Day 287, Year 986, 41st Millennium
Upper Hive
The front lines
The neon lights on the ceiling were high enough to reveal only the shadows of steel frames swaying with the vibrations of the city above. The air was humid, and the smell of metal dust mixed with the chemicals of half-destroyed factories. The battle had dragged on for hours, and everything was becoming like a never-ending nightmare.
Sergeant Roklin, a PDF soldier who had once been a regular welder, took a slow breath. He had been in this war long enough to become "accustomed" to the strange screams of mutants. At least he thought he was familiar with them, and the cannons of Leman Russ tanks scattered across the vast battlefront.
BOOM!!!
The cannons of the tanks about 30 meters away rang out again, and the targets, the mutants in armored vehicles, exploded easily.
The wall to his left echoed with a thud...thud...thud. It felt like something was climbing up from the wall below. Roklin grabbed his gun, but didn't even fully raise it. The sounds... "Too familiar." But it made his neck numb as if a cold wind had blown through it.
"...Don't tell me that again," he muttered to himself, sighing.
The other two soldiers in the shelter looked down at the detector signal in their hands. The screen flickered a faint red before vibrating gently.
Tick—tick—tick—tick tick
The pulse rate quickened for a few seconds.
"There are multiple targets approaching from right in front of us!!" shouted one of the soldiers holding the scanner. Everyone immediately sprang to life. Many quickly reloaded their weapons, while others crouched down and aimed their rifles in that direction. When he saw the target, he felt a slight relief.
It wasn't the four-armed xenos he'd fought and killed an entire unit with. It was a second-generation geenstealer, or as the PDF soldiers and most humans on this planet knew it, a mutant who possessed both xenos and human characteristics all in one, but in a hideous way. It had a face that was a mix of xenos and human, and it was truly hideous. It had only three arms, and two of its arms were human-like. On the other side were three-inch, purple-black claws. Thousands of them were charging towards his location.
"Everyone—prepare!" he shouted, his voice shaking. "They're coming! Shoot!"
Bam! Bang! Boom! Boom!
Then, beams and rounds from lasguns, automatic rifles, heavy machine guns, and tank cannons shot down the horde of mutants charging unguarded.
Laser beams, lead bullets, heavy machine gun rounds, and artillery shells tore apart the charging geenstealers. However, due to their sheer numbers, some managed to reach the front lines. A melee ensued. A soldier beside him was attacked by a humanoid who leaped and slashed his chest with his claws, leaving a gruesome gash.
Roklin, driven by instinct, aimed his laser gun at the mutant and fired several more shots. He easily felled him before he heard something behind him. Roklin quickly turned around and stabbed the muzzle of his gun into its face before slamming it into the ground and twisting it a few more times.
In no time, he had killed dozens of mutants in the chaotic defenses. The defenders seemed to be outnumbered as well. Luckily, reinforcements arrived just in time to clear the mutants from the defenses before regrouping.
Roklin noticed that the reinforcements were fully armed with tanks this time, and he couldn't help but wonder if a major attack was imminent.
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Day 287, Year 986, 41st Millennium
Upper Hive
In the refugee camp near the Church of Saint Lucia
Eric quickly looked up. Standing before him was a large figure in heavy armor, which dwarfed his body. He was only chest-high. The space marine was in shiny black armor adorned with a skull and the Seal of Purity. The armor's servos groaned slightly as the space marine slowly turned towards him. He raised a staff decorated with a double-headed eagle, and it glowed with energy as if lightning were circling it.
When he saw the space marine's blood-red lenses and helmet, he turned even paler with fear.
"It's just like that blue-armored space marine," Eric thought to himself as he compared the black-armored space marine's helmet to the blue-armored space marine adorned with human skin, which also had the same helmet. It was so similar that he felt scared.
Eric stood frozen, his heart pounding so hard he thought the weight in his chest would jump out. Old memories flooded back to him. Images of the blue-armored Space Marine breaking his right arm, ripping off his shirt and groping him with its mutated tentacles, mocking and enjoying his struggles... It filled him with utter fear, both terrifying and humiliating. At that moment, he felt a deep sense of fear, fear of being harmed and brutally killed. The feeling of being strangled, suffocating him as he struggled desperately... and its laughter and its sickening voice... He didn't know what he would have experienced if Castra hadn't been able to save him in time... he would have... Why was he reliving those terrible memories!
His hand automatically raised to his mouth and he breathed heavily, trying to calm himself. His other hand now gripped the hem of his shirt tightly, trying not to run away and tremble any further, trying not to fear the Space Marine in front of him. His blue eyes looked at the Space Marine in fear, but he tried not to show it, even though he was already trembling with fear.
