Out of the frying pan... Chapter 1 - IC

+++++++++++++++++ 2 years prior (Damiel, Felyx, Donna) +++++++++++++++++

The tipping point was when the ‘titan’ was awakened. You had used a submersible to journey deep into the ocean where you discovered a huge cave complex and a sleeping monstrosity that would dwarf a hab block. You could debate if it was your presence that awakened it but rise it did. Your only option was to flee. Returning to the hive with the titan hot on your tails you found it in chaos, a four armed xeno creature rampaged through the streets. For every 10 killed and fed upon the xeno implanted their seed in another leaving their victims in a comatose state. In the confusion Egill and Alistair were lost, dead or otherwise you do not know. Staying on the Hive World would have meant death.



Inquisitor Torquemada Cortez did not look kindly on your failures, he cared nothing for your arguments. You were thrown in chains and sent to a penal colony on Nexum VIII for the rest of your days.


+++++++++++++++++ Kage +++++++++++++++++

Since being rescued from the clutches of the deamon Kage has spent all his time in quarantine aboard some void vessel. The Inquisitor Maud Grimm has explained that this is necessary for two reasons. Firstly she must be certain that the ‘banished’ deamon hadn't left anything behind that would allow it to return, a door to the mind left ajar. Secondly the possession had changed Kage greatly and the inquisitor wanted to ensure Kage’s blossoming psychic powers were under control. Kage had spent the last 138 days in a cell, his only contact was his new ‘mentor’ who taught him the ways of the warp but refused all other lines of questioning.

However today is different. When your cell door opened instead of stepping in the Inquisitor stepped to one side and gestured Kage to freedom. She led you through a ship that seemed all but abandoned – you saw no crew but the low hum and vibration of the ships engines were evident. Entering a docking bay you board a small shuttle that is manned by a hardwired servitor, with no pre-amble the shuttle departs and heads down to a planet surface. Through the view ports the planet looks like a giant yellow dust ball. Inquisitor Grimm watches you intently.




+++++++++++++++++ Damiel, Felyx, Donna +++++++++++++++++

The hot oppressive sun beats down on your heads. An overly warm wind whips dust about the quarry, stinging eyes and slowly clogging lungs. The sound of a thousand pickaxes hitting rock fills the air. Damiel, Felyx, Donna worked together in a work gang of one hundred men and women, this was their 600th or so day splitting rocks and doing other back breaking labour at pit 89EA4.



Horns about the pit sound signally a 10 minute break at which barely functional servitors start to move amongst the convicts distributing re-cycled water. The sound of pickaxes hitting rocks is replaced by the jingle of your leg irons, quiet chatter and the hacking coughs that many start to develop after a few years working the pit.

With barely a few minutes passed the horns sound again but this time in a different tone indicating that a message was to follow from the laudhailers “Attention! Attention! All convicts to holdfast in locations. Break cycle is extended until further notice.” This is unusual, something is happening…

More guards and gun servitor appear at the top of the pit where they train their weapons at the convicts below. Someone nearby to Damiel, Felyx and Donna points to the sky at a small shuttle that had just broke through the cloud cover and appeared to be heading for the pit.

++++ Pit 89EA4 ++++

Felyx had kept the pickaxe in hand as he took water. He had learned early on that to be without a weapon when the opportunity to have one was allowed was foolish. More to the point, to be without comrades in such a place was a quicker death sentence than simply being in such a place.

For that, he was eternally thankful for Murder-Slut and Pale-Creep. Both had owed him nothing, as he had owed them nothing upon being sentenced here. Yet, all three owed one another everything. Donna had broken bones and torn skin for Felyx and Damiel. Damiel had terrified and shattered minds for the other two.

Felyx had returned the favor. And as such, two years had taught him many lessons. First and foremost, take advantage of all opportunities to better your situation. The pickaxe was one such opportunity.

The extended break was odd. The Tech-Priest Dominus-turned-Explorator-turned-Convict eyed the shuttle coming in from orbit.

It was interesting, but he had more important things to concern himself with. Keeping the dust out of his cybernetics was a real pain in the asshole.

Pit 89EA4 is divided into many work areas with each section being worked by one or more work gangs. Each area is contained by sturdy linked metal fences, security gates and guards in lofty towers. The jailers didn't mix with the incarcerated at all and if there was any trouble amongst the work force the guards simply started shooting people until it stopped.

Kage recoiled a bit as the door slid open and the harsh lights intruded on his dark cell - when the Inqusitor gestured for him to leave he pulled himself weakly to his feet and moved towards the door his eyes burning after months in the dim light of his cell.

