It is not power which corrupts
but the greed of a weak mind.
It was some time in the late afternoon yet the sky overhead was pitch black. The artificial twilight lifted at regular intervals in the criss-crossing flashes of lightening amidst the thick clouds above with occasional, violent jabs of searing white punching earthward. Rain was coming down like a solid wave of water, lashing and quite thoroughly drenching everything for miles. In spite of this, twilight would likely settle, clear and unmolested, within the hour. As if the storm had never existed.
This was how they watered the crops on an agri-world, regularly-scheduled tropical downpours. It was somewhat comforting, actually. I would have been a bit worried if every piece of the plot had fallen too perfectly into place. The storm served to set a nicely grim mood for my arrival planetside and the task I was here to see through; best to curb too overbearing a sense of vanity, anyhow.
There were ribbons of fire wrapped around the horizon line, the only trace of a sky beyond the oppressive clouds above. Great fields sprawled out to either side of the rocky ridge we had landed on. An indigenous crop, prized for its raw nutrient value and high seasonal yield. This place, Maitzte Secundus, vital Imperial agri-world that it was. I cared little for the facts and figures. What interested me more were the broken shadows of stonework which wove their way up the side of a craggy hill further along the ridgeline.
I pulled my stormcoat tight and moved towards the ruins as quickly as the gravely, rain-soaked dirt would allow for. Making way behind me were the ex-Arbiter Devi Sutano and Anun Malsaard, a psy-knight. Sutano I was fairly sure I could trust in the matter but Malsaard could’ve been questionable. I only hoped the literal simplicity of his vastly-powerful mind would work in my favor. The three of us comprised half of the soon-to-be late Inquisitor Duvious’ personal retinue, the man who was my master. The man we were here to kill.
There was a vehicle parked at the base of the ruins, a chimera of some scout or command variation judging by the vox and auspex arrays sprouting from its roof. The chimera had its forward stablights fixed upon the large door which marked the entrance to the ancient sanctuary, plucking the area out vividly from the darkness which pervaded around it. As we drew closer I saw movement around the vehicle, figures moving in our direction. I assumed these would have to be local PDF forces and could but hope they recognized an Inquisitorial seal when they saw one.
I continued on with stride unbroken though I could sense Malsvaard’s psychic aura bristling and was quite certain I’d heard the distinctive if lightly muffled rack of Sutano’s autopistol. Truth be told, I found their excitability a bit disheartening.
‘Stop immediately and identify yourself, this is a restricted area!’ One of the troopers aimed a portable stablight in my direction though the effect wasn’t blinding enough that I didn’t notice the other moving off to the side with his lasgun shouldered. I did as ordered and stopped in my tracks. Peering through the glare of the stablight so that I was certain I was making eye contact with the trooper. I raised my left hand, palm out.
‘Alastor Krahle, of the Immortal Emperor’s most holy Inquisition.’ I spoke with some sneer of satisfaction. Junior Inquisitor, albeit; the former matters not so long as the latter is present. I doubted he would be able to discern the difference in one from the other by the design of the rosette inlaid on the black metal of my artificial arm’s palm at any rate. It seemed to do the trick as both the light and the lasgun quickly lowered.
‘A-ah, of course, sir! We’ve been expecting you.’ The trooper stammered out. He seemed young and perhaps rightfully edgy, but that was no excuse.
‘Then get out of my way.’ I spoke, lowering my hand and continuing on towards the ruins, ignoring the pair of slackened jaws and their banal ramblings. A subdued red glow towards the rear of the chimera told its hatch was opened, there was another guardsman standing near it with his lasgun held ready.
‘We’ve taken one of Inquisitor Duvious’ retinue into custody, sir.’ A few of the trooper’s words managed to work their way to my ears,
‘Oh?’ I offered a curious look. He nodded and made about ushering me towards the vehicle, where I was heading anyhow. There were three possibilities who might be in there and I was pretty sure of which it was. The guard at the back of the Chimera as I approached and ducked my head inside to confirm my suspicion.
Seated within, opposite yet another notably anxious PDF trooper, was a large man in a tattered blastcoat and a wide-brimmed hat. I have to admit, I personally found it comical to see him there and in such a state. Silent and handcuffed, with a bulk nearly twice that of the man who assumed to detain him. Kaleb Faust lifted his head in my direction, two sparks of smoldering red peering out from the shadow under his hat.
‘Alastor.’ His heavily augmented voice growled like broken machinery and he nodded a slight greeting. I had to express at least a huff of amusement.
‘Kaleb, good to see you are well.’ I offered the old gun a genuine grin. Fact was, it would have taken quite a number more troopers to actually have detained the seasoned Interrogator. Being well over fifty-percent cybernetic and thoroughly schooled in all manner of combat, I had no doubt he could have massacred this particular squad three times over. He seemed to be acting in good faith, and certainly not in league with Duvious in any sense, which I was thankful for.
I turned from the chimera to regard the trooper standing watch outside.
‘Give this man his weapons and let him go.’ I spoke evenly. The man’s mouth flapped momentarily but a nicely fixed glare seemed to do well in silencing any objection he might’ve had to the notion,
‘Of course, Inquisitor.’ He finally snapped, if not exactly crisply.
