What I fight for

X Theurgus

- Titus, father calls you!
- What is it, Theo? - he gasped, bent under the weight on his shoulders. Titus couldn't move, not even turn his head, - come in and tell what's going, boy.
- The harpies are back! - a three-years old child looked into the dim cave. This world had a long circle, speaking in Terran terms he was three times older.
- Put it down, Titus, - the greased man came out the hole, - that can wait, the damned beasts don't. Thank you for your help.
- You need a lifting machine or a servitor, Aram, - the Astartes gently put the fieldengine down. The dirty human smiled and spread his arms. He was a mechanic and turned this cave into some kind of a repair shop in the middle of meadows, to spare time for dragging the broken machines in the settlement.
- The Mechanicus keep telling he has no means.
- Then he has none, - nodded Titus, coming after the boy.
- No doubt, the poor metallic fellow can't even lie, - laughed Aram, limping on his own artificial legs after them and yelled for goodbye, - and who needs a servitor, when you have a friend like you, Titus?!
- How many? - he asked the boy who was driving a wheeled vehicle, noisy, smelly and primitive. "A friend" - that who he was these days.
- A dozen or so, the shepherd said so, - answered Theo, steering the wheel stiffly. The road was wide and straight, but the child was fascinated with his control over the slow engine. Titus could outrun the machine, but that would give him a few minutes benefit during which he would have to stare at beasts feasting on the stock - his weapon was coming in the similar vehicle from another place. The Astartes looked around: the true wild nature, not spoiled by war or mining; high snow-caped mountains covered with green meadows; there were creeks and lakes with drinking water - a privilege unaffordable for the most of the rest mankind out there; and the cleanest air he has ever inhaled. Skwetuz was the best world he has ever been to. Titus corrected himself: in this life. Nothing would ever compete with the worlds he has conquered with his brothers, no matter how dull or hazard those planets were. Alone and naked, he stayed a legionary. The pouch hanged on the neck and the knife was always battle ready. There were no wars on this Agri-World, but fights happen.
- Theo, where are you? - creaked the vox, - the harpies are in the sector L-V5, go southwest, son!
- We are coming, father! - Theo squinted at the compass and the map of meadows. Titus showed the direction with his fingers; he was going to battle, a small one, just as his current battle-brother.
They were riding by vast fenced fields of green. Big slow animals ignored them. Gene-modified, the cattle only think about the food and sleep, paying to attention to the rest of the world. The reproduction was also out of their interest, so artificial insemination was one of the main jobs of the settlers. Of course, the animals show no aggression, and fences were purely for organization means. It also helped to find the harpies when they come. The true nature of these predators was unknown. The mayor called them so, saying there were similar ancient winged beasts on Terra. "I asked the Mechanicus and he told me that he is not a biologis, - told the man, - so I came up with this name".
- Praise the Emperor, Titus, you are here! - few men stood around another vehicle. Yaan proudly padded Theo on the head, - there are four of them, - one human got red, - six are dead, let's stop it at this number. We've called the planetary defense, but..
- But who needs them, why we have you, - a big human laughed and tossed him a crossbow and a quiver, - by the time they come here the half of the cattle on this field would be eaten.
- Don't exaggerate, Kurt! And don't talk bad about the army, they are the chosen of the Emperor, - Yaan meaningfully showed with his eyes at the child, - come on, friends, protect our cattle. Theo, guard the vehicles, don't worry. The Emperor protects us.
- And Titus, - the child looked at him confidently, and he nodded back, feeling the glances of other humans - they all felt that way, trusting in him.
Loading up the crossbow, the Astartes came into the sector L-V5, six men followed him, armed with the same weapon and holding long spear like sticks which were used to make the sleepy cattle move. Titus knew, he was the only real hunter: Kurt was brave and ferocious, Yaan was calm and resolute, but all of them were common people, trying to protect their way of life, lacking the means to do so. The Astartes went first, walking around the indifferent cattle chewing and defecating, the people kept distance. It was far from the first operation of this sort. He didn't know how those Terran harpies looked like, but the beasts from Skwetuz was leathery creatures on six legs with the twin tail. A pair of big wings grew on the upper back and the lesser pair - on the lower-back. The harpies were as big as humans and of course couldn't drag away the prey, so they feed where they kill. Each predator could gnaw out bowels of three or more herbivores. Titus slowed down, seeing the gored flat snout of the first creature. The smell of the cattle would cover him, but only until he killed the first predator. The bred animal stood next to its unfortunate kin, not seeing the bloody end which was awaiting it. To save this one, he must attack now. The predator fell down, squawking and beating with wings and tails. He jumped over the saved herbivore and finished with the knife what the arrow started. The rest beasts rose into air, screaming and flapping with their leathery wings. Titus shot one in the full stomach, making it fly away shakingly. The rest two dived on him, arrows flew by them with no harm done. He got to reload his crossbow and jumped aside - one harpy flew by and went up again, the other crushed into the chewing animal knocking it down and tearing down with paws and spiked tails. He hadn't saved the mindless creature after all, it was laying silently, rolling eyes and opening mouth - a living automate people made for their needs. Titus shot the predator in the head and stopped the agony of the prey piercing its skull with his blade.
- Look out! - humans called him shooting the air behind him.
The Astartes turned around stretching out the hand with the knife meeting the last harpy, stupid enough not to flee from him. The blade cut the predator open, but the weight of the beast pushed him into the wet carcass of the killed herbivore.
- Are you alright?! - Yaan shouted to him.
- Besides the need of bath? - chuckled Kurt giving him a hand, like his limb could lift him up.
- I am alright, - Titus stood up by himself, soaked in the blood and gore. All battles ended this way: he was alive and wet with enemy's blood. - Go finish the wounded one, it couldn't fly far away.
- Will do, boss! - Kurt took the others and ran away eagerly.
- "Boss", - Yann looked at the back of the big man, - and he wanted you dead, remember? So jealous of Lea for you.
- I gave no cause, - Titus didn't remember that. Not always he could understand humans' emotions and the way they think.
- What causes?! - laughed the man, - women were afraid of you as of some kind of monster. - Yann lied. They still feared him, all of them. But at the same time, they relied on him and did not try to investigate his origin or to hand him out to Imperial authorities. Such life was a rare opportunity for him and he has been enjoying it as long as he could.
- Done! - Kurt and two men returned to them, - go home and bring the good news to the mayor - only eight heads are gone. Guys will deal with the corpses, it's their segment after all.
- Wow, it must have been a good fight! - Theo met them with joyful screams, hiding that he was worried for the father. Titus didn't understand it - he always felt easy praising other legionaries or showing his satisfaction with their return without losses.
- Titus did the whole work as always, but we've seen some action too, - Kurt showed the blooded pike to the boy and tossed into the cart, - now take our ageless friend to the settlement.
- Why do they call you the forever young, Titus? - Theo asked him, while his father was driving the vehicle. They split with the others and now riding to the settlement, laid in the valley, surrounded with mighty mountains and crowded meadows.
- Because people always tell rubbish and all kind of nonsense. - Yaan answered for the Astartes, - Titus just leads a healthy life, doesn't drink and doesn't run from the work. The Emperor granted him a good tough body, that's it, got it?
