Dark Heresy - Wisdom is the beginning of fear.

[Justice Augustus]

Seeing the thing's attention switch again, Xerxes steps back as the pain of his wound really starts to sink in, endorphines wearing off. He switches his weapons in his hands and brings up his shotgun, grimacing at the effort of using his left arm. He then steadies his gun, zeroing in his sights on the beast.

(Disengage to E7)

[NamagomiMk0]

Crisis...smirks a little at his handiwork with the first abomination--it wasn't as messy as the shotgun blast, but it was beautiful in its own sense; not even a sound or a flash, and the thing fell dead. But noting that now was no time to be proud, he levels the rifle at the other creature--which one of his squadmates seems to be ready to get out of the way of--quickly aiming down the side of the barrel again before squeezing off a second shot at the other monstrosity...

[Half-action aim, fire at the other living unknown-thing]

[Besyanteo]

Gunner had fully intended to continue attempting to wreak hell on his enemy... and then noticed that a shotgun was being pointed their way. He knew from experience that at this range, the shotgun wasn't just going to hit the beast: Gunner was about to be perforated on any body part that wasn't well protected with Flak. Like his head.

Gunner instinctively leaps back, heedless of what might be behind him. He wasn't one who avidly prayed to the God-Emperor, but right now it felt like it might be appropriate to fire off a very quick one before he touched the floor again.

(retreating to C 10)

[Capntastic]

Mik kicked the bed aside as much as possible and began stomping and kicking the horrible remains of the monster, ensuring that all resemblance of life had been smashed out of it.

[Jak Snide]

Mik shoved the bed out of the way, laying into the unmoving corpse with a mighty boot. It wasn't so tough now; the terrifyingly blank visage proving to be a thin metal hood that encased the head, the flesh no longer squirming and the blood reassuringly red. He felt the terror draining out of him, replaced with good, honest hatred.

Gunner was the first to spot Crisis and Cryvus taking aim, and he swiftly hopped back away from the thing. Julius followed suit and Xerxes, already considering a withdrawal, moved out of reach as well.

The thing's left arm exploded into a shower of blood and fragmented bone, caking the monstrosity and the window behind it with a fine red mist, the limb utterly destroyed by the rifle round. It turned, a gurgled and suppressed moan escaping from beneath the metal that cased it's head, the horrific damage somehow not being enough to put it down.

Cryvus shot it in the chest, rags and flesh igniting as the thing toppled backwards, flames spreading over the swiftly blackening body. It spasmed for a moment then lay still.

(Combat is over. Map is updated for those that want to see the final lay of the land. Crisis lucked out with RIGHTEOUS FURY, doing a horrible amount of damage before Cryvus finished it.)

[Capntastic]

Mik got in one more good kick before looking around and noticing that the horrible monsters seemed to be taken care of. He grinned, scowled, and shuddered a bit all in the same instant.

"What were those throne-bedamned things!... Not overgrown wamblers at all..."

[Jak Snide]

Julius simply shook his head, not saying one damn word. He'd kept it together during the fight, but it seemed like the horrendous nature of the things was finally getting to him.

(Edit: Keep an eye on your private message boxes.)

[Kelne]

Carefully pocketing his laspistol, Cryvus made his way into the room.

"They were men once," he said, "Taken, twisted, tormented. The flesh rebels. The mind is gone." None of it was anything the others shouldn't be able to figure out from what they'd seen here and with the body of the unfortunate Arbest. But he said it with such certainty...

[Capntastic]

"So we gonna bag 'em an' tag 'em, then? 'Cause honestly I'm sick of lookin' at them."

Mik cracked his knuckles, and went to pick up his weaponry, pointedly trying not to lay eyes on the hideous un-wamblers.

[Kelne]

"The book should be burned unopened," Cryvus said firmly. Which probably wasn't all that relevant to the topic at hand. Still, that was a risk you took with Cryvus.

Fornow, he seemed to be forcing himself to cast an eye over the bodies, any misgivings about this betrayed only by the occasional twitch. While he was not trained in such matters, it was possible that those who had done this had left some trace of their creations' former lives upon them. Whether any of these traces might be helpful was, unfortunately, another matter entirely.

