This is the Liber Astartes, PART II

[Olis]

The Colrous finally gets a name! Shock and horror!

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It was all perfectly laughable. To be brought down by these unbelievers was tragic bordering on hilarious. The Colrous considered his current predicament – chained to the front of the Scrap Predator alongside his protégé with the band of Dizzyeyes now lurking nearby in the shadows. So he was to be bait. That much he knew. Just exactly for whom was still a valid question, but he had his suspicions.

“Fancy meeting you here.” Cutup, looking away from his master, piped up. It was an admirable jest, but still one lacking nuance and subtlety. The Tenets could wait. His novitiate was about to speak again but was interrupted by a voice. The deep, rich baritone of the Colrous’ master.

“Be silent, whelp.” The voice emanated from inside their own helms, but did not issue through any of the comms channels. It took Cutup by complete surprise and he immediately looked to his right, wondering whether the astartes next to him was the source.

“Master!” The Colrous harshly whispered. Those unfaithful alternates could still be close enough to eavesdrop. “I had given up on any ability to contact you, how are you able-”

“You can be silent, too, Comedius. Now listen.” The use of his protégé name, one that had remained unspoken since his elevation to one of the Colrous, bestilled his tongue. “Put an end to this reality or our own will perish. I have not only seen this, but it is happening as we speak. That device I gave you,” Comedius looked at the pouch still attached to his waist, “will close this unfaithful reality. Just get it into contact with its counterpart.”

“It will be done, Master.” The Colrous muttered. No reply answered him.

“Comedius?” Asked Cutup Cormac.

“You are not worthy to use that name.” The Colrous growled menacingly.

“Colrous?”

“Yes, novitiate?”

“What is that?” It was a good question indeed – a rippling fracture in time hovered directly in front of them, the scene beyond a moving, cacophonous picture of battle. Things went from the sublime to the ridiculous. This must have been his Master’s doing, it had to be. Or perhaps it was part of the greater Cosmic Joke?

Cutup could be seen crawling out of sight, beyond the remit of the fracture, with the Colrous limping backwards behind him, presumably facing a foe. His serpenta spat red energy repeatedly, even as the fracture began to close. Almost too late did this future Colrous turn. He looked directly at his past self, the Colrous in the now, still in chains.

The portal closed, winking out of existence in front of them all with little more than a wet pop. A ray of red energy, defying space and time itself, leapt out of the fracture on the point of closure. It struck a chain link, vaporising the metal and scoring the hull of the Predator. They were free. Free. Free enough to realise that the Dizzyeyes were now bringing their weapons to bear again. This would be difficult without his ordained Mace and its supposedly unique means of teleportation. Even more so without his serpenta, or one of his arms.

Cutup crawled into the lee of the Predator as bolt fire and balls of plasma flashed their way. The Colrous took a round to the chest plate that staggered him and tore a chunk out of his battle plate. The lee of the Predator seemed wise for the moment.

But not for long. Within moments Wolf Dizzyeye had bounded from the prepared ambush cover to the battered vehicle, which itself looked like it was on its last legs. Rounding the front of the tank, the Wolf prepared to strike down his nearest foe with his captured Mace. The irony didn't escape any of them. Comedius had anticipated the move - he had even judged which side of the Predator the Wolf would emerge simply by listening to the crashing ceramite footfalls of the erstwhile marine. With his arm raised to strike and his body at full stretch with motion, he couldn’t prevent the Colrous from jamming a length of rigid plasteel piping stripped from the engine into the soft, exposed neck armour of his battle plate. The Wolf went down as if pole axed. Vital, rich fluid escaped through the holes in the neck armour – out of the entry and exits points. Wolf Dizzyeye spluttered and wretched as blood filled his throat and lungs. His windpipe and his jugular had been pierced. There was a good chance his spinal column was damaged too. It mattered not. The Colrous crushed his head with a coup de grace, taking back his prized Jester’s Mace. The act was accompanied by a titillated giggle. Don’t kick the puppy, he mentally sung to himself. He kicked the corpse anyway.

Cutup hefted a chainaxe from inside the vehicle, using its unconventional air conditioning to retrieve the weapon.

“Why didn't you just use this?” He said, claiming the plasma pistol from the dead Wolf. The Colrous briefly turned before blinking towards the remaining Dizzyeyes.

“Do you really need to axe?”

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Legionary Olis, along with his ad hoc squad, came upon the scene none too soon. The Predator appeared to be in working condition but on closer inspection revealed parts of the front melted and vaporised from plasma fire. They’d be lucky if it was still capable of moving.

Amongst the crates and the detritus in the vicinity two pairs of astartes away blazed at each other, all bar one moving just as quickly as the intervening cover was destroyed.

“Is that... me?” Ventured Dizzyeye, as a red bolt struck Ghost Dizzyeye square on. It wasn't enough to kill him but he was clearly injured. Smoke and ash drifted from his damaged armour. His own shot winged Cutup, doing little more than flay away some ceramite.

“Indeed it is.” Azure Ace said. The other Ace was too busy rummaging inside the Predator to answer. Colourful, if creative, swearing could be heard from the interior.

