41K RPG : Into the Eye

[Pcm979]

"Procedure often goes by the wayside in our profession. You shall meet the other high-ranking personell in due time, but first I believe you should be introduced to the rest of our little family." Another ghost of a smile at the last few words.

Alerted by a quite literally invisible signal, the other core members of Pater's retinue detached themselves from their duties and came over slowly. In the meantime, the girl could properly see the Inquisitor, in what passed for his repose.

Tall, broad-shouldered and muscled, the Inquisitor could quite possibly be said to be attractive, the Juvenat treatments keeping him looking in his late thirties rather than his mid seventies. The effect was marred by his remaining organic temple, shot through with grey in contrast to his slicked-back black hair, and his obsidian faceplate, scuplted to resemble and dominating the left side of his face. A blue optic glowed where his left eye should have been, and his right eye, although appearing organic, glowed faintly too.

His right arm was a dull black augmetic, scaled to the size his natural hand would be if it still existed. Although masterfully crafted, no attempt was made to disguise its nature, with the metallic joints clearly visible, and the hydraulic interior faintly visible behind the smooth protective plates that covered the delicate interior.

He was dressed in 'standard' Inquisitorial gear, namely an airtight bodyglove covered by protective outer clothing and a green, armour-panelled stormcoat.

Yet he seemed... Off. Then it would hit her: He wasn't visibly breathing.

[Caz]

Cantor's eyes scanned the retinue forces with her typical look of disinterest. Although as opposed to the typical noble's guise of boredom, instead she appeared to be focusing on something else, some far-off point in space just past anyone who met her eyes.

The girl herself had no particularly catching features, save for the fact that her manners belied the fact that she was not as young as she appeared. Her hair, the colour of dirty charcoal, was done up in the extravagant fashion typical to Terran nobility. As her case file would explain to him, her parents had been executed for conspiracy, and she was the sole heir to their fortune. Who knew where those assets were now, as she'd been taken by the Inquisition preceding their deaths.

While most of her weapons and armour were still aboard the Thunderhawk, she wore pauldrons beneath her robes as well as a set of heavy boots, the outfit designed to exaggerate her figure. Which, when it came to diplomacy, was necessary, as she couldn't afford to be looked down upon because of her stature. Her poise, however, helped that moreso than her clothing.

She regarded him with thinly-veiled curiosity, cocking her head slightly.

"Tyran," she used the first name as opposed to the title, "told me nothing of your purpose on Ophilia," she remarked.

[Pcm979]

"He didn't know it." Replied Pater. "Nor did I, until I arrived. It was a request from an old friend, one I would trust with my life." He looked up as the retinue approached.

"Lord Ronathal" Pater used the title as opposed to the first name, "has entrusted me with a pupil. Interrogator Théo Cantor, my companions.

This is Magos Gyllia Xyng, my longest-serving accomplice. She makes sure our equipment doesn't dissolve under our hands and generally mothers us all." The red-robed woman mock-scowled at Pater, twitching her mechadendrites. There was obviously a lot of history between them. She was seemingly ochre-haired with a pleasant face and those faintly glowing eyes again. Unusual for a Magos of the Machine God to have so few visible augmetics.

"Anghel Mandruleanu is the tall one" Hardly doing the near-eight feet, bald stick-thin man enclosed in a weight-supporting exoskeleton justice "who serves me fifty times over by doing my paperwork. I am also informed he is quite the Chef." The former Ministratum clerk smiled affably, his skin heavily tanned due to his planet's dangerously thin atmosphere.

"Deuce comes from a long line of Vindicare assassains. He is most dangerous when he is quiet." The bodygloved agent lounged against a chair negligently, his white hair a startling contrast to his violet eyes.

"Lillith came to us shortly after Gyllia. She was a Sororitas before her status as a psychic blank was discovered." The grim, white-haired woman bowed slightly.

"Lastly, Joritu Aeseli keeps us alive, despite the odds." The young woman blushed beneath her cowl, equipment-laden augmetic hands twitching nervously.

[Caz]

As each was introduced, Cantor regarded them pretty much equally. She wasn't the conversationalist by any means and offered no words of greeting until the very end, when she in fact spoke to the Inquisitor as though the retinue members weren't even there:

"A strong unit," she said with a nod, "and I'm certain they would lay down their lives for you and for the Emperor, yes?"

[Pcm979]

"They would lay down their lives for the Emperor and I." Pater replied smoothly. He didn't move a centimetre, and hadn't since he sat down, with the exception of his nod to his retinue as they approached. "As for our purpose here. That is a long story. What do you know of the so-called Cyrian Incident? It was before your time, but I am sure you have at least passing knowledge of it."

Such as the first canonization in a century that was performed before the subject was dead.

[Caz]

"Admittedly, sir," she said, "I know very little."

Yes, this was exactly the type of thing that a budding Inquisitor shouold have known. She allowed a thin, frustrated sigh to escape through her gritted teeth.

"Although I assure you I'm not beyond learning."

[Pcm979]

"Admitting your shortcomings is the first step to overcoming them." Pater said, not unkindly.

"The gist of the matter is that the Cyrian subsector was engulfed in a massive Chaotic uprising. Luckily, the local ranking Inquisitor noticed the telltales before the incident began, and summoned six Inquisitors. I was an Interrogator to one at the time.

By the end of the uprising the three ranking Inquisitors were dead, I was promoted, a Living Saint was Canonised and we were sitting on a massive trove of Archaeotech." He paused to let her digest the material.

[Caz]

"A... living saint," she said the words thoughtfully, mulling them over as though they'd caused her to recall something. She'd heard the stories, yes, but Terra was rife with rumours, some simple misunderstandings and others spread intentionally.

"The Archaeotech," she said, gesturing about his quarters. "How have you gotten it to function?"

