Awakening

[Dark Apostle Thirst]

For those of you who are new to the series, this is part of the first chapter of a long story detailing my in-universe character, which isn't really based on me but I use it as a great excuse to write a hopefully new viewpoint on the universe we all know and love, and maybe I can get a good story in the deal too :( Anyways, here is Birth, the opening to the whole story, and here is Denial, the sequel to that and the prequel to the story you see here. Thanks for reading :)

 

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Gurnoth Lan nodded as the Dark Apostle finished again. "That matches up with our records. However, do you really think that I believe you tried to rejoin the Imperium?"

 

Thirst nodded slowly. "Not just I - we all did, even that betrayer. You're an Inquisitor. You know what Chaos does, what the Word Bearers and all the other traitors do to humans. We're just livestock to be harvested, like torturing grox for amusement. I didn't realize the Imperium would treat us the same when we were trying to flee to its arms."

 

Bemused, the interrogator responded with a disbelieving tone. "That obviously failed, just like your war on us has failed."

 

"Aye,' Thirst replied, 'and we all thought with the campaign your order brought to the worlds the Legion was conquering would make it easier. With a bigger war more chances to slip away, or so we thought. The Eldar helped our cause, of course, but yet we were unsuccessful. The Dark Gods tend to get what they want."

 

The one time I've heard of the Eldar being helpful, it's from the Great Enemy. Why am I not surprised. Clearing his throat, Gurnoth Lan began again. "What involvement did the Eldar have with Word Bearer forces in that conflict?"

 

The red armored astarte snorted. "While the Word Bearers were mostly ambushed, attacked, and enraged as often as the xenos could possibly find means to do so, the Eldar did what they want to who they wanted to do it to. You know that. For the most part of that campaign, they worked with Inquisitor Rone, actually..."

 

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Thirst sighed as he checked his chronometer. Five minutes until the drop pod was launched, and the squad had been strapped in for thirty minutes already. This was their first time being launched in a drop pod and even Stogan had briefly shown his nervousness. In the past four months since the recruit had come back from the brink of death, the only emotion shown by Thirst's would-be killer was contempt, and even that was rare break from the seemingly unshakable apathy.

 

If even Stogan is getting worked up by this, how do the Word Bearers expect us to be effective when we land? thought the de facto squad leader. What kind of game is the Legion playing now?

 

A few clicks sounded to the annoyed recruit's right. Looking over Thirst saw Ticrashin checking his two chainblades yet again, and after running through his routine another time the golden-eyed warrior looked up at Thirst, with a slight look of guilt on his face.

 

"Sorry, Prophesied.' Ticrashin put his head in his hand for a moment before he continued. 'It's five minutes 'til, I thought I could let myself check them again."

 

All around the drop pod's circle the other recruits were doing similar things to occupy their thoughts, which failed to surprise Thirst, as they had all been doing this every couple of minutes. Just another sign of the nerves that this wait was forcing on the squad.

 

Vathir must have realized this too, as he spoke into the vox unit in the gorget protecting his neck. "Compatriots, let's relax. We've got the twins with us, we'll obviously be fine."

 

Nolib chuckled as he quickly responded. "With Orrak and Atarak's luck, the drop pod will get hit by the anti-air fire, killing off the rest of us while they descend unscathed and skid to a halt right behind the fortress gates, crying and thanking the Emperor for their miserable lives.' Then they'll be whisked away by the Inquisition and join the High Lords. After a few years they'll start to feel remorse for surviving when we didn't and name some of their countless servitors after us, and the comfort themselves with iho sticks and amsec made from the Emperor's own tears."

 

The sound of laughter over the vox almost blurred out the sarcastic tirade, but it still managed to make the squad leader's lips curl in amusement. The fact that Orrak and Atarak managed to stumble into the most fortunate of situations, more often at the expense of their squadmates than not, was truth enough that Nolib's joke wasn't entirely unlikely. Both of the twins never hesitated to risk their lives to save the others, however, and their apothecary training had continually proven its worth as their knowledge of astarte physiology had grown. At the thought Thirst scratched a bit of scar tissue under his chin, a recent nick from an Eldar shuriken. The twins hadn't been the only one with luck that day, as the missile had grazed by less than an inch from his throat.