“And look who they’re fighting...” The Legionary pointed. Across from them and now using his own serpenta again, the Colrous blinked from place to place, proving a next to impossible target to hit. His Mace was slung on his belt, with the Colrous activated it as best he could between shots with his one good arm. Cutup Cormac was handicapped by his missing leg – a load-bearing column served adequate cover for him. As Olis and the promethean made to move in support of Ghost Dizzyeye, Future Dizzyeye spotted them. They were both driven back with well placed bolt pistol shells.

Caught between a rock and a hard place, there was little Future Dizzeye could do. It was time to affect a withdrawal. The objective would have to wait. As the Dizzyeyes moved away from the firefight, the Colrous realised that the Legionary was back, along with his techmarine. There seemed to be more in his group now than there was before. It was time to leave. A hatch provided a good egress point. Cutup went first, barely managing more than a crawl – he was badly injured. So was the Colrous, if he was fool enough to admit it.

A nagging feeling crept over Comedius as he covered his protégé, one his Volkite beams striking Ghost Dizzyeye true. Even as the marine toppled, his chestplate finally burned asunder and the torso underneath reduced to little more than carbon and ash, the Colrous turned. The fracture. One opportunistic shot was all he needed. Instead of striking the Predator in the now, as it looked like it would, the beam vanished, passing through the event horizon of the temporal anomaly. No paradoxes today, thankyou. The hatch was secured shut long before their pursuers closed the distance.

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You can keep that bolter Ace! My Cormac now has a plasma pistol and your chainaxe.

Edited May 3, 2014 by Olisredan
Typo! Kill it!

[Ace Debonair]

Oh, it is on.

I already know how the rematch must end.

I'm not sure what just happened at the end of your story, so I'm about to go on a tangent.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

The squad was still making sense of what had just happened - not least of all why there were a flock of Dizzyeyes around, bickering over who was in charge now - when there was a crashing noise from the adjacent hangar, and the wall burst through.

This wasn't a ramshackle Predator - this was the real thing, it's white paint and black trim scratched from centuries of war. It aimed it's lascannon at Madwolf and fired even as the sponson heavy bolters took aim at the other Liberites.

Madwolf, however, with commendable speed, was already diving for cover, and the shot missed him by at least a sixteenth of an inch.

Before anyone could adapt to the new arrival, a squad of marines rife with mutations, looking for the most part like a combination of man and scorpion, rushed through, surrounded by the sickly glow of the Warp. They chanted praise to Horus and Tzeentch, and threw themselves at the assembled Liberites.

In the ensuing melee, nobody noticed a sorcerer, clad in twisted and burnt red and black plate, appear by the Colrous.

"Brother." The sorcerer said, his voice a hoarse whisper that fell on the ear like a knife under the skin.

"Who are you supposed to be?" Cutup snarled.

"For now, your salvation. Your Master has need of you both yet - your chance for revenge will come soon."

The sorcerer, unnoticed in the melee, summoned up a portal and stepped through. The Colrous and Cutup, after exchanging a glance, followed.

The Predator managed to laser one of the alternate Dizzyeyes in the torso, but not before he managed to hurl a grenade into a cluster of the scorpion-marines that were still surging out of the hole.

Legionary Olis and the Promethean were acting as snipers, picking their shots carefully as the other Liberites engaged the enemy in brutal melee. Ace, still in the predator, struggled to get his improvised tank to start - if nothing else then to use as cover for his brothers. Azure Ace and his quad-bike zipped about, firing shots into the mob then moving again, always staying just out of reach.

Madwolf managed to cut a claw off one of the scorpion-marine's arms. Pushing the wounded enemy back from him, the Hound grabbed the severed claw and rushed toward the enemy Predator. Ducking around the side of the tank, Madwolf jammed the claw into one of the heavy bolter barrels before leaping away. The sponson weapon misfired, shattering the barrel and rendering the weapon unusable.

Dizzyeye found himself taking cover alongside one of his alternate selves. The two Dizzyeyes fired round after round into the approaching scorpion-marines, and while each shot took it's toll on the encroaching forces, there still seemed to be more than two dozen enemies, besides the tank to deal with.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

"Brother?" The vox crackled. "Are you alright?"

Aximus pulled himself upright, picking a few bits of shadow-creature off his chainaxe. A humourless smile spread across his face as he responded.

"Iron Warden superior, xeno threat inferior. En route to claim the device."

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Much as I liked seeing the Colrous fight the Dizzyeyes, he's got more of a part to play just yet.

Also, Cutup's gonna need all his limbs for the rematch.

[helterskelter]

In all the confusion of battle, helterskelter had managed to escape the situation, unnoticed and unscathed. But for all his luck, rage dwelled within him. The foul reek of warp things had permeated the air. Although his legion turned from the imperial way, following them into hell was certainly not on the agenda.

"I will destroy the warp filth, one way or another." as he skulked back to the darkness

[Astus]

More heretics to kill! That's fine with me.

 

Although, I think we might be forgetting what's going on elsewhere...

 

+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

 

In a dark corner of a truly massive hangar, a faint crackling noise started.

