The Gran Pallazzar Casino, Suite #779
Savalos goes to the chair willingly enough, somewhat to the arbitrator's chagrin, as the tall, thickly-built chastener seems almost disappointed by the lack of even a token struggle. He makes up for this by tightly fastening multiple shackles on the acolyte's wrists, one to each arm, and then his ankles, looping the plas-chain through the thick crossbar at the bottom of the heavy chair such that there is a pressure on the back of Sav's knees where they press painfully into the wood of his seat.
The arbitrator steps away, and from behind where Savalos sits those in the green and gold armor of Oremor hoist Einhardt up from the floor, dragging him bodily to the large, oval-shaped bed in the far corner of the suite, past the woman who posed as Mollene. They stand watch over him as the smoker paces in front of Savalos, eyeballing the acolyte, trying to gauge the object of his interrogation in measured glances. He blows a smoke ring into the air, watching it drift toward the glow-globes above, inhaling deeply of his lho-stick. He closes his eyes almost as if he is detached from what is happening, and when he speaks again, his voice is focused and direct, the voice of an interrogator who knows his craft.
"Let me rephrase the question now that you're more comfortable. Perhaps you'll be a little more forthcoming now without autoguns trained on you. I prefer not to use such blunt inducement to find the answers I seek. So, lets begin again: what do you know of Intelligencer Juan Rico's disappearance?"
Looking the Interrogator square in the eye. "Revenge and guilt. A man forgets his responsibilities when thats all he see's."
"Now if you want me to be more forth coming. You need to tell me who you are, and your alliegences Interrogator. So if your straight with me. I'll be straight with you. Neither of us are men who like to have there time wasted when things need to be done."
The Grey Way, The Vermillion Ring, Hypogeum Sub Level B, Cogitator Hub Cross-Conduit Terminus #117
The Gran Pallazzar Casino, Suite #779
The arbitrator takes another drag, exhales through his nose, and glances back at Savalos. Snorting he says, "Revenge and guilt, huh? Revenge is an act of passion, vengeance is an act of justice." He pauses, his gaze becoming distant and his voice softening. "As for guilt, I carry plenty."
His stare intent upon Savalos once more, the black-clad man says, "So you demand my allegiances? Very well. I am here at the behest of High Arbiter Ruvos Halleon. Now as you say there are things to be done. What of Juan Rico?"
The Grey Way, The Vermillion Ring, Hypogeum Sub Level B, Cogitator Hub Cross-Conduit Terminus #117
The heat signature of a rapidly dispersing gas begins to fill Kaltos' photovisor, and he quickly moves away from the nearest grenade, hearing the hacking coughs of the guardsmen and the shrill, vox-modulated wheezing of Ivaanov. A powerful chemical smell that is strangely bleach-like permeates the cogitator hub and the damnably vulnerable organic lungs within his chest begin to tighten, as fluid begins to aspirate from his eyes and nose.
The Grey Way, The Vermillion Ring, Hypogeum Sub Level B, Cogitator Hub Cross-Conduit Terminus #117
Staggering around the room, his vision blurring and losing focus, Kaltos tries to take aim on the door as the foul-smelling chemical agent released by the grenades quickly overwhelms his respirator. He watches as first Ivaanov, and then Kotts drop to the floor wretching and convulsing. His last sight before the black begins to overtake his vision is of the heavy door blowing inward, throwing the staggered Hurchal forcibly to the floor as shadowy figures storm inside. He drops the impossibly heavy lasgun from his numb fingers, confused as to just who he was intending to fight. As the tech priest falls forward his head slams sharply into one of the pict monitors, and the last sounds he hears are ominous, heavy footfalls and the shouting voices of the Yellobouros gangers.
The Gran Pallazzar Casino, Suite #779
The arbitrator takes another drag, exhales through his nose, and glances back at Savalos. Snorting he says, "Revenge and guilt, huh? Revenge is an act of passion, vengeance is an act of justice." He pauses, his gaze becoming distant and his voice softening. "As for guilt, I carry plenty."
His stare intent upon Savalos once more, the black-clad man says, "So you demand my allegiances? Very well. I am here at the behest of High Arbiter Ruvos Halleon. Now as you say there are things to be done. What of Juan Rico?"