[Justice Augustus]

Xerxes shakes his head and massages his arm. "Naw, locals won't know what the frak to do wit' these. We let all an' sundry spy these things and we could have a full hive riot on our hands. As much as I love bustin' heads" and I really do, oh them satisfying squelching sounds "we gots to keep this off the auspex. First chance we get, we tell the inquisitor what's happened and try to get a removal team, nice and quiet like. But let's see what we can find out ourselves."

Xerxes moves over to the corpse by the bed, checking that the flames on the nearer corpse weren't threatening to spread any further. He begins to examine it, seeking any sort of identifying marks on the metal, or any distinguishing features on the skin that may have remained since before any transformation, such as gang tattoos.

[Jak Snide]

Cryvus felt his skin crawl as he looked over the two corpses. The one he'd shot was smoldering now, its torso a charred mess and it's left arm utterly annihilated, but it's remaining limbs and head were relatively unharmed and still had some tattered clothing clinging to them. Someone had augmented the knee and elbow joints of the thing with technology, the exact workings an arcane mystery, and the hands had received similar treatment, though the clawed fingers looked decidedly more sinister than the rest. The head had been covered with a rounded metal hood, an oddity by Imperial standards of aesthetics, which was devoid of features save for those two red eyes, no longer glowing, which he felt fairly sure were bionic. What lay beneath the hood was a mystery, though given the state of Mr Arbest he wasn't sure he wanted to find out.

The other body served little use after inspecting the first. It seemed of a slightly larger build than the other, both presumably men before this foul heresy was visited upon them, but it had been mangled a great deal more than the other. It's torso, while not blackened and charred, sported a number of las-burns, a long slash from a blade and a large entry wound from Crisis' rifle.

(Everyone: Cryvus' observations are available to all, should they take a minute to examine the things themselves, as Xerxes just has.)

(Crisis and Xerxes:

Spoiler:

Didn't Sand say he'd appreciate further samples?

)

The acolytes found themselves increasingly weary as the adrenal rush dissipated, the long day, fear and, for some, injuries beginning to take their toll.

(If the group doesn't rest within the next 15-30 minutes or so they will become fatigued, which confers a -10 to all rolls.)

[Capntastic]

Mik began scooting the bed back to its original position, setting it aright.

"Awright then, I guess it's time to switch shifts."

And thus he took off his helmet and lay down, closing his eyes and rolling over to face the wall.

[NamagomiMk0]

Crisis, after checking his rifle, making sure it was still in working condition, walked over to the somewhat charred and ampuated corpse with what some could think was a somewhat amused smirk on his face--after all, a heresy against the Empire had been suitably punished with his own personal weapon...

With that smirk still on his face, he attempted to turn it over so it would lie down on its stomach--with his rifle. Once that would be completed or frustrated, Crisis would then crouch down...and dip his right hand's index finger in the spilled blood of his enemy, beginning to slowly write on the floor:

"Bring sample pack here"

[Jak Snide]

Crisis had a little difficulty turning the corpse over, but he was greeting with a pleasing sight when he did. The exit-wound had made a mess of the thing, blowing out it's lower back and leaving the spine exposed. Bits of white meat clung to the exposed spine, twitching every now and then.

[Justice Augustus]

Xerxes glances over at the voidborn's caligraphy. "I know, just let me get a good look at this frakking thing. Not all the info's on the inside yo' know." Xerxes continues to search for distinguishing marks, but one hand is now moving to retrieve the bio-sample kit from it's pouch.

[Jak Snide]

Xerxes took a moment to examine the corpse. He noticed a number of surgical incisions, repaired more thoroughly than they had been on Saul Arbest. For any idea of who these people were, though, he'd need to remove the metal hoods and examine their faces.

[Justice Augustus]

Xerxes steels himself for a moment, preparing for the horror that undoubtably awaits him beneath the mask before him. After a deep breath he attempts to pry the hood away.

[Jak Snide]

Xerxes moved to pull away the hood, finding a soldered join and giving it a sharp crack with his baton, swiftly followed by another when the first didn't do the job. The hood split in two, and the arbitrator removed it to see what might have once been the face of a broad featured man. His eyes had cut out and replaced with bionics, most of the bulk having been hidden under the metal facade. The nose had been removed, covered with a plate of thin metal in what was probably an afterthought. A quick check of the mouth revealed that his tongue had been cut out. Finally, he noticed a slight bulge on the back of the neck.