 

It grew louder, and then a circle of shimmering blue light appeared.

 

A warrior who seemed to be more machine than man stepped out of it.

 

The crimson armoured Astartes scanned the area with his bionic eye.

 

Satisfied that there were no current threats, he opened a comm channel.

 

'Prometheus to base, beachhead is clear. Send the rest of the team.'

 

He stepped away from the portal, and another mechanised Astartes arrived.

 

The new arrival also opened a comm channel.

 

'Aquilus to base, transition is complete. Awaiting orders.'

 

There was a brief burst of static.

 

'Base to strike team, begin operation immediately. The Speaker of the Code will join you when contact is made with the target.'

 

'Affirmative. Prometheus out.'

 

The portal shimmered once more and closed.

 

'Sergeant, who is our target?' the one known as Aquilus asked.

 

'A native of this universe who holds the key to our salvation. The Moderati known as Olisredan.'

[Dizzyeye01]

Well it looks like someone is gonna have to take care of that tank

+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

Dizzyeye looked to his future self, peeking out of cover to gun down another mutant with Madwolfs' pistol, "So you're-"

"Yes, no, no and no, no time to explain."

"How did you-"

Future Dizzyeye sighed at his past self, using the future version of the same pistol to put another mutant down, "Do you really need to ask?" Dizzyeye shrugged, reloading his pistol. Future Dizzyeye scanned the area, seeing the fallen Ghost Dizzyeye and spots his volkite, patting on Dizzyeyes' shoulder to have him move with himself. Ducking and diving through cover, the pair slowly make their way to the fallen weapon, taking out a few mutants as the battle rages on.

"How many of us left?" asked Dizzyeye

"Just us."

"Just us?"

"Apart from Meatshield Dizzyeye, he just can't die it seems."

"Ho-"

"Ask that question one more time and I might just kill myself." sighed Future Dizzyeye, grabbing hold of the volkite at last. He mag-locked the pistol on his leg, taking a breath behind cover with Dizzyeye close behind, who seemed to have picked up Wolfs' frost sword along the way, "You get past this, even if I die here me." said Future Dizzyeye before rising out of cover. A blast from the ancient weapon seared through the barrels of the lascannon mounted on the predator. The mounted heavy bolter replied back, cracking the future Liberites' armor several times before he could return to cover, wounding him. The predator made its escape through the wall it entered through, leaving the rest of the mutants to be slaughtered by the Liberites and running over Meatshield Dizzyeye.

Only one Dizzyeye remained unwounded. His future looked really bloody. Literally.

+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

That clown is going down Ace, even if I'm sacrificing my future

[Astus]

The Promethean was amazed at persistent the scorpion-marines were.

 

The Liberites had killed at least two score of the mutants, yet they keep coming.

 

'Filthy mutants refusing to die like heretics should,' he growled.

 

The Librarian and Legionary Olis had been picking off mutants with their volkites, and still the mutants kept coming.

 

'Ace better get that scrap Predator working soon, we need it quickly,' said Legionary Olis to the Promethean.

 

The Promethean's face lit up.

 

'I've got an idea, cover me.'

 

The Librarian suddenly ran towards the largest clump of mutant marines, and then stopped a few feet away from them.

 

He spread his arms wide and brought his hands together in a loud clap.

 

The resulting shockwave threw a number of the mutants against the walls.

 

The Promethean pulled out his force sword and started to slash at the last scorpion-marines in the vicinity.

 

A rumbling noise sounded nearby.

 

Ace's ramshackle tank opened fire with its rickety sponsons, gunning down some of the mutants near two Dizzyeyes.

 

The tide had turned.

 

+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

 

In a massive hangar deep within the Liber Culinarum, two hulking Astartes stomped through the darkness.

 

'How can we find this Olisredan?' Aquilus asked.

 

'One of our own is with his group, when we are closer, I will contact him.' Prometheus answered.

 

Before Aquilus could reply, a large pack of shadow creatures charged towards the pair.

 

Aquilus started cycling the barrels of an assault cannon built into his arm, while Prometheus powered up a built-in plasma cannon.

 

As the shadow creatures ran closer, the hulking Astartes opened fire.

 

Dozens of the beast were killed in a matter of seconds.

 

The survivors halted, seemingly having second thoughts about attacking, but it was too late.

 

A heavy cog-headed axe slid into Aquilus' hand, and Prometheus activated a heavy flamer.

 

The last handful of shadow creatures didn't stand a chance.

 

The battle over, the mechanised Astartes strode deeper into the hangar,

 

Several minutes later, they halted.

 

A black-armoured marine carefully stepped forward, pointing his boltgun at them.

 

'Are you friend or foe?' Reyner asked.

 

'You could call us allies, for we also wish to stop the breaches,' Prometheus answered.

 

'What are you talking about? Who are you?' Reyner asked.

 

'The tears in the fabric of reality that could cause the destruction of the multiverse,' Prometheus replied.

 

'I am Annihilator-Sergeant Prometheus, and this is Brother-Annihilator Aquilus. We are members of the Legio Argentus, defenders of the Omnissian Empire.'

 

+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

 

Well, that's some of those mutants dead, now to deal with the rest.