 

After a moment the last of the chuckles faded and one by one the squad checked their chronometers for the time again. A moment passed, then another, until finally only the last minute remained. The few recruits who hadn't put their helmets on did so now.

 

At thirty seconds Thirst opened the vox again. "Remember what you've been trained. Most of what needs to be done, the drop pod will do by itself. I've already prepared the machine spirit and it is eager to take us in to battle, and not quite as eager to be ripped apart by incoming fire. This is an old pod and it has enough experience to land us safely, but it's still going to be a bit of a ride down. All you have to worry about is holding on to your restraints until we hit the ground, which will be much kinder to us than you would expect thanks to our conveniently placed thrusters. So relax. We'll be fine."

 

Nolib snorted at the last sentence. "Yes, because what was the last time you were right?"

 

The only response was an awkward silence.

 

After a few seconds the squad leader sighed again, and checked his chronometer just in time for it to reach zero.

 

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And there we go, welcome to Awakening :)

[Brother Ambroz]

*Tapping foot on the floor....*

 

We're all waiting DAT! :P

[Dark Apostle Thirst]

Look up -_-

[Kol Saresk]

Word Bearers who are going back to the Imperium? Huh. I think I need to read Birth and Denial.

[Dark Apostle Thirst]

Word Bearers who are going back to the Imperium? Huh. I think I need to read Birth and Denial.

'nods' Yep :)

[Dark Apostle Thirst]

For a moment the Dark Apostle paused, a mixture of concentration and frustration on his face. Finally he sighed.

 

"Have you ever experienced a drop yourself?" the Word Bearer queried, disappointment clear on his face.

 

Gurnoth Lan hesitated for a moment, unsure where this was going. "Of course not. My body would be destroyed by the forces."

 

Shrugging, Thirst spoke again. "Then I have no words to adequately describe it.'

 

I don't believe it. A Word Bearer, a Dark Apostle at that, doesn't know what to say.

 

Oblivious to the Inquisitor's shock, Thirst continued. 'Perhaps you can compare it to jumping in the Warp, though as I have already said I know of that experience only through Rone's eyes.'

 

I must remind myself of this when I have to deal with an astarte who likes the sound of his own voice too much.

 

'Forgive me for my lack-"

 

"Enough.' Amused as he was by the aid unwittingly given to him, Gurnoth Lan was less tolerant of the Word Bearer's pointless apologies. As if the traitor felt anything more than regret that he had failed with his words even once. 'Continue telling me of the Eldar."

 

Nodding, Thirst began again. "When we were blessed enough to touch on precious, precious land..."

 

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"Never... again...' Ticrashin spat as he staggered out of the drop pod, his shock wearing off as he adapted to the uneven ground. 'We are leaving the Word Bearers today, Emperor willing or not."

 

Vathir agreed as he took a few shaky steps forward into the surrounding forest. "I'd rather spend a cycle with the First Acolyte tha-"

 

A las-bolt pinged off Vathir's helmet, cutting him off. In a moment the rest of the deserters began to be spattered with fire from a squad of Imperial Guardsmen. Thirst ducked behind the dais that the astartes had just unstrapped themselves from. A glance told him that more Guardsmen were coming to the top of the hill where the pod has landed.

 

"Squad, get into cover behind the pod,' the squad leader snapped, 'I'd rather deal with that again than be dead."

 

A chorus of annoyed affirmations came back to Thirst, and the others moved from behind the few rocks large enough to hide their massive forms. Taking a look around, the demi-champion realized they had landed on the side of a mountain, part of a chain if the ring of peaks around them weren't simply distant hive-cities. It would make for slow travel, if the squad needed to flee, but excellent for defensive purposes, especially with the cover of the trees.

 

After the potential band of fugitives formed behind the protection of their one way vehicle, Thirst set his vox to speaker, and sent a silent prayer to the Emperor that this time they could escape.