My demeanor noticeable softens once he tells me who he is working for.
"Ruvos Halleon... Good been wanting to get ahold of him."
"Quincus Dauln is an agent for him. She is also Johnnie's Ex. She was helping us in our investigation to find High Arbiter Desius Krade along with Druuther her Ogryn bodyguard. After sustaining injuries I took her to the Mercy for medical attention ahead of the group Johnnie was traveling with. After she stabalized I left her in the care of Dr Emrit as well as Druuther to reestablish contact with the group. In my abscene Yelloback Gangers attacked the Mercy. Druuther died in the defence of his Mistress, and she was kidnapped. Quincus's medical bed was empty save for a carved bone fragment which fit the pattern of the Eviserators actions. The Eviserator is using her as bait to draw Johnnie out."
"We learned Leprade is allied to Trizo, and has dealings with the Eviserator. So Johnnie is either tracking Leprade, or over at the Withdrawn Viel which is a Yelloback stronghold. Quincus is rumoured to be held there. Course that information is days old now. All the scouts I sent there looking for Johnnie to warn him about the Eviserator are dead."
"Now can I be unshackled, and my friend some medical attention? Would be nice to know who you are as well?"
As I take in my surroundings, and the measure of the man who is my interogator.
"So let me ask you this. How did you know we were coming to the Gran Pallazar even before we did? Why are you looking for Rico? Did you sweep this room for bugs before you put in your own?"
The Gran Pallazzar Casino, Suite #779
"Now can I be unshackled, and my friend some medical attention? Would be nice to know who you are as well?"
The arbitrator lets out another long breath of smoke and says, "As I said, not yet. Since you and your merry little band made planet-fall you've left a swath of destruction in your wake. I'm not sure what type of man you are, Savalos Thul, but I want to make sure that you are not a gun-toting, shoot-first fanatic as seems readily apparent."
"So let me ask you this. How did you know we were coming to the Gran Pallazar even before we did? Why are you looking for Rico? Did you sweep this room for bugs before you put in your own?"
Even though shackled to a chair and surrounded by cold, apparently belligerent officers, Savalos displays an almost audacious demeanor towards his captors. The grizzled, scarred arbitrator turns towards the bar and drops the lho-stick into a glass. "High Arbiter Halleon asked me to perform an outside investigation as to the disappearance of Desius Krade. I have reason to suspect that the perpetrators of this crime are currently in this building. Through my own contacts I learned of the call-girl Mollene and arrested and incarcerated her."
He pauses and pours water into another glass, turns and faces you.
"Juan Rico--He and the serial killer that he brought down, the Eviscerator, make a sudden reappearance at virtually the same time. Juan Rico, the famed arbite, was in Krade's office, the scene of the crime. Juan Rico allegedly murdered a decorated officer in the basement of Precinct Station 77. Why not look for Juan Rico?" Taking a drink, he puts the glass back onto the bar.
"As to the sweep of this room," the arbite turns and looks at a subordinate who shakes his head, "it is clean except for my own surveillance equipment."
"My turn, Savalos Thul. I admit that I have not solved the mystery of Krade's abduction. There is something bizarre about it that defies conventional explanation. I have pict-recordings that three of your coterie, Rico among them, made their way into Krade's office. What did they see?"
I am quite for minute considering the Investigators words.
"I can use a drink. Going to get real thirsty. So just going to sum up."
"Krade sent out a call for help over two years ago. Unfortunately Krade disappeared before he could tell us what he knew."
"We have pict footage of what happened in Krades office. Thanks to Quincus, and Ivaanov. Also have footage of what happened to Krades Senior Acoyltes who were suppose to meet with us. Ivaanov also has the code, and timestamp of whoever it is above your pay scale trying to erase all of the above footage."
"As far as who I am. And whats really going on. I can tell you, but not with all your friends here. Above all your pay scales. And certain knowledge isn't meant for all ears. But I will give you enough so you know I am on the level."
"Tell you what Investigator. I'll show you some faith, that we are on the same team."
I gesture to my backpack.
"In that pack is a copy of those tapes. Wrapped them up good. Ivaanov kept the orignals. Also in there is my old furs. Mind throwing them away for me? Forgot and they are all covered in blood. Quincus's when I carried her to the Mercy, and when I had to hold her down while the Doc stitched her."
