A different kind of Knight

Chapter 10

KRKRKRKR!* The sound of crumbling rocks silenced for a short while. *KRSHSHSHKRKSHkrshshschkrkrkk! Tuoc. Tuc. Toc.* A thunderous noise of crashing rocks echoes fron the crevice and it gets weaker over time till that is heard is naught but a few pebbles clattering deep in the rocky depths. What fell definitely isn't us since I very much still feel alive along with the waving plains of grass before me providing a great proof to the idea known as 'not dead'.
Turning only the Knight's upper torso to observe what could've possibly been the scenario for my death which thankfully isn't due to happen, for now. On the ground I see no giant footsteps even though I recall making three steps and very big piece of the ground missing. Eh, what's done is done. No point in further thinking about it. *THUD! THUD!* Two thuds emanated above me, most likely originaring from the persom who decided to treat me like I'm her steed. WELL! Not just any steed, but a glorious one! Surely Alice will commend for the glorious display of bravery, quick-thinking, and heroism that I just performed. "LUKE! WHY DID TOU DO THAT! WE COULD HAVE DIED THERE! " Or not. She will continue to berate me further if I fail to make reasons for my actions! Work it brain! Work for the Imperium! HHHHHHRRRRRRRRNNNNGGGGGHHHH! Aha! "It was a shortcut!" I said it to her without any weakness or shame in my voice since I know predatory animals like cats like her or any carnivorous beings often will and shall exploit moments of weaknesses! "YOU ARE JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE WHO I'VE MET! BASTARDS WHO NEVER REALLY CARED!" That, genuinely, made me feel bad. *Sob.* I can hear softly crying through the auditory sensors of the Imperial Knight which made it only worse due it being amplified to a degree. I felt like I failed her. Heh, All this armor and yet I still get hurt. "Damn it Luke, you are a noble who's purpose is to protect the innoccent! But you failed!" The nobleman part of my mind seperates itself from me as to realign my goals. Wait, the loyalist part of my brain wishes to present it own side of the arguement. "Brother. she is no innocent. The moment she was born as a xeno, is the moment she lost innocence. If anything, I bet she will kill you the moment you step out there. Stay loyal! Remember, we must rid of this world of all the filth if humanity still wishes to thrive. Filthy abhumans, detestable zenos, misguided traitors, unpredictable psykers, and anyone else who dares to wish harm upon humanity!" Then... Humanity will end up with no allies, friends, or anyone to love it back. It will be all alone. There will be no one
to fight for humanity for this kind of thinking ensures that the entire galaxy shall grind us to dust. Humanity will only be hated as it hates. What if... We were to exist in peace? What if... We... Break this cycle of hatred? Silence. The loyalist doesn't know how to respond back. What if we were to exist
world where humanity isn't hated? "We could
now, starting
with her: Alice." The nobleman retreats back into the pink gooey organ as he gave me his final arguement. A course of action has been plotted, a path of
forgiveness. *CLICK! * The web of harnesses dangles freely as it no longer hugs me snugly. *Pop. * The cables are freed from the ports of my skull as I gently pulled them off one-by-one. *PSSSHHHH!* The cockpit is exposed to the outside world once more as my respirator clad self climbs out. Alice is just sitting to herself as she sobs quietly since I no longer have luxury to have it amplified through the vox. "Alice. I am sorrry." She does not
responds but she did stop sobbing. "Alice, do you forgive my actions?" She doesn't respond. I went onto my knees to plead harder and to show something that I should never dare to show: vulnerability. "Alice! Forgive me!" I yelled as hard as I can while the mask tries to dampen my voice as hard as it could. Well, time to show that I am not the bastard Alice must've thought me of. "Alice, what if... I said that I can die to the air since I am not used to it? And if I were to take this mask off do you think I would die?" She finally raises her head and looks at me with reddened eyes along with a wet trail of tears on her fur. "Why?" She asks. I take a deep breathe in. "Because I am gonna show just how willing I an to die for you right now." She suddenly springs into action as I grab the mask and lift it off from my face. "DAMN IT LUKE! PUT IT BACK ON!" She firmly holds the mask with both hands as she leglocks my head. I stubbornly grabbed the mask fron her
hand and threw it back into the open hatch. "HRK!" I try to say something but it got stuck in my throat since the air is unbreathable. "HYYYUUUHHH! A-LI-CE! HYYYUUUHH!" I say her name as I stuggle to breath. She only steps back and only watches while I struggle and squirm as if I was choking on something. She then lunged at me and hugged me tightly. Her fur gently tickles my face. Her hug is is tight and unyielding like a child who doesn't want to part with their parent, and her wet tears drip onto my neck as I close my eyes as my breathe weakens to short gasps. "Luke. Please, no." She gently whispers her thoughts into my ear. I gently whispered.
"SURPRISE!"