- Yes, father, - the boy glanced at the giant with doubt. The father didn't have a clue how close his lie was to the truth. His size and strength were one thing, the humans got used to, the age was another. Titus kept track of the Imperium calendar - he came to this people over twenty Terran years ago. Aram, whom he saved from the fall in mountains which cost the human his legs, Kurt and Yaan, were young men back then, now they were middle aged. He knew about the talk that he was a saint, sent by the Emperor to help them. The generation of their kids looked at him with awe and wonder, remembering their fathers' stories, but how their own children would take him? Nothing was eternal, and this life of his wouldn't last forever. Theo continued, - why don't we just destroy those ugly harpies onсe and for all? It's the very end of the 39th millennium and we can't get rid of some giant lizards.
- Titus? - pleaded Yann, - would you tell my stupid son one more time, since he doesn't take his father's answer for the truth.
- Have you seen other planets, Theo? - Titus teased the boy. He liked him and wondered why - Theo would never made a candidate to Astartes, neither he would survive on Terra or other worlds he's seen. Maybe that was the reason: a soft boy lives in peace with his family, ignorant of horrors which others overwhelmed for him - was it the goal of the Crusade? Has he and his brothers fought for this?
- You know I haven't, - answered the human child morosely.
- Believe me, you are lucky to live here, and since these beasts are here too, then they are needed for something. Otherwise the Mechanicus would eliminate them long before you were born.
- See? You are not the smartest on the planet, Theo, - laughed Yaan and they came into the settlement. Everybody knew about the harpies attack, so no one gasped at his bloody look. The humans have seen him in red before: he protected their cattle from predators, he saved themselves one time, beating the gang of bandits, picked the wrong place to rob.
- Our Gerkulys is back, - a lean good-humored man came out the Administratum building, - striking terrible beasts with his bow in the name of the Emperor and for our sake.
- They used crossbows! - answered the boy laughing, jumping off the vehicle, - you are speaking nonsenses again, Furkan.
- Theo! Watch your tongue speaking to an adult, especially to the mayor!
- It's alright, Yann, - easily replied the man, - old legends are not nonsense, boy, they prove that mankind had protectors back there, when the God-Emperor hadn't yet united us. - The mayor looked at Titus, - having one among us, makes it easier to believe in it.
- It was the same mindless small predators, - replied the Astartes. Furkan was the oldest in the settlement, been through the rejuvenation and knew much more about the outside life than anybody else. He hadn't asked him about his past, though had plenty opportunities. Titus thought, he just didn't want to know, escaping the possible duty of giving him out in case he did.
- Nevertheless, dangerous they are. Wash off the blood, Titus, Maude will show you the way.
- I know where the shower is, - he said goodbyes to the father and son and stepped in the "Imperial palace", how he called the small house of Furkan. The woman was there, greeting him with the bow.
- Titus, what can we do for you? - she always asked the same question with the same look in her grey eye. They say she was the most beautiful woman on the whole Skwetuz. The red lens glowed brightly through the forelock - that was all those bandits got to do before meeting the Astartes.
- I will use the bathroom. - He squeezed in the stainless-steel compartment and turned on the water. Titus put off his shirt, hitting the door and walls with the elbows and the running away streams turned red. In a minute he heard a gentle knock on the door.
- Titus, would you grant your time to His servants? Your strength is needed.
- I'll be out soon, Jason.
- Thank you, our community owes you so much, - the priest Jason was the quietest human Titus has ever seen. And looked like the others respected him for that. He put on his wet shirt. The Astartes couldn't come out to these people with uncovered body - his unhuman muscles twisted and crossed all over by scars would scare them more than any harpy from the old legends.

Next morning at the dawn Titus went out the Furkan's house, he was going to walk back to Aram's cave to finish the job the iron-legged mechanic started.
- Let me give you a ride, Titus, - Yaan ran to him, sleepy and shivering from cold, - just wait a second.
- No need, - the Astartes made waved his palm shortly, - come back home.
- We take you for granted, - said the human, not daring to look him straight in the eyes, - and you behave as it is, but it's not. The Emperor protect us from being ungrateful! Thank you, Titus, for the yesterday, I am speaking for the whole settlement.
- You are welcome, - he answered to the man.
- Theo could learn from you manners too, - laughed Yaan, - let me walk you out then.
- Come back to your family, - Titus said to him when they passed few steps through the silent settlement. The Astartes put a hand on the tiny human's shoulder and looked him in the eyes, - kill them fast while you can.
- What? - stunned Yaan asked him.
Titus has turned his back to him already; he was looking at the open doorway of the house by the road. The noiseless darkness of the pathway stared back. He stepped forward.
- I have seen you, filthy xenos, - the Astartes spread his empty hands and screamed, - show yourself!
- What's going on?! - the human was afraid and still stood behind him.
A pale figure emerged from the building, running at him silently. The xenos jumped him over, easily escaping his fist. Flying by, the enemy cut his ribs and the right shoulder and the shriek of Yaan told him, that the human was going to be the next victim. But the alien underestimated Titus, and the Astartes leapt after the screaming xenos, crushing him in the earth. With whole his weight he pressed the gentle neck with his left arm and broke it. He didn't feel his right arm, the numbness crawled to his chest and probably would stop the hearts soon. The sky burst with noises: hum of engines and alien screaming woke up the settlement, announcing the doom came to the humans. Three long spikey skimmers threw off the camouflage and were descending raining Aeldari rogues on flying boards and jetbikes.
- There is no escape from them, Yaan, - Titus pushed the shocked human to his home, - save them, kill them now! Run!
The xenos didn't shoot, they came for captives. To fight back this horde several squads were needed, Titus was alone. If the poison wouldn't kill him - he will join the humans in the slavery. The legionary of the 16th would rather die.
- I said run! - roared the Astartes shaking the frozen human. People were looking in the windows or went out curiously to find the reason of the noise - the small streets filled with cries.
- Help me, save us! - the wet face of Yaan looked at him. He mistook him for a miraculous saint or some always winning hero from the legends.
- Let's go! - Titus ran towards the man's house. It didn't matter now where he would die.
The Aeldari were among them. Titus ignored screams and pleas from the houses around - his enemy would find him eventually. His body stopped the poison, the numbness hasn't gone further than the right half of the torso and arm. The thigh felt strange, but he could run.
- No! Let her be, monsters, - Kurt landed, rolling on the ground. He has been tossed out his own house, in the door emerged Aeldari in high helmet, clad in crimson armour, decorated with human skulls and skins. In one gauntlet the tall xenos easily held wriggling Lea, almost naked and blooded: five thin tracks came from the forehead to the knees - tracks of sharp tips of the gauntlet. With the curved sword in the other hand Aeldari knocked out Kurt, hitting him with the blunt side of the blade. Titus felt the interested look at his back, as he and went mad Yaan ran the scene by.
- Down! - the Astartes fell to the ground, letting the flying board go by. The xenos got him with the staff of his polearm - the heavy hit tossed him on the earth. Screaming Aeldari flew further pursuing another victim.
- Help them! - gasped Yaan, stiffed and twisted from the poison getting control over him.
- I will try, - the Astartes gave the human a mercy stroke and ran further. One flying xenos got shot down, falling in flames. Titus turned to look at the shooter. The Mechanicus held the cooling plasma-gun in artificial hand; the human one fired the las-pistol. The Martian got few tendrils, coming from the back, they were moving, protecting the techno-priest from the xenos circling around him. Titus got a glimpse of false hope and urge to help the calm adept of the Machine-God: with the weapon and such ally he could kill some Aeldari. But another xenos joined the fight, cutting off the tendrils. The metallic body of the Mechanicus was sliced to pieces instantly - he would make a bad slave anyway.