 

Reyner, you've finally got some company.

[helterskelter]

i had the potential to reap a tally. but i think my post where i bumped into azure ace was too subtle. so now i skulk in the dark not doing much til i feel like killing warp filth in the most night lordy way possible :p

[Ace Debonair]

So I've just thought on, I have neither any further plans nor identity for the sorcerer in my last story.

Anyone wanting to take a turn at being a Chaos Sorcerer can claim the role. it's all good.

Helterskelter: There's always that enemy tank that just retreated. It's got one working gun, and presumably a pilot who won't be expecting you...

Dizzyeye:

I don't mind you getting another shot at the Colrous, but there's not much heroism in taking him down when the odds are 20-1 in your favour, and less so when he's missing an arm.

An enemy with that much personality deserves a proper showdown. The time will come, just be patient.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

The improvised Predator ground to a halt with finality, it's engines cutting out entirely. The emergency power had been used up - no amount of pleading with the machine spirit would get the tank working again without first finding a power source. Ace swore with much gusto and scrambled for the exit before one of those nightmares dropped in to get him. Popping the hatch open, he was in time to see Dizzyeye dragging another, badly wounded Dizzyeye over behind the tank to use as cover.

Madwolf and Legionary Olis were back-to-back, combat blades clashing against the claws and bizarre armoured tentacles of the scorpion-men. Olis threw his spear into one of the foe as they rushed up behind the Promethean, who ducked into cover alongside Dizzyeye. Azure Ace was knocked off his quad-bike by one of the scorpion-creatures, which leapt at him as he turned sharply to avoid crashing into the tank. Azure Ace took the fall well, rolling to his feet as the creatures smashed apart his quad-bike and it's assault cannon.

Ace pulled the weird cube that Azure Ace had given him loose from it's mag-locked place on his leg. It sprang open, snapping into place as a two-handed, single-headed power axe.

Dropping down alongside Dizzyeye and the Promethean, Ace rushed forward in defence of his alternate-universe self, but he was knocked to the floor by yet another of the relentless scorpion-marines.

Azure Ace reached around behind him and pulled loose a curious device. IT resembled two thick, short sticks, one of which had a small generator at the bottom. The sticks were joined by a length of chain. Keeping hold of the stick with the generator at the bottom, Azure Ace let the other fall free. It crackled to life as the chain unfurled, a deep, thunderous crackle that belied the relatively small size of the weapon.

As the first scorpion-marine leapt at Azure Ace, screaming hatred and claws spread wide, the techmarine brought the sticks around in a blur, smashing the scorpion marine aside like a man swatting a fly.

Dizzyeye shot the scorpion-man attacking normal Ace, who promptly scrambled to his feet, muttering to himself:

"You've got to be kidding me! Thunder Nunchuks? That was my idea!"

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

I'll let someone else finish the fight, I just thought I'd introduce the Thunderchucks.

[Olis]

Calling dibs on the Sorceror. Also calling dibs on getting us past these damnable scorpion-marines. Consider this post a placeholder.

[Dizzyeye01]

@Ace: Totally fine with that. I've got my own problems than going on with the clown hunt, ya know, saving my future and all ;)

[helterskelter]

The considerable benefit to not being noticed was, most definitely, that no one knew you were there. Especially not retreating battle tank under fire. The scorpion men engaging marines of all colours was also a suitable distraction.

"Well it hand to end sooner or later" helterskelter breathed aloud.

He snuck from the shadows and clambered on top of the tank. Maglocking his chain glaive to the tanks surface, he plucked a blind grenade from his belt, and opened the cupola on the turret. Dropping the grenade inside, he blinked off the optics on his helm and chased the grenade, clanking on the deck as he landed. Both occupants, both suitably blinded, flailed impotently as they wished their vision to return. Unsheathing his serrated combat blade, helterskelter plunged it into the neck of the first he reached, ripping outwards, and bathing evetything in a shower of blood and gore.

He turned to the second occupant and backhanded the creature into it's seat.

"I wonder, do I wonder, do you know what fear is?" And helterskelter flicked on the vox amps.

The raging battle seemed to stall for the briefest moment, as both sides heard a predator screaming.

[Astus]

So, while we wait for Olisredan to deal with the current situation here's something to fill in some time...

+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

The shadow beasts still wouldn't leave him alone.

The Infernal Promethean had lost count of the number of packs he had slain, let alone individual beasts.

'Are there no worthy foes here?' he bellowed.

The champion of Khorne had not met any intelligent beings since he had slaughtered the squad of Cormacs.

Since then he had continued to wander somewhat aimlessly through the corridors.

After turning another corner the Infernal Promethean finally found something interesting.

At the end of a long corridor was an impressive set of doors guarded by a pair of gun-servitors.

'Well this looks promising,' he said to no-one in particular.

The infernal warrior immediately started sprinting down the corridor.

As he drew closer, the gun-servitors became animated.

'INTRUDER ALERT! INTRUDER ALERT!'

As they opened fire, the Infernal Promethean ripped a piece of wall off using his scythe, and began using it as a shield.

