PERSECUTION OF FAITH

By Richard Walter

Torgath Harkz blinked wearily into the cold, stormy, unforgiving morning on the planet Darthius. His body still ached from the many wounds that he had received after an encounter with Ultramarine Scouts. He knew that they would soon find him.

Torgarth was the only survivor of a freak warp-storm near the Hells Edge sector of the galaxy, the vessel he was on span out of control and crash landed onto the plantet, the Callarans with Torgarth died in the crash, or were decimated by the Ultramarine Scouts.

The same fate would have happened to Torgarth if it wasn't for the ally in the shadows, the robed figure who saved him from almost certain death. Torgarth did not know who or what the robed figure was, but he hoped that he would soon. A sound reached the ears of the Callaran. Barking.

Turning back, Torgarth saw the Scouts, about two miles away. One of them controlled a Dakart, the savage hunting dogs were rife on this rocky planet. The Callaran started to run.

Pain surged through the Callaran's body as he made a desperate attempt to escape. Torgarth knew that if caught, he would die. He was unarmed, as his weapons were damaged in the fall.

As he neared a steep slope, the Scouts detected him and broke into a run. Eager for glory, Torgarth knew they would not relent in their persecution. The Callaran's limbs screamed at him to stop as Torgarth strode up a steep cliff, his breath became erratic and sharp as he grew more tired. He would have to fight soon.

Torgarth reached the top of the cliff, he surveyed the area briefly. All that welcomed him was the vast craggy areas of the mountainous world. The Callaran ran down the other side of the steep slope, not knowing what else to do.

Torgarth tripped and lost his footing, moments later he came tumbling down, sharp rocks dug into him like sharp knives as his weakened body struck the ground. Even the hardened bone structure of the Callaran couldn't withstand the fall, Torgarth soon realized that he had broke his left leg. The pain roared around his body like a Daemon on frenzon.

Fighting to get up, Torgarth came to the sad conclusion that the Scouts had caught up with him.

The Dakart strained at its master's leash as it tried to attack the Callaran. The Scout sergeant grinned evilly as he withdrew his Bolt-pistol.

"Any last requests, Heretic?"

Torgarth shook his head, there was nothing else he could do now. He chanted a prayer to the gods of the Callarans.

"Ha, ha, ha, think your ever powerful gods can save you now?"

The sergeant aimed his pistol at Torgarth and began to squeeze the trigger slowly. Torgarth shut his eyes tightly as he awaited his death. The two shots rang out like a Daemons roar. Both struck him in the chest, the Callaran fell to the floor.

Torgarth opened his eyes, he was bleeding heavily and had lost alot of blood. He got to his feet and made a feeble attempt to ecape. The scouts mused him, and followed him. The Callaran reached a dead end. Sadly, Torgarth turned around. The Scout sergeant aimed his pistol a second time.

Something above Torgarth caught the attention of the Marine sergeant, glancing up, the Callaran saw the robed figure again, it was standing on the mountain above him.

"Die, follower of evil." rasped the sergeant as he aimed at the figure, and fired two shots.

The robed figure leaped off the very tall cliff and began to descend, hastily the sergeant released a few more shots, the figure easily dodged them all.

Torgarth saw the robed one draw out a massive pole and hurl it at the sergeant . The air whizzed as the spear struck towards its intended victim, the sergeant's reaction to dodge was too slow.

A sound like a mighty crack of thunder bounced around the mountain peaks, the staff had struck the sergeant full on, and now there was nothing he could do. The sergeant's face became obstructed from Torgarth's views as the butt of the spear entered his face, the spear struck the ground and became firmly lodged in it, his head impaled, the sergeant shuddered and jolted as his body went through a death spasm, his weapon clattered to the floor.

Two of the scouts readied their Bolt-pistols and fired a wild volley of shots. The robed warrior reached into his flowing cloak and drew four throwing daggers. With eye blurring swiftness he cast them down at the two scouts. All four daggers struck the Marines, two for each Brother.

The scouts looked down at the daggers that impaled them and began to laugh, they didn't even pierce the armour. A few seconds later and the daggers exploded, sending hardened shards of the sharp metal into the scouts. One of the Marines had his face torn off in the explosion, the other warrior was blown clean in two. The robed figure neared the ground, as he readied a deadly sword.

The stranger landed on the ground with a Crack!

The scout handling the Dakart released the animal, snarling and howling it made for the robed figure. As it reached the target, the hound leapt high for the neck. The stranger grabbed hold of the canine with one hand, and held it aloft. High enough for the scouts and Torgarth to see.

