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Waaargh! Hazug! Chapta 8 | |
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Waaargh! Hazug! Chapta 8 |
The
police station was directly ahead and Jarr, Rell and Torris all studied it
through magnoculars. “Looks
deserted.” Torris commented as he focused on the closed doors and lack of
lights in any of the windows. “Look
up.” Jarr said. “Two
more on the opposite roof.” Rell added, “Are those lasguns they’re
carrying?” “They
look like lasguns to me.” Torris said, “At least we outgun
them.” “We
aren’t here to kill them though.” Rell pointed out, “We need their help.
Mister Jarr, perhaps you and I should go on ahead and introduce
ourselves.” “Of
course inquisitor.” Jarr replied, “Just stay behind me.” And then he
handed his rifle to one of the stormtroopers and with Rell close behind
him he headed towards the police station. No
one shouted any sort of challenge as they made their way up the steps
leading to the front door and finding it closed Jarr pushed it
open. The
two men stepped inside cautiously, though neither drew a weapon just
yet. “Hold
it right there!” Thayne yelled and there was the sound of him chambering a
round in his shotgun. At the same time four other humans in police
uniforms stepped into view and Rell immediately noticed that their
uniforms bore a patch that matched the symbol of the Bad Moons ork
clan. “We
are not here to harm you.” Rell said. “Oh
yeah?” Thayne asked, “So what is your business here
exactly?” “You
are Dariel Thayne?” Jarr asked as he took a step towards the chief
constable, “It’s been a while hasn’t it.” “Jarr?
Is that really you?” Thayne asked as he finally recognised the assassin.
The pair had met only briefly during Jarr’s previous visit to the planet
and given Jarr’s injuries at the time had not spoken. However, Thayne had
assisted with getting Jarr from the hospital to where a shuttle arrived to
collect him. “In
the flesh.” Jarr replied, “Now do you mind having your men lower their
weapons? I’d hate to have to injure them for us to
talk.” “Stand
down.” Thayne ordered his men and then he looked at the closest of them,
“Go and get out guys off the roof.” He added. Then with his shotgun
resting on his shoulder he stepped out from his hiding place and
approached Jarr and Rell, “So what brings you back here?” he asked the
former assassin and Jarr looked at Rell. “That
would be me Mister Thayne.” Rell said, stepping forwards. “My
name is Rell and I am an agent of His Most Divine Imperial Majesty’s Holy
Inquisition.” Thayne’s
jaw dropped and his eyes widened. Even after thirty years of isolation
from the Imperium, the humans of Git Town knew the name of the
inquisition. According to what little was known about them inquisitors
were dangerous men to cross, totally dedicated to their cause and
unforgiving of any sin. It was said by some that to even meet an
inquisitor was cause enough for them to kill a
person. No
one of these men was standing right in front of Thayne. “Mister
Thayne,” Rell interrupted, “I am here because I need your
help.” “Why
to save all humanity of course.” The inquisitor told
him. “We
need to see Hazug.” Jarr added and Thayne relaxed, “He is still alive
isn’t he?” “Hazug?
Of course he is.” Thayne replied. “Err,
yes of course.” Thayne said, “Now?” “Time
may be a factor Mister Thayne.” Rell responded. “Err.
Right.” Thayne said, “Though it may be an idea if you leave your men here.
I don’t think the orks will react too well to a squad of soldiers in their
city. They can wait here and we’ll send for them later if you need
them.” A
knocking sound woke Salia from her sleep. At first she just lay in bed and
ignored it, thinking that it came from far away. But then the sound
repeated itself and this time she realised that it was coming from
downstairs. “Sophie.”
she hissed, but Sophie did not react. Then there was another knocking and
Salia reached over to the next bed and shook her sister,” Sophie! There’s
someone downstairs.” “Someone’s
trying to get downstairs.” Salia said. The
two young women crept down the stairs, aiming their lasguns ahead of them.