The makeshift shield soaked up the firepower, just lasting long enough for him to get close.

He threw the torn up piece of steel at the servitor in front of him, following up by quickly decapitating it.

The infernal champion turned to the other servitor and hacked it to pieces.

'I have no time to play with these toys.' he growled.

Turning to the doors, he pushed them upon and was amazed with what he saw.

Inside was a massive array of arcane equipment humming and buzzing for some unknown purpose.

In the center of the room was a device with the words 'Spacial-Temporal Stabiliser' on it.

The Infernal Promethean eyed it for a few seconds.

'That looks important,' he chuckled before shooting it with his melta pistol.

+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

=Approximately several months earlier=

"You belong dead."

"Vortex Grenade, live in the Culinarum!"

+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

So, it wasn't all Ace's fault, just mostly.

Although, the situation may be far worse now...

[Olis]

Runes, incantations and not a little blood proved the Sorceror's claims of usefulness. Sinew, muscle and skin grew anew and brought forth cries of agony. They had not been warned of the pain but at that point Comedius and Cutup would have been happy. The use of their own limbs again, the immediate and excruciating transmutations giving them back that which they had lost, but it was not to be all. A new incantation, one that sounded less guttural but just as arcane, brought forth fresh ceramite skin. Growing from their power armour, it encroached in a bizarrely fluid fashion around their new limbs. This pain, though different - like an ice cold needle in the brain, just behind the eyes - lingered long afterwards. Spittle flecked from Cutup's mouth, clearly the ordeal for him was taxing to say the least. 

 

The Colrous grimaced once the process was over - the new armouring, though apparently exactly as functional as the battle plate it replaced, power feeds, auxiliary paneling and all, had no colour to it. It was bare. Black was the colour of office and for any of the Colrous Brotherhood to bear their suits in any other fashion was worthy of punishment, no exceptions. Comedius added it to the forty-three other infractions he would serve penance for.

 

The Sorceror noticed his demeanour. He profusely apologised and tapped the unpainted armour with the foot of his staff, bringing each armour piece he touched to its rightful hue. A self-satisfactory smirk crept onto his face, all four of his yellow-irised eyes admiring his own work. 

 

"I would say thankyou, had that not been extraordinarily painful." Comedius muttered. 

 

"The thought is worthy enough, Colrous." The Sorceror replied. "It is good to know that you are now fully combat effective, for you and I bear the same goal."

 

"We do, do we?" The Colrous raised his eyebrows before going back to flexing his new arm. Cutup was still wiggling his foot, testing his new ankle's range of motion.

 

"Oh, indeed, my fellow. Indeed." There was a deep breath. "Suffice it to say, you and I work for the same master, even though we do not inhabit the same reality. I mean, of course we co-inhabit this one, but I don't come fr-"

 

"You talk too much." At this, the Sorceror inclined his head and smiled. Good, thought Comedius, at least he knows when to shut up. The smile, though, showed off a lot of sharp teeth. And not just filed down human teeth, oh no. He had sharp, triangular shark teeth. Interesting.

 

"What is your name, spellcaster?"

 

"My name is Ludvig Ovicius, of the Carcharadons Rutilus. Though it matters not what or who I am nor what you prefer to call me."

 

"The Crimson Sharks?"

 

"Never heard of them? I am not surprised brother-"

 

"I am not your brother." Comedius snarled.

 

"-at all. It only stands to reason when we hail from different realities. Who knows, just one universe between us might have seen a loyalist me instead of good old renegade me meet you. It stands to reason that..."

 

It was at this point the Colrous figured that the Sorceror was not going to actually cease talking. There was a very real possibility that he was going to make the Sorceror shut up in a more permanent manner. Grabbing Cutup, Comedius walked off. Ludvig followed, still chattering his head off.

 

--------------------------------------

 

The dead, Scorpion-abomination and Liberite alike, lay quiet now the battle was over. They had proven formidable when they had the advantage in numbers, but in a fair fight even the least of the Liberites was a match for them. Clearly there was nothing to salvage from these foes - the armour, where it wasn't penetrated or otherwise damaged, was entirely the wrong shape to be of any use. They had no bolters either, which precluded the ability to rearm. 

 

There was, however, that Predator. Sat upon the main gun's mantlet, helterskelter looked pensive. By all rights he should have looked smug or proud or something. He didn't appear so in the slightest. He hopped down off of the tank, using the wrecked sponson on the way down for a foothold and spoke of waiting in the shadows. The others watched him disappear amongst the crates and detritus surrounding the impromptu battlefield. 

 

"Well," Aquilanus chimed in, "time to go."

 

"Shotgun!" Cried out Madwolf. He had spotted the commanders hatch as the best seat going. Nobody challenged him.

 

The group clambered up and onto the vehicle, both Ace's climbing in to occupy the main crew positions in the tank. Riding atop the Predator was the rest of the group - Legionary Olis, the promethean and both Dizzyeyes - clinging on as Azure Ace fired up the engine and the vehicle began to move off. 

 

Helterskelter pounded after the slowly accelerating Predator, arms held aloft.

 

"When I said I'd wait in the shadows, I didn't mean that you lot could drive off without me!"