Despite her best efforts, her voice held the slightest tinge of awe.

[Pcm979]

"Patience, dedication, and our refusal to turn it entirely over to the Mechanicus." Pater said shortly. On the outside, this statement appeared harmless enough. An unspoken rivalry existed between the Inquisition and the Techpriests, with the former regarding the latter's variation on the Imperial Creed nigh-heretical and the latter jealously hoarding what little scraps of Technomancy they could scrape together. In this fashion they had built a massive power base, and the Inquisition did not like massive power bases. Apart from its own, naturally.

[SirNitram]

"The best policy against Aposty is a method of thinking referred to as 'Equals'. As in, you see it, equals, you kill it. Do not dwell on it's nature, nor it's ways, nor it's offers of 'power'." Malkamar smirked behind the all-concealing helmet. "An ironical statement, perhaps, from someone exiled for comitting technoheresy. And annoyingly, the damn cannon ripped off the Predator after four shots, too. Never did get a chance to fix the anchoring."

[Caz]

"Your dedication is inspiring," she said. It wasn't a common thing for people like Cantor to toss praise around--although he didn't know her, it was evident through her demeanor.

[Pcm979]

He bent his head slightly in a sitting bow. "Strictly speaking, withholding technology from the Mechanicus is Treason, and the more puritanical Inquisitors would brand us radicals and most likely attempt to have us killed." Would? They had tried. And failed. It was laughably easy to dispense with bodies on a Crusade agains the Tyranids; Another MIA hardly made an impression.

"Nevertheless, we believe that we have the capacity to use the Archeotech to assist the Imperium greatly. In fact, advancements in orbital targeting are responsible for our victories on Seria Primaris, Hyrad IV and Erestus. Improved output on our weapons enabled the swift defeat of the Splinter Fleet in the Durian Asteroid Belt Battle, and medical technology has saved more Imperial lives than I can count. It is the way forward."

He stood and extended his hand.

"It is a razor-thin path, with salvation on one side and damnation on the other. Will you walk it with us?"

[Caz]

Indeed, it was a crime. However, some held views on technology that the more puritanical Inquisitors would frown upon whether in action or just in thought.

"With the utmost respect, Inquisitor," she said, allowing a thin smile, "I believe I've already begun."

[Caz]

After another brief talk to acclimate herself with Inquisitor Novum and his retinue forces--she seemed just a tad more cordial this time, even if just for diplomacy's sake--Théo Cantor had been dismissed to collect her belongings from the Thunderhawk.

She strode through the halls with purpose, eyes more focused upon the floor than upon exactly where she was headed.

So Tyran wanted her to fight.

With a bit of a sigh, she closed her eyes and paused long enough only to adjust the veil-like visor that covered her eyes, as it had fallen askew when she'd stepped into the repressor fields. That experience in and of itself was enough for one day; Théo had never been tested in battle, thus she had little tolerance for pain.

For a moment, she paused to consider that as the dull throbbing returned to her chest and collarbone. Perhaps passing another? She glanced around. Who knew. With a brief clearing of her throat, she continued.

[Pcm979]

A door irised open in front of her, and a massive, power-armoured figure stepped out. It looked down at her over a protective gorget and boomed:

"Interrogator Cantor?"

[Caz]

Although this was her first up-close encounter with any form of Space Marine, she was chilled as mountain air.

"Yes?" she asked, the visor's glass losing its tint automatically as she glanced to him.

Word traveled quickly around here.

[Pcm979]

"Inquisitor Novum has revised orders. We are to depart for his ship immediately." It might have been the way the giant posthuman was forced to peer over his high gorget, but this Marine seemed to carry himself with even more haughty self-assurance than the average Astartes, who didn't have a reputation for humility to begin with.

[Caz]

Despite the differences in their stature, the woman sized up the Marine as though staring at an opponent. When the visor was clear, her fierce eyes were no longer subdued.

"Very well then," she said, her truncated speech making her voice sound almost robotic. "Tell Inquisitor Novum that I will meet him in the bay. I must retrieve my things from Lord Ronathal's shuttle."

[Pcm979]

"I am not an errand boy." Growled the figure, hefting a gigantic container over his shoulder and stalking off. It seemed she would simply have to turn up at the bay and wait.

[Caz]

Théo's visor darkened as she glowered at the Marine's back.

"Errand boy you are not," she said in a strange voice, "but you have internal communication that I've not been outfitted with," she said.

The woman turned on her heel with a huff, robes billowing out behind her as she headed toward the bay.

[Cynical Cat]

"Well, they're is only so much time to make the rendevous," said Jolan. "And with the vagarities of the warp, we shouldn't cut it close."

"Agreed," said Melina. The tall woman had draped herself over a couch. "When are we leaving?"

"Tomorrow morning. Anything that needs to get done or any sights you want to see, do it now. Heth."

The big man smiled. "Yes?"

"Offer the good Tech-Captain a ride."

"Will do."

"Good. I'll be with Inquisitor Ristani."

A voice came from the corner of the room. "Do you need me?"

"No Danell. Not for this. Let Domina know about our schedule." Jolan touched his vox button. "I request an audience with Inquisitor Ristani."

[Josh]

"One moment, Inquisitor," Neriss answered, flagging the vox over to Prius, who sat reviewing the initial responses to his requests for aid.

Some better than he had hoped, some not so well. To be expected.

"Jolan," he answered. "Ristani. When do you wish to speak?"

[Cynical Cat]

"There is something important I need to show you Prius. One of my secrets."

[Josh]

That was the perfectly calculated line to set off alarm bells in his head. "Where shall we meet?" he asked, automatically running a systems check for his onboard weaponry and defensive array.

[Cynical Cat]

"Outside. I'll need to teleport you to my ship."