As they neared the bottom of the stairs there was another knock and they
realised that the sound was not coming from the front
door. “That’s
the kitchen.” Sophie said, “Someone’s trying to get in through the back
door.” And she gently pushed the kitchen door open. The
next knock was clearer that the previous ones and Sophie pointed her
lasgun at the back door. “Who’s
there?” Sophie called out, “We’re armed.” “Sophie
it’s Thayne.” Thayne answered through the door, “Open the
door.” “I
better find out.” Sophie replied and she slung her lasgun over her
shoulder and rushed to open the back door. As she did so Thayne stepped
inside, followed close behind by Jarr and Rell. “Sorry
for coming here so late.” Thayne said, “We cut straight across from Git
Town. It’s a good job that wall isn’t finished yet.” Hazug’s
home was located next to Git Town, the main reason that he had been given
it in the first place was that no one else Warboss Kromag felt deserving
of a reward wanted to live so close to the human occupied area. This meant
that is was possible to walk directly from Git Town to Hazug’s home
without risking the streets of the ork city. Or least it would be until
the fortifications were complete and a high wall surrounded the building
rather than just the half built structure that was easy to
scale. “Who
are you?” Salia demanded, raising her lasgun and aiming it at
Jarr. “Better.”
Jarr replied as Sophie released her grip on him, “Though my injuries never
fully healed. I work directly for him now.” And he looked at
Rell. “Who’s
he?” Sophie asked. Salia
hesitated. “Allow
me.” Jarr said and all of a sudden he dived away from Sophie, leapt up
onto the table and then down to land beside Salia while she was still
turning to follow him. Then while the lasgun was still pointing into empty
space he reached out and grabbed the weapon, pulling it towards him and he
ejected its power cell at same time as he yanked it from her
grip. “There,
that’s better.” He said as he thrust the lasgun back at
Salia. “Sophie
who are these people?” Salia asked. “This
is Jarr.” Sophie said, “He came here about two and a half years ago. He’s
– sorry, he was an assassin.” “Until
the injuries I sustained here forced my retirement.” Jarr added. “Trouble.”
Thayne said. “I
ensure the safety of the Imperium and humanity itself.” Rell explained,
“By any means necessary. Any at all.” “I
don’t like the sound of that.” Salia commented. “You
shouldn’t.” Thayne said. “We’re
looking for Hazug.” Jarr then said, “The inquisitor needs to speak to him
as soon as possible.” “No
one.” Salia replied. “I
can hear someone upstairs.” Jarr said, looking upwards and reaching under
his coat to where his exitus pistol was holstered. ”It’s
just Rhia.” Salia said and Jarr frowned. “The
very same.” Sophie replied. “But
I thought Hazug killed her. Beat her to death with his bare hands.” Jarr
said. “Not
quite.” Thayne said, “She made it back to town but because of her past no
one would give her a job so she set herself up as a joy girl for a while.
Then about a year ago she found out that a bunch of Highbalt’s people were
still up to no good and came to me about it.” “Something
good and unpleasant.” Salia commented with a smirk. “When
are you expecting your master back?” Rell asked as he spotted a seat and
sat down at the table. “Two
Heads?” Rell asked, “Ah yes, the mutant.” “How
did you know that?” Salia asked. “My
report was quite comprehensive.” Jarr said, “Though I must admit, it
didn’t include you.” “She’s
Salia.” Sophie said,” She’s my sister.” “Another
omission from the report?” Thayne commented. “I
only found her after you left.” Sophie explained. “Then
it is a pleasure to meet you Salia.” Jarr said, “Even if you were pointing
a gun at me when it happened.” “Well
you’re welcome to wait here until Hazug gets back.” Sophie said, “But he
may not be able to spare you much time.” “Genestealers.”
Sophie replied and Jarr and Rell looked at one another in
horror. “This
complicates matters.” Jarr said, “I’d say it complicates them a
lot.” The
genestealer hybrids and orks under their control had in typical ork
fashion not taken any care regarding covering their tracks away from the
disabled battlewagon and their trail was easily discovered. But as Hazug
and his Blood Axes followed it he noticed something out of the ordinary
and he came to a halt and crouched down. “What
is it my master?” Mayleth asked. “Look
at dese tracks.” Hazug replied, “Dey aint from no ork or grot.” And eh
pointed to a footprint that obviously came from a clawed foot. Despite
sharing their genetic makeup with aliens, the ork/genestealer hybrids had
so far retained the typical ork footprint. “A
squig master?” Ratish suggested. “Nah.”