 

--------------------------------------

 

Moderati Olis paced yet again in front of the oversized double doors to the generator room. It must have been days by now, given the amount of bickering the Cormacs were now getting into. Staying still for so long did not feel right. Aquilanus and Deathspectre had taken a scouting party out into the Culinarium's depths to alleviate the boredom. They took only the most agreeable of the Cormacs with them. Olis began to wish they hadn't.

 

Ace on the other hand, had been remarkably uncommunicative the whole time. Perhaps he was engrossed in getting this Generatorum open. Assisted by Cyber Cormac, they had broken down four of the five noospheric seals to the room, with the fifth on its way. A blaring horn and yellow flashing hazard lights heralded the final seal falling. As the great, monolithic doors opened, they all piled in eager to take advantage of this new development, this progress. An echoing, empty room greeted the multitude.

 

They were rewarded with a holographic face appearing before them all in the centre of the expanse. Well, a helmet at least. A. Grinning. Helmet.

 

"Ah ah ah, you didn't say the magic word. Ah ah ah, you didn't say the magic word..." 

 

The stunned silence from the Cormacs lasted the best part of five seconds, staring at this spectre of death before them. They all knew that helmet. An uproar would be the best way to describe it - some began shouting, others drew their weapons and fired at the hologram. Several left the room entirely.

 

The Moderati was furious. 

[Astus]

'Prometheus and Aquilus, wait is that you Aquilanus?'

 

'That name...' Aquilus began shuddering and convulsing.

 

Prometheus pressed a button on the back of Aquilus' neck.

 

Aquilus calmed down.

 

'Don't mention that name. It confuses him greatly. We had to cut out pieces of his brain because he was suffering from multiple personalities.' Prometheus explained.

 

'W-why would you do that?' Reyner spluttered.

 

'They served no purpose.'

 

'But they didn't cause any harm... well, not much harm.' Reyner protested.

 

'We don't have time for that right now.' Prometheus cut in.

 

'Currently the multiverse is in great danger. To save it we must seal the breaches in the fabric of reality.'

 

'So, all we know is in danger. Sounds like a usual Thursday in the Liber.' Reyner replied.

 

'Humor will not help. We must search for breaches and seal them.'

 

'Well, what are we doing standing around here then? Let's go!' Reyner started walking into the darkness.

+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

 

They had finally gotten out of the hangar, but Reyner still had no idea where they were.

 

'You don't happen to have a map, do you?' he asked Prometheus.

 

'If I did, we would not be lost. I would have told you if I did.' Prometheus replied.

 

'Thought so.' Reyner sighed.

 

As Reyner continued on, Prometheus slowed down and opened an encrypted comm channel.

+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

 

As everyone continued trying to gain access to the generator, no-one noticed Cyber Cormac wander away.

 

'The target has the device taped to his hand. They think I'm just a particularly knowledgeable Cormac.'

 

'Make sure they keep believing that Cormacharius, at least until I arrive.'

 

'Affirmative, will do. Cormacharius out.'

Edited May 15, 2014 by the promethean

[Ace Debonair]

*Dusts thread off*

Just thought I'd maybe introduce another player for this unfolding drama...

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

In the depths of the Liber Culinarium's second floor, in another dark corridor...

Energy crackled into life along the wall, forming another portal, and yet again another figure stepped through, chainaxe in hand. He looked back and forth along the deserted corridor.

A voice, deep, resonant and somewhat melancholy, rumbled through his vox channel;

"Arin, there isn't much time before the device will be destroyed. This is as close as we could get you without interference from them."

A device on Arin's belt suddenly gave a faint click, and a bulb flashed green.

"He's already here," the voice continued. "The one they call Olisredan has the device. Do not fail, brother."

"I never fail," Arin replied, his voice cold and malevolent. "There is nothing in this world that can best me."

"Then make haste! In Corax's name, move out!"

"For the Warmaster!" Arin replied, before marching swiftly down the corridor, the chains bound around his armour clanging at every step.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

In the labyrinth of corridors, Aximus paused. A device on his belt had made a clicking noise, and lit up briefly with a red light. It could mean only one thing.

Him.

The Iron Warden gritted his teeth. He should have known the Chainsworn would find a way to pursue him. And he knew instinctively who they would send - Arin Bladewind, his counterpart amongst the damned. Aximus picked up the pace. These corridors had to lead somewhere - sooner or later he would find the device, or the Chainsworn. Either would be fine - one way or another, he'd put an end to this conflict.

Personally, Aximus hoped it would be the Chainsworn. Dealing with the device would be easier, but then Aximus did always love challenges.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Ace looked around again. He couldn't shake the feeling that someone else was using all the best lines. Shrugging, he got back on with the task at hand.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=

Yeah, so you probably already know how this is all gonna end.

On the other hand, sometimes it's not the destination that matters so much as the journey.

EDIT:

Infinite universes also means there's one out there where Chainsworn Ace and Iron Warden Ace are fighting an interdimensional war even before they came here.

The funnest fun will be had, oh yes.

Edited June 9, 2014 by Ace Debonair

[Aqui]

The task of recovering the item was a simple one, deciding on which colour it should have was something else.