[Justice Augustus]

"Huh, seen scarier smiles on pit fighters." Xerxes gingerly touches the bump on the neck, then uses the blade included in the bio-sample kit to cut it out.

[Jak Snide]

Xerxes was no surgeon, but he put the mono-edge scalpel to use well enough, slicing open the bulge and getting a good eyeful of the twitching white tissue inside. Even once the thing was dead the strange organs that controlled it still seemed to retain some semblance of life. Even though he remembered Sand saying how the stuff posed no threat on it's own the hiver still felt some apprehension as he cut a sample loose and deposited it in one of the tubes.

[Capntastic]

Mik had let himself get interested in the autopsy, and had rolled over to faces Xerxes working away at his specimen. He was more than glad to add color commentary.

"Those really are some pretty awful little critters. Hey, what if there's more of these guys or whatever you wanna call 'em lurkin' around outside?"

[Justice Augustus]

"They came charging in like a stimmed-up redemptionist, I don't think we're dealing wit' either subtlety or intelligence here. Nah, my guess would be that they were directed here by someone else. However, we aaint gonna stay here another night, too obvious a target and I don't fancy another fight like that one." Xerxes replaces the bio-sample kit in its case and slumps against the nearest wall, holding his left arm with his right. "Damn, never been hit wit' that sort of power. That hurt. Don't suppose none of you got any meds of any kind on ya?"

[NamagomiMk0]

Crisis shook his head, before taking more blood and writing on the wall; "Flickering lights were not coincidental." Then, if possible, he would attempt to take the bio-sample kit himself and check if it had space for more samples...

...if it did? He'd take it over to the other corpse--the more samples for the Empire, the better, after all...

[Jak Snide]

Crisis noted there were four empty tubes left before moving over to the other corpse, flipping it over with a bit of effort and noting that it's back had been spared any burns. He cut down along the whole length of the back with the mono-scalpel, the blade having nowhere as near as much trouble with puncturing the skin as Julius' sword had. He was no surgeon, but he managed to expose most of the spine after a few minute's work, along with the bottom of a bulge on the neck which was quite similar to the one on the other thing. He was no surgeon, however, and by the time he got to extracting the foreign substance wrapped out the spine he'd already cut it up a fair amount. Still, there were some pieces left that were large enough to salvage. He filled one and a half tubes, packing the latter with ruined tissue to completely fill it. He then noticed that his hands and forearms were now covered in blood.

[Besyanteo]

Gunner was fighting down the last of the shakes now, remaining quiet until he had something like proper composure. Even though they were dead and there was nothing left to really be afraid of, adrenaline was still surging through his body like lightning. He'd just need a minute, he kept telling himself...

[Kelne]

Cryvus couldn't help but marvel at Mikolas's optimism. Did he really think he was going to get any sleep in the same room as these things? Unfortunately, despite now knowing the face of the enemy (or lack of face, as it were), they were devoid of any clues as to who might be behind it all. And Cryvus doubted the disappearance of two of their creations would go unnoticed.

Still, there was nothing to be done about it for now. Resuming his usual mutterings, Cryvus stepped outside and found a nice section of wall to sit and lean against. The watch would be kept, of course, but another attack tonight seemed unlikely. They could work out their next move in the morning.

[Capntastic]

Watching Crisis play around with heretic blood and guts, Mik sighed and sat up on the edge of the bed, administering a mildly frustrated scowl.

"I don't think the moons're out enough for you to get a good forecast goin'. Besides, it's not like rain can even get down here; you're only makin' more of a mess that my Ma's gonna have to clean up."

[Jak Snide]

Julius looked over at Xerxes.

"Won't be seein' the likes of them again tonight, I reckon. Two's enough to round up one scared woman. They'll be missed in the mornin', mind, but we'll be good fer the night."

(I think we're good to time-skip through the night to the morning/until something else happens. I'll move things along later today, so if you have anything you'd like to do before then, post.)

The night wears on...

The acolytes kept up their vigil through the night, but encountered nothing. No one came to inquire about the shooting; either they hadn't been heard or people were keeping their heads down. Xerxes' arm didn't start to feel any better as time went on, while Mikolas found his ribs hurting a little less when he woke. When the last watch ended the district was still immersed in darkness, giving the acolytes time to prepare themselves and decide on a course of action.

[Capntastic]

Mik awoke, did some stretches, took his coat off, flapped it around, put it back on, and waited for the others to finish their rituals.

[Justice Augustus]

Xerxes grunts, shifting his arm to a more comfortable position. "Remind me to check if the market's got any meds as we head out." He looks at his companions, tiredness clearly in his eyes. "Speaking of that, anyone got any idea as to where we should go?"

[Besyanteo]

Gunner was doing stretches. The long watch of the night having seen his fears and jitters both long since put to bed, he was much more relaxed looking now.

"Without further leads, I don't know that there's much to do other than wander around the Hab, looking for lots of closely grouped claw marks while one of us returns the samples to the Madicae."

[Kelne]

The darkness is come, and it has eyes of glowing red. The night whispers in a thousand voices. Whispers of loss, of sorrow. But there are none with ears to hear. Our doom is come down from the stars, and to the stars it shall return. The Enemy Without is become the Enemy Within. As His soldiers fall, He weeps. The Angels of Death spread forth their wings. The Emperor endures.

- Excerpt from The Book of Dreams.

---------------

Cryvus packed away his writing implements and returned the small book to a pocket of his robe.

"Time marches on," he said, "From the darkness they came, and to the darkness they shall return. We must walk in dark places."

Still, wandering in darkness would avail them little without a goal. They were in need of guidance, and there was one source open to them which they had yet to consult. Reaching into yet another pocket, Cryvus produced a deck of cards, which he proceeded to shuffle.

[NamagomiMk0]

Silence...total and complete silence...

...was all that came from Crisis until, in an instant, he shot up to a sitting position, Laspistol ready to be shot at whatever is in sight--looking around, he then re-holstered the compact armament. Silently stretching before standing and re-gearing, he then tuned in on the current topic of the day...

[Jak Snide]

The view from the apartment suddenly changed, the day cycle beginning anew and the Coscarla district being at least partly illuminated again. Julius woke a few moment later, yawning as he stretched his arms before sniffing the air and muttering something about a stench.

The two things lay where had been left by the acolytes, still motionless and devoid of life.

Cryvus shuffled his cards, laid them out before him and went about picking a few of them while making the correct observances and rituals. He mentally noted down the results with interest.

[Justice Augustus]

"Well if we aint got leads, let's find someone who does. The local peacekeepers have got to have reports of something, even if they're ignoring them. Could be worth a visit to the local precint, just to see if anyone's seen anything last night."

[NamagomiMk0]

Crisis listened in a bit to the ongoing plans and plots for the day...and then looked about--before walking over to one of the mutant corpses, taking his knife out, and deliberately cutting the...thing...checking very closely for any signs of bleeding--or to be more precise...if it hasn't completely bled out yet...

[Jak Snide]

Crisis manages to coax some blood out of the corpse, enough for his purposes at least.

[NamagomiMk0]

The androgynous voidborn then proceeds to dip his finger in the blood, though taking more time and exerting more effort due to the particular -lack- of blood due to the amputations the being had suffered in the last "deployment" of its life.

With that, he attempted quickly to write his new message on the wall: "Mikolas returns the samples"

...of course, when you have a bled-out corpse, your finger as the medium, and blood as the material...it's not going to be particularly easy to get the point across. Much less use grammar.

...this was followed by a sharp tap of his boot to the floor...

[Kelne]

Cryvus shook his head, "An interest shared is a secret lost," he said, "Ignorance is to be cherished, but may serve as a cloak for darkened knowledge. The subtle knife stands revealed, and is lost in the shadows."

"Tales of death and woe shall be our guide," he continued, "Of death which stalks the shadows. Of empty halls where none may dare to tread."

The cards had, by now, been returned to his pocket. Cryvus now produced his writing kit and a piece of parchment, which he extended towards Crisis. After all, everyone should have their say, and blood was such an inconvenient medium.

The parchment had the words 'Thrice named, thrice bound, thrice damned' scrawled on it, but was otherwise clear.