Vex Chronicles 4: Zeal

Imperial xenos

Aes Cognis, lower crew quarters

Cassilia intercepted Vex in the corridor before he could enter her domain. The inquisitor was not allowed inside and she what she was up to.

"I was looking for you," Vex mustered Cassilia. "I have a mission."

"You look paler than usual, princess," Sill threw in.

"I am fine." Cassilia waved it off.

It was better that they didn't knew that Cassilia could barely stand upright. Over the last moth she had somehow managed to hide the baby growing in her. And now it had been born. And with the other women giving birth too, her Beloved Heart was again growing.

"What kind of mission?," Cassilia quickly asked to move the topic away from her health.

"I have received concerning discrepancies in the communication from Codra Minor. There is a growing unrest. And it bears similarities to what happened on Eredius III. I want you to go there as my agent. Find out if it is the beginning of a genestealer infection."

"Codra Minor?," Cassilia asked.

"Yes, the minor forgeworld we visited during the starkiller treasure hunt. I would have made it my own mission. But there are more pressing matters. The affected words with potential necron archive-tombs are alerted. But I want to ensure personally that all precautions are taken. Sill and Markos will assist you during the mission. This will be the chance to prove yourself, Cassilia."

"Thank you, Vex." Cassilia nodded. But she remained careful. This mission was clearly a test for her loyalty. Easy, low risk and with Markos as her executioner if she allowed her genetic imprinted behavior to show...

Newfound love rose through Cassilia as the simple thoughts of the new Beloved One in her chamber touched her mind. Following an impulse Cassilia reached out for the psionic suggestion in Vex's mind. It was still there, hidden, active and ready for Cassilia to use.

"Your mission sounds more pressing." Cassilia enhanced her words with the suggestion. "Wouldn't it be better a better choice that Sill and Markos assisted you instead?"

Vex narrowed his eyes. The inquisitor resisted the suggestion. And for a moment Cassilia feared that she had gone too far. But Vex's odd behavior was over as quickly as it had begun.

"It is more of a diplomatic mission." Vex smirked. "And it will be boring for those two. But you are also right. Markos has to learn how to deal with nobles and highborn leaders. Markos will accompany me. Sill will still go with you as team leader. It's time that she proves herself as independent field agent."

Cassilia nodded. This wasn't her desired outcome. But it was still better for her. Naive Sill saw a friend in Cassilia, a loyal tool in Vex's arsenal. It would be easy to put wool over her eyes. That though made Cassilia cringe. But her love for the Beloved One was stronger.

"I will hunt every genestealer cultist – as it is my purpose."

"Good." Vex handed Cassilia a small data unit. "This contains all I know. Study it, plan your search and report back, my agent. Use force only if necessary. Your primary goal is to find any hints of a cult. If there is one, call for assistance. If there isn't – and I hope that's the case – report back and return home."

Cassilia nodded and excused herself. When she returned into her domain, imprinted love filled her mind and body. The concerned of giving up her position as matriarch was just a faint whisper. All she wanted to do was to press the little bundle of carapace and claws against her chest.

Cassilia would go on this mission. And when she would return, the Beloved One would finally begin to recreate the Beloved Heart. A genestealer cult hidden among the forces of an inquisitor. A place no one would even dared to look.

"Mordessa, assist me."

"Yes, matriarch."

The mind of Cassilia's most loyal bodyguard was linked so thoroughly to the brood mind that talking was more tradition than necessity. Mordessa reveled in her genetic loyalty to her matriarch.

"Sandine, Denseria," Cassilia called for the two women. "You will join me on this mission."

Those two and Katra were the rest of living members of the Beloved Heart nodded. But where Katra had been turned into the nurse of the brood, the other two had been rewritten into extensions of Cassilia's growing psionic powers. Over the last few months since the starkiller's destruction had implanted knowledge and a constant mental rapport into Sandine and Denseria. The two could now use Cassilia's gifted mind as if it was their own. Being their conduit would put a heavy strain on Cassilia. But like this the two could act as if they were psykers, as long as they were connected to their matriarch through the brood mind.

Cassilia pressed her and Ak Kressman's baby against her breast and the love she felt banished all nagging questions and regrets.

"If your father would be alive he would be proud of you. I am proud of you."

Love flooded into Cassilia, clashing with the impulses of artificial loyalty of the control implants in her head. But even stronger was an emotional protest that swelled in her like warm but foreign thought. But whatever it was, it was quickly suppressed by her new motherly love for what she had birthed.

"When I will return, you will rise to power. And I will gladly serve your Beloved Heart."