 

Bone!

 

Blue-grey!

 

+++Grey!+++

 

Orange!

 

Purple!

 

Blue!

 

GRAAAAAAAAH!

 

Cold blue!

 

Cold blue..?! What the...!

 

I feel our...grammatically challenged friend has a point.

 

Who was that?!

 

The others all gave a negative, bar one.

 

If you are referring to me, then allow me to introduce myself.

 

I'm the other Bahltimyr Reaver.

 

Other?! However, that voice was drowned out by the others. Panic temporarily locked Aquilanus as the various personalities struggled to understand.

 

Yes. You didn't think that Every 'Reaver was a slavering mindless nut case did you? The new voice let out a sigh. Not to belabour the point, about a third of of the warband became one of the Changed - That is, one of our number who fully succumbed to the Warband's curse.

 

How long have you been around?!

 

The newcomers voice was amused, annoyingly so. From the very beginning. I just chose to be...quiet.

 

Now, shall we? Whilst this suit of Terminator armour is impressive, it is old and hasn't been used in a long time. Let us get to our objective whilst it still works.

 

With the revelation still giving the others a metaphorical headache, they at least hastened their journey. The new voice was right.

 

They needed to hurry.

[Captain Juan Juarez]

C'mon people.. Neeeeeed moooooaaar!

[Olis]

A crackling laugh behind the Moderati, the kind made when someone was having breathing difficulties, brought him around to the idea that maybe, just maybe, he should have been watching his back. He turned to see three figures - the jester-chaplain, one of the Cormacs and a fallen librarian. It was the sorceror that was issuing the sickened laugh, his throat red raw from what appeared to be a throttling, if the finger marks were any indication. Behind the lenses of the Colrous' mad-wide eyes belied an enormous smile. The Cormac, perhaps one he recognised, had a plasma pistol levelled at the Moderati.

 

"I see you've found my roadblock, brother." The Colrous sneered.

 

As he spoke the pandemonium of the enraged Cormacs quietened to a murmur. They had noticed the threesome. A shot rang out from one of them, one individual wearing grey power armour and bore a bears pelt across his shoulders. The bolt was deflected with little more than a flick of the wrist from the sorceror. Another flick disarmed the feral Cormac.

 

"Now then," Began the Colrous, "our true work can begin."

Edited June 11, 2014 by Olisredan

[Astus]

Reyner was tired of getting nowhere.

 

He and his hulking companions had been walking for so long he had lost of track of time long ago. And everything still looked the same.

 

Reyner sighed.

 

'Is something wrong, Reyner?' Prometheus asked in a clipped tone.

 

Reyner sighed again harder. These strange marines were totally alien to him. They seemed to be emotionless, and Aquilus had hardly spoken.

 

Reyner hoped he would be back with his brothers in the Legio soon.

+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

 

The Infernal Promethean was still wondering why his god had asked him to destroy the arcane machinery earlier.

 

'At least fighting the servitors stopped my boredom, if only for a while.' he muttered to himself.

 

He had began to wander the corridors once more, but was growing bored again.

 

The champion turned a corner and came face to face with a warrior of the Chainsworn.

 

'This should be interesting....' he chuckled.

+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

 

'Reyner, I have sighted someone ahead. I can not tell if they are friend or foe yet.' said Prometheus.

 

Reyner squinted, and spotted the figure at the very end of the hangar, standing in front of a corridor.

 

The group readied their weapons as they drew closer to the figure.

 

A few moments later, Reyner recognised the figure.

 

'Cormac, it's me, Reyner!' he called out.

 

Cormac lowered his cannon. 'Reyner, good to see you brother. Who are your companions?'

 

'This is Prometheus and Aquilus of the Omnissian Empire. They may not be Imperial, but they can be trusted.'

 

'Not Imperial!' Cannon Cormac exclaimed.

 

But if they're not Imperial then that should make them the...

 

Cormac suddenly lost his train of thought, and couldn't remember what it was.

 

He resolved to try to work it out later.

 

'If Reyner trusts you, then I will too... for now.'

 

'Come with me. I'll take you to the others.' Cormac started down the corridor.

 

The group had walked through the twisting hallways, moving ever closer to Cannon Cormac's team, when they heard a bolter bark up ahead.

 

'Throne...' Cannon Cormac cursed.

 

He started to run, and after a moment the others followed. Prometheus and Aquilus had trouble keeping up, until both of them flicked a switch and wheels locked into place on the bottom of their boots.

 

The four marines continued through the winding corridors, until they finally reached a massive dining hall.

 

Cannon went to continue further, when a laser grid formed in doorway he was about to enter.

 

A vox speaker attached to the wall crackled to life.

 

'Not one more step. The Moderati and I are trying to have a conversation.'

 

The voice trailed away with ringing laughter.

+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

 

Good to have this thread moving along once more. And things are getting even more interesting.

Edited June 11, 2014 by the promethean

[Dizzyeye01]

Meanwhile in a hanger nearby, an unpainted Thunderhawk stood silently as two dark marines guarded it. Well they were supposed to. Instead one lay dead with a broken chainsword in his throat, the other bleeding out onto the cold floor. The cause? A novice Liberite, with the crazed primarchs' blood running through his veins, and a scavenger in one, was to blame.