As his eyes slowly adjusted he went through the catchisims mentally that he had been told to keep the press of the warp and the minds of those around him quiet while pulling the hood of his simple brown robe over his head and down to cast shadow over his eyes, still adjusting to the change in light.

As he fell into lockstep behind the Inquisitor and he was sure his mental defences where strong he allowed himself time to wonder what was happening. Was the time now for him to be put to use by his Misstress sent to hunt out the foulness that had so damaged him and was an affront to the Emperor and mankind himself.

He settled into the jump seat of the craft that was taking them below his eyes focused on the yellow globe before him, he allowed a small trace of a smile to cross his face. Now was the time for redemption - he had no illusions that it would be a difficult path filled with terror and blood but that was all he remembered of the time before but at least this time he was in control.

++++ Pit 89EA4 ++++

Donna wipes the sweat from her brow and looks around.
"Weo! Da's nawt sumthin yew 'ear ,evryday."

Her left forearm-bionic had been giving her the phantom pain again of late, but without any tools, there wasn't much Felyx could do about it. Having it though marked her ou as more important than the rest of the rabble here though, and she had used it many times to bash a few skulls in in her defense, as well as that of Felyx and Damiel's. In return, Felyx had nursed her ribs and ankle back to functional form; while Damiel's souless state kept some of the riff raff away. It was only as a team that they had survived thus far.

Something she had lost, thankfully so, was fear of the inquisitor's reprisal. Something about him scared her into compliance until that last misfortuante buisness with the nobles and the mutants. He had tossed them in her and left them to die though, so she was off the hook. He would haunt her no longer.

++++ Pit 89EA4 ++++

Damiel relaxed on the hard dirt, water in hand. He reeked of piss and sweat, and he rubbed the bruises on his arms. Menial labor and constant beatings replaced any combat training he'd had before and kept him in good enough shape. He stretched his major muscle groups, bundles of fibrous muscle left ridges on his skin. He tightened the bandages wrapped around his hands. When asked, he would always tell people it helped to keep the blisters down, and somehow, that had worked so far.

There weren't many powerful minds or daemonic entities down in the pits, but there were plenty of rabble he imagined Donna would get along with, if we weren't always trying to kill each other.

How long had it been? A year? Two? Stuck in this pit with the surviving members of Torquemada's acolytes. He looked up at the incoming shuttle and the guard presence, and thought it too unique a method to refresh the population in the pit. Maybe some official from the other side of the planet? Secretly, Damiel prayed it was for him, though he knew little favors came to those in his position.

He moved to his companions. Donna yelled something out he didn't quite catch, and Damiel kept glancing up at the sky as he made his way over.

++++ The Shuttle ++++

As the shuttle passes through high cloud cover the servitor intones “Approach locked in. Landing in one minute twenty seconds…. Approach locked in. Landing in…”

The inquisitor leans forward as much as her seat harness will allow, the limited lighting throwing her pointed chin and hooked nose into highlight “A throne for your thoughts?” she asks Kage her voice gravelly and hissing although it pierced the roar of the engines well enough.

Kage lifts his head his violet eyes focusing on the Inquisitor, he still hadn't gotten used to her voice after all this time but he had managed to learn to control his reaction to it. "I was focusing on what you have taught me, preparing for the tasks ahead." He swallows gathering his courage "If I may ask - what is our mission."

++++ Pit 89EA4 ++++

"The knowledges of who that is being currently impossible to have. I am very much missing cogitation device."

And Servitor.

Felyx had often thought of his faithful companion. Of course, during their adventures, the cybernetic-utility servitor had been just another tool. It wasn't until his incarceration and their separation that Felyx had felt the tinge of longing for his companion. At first, he simply thought it was another diarrheal episode brought on by the foodstuffs of this world. The realization of what it truly was was a bit shocking.

Servitor was a good tool. One of the best. Felyx would be hard pressed to find another like it.

Just as procedure, the former Tech Priest began gathering data: number of guards, weaponry, inmate around them to use as body shields should the need arise... etc.

He walked over to Damiel, mimicking the muscle stretches until it was painfully obvious he wanted to speak.

"You are smelling of urine again. Have you forgotten to pulling your pants down before evacuation?"

++++ The Shuttle ++++

The shuttle judders as it goes through some turbulence, it was nothing but it caused Maud to pause for a moment. Settling back into her seat she gives Kage a tight smile "So you should, you're like a babe in the woods. However your experiences give you some steel which will be needed in the times ahead..."