 

Then he began to address the Imperials. "Guardsmen! Loyal servants of the Emperor! We wish to join you!"

 

Instantly the crack of lasrifles stopped. After a pause of stunned silence another voice rang out. "Who told you to stop firing at the enemy?"

 

"No, wait-" the traitorous Word Bearer started before the hail of incoming fire began anew.

 

Ticrashin's anger roared out of his own speaker, louder than the ranks of guns that sprayed lasfire at the astartes. "Human cattle! If we wanted to kill you all we would! Now listen to us before we slaughter any ignorant fool who assumes that his mortal commanders are capable of causing more pain than we are."

 

A few Imperial soldiers started to lower their weapons but were quickly shot by a new arrival, some sort of officer in a black coat and a oversized hat. A word sprang into Thirst's head from what he had been taught about the Imperial Guard and their commanders, commissar. A description that the First Acolyte had the recruits memorize quickly followed - these men were in charge of keeping the morale of their unit strong and ensuring the ranks held and continued taking one step forwards.

 

Switching his vox back to his squad's channel, the struggling renegade spoke again. "Vathir, take out that commissar. The rest of you, prepare grenades, if this doesn't work we'll need to be ready."

 

"As you wish." The reply was terse, which was unlike the sniper.

 

Thirst had no time to worry about it, however, as a bolt passed through the commissar's head. Impossibly the officer's cap remained on the now very hollow skull as the body slowly fell to the ground. Cries of outrage came from the Imperials Guardsmen, and more continued appearing at the top of the hill. The incoming lasfire became thick and continuous, scoring the cover of every member. Vathir wouldn't be able to take another shot like that without getting seriously injured, if not killed outright. There was only one thing to do. This will have to be fast.

 

Grimly, the demi-champion spoke to his astartes once more. "Squad, launch grenades and prepare to attack on my mark.... Mark.'

 

'Now - For the Emperor, charge."

[Brother Anvilus]

good good...was waiting for a new chapter to quench this thirst for more... ( pun inteded :) )

[Brother Ambroz]

Very good DAT. I think I need to reread the others though, last thing I remember is Thirst was meeting the Sorceror. Do you have a link to the others?

 

Edit: Nevermind just saw them in the top post. :)

 

Edit 2: So you've just got Betrayal yet to do now?

[Dark Apostle Thirst]

good good...was waiting for a new chapter to quench this thirst for more... ( pun inteded B) )

 

Ah, puns... they're always welcome on my thread, if you have any good ones feel free to share them :lol:

 

Very good DAT. I think I need to reread the others though, last thing I remember is Thirst was meeting the Sorceror. Do you have a link to the others?

 

Edit: Nevermind just saw them in the top post. :P

 

Edit 2: So you've just got Betrayal yet to do now?

 

Ah yes, I'm sorry if it's not clear that time is skipped between the stories :blink: I can fix that though ^_^

 

And yes, Betrayal will be the final chapter of Thirst's first saga. I have a lot planned for Thirst as he goes through life to eventually meet Gurnoth Lan. It's going to be like the 40k version of Forrest Gump :lol:

[Unknown Chronicler]

wow having just read all three, this is simply the most amazing story I have ever read. I always knew that one day a Word Bearer would try to rejoin the Imperium, I just knew it! Can't wait to see more DAT, this is truly an inspiring story!

[Dark Apostle Thirst]

wow having just read all three, this is simply the most amazing story I have ever read. I always knew that one day a Word Bearer would try to rejoin the Imperium, I just knew it! Can't wait to see more DAT, this is truly an inspiring story!

Thank you very much for the kind words, they are the lifeblood of any artist and I appreciate them truly :whistling:

[Dark Apostle Thirst]

EDIT: For the first time I typed this out on Word. Now I realize this is horribly short :o Give me a moment to add a bit more to it...

 

EDIT2: Done :D

 

 

As one the squad moved from cover, their reactions seamless after four months of hard combat. Each of them, save Ticrashin who wielded only his blades, knew to fire their bolters as they ran, adding to the chaos created by the grenades, knowing that should the Guardsmen reform they would slaughter the desperate astartes. Confusion was their only advantage.

