______________
Karros
______________
Lexicanium Karros has had better days, he reflected. What the knight, Zervos was his name, had proven true. Just not In the way he probably meant. Not long after meeting him, he faced one of the dark eldar abominations.
They had the gaul to taunt him about its origins. They said it was a mix of three of his brothers. It was, in reality, four. He had to put them down, no matter what. And eventually, he did.
Quite frankly, it was a near thing. And he was even more lucky that Zervos was waiting for him in the waiting chambers. No matter what was wrong with the knight, he had been there with calming words, an explanation, and assistance.
"Listen well lad." He had said after i explained what happened after he inquired. My voice had been dead, and he could feel my turmoil. "Believe it or not, I've been where you stand. Not this exact place, mind, but similar. Here,-" ehe had then drug him into his own mind, and Karros was powerless to resist.
"Ah, this should help prove my veracity. Here, you can feel my being. Feel the truth as I see, and saw it. Anyhow, where was I... ah, yes. Same place. You see, I watched my home burn. In fact, one could say I was in the fire itself. You see, I'm not from this millennium. I was in the crusade, lad. And later, the very beginnings of the heresy. The traitors or Horus, may that fucker roT IN THE WARP!" Zervos roared.
Whether I wanted to or not, he could feel what Zervos felt. It was similar to what he was feeling. Not the same, but similar. After cursing for what felt like hours, but was only a few seconds in reality, he started calming down.
"The only reason, lad, I'm still here, is due to my misfortune. You see, as a librarian, even in training, you know the dangers of the warp, yes?" Zervos had asked. He had confirmed. All marines knew the broad dangers of the warp. As I had learned in my training, there was much, much more to be learned.
And, it seemed, even more still. Zervos explained how his world was pulled into the warp, him along for the ride. How he felt his soul being torn asunder. How he tried to defend himself, and its results.
This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
"I do not know what I saw in that realm, and to be frank, I don't want to. My soul, it is still my own. They didn't get me, Kerros... I wish I could cry. I honestly wish I could. Sigh. Enough of that. On to you. You have seen what they did. They do it for laughs, and because they can. They are not like most races. They are not even like the other eldar. If there was one race that I could snap my fingers and remove permanently, it would be these scum. Other zenos can feel empathey, can smile, they can laugh. They have children. These things though... they are a plague apon this galaxy. I genuinely do not know what is worse. The traitors, or these... this things." Zervos states with a Snarl in whose mental voice.
"Take your time. They probably want to see you break. Meditate on your memories of them. And remember, when the time comes, vengeance will be yours." Zervos states, then shunts me out of his mind. Likely, he felt my turmoil and instinctive reactions, and gave him his space.
The next time they spoke, they continued talking. Zervos explaining, him asking questions. At first pointed and accusatory, later, more curious. Then their roles reversed. Zervos asking questions, and he, answering. Over the course of the year, Kerros could even call Zervos ally, even if he wasn't fully trust worthy.
__________________________
Zervos
__________________________
Things had been going well for me. Or at least, well enough. I had a bit of an episode with that marine, karros. I regret it. I genuinely don't know what he will do when we get out. Perhaps he will call the inquisition...
WELL, WHATS DONE IS DONE! No use worrying about a future I might not see. Anyhow, my new body has proven it's worth in spades.
It has been shot, stabbed, slashed, and more. But, I don't think it's enough. I've tried experimenting at adding my stored Mass onto my breastplate. It was... successful. It only cost double what it would cost to repair.
So, I suppose it will take years before I can increase my armor everywhere. It also seems my plan to show myself as a fool is working. They treat me like an ugly dog.
sigh. It seems even now I commentate to myself. Some things never change. I will take it as a comfort. Anyhow, I wonder if i could absorb weapons into myself and eventually use them.
Perhaps I could get an auto cannon and replace my stubber. That would be a not insignificant increase in offensive potential. It is something to think on. If I could get a baneblade cannon...
I try to resist laughing out loud, and barely manage it. If there was one thing about this new life, it was that it was an adventure. Ah, it's good to take my mind off of worrying.
But... I don't think I will survive past another decade. This place is... not right. It's draining physically and mentally. Well, in truth, I could survive, but I would probably go mental. Karros though, he would probably just get himself killed.
I can only hope that he has the patience to survive this hell. I will need to test my theories on the weapons, armor myself, and hope for a large enough distinction.
Perhaps orks? I don't know. But I have time. Not much, but enough. It will have to be. One way, or another.