“Engage landing gear." the servitor interrupts causing Maud to pause and to pass an irritated glance towards the cockpit.

"... and a chance of redemption." she finishes.

"As for your question that will have to wait for its telling. For now I look for more acolytes, companions for you. The tarot has led me to this rock; a penal colony." she chuckles which almost turns into a cough which she stifles with a hand to her chest "We'll no doubt find a rare breed here." she finally adds.

Damiel looked on as his companion worked up the courage to speak. He gave a light smile at his words, which appeared somewhere between a loving father and an exasperated friend. At least Felyx seemed to mind his presence less than the others in the pit.

"Your powers of deduction have only continued to improve, my friend. What do you think it is?" He mentions, pointing to the sky and ever approaching shuttle. "A convict transport? Orbital dropship or atmospheric? Personal? " Damiel looked on as he rattled off questions to the Admech, not that any of them would matter soon enough.

Kage tried not to grimace but his twitch started up forcing his hand to clench as the Inqusitor read him like a book. He bowed his head at her words and leant back into his seat feeling the vibrations of the shuttle having nothing further to ask.

Donna answers the question, assuming she had been the one asked and not Felyx.
"'ew cares? S'not like theys 'ere to pick us up. N'less yew wanna sneak our way aboahd? She finishes with a grin. It wasn't the first time she had recommended an escape attempt.

Every time she had recommended such a thing, Felyx had quickly calculated the odds of survival and determined that the odds were not in their favor.
It didnt stop Donna from recommending it.


After all, if they were going to die here they might as well get it done and over with - it was no use working hard labor until their bodies gave out some 10 years later.

++++ Shuttle ++++

“Brace for landing” the servitor intones just before the shuttle lands. Maud remains seated as she addresses Kage “Your role here is simple. Stay behind me and observe. If you need to address me use my title ‘Inquisitor Grimm’.”

With the orders given Maud struggles out of the harness and seat, her form is stooped with a hunched back. First she retrieves her stave of office; a golden staff with a the symbol of the inquisition at its top. It appears to be an item of significant craftmanship. She then shuffles over to the back of the shuttle and pulls down a light tarpaulin revealing a large combat servitor; its origin possibly from an ogryn or some gen enhanced human. Mounted on its shoulder is some mid-calibre cannon, one of its arms ends in a large cutting claw and the other a chainblade. “Theta-HK91 activate. Mode passive” at her command the servitor powers to life flexing its claw and revving its chainblade “Voice recognition confirmed, Passive mode engaged” it intones loudly in a barking synthesized voice as it powers down its weapons.

Muttering to herself she then takes up position before the closed exit ramp and gestures Kage to stand with her. “One moment more my acolyte, appearances are important at times…” the atmosphere of the shuttle interior suddenly becomes charged. The hairs on Kages arms stand on end which is accompanied by an itch at the back on his skull as Inquisitor Maud flexes her psi powers. She gasps loudly and holds her staff tightly as her back starts to straighten with a cracking and grinding noise of her bones. Hand over hand on the staff she slowly pulls herself straight over what seems like an agonising few minutes. It is not a quick process. Finally she sucks in a lungful of air and then sighes heavily as she calms herself from the physical exertion as she stands tall and easy; Maud in her hunched form was not much over five foot, she now stands a good deal over six. Finally the ramp opens and Inquisitor Grimm strides confidently down her shuffling gait no longer apparent. Her staff no longer a walking aid. You keep step with Theta-HK91 close behind.

Before Maud has a chance to speak a uniformed official steps forward he is backed up by some thirty odd guards and other administrative staff “This is against all protocol. I must object to being called out to the pits when business could be dealt with in more comfortable surrounds.” he blusters, he was about to continue when Maud plants her staff in the ground before him “You would be the governor yes.” She stops him with a gaze before he answers “I do not care for your name or other remonstrations. I am the Inquisition and you will do as I say. If you do not you will find yourself working the pits sooner than you can clean your dust covered boots.” Her voice is clear and forceful, of a woman half her age; there was no sign of her hissing voice. “All I require is three of your prisoners and I will then be on my way.” The governor nods “err… do you know which ones, there are thousands who work this pit?” he asks cautiously.

“No, but the tarot will tell me. Now out of my way man” she orders.

Maud turns away towards the wire fence of the secured section and sits herself in the dirt she then reaches into her robes and produces a deck of cards. She had used them before in Kages presence and she had taught him they were the Emperors Tarot and an aid in divination.  She shuffles the deck and then draws three cards which she places face up on the ground. Kage could see the cards over her shoulder ‘The Void - depicted by a white star against a black background, The Mechanicum – depicted by a red planet and The Warrior – depicted by a sword’ … the same each she muttered which Kage just about heard over the wind.