- No, no! - to his left a woman was begging the xenos on her knees to give her child back. The Aeldari held the screaming baby for the leg, head down, spinning and swinging it, obviously enjoying the cry of the mother. Paralyzed humans laid around, the useless pikes and crossbows were laid next to them. Another xenos emerged and lashed the woman with his whip, knocking her out and pointing at him with the weapon. The first dropped the baby and turned to the Astartes, beckoning to avenge people. Titus turned right - obviously he was marked as a precious captive and Aeldari would try to take him alive. He would save Theo from the truth and spare him the tortures the xenos got planned for him. Then he would try to make Aeldari angry and kill him at the spot. The Astartes hoped that in their arrogance, the xenos would try to catch him in the close combat, not just shooting down. He was close to the Yaan's house, when an Aeldari came out the neighbor home. The hideous xenos was bareheaded, the long face was smirked in blood; the segmented armour with sharp razors all around it was stained with gore; the rogue limped and shook like a drunk or ill person; slanted eyes were deep red mist. Titus got, that this one wouldn't let him go and charged the beast. The Aeldari leapt on him like a wild animal, with roar and claws ready to rip him open. The enemy lacked the common agility of his kin and the time was running out. Titus sacrificed his right shoulder turning it to the xenos. Lighting strikes fell on his numb flesh, ripping the back too. His knife pierced the muddy eye, but the Aeldari seemed to miss it. Titus screwed the blade, stopping the mad xenos. The back ached - another portion of alien toxin his body might not overcome. He looked back - two xenos looked at him, now showing any anger or sympathy to their dead. The Astartes turned back and stumbled to the Yaan's house. He fell down on the threshold, but not from shot and hit in the back - the legs just stopped to bear him. The noise of the raid has ceased, it was almost over. He heard slow steps of the xenos behind.
- Sandra! Theo! - Titus crawled into the house. It didn't smell Xenos, could they been spared the fate of others so far, so he would save the kid. - It's Titus, come out now, - he called them again - no secret room or dungeon will cover them from the Aeldari.
- Titus! What's going on? What was this noise? - the scared weeping wife whispered from another room, - Yaan came after you, have you met him?
- He sent me here, - the Astartes stood up, crushing the furniture and holding on to the wall. He felt nothing below breast, he just knew he had the legs and made them obey. Right eye got blurry, but the left hand still held the knife tight. Titus opened up the door.
- Chase them away! - the crying boy jumped out the closet and hugged his numb legs, - I know you can.
- There is only one way, - he said to the woman, who closed her mouth with the palm, seeing his beaten look. There was a sound of lash strike, and somebody stepped inside the house. Sandra - the Astartes has remembered many humans' names living here - cried silently and bowed, winching from suffer.
- Let me hold him, - he handed over the dead Theo to her. The woman hugged and kissed the kid. Swallowing tears, she lifted her head, opening the neck, - thank you, Titus.
He couldn't fight nor stand. Titus tried to sit down, but fell.
- The legionary of the 16th won't lie before filthy xenos, - with that thought the Astartes tried to stand up using the last limb he controlled, but the darkness stopped him.

Titus opened the eyes. It took couple moments to remember where he was - a rare experience for him. It was a sunset, but he wasn't sure that it was the same day. The pouch was there, the knife gone - an empty sheath hanged at his belt. He stood outside another settlement of Skwetuz, but this one resisted, or rather witnessed the attempt of the planetary defense forces to protected the world from the xenos. Fallen army flyers laid here and there, shredded and burned. Behind the vast crowd of humans, he saw imperial buildings, crushed under the debris of the governor palace, a true one, it used to be the tallest structure on the planet, including the choir of astropath, cathedral and all offices of the Administratum. Titus knew it by the tales of Furkan, so he had been moved to the capital. And he wasn't alone: dozens of thousands of people were herded like animals by sparse figures of the Aeldari, striking them with whips, leading them into elegant shuttles, which would take each of them to a personal hell. Those Xenos unlike the orks prefer the unique approach for every kill. Skwetus has suffered a planetary size invasion, the small peaceful world had no chance. Even if the call for help has been sent, they Imperium would find the depopulated globe, ready to be recolonized. Titus pulled out the dart out of his nape, it stuck out next to the psy-blocker he installed earlier that millennium. The one, who woke up him with this shot, hovered above him among other xenos on the long open flyer. The skimmer resembled a court of bored nobility: elegant and agile even standing still, filthy Aeldari stood watching at him through their helmets; spiked armour decorated with gruesome trophies; clawed palms idly lying on handles of weapons of all shapes and sizes. Those were the masters of the raid, or at least the commanders of these forces around him. Other xenos stood behind the leaders, looking as ugly and hideous as their superiors. They wanted a spectacle, and Titus was one of the actors. The rest were humans: four men and two women, all shocked but physically wholesome, stood in circle, gazing at him. Three of them wore the army uniform. Something blinked in the air and hit the ground between them - his knife. Titus looked at the xenos hatefully, knowing what they wanted. He would give them nothing. The Astartes sit on ground calmly. The humans acted differently: all of them except for the civilian female ran to the knife. Two men clashed together, the woman with the other, so one soldier grabbed the knife. He hit his former comrade in the back and finished the man knocked down by the last. Meanwhile, the female soldier has beaten her opponent and charged the owner of the blade. The man jumped on her and they rolled on the ground. After the short struggle, the soldier stood up, smeared with blood. He looked at him, then at the xenos and ran to the last woman, who kept standing still, looking down. She hardly defied the aliens, more likely, she was just too stunned and scared. Titus wanted to save her, but kept sitting - they would gain nothing from him. The murderer had no one in front of him but the Astartes. The mad man trembled with terror of his deeds, the fear for his future. Did he believe the xenos would let him go? Titus controlled his body again and he got his knife back in two fast movements. The Astartes stood up, sheathing the blade and looking at the Aeldari. The intricate helmets could scary humans, but he saw only ugly masks concealing filthy and frustrated xenos. The toy soldier didn't act as it supposed to be. Would they break him or punish somehow? Two Aeldari from the second row jumped from the skimmer, landed softly before him. Both were clad in black smooth armour, high helmets ended with white manes. One held short curved swords, the other spun the polearm. The xenos would feed on his emotions after all, but now he didn't care since it was a chance to kill one or two of them.
- 16th! - the scream came out by itself and Titus charged the xenos.
The Aeldari jumped at him trying to overrun each other, the one with the polearm was at his left. Titus picked him for the target, but in the last moment leapt on the other. The xenos with swords, however, was ready - he fended off the combat knife with one of his blades and stroke with the other. Titus managed to stop the alien's attack chopping the thin black arm with his palm. The Astartes got pushed forward by the strike across the back - the blade of complex shape emerged above his shoulder - the xenos missed a little and hit him with the stuff. Before the enemy pulled the shaft back, dragging the alien steel across his nape, Titus kicked the swordsman in the knee joint, cutting his own feet - the edges of smooth armour segments were razor sharp, and turned around swiftly grabbing the polearm. The Astartes tried to wrestle the weapon out of the Aeldari's hands, but failed, the xenos overtook him, jumping back. Titus darted in different direction, escaping the attack from the Aeldari behind - a tip of sword scratched him, bringing strong pain. Good, it's better than paralyzing toxin. He again faced the both enemies, but this time the xenos took a moment, not rushing at him, realizing how dangerous he was. Titus didn't wait them to cooperate and raced to the Aeldari with the polearm. The xenos used it as a spear, pocking at him, but Titus not just dodged the first strikes, but also caught the shaft with his left arm. He hit it with the knife, but the blade glanced off, failing to cut the alien weapon in half. The Astartes, still holding the polearms, turned back to parry attacks of the second xenos. The first Aeldari let go his weapon and kicked him in the head. Titus used the freed shaft to defend himself from the swordsman - there were no time to spin the polearm blade forward, but he was totally open for this new attack. The kick in the forehead pushed him down on his back. The swordsman rushed to finish him, but the alien weapon stopped his fall, and the Astartes pierced the neck of the xenos, whose swords almost cut his own chest open. The last enemy was already there, he ripped the polearm off his hand and finished his fall. Titus threw his knife from the land, not sure would it pierce the armour, he didn't find out - the xenos parried it in the air, sending the reliable blade in the dust soaked with humans' blood. He tried to jump up but got slapped on the face with the blade, that's it, he was beaten fair and square. The curved blade for a moment froze in centimeter before his eyes and then gone. The Aeldari turned back on him, confidently walking away to his satisfied masters. Titus jumped to his feet and leapt on him with bare hands and fell on his face.