"Another thing. You watch those tapes you best only have sane men watch it with no doubt in who they are. Any of you have a sliver of fear inside of you its best you leave the room now. Watching it is what I think first unhinged Johnnie. Hence why he shot Krades room all up to Frag. Guess he thought it would clear the nightmares it stirred up in his mind."
Gesturing to Einhardt.
"Let him stay. He knows what we are up against, and any knowledge he might glean could save all of us."
The Gran Pallazzar Casino, Suite #779
Savalos' questioner waits patiently at the bar with his arms crossed. As the Duct Wolf gathers his thoughts he wonders how much the Arbite's penetrating eyes can see.
"I can use a drink. Going to get real thirsty. So just going to sum up."
Turning once again, he pours water into another glass. Without prompting the counterfeit Mollene comes over stealthily, taking the glass and bringing it to the Hiver. As she pours the drink into his mouth Savalos tries to get a read on her. She returns his intensive stare but her expression is impassive. The waft of her perfumed scent washes over him. She backs away slowly for two steps before turning from the acolyte.
"Krade sent out a call for help over two years ago. Unfortunately Krade disappeared before he could tell us what he knew."
"We have pict footage of what happened in Krade's office. Thanks to Quincus, and Ivaanov. Also have footage of what happened to Krade's Senior Acoyltes who were suppose to meet with us. Ivaanov also has the code, and timestamp of whoever it is above your pay scale trying to erase all of the above footage."
Savalos' captor takes in this news with an nebulous grunt, grabs another lho-stick, and lights it. "Leprade is the one trying to cover his tracks. He's good but not that good. He still smells like skeitan."
"As far as who I am. And whats really going on. I can tell you, but not with all your friends here. Above all your pay scales. And certain knowledge isn't meant for all ears. But I will give you enough so you know I am on the level."
The lho-stick hangs from the arbites lips, smoke slowly drifting upwards. He appears to be mulling over a decision. He takes another drag, "We can talk in private later. So you know I'm on the level I have someone you know coming here. Sgt. Luthos." Flicking away the ash, he continues, "Luthos doesn't know of Rico's whereabouts either but still vouches for him."
After another pause the Arbite asks, "What happened at the Geltdown Docks? And why the *feck* would a Guard Shuttle from the 7th Oremor Penal Legion end up at the epicenter of destruction?"
The mysterious intelligencer listens stonily as you recite the date that Juan Rico, one-time Wolf-brother to you, went through the necessary screening and initiation to become one of the Emperor's lawbringers. If it means anything to him, he betrays no sign.
"Didn't say I can vouche for Johnnie. Just saying he isn't the Eviserator. Believe me I have some questions for him as well."
To soon to explain that I think he is possessed by a fragging daemon.
"I can explain about what happened at the Docks. Though the Sgt here was there so he can explain better than I. But before we go down that road you really need to view those tapes so we are all on the same page of the discussion."
The Gran Pallazzar Casino, Suite #779
Before the Arbites can reply, one of the Oremite arbitrators puts his hand to a microbead link on his ear and moves toward the door to the corridor. Waiting for the cadenced knock that follows, he then mutters into his 'bead. After receiving some confirmation that satisfies his suspicions, he shoulders his autogun as the others move to either side of the door to cover him with their own weapons.
A middle-aged arbitrator in rumpled plainclothes then walks in, and Sav can tell at a glance from long experience that he is a front-line enforcer from Vaxus, likely from the 77th by the craggy face limned with old scars. He looks as strong as a grox despite his age and the beginnings of a paunch. He is followed directly by Uriah, Bothle, and another pair of younger arbitrators in dress clothes, the same pair that were following you in the Luminous Antechamber.
I nod to Savalos.
"I would appreciate if you would release him from your bindings. We will then talk as freely as we can."
Ryuk focuses his will and directs a beam of electricity at the toad.
The Oubliette
Whether it is the proximity of the Warp manifestation represented by the hundreds of daemons below, or the sheer desperation welling within Ryuk as he battles the toad-thing on the skiff, the outcome is a powerful surge of psychic energy that unexpectedly crackles forth from his fingertips, a blinding flash of green-gold light that burns and darkens the daemon's wretched hide, causing it to twitch and spasm uncontrollably.
