Slice of Life
Is it Wrong to Torture Heretics in a Dungeon?
"AAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!!"
The heretic screamed as the heat blade scraped across his rib, the wound searing shut and denying the blood god his due.
"Where is the witch!?"
The Arbitrator who drove in the knife six times now was desperate for answers. Khornate cults were typically disdainful of psykers and killed them on sight. That this one had instead been harbouring a loose Zeta-level psyker was worrying.
"Please...please no more... She's on level 33, hab block 12.87C."
Torture on its own tended to be fairly ineffective against Chaos cultists, but it helped the Sanctionite assisting the Arbitrator by putting chinks in the heretic's mental defences.
"And what were you planning with her!?"
"I don't know... I swear I don't know! We were just told to keep the witch sedated. We weren't told anything else."
The Arbitrator turned to the Sanctionite. The Sanctionite just shook his head. They learned all they could. The Arbitrator's blade slid through the traitor's brain, killing him instantly.
Letter from the University
Dear Mr and Mrs Cherno
We once more thank you for your cooperation in surrendering Michael into our custody. We know it must be difficult to give away your child for any reason and under any circumstance and we appreciate your understanding in the matter.
Michael is withdrawn and sullen, understandably, but is otherwise healthy both physically and mentally despite his burden and seems to be improving with regular counselling sessions. He retains faith in the God-Emperor and prays for you both daily.
He is learning how to control his abilities at a fairly quick rate under our care and will likely not have issues despite his young age and his power which continues to grow. It was well that he was brought in as early as he was; his current level of power would have been difficult for him to control without proper guidance and would likely have endangered others if left unchecked. Thankfully he is in no such danger now.
While it is as of yet too early for him to receive visitation, it would do him well to remain in contact with you as his parents. A letter from each or both of you will help his mental state and as such it is officially required that you produce such a letter. Parchment has been provided free of charge attached to this missive for this express purpose. A list of rules and guidelines pertaining to what may be included has also been attached.
Emperor bless,
-Scribe Julianus II, Unseen University
Rumours
"You're joking. That cannot have happened." The red-robed tech priestess replied to Ragna, her best friend and occasional accomplice, as she helped bolt on new armour panels to the Leman Russ.
"I'm serious, Kino. It happened in just the first week of the Incursion too." Her companion affirmed, her unaugmented face betraying no hint of duplicity.
"But aren't the siren Ladies supposed to be sentient?" The confused Kino asked, "I thought psyker familiars had to be animals, constructs, and such. Not intelligent, basically."
"Well, apparently not." Ragna shrugged.
"But then why with a xeno!?" she exclaimed, earning the attention of a passing group of menials. When they left earshot, she continued in a quieter voice, "She couldn't have been the only psyker there, so why'd she shack up with one of those soul-eating abominations!? By the Omnissiah that's sick!"
"Umm...I'm pretty sure it's not like that. I
think... And who knows? Maybe it can only be done with Sirens? Maybe it was the only nearby psyker left? I heard they took down a daemon prince together, might've been she panicked and bonded with the first thing she could."
"HELLO YOUNGSTERS," The senior tech priest announced as he appeared, startling the two, "I TRUST THE MUTTERING I'VE BEEN HEARING WERE RECITATIONS OF THE CANTICLES OF FAITH IN HONOUR OF THE MACHINE SPIRIT WHICH SAFEGUARDS OUR SETTLEMENT FROM PREDATION?"
"Y-yes, sir!"
"Of course, sir! Nothing but the highest respects, sir!"
"GOOD." He replied as he left, leaving the two young tech priestesses rather frazzled from the brief but intense experience.
Kino and Ragna worked dutifully after that, speaking the revised Catechisms of Functionality (as passed down by the Fabricator-General) and reverently thanking the tank for its service, finally finishing at the end of the day.
It was as they walked back to their habitation quarters to rest that Ragna once more picked up the conversation.
"So... Which do you think is the familiar and which do you think is the master?"
"I don't know, but it's probably heresy either way."