Familiar soft voice called his name and he opened the eyes. He was kneeling on the ground, calves and wrists clapped together in shackles. Two curved blades laid on his shoulders, so he could only lift his head: the skimmer with the Aeldari was hovering at the same place; behind it the crowd of slaves was embarking another ship; two humans were stood surrounded with xenos at the land chosen to be an arena, filled with copses. While he was out, new bodies have emerged.
- Titus! Save us! - Maude screamed, hugged by Furkan. Not this time, humans.
The xenos stopped their victims and separated them. The Mayor was pulled for hands in opposite directions, readied to amuse Aeldari with his suffer. The woman cried and yelled, twitching in hands of the tortures, not knowing that she was only increasing their pleasure. Furkan stood bravely, looking at his wife, telling her something and for that he received swift death. Maude shrieked in terror, but the man himself didn't see what was coming: an Aeldari on floating device dived on him spinning from the sky and the board sliced him in half, splashing with blood the two xenos, who held the human and now were shaking their hands praising their kin. Maude fainted and they laid her between mutilated pieces of the husband. When the poor woman wakes up - her horror and agony would feed the monsters one more time. He heard the moan and cry behind, there stood another crowd of humans, either another queue of slaves or the stock for the entertainment.
- Take heart, brothers and sisters! - another familiar voice of the short life he had in this world. After leaving the legion, it was one of the best he had led. And the last. Priest Jason kept preaching, - those xenos beasts will not harm your souls. Be strong, show them how brave and proud mankind is. He will save us and punish these filthy aliens. The Emperor protects!
Not this time, humans.

The next loathsome entertainment was casting humans to a beast, the xenos brought with them. The monster was towering over Aeldari and had a huge bald head with many black eyes scattered around the bulging forehead. It moved on knuckles of massive arms, dark-grey and smooth. The second smaller pair of limbs grew from the waist and assisted. For the legs the monster got four short thick half-legs half-tendrils - it moved stumbly and clumsy. The skin of the beast was tattered and dotted with glowing implants - the ugly xenos was controlled and tortured by the humanoid ones. The tied up together humans were lined up before the monster, when it approached, they fell down, screaming and praying for mercy. The lucky ones fainted. The beast had no claws, its fingers were blunt and meaty, but the strength was enormous. Reluctantly, even fearfully, it took the nearest man with its upper hands and lifted up. The next human in the bundle was up too, screaming and twitching, hanging in the air. The one in the monster's grip was silent, Titus saw how red it got - he was squashed, liked a fruit. The ugly beast, receiving no punishment, torn the human in halves, dropping the lower part with the screaming man down. Narrow long mouth opened up under the lowest line of the eyes and the black sharp teeth gnawed at the carcass. A spasm ran through the hairless body - the beast was brought for the entertainment of the Aeldari, not for its own pleasure. The monster toddled forward, crushing the screaming man, sparing him of the worse death. The beast torn apart another human giving the xenos one more pleasure that day. The terrified screams and loud prayers behind him got drown out by the bang - the transport which was being loaded up with the slaves exploded, blowing away the human queue, like leaves. The Aeldari withdrew the blast wave and stood on their feet, surrounded with flying and scattered people. Another slender ship was falling down, lost all its grace. What was it? Two accidents at the same time couldn't be a coincidence. Did the xenos fell to the inner conflict?
- It is Him! - screamed Jason, - the Emperor has seen our sufferings and showed His wrath. The xenos rogues will be punished! The Emperor protects!
- How can it be? - Titus saw flashes in the sky and one red dot growing bigger with every moment. It must be a drop pod and it would be here in several seconds. The Astartes felt the joy - the filthy raiders would be punished indeed. The newcomers would probably kill him too, but he would see the dead Aeldari first. The blades were still on his shoulders, slightly moving - the xenos were looking around and communicating with each other, trying to understand what was happening. He must not give them the reason to kill him now, so he could see their own end. The Aeldari on the ground were assembling the survived slaves in the herd again; the xenos on the skimmer kept calmness and didn't move, only they pointy heads were turning slightly; the left alone monster was feeding on the wretched people, the cruel fate made sure, that the nearest to the beast humans saved consciousness while the fainted ones were laying out of the imminent danger. But they must have seen the falling drop pod, even the captives behind him noticed it, hoping that the legends of the God-Emperor's angels descending on His foes were true. A dark flash raced him over - an alien flyer was going to stop the prop pod.
- Like hell you will, - grinned Titus. He has made uncountable drop pod landings in the heart of enemies of all kinds: from the brute orks to the misleading human world, which technology even exceeded the Imperium's, - there were no cover from that magnificent rain of death. One pod could hit the mountain, one could crush into a towering building, but no defensive measures ever stopped the drop attack on his memory.
