It was like waking up to a calamity.
The moment my eyes opened, my senses immediately overloaded. The overwhelming sensation of ultra-intense lights, sounds and smells were somehow amplified by the intense emotion that was still ebbing from that vision. It was so painful I almost screamed, but that shameful act was blocked by my old friend.
[Regalis] Action override-
The sensory overload however was hardly the end of my troubles, inside my head mental alarms were blaring out.
[Potential threats detected]
[Defensive measures auto activated]
Without prompting, a command pulse burst forth from me and reached out, it grabbed hold onto the aforementioned threats while I was still struggling to make sense of my surroundings.
[Caution! Immediate attention required]
While I was still dazed by the information overload, a mental feedback prompt pulled urgently at my consciousness, screaming for attention. Outraged, I pushed back with a single directive.
LEAVE ME ALONE!
My command latched out, tethering itself with lighting speed to any tangible targets to execute my decree.
[Potential threat disabled]
[Potential threat disabled]
[Potential threat disabled]
[Potential threat disabled]
[Further attention required]
All that happened in the blink of an eye.
Just like that, all the prompts went away. Released from the mental pressures but still suffering from sensory overload, I slowly regained my bearing and looked around. I found myself in a huge, dimly lit chamber surrounded by a myriad of devices.
The chamber gave the vibe of a religious gothic setting mixed with futuristic elements, a theme which I was dead familiar with due to my countless hours of diving into books and video games of this universe, it was like witnessing concept arts come to life. The ceiling was high and church-like with numberless religious figures painted on it, whereas the walls and floor had a few gigantic stylised fleur-de-lys symbols.
No mistake about it, I must be in a Sororitas monastery. Eerily, no one was around in this huge chamber. The air was pleasantly cool, the tranquillity of the place was broken only by the muted beeping of machines.
At least it should be, but I was still battling with my hypersensitive senses. My vision was saturated with flashing psychedelic colours, traces of medicine and chemicals in the air assaulted my nostrils while the world rumbled with a deafening low hum.
I winced and sniffed from the suffocating stimulus until the intensity eventually died down. Finally relieved from the sensory torment, I touched my face and to my surprise, felt some wetness.
Blood? I pulled my hand back in shock. This is… I didn't even notice I was still crying. Breathing heavily, I mentally conceded she was correct to forewarn me, the vision was indeed unpleasant and also confirmed what was widely acknowledged in my hobby community: that the Emperor of Mankind can be a total jerk at times.
After taking another breath then wiping off my tears, I started observing my surroundings and was immediately stunned by the clarity of my senses. Everything was looking even more real than before. Compared with this vividness, it felt like the past few days when I was active my then “super healthy” body was actually under the weather the whole time. Was it really?
The shocking answer came quickly. Looking back, I finally realised during the days leading up to the battle with the rebels and the greater daemon, my body might have been running on fumes.
It was so ridiculous, I must have been like a village bumpkin who got hold of a damaged supercar and felt proud of myself for going 150 miles, without realising the car can easily go 300 miles in top form.
My gawd, I am still such a bloody noob.
After some self-loathing, it was time for information gathering. I reached out but there was no machine spirit around. Nearby, the dimly lit space was illuminated by what seemed to be my vital readings on huge digital displays. I tried to read the information, but to my horror I could not understand them. For a split second I was rudely reminded of being an intruder of this universe before something kicked in, and abruptly the meaning of the gothic characters came to me perfectly.
What the hell was that? I thought whatever instant Low Gothic translation mechanism inside my head should be seamless by now?
Slightly unnerved, I peeled my eyes from the displays to check on my body and found I was wearing a patient’s outfit with a tube inserted into my left arm. Everything seemed fine, all my limbs were accounted for and I could move all my fingers and wiggle my toes freely.
From this point of view, laying down and looking at my body was just like … that time I was on that muddy field. Suddenly I was on that miserable rainy field again, pain and cold gnawing at me. I looked down to see an atrocious amount of blood flowing out from my nose and mouth, the warm sanguine liquid filled my mouth with a choking taste of iron. I could not breathe, started panicking and grabbed onto my neck.
