It takes a full week to gather all the survivors of the disaster on Hazard. General Helios, Colonel Luna, and Colonel Sawaki are alive. The Lilanti 8th has three survivors: The three remaining men from the Lilanti Diggers 3rd company. You learn the entire regiment is to be disbanded. Commissar Inatani and Private Lang vanished after the final battle. They are presumed dead.
You, Alex, Vali, Ravana, and Dolce stand in the command center of the
Blade of Ares. General Helios enters. He grins when he sees you. It is offset with a level of bitterness. "We are at quarter-strength now. Haven't lost so many men since the Cabal of the Severed Throat on Velontos." He steps to the table. "I'm glad to know you survived. Same with the rest. It is going to be tough until we can return to Kratos and rebuild."
You smile sadly. "I'm sorry to hear so General. I wish things could have been different. I wish fewer people had had to die." You remember the report Commander Redglove had given. You hid your tears when you learned of Lieutenant Eyebright's death. You let them go when you saw where he had died.
"We all do," Colonel Luna enters the room, her arm is still bandaged from fighting on the planet. You smile at her in greeting. She smiles back. "I'm staying on the planet until we can settle everything down."
"I shall return to Castillum Maximus," Colonel Sawaki says as he enters. "I need to receive more men for the Penal Legion."
You try not to think about that too hard. The idea of a Penal Legion still disgusts you. Still, you smile. "Colonel, I must thank you for the aid of Commissar Inatani and Private Lang from your regiment. They were good men and excellent soldiers."
Sawaki looks startled. His cold face shows actual emotion for a fraction of a second. "That isn't possible, your highness."
"Why not?" you ask.
"Because Commissar Masato Inatani was a woman."
There is a moment of silence. Alex breaks it. "Then who the hell was the man we fought with?"
Sawaki looks at Alex. "I don't know."
A shudder runs through the room. Helios clears his throat. "Well. We can worry about that another time." You are grateful. For now, you have no wish to think of such a strange subject. Helios grins broadly. "I have word that a sizeable fleet is coming in. I look forward to telling them that we had this, don't you?"
You smile weakly. "Right. General." And yet something worries you. From the looks Alex and Ravana give you, they feel much the same.
********************
"If the Princess was a bit less naive and kind, you would have killed me, you realize that," Lang snaps.
"Just playing the part," 'Inatani' responds coldly. The two men sit in a stealth ship. The machine has been a back-up escape route in case things get awkward during a mission. Like almost getting caught pretending to be a Commissar. "She is almost out of stasis, then we can contact the Baroness. Inform her that they are on the move."
"You're dodging the subject," Lang grumbles. He sullenly leans away from the other man. "You played it too far you bloody bastard."
"I didn't kill a single Guardsman on that planet."
Lang doesn't respond. He is still sulking when the third figure enters. A woman, apparently in her later 60s, with empty eye sockets. The Astropath snorts when she sees the two agents. "What's with him?"
"He shouldn't complain," the false Commissar says. "He got a pretty woman to bat her eyes at him and now is complaining about me putting a gun to his head. I knew the Princess would get me to stand down. Too gentle and loving to do otherwise." No emotion enters his voice.
"Of course," the Astropath responds. She moves on immediately. "What do you wish me to send to the Baroness?"
The Agent looks at the still sulking Lang. Then he turns back to her. "The Purge is on the move."
********************
You shake Malachi's hand with a smile. You got leave to say farewell to your Hazarder allies. Twin Trigger, Father Malachi, Iron Sight, Long Barrel, and Paragon Sand. You shook each one's hand several times. You realize that you will miss them.
"Happy trails, Princess," Sand says with a smile.
"Happy trails, Paragon Sand," you respond. You lean close and plant a kiss on his cheek. The man turns red. His friend Rourke immediately starts making fun of him as you move away.
Malachi bows deeply to you. "The planet of Hazard will forever be in your debt, Gun-Princess. It is with great sorrow that we bare you farewell."
You return the bow. "Might I ask where Saint Paragon is? I would assume he would be with you."
Malachi shakes his head. "No. He wishes to go out and aid the general Imperium. He managed to convince the Ecclesiarchy to let him travel with the Kratosian Armored 7th." He smiles thinly. "Apparently, he had a vision from the Emperor himself that he had to travel with you. Only makes sense, seeing as you were the one who woke him up in the first place."
You nod with a smile. You had been bombarded with questions by the Ecclesiarchal retinue that arrived yourself. You can't help but suspect that your status as a Princess made them be less aggressive.