 

"Too late, son of the Night," coughed the dieing marine, "We are Legion and we are ready to strik-"

 

"You Alphariuses' talk too much," replied the novice Liberite, removing the wrist-mounted blades from the traitor and sliding them on onto his own wrists, "At least these can do something than die, like you."

 

"Hyra d-" the Alpha Legion marine gargled before his throat was cut with his own blades. The Liberite picked up his bolter, leaving the bodies behind.

 

Novice Dizzyeye of the Liber had arrived.

 

+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-++-+-+

 

As the predator drove down the corriders, the two "Dizzyeye" nodded at each other, the first patting a melta bomb attached to his belt. Something bad is going to happen.

 

+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-

 

As the group of Cormacs' waited as their master Olis had a nice friendly "talk" with Colous, Hydra Cormac hiding in plain sight gripped hold of his bolter, raising it up and aimed at Olis, muttering three words under his breath:

 

"For the Emperor."

 

+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-

 

Alpha Legion is everywhere, plot twist ;) It was bound to happen lets face it :)

[Conn Eremon]

Always knew I'd make a good agent.

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e9/BobAgentofHydra.jpg

[helterskelter]

Helterskelter was tiring of the ride "give me something to kill!"

 

"Soon brother, the Colourus wil be ours"

Helterskelter knew not which brother uttered the word s, but as the predator trundled on he grew tense in anticipation for his blade to be whetted again

[Olis]

Ovicius, brow sheened in sweat from the effort, focussed all of his will onto the Moderati's device. Clutched in the gauntleted hands sat both his and the Colrous' clockwork balls, both getting hotter by the moment. The aim, as the renegade had explained, was to divest the Moderati's device of it's power and transfer it in the ball the Colrous owned.

 

Comedius felt dubious about the ritual but let the sorcerer get on with it anyway. At least his gibbering was put to good use. Cutup was busy covering the mob, Ace, Deathspectre and Aquilanus. Since he had the opportunity to seize one from one of the Cormacs, a 'liberated' inferno pistol accompanied the plasma pistol - they had the numbers but Cutup could clearly make a good account for himself if he had to. A wall made from psychic energy helped matters, too.

 

The Moderati was a far more intriguing subject for the Colrous. For a start, they were one and the same, separated by thin dimensional veil. For another, he was needed simply because this was his reality. Wrists and ankles bounds with wire, he sat and watched the heathen ceremony.

 

The chanting grew louder as the ritual approached it's climax. The sound of a Predators engine rose briefly, heralding a tank carrying a motley group of Liberites. Comedius ordered Cutup to close the doors as he stalked over to the Crimson Shark. This was taking too long. Hands clasped together now, the sorcerer practically shouted out his ritual, ignoring the Colrous' attempts at interrupting matters.

 

"WE DO NOT HAVE TIME!" Raged Comedius. He swept his new arm and smashed the amalgamated device from Ovicius' grip. 

 

For Comedius time seemed to skip briefly before everything became a vivid, highly-saturated version of itself. Reds became that much deeper, that much richer. Greys broadened and defined the shadows in ways he had not noticed before. Whites became bright and lustrous, blacks darkened impossibly. Toward the more exotic ends of the spectrum the colours intensified towards head-ache inducing depths. He began to giggle at the sensations.

 

What he did not know, at least not immediately, was what everyone else saw. In place of the Colrous, a cluster of himselves stood - each taking on a hue or a colour from the light spectrum. He had been 'refracted', for want of a better word. He was still himself, presumably, as every version acted almost identically and in synch as the next. Slight variations crept in as time wore on. A twitch here, a glance there, actions independent from the other Colrous'. For every astartes watching, this was alarming to say the least.

 

Ovicius wasted no time, exacting the blood price directly from the Moderati - the chain-knife gauging his face and ears in an exacting manner, a welter of blood cascading from Olis' features. The Moderati simply scowled, eyes wide at the affront to his honour. Ovicious, strangely, apologised and explained that if it wasn't Ludwig's blood that was offered, then it had to be someone else's. No offering at all would invoke wrath from his reality's god of blood and murder, Vhaal. The Moderati continued to bleed.

 

"Attack!" Came the muffled bellow from outside. Great doors beginning to buckle from the Predator's barrage. 

 

In multiple, overlapping speech, the Colrous spoke.

 

"It-t-t-t-t is-s-s-s-s time-ime-ime-ime-ime." 

 

A portal manifested, as if on cue, before him. He turned, raised his many pistols and began to slaughter the trapped Cormacs, reducing them to carbon and ash. Cutup joined in, bolts of plasma and melta-wash burning and melting into the crowd. 

[Cpt_Reaper]

Oh I missed you guys...I guess I better work on shamelessly inserting myself back into the story.

[Ace Debonair]

Cutup's looking healthy again, eh? Good, good.

He'd better get practicing with that chainaxe of mine he stole, though, unless he's ok with me looting it from his corpse without a fight.