It is three months past my fifth year here. I must say, despite my accommodations, The terrible food and the horrid company besides one certain mention, I hate it here.

The only positive I have is I can now use my autocannon! I want to scream like a child in joy. Only, if I do that, I'm liable to kill someone out of psykic shock. Literally.

In my spare time, that time that I don't use to test rather insane ideas out on myself, I am now spending on practicing my psykic tallents. And I must say, it is a thoroughly horrible experience.

Having things come up to you and whisper things best left unsaid was disturbing to a high degree. I didn't have this problem back in my mortal, not metal days.

I hypothesize it is a result of an increase in my psy-rating and the state the warp is now in. I don't think there would be as large of a shock if I didn't go from one to the other instantly. It is jarring.

Also, I can make a multi-las now. I also got a plasma gun. I haven't eaten it yet though, as I have an idea for it. Said idea being Karros. A plasma gun would do wonders for his arsenal.

The gun is almost certainly too hard to copy without at least a few, and I have heard horror stories about the things detonating. Puts me off of them. While melta guns have less range, they have similar enough power, and are much safer to handle. I do not want a plasma gun detonating in my damn chest.

Anyhow, on to more important matters. With my armor being thicker, faster to repair, as well as my auto cannon, I should be able to take less damage while dishing out a lot more. Perhaps I could modify the ammunition? Maybe. Worth spending time researching.

I still had time. But less then I wanted. If something didn't happen soon, I will need to act... proactively. That would be problematic for many reasons.

But, if my calculations were right, I had another fight here soon. Likely in the 3 month range. The plan stands. Bulk up, practice, prepare. We only get one shot at freedom.

________________________

The day for battle, oh glorious combat, has arrived. Joy. I'm lead out of my hole and into the waiting room. There are new faces, and very few old ones. Karros, as usual, is sitting still, staring off into nothingness.

As I wait, we have a grand conversation on the high and low points of artillery fire in inhabited areas. We had grown closer over the years as one might expect. It was comforting to have someone to call a friend in this shithole.

As we were debating the use of mobile artillery pieces and where best to position them, a new thread started to worm its way into our minds. I stopped chatting Karros, feeling my mood, heightened his awareness.

When he felt it too, he had the same thoughts as mine. 'What and who could this be?' i sent my senses around, and could feel Karros doing the same. After a few seconds, I located the source of the probe. It was an eldar in one of the cages. One from the craftworlds most likely. She didn't have the same face as the drukari.

I decided to probe her back. She let me in her outer mind without resistance. And what I felt... was strange. I remember a bit of lore from my past life, I only remember due to it being directly related to the revival of a primarch.

An eldar, who dies in commorragh, only to be reborn, who then helps revive the primarch, Guilliman. And, as I sit in her mind, I feel something. Deep in her mind, unnoticed by all, was a thread. I could barely see it. But what I did see, was concerning.

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I have a feeling, that this is our eldar in question. I back off, cutting the outgoing bridge from her and myself. I reinforce the barriers of mine and Karros's mind. Seeing what I'm doing, Karros moves to assist. After frantically building our defenses, Karros asks me a question.

'What is it Zervos? You've never done such a thing before, even when a weird boy had a psykic melt down and blew up. So, what happened?' He asks. I do not answer.

Instead, I turn my whole body towards the eldar, and sturdy her. Her cloths were ragged, and her face had blood on it from some unknown wound she had a sword on her hip, but it was broken in two, and she had a pistol on her other hip, looking like it had seen use.

After a full minute of silence, I finally reply. 'Do not turn your back on her, my friend.' I say. 'This one... is dangerous. More so than anything we faced yet... But, also a potential friend. Be wary." And with my reply, I send a mind bridge to her, slowly, as if testing the waters.

She sent one in reply, and a bridge was open. Before she spoke, I quickly cut in. 'My apologies. That was quite rude of me. What can we loyal sons of the emperor do to assist?' I state. My statement made our position clear, I thought.

As I paid attention to her, I saw her wince at my odd voice. Whether at the volume or the strange quality, I don't know. She pauses, likely thinking what to ask. She then replied.

'I was going to ask for information before you rudely cut me off.' She states. 'Specifically about what was the modus operandi here.'

I gave her the answer I gave Karros when he asked me. Whether she listened or not was, ultimately, not my problem however. But then I had a thought. So, I asked a question.

'Your sword. It is broken. You do not have much of a chance in this... pit without one... tell me, would you trade a favor, or a favor?' I ask.

She looks at me, then at her broken sword. Then back to me. 'What kind of deal, warped thing? You ask for my soul? Perhaps something else? I know what you are.' She states in an accusatory tone.

I growl a laugh out loud. The nerve! Karros, having never before heard my 'voice' probes me, concerned. I send one back, reassuring him, and saying I was laughing. When I focus back on the eldar, she is scowling. I then reply back.

'Oh by the emperor. HA! No, my new friend. No. I am no demon, or creature born of the madness. I am simply twisted beyond repair. No. For this favor, I offer a piece of myself as your weapon. Look at my claws, and choose one to be your blade. In trade, I ask for friendship, and for you to return the shard of me when the time comes. Nothing more. Nothing less.' i state. Well, more like demand.

She thinks on it, and I can tell she is conflicted. Eventually, she replies. 'Very well. Your bargain is fair. I agree.' No more need be said, as I quickly thin out my pinky fingers claw. Over the course of an hour, it begins to take shape. My claw detaches, and I look at it. My right hand may now be one finger down, but what I created from it, was beautiful to me.

A Saber, over 4 feet long, and a half foot wide. It's back thicker to help slashing, while it's curve was still able to facilitate thrusts. It's hilt was a basket, and it's handle was long enough for her two hands. With my body being the material, it would likely give even the most robust power weapons a run for their money. On the length of the blade, lay words of high gothic.

'A gift, freely given in hope of friendship. A gift, returned in equal measure. May luck favor you.'

When I pick it up, I do so as if I'm handling a newborn. It cost an insane amount of mass due to me speeding up the process, it was ridiculous. But, as I gifted it to the eldar, my now friend, I explained as much about the blade as I could.

When she asked about the words, I merely chucked. I told her to learn high gothic when she got a chance. But, I knew I had taken a risk. A large one.

But, I had the option of befriending the avatar of a god. Maybe it is the naivety of my past life. But I hoped. I hoped so dearly that I could be happy. This galaxy is a hell, I knew. I lived it. But, I had a chance now. To hell with it. Death comes for us all in the end.

As I turn away from my new friend, I send her a message. 'I have taken a risk today, I suppose. But, I have the chance of friendship. I hope you strive with me to this end. All life born of this galaxy is sacred, after all. Might as well befriend a few people.' I state. Sappy, yes. But, I suppose, the galaxy hasn't corrupted my yet.

I still wanted out of this shithole city though.