The Gran Pallazzar Casino, Suite #779
I nod to Savalos.
"I would appreciate if you would release him from your bindings. We will then talk as freely as we can."
Ignoring the question, the Arbites investigator casually turns to his subordinates.
"Secure them."
A pair of the black-clad arbitrators cover the acolyte and clerk with their autoguns, while another moves forward without hesitation and the plain-clothes Oremite Arbites from Precinct #77 hand both Uriah and Bothle off to him without a word. They are promptly searched, disarmed, and shackled, with Bothle being led to sit on the edge of the bed beside Einhardt and Uriah placed in a chair across from Savalos, face to face, with about two meters separating the two.
Savalos watches with apprehension as the woman who is not Mollene moves around the perimeter of suite, efficiently affixing small black hemispheres to the walls every few meters.
Having a history of running from the Arbites, and not staying long enough to see all there toys. I am not cetain what the globes are.
The Gran Pallazzar Casino, Suite #779
Almost as an afterthought, the lead Arbites nods towards Uriah, making certain that the psyker is in earshot of his order and tells the arbitrator guarding him, "Careful. At the first scent of warpcraft take his head off."
Both Savalos and Uriah have no inkling of what the small, black half-globes could be, but it is not long after "Mollene" places them that a dull, barely-heard drone of white noise fills the suite.
I continue to follow the womans movements, as her actions have been the most telling. Until the Interrogator makes up his mind there isn't much more for me to say. I was willing to give a little. Now its on them.
I am guess the plains cloth enforcer is Luthos. Figure if the old Johnnie said anything to him. He would be the one who would speak up on our behalf.
With the white noise buzzing it only means to things to me. Now we will have a real talk, or they need the air static to muffle our crys when they start breaking bones. Just have to wait and see.
The Gran Pallazzar Casino, Suite #779
The interrogating official moves behind the bar to fix a drink. You notice he prepares an iced spritzer with a piece of tanger-fruit sans alcohol. Taking a sip he looks at Savalos and says, "I will heed your advice and watch the pict-recording in more intimate surroundings. For now I need the short version. I trust my team and don't worry," he gestures to the black objects that now ring the room, "No one else can hear us."
The lho-stick still in the corner of his mouth, the man downs his drink in a gulp, sets the glass onto the counter, and spins it with his hand.
"What is the connection between Krade's disappearance, Leprade and his Arbite cronies, and the 7th Oremor Penal Legion?"
"To sum up a prison break. Krades the warden. Two prisnors are trying to get out. Leprade and his men work for one. A Commissar named Ekubel, and elements of the 7th with the other."
The Gran Pallazzar Casino, Suite #779
Despite the veiled and overt threats made by the interrogator, the prisoners remain cool and calm for the most part. Only Jerimus Bothle betrays any sort of disquiet. Sweat beads on his forehead and he has balled his hands into fists to keep them from shaking. He glances about the room looking for a way out but finding none.
Sgt. Einhardt has remained silent the entire time, the blood on his face now dessicated and coagulated. He stares at the floor between his feet with his clenched jaw the only outward sign of any emotion. Perhaps steeling his resolve as he might before facing an Ork horde or plunging into the bowels of some blasphemous heretic stronghold.
Uriah Trantor, voidborn telepath, exudes nothing but confidence as his lone remark was a polite request of release for his fellow acolyte. No fear, no anxiety crosses his face. This is expected of one who can see into and manipulate the warp itself. His unswerving faith in the Emperor combined with the neural-training of the Scholastica Psykana have produced an Ordo servant with adamantine determination.
Savalos Thul returns the interrogator's penetrating stare. Ultimately the life of a Duct Wolf is a series of trials of survival of which this is simply another. Born out of the miseries of the lowest cesspool of this planet, Savalos has faced terrors perhaps unimagined by his captor. As a youth he saw fellow Duct-Cubs killed as the price for failure. He experienced gang-wars where no quarter was given nor asked. The Blooding Ritual--alone in the dark, armed only with his knife, predator and prey at the same moment. Now as he stares into the face of the Arbite, Savalos' thoughts drift back to the encounter with the Eviscerator--the damnable, warp-spawned abomination implacable in its desire to feed upon the blood and fear of its victims. No matter what might happen in this casino suite, Savalos takes comfort in knowing that his soul, if not body, is secure.