The skimmer with the leaders got engulfed with the fire, catching his attention. The flame dissolved, showing the intact transport - the void shield protected the xenos and got hit again. Somebody was firing at the skimmer from behind. Titus looked back in the sky - the drop pod was almost here; it would land among the slaves and the xenos. Too late to run from it. The Xenos fighter failed to stop it and became a prey on his own, trying to shake off the Imperial aircraft pursuing it. The Raptor Gunship, heavy, angular and crude, was firing at the curved elegant Aeldari flyer. The chase looked like somebody threw a big stone at a small pretty bird, though, this time - the bird was a dangerous parasite which must be annihilated. The knelt Astartes praised the unknown brothers arrived just in time. After another shot hit the skimmer, Titus heard the familiar roar of the engine. Rumbling ceramite beast approached from behind. The squad in the pod and the coming Predator would attack the xenos from two direction in several moments. The Tank kept firing its autocannon at the skimmer, keeping it in one place, the Aeldari on the ground forgot about the captives and watched the approaching pod, trying to guess the landing spot. Titus took a breath, ready to die - now, when the fight would begin, the xenos must kill or leave him tied up. His back, hardly covered by rags, got wet with hot drops. One blade fell on him and slid to the ground. The guards missed their chance, the heavy bolter beheaded them, and the scream of humans behind announced the coming of the Predator. The skimmer finally turned its armoured sloping bow towards the tank, using the pause in the barrage, and fired back. The roar of the engine got closer - single shot hasn't stopped the Predator, which cannon started to fire again. Titus saw how the pod landed, smashing several humans and blowing away those who stood too close. The scorched doors of unclear color opened up and the Astartes emerged, their bolters roared, ripping the nearest xenos and humans alike, which were inevitable in such circumstances. Black ceramite of familiar pattern but unknown iconography repelled the xenos shots. Seven Astartes moved to the skimmer, killing Aeldari. The crowd of slaves became a live cover for both sides. Titus couldn't stand up - the chain holding his wrists and calves was too strong even for him - Aeldari capture creatures stronger than Astartes. Instead, he fell to one side, and wriggled on the earth, trying to watch what was going on behind - he didn't care for the monster which kept devouring the humans indifferent for the losses of its masters. Titus saw the crowd of humans, separating him from the tank. No alive Aeldari around, but people didn't run away. They were cheering the approaching Predator, which cannon rumbled louder and louder with every shot. Shells flew over the crowd keeping the skimmer occupied. The Aeldari sent back one more dark ray and the slaves started to run, but too late: the angular tank raced right through them, crushing mortals, the engine roar drowning out their screams. The black hull was covered with bronze spikes, skulls stung on it. Did they belong to the saints or some rebels, Titus couldn't tell, the Emperor Cult had many guises. He was surprised to see the fellow Astartes fell for such superstitions as humans and to ram the captives at the full speed - that was wrong. The black tank didn't make an exception for him and almost overrun the naked Astartes. Titus almost didn't get to roll under the hull, when the tracks tamped the place he lied and the xenos guard with it. Fortunately for him, the spiked ram was attached high enough to let him pass. The black noise covered him for a moment, and the Predator raced further, rising thundering cannon higher. The heavy-bolters attached to the hull from both sides opened fire across the arena, scything the humans and the xenos among them. The tank slowed down and stopped, keeping the engine running. The monster leapt on it, driven by its masters or own stupidity, and got shredded by bolts. The space marines came closer, soon they would finish the slavers, and the tank would sooner or later pierce the xenos' shield, not very clean, considering the number of civilians deaths, but the win was the win. The situation changed in a heartbeat. The Predator's tower got hit with some alien charge and the cannon went silent. The invisible bomber hasn't showed up, but it done the job - the tank drove backwards, keep shooting the bolters. Now the xenos' skimmer could revenge, the vessel turned to the fleeting tank and opened fire: dark rays scorched the hull, but failed to pieced multi-layered armour. The high ranked Aeldari should have some means to destroyed the crippled tank, so its retreat was the right decision, but the skimmer didn't pursue the Predator. The xenos decided to help their kin, turning the flyer around and sending lethal rays at the black figures. Those armour it would pierce. The tank raced him by and go to the left: the crew didn't abandon their own too. A bright flash made him squint and new force joined the fight. Giants in the Tactical Dreadnought Armour emerged on arena. Their enormous figures showed up at the most dangerous and valuable battle scenes, bringing the victory. Teleportation in the middle of the battle was risky enough, to make them appear at the skimmer just impossible. Five bulky warriors, watched up - the sixth terminator made it. A rock of black ceramite stood alone against the xenos at the stern. He hadn't to fight them all by himself, he just needed to bring them down to his brothers. Titus, sitting again, wished the strange Astartes luck. The xenos opened fire at the sudden intruder who hit the deck with the thunder hammer, again and again, trusting the thick plates to protect him from the shots. And the ceramite withstood, while the deck and flyer's engine under it didn't. The skimmer fell down, and the rest terminators charged the scattered xenos. Titus must have been among them; he felt the fury for being an idle spectator. Naked and unarmed, he was eager to join his brothers righteous fight, but the shackles held him down. So, he observed. The Aeldari swarmed the terminator, who put the skimmer to the ground. The hero smashed one xenos with his hammer, but the power weapons of others pierced his helmet. It received many hits before gave in. There were five leaders and seven ordinary-looking Aeldari against five Astartes. The groups getting closer firing at each other, but only xenos' rows got thinned out - two rogues got hit with bolters. They clashed. Aeldari might look faster and more agile than living tanks, but he knew, that the battle speed of terminators can't be underestimated. He saw how one battle-brother blocked the sword with the hand holding the bolter and hit back with the power fist. That strike missed, but another pulverized the next xenos, leaving nothing of the upper half of alien body. At his side the terminator with power claws faced three xenos at the same time, all were the leaders of the raiders. A glowing whip wrapped around his left arm, but if it supposed to immobilize the Astartes somehow, it failed - the long blades of the right hand cut the leash and parried the attack of another xenos with broad sword, slicing him with the liberated left. The third Aeldari jumped on the terminator from the back, he was hitting the top of the hidden helmet with his arms, it probably wore some version of tiny power fists. The Astartes ignored him and swung claws at the Aeldari, whose whip he cut. Now the Xenos charged him wielding daggers. He acrobatically dodged the claws and stuck his weapons in the breast. It was a masterful attack which would have killed an ordinary space marine, but the terminator armor was too thick, and the claws pierced the Aeldari from both sides. The black giant rapidly spread his mighty arms, shaking off the remnants of his foe and ran to help his brother, surrounded with xenos, carrying the parasite on his shoulders with him. The terminator chased away Aeldari off his comrade, who in response killed the one bothering his savior with the shot. Together those three rushed to the rescue of the fourth Astartes, fighting back the xenos with his bolter and sword. The fifth laid dead, losing two terminators simultaneously was a grief outcome, those Aeldari were powerful. Alas, the shields of their vessel saved them from the tank's cannon. Lost their numerical superiority, the xenos died quickly despite all their warcraft and weaponry. Titus noticed the end of his former rival: the polearm harmlessly glanced off the bronze rimmed pauldron, and the power fist grabbed the head; the white mane shook while it could, then only thin black limbs twitched while the grip got tighter and tighter till the blood and gore started to drip from the fist. The fight was over and black Astartes revenged for the slain brothers. The rest terminators turned to the fighting legionaries, but their comrades needed no help. The space marines finished with their foes, leaving not much humans alive. Those, who survived the inhuman fight, laid still, terrified to death. All seven Astartes in standard armour survived and Titus looked at his brothers, wondering which legion they belonged too. The humans he met didn't know anything or too little about the space marines, for them they were warriors of legends or plain myths, may be some elite force of the Astra Militarum. Very few mentioned chapters of space marines. But every Legion got several chapters and their names were unknown to him. And it's been nine thousand years after all, any changes could happen. Whose sons were those warriors, so overtly showing disregard to humans' lives and to himself? He looked at worn armour painted black and looked archaic, not technologically speaking, it just gave an impression of ancient thing. Grotesque skulls and spikes of bronze decorated power suites and could relate to the Night Lords, Titus never met one, but the Night Haunter's legion had grim reputation that suited to the scene his witnessed. He felt a touch of psychic energy, the blocker resisted, bringing pain inside his head. The roar of coming tank didn't silence the question: who are you? The Predator drove him by and revealed a bareheaded Astartes looking at him. The face was a scarred and mutilated by war as his own, the familiar features stroke him. Was it possible?!
- Brother? - asked Titus, forgetting own nakedness and shackles, the killed world and all passed years. He hadn't noticed that he addressed the stranger in Cthonian. The armoured giant had.
- You are far from home, brother, and in a queer position, the Black Legion bend to no one, - the Astartes put on the helmet back. The image of an eye was gleaming in his forehead, as an eye of navigators. Some of other warriors turned to them, looking at him. The stranger continued, speaking through the helmet, - how did you get here, Titus, is it?
- I am Titus Livius of the 16th Legion, brother-librarian, - he stated proudly, - I know of no Black Legion, but I am grateful to the fate which brought you here. I owe you my life and will tell my true story, however bizarre it may seem to you.
- Our will brought us here and your story will be nothing compare to mine, - the savior laughed, - join our ranks and you may survive to hear it. My name is Portunus, - the Astartes drew his serrated knife of dark metal and cut the chain, leaving shackles, - keep distance with my brothers and I will talk to you later, Titus of the 16th.
