I started to follow his lead, looking over another of the cultists. "Anything interesting?"
English
-
"Yeah, got something here. Papers, rather official orders from some chaos higher up, they're looking for something."
-
I looked over to Blackburn, stopping my own search. "Well, whatever it is, it can't be good for our health. Can you tell what they're looking for?"
-
"No, just references to [i]IT[/i], whatever that means. We should report this in asap, I don't like the way this is playing out." The marine rose and looked around before motioning to follow.
-
I nodded, standing up. "Let's just hope that we find "it" before they do."
-
"I doubt we do. It might be a weapon, but most probably is some kind of artifact or object that pulses with chaos energy and the like."
-
"And of course this magical McGuffin just happens to spit out signals on all the usual bands of crazy. Typical," I said as I shook my head. "Well, we aren't going to find out more just standing around. Let's get moving."
-
The marine was already moving forward.
-
I followed after him, moving alongside and matching his pace as I took up the same routine as before: scan every angle imaginable, and when that was done, scan them again.
-
The marine stopped, most likely to check his HUD and their course. The momentary pause ending just as soon as it began, the man setting off again. "We're getting close."
-
I nodded silently, still scanning. No need to preemptively relax and get killed for it. That would just suck, plain and simple.
-
The marine led the way, as they continued the area started to show signs of life. People were in the shadows, but they posed no harm. These were the outcast, those who wouldn't or couldn't stay in the general quarters. There were a few dead bodies that littered the halls, evidence of crime and lack of policing.
-
It was good that Blackburn stopped me when he did, or else I might have blown the poor bastard to hell. When he did, though, I realized what I was looking at: the slums. A moment later, the full implication hit me: the Corporal had made it sound like there were only a few humans around, but if there were slums, then there were a great many more than that. At that, I relaxed - not completely, mind you, but enough that I wasn't as tense as a cable. There still might be some idiot thinking he could take us both on.
-
The marine seemed to inspire a little fear and awe in the populace, they all kept their distance, or a few waved, those he's helped likely. But the worried looks out numbered the friendly ones. They soon arrived at the gate and a guardsman stopped them at the checkpoint. "Halt! Identify yourself." "Damn it stephanos, it's me. Lower your weapon." The guardsman did so. "Another one eh? This one gonna get thrown back out?" "That's up to him."
-
I have Blackburn a look. "Your rescues don't have the best behavior record, do they?"
-
"Some don't, I don't discriminate on who I help. If they need it, I provide it. It's up to them to survive in general quarters."
-
I shook my head at that. "Well, I don't plan on following their example anytime soon, so don't worry."
-
"I didn't take you for the type to cause problems. Come on, he'll let us in." The guardsman searched them half heartedly and let them enter the general quarters. It was sparsely populated and almost as run down as outside. The only difference was the presence of the imperium.
-
I whistled as I saw the Imperial Aquila. "Never thought I'd look at that and take it seriously."
-
"Well, this is where I leave you. I've got to report in to my superiors, the local taverns have rooms, they don't charge for food or drink either. Various jobs need doing around town so you can earn money."
-
"Superiors?" I asked. I paused in thought. "Any chance they're looking for new recruits?"
-
"It's possible. We're low on man power as it is."
-
"Well, I need some sort of training if I'm going to survive here, and a solid job sounds like a good idea. What sort of organization do you work for?"
-
"I work with the imperium, as a private military contractor. Report to various officers for work."
-
I hummed at that, thinking it over. "And what do you say to picking up a subordinate? Or are you more the lone wolf type?"
-
"I'm adaptable, I'm usually in a company or imbedded In a fire team. You got some skill I'll give you that. I'll think about it."