Hazug answered with a shake of his head, “Dey aint like no squig I’ve seen
before.” “I
know what they are my master.” Mayleth said and the greenskins around her
turned to look at the eldar. “They
are the tracks of a purestrain genestealer my master.” Mayleth
said. “I
didn’t see any anything dat wasn’t at least part ork when dey tried to
ambush us.” Hazug said. “Perhaps
because a purestrain could not possibly be disguised in a meaningful way
my master.” Mayleth replied, “This could be good news.” “Because
if they are afraid of discovery then it means that their numbers here are
still limited.” Mayleth answered and Hazug grinned. Then there was a shout
from the direction of the battlewagon. “Yeah,
I is ‘ere.” Hazug replied, getting to his feet. “Batrug
says dat ‘e can patch up da wagon, but dat it needs proper fixin’ back at
‘ome. Two Heads wants to leave as quick as we can.” Hazug
nodded. “We’ll
be right dare.” He replied. “Wot?
Aint we gonna finish trackin’ dese genestealers boss?” Kuruk
asked. Hazug
looked around. “Nah,
not tonight.” He replied, “I wants Two Heads wagon in top shape if we’re
goin’ to be messin’ with anyone. Plus I wants ‘is rhino ‘ere an’ all.
We’ll get dat sorted out and den come back with as many lads as we can get
‘old of to deal with ‘em. Now let’s get a move on. Da sooner we is back
‘ome, da sooner we can come back ‘ere and sort ‘em
out.” Sergeant
Torris peered across the open ground between their current location and
the building that was their destination. Unlike the human built structures
of Git Town this was clearly of ork construction and in common with many
things built by the greenskins it appeared to be a work in progress. The
building itself was a large stone structure but there was clear evidence
that the area around it was being walled off to create a fortified
compound that would enclosure not only the building Torris studied but
also some on the far side of it. “So
they’re in there?” he asked Thayne without turning to face the
man. “That’s
right. I left them there to come and get you.” Thayne
replied. Torris
lowered his magnocular and looked at Cubrim. “Okay
sir, you first.” He said and then he added, “Cooper, Dern, escort the
gentleman across the open terrain.” “Yes
sergeant.” Cooper replied as both he and Dern stood ready to move,
positioning themselves either side of Cubrim. “Go!”
Torris snapped and with their fellow troops covering them the two
stormtroopers set off running, pulling the savant along with
them. Just
as they vaulted over the partially built wall, preventing Cubrim from
tripping a light appeared as the back door to Hazug’s house opened and
Jarr beckoned them towards him. “Get
in quick!” he called out, “There could be gretchin
about.” “Jackson,
you and me next.” Torris said and a stormtrooper armed with a plasma gun
in place of the rifle that the others carried nodded, “Then the rest of
you come in one go after us with the servitors.” He added and then without
a word of warning he set off across the open ground, Jackson running after
him. The
final four stormtroopers waited until the pair had reached the door and
gone inside the house before they too darted towards it. Automatically the
servitors acted to followed Torris’ instruction and ran along with them,
the weight of the equipment they carried not slowing them at all. Now
alone Thayne took one last look around to double check that they had not
been observed and when he was satisfied he turned around and headed back
into Git Town. Inside
Hazug’s house the kitchen was now filled with inquisitorial
troops. “Where
are we going to put them all?” Salia asked. “We
don’t need much room miss.” Torris said. “But
what about Rhia?” Salia asked. “I’m
sure that Sergeant Torris can detail a couple of men to keep her under
guard.” Rell said.
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Copyright Notice The Warhammer 40,000 universe is the intellectual property of Games Workshop Ltd. The fiction presented here is a derived work. It is completely unofficial and Games Workshop Ltd has not endorsed any of it. |
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