- Thank you, Portunus, - he stood up, with the hands bound behind. He didn't like the chuckle of the black legionary. The memory of "mad" comrades and vile Children emerged in the head. - May I pick my knife?
- Later, - Portunus returned to the squads, which took position behind the wreck of the xenos' transport and their own tank to his right.
He knew the preparation for the battle, when he saw one, it was too soon to pick up dead now. The heavy bolters of the Predator opened fire, and the black hull as well as the debris of the skimmer got rained by alien charges. Aeldari counter attacked or were driven to them by other forces of that so-called Legion. Portunus with another marine hid behind the tank, surrounded with two terminators, then the fallen vessel gave cover to five Astartes, and the left edge of this frontline were defended by two last terminators. Four flyers of land speeder's size raced to them sending dark rays of energy. When they got closer, the five marines showed up and opened fire over the wrecks, hitting one skimmer, while the heavy bolters caught the other. Both machines fell down, revealing that xenos on floating boards were hiding behind it. Two of them were gunned down immediately, three survived and got closer to the cover. At the same time the rest skimmers attacked the Astartes sideways, showing their own hidden reserves: three and one flying rogues on the left and right respectively. Titus saw how the marine next to Portunus shot down the xenos on the board, which corpse rammed the earth adding his filthy blood to that, already spilled by his kin. The skimmer raced to the terminator, hoping to crush him. But there is a good reason why the bulging suit called Tactical Dreadnought Armour: the flyer knocked off the giant and he fell down rolling, as well as the machine itself - the Astartes met the vehicle with the fist, hitting the short wing. The massive limb stayed intact, while the skimmer lost its part and dived into ground next to Titus. The cabin got opened and the xenos emerged with a pistol in his hand, aiming at the legionaries. He saw the back of the Aeldari, dark, almost black plates clasped the thin torso, which burst open by green fire, eating the alien from inside. The librarian used his forbidden powers in the most explicit way. Could be that the Edicts of Nikaea have been reversed? On the left side the fight was over too: the last skimmer smoking at the distance, couple xenos laid on this side of the barricade.
- Now you can search for your knife, - remarked Portunus, which eye on the helmet glowed and looked alive, wet and moving.
Titus stepped to the place where his blade had fallen parried by the polearm of now dead xenos. Always kill your enemy as soon as you got a chance, - this doctrine of the Luna Wolves led him all his life. The knife laid at the place, away from the crushed bodies of humans and xenos alike. He sheathed the weapon, watching as the black Astartes collecting dead Aeldari in a heap, observed by the shocked humans, survived the mayhem of the battle. Titus was sure, that the captives would receive no help from those brothers of him. He wasn't going to check on Maude or find out if the Jason still breath. Their names have already begun to fade, since this life was over. The Astartes looked in the sky - the black Thunderhawk with big icon of an eye on its hull descending to them. The venerable flyer would collect the tank, dead and alive legionaries and took him to the new life.
- Come with me, - the librarian strolled to the landed Thunder Hawk. Titus came aboard after Portunus and the ramp closed, everybody else were already inside.
- Why did you take him?! - asked loudly one terminator in Gothic, not watching at him, - you know the law, death to the corpse's dog!
- He never was one, Orthega, - replied Portunus, turning his three-eyed helmet to the black giant, - which I can't say about you, - the named marine stomped the floor, angrily stepping to him, - watch your step! This is my squad and I do not answer you. He is my captive.
- I don't know who you are, - rage hit him in the head, the word "brother" didn't slip his tongue, - I am a Luna Wolf and not to be addressed this way.
- Shut up! - another Astartes in the standard armour turned his helmet to him, raising hand stopping the terminator, - using that old name won't save you, only raise more questions. Sit still where you are. And you, Orthega, don't let the suite to delude you - here your first company means nothing, wearing the black and being born the Black Legionary are not the same. Your voice must be low. Portunus, don't forget yourself either.
- I will not, brother, - the psyker turned back to Titus, - watch and think, lost comrade. You have much to catch up with. And to choose rightly.
"They chose rightly", - last time these words brought death on his head. For how long would he outlive the xenos? Titus sat on the floor, next to the heap of dead Aeldari, separating him off the Astartes. Several humans in the opposite corner sat tightly, whipping and shaking. It was dark inside, but he saw bruises and broken hands, left by the grip of their saviors, dragging them on the board off theor ruined world.

The flyer boarded the space ship, tossing the unconscious humans fainted of the acceleration. The rump opened and Astartes paced him by, coming out. Titus was led out by the psyker. The battle barge, his home for two centuries of war, which he's been missing for thousands of years. It wasn't the very space ship he used to occupy, but it was the familiar type of vessel. It was dim, almost dark. The atmosphere was gloom, there were no cheers to the winners, no mourning the lost brothers. Other mooring boxes were shut down, how many of them were filled with Thunder Hawks? And other barges? How many of these Black Legionaries were out there? The terminators and regular marines split, leaving him and the psyker alone on the deck. Portunus kept silence, so he was gazing around, noticing the ancient faded banner with hardly seen image of a spikey eye. Could it be the eye of Horus? Servitors and a Mechanicus came to them out of darkness. The automates looked worse than any he's ever seen before. They should have been replaced centuries ago: the biological parts dried out and crumbled, the metallic were rusty and bent. Nevertheless, the machines drug tools and hoses to prepare the vessel for the next flight. Instead of smells of lubricate and incense, the servitors reeked of something unfamiliar and repulsive. The techno-priest's smell was the worst. Permanently bent in a low bow the Martian had a hump, towering over two human skulls, hanged as masks on different heights; instead of lower jaws knots of tendrils moved; wet crimson robe hide the twisted body, trailing behind; the single limb stretched out the torso held the scepter, the familiar image of cog resembled an eight-pointed star. The procession passed them by indifferently. The siren roared for a moment and then other gate got open letting in a dozen Astartes in black. They saluted the psyker, who greeted his brothers in response.
- Come on, Titus of the 16th, - Portunus seemed enjoying such naming of the legion, - let go your knife, so far you was treated like a guest, - Titus took his hand, now freed from the shackles, away from the handle, - your false readiness to defend yourself will kill you. I'll speak with you after the warp-jump.
The librarian led him through the corridors of the ship. It was too empty: no banners and trophies, no records of victories and fallen legionaries; no sign of human crew or serfs. Titus noticed nothing suspicious either, except for the smell. A peculiar looking servitor flew them by: not just augmented skull, but a severed head, still having some remnants of rotten flesh and the hanging spine. But he has seen stranger thigs across the Imperium. Portunus stopped and point him at the door, which slid off by his gest.
- The flight will take some time, feel free to use your knife inside, Titus of the Luna Wolves, - the closing door cut off the laughter.
Soon a single scream of siren ran through the ship. No verbal warning, no repeating - the barge jumped into the warp. It was his second warp jump with psy-blocker implant and again he felt how comfortable he felt himself. Titus didn't need to process the death of Skwetuz, it didn't shock him - the war was a permanent state of his mind. Death and havoc lurked in every corner of the galaxy. The Black Legion - he knew and saw nothing to made a solid opinion on them. That Orthega in the terminator suite called him a corpse's dog, who did he mean by corpse? Slain Horus, if he was killed for his treason, the Emperor, who has been sitting on the Golden Throne for millennia? Somebody else?
- Think, immortal mortal! - a transparent blue cloud ordered him.
- I'm thinking! - he snarled back, frowning at the smoke, wondering how it came through the closed door.