Twin Trigger bows as well, her fellow Gun Saints mirroring the action. That is all they do. But you smile gently at them nonetheless. And then you leave. With a final "farewell" you leave your friends from Hazard behind at last.
******************
"Hell of a girl," Rourke says as he watches the sky, leaning on the Bolter.
"Yeah."
"Hell of a fight too."
"Yeah."
Rourke chuckles blithely. "Shit son, you're still hung up, aren't you."
Paragon Sand sits up at the wheel. He chuckles softly. "Nah, I figured there was no hope there. Just a beautiful girl with a nice smile." He looks out at the open road. "Listen. The Devil Gun was real, wasn't it? So who says there isn't stuff just as weird on this planet."
"Stands to reason I figure," Rourke says.
Paragon Sand grins. "And we are unconnected to any Cult, but have the backing of all."
"What are you saying?"
"What I'm saying, is I think it is time we went on a little adventure," Sand slams the pedal. The car moves forward. The Road Warriors of Hazard drive into the sunset.
*****************
Saint Paragon looks up as you enter his room, Alex and Ravana by your side. "Hey! Good to see you."
You smile gently. The man still wears that silly hat, the rest of his clothing is new at the very least. "I hear you had a vision."
He walks up to you with a grin. "What can I say. Saint stuff. Very mysterious." He winks broadly. You giggle to yourself.
Alex smirks. "Finally figured it out, then?"
"Haven't got a clue," Paragon answers bluntly. Ravana lets out an audible groan at that. "First step is practice I think. And for that, I'm going to need to use my new powers as much as possible."
"And you decided to stick with me?" You ask, letting a coy smile spread on your face.
"I have my reasons," the Saint responds. He attempts to sound cryptic is ruined by the grin on his face.
Ravana scowls. "Well, we shall all be watching you closely." She looks between you and Paragon. Her voice gets a touch colder. "Very. Very. Closely."
You shoot Ravana a scandalized look as Paragon and Alex laugh brightly. You join in a second later. For a moment at least, everything seems wonderful.
*******************
Thousands of Lightyears away, a ship hangs in the void. The ship is old. The ship is rotting down to its very soul. Within, one of its corrupted denizens storms into the command center. The Chaos Space Marine, long ago a member of a long forgotten Chapter of Raven Guard Origin, looks around the room. All he sees is two lurking figures in ancient Terminator Plate, looming by an empty command throne. Also in attendance is a hideously corrupted bloat of a Chaos Sorcerer. The Sorcerer looks up coldly. "Ah. Knowledge Seeker. What news do you bring?"
"Nothing for your ears, Monster Maker," Knowledge Seeker responds coldly. He glares bitterly at the Sorcerer. "Only The Death Walker himself will hear this."
Monster Maker shows no signs of anger, he only gestures at the throne. "Well, as you can see, Death Walker isn't here at the moment." What might have once been a sneer spreads on the corrupted being's face. "You may tell it to me, wretch."
Knowledge Seeker's hand moves to his bolter. He glares at the sorcerer viciously. "No."
A clang rings out across the room. Both Marines feel something force them down. Slammed to their knees by absolute force, the pair don't even have a moment to protest. He enters the room an instant later. Half-a-head taller than even the Terminator-armored warriors who are his elite guard, the Death Walker is a horrifying figure. His voice rings out like a bell. "It hurts me deeply to see such pointless fighting between fellow members of the Purge." The Champion stomps to his throne. He sits on it, looking on his minions with cold dismay. "Such rivalries and petty backstabbing have no place in this Warband. Not since I took it over and opened it to all who share in my vision."
"It was the wretch Knowledge Seeker," Monster Maker snarls. "He was about to draw his weapon."
"He lies!" Knowledge Seeker shrieks. "He-"
"Silence." Death Walker demands. The room falls utterly quiet. "You had a report for me, Knowledge Seeker. What is it?"
The two feuding warriors are freed from the psychic hold. Knowledge Seeker promptly falls to his knees again before Death Walker. "Master. I regret to inform you that our operation on Hazard failed. Our brother rose an army and awoke the Devil Gun, but he was stopped. By actions of an Imperial Knight and a minion of the Corpse Emperor."
The Death Walker chuckles. It fills the room like a funeral song. "It matters not. What comes next will end all life in the sector as planned. One failure doesn't change that."
"Of course, master," Monster Maker declares excitedly. "Once we achieve our plans, all will be ready. Hazard will die with all the rest, just a touch later than expected."
A cold smile spreads on Death Walker's blunt features. "As will all life, before the Purge."
