Keeper

Part #4

Although Sergeant Tublai had eliminated the incoming servitor, his next action was aimed at Vorrabuse, who dived towards him, combat blade leading.

Relai's eyes re-focused on the wall in front of him. The pain was dulling, but so were the visions; both his own and the cryptek's, for he knew that was what he was witnessing.

Relai felt his resolve crumble as his voyeuristic mind's eye flashed back to Nazsorn's own, just in time to see the glowing power-falchion of Tublai cleave through the left leg of Vorrabuse.

The Ultramarine fell to the side and roared. Before Vorrabuse hit the ground, the White Scar rolled away as a deafening, rapid thud of heavy bolter shells ripped through the fallen Ultramarine. His armour deflected a couple of rounds, but more found purchase. They punched through Vorrabuse's armour and exploded within, scattering ceramite, flesh and bone.

Vorrabuse's lifeless eyes settled on the green orb of the Harbinger of Despair, and in turn on Relai. It was all the Deathwatch Keeper could take.

With the sound of an assault shotgun firing once again, and the sight of Vorrabuse's lifeless features, Relai's eyes closed, both to the cryptek's vision and the stone passageway. He rested his head on the cold floor and tried to block the internal mechanical laughter of Nazsorn. I have failed you all.

Heart slowing and awareness fading, Relai of the Imperial Fists released himself to the inevitable. After centuries of service, including countless battles and decades of solitude as a Deathwatch Keeper, Relai let go, knowing no one would reach him in time.

A last emotion forced its way into his head as he allowed himself to slip away.

Fear.

But not my own?

***

A roar of anger and flame turned Nazsorn's head to the side. The gun servitor he looked upon spun on the new threat a moment too late, its immolated form dropping to the ground as its killer ran past.

Tri'uk shouted to Brothers unseen as he charged the two remaining astartes. He loosely aimed his flamer, but a shotgun blast took it from his hands and dented his armour, causing him to look away.

The otherworldly laugh that followed flooded Relai's mind and the brazier-lit hall flashed into focus once more. He sucked in a lungful of air and gasped at the sudden return of sight and sound.

Relai reeled at the sight before him, or rather before Nazsorn. The Salamander, Tri'uk, was shrugging off a shot from Sergeant Tublai's assault shotgun, whilst the older warrior turned back to face the fist of Rook. Relai's anger found a new level as he raged silently at the cryptek forcing him to watch his Brothers kill each other. Was my death not enough? Relai screamed in his mind.

The charging Salamander came close to Nazsorn on his route to the battling duo, but it was clear from Relai's view that his Brother could not see the manipulator. Yes, manipulator. I know what you are now, cryptek. I failed to see it all before, for my pain was too much, but now? I felt your fear just then, as Tri'uk neared you. You coward! I am astartes, forged of a will you have never before witnessed.

Relai felt Nazsorn's shock.

'It heard me?'

The pain that struck Relai's mind was more than any other injuries he had received combined, but he did not cry out. Relai used that pain and fueled the anger welling within him. He forced himself away from the vision and opened his eyes to see the skeletal hand hanging limp from his wrist. Relai thought quickly of every isolated day he had walked the complex. He had spent much of that time reciting verses of scripture, but also wondering if anything would ever happen.

'Today it has,' Relai said. 'Today is why I took the oath.' He lay flat, ignoring the agony each movement inflicted. He rested his head back and closed his eyes. I may not have my strength anymore, but my mind is intact, necron, and I am coming for you.

Nazsorn's concentration faltered, his mind slipping back to the curiosity he had left by the vault door. How does he do this? Nazsorn thought, fascination taking over.

The cryptek looked down at the artifact in his hand. He touched it! The biological touched the artifact whilst it was active in my hand. Nazsorn laughed hard.

And then the curiosity struck back.

Release my Brothers, xenos, so that they may see you, rather than that which you force them to see. Release them! Relai threw his everything into that last thought. He welled with emotion, allowing it to almost overcome him as he sent it Nazsorn's way.

The necron cryptek staggered at the sheer will it faced. No one had ever entered his mind, despite him entering countless others. Through all of his experiments on so many races, none had distracted him as this one did. Distraction, my curious biological wonder. That is all you are. You cannot defeat-

The retort of an assault shotgun followed a metallic impact upon Nazsorn's skeletal torso. The Harbinger of Despair focused back on the scene before him, realizing he had indeed been distracted, enough to lose his grip on the kill-team that had unwittingly smuggled him in.

Three black-clad space marines fanned out and approached him. One hefted a glowing power-falchion, the other a flamer and the third, closest warrior, extended claws from his gauntlets that began to writhe with electric-blue power.

The sight was too much for Relai. His elation at his Brothers' sudden awareness of their real enemy brought tears of joy to his eyes. The image faded, as did Relai himself, but not before he saw the remaining kill-team charge the necron cryptek.