- Trough the ventilation, - prompted the eyeless skull at his shoulder. It made sense; Titus relaxed.
- You are thinking wrong, Titus Livius, how could mighty Horus fall? - the blue thing kept scolding him, - he is the strongest warlord in the universe!
- My Primarch is the magnificent warrior, - the Astartes nodded proudly, but his mind got cloudy. - I mean was. I mean he is still my gene-father, but I defied him as my leader, for he betrayed the Emperor.
- Never! - screamed the cloud, enlarging rapidly, - how could he betrayed the corpse? The Emperor is dead. Is it possible for the mighty warrior, the Warmaster himself to betray the dead human body? Is it?
- Is it? - Titus timidly asked the skull on his shoulder. The jawless bone was silent this time, only exhaled yellow smoke through the nose and eyes. He thanked the nameless helper and addressed the blue cloud, - the Emperor was alive. He made Horus the Warmaster, I saw them both. I was there!
- Who are you talking with? - asked the skull in the familiar voice. The blue cloud disappeared. He looked at his shoulder - it was empty, he checked the other - none. May be skull jumped to the third, but third shoulder was bare as well.
- Who is here?! - Titus took the battle position. The empty compartment didn't response. He recounted the shoulders, limbs, fingers, eyes - everything was normal.
- You are alright, Titus, - the same voice calmed him down, - sit and take rest.
- Thank you, - the Astartes sat, remembering how human boy Theo praised him for his manners and wished his brother Yaan would have some.
Titus sat alone in the middle of the room; uncovered arms laid still. The strange thing was, that he looked at himself from the outside, like at some stranger. He came closer and looked at the face - maybe he was locked here with another brother. No, all big scars were his own. A lip split with the shard of a long-range artillery, when some ruler opened fire at his own palace, condemning himself and his army to death, that chip knocked off several teeth, and should have cut off the upper half of his head, but he survived. A roundish mark on his cheek - a big greenskin pierced his helmet with his crude weapon, while the chainsword sawed the xenos half way through. A pale patch of synthetic skin on the shaved head - the heat was so strong; he was sure his brain would boil inside the melting helmet. But his body withstood and apothecary covered the scorched bone with the artificial flesh. He could die so many times, but not one of it brought fear in him. Again, and again he charged, shoot and dived on mankind's enemies. Titus touched the pouch on the chest - he didn't feel it or the very hand stretched to it, but he knew the small bag was there. The sitting Titus had none. Imposter! He wanted to draw the knife, but he had none, it was in the hand of the strange Astartes. The false (the word sneaked in his brain) Titus stood up and leapt at him. He met this strange enemy as the rest of them, ready to a mortal fight. But his hands were short and weak, the lookalike pressed him to the floor, the eyes were still closed, something crawled behind those eyelids. Titus didn't feel his own body, but was certain that his knife in strange hand would kill him, so he struggled. The imposter was above and leant the familiar face, his own face closer. Eyes opened and the blue cloud poured on him, made him cough. Somebody banged at the door. Titus stood on the hands and knees, the pouch hanged loosely, the knife was gripped in the arm. Under him was the bare dirty floor. One more loud bang at the door.
- Titus! Are you alright?! The jump is over, we are at the place, - his friend was full of eagerness, anticipating the punishment they brought to the world, which said no the Emperor's will, - Chief's gathering the squad, I'm coming in.
- Kudon! - Titus stared at his friend, alive and smiling.
- What's with the surprised face, brother? Did you really think you killed me? - Kudon stepped to him, stretching out the arm for a shake. Titus hesitated and stroke him with the knife. His friend looked surprisingly at the blood, pouring out of the sliced throat and fell down, - why? - one eye turned into an ugly wound, - what have you done, Titus?! - the armour on the stomach gone revealing the damage, his bolt made. Kudon looked straight at him, - traitor! Traitor!
Titus knelt down; his head spun around. He is traitor, how many brothers has he slain? He turned back - Titus Livius was lying dead. Him too. He was a disgrace of the 16th legion. There was no forgiveness for his crime. Nobody should know about it. He must hide, or he may just become unidentified.
The blood strolled down his face; Titus froze and took away his hand with the knife, letting the cut to clot. He stood up and looked around, listened in to the hum of the ship in the warp. Gellar Field had flaws and the madness of the Empyrean almost got him - Titus was going to cut his face off.

He stayed awake till the siren announced the return to the real space. Titus didn't count the time, focusing on keeping sanity. When the door opened, he knew for sure, that he wasn't dreaming.
- Stood back, - Portunus wore helmet, his bolt-pistol's muzzled aimed at him, - you have withstood the lies of the warp, - Titus stepped back, rubbing off the crust of his forehead, - you may accept the truth then. Why do you call yourself a Luna Wolf, brother? Our name has been changed.
- I changed it back, when Horus betrayed the Emperor, - he answered calmly, - don't know what happen to our Primarch, what became of the Legion.
- It has changed the name again, - with free hand the psyker pointed at the black breast, - after the false Emperor killed Horus. You don't look that surprised, brother, - Portunus noticed mockingly, - you do know something.
- I hear for the first time of his fate, - Titus felt dizzy, - being his son I can't not to grieve. I mourn the great warrior and general whom he was before committing the vile treachery, - he looked steadily at the lenses, - raising the hand against his father, the Emperor of mankind and this galaxy - how else could it end.
- Continue, - the muzzle was steady, - tell me all your perspective.
- I know that the third legion or at least part of it joined the rebellion. I was attacked by traitors in my own squad and then by the Children on my way to Istvaan system. Then I found out the truth about the treason and flew to Terra. I got shot down. Some worlds supported it and got reconquered later. That's it. I seldom was among humans and they knew nothing of it.
- And you have lived all this time there, in the real space, knowing so little? - the psyker's surprise looked genuine. - Right, your body served you well. Time to test your mind. Horus turned on the false Emperor, for he was proud warrior and conqueror, as we were, as all Astartes are. We've been abandoned and betrayed first - the galaxy which we conquered with blood of our brothers were given to the humans, we must continue dying in the name of the Emperor, when he himself dropped the Crusade as a became boring trinket.
- That is our fate and very purpose of our creation, - Titus didn't get these lame arguments, - we are soldiers made to retrieve the galaxy to mankind. It is our duty, but it is also our glory and honor, - the psyker kept silence, and he continued, - betraying this path, Horus and those who followed him, betrayed our fallen brothers more than anybody else could have. It was madness! You are mad.
- Half of legions, do you hear me, Titus? Half of Primarchs and their sons followed Horus.
- Then the madness was contagious. I don't see how else this could happen, - Titus shook his head. No time would weaken this pain. Even if the psyker lied to him, some part of it was true, and that was enough to devastate him. The terrible truth, postponed for millennia, finally caught him.
- I am glad that you don't share the common view, Titus, and to see such strong spirit in a fellow-legionary, - the librarian put off his helmet, showing the razzing smile. The pistol still was pointed at him, - what do you know about the daemons?
- Manifestation of the warp energy, - he answered, still processing the received information, - psykers may be controlled by it, bringing death to themselves and humans around. Nasty things, unconscious powers. What I saw justified the Edicts of Nikaea.