 

Without a moment to spare the Imperials came back into a solid firing line, to be crashed into by ten deserters who were just denied their chance of escape. Though Thirst could only see the two warriors who fought on either side of him, he heard the growls of anger over the vox as his squad began to take Imperial blood. He was less than pleased himself, the cumulative rage of the drop pod's shock and the disappointment of their lost chance providing more than enough motivation to murder the mortals around him. A small part of his brain realized what the Word Bearers had done with the wait to launch, disturbing the young recruits enough so that when they touched the ground they would be ready to vent on any unfortunate Imperials.

 

Then the distraction was gone and combat was the only thing that mattered. First strike swiped through the neck of one guardsman, fire a bolt forward, chainsword into the gut of another, twist away from the rifle butt - and so it continued, going from one body to another, never getting a moment to breathe as the wave of humans washed over him. At some point he became aware that his enemies had switched to bayonets and that he had two scratches in his leg joints. Instinctively he ordered the squad to close formation on him, and shifted into a defensive stance. Then the moment passed and the unrelenting struggle consumed his thoughts once more.

 

So it was with great shock the traitor found his bolt pistol leveled at the helm of a Word Bearer, another squad leader at that. Barely resisting the urge to fire, the recruit looked around for another target but found none. About thirty astartes were organizing themselves back into squads and checking their wounds, most of them neophytes like Thirst. His own squad was breathing hard around him, and he realized he was panting.

 

"You did well this day. Without your distracting the Imperials so well they might have been prepared for our assault."

 

It took a moment for the ragged warrior to realize the senior legionnaire was speaking to him. Sighing, the young leader nodded his thanks to the older astarte, and took a moment to regain his composure as he studied his counterpart. There were dozens of tiny spikes studding his armor, forming the symbol of the eight pointed star on his shoulder, chest and helmet. Most of the blood that he had accumulated in the fight seemed to be on his chest, a result of the compacted bolter he carried.

 

After a moment, the veteran spoke again. “Come. Tend to your brothers, gather what trophies you will and do so before we march again, in half an hour.”

 

“As you command, Word Bearer, it will be done.” Thirst answered, finally breathing normally.

 

Dismissed, the recruit turned back towards his accomplices. A quick glance at each told him that they were all injured in a dozen minor ways, but there had been no major wounds. The twins were busy tending towards Stogan and Nolait as he watched.

 

Sighing, he turned his vox back to the squad's personal frequency. "As you can see, we aren't leaving today. For now let's just let the others take the brunt of the damage and hope the Emperor's people accept surrenders. We survived that fall... we can escape the Word Bearers."

 

There was no response from the others. Their disappointment was obvious enough in their slow movements, and the squad leader knew from experience they weren't going to be any happier when the adrenaline from the fight had worn off and the pain of battle began to settle in.

 

So it wasn't a great surprise to the tired rebel when Vathir came over the vox on a private frequency. "Thirst,' he began, 'why are we even doing this? I'm not pleased with how the Legion does things either, but they've made us so powerful. Surely we owe them something?"

 

"Owe them what?' the former thief responded. 'They took our lives so that we can serve them."

 

"But what if they're right? About their Dark Gods, and that the Emperor is really dead?" The words of the follower were timid, almost afraid.

 

"What if they are? I don't know, brother. Do you really want to join them?"

 

"I don't know either. But I don't want to die, especially not by the hands of the people we're trying to fight beside."

 

"Would you rather die following Chaos?"

 

"I haven't decided yet. I know if we get the chance to join the Imperium, I'll take it. I'm afraid that chance will never come, Thirst."

 

"I know. I know the others are worried too. But we have to keep trying, because there's nothing for us here. What can we hope to gain by turning to Chaos?"

 

"We won't be disappointed by the Imperium, at least."

 

"I hope we won't be, brother."

[Brother Anvilus]

giggity :eek thanks for another few minutes of good reading ;)