I blinked, and suddenly found myself back on my bed again. No muddy field, no rain, no blood, but my hands were still around my neck. While my mind rallied, I touched my neck and realised my rosette was missing.
The possibility of losing such a crucial item jolted my focus back, but a hunch told me it was nearby. I sat up from my bed to look around and true to my feelings, quickly located it. Just a few steps away, glittering in the dim light on top of a small table was my rosette, beneath it was my then outfit, cleaned and neatly folded.
Relieved, I climbed down from my futuristic-looking bed to retrieve my stuff. The marble floor was stone cold and a nice chill crept up my feet as I walked over. Just before I was about to reach for my pendant, a nagging sensation grabbed my attention. Intrigued, I looked around as information seeped into my head. It was only then that I realised the place was rigged with a myriad of contraptions that my mind was trying to warn me about.
Hanging from the ceiling and aiming at my bed was a brainwave monitor. Mounted high on the walls were multiple motion detectors, and the bed I slept on even had a weight sensor. I could even perceive the infrared anti-theft measures covering my stuff on the table. Everything seemed to be rigged to alert the administrators of the place the moment they detected I had regained consciousness, but nobody was running over to me. Why?
Looking closer, I was enlightened by the transcendent intelligence residing in me: all the notification functions on the devices were intercepted by my command pulse from earlier, they were all currently running in a loop pending for my further instructions. That meant my countermeasures ability was activated even before my mind was clear …
The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
You are a weapon.
The chilling answer in the Emperor’s voice jumped at me. Feeling conflicted at that notion and not wishing to alert anyone of me waking up at the moment, I terminated all the command loops.
With all the security measures disabled, I slowly picked up my rosette that was in the shape of a golden twin-headed eagle pendant. It was as light as a feather but I felt the symbolic weight it carried. The pendant shone brightly even in the dim light, bouncing illumination off its exorbitant finishing in a complex and spellbinding manner. The vision never did show how Syrine got the possession of this item, which made me question if her action here was sanctioned by the Emperor.
What if this is a case of running away from home but on a galactic scale?
The ramification of such a possibility was no joking matter. I suddenly had the mental image of a few Adeptus Custodes guards materialising beside me with their weapons raised.
I had seen the legendary Custodes in my vision; the way they moved, the shine on their burnished gold armour and the sheer intimidating pressure they exuded was still fresh in my mind. Even knowing beforehand that these were imaginary spectres I was taken aback by the intensity of it. I blinked and the mirages of golden giants were gone, leaving me with a heightened pulse.
Flustered, I cursed myself for jumping at shadows and decided to change my clothes. I pulled the tube that was still attached to my wrist, it came off with a light sensation and my vital readings on the huge display went flat. Before the built-in alarm started beeping, I made sure to disable its administrator notification function before switching it off with a flick of my mind.
I then proceeded to take off my patience’s gown. Looking down I came face to face with heavenly curves. Oh yeah, I almost forgot, I… I am a girl, in one of the most brutal sci-fi universes known no less. My brain froze and I wanted to cry because of my predicament, but this time the tears were not forthcoming.
Feeling distressed, I panted for air despite not feeling out of breath, the reality check on me playing the part of a questionable heiress of a failing galactic empire hit me like a truck. I was just a normal white collar worker in my previous life. This is too much, can I run away from all these like Syrine did?
While my mind raced, a small voice rose from inside my head. Weren’t you always frustrated about the lack of position, power and resources in life? Here, have everything you always wanted and go make a difference. I looked down at the chained golden eagle pendant that was still on my right hand and slowly clenched it.
A short while later, I had cleaned myself, all dressed up and arrived at a sturdy looking door. The door was decorated with, of course, a myriad of skulls and other common imperial motifs, it seemed to be the only way in and out of this place. Curious about what was on the other side, I fired up [Auspex] and blasted forth a sensor wave, but no readings came back.
What the? I tried a second time and received the same result, but this time I noticed my detection waves disappeared as soon as they hit the door and walls. I realised these were made of either psychic or sensor dampening materials. This chamber has some serious setup.