The Gran Pallazzar Casino, Suite #779
"To sum up a prison break. Krades the warden. Two prisoners are trying to get out. Leprade and his men work for one. A Commissar named Ekubal, and elements of the 7th with the other."
The arbitrator looks at the ganger, takes a long drag from his lho-stick, and drops the butt in the glass with the other. "OK," he says breathing out the smoke. He then faces the psyker. "Uriah Trantor. Two questions. Why are you here and what do you know of the assassination of Planetary Co-Governor Taius Ceprus?"
The arbitrator leading the interrogation betrays nothing when he says this, nor does his female subordinate, still showing an impassively blank face with the potential to play the part of anyone when called on to do so. There is not a trace of the smile-girl she was pretending to be remaining at all. No, it is the other arbitrators in the black flak armor that tense and surreptitiously flick their eyes to the psyker when this question is asked, betraying the true import of what their superior casually asked.
"In my pocket there is something i want to show you, even though your man seems to have ignored it. After you see it, you will release us and then we will talk."
The Oubliette
Vincent's eyes follow where the clone's hand lands, noticing what appears to be an a small extensible loading crane and winch, collapsed into a locked position so as to be out of the way. A small panel with switches is attached to it, but it is the wickedly sharp hook latched to the wall of the skiff that draws the most interest from the clerk.
Vincent reaches out and flips the latch to release the crane's hook. Giving the line a sharp tug to spool out some slack, Vincent tosses the hook into the daemon's gaping maw.
The Oubliette
Using the coruscating burst of greenish Warp-lightning as a distraction, Vincent lunges forward to unlatch the cargo crane.
Flipping a latch, Vincent hastily unspools roughly two meters of the taut, braided wire-cable with one hand while trying to keep aloft the heavy cargo hook in the other. As soon as he believes he has enough slack, he brings his other hand over to grasp the weighty thing, and his fingers are soon coated in grimy machine oil and abrasive flecks of peeling rust. Hearing the whine of the small crane's machine spirits coming to life next to him, he slings the hook toward the horror's maw, begging fate to be kind.
The Oubliette
The Oubliette
Shrugging off the attacks, Launce focuses his attention on the controls once again.
A shuddering groan sounds from the anti-grav generators under the aft end of the skiff, followed by a choking cloud of black smoke as the entire vehicle abruptly begins to dip in that direction, like a gently sloping ramp to the maw of the toad-thing. Somehow Vincent and Ryuk manage to maintain their footing despite the filth-slicked deck-plating, and the croaking horror retains its own grip with the suppurating suckers on its forelimbs keeping it firmly attached to the floor of the craft.
A third tendril-tongue, smaller than the rest spews forth from the maw again toward the tech-priest.
The tongue coils around the the young tech-priest's left thigh, and holds fast, and both of you can hear his shrill cry of pain through the resonating vox-grill.
There is a terrible sizzling sound as the acid eats through first his robe, and then through his armor-girded leg. His cry draws down to a ragged groan, and Launce falls to the floor of the skiff his hands slipping insensate from the yoke. Both Ryuk and Vincent then feel a sudden sensation as if they were riding a descending lift when the floor starts to drop out beneath them.
Ryuk channels two bolts of lightning.
"We may have to jump off this thing!!!"
The Oubliette
Ryuk braces his feet against one of the columns on the skiff's side-rail to keep from sliding any closer to the monstrosity. Even as he does so, the toad-thing begins to gulp and croak blasphemously, dragging the unconscious tech-priest closer and closer as it draws in the maw-tendril once again. The aft end of the skiff begins to tip at a steeper and steeper angle as the psyker unleashes the golden Warp-lightning once again, the stress of the moment creating a surge of adrenaline that allows him to coax two bolts from his body.
The first bolt nearly misses, but manages to burn the toad-thing's repugnant hide as it passes, arcing off chaotically downward to explode amid the host of smaller daemons below on the surface of the dome, blasting several into the air with pained shrieks. The second bolt strikes true, crackling across the daemon's head and back, causing many of the engorged pustules upon it to burst with the nauseating stench of the burning fluid built up within.
