Extreme Hatred

by Richard Walter

A great rumbling sounded as the gates of Jartana eased open. From within, a large mass of heretics charged towards the Imperial lines. Reinforced by this charge, the Chaos Marines from the pods also ran on. Running through a fleet of fire as they did.

"Death Company, honour yourself this day as we tear apart our fallen Brothers! They shall not have the luxury of life!" Roared Animi as he strode towards the heretics. Saevita and the rest of the Death Company were right behind the chaplain.

Through the com-net, Saevita heard hysterical shouts and angry roars as his brethren succumbed to the black rage.

The heretics ran towards the Imperial line, trying desperately to avoid the Death Company in the process.

Saevita's mind clouded over into a haze of red. He saw the mighty Sanguinius battling with a greater daemon of Khorne on the steps of the Imperial palace. This was only the beginning Saevita thought to himself. An evil laughter filled Saevita's head as the visage faded and changed once more, he tried in vain to shut it out. It was the gods of evil mocking the mighty primarch as he battled against Horus. Roaring a litany Saevita clutched his head and fell to the ground.

A piercing laughter chillingly rang through Saevita's head as he watched a vision of Sanguinius falling at the feet of Horus. The vision clouds over and Saevita regains some sense of normality. The Death Company is almost within charge range of the heretics. The com-net busses with the snarls, screams and chants of his brethren.

Fury exploded in Saevita's mind as the red haze descended once more. This time, the Death Company soldier is viewing the Emperors palace through the eyes of a flying angel. Its is devoid of life, numerous lives have been lost and their spirits cry for vengeance. Infused with pure rage, Saevita screams a curse as his muscles bulged and his thoughts turned to carnage.

"Brothers, bring them the swift death of the Emperors blade!" Roared Animi as he charged towards the heretics.

As one, the Death Company charged forth towards the evil Chaos, howling for carnage, screaming the battle cries of the Blood Angels. Like a terrible whirlwind they ran wildly to their opponents, powerless to control their rage, knowing only their fervour to slay and conquer; to annihilate their enemies; to wade knee deep in the massacre of the Emperors foes.

Saevita barely heard the order; he was too obsessed with slaughtering the foul children of Khorne to take any notice. The Death Company Marine ran as though possessed, his breathing became fast and laboured. His skull pounded with the desire to kill, Saevita could think of nothing else as the Black Rage conquered his body.

A flurry of fire erupted from the charging heretics. Instead of self-preservation, Saevita could only think of butchering heretics. The com-net showed than many of his Brothers felt the same way.

Chaplain Animi fell over abruptly and laid still. Saevita ran towards the fallen Animi at great speed, although the urge to kill was immense, the impulse to save his brethren was many times greater. Brother's Furere and Gladius joined Saevita in the struggle to save their master from the brink of absolution.

"Man down!" Saevita roared to his Brothers.

Glavius spoke to his snarling Brothers through the com-net. The order was brief, yet blunt.

"Attention all units - This is Brother Glavius. Brother-Chaplain Animi has fallen; we must right this wrong. Our mission - Revenge."

Animi gripped Furere by the shoulders as he tried to lift himself off the ground.

"M...My Brothers av-avenge my falling with the bodies of the heretics. The Emperor knows of this vile Hershey...destroy the maggot breeds...leave none alive...remember my name with honour...I shall not allow myself to fall to these...these baneful dogs of evil...I shall return...praise the Emperor..."

With that said, Animi was silent as he fell back down to the floor.

Silence.

Blackness.

Floating.

Animi looked up. He was in a deep hall, like none he had ever seen before. The sound of the battle had disappeared. Now it was a deep, penetrating silence.

"What is this trick of evil!" Growled Animi as he reached down for his bolt-pistol; it was not there.

Looking down, Animi discovered he was dressed in a white robe. His black power armour had gone, as had his crozius-arcanum. He was naked apart from the robe.

"I will not tolerate this madness any longer!" Roared Animi in fury.

"Rest Brother, you are not in some play of evil, you are at ease."

"Huh?! Sanguinus? Thank the Emperor you're alive!"

