Secret War: The Annihilation Plague (Part1)

Chapter 11

Attelus stood against the balcony of the main building of the refectories, leaning slouched against the wall and smoking a Lhos stick while gazing across the haze covered city, aptly called Port Suffering. The smell of the Lho somewhat helped with the horrid stench clogging his nose, his mouth, his tear ducts. To the east was the administratum building; the Counting House towered over the rust ridden, a brown and dark red hodgepodge of the run-down world around it. Its black monolith stone structure, such a stark contrast that even if it weren't so tall, it'd stand out. To the north, right in the middle of this damned "city", was the spaceport, which rose even higher than the Counting House but wasn't so grim and black.

'God-Emperor, I frigging hate this place,' he said.

'"God-Emperor"?' said Darrance as he approached. 'You don't use that one too often, apprentice."

And I will use it even less now, Attelus thought, fighting back a frightened flinch. 'Really must emphasise how much I hate this shit-hole, then,' Attelus sniffed.

Darrance laughed. 'Indeed, so. I hate it too. Next thing we know, I might start praying that the Inquisitor gets here soon to pick us up.'

Attelus sniffed again. 'Hey, in all honesty, it could help. I won't be stopping you.'

'Any word from her, yet?'

'Darrance, I only sent the message four hours ago; what do you think?'

The pilot shrugged. 'I know, I am just desperate to leave as well. Why did we have to land here again?'

'Because it's quite close to Scintilla, galactically speaking, but not too close and a webway gate a good distance from anywhere for us to use.'

Darrance grimaced and swiped his hand dismissively. 'Not a good enough reason in my view.'

'Whatever,' said Attelus.

'Speaking of Elandria...'

Attelus' eyes shot to Darrance, his teeth clenching. Darrance looked back at him with eyes that swelled with what seemed to be sympathy. That'd been Elandria's catchphrase.

'What about Elandria?'

'Well, Elandria, she used to say "whatever" a lot did she now? She is still alive, to an extent. Do you...do you want to talk about it?'

'I don't know how talking about it will help anything, Darrance,' said Attelus. 'She's...she's gone. She's still gone. It's not her any more.'

Darrance shook his head. 'Maybe, but you said it before, she still has her mind, literally, and-'

'That's enough, frig it.'

Darrance's face darkened. 'If you are right, will you be able to do it?'

'Do what?'

'For Emperor's sake, Attelus, do not play stupid. You know what I mean.'

Attelus took the almost burnt out Lho from his lips between index finger and thumb, flicked it off the balcony and sighed. 'Anything on Hayden?'

An anger ridden grimace crossed Darrance's haughty, sharp features. Attelus knew the anger meant "do not change the subject," but he didn't care. It was still strange Saderth Darrance with short hair; for years beforehand, Darrance always had his hair long and tied back. Attelus just kept watching Darrance before popping out another Lho from his plasteek case.

'He is still sulking in his room,' said Darrance, finally seeming to give up. 'Both Adelana and Delathasi are standing guard at his door while I am here.'

While nodding, Attelus lit his new Lho stick with his igniter. 'Good. Although, he's not the only one who hates me now. Tathe, Karmen do too.'

Darrance raised an eyebrow. 'Karmen? Why? Is that why you two stopped your...excursions during our time with the Eldar?'