++++ Pit 89EA4 ++++

The shuttle lands out of sight although clearly close to the pit edge by the amount of dust that you can see thrown up. The engines of the craft can be heard powering down and then silence. Some ten minutes later the laudhailers blare out “Work cycle complete. Return to accommodation blocks! Return to accommodation blocks!” there is some surprise amongst the prisoners as the day is only half spent although most seem happy that the brutal work day has been cut in half. To keep the work force under tight control and for the safety of the guards work gangs are moved one at a time; a security gate would open and workers would move through with the gate behind closing again until they had moved on to the next section meaning there was never more than a few hundred prisoners in each secure section at any one time. This meant the guards could easily deal with any trouble. The work gang that Donna, Felyx and Damiel were part of were only a few sections from the top of the pit so they did not have to long to wait before they could see what was happening.

With the preceding work gang clear of the next section the security gates open and your work gang is clear to move forward. As you crest the ramp at the top of the pit you see the shuttle on the other side of the wire fencing alongside two groups. The first is a bunch of prison officials and guards the second however is far more interesting. Sat on the dusty ground is a black robed figure, their face hidden in shadow by the hood of their robe, the figure seems to be concentrating on something on the ground before them.

To their right is stood a man with pale skin wearing a green robe and behind him a large combat servitor. The servitor doesn’t look like anything from the penal colony; it is ogryn sized with heavy armour plating and is armed with a cutting claw, chainblade and a shoulder mounted cannon.

The guards shout at the prisons to keep them moving towards the next security gate and so your workforce shuffles forward. The figure in black suddenly looks up and locks eyes with Damiel, she gives the null an almost imperceptible smile before her gaze drifts over Donna and Felyx. “Those three.” She points at the three of you with a long bony finger. Standing she turn to the officials “I will leave with them immediately” she demands of the governor who simply nods meekly gesturing to the guards.

++++ Shuttle ++++

Without any preamble with your leg irons still in place Donna, Felyx and Damiel are all hustled quickly into the shuttle sat opposite in the harnessed seats is the man in the green robe and what is revealed to be an old crone dressed in the black robes. The servitor stands active in the back of the shuttle. Once the shuttle is in the air the woman speaks “I am Inquisitor Maud Grimm, Order Malleus and this is Acolyte Kage. I'm in need of a cell and the Tarot has led me to you four. You all have a second chance.” Her smile and twinkling youthful eyes are at odds with her gravely and hissing voice.

"These odds - second chances for second-chancers like we - being low in the excess. Perhaps just me, making the senses. Pale-Piss-Pants, Murder-Cyber-Slut, AND Felyx-080 Tech Priest Explorator Magnifique... insurmountables."

He then smiled a dead-eyed smile at Kage. It was all teeth and no eyes. Typical.

He turned it to the Inquisitor, but he saved the biggest smile for the combat servitor unit.

"It is being the pleasure to meeting to you. This work planets gives sun rash in sensitive places. Thanking to you."

Donna had her arms crossed and an annoyed look on her face.
"Sec'und chance fah whawt?"

Its was partially an act. She felt an unease at this woman the same as she felt towards her last 'master'
but not being eaten alive was best achieved my making those who are hungry work for their meal.

She would size up this woman just like she would size up the largest inmate in a fresh prison. It would be fun. She only missed her chance here because of her injuries.

"Oui'm murder cyber slut, an if yew need murder, a cyber, or a slut then oui'm yer girl."

For all her bluster, she was on edge, somewhat terrified, and that idea pissed her off.

Damiel gave a look to the Coghead and rolled his eyes, then to Donna, which he couldn't help but feel a little repulsed. He kicked his boots up into Felyx's lap, the fetters still attached. "Mr. Tech Priest Magnificent, if you're so great, could you undo my restraints."

Without waiting for a reply, Damiel turned to the Inquisitor. "I'm Damiel. I'm grateful for any reason to get off that shithole planet, and I'm in your debt. How can we help?"

Felyx automatically starts rubbing Damiel's feet.

He makes no move to remove the restraints.

Kage holds the tech adepts eyes his ever present twitch making his fingers spasm, he remains passive as the man smiles at him before turning his gaze curiously to the others and only when he looks directly at Damiel does his face change.

He tries to swallow his fear but something about that thing was wrong, he knew it deep in his very soul. He turned away considering the Inqusitor now - what in the Thrones name could the four broken things she had gathered do that would be to anyones benefit.

