AN UNLIKELY ALLIANCE (FEMALE CUSTODES x MALE GUARDSMAN): A WARHAMMER 40K STORY

Meanwhile on Terra....

A ballroom. First person POV of a very tall woman. She is walking in a beautiful gown. Another woman of normal height, says, “My beautiful lady, you want to dance?”. The woman replies, “Yes”. They dance. After a while, she picks up the woman to kiss her. That's when the outside turns black. It's starting to rain blood. Every single human in the room turns into Daemons. Even the woman she picked up to kiss. The Daemons all attack her. Cuts to black. Aurora wakes up on a bed without her armor, scared. It was her dream. It is almost impossible to dream for a Custodian. Yet… . She sees Sister Proxima near her. She speaks (in sign language, Sisters of Battle speak in sign language), “You were out for several hours. Nobody has seen a Custodian puke like that”. Aurora replies, “It was like my intestines got ripped out. A teleportation grenade. I need to go back…”. “No. You can't. The Astra Militarum has ordered the Exterminatus of Corvus. It's a lost cause now”. Aurora yells, “Lost cause? LOST CAUSE?! I got friends there.” Proxima replies, “By friends you mean Guardsmen you met just 2 days ago. They are mere mortals, sister”. “But I promised them I would get them out, alive”, Aurora replies. Shield-Captain Borsa Thursk, the Lockwarden of the Shadowkeepers, enters the room- “Warden Lumina, you've already violated Codex Adeptus Custodes by traveling alone to a planet you weren't ordered to. But that is a small crime so we can forgive you. Don't try that again”. Aurora replies, “But sir, what good am I if I don't save others?”. The Lockwarden says, “You are saving people by guarding these Dark Cells. Who knows who might steal what if we are not guarding them”. He leaves. An idea strikes Aurora. She shifts to sign language so that no one else hears- “Steal….Proxima, where are the Allarus Terminator Armors and Dawneagle Jetbikes stored?”. Proxima says, “What are you planning to do?”. Aurora- “Remember those designs I made for a Allarus Armor fitted with anti-gravity engines?” Proxima- “Sister, I don't know what you are thinking about”. Aurora- “Please Proxima, this one time. I promise, if I come out alive, I will take you to Luna.” Proxima- “Fine. But I ain't giving you a teleporter”. Aurora- “Who needs a teleporter?”.

A dockyard. A Rogue Trader light cruiser is landed. The crew of the ship witnesses a hooded, large figure walking towards them. They point their guns at it. The Captain of the ship arrives and asks, “Who are you? What do you want here?”. The figure removes the hood. It's Aurora. She enthusiastically says, “Captain Drake of the Oasis? I need your help”. Captain Drake replies, “A Custodian needing my help? Did the Sun rise in the West today?”. Aurora says, “Our ancestors knew each other, so I can ask you a favor. Tonight, I need to go to the Opal system. I have a friend stuck there. I am violating the law by doing this so I need people who are experts at violating laws without anyone realizing they are violating laws.” Captain Drake replies, “What do I get out of this?”. Aurora smiles and says, “I'll plead for you to get a medal of valor.” Captain Drake smiles and says, “Okay fine. Two hours after sundown. Don't be late”. Aurora walks away.

A Solar Watch Custodian walks by the armory and is shocked. She reports, “Someone just stole an Allarus Terminator Armor and a Dawneagle Jetbike!”. Aurora almost runs into one of the guards while escaping. They try to shoot at her but Aurora dodges the shots. Captain Drake turns the engines of her ship on, and speaks to Aurora on the radio, “Custodian Lumina, hurry up”. Aurora replies, “My colleagues are shooting at me! So forgive me if I'm late!”. The Lockwarden arrives and says, “Stop! Stop shooting her! Let's see what she does. A dangerous game she's playing”. Aurora drives the bike straight into the ship and the door closes. The ship takes off.