... Useless beta! But also, here's the last piece of chapter 4. Enjoy. ^_^
ôCome on... wake up!ö Bloodshot eyes opened abruptly, and a fist swung out erratically. The one to disturb the attacker flinched, moving away from the reaching hand, and called out once more. ôJohn, calm down!ö
John stood quickly, eyes roving over his surroundings but not seeing much of anything. Around him stood a handful of humans, rapidly backing away from him. ôJohn, calm down! You're among friends,ö another one attempted.
The man simply growled gutturally. ôDamn it, sir, get a hold of yourself! We're all humans here!ö
This seemed to make something click in his mind. John blinked slowly, two times, before glaring around once more. ôWhere the hell am I?ö
ôWe're in the catacombs. The pirates threw us down in the old cells when they decided keeping us pacified was too much work,ö the man who had awakened him supplied. John straightened, staring at him.
ôChief Engineer...ö His eyes narrowed. ôToo much work? Those damn Xenos were killing people up there, why would they want to bring you down here?ö As a Commissar, John was always wary of his own men rebelling. Not seeing sense in his explanation, he took a stance, resting his weight on his right foot as he drew it back.
The older-looking human saw that, and panicked. ôHey, hey, chill out!ö He raised his hands in horror at the prospect of being attacked by the man while he was in full control of his faculties.
Another human broke in. ôI know it might not seem to make sense, but I think they just want some hostages. Some of us are quite widely-known... Chief Engineer Terlin, Lieutenant Froman... youself, Commissar.ö
Terlin nodded frantically, adding, ôThere's no knowing when they'll place the crew they captured wherever and come back to us... they'll probably want to torture us for information on the Imperium. We can't fight; we need to leave!ö
John growled. ôLet them come; those bastards still have my wife, and my daughter...ö He closed his eyes tightly as he paused, before glaring at the Engineer again. ôI'll kill them!ö
A short, blond man spoke up, pushing himself off of a wall. ôDon't be stupid, Commissar! Your family may be lost already. I was brought in at the same time as you, and they sure didn't seem very happy with your wife when she broke formation; I very much doubt there'll be a happy ending for her... but there might be one, for us!ö He walked up to the much taller man, frowning. ôYou're the only one with extensive combat experience among us. We need you to get out of here.ö
ôUs? When did this become about 'us'?ö John glared down his long nose at the short blond. ôLieutenant, I don't think you want to get in between me and my wife.ö
ôYour dead wife, John! Either way, Catherine will die. If you go out for her, they'll kill her, same as Ana!ö
With a thud, Lieutenant Froman crashed into a group of men standing by the far wall. He coughed wetly as he was helped up, clutching his chest. ôFace facts, you old idiot... I know what you did in Ultima Segmentum. Most brutal commissar they'd seen there in centuries, and now this? Attacking fellow humans because you don't want to see the truth.ö The shorter human glared up at the grizzled soldier, his ire magnified by those all around him.
John slowly let his left fist lower, glaring down at the ground. ôFine. I will get you out... but only to get you to your damn escape shuttle. Then I'm going back to kill all these bastards, before they're all killed by our reinforcements.ö
ôWhat's to say we have reinforcements, John?ö The Chief Engineer's voice was low, this time.
He didn't respond, only staring at the older-looking man.
There was silence among the group, as John turned to the gated area between them and escape. ôThis is all we need to get past... but it's probably made of material too strong to break.ö
Froman limped towards the cell's exit, rummaging through his slacks' pockets as he peered down at the lock. ôWe don't need to break anything... I have a way out.ö
ôWhat the hell do you need me for, then?ö
ôProtection. All the other soldiers are dead, John. You're the only one that can beat those brutes in a straight fight... and more than a few of them at the same time, too.ö He smirked at him from the side, pulling a key from his pants.