Maud holds up a hand “A moment” she requests “do not be alarmed”. She closes her eyes which she then squeezes tight as some sort of pain passes over her. There is a cracking and grinding noise from her body as she transforms from a straight backed six foot plus old woman with a clear voice to a wizened crone, her back hunched and head craning forward on her bowed spine. She seems to shrink back slightly into her midnight black robes and cowled hood. A single tear rolls down her cheek which she wipes away before she looks across at the three new arrivals.

She takes a moment to gather her thoughts or to overcome the transformation her body had just been through or perhaps both or neither. “You may not thank me when all is said and done, it will be a dangerous life.” she rasps “One more interesting than breaking rocks though. I need new acolytes to serve, Ordo Malleus fight against that which is beyound the veil and those that would consort with them.” She chuckles which if a half laugh half wheeze “I’m hoping I’ve made a good choice. My body is old and so I need young legs to do the dirty work. Now why don't you tell me a little about yourselves, why were you imprisoned?”

Maud seems not at all bothered by some of your relaxed manners.

Donna was truly perplexed by the sudden change of the inquisitor. She had heard about shapeshifting bogeymen that nobles would use to kill each other off. Of course she had thought those fairy tales to keep kids from stealing rations and beating the feth out of squatters.

"Oui nevah met an' 'onest fairy tale befoh. Secret waepon of da nobles eh? Whats a Cal-a-di-us-a-e-um-sa-sin what'chit like yew want wit a cyber murder slut like me? Oui aint beat the tar out of any squatters since oui was a wee litt-o shit." she says with a bit of astonishment in her voice.

Regains some of her composure, she straightens up and juts her chin, "Sum otha inquisitah wus wanting sum people offed. I did'it until I didnt. Then 'e sent me 'ere. Bit ungrateful if yew ask me."

Maud cackles and slaps her thigh in amusement at Donna "Every Inquisitor needs a killer like you and occasionally a slut."

She seems surprised at Donna's revelation at previously serving another of her order. "What a coincidence, you have all served before? I would guess so as you seem quite familiar with each other."

Felyx stared blankly at the woman as her form changed. His eyes didn't blink, even as he continued to rub Damiel's feet.

"I knowing that Donna has troubles seeing obvious things. Alases, I am not being the fool enough to thinking that you come here, choose to us three specific, and know nothings about us three. You are Inquisitor - knowing this from moments laying eyes on your staffs. Inquisitors knowing things is names of game."

Felyx thought it preposterous a suggestion that somehow the Inquisitor could know nothing about them.

"This is test. I too am knowing to things, can doing to things - with right tools, I might even getting inside his head," he gestured with his neck over at the combat servitor. "Making him to serve new master. We three served. Loyalty. Honor - well, sometimes honor. Meant nothing to Torquemada Inquisitors. Mission failure and to shitholes we sent."

“It can be a test if you like. Taking part in conversation with a person can tell you much about them. Best hope you pass.” She smiles a toothy grin at Felyx “You are right that information is key to our work, but did I know your names, no I did not. Did I have any prior knowledge of you.” She shakes her head “no, I did not. Am I unorthadox in my approach, yes I am”

She reaches into her robe and pulls out a deck of cards “These are the Emperors Tarot, they are a tool and a guide for diviners. My art and these led me to you. I promise you that I only knew it was you three and Kage until I first set eyes on you. My divinations led me to Nexum VIII and told me to seek a warrior, a servant of mars and…” she nods at Damiel “… well I wasn’t sure about him and until I sensed his rare talents.”

Donna points at Damiel with her thumb, "'E's good at shit-n bricks."

Sha paused before tacking on, "Bit creepy though iffen yew ask me."

Felyx listened and raised his eyebrows when the cards were brought out. He stared at them and gave a slow nod.

Interesting. Not altogether unsurprising given the tricks these Inquisitors have, but interesting nonetheless he thought to himself in a blurt of internal binaric chatter.

"Ah. Hmm. Er. I am seeing. As was saying to previous, I am being Felyx-080 Tech Priest Explorator Magnifique. If you are then to truly knowing the nothing..."

Felyx then took a moment to lay out the specifics of their last mission, and the gist of the previous mission to the Ice Moon, in his broken-ass Low Gothic. Truth be told, Felyx had a very firm grasp on Low Gothic ever since having his internal cogitation unit recalibrated, but he liked talking like this. It made people underestimate him, and that has always played to his advantage.

Of course, during this, he focused in on his own personal badassery, from the spider pad climb and nearly solitary kill of the Daemon engine, to his mad hacking/