation in the game lying in front of him, the Inquisitor broke the silence. His deep voice rolled over the Governor, its tone bleak and non-emotional. "I know of your plans for this world. Every single conspiracy, every whispered promise and every detail. The Imperium does not need another battle, Governor. I am willing to let you and your conspirators live, provided that this world remains the Emperor's. The slightest hint of rebellion will bring down the wrath of the Emperor upon you. The armies of the Imperium shall march upon Girant's soil and none shall be safe from them if heresy is discovered." The Governor stared back at the Inquisitor. He knew. There was no response to such accusations. So he did not respond. Denial would merely make him look foolish. The Inquisitor's tone hardened while the volume of his speech dropped as he continued. “You have a day to confer with your conspirators. I expect your decision to be communicated directly to me. Your choice, Governor. Damnation or salvation for this world of yours. ” The Governor nodded brusquely and retreated out of the chamber, like a whipped cur running from its master. He had not said one word in the exchange. Behind him in the room, the black queen silently moved back to support the threatened king. The Inquisitor almost smiled as he watched the piece eerily glide across the smooth black and white squares. Everything was to plan... “So Governor, do you acquiesce to my proposal?” inquired the Inquisitor. He faced towards the door from which the governor had entered. The stout figure did not rise from the board, seemingly fully occupied with the game in front of him. In his long fingers he rolled a white bishop between thumb and forefinger, considering his next move. The Governor fiddled with the rings encasing his thin fingers, which contained the only hope of his planet breaking free of the Imperium’s puritanical control. Twisting the sapphire that crowned the smallest ring, the Governor covertly levelled it at the Inquisitor’s face. This ancient weapon had been passed down through his family for centuries, being used in the fights among the noble families. Many a competing family patriarch found himself killed in his moment of triumph by the concealed weapon. The Inquisitor's bodyguard had not even bothered to screen him, merely checking for obvious sidearms or weapons. And now the man himself sat in front of him, seemingly oblivious to his imminent death. "This world wants freedom," the Governor whispered as he fired the miniature weapon into the face of the Inquisitor. The Inquisitor fell to the floor, the toxins taking effect within seconds as he gasped his last. The bishop that the Inquisitor had been playing with hit the floor with a clink rolling away from the table and the corpse beside it. The lean man sighed and relaxed, tension visibly disappearing from his lean frame. Perhaps his world would yet be free of the Imperium. All that had to be done was to dispose of the remaining fools that still believed in the festering corpse on the Golden Throne. Then true freedom would be his and the benefits associated with it. He made to leave before the Inquisitor's companions could discover the situation. Click The Governor froze as he heard the noise behind him. He turned to see the Inquisitor standing above himself. A double! The standing Inquisitor straightened from the board, his hand having just placed the white queen nearer to the enemy king. The Governor turned once again and frantically made for the door. His only weapon had been used and he needed to get out. As he took his second step, the airlock snapped shut, mere centimetres before his fingers. Then the Inquisitor spoke, anger evident in every word. “This world could have been saved. Blood did not need to be spilt. But you have chosen this route. I will carry out sentence as necessary.” The Inquisitor now spoke with a sonorous tone, the hatred crackling in his delivery like a whip. His eyes burned into the Governor’s desperate gaze. “By the power invested in me as an Inquisitor of the Emperor’s Imperium, I charge Governor Narif Silas Tarkin of Girant. Of consorting with heretics and traitors of the worst kind, I judge you guilty. Of harming the Emperor’s Servants, I find you guilty of three counts. Of conspiring against the Emperor and the High Lords, I judge you guilty. Of defying Imperial Authorities, I judge you guilty. The sentence is death. The method of execution is to be painful, to better cleanse the sin from the guilty. Time of execution is to be immediate.” He opened his palm, revealing the bishop that had been dropped by the double. Reaching over the board, the Inquisitor placed it so there was a direct line to the black king. The Governor knew enough about the game to see it was checkmate, the black player could not make another move to save his king. The Governor gasped as the fallen double rose from the ground, sloughing off the clothing that had concealed its form. A lithe figure clad in a clinging black body suit stood languidly at the Inquisitor’s side. The only thing that remained the same between the two figures was the head. As the horrified Governor watched, it twisted and morphed before his eyes, the lines of the face changing to a more effeminate configuaration. The eyes turned purple as the double drew a short dagger. “May the Emperor have mercy upon your soul, Governor Tarkin,” said the Inquisitor formally, not really sounding like he agreed with what he said. “For we shall not. M’Kerla, his death is to be painful. You may have six hours." M'kerla nodded and started forward, her steps light and her eyes bright. The Governor sagged against the door, the last vestiges of his composure beginning to slip. A kiss on his lips startled his eyes open to the unearthly purple gaze. A sigh emitted from him as the dagger found his hamstring, the pain washing over him like a tsunami. The last words the Governor heard were from the Inquisitor's disdainful mouth. "It was a simple choice." ------- Any thoughts or criticisms? This really the first short fiction piece I've written for 40k so I was quite happy with it, especially since I did it in a week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brother Barkus Posted November 26, 2008 Share Posted November 26, 2008 Nice read Sigismund, but where's the power armor? I joke, in any case I like the whole chess idea it's very symbolic as I'm sure you intended. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sigismund Himself Posted November 27, 2008 Author Share Posted November 27, 2008 Nice read Sigismund, but where's the power armor? I joke, in any case I like the whole chess idea it's very symbolic as I'm sure you intended. Writing about Space Marines becomes boring rather quickly, for me. So I choose to use an Inquisitor. Glad you like the chess battle controlling the events around it, I thought it would work well. Funnily enough, I got the inspiration for using chess from Octavulg mentioning a certain black and white joke... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brother Cambrius Posted December 4, 2008 Share Posted December 4, 2008 Brilliant Sig. I love the idea with the chess pieces. Checkmate indeed. :D So what will happen to the planet now? Exterminatus perhaps? Cambrius Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sigismund Himself Posted December 6, 2008 Author Share Posted December 6, 2008 I don't know what happens next. I may write more about the Inquisitor and the planet but right now I've got some other projects to work on :wub: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferrus Manus Posted December 9, 2008 Share Posted December 9, 2008 I don't know what happens next. I may write more about the Inquisitor and the planet but right now I've got some other projects to work on :P Do tell... Good piece of fiction, a well deserved win as well. The idea with the chessboard reminds me of the start of the Age of Empires II. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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