The Space Marine slowly turned to look at Eric before speaking. His voice was deep and cool, his words weighing heavily like a church sermon. But he seemed oddly gentle.
"You look worried, civilian. What's the matter?" the space marine said in a gentle voice, turning around fully and lowering his staff. When he saw the full details of the armor, it still looked intimidating, especially the chest plate with its ribcage. Even though he could see the armor on the left side, there was a bleeding heart and a checkerboard pattern. Eric flinched when he heard this and quickly lowered his hand before answering.
"Yes! Sir... I...just...if it's just a little nervous!" Eric replied with a trembling voice. He had heard other space marines in the camp use these space marines, and some space marines with different insignias had even shot soldiers or civilians who mispronounced their ranks.
"I ask what you're worried about, civilian...don't evade my answer...or are you a heretic!" The space marine's tone suddenly changed. His words became more weighty and decisive. The gentleness was gone, and it sounded more like a threat. And when the space marine raised his staff, And the sudden change in demeanor made it seem even more terrifying. It almost made Eric cry out in terror, and the people around him started to walk away as if something terrible had happened.
"I... I'm just scared, sir," Eric continued, stuttering, trying to keep his tone as normal as possible.
"What are you scared of, civilian?... You look like a soldier who first encountered Canifax," the space marine said, tilting his head slightly and reaching for the other end of the staff. The red lenses stared at Eric as if they wanted to kill him.
Eric was silent for a moment, trying not to look at the Space Marine's skull-shaped helmet. He was feeling incredibly stressed and depressed right now. He was afraid to tell anyone about this, and he was also afraid of being killed for some stupid reason. He turned back gently to the Space Marine again, trying to muster up his courage and speak. But before he could open his mouth,
"You've been quiet for too long. Are you hiding something? Or are you some kind of heretic that you're so afraid of me?!" The Space Marine spoke with increasing anger as he approached Eric. Seeing this, Eric took three steps back, fearing for his safety and trying to make excuses.
"I... have nothing to hide from... you..." Eric said in a stuttering voice, clearly filled with fear. He was so scared he was about to cry... but the Space Marine seemed even more dangerous and intimidating.
"Liar... are you lying? Do you think I'm stupid?!" The Space Marine spoke in a tone as if Eric had just insulted him. Eric saw that things were getting worse and tried to turn and run, but he tripped and fell face down. He tried to get back up, though he knew he couldn't catch up. He had no way of escaping it. Considering the speed at which the Space Marines he'd encountered and could reach, he definitely couldn't escape it.
But before he could turn, he noticed a large shadow on the ground blocking the light from the lamp. As Eric turned back and used both arms to try to lift himself up, he found the Space Marine standing at his feet.
"I'll give you one last chance, civilian. Tell me! Why are you acting so scared of me and trying to run away from me?" the Space Marine said in a slightly lower voice, pointing his staff at Eric, who was trying to get up. Eric froze in fear and immediately tried to make excuses. He didn't want to die yet.
"I...I..." Eric tried to tell him everything about why he was afraid of this Space Marine. He hesitated and stuttered. It was so terrible he didn't want to talk about it, but he was so scared he couldn't do anything. But before he could even form a coherent sentence,
"Answer me now!!! Before I decide to execute you as a heretic!!!" the Space Marine shouted loudly, raising his staff. Eric, who was on the ground, flinched in shock. His fear and desire for survival instinctively raised his right hand to protect his head in extreme fear before finally speaking.
"I'm scared, sir! ... *sob* Th... That skull-like mask on your armor reminds me of the terrible memories I had when I was escaping from the Lower Hive!!" Eric said in a trembling voice, sobbing. His tears were starting to well up in his eyes. He was extremely scared. Wasn't it enough to experience something that caused him to panic or have PTSD? And then he was threatened or intimidated. Why did something so terrible happen? The Space Marine tilted his head slightly before slowly lowering the staff. Eric lowered his arms as well, pulling his knees up towards his body and hugging them tightly, hoping to alleviate his anxiety. But it didn't help much.
"In the dark, I found it!!! A spece marine wearing blue armor and a skull-shaped helmet with bat wings on top. Its armor that day was decorated with human bones and skin. It... it broke my arm and tried to rape me... please don't do anything to me!!" Eric vented quickly, his voice rising, trying not to sob, and even after he finished speaking, he made the guards clench their teeth to keep his mouth from trembling. But when he talked about these memories and being threatened, it made him unable to take it anymore.
Eric buried his face in his knees before hugging them even tighter and sobbing softly. The stress and fear, coupled with his emotions, were starting to escalate. Eric felt himself becoming increasingly distracted.
While he was sobbing, he wanted to laugh at the hilarity and his fate.
