A Monster in Hell: A 40K Story

Chapter-19

With Amberley appointed Lady-Inquisitor of the Ordo Xenos, I began to prepare for my upcoming appointment with Lord-Inquisitor Fyodor Karamazov. 

I assessed the man carefully. The man was a harsh, inflexible, fanatical zealot who cared for nothing but to mete out justice as he saw fit. He believed there was no innocence, there were degrees of guilt, and that those who were innocent had wasted his time and were therefore guilty. In other words, he was compliant with the famous maxim of Judge Traggat of the Adeptus Arbites. As C.S. Lewis had quoted, robber barons were better than morally omnipotent busybodies. And Karamazov definitely belonged to the latter category. He believed he could do no wrong, the Inquisition could not err. He was responsible for many morally reprehensible and vile acts for which he did not have any true justification. All for his paranoia. His throne that he used to dispense judgment was a reminder of the Abraxan Purge. Decius, our Ecclesiarch, was a reminder of Salem Proctor.

However, Karamazov was not a complete fop. He did not desire wealth and power, he only cared about being a savior. He was extremely meticulous and cunning, carefully plotting things behind the scenes even as he called death upon heretics. Most importantly, he was good enough with a sword to have dispatched Chaos-oriented Space Marines in single combat before, and after getting his weaponized throne he had cut down dozens of them. He had become a Lord-Inquisitor in the Imperium by his own merit and by earning respect, something that was a necessary criteria for obtaining the high rank. While he was feared, he was equally responsible for deeds that had obtained respect. 

So I knew I had to be, at the least, wary. I could be potentially outsmarted into a bad deal or attacked by a massive weapons arsenal. 

Along with the footsteps of the guards came a stomping sound of something heavy, which I correctly assumed was the Lord-Inquisitor's arrival.

High Lords Dyson and al-Wazir entered the room. Around them were a contingent of armed guards. Following them were Custodians, the shields of the Empress. Then came some Inquisitors and armed guards. 

At long last, the man, with his stomping throne, had entered.

Well, I was not to be outdone. I had commissioned a high throne simply for that purpose. Anyway...

"Major Bryant," Karamazov boomed, "I was quite pleased that you have finally accepted a ceasefire and a meeting."

"You will address the Supreme Leader by his proper title, In---" began al-Wazir, only for me to silence the man.

"We will hear what you have to say. I am sure it is because the Lord-Inquisitor sees me as a heretic." I responded, "I will let this minor slight... slide. I do hear you have a reputation for being uncouth and brutish, after all, Lord-Inquisitor." I saw his jaw tighten, "Please lay down your terms."

"The rightful authority of the High Lords of the Imperium Sanctus, or the only true Imperium, lays down their terms to your false Empire. I am merely a messenger. Dominique, pass me the documents." He read them out, "Firstly, that you will cease all forms of aggression on our territory. Secondly, that you will return all the hostages to their rightful authority. Thirdly, that you will... surrender yourself to answer for your little rebellion to the High Lords themselves," I distinctly heard him mutter to himself with my enhanced senses, "Which of those retarded fools wrote this one? He will never accept such terms."

Even the Lord-Inquisitor understood that the offers were stupid. I wonder who was in charge at this point?

"Ah... that is a tall order, Lord-Inquisitor." I finally spoke after a long pause, "May I ask what you have to offer me? Oh... excuse me, the High Lords have to offer me."