- You are right about their origin, - Portunus showed him a palm, which got aflame. The psyker's eyes glowed, - though you underestimate the beings of the warp. They are conscious, sane and smart in their own way of course. And the Emperor knew about them and nevertheless sent his legions in the darkness to face what we had no powers to defeat. I call this a treason. And those Edicts, they stripped us the only meant we had - us, the librarians. The Thousand Sons and Space Wolves paid much for this. For your information the Crimson King sided with Chorus, while the executioners stayed at their master's feet, - Portunus grinned and the smile gone, - you are straight and sound legionary, Titus, a true warrior. I bet you haven't joined the lodges and I'd have liked to serve with you - how else one son of Horus can praise another? But you are not a psyker and you can't understand, what was it for me to suppress and hide my abilities, when I knew what powers I had and what horrors surrounded us. The warp is not a parallel dimension for taking a short cut, it is everywhere, those, who lucky, just don't see it. You are listening and not talking when you don't have anything valuable to say, good for you. I'll be quick. The warp has its own emperors, and they have their own plans on this galaxy. They made Horus their ally.
- Sorcery! - snarled Titus, but the psyker only smirked.
- There was that as well, but our Primarch hadn't become their puppet. He died as a free being.
- You are calling the treason and civil war being free, - Titus didn't get it, the psyker himself confirmed the vile sorcery, psychic manipulation the Primarch fell to.
- Many followed orders, they trusted the Warmaster and didn't doubt their officers.
- You did, - he saw how condescendingly spoke Portunus of his brothers.
- I saw what powers stood behind the rebellion. The victory wasn't a sure thing from the start, just as any war. But that time I finally could use my own powers, to let go the accumulated tension inside my head. And it was inevitable, the legions were corrupted and started to crumble before the Horus changed his banner.
- Those who are weak blame others. Didn't think there are weak Astartes, - Titus answered strictly. He's heard enough, time to finish this, - I will not join your ranks. Before death I want to know, if was I alone?
- You wasn't, Titus, there were others, identified and killed. The very Istvaan system you rushed to became their tomb. They fought well.
- Thank you, - he nodded, ready to join his brothers. He knew nothing, why would the traitors keep him alive? Torture for the sake of torture never was their way, though, how could he tell after all he'd known.
- What the rush, Titus? Got tired of your life? Is my story that boring? Bear me a little more. I don't care if you join us or not. Our agenda is too complicated for our short talk. Warp allies deceived many of us, alas, including me. I was promised freedom and received no such thing. So, I pay them back when meet an occasion. You are this occasion, Titus.
- I am ready to die fighting a daemon, - Portunus laughed.
- On the contrary. You will be fed to a daemon. And I make sure the beast will choke on your adamantium will, Titus of the 16th. Why do you think we attacked those xenos?
- Obviously not to save the wretched humans.
- Obviously. Our commanders made a deal with one powerful entity in the warp. And drukhari are coins. One more attack and we will gather enough xenos to pay the daemon. I guess you will join me. You have to if you want to live.
- How do you know where to find them?
- They feed on certain worlds, visiting them again and again. Humans have a very short memory and learn nothing.
- So, you could have saved those people and caught the xenos?
- Satiated predator is the easiest to catch. Now you are beginning to get boring. Do you want to live?
- Yes.
- Then get rest, don't worry, now you will be safe, - Portunus moved his glowing hand at the compartment and went out.

The mooring boxes were opened, showing several Thunder Hawks, ready to receive the Black Legionaries. Standing in straight lines armoured warriors watched on them two. Titus stood in the same rags; his opponent was naked. Orthega and his squad joined the Legion recently. "Brought by the warp", - as Portunus described the renegade. This way Titus has known that the madness of treason didn't die with Horus. The terminator wanted him dead and the death match was organized. Titus was eager to avenge the insult and to punish at least one traitor. The vile spirit of the barge affected him, raising up the rage inside.
- I will crush this slave of the corpse with my bare hands in the name of the true Gods, - Orthega shook the fists, the grey body with dark veins was bigger than his own and Titus must not forget it. The audience kept silence. He squeezed the knife and charge the traitor. Orthega hit him from the side, Titus pierced the wrist with the knife stopping it and got hit in the head from the left. The wounded hand caught him with the hit in the stomach. Titus gasped, trying to catch the handle stuck in the enemy. The opponent hit him one more time from the left. With the roar, Orthega caught him with his hands, ceramite fingers plunged in Titus' body like claws, which his enemy used to wield in the war, and lifted him up. Pain squeezed him and Titus didn't waste time on punches. He ripped out one eye out of mad marine, who tossed him on the deck. Titus didn't get to land, as heavy kick pushed him further - the enemy stepped to him heavily, moving slower, than he should. Orthega moved like he wore the terminator suite. His knife waved with the wrist and Titus leapt to grab it, the slowed down opponent didn't get to stop him, and he pulled the blade up, mutilating the arm, almost cutting it off. The Astartes stubbed the traitor's waist few times before jumping back from the frenzy enemy. Titus cut off finger of the right hand dodging the heavy punch, but Orthega seemed not noticing it and only tried to hit him with the mangled left. That strike was harmless and Titus put the blade in the open mouth, piercing the brain. The grey marine fell down. The audience, which watched the fight in silence, turned from them and marched to the flyers, stomping with their armoured boots.
- Titus! - the psyker beckoned him standing next to one Thunder Hawk, - this is your ride, sit still till it's time. Do as I told and you will be free, - the psyker slipped a small phial in his palm.
- He moved slow, - the pain after punches hasn't gone yet.
- It showed newcomers how to teach us, real Black Legionaries, laws and rules, - Portunus maliciously chuckle, - get on board, Titus, and good bye.
The probably last warrior of the 16th came inside the hull filled with the dead Aeldari and turned around. Before the ramp closed down, he saw how the two-headed Mechanicus took the gene-seed out Ortega and put it into the bloated head of the servitor made of a child. The serf closed the lid with the click, and the ramp thudded, leaving him alone with the corpses.

Titus heard the sounds of battle, the Thunder Hawk maneuvered in the sky, the pilot tossed the craft from side to side. As Portunus warned him, he saw the light when the battle was over. The vessel tilted the bow down and dead xenos rolled on him, pressing to the ramp. The hatch opened and Titus fell out with the corpses and landed on a heap of other Aeldari. He pulled out of the dead xenos, getting scratches of their armour, and looked around. Titus was on the top of the filthy mountain in the middle of the battlefield: burned alien and Imperial vehicles, ruined settlements and dead civilians - another Agri-World had been pillaged. The Black Legionaries surrounded the offering in silence. Titus noticed four marines, standing separately, one of them held a stuff, another was Portunus. He felt sick of many small cuts, the body started to numb. Fearing to lose control of the grip, he put the phial in the mouth. After the treason of his brothers, it would be the most bizarre thing in his live. The familiar smell from the barge got stronger, the air cooled down rapidly - the dead humans got coated with frost. Titus couldn't see Astartes clearly: some transparent veil separated the heap of corpse from the rest of the world. It got thicker and redder. Titus threw up holding the vial between teeth; his limbs got soft and the head heavy, he felt tired and sleepy. The crimson cupola covered the offering, separating Titus from the traitors completely. It was dim inside, reeked and no air to breath in. Did the psykers somehow send him in the warp, or did the daemon pulled him and the corpses to hell. Was he already inside the unreal beast? The Aeldari next to him twitched and started to shriek. Here and there the dead xenos begun screaming. He could hear them despite their helmets, also he heard crunching and chewing. Titus got to get out this nightmare - he clenched the teeth, breaking the phial. Something like mercury got out and floated before him. Spasm of loathing gripped his throat and he spat out couple drops of this filth. When these pieces joined the rest of the splotch, the mountain of screaming corpses trembled and Titus emerged under the sky, surrounded with towering buildings and terrified humans, running from him. The Astartes stood in the middle of Olynthum λ. Another life has just begun.