He'd been hit by a car and woke up in a dark future where he knew almost nothing, not even the language the people there spoke. The environment was dangerous and the work was demanding. Huh! In just a little over a month and a half, he'd encountered nothing but mutants, half-robots, psychopaths, aliens, and modified soldiers. Why did it have to be like this? Wasn't it hard enough to accept that he'd woken up in an unknown place and involved in a relationship with a woman? Why was he now facing something like this?
It wasn't fair...he just wanted to live a normal life...like before.
"Stay strong, civilian... You're incredibly strong, incredibly strong, to have survived this," the space marine said in a softer, more warm voice. He then slowly knelt down and gently placed his large hand on Eric's shoulder. Eric, who had been feeling fearful, anxious, and disoriented, flinched before tensing up slightly. He slowly lifted his head slightly, his pale face now covered in tears, and his eyes were slightly red. He stared into the red lenses of his helmet before trying not to be afraid. He took deep breaths to calm himself.
"Calm down... You've only been through something terrible... And pray to the Emperor. He will grant you strength, he will help you in your time of need." The space marine preached the planet's religion, the dominant religion in society, and blessed Eric. Eric blinked, confused and uncertain at the events that had occurred. Although he had been hesitant, the space marine had suddenly become surprisingly aggressive and intimidating, but now he was surprisingly gentle.
Are these guys bipolar?
But right now, he didn't dare say much, afraid of saying the wrong thing and being killed easily, especially now that the Space Marine was only a few feet away.
"You seem unstable... Get up! Come with me to the temple to pray to the Emperor. Pray and ask for His mercy and stability," the Space Marine said in a more compassionate tone. Okay, now Eric thought these Space Marines were definitely bipolar. Eric gathered his courage and decided to continue, even though he was a little shaken.
"Yes, sir," Eric replied, his voice trembling, clearly indicating his hesitation, distrust, and fear. The Space Marine slowly got up. Eric thought he had to, but his hands were shaking from what had just happened. But before he could get up, another Space Marine entered. This Space Marine, Mirin, wore armor like the others, with red lenses and black armor, and held a grenade launcher or some sort of cannon. On his left shoulder was a bloodstain symbol amidst a circular saw on a red background.
"Samael, why don't you just beat this heretic so I don't have to find someone to squeeze his blood out of?" the Space Marine said in a slightly displeased tone. Eric, whose fear and anxiety had lessened, began to resurface when the Space Marine approached, referring to them as heretics.
"Caesar, stop thinking like that. She's just a scared civilian, not a heretic you can break her neck and drink her blood from." The skull-masked Space Marine turned to the approaching Space Marine, pointing and shouting at him to stop him. His horror deepened slightly at the thought of the phrase, "Squeeze and drink." Are they vampires?
"Samael, you kill heretics and xenos every day, don't you? Or did you fail today?" the Space Marine named Caesar asked the skull-masked Space Marine named Samael. Whatever his name was, Eric didn't care. He wanted to escape back to his room and cry for an hour or two to calm himself.
"Am I ever wrong? Are you about to be consumed by the Red Thirst?" Samael asked Caesar with a slightly sarcastic tone.
"If you think the situation here might be a little unfavorable, it might be because of the nemesis," Caesar replied.
"You think your Chapter Flesh Tearer has a fearsome reputation? Why would I be afraid of you, you little brat?" Samael said louder.
And then the two started arguing, with Eric hugging his knees nearby. He was too scared to run away, knowing there was no escape in this camp if the Space Marines got suspicious. He might be killed or tortured, and he wouldn't survive outside.
Nevertheless, he chose to leave.
Eric began to gather his courage when the two ignored him and tried to get up and walk away calmly. But before he could,
"Samael... I heard you mentioned a Space Marine in the Lower Hive. I'll take her in for a little interrogation. You won't mind, will you? Maybe she knows about those guys..." Eric turned in the direction of the voice and found a Space Marine with a hood over his helmet. He was armed with a large sword and two large pistols at his waist. The symbol on his left shoulder was a white sword with wings on a green background (Writer: Dark Angel).
_What's going to happen to him?_ Eric thought to himself, his anxiety and fear rising again.
Samael immediately took a break from his argument with Caesar before turning to the Space Marine.
"Stop it, Kitorus. What you saw was just a Night Lord, and now he's dead. Don't touch or do anything to her. She's just a poor, unfortunate civilian..." Samael replied to Kitorus in a menacing tone. Virorus simply turned his head a few times before replying calmly,
"Okay, Samael, I won't bother you (for now). "Kitoras said, waving slowly before walking away. After Vitorus turned and walked away, Samael continued arguing with Caesar, while Eric sat beside him, hugging his knees in fear and anxiety.
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Author: Okay, Eric was a little lucky to find Lamanter in this episode.