With bone smashing force, the warrior threw the Dakart down with such strength and furiosity, that the sound of the creatures bones snapping was audible for moments after.

A gust of wind caught the warriors robes, this was the first time that Torgarth, and the scouts, caught a glimpse of what lay underneath the stranger.

Torgarth saw that it was a Space Marine, Chaos perhaps, who else would attack the Ultramarines for no reason. He saw that the right leg was stained deep red, whilst the rest was jet black, maybe a mark of rank. He could see nothing else at this time. The scouts however, saw the front of the robed warrior, their eyes widened in pure fear.

"Dark Brotherhood!" they screamed in terror.

The two scouts turned around and ran. The robed figure ignored them and walked over to the dead sergeant and retreived his staff, released from the stake, the faceless sergeant tumbled to the ground, blood still gushing from his face.

Wiping the bright red blood from the spear the robed figure then turned his attention to the cowering Callaran before him.

"Do not fear me, Callaran. I am Daminen of the Dark Brotherhood, I am here to help you."

Torgarth was astounded by what had happened, Space Marines of the Imperium hardly ever fought one another without good reason, but then he remembed an age old Callaran legend.

Legend has it that the Ultramarines chapter located and attacked a Callaran outpost on Gavages, the alleged system of the Dark Brotherhood. This enraged the Dark Brotherhood chapter master as the two chapters were bitter enemies, following the decimation of Two Dark Brotherhood orders at the Ultramarines' doing. He assembled a war-host to drive out the Ultramarines from the system. The Callarans were fighting a losing battle, until the fearsome Brotherhood arrived, from here the Brotherhood and the Callarans drove out the Ultramarines. The Dark Brotherhood had saved the Callarans from certain death, fighting off another loyal chapter in the process. This would have been deemed heresy, were it not for the outstanding work that both chapters do.

"W....Wh.....What is that mighty staff?" was all that Torgarth could muster.

"This is the Legati ex Mortis, a mighty artifact found alongside Extoris."

Who or what Extoris was, Torgarth did not know. He caught a better glimpse of the robed figure, after another gust of wind. Daminen was 7 feet tall, and definitely a traveller. He had many strange weapons and items. Torgarth caught a better look of the face under the cowel.

From the depths of the robes, Daminen was of pale complexion, his pale blue eyes were fixed in a steely gaze. Another strange fact about the Dark saviour was the heavy scar running down the left of his face, probably won in a savage battle.

Daminen turned his attention to the Callaran's wounds. Seeing how bad they were, the Dark Brother took out a small medi-pack from under his robes and began to walk over to Torgarth, Daminen withdrew three small blue pills and ground them into a fine powder.

Applying the powder to the injuries, Daminen spoke to Torgarth.

"You were wondering why I am here?"

Torgarth nodded his head, and whinced as the pain seared through his body. Torgarth had never experienced humanoid medical treatment, but he was sure that the whole purpose was to lessen the pain, not increase it.

"I was travelling to the planet of Gaka when I received a radio transmission for Sergeant Vordrak of the Lightning Fists, it was about a planned ambush on a group of Callarans, you I presume. As the message was relayed to me, I saw your ship come down, it wasn't from the Warp-storm, but from a Obital Defence Cannon. I'd wager it came from the betrayers, as the Dark Brotherhood are enemies of the Ultramarines, I couldn't let this incident go un-noticed. After all, I have my brothers to avenge."

Daminen paused for Torgarth's response, none came.

"The Dark Brotherhood and the Lightning Fists are blood chapters in a way. During the siege of Altorak, the Lightning Fists saved the first Dark Brotherhood order from near devestation, thanks to a heroic charge. In return we launched a daring raid on a POW camp on Makator. Fully over half of the second company of Lightning Fists were in this camp, we saved all of them. The two chapters fight alongside each other on many occasions, both saving one another."

The Callaran nodded his head, as in agreement.

"Bu....but where will I go?, what shall I do?, I can't stay here, not with all these Ultramarines, and I suspect the other Callarans from the base have left the system, fearing us all dead."

Torgarth sat down, upset and tired he began to weep.

"Well then, there is only one thing you can do. You will travel with me, until we've found your brothers. " said Daminen, holding his hand out to Torgarth.

The Callaran wiped his eyes, smiled and got to his feet. The two warriors walked off into the hot, savage afternoon of Darthius.