Enraged by the attack, the creature scrabbles further up the skiff's deck despite the steepening angle, its toothy maw stretching wide as Ryuk slips ever closer.
"Stab it!!!!"
"Vincent, stab it!!!"
The Oubliette
Vincent whips the cable around and sends the hook in a lazy arc towards the daemon.
The Gran Pallazzar Casino, Suite #779
In my pocket there is something I want to show you, even though your man seems to have ignored it. After you see it, you will release us and then we will talk."
The interrogator gives a nod to the arbitrator who searched Uriah before. The minion fumbles through the psyker's clothing, finds the acolyte's symbol of office, and brings it to his superior. The man fondles the rosette while displaying a bemused glint in his eye.
"Well, well, what a lovely trinket." He glances back to his female compatriot whose eyes remain fixed upon the psyker. The arbiter asks, "Do you expect to make us quake? Should we scurry about like rats? Ho, ho! The dossiers are correct. You truly are single-minded in method and purpose. Savalos Thul plays his cards close to the vest. Yet you, Uriah Trantor, hope to take the game with a single trump." With a chuckle, the captor hands the rosette back to the underling who carries it and he drops it unceremoniously in the voidborn's lap.
The man reaches inside his coat and lights yet another lho-stick. "Trantor, my second question remains. What do you know of the death of Taius Ceprus? Consider your answer carefully." He pauses for a moment, seemingly weighing some decision before continuing. "Since I know your purpose it is only proper that you know mine as well." With that the interrogator reaches inside his body armor pulls forth a chain that rests around his neck. At the end of the chain is an ornament. A slight smile crosses his face as he lifts it up. You recognize it immediately.
A rosette for the Holy Ordos of the Emperor's Inquisition.
The Oubliette
Straining with the effort of keeping his balance, the heavy cable biting into his fingers, Vincent swings the hook around again and although it does not land in the toad-thing's maw or pierce its flesh, it clatters to a halt about a foot from the yawning orifice. Close, but not quite.
The Oubliette
Still slurping the foul tendril-tongue back into its maw, reeling in the unconscious tech-priest like some daemonic fisherman, the toad-thing lunges forward, jagged yellow teeth trying to tear into the psyker.
Ryuk jerks backward just as the daemon's jaws snap shut, nearly losing his balance with the effort, but saving his foot in the process. The monster's single, huge jaundiced eye grows wider in greedy anticipation as the tech-priest's unconscious body begins to slide in the slick filth toward it. It opens its mouth so wide its jaws begin to distend, obviously hoping to catch the morsel as it slides down the slope of the listing skiff.
I laugh when the Interrogator pulls out his Rosette after Uriah's. The humor of mine is bigger than yours comes to mind.
I just wonder who he works for ultimately.
"We were going to pay a visit to him, to talk to him about what is happening on his planet. While on the the way, we heard his was dead.
You say I am single-minded in method and purpose, I suppose I cannot argue with you on that. But consider this, the stakes for your planet are high, and you do not want us to fail."
Again Ryuk manifests two bolts which he hurls at the toad.
The Oubliette
The Oubliette
Ryuk now has to brace himself with both feet to keep from sliding further down the skiff's deck, and as the adrenaline courses through his body he unleashes another surge of green-gold lightning from his left hand. The first bolt arcs across the deck-plating of the vehicle, burning it black and setting alight the rancid ichor streaming down toward the aft of the vehicle. It carries along until it burns into and over the lower lip of the toad-thing, causing the fatty flesh to bubble and swell, before finally bursting and running down the monster's jowls like melting wax. It makes a croaking moan, gnashing its teeth together and slamming shut. The tongue-tendril releases Launce, who mercifully ceases his slide along the inclined slope of the skiff, as his wounded leg has become wedged against the base of the crane pedestal. The second bolt passes it closely, but only singes the enraged creature's side.
As the Warp-lightning manifests, the world seems to swim around the companions, light refracting disturbingly, until Vincent feels like he is looking into the distorting mirror of a street-circus. All of the hair on his arms stands up at the same time, and he looks blankly down at the heavy lift-hook in his hands, wondering how it got there, and what exactly he intended to do with it.