ôYou have a key?ö Terlin blinked in befuddlement, breaking into the conversation. ôThey didn't search you?ö
ôNo... after the ruckus he caused, they just threw us both away.ö He pushed the gate open, and gave the Commissar an appraising look. ôI even managed to sneak away a weapon of sorts...ö He reached into the back of his pants, and pulled out a large dagger. ôNot quite a chainsword, but it trust it'll do?ö
John grabbed it out of his hands quickly, stepping out of the cell without a word. ôIt will. Come, I want to get you to the pod, and then be on my way.ö
Terlin was the first one out, rushing past Froman as he spoke. ôJohn, this way. And how's the arm?ö
The Commissar followed the directions, moving down the cavernous catacomb hall in a rush. The men behind him had to almost jog to keep up, but did not complain. ôI don't know what you mean, Chief Engineer.ö
ôYour right arm.ö John recoiled, realizing what the older man meant. He subconsciously stored his blade and reached for his shoulder with his left hand, looking down. Instead of the mass of sinew and crushed bone barely held together by the cloth from his coat, all he could see at the moment was cloth. ôWe couldn't salvage it, so we took some clothes and did the best we could to make it hold together. You can't move it, I don't think, but you also can't feel it. Doctor Jonage managed to disable the nerves leading there, so it shouldn't be too much of a setback. Your torso is riddled with wounds, but it shouldn't slow you down any more.ö
The Commissar absently nodded, leading the group through hall after hall with the Chief Engineer's directions. They never left the catacombs, knowing that was where the main force of Pirates was prowling, even if John kept trying to veer towards the brighter, main hallways of the ship.
They were silent, and so was the ship; there were no humans nor Batarians, alive or not, in their path, as they moved towards the escape pod... until they got there.
A single Batarian crewmember, wearing worker's slacks and nursing a large black bruise covering most of the side of his face, stood by the exit to their escape. Although also having four eyes, he did not seem to be at all hostile, just a bit lost.
John did not care, however. Non-human meant hostile in his books, given the situation, especially if it also meant Batarian, so he lunged forwards. His footfalls were loud as he sprinted towards his target, but the alien did not seem to notice, until one of the humans called out.
ôDammit, John, that's not a pirate!ö The cry went unheeded by the soldier, even if the alien heard it loud and clear. He looked towards the sound, noticing the sizeable group of humans, including the one rapidly nearing him. All four eyes widened, and it recoiled, a scream beginning to form. However, begin was all it was allowed to do, before a blade stabbed into the cartilage in the middle of its eyes. It was torn out, then back in at the top of its head.
The old Commissar continued to stab his target, and had managed to do so half a dozen times before it hit the ground. John barely held his contempt and desire to follow it down in check as the Batarian crashed into a puddle of its own green blood.
Froman ran up to him, looking down at the alien in horror. ôDammit, John... that guy wasn't hostile!ö
ôNo one will wonder about a dead Xeno.ö
The Lieutenant eyed him uncertainly, before turning back to the humans. ôWell, either way. Let's go in the pod, everyone. Chief Engineer... you go first, and get it ready.ö
ôYes, sir.ö A semblance of order was regained as the Lieutenant brought back the order of command to the humans, and the dead Batarian at their feet was quickly forgotten as they began to file into the large door in the wall.
Froman was the last, peering into the expansive room lit up in red, much like the rest of the catacombs. It reached perhaps a hundred meters back, and was nearly a dozen wide. There was more than enough space for a thousand people in there... but he knew nowhere near that many were going to join them. They'd be left behind, until reinforcements arrived.
He looked back at the old Commissar from the entrance, watching him for a moment before speaking. ôYou don't want to come inside.ö
ôNo.ö
ôI meant what I said; Catherine is likely not alive anymore. There is no point in staying; the Imperium needs men like you alive. If the Batarians come across you again... you're not coming out of that.ö
John looked down, hefting the dagger with his left hand. ôI know. I don't care. I will have my revenge.ö
ôHave it later, then! There will be repercussions... these aren't just pirates. What some of them have said... I have no doubt they're in their government's employ. Many of these seem to be special forces. Soldiers. More privateers than mere pirates. Come along... and you'll be able to watch their worlds burn. There is no sense in wasting another life here.ö
The soldier turned around abruptly, glaring at the shorter man. ôSoldiers? You're saying... these aren't criminals. These damn Xenos... all of them... are attacking the Imperium, as if there were no repercussions? As if we'd just lay down and give in to their demands?ö
Froman made to respond, but was interrupted by voices from a nearby hall.