I approached the door and pushed it, finding it locked as expected. A sensation informed me the door was merely locked by a sophisticated digital mechanism, which was weird but made things easy for me. Using my innate ability, I bypassed the security measures, deactivated the digital lock and gingerly pushed the door.
The massive door swung open silently, a testament to its supreme craftsmanship and I was greeted by a dimly lit narrow hallway. I quietly exited the chamber and closed the door, reactivating its lock.
Murmurs of prayers mixed with the low hums of power armour backpacks could be heard in the distance and there was the smell of incense in the air. I fired up another [auspex] wave and immediately detected people not too far in front, from the readings I could tell there was a line of Sororitas blocking another group of people. While the presence of the sisters was expected, I was taken aback by the second group, some of whom seemed to be prostrating towards my direction.
Who are these freaks?
I slowly walked forward while taking a closer look at the readings, recognised the symbols of haloed skulls and held back a gasp. These people must be from the Ecclesiarchy, the official church of the Imperium. From my understanding these guys were usually just bad news; think ultra-corrupt, super self-righteous religious organisations in conservative trappings with the full backing of a supremely fascist state.
As I was wondering what to do next, more people approached. Judging by the weight of the steps and the growing hums of power armour, a new group of sisters had arrived.
‘Sister palatine, good morning.’ a male voice echoed from the hallway, addressing the newcomers.
‘Good morning, esteemed archdeacon,’ replied a female voice which I recognised to be Palatine Dominae who I had met once, she had a uniquely pitched voice. ‘Your grace is here very early today. How may I serve?’ While Dominae sounded courteous enough, I felt a hint of coldness in her tone.
‘Palatine, this time I will accompany you in the routine inspection of the saint candidate’s condition.’
‘Archdeacon, I again humbly request your eminence not to be involved in such matters. Should the Holy Daughter regain consciousness, we will notify the church immediately. Please retire and wait for our notification.’
‘Not possible, the latest astropathic message from the cardinal has made his orders clear. By his decree as the highest Ecclesiarchy office on Nusquam, thus representing the Emperor’s will, the church has to have the first word with the candidate when she recovers. It is now my sole and only task, I am to personally monitor her condition closely from this point onward and supervise her inspections.’
There was a pause before Dominae replied, ‘my apologies archdeacon, again I must refuse your request. Without explicit written order from the church authorised by the cardinal, I can not overrule the orders of my canoness.’
‘I understand, that is why this time I have here with me the written order here with the church’s seal, attached together with the transcripts of the cardinal’s direct orders. Kindly verify.’
‘This is…’ there was another pause before Dominae complied with a flat tone that almost masked her displeasure. ‘Very well, follow me.’ I then heard the sisters parting and people started moving, and it was only then I realised my predicament.
I am not supposed to be here! Shit, shit, shit!
Trapped, I was so trapped. This situation of being cornered in a narrow walkway seemed awfully familiar though. Just as I was seconds away from an embarrassing encounter with a bunch of troublesome people, a line of words showed up like a saviour in my vision.
[Activate Shadow Walk? YES / NO]
After I made the obvious choice, a thin, almost unperceivable shroud appeared around me just as Palatine Dominae came into view, her face an icy fortress as she led a few sister hospitallers together with a whole group of religious-looking people walking forward.
For a moment I held my breath but it was soon apparent no one saw me. With my back on the wall, I watched in awkward silence as the Ecclesiastical procession walked right past me, their many delicate religious trinkets ringing softly with every step and a cloud of incense followed them towards the chamber.
I felt my head numbing just by imagining what would happen when they found out their Holy Daughter was no longer inside.
I gotta get out of here.
In front of me was the path leading outside, with my new found ability and my transhuman agility I could probably get out of this place undetected. I looked back at the procession again and found myself absolutely not in the mood to deal with religious bureaucracy. In stark contrast the promise of a short span of freedom in front was just too tempting.
Come hell and high water, I will go for a walk first.
Maintaining my shroud I walked down the hallway, past a line of guarding sisters and ventured into the vast monastery.