Secret War: The Annihilation Plague (Part 2)

Chapter 15

For a good ten seconds or so, the Catachan smiled at Attelus silently. Then the smile grew into a grin, and he laughed. 'Nah, nah, just kiddin' kid. But it is true, sorta. He is me right now, as he's been watchin' this all through my eyes.'

Attelus frowned. 'So, he's a psyker then?'

The Catachan tilted his head. 'Yeah, thought you would've known that as you came here to speak with him and all.'

Attelus looked away. They didn't have access to the data due to Soloston being from the Gothic Sector, so hence why they didn't know that nor even Soloston's appearance. It was interesting that Soloston happened to be a psyker as he was the first psychic Inquisitor Attelus had met, despite the fact that quite a few were said to be. But it made sense, Inquisitors were a minority, a frigging tiny minority, and psychic Inquisitors were a minority inside an already tiny minority.

'If you wanna talk to him directly first, you'll have to prove yourself trustworthy,' said the Catachan.

'What? Why can't I just talk to him through you right now?'

'Because.'

'Because, why?'

'Because he's a fraggin' Inquisitor, that's why.'

Attelus rolled his eyes. 'Yes, of course, that's why; how could I have forgotten.'

The Catachan tilted his head as if listening to someone, then said, 'What's my name?'

Attelus pursed his lips and tried to recall it, but it escaped his reach.

The Catachan grinned again. 'You were able to climb up that horrid cliff, but ya can't even remember my name; what kinda Throne Agent are ya? I bet you remember hers.'

He indicated Satiristine with a waving thumb.

Attelus just stayed silent and gave her a glance, which she met with one of her own.

'A strange one, that's for certain,' said the Catachan. 'But I'll bite, kid. What do you want to know from my master? Must be somethin' real important for ya to go to such lengths to get in here.'

Attelus raised his attention to the stone ceiling. Should he just blurt that out now? Especially with the Satiristine girl right there, who may or may not be Elandria in disguise? Well, if it were Elandria, she'd know why he was here anyway, so he may as try to ask before she potentially exploded his skull with a point-blank bolt round, then took his body away for whatever nefarious purpose Etuarq had in store for it.

'I need you to tell me about Gurtar.'

Now it was the Catachan's turn for his eyes to widen, and he straightened so fast it made both Sisters turn to him.

'What is the matter, sir?' said Satiristine.

'Ain't nothin' to worry your pretty little head about little missy,' said the Catachan. 'Now, I see why you'd made so much effort to get here, kid. How'd you find out about that?'

'I was told by General Tathe of the Elbyran Contingent himself.'

Now that made the Catachan flinch.

'How...' the words seemed to die in his throat, and then he turned to the Sisters. 'You two, get outta here, now.'

Satiristine and the grey-haired Sister exchanged bemused looks.

'But-'

'Ain't no buts here, Roliriss, you gotta go. I'll call ya back in when we're finished.'

They both stared at him for a few seconds before the grey-haired Sister nodded hesitantly, and then they both stomped out of sight.

The Catachan turned back to Attelus, his eyes shining in what might've been fear or rage. 'Tell me everything, now, frak ya.'