ôI think there are others nearby. Perhaps it is Jeerak's group?ö
ôDoubtful. They'd be much louder... there are many of them, after all.ö
ôWell, boss, what do you think we should do?ö
ôGrakesh, you're sure they aren't Jeerak's?ö
ôCan't be sure, boss.ö
ôFine... but it's them. No one else could've made it down here. Hey, Jeerak!ö The voice bellowed. ôAs you might be aware, you're sitting near an escape pod! Or inside it! Open up, and we'll get the hell out of here... this ship's going to crash!ö
John and Froman were silent for a moment, before the Lieutenant's face contorted into a horrified visage. ôCrash?ö
ôThese fuckers...ö The Commissar seemed a moment away from apoplectic rage. ôThey plan to destroy one of the Emperor's farmworlds!ö He turned towards the hall, but the smaller man pulled him back.
ôNo! Come inside, we need you!ö
ôI will avenge this planet!ö John roared, pulling away. He stepped out from the doorway, and raised his arm. ôXenos! I-ö
A muffled explosion, that of something breaking the sound barrier, sounded a moment before John flew back into the pod, collapsing on top of Froman.
ôEmperor's pants!ö The Lieutenant cried in surprise, pushing the soldier off of him. ôTerlin!ö
ôGot it!ö The door slid shut, before the sounds of mass effect-driven projectiles hitting it rang through the pod. A moment later, they were joined by that of engines, and suddenly, there was no noise, only the rumbling of the rockets propelling them through space.
ôWe're out?ö A tall, dark-skinned man questioned, looking around the windowless pod.
ôNo sound means we're in space... thank the Emperor.ö
ôSo... what do we do now?ö
The humans, as one, looked at the Lieutenant, who himself was looking down at the groaning Commissar on the floor.
ôWell, we need to see if his wounds are particularly bad. Then... we wait for pick-up.ö
--I--
The pick-up came eventually, but rather abruptly. All they knew was that the pod shook, and suddenly they could hear things from outside again. Something crashed against the door, and a voice rang through the walls.
ôHUMANS OR ENEMIES?ö
There was no time to respond before the door, and some of the fuselage around it caved in. From the new hole in the pod strode an enormous armored figure.
ôEmperor's name... an Astartes!ö The humans stood up to greet the Imperium's protectors, who waved them off.
ôSO YOU'RE HUMANS. GOOD. THIS IS THE ONLY ESCAPE POD FROM THE SUPERFREIGHTER, SERGEANT.ö The Space Marine turned towards the hole, gesturing for the men gathered in there to leave.
ôTHE ONLY SURVIVORS FROM THIS ATTACK ON OUR BEAUTIFUL IMPERIUM... FIFTEEN MEN. WHO WERE THE CULPRITS?ö The Sergeant stood in the brightly-lit hangar, almost as tall as the escape pod in his gleaming yellow armor.
ôAstartes, sir... they were Batarians,ö Lieutenant Froman supplied. There was silence from the enormous superhuman for a moment, before a horrible sound tore through the area. The humans from the pod clutched at their ears in pain, as the Space Marine made his rage known to the universe.
ôFUCKING XENOS, THEY DEFILE OUR BEAUTIFUL FARMWORLD! BROTHERS, TAKE THESE CITIZENS TO REST; I WILL BE CONTACTING HOLY TERRA. THEY DARE... MILLIONS DEAD! WE WILL HAVE OUR REVENGE!ö Pauldrons heaving in passionate rage, the Space Marine turned to leave the expansive, empty hangar, before a (comparatively) small voice from the pod stopped him in its tracks.
The hate in it was enough to stop even the Emperor's warrior, who turned as a man stepped out from behind the first Astartes to speak to the survivors.
ôLet me have my revenge as well, Astartes.ö
ôWHO THE HELL ARE YOU?ö
ôI am John. Commissar John Fuklaw.ö
The Sergeant stepped back after getting a glimpse of the man's face, contorted with rage. ôVERY WELL, WE WILL ALLOW YOU TO DO SO. IT SEEMS YOU HAVE THE ZEAL, AT THE VERY LEAST. THE ANGRY MARINES WILL ALLOW YOU TO SERVE ALONGSIDE THEM, COMMISSAR FUKLAW.ö
^_^