"Not quite."

Animi trembled as he cast his eyes upon his primarch.

The figure was dressed in a white cape like Animi was. He stood over 8 feet tall, a giant of a man. Magnificent angel's wings spread from his back and reached to the heavens. His eyes blazed like the fires of hell and his face shone with mysterious beauty. Sanguinius outstretched his arms and embraced the speechless Animi.

"I am in the netherworld - the between-place. Where life, death and rebirth are as one. This is a safe place against the gods of evil. But it is one of many, and now the Emperors duty calls me elsewhere."

"B...But the struggle for absolution - the WAR!" Animi spluttered.

Sanguinius released Animi and folded his arms as if in prayer.

"There will be war! In addition, it will be a complete carnage. It shall be known as the Second Coming. However, not all of the Emperors men are warriors. And wounds heal. Chaplain."

Sanguinius turned away from Animi and walked towards a glowing portal that the Chaplain did not notice at first. Pointing to Animi, Sanguinius spoke a final time.

"You came offering the gift of life. That same life now calls you back."

"B..But where are you going?" Animi cried.

"The Emperor's service calls for my duty. Do not worry Animi, I will always be watching you..."

Sanguinius touched Animi's shoulders and gently guided him thorough the portal.

"Praise the Emperor, for he blesses his heroes with the gift of eternal life."

"Brothers look! I have a pulse! He lives!" Roared Saevita through the din of the battle.

Animi got to his feet, ignoring the wound that caused him to fall. His mind was clear his judgement was absolute. He had never felt so pure in all his life. There was little reasoning left in his mind; there was no fear or uncertainty at all.

"Make sure every heretic falls today." Animi ordered; his voice sounded like thunder.

Glavius pointed towards the heretics with his sword and roared to the rest of the Marines.

"Animi lives! We shall butcher a million heretics this day, and more tomorrow. Come, let us slay the vengeful wrong and let us destroy the heretics in the name of Sanguinius. Onwards, for the Emperor! Onwards, for Sanguinius! Onwards, for Animi!"

A chorus of snarls resembling a zoo erupted from the Death Company as they marched towards the Chaos band. The Imperial Guard infantry was close behind them now, pouring lasgun fire into the oncoming heretics. One resolute commander goaded his men to battle with curses, this puzzled Saevita a lot. Why would the commander wish to verbally abuse his men when they were true heroes anyway? Saevita never did understand it.

"Keep it up at the back you idiots! Sanders - What the hell are you doing?! You're all morons. I hate you all!"

The Imperial Guardsmen laughed at this speech. Saevita finally understood; it was to keep moral high, to keep the Guardsmen from fleeing in the face of adversary. It was to keep them running as killing machines.

Saevita knew if he ever spoke like that to his comrades, he would be executed on the spot, so he refrained from repeating what the commander said.

As Saevita neared the heretics, he saw that some of his battle brethren had already reached them and now began to tear into them with boundless fury.

"Nothing stirs the blood more than the sound of the unclean perishing." Laughed Brother Laurius as he decapitated one heretic with his power-sword and pummelled another with his elbow. Saevita could not agree more.

Saevita became overwhelmed with rage as he saw Brother Extradius fall to the ground, almost torn in two. Looking at the heretic that did it, the Death Company Marine roared like a devil. The Chaos Marine glared at Saevita and chuckled evilly.

The Chaos Marine stood tall and was adorned with jet black power armour that resembled Saevita's. Over the armour was a deep red robe which flapped in the breeze. A mysterious light seemed to illuminate the figure, increasing the appearance of a chosen warrior. In his hands he clutched a mighty double handed sword which was decorated with amoral runes.

"You think you can to better, Brother?" Taunted the heretic.

"My fury is strong, as is my arm!" Saevita snarled as he strode towards the chaotic fiend.

"Ha ha ha! Foolish Marine, dare you to think that you can remove me from this realm? You will hear the howls of your brethren dying long before I kill you."

"No, you are wrong dog! The last thing you will hear is my joy at the sight of steel dancing through your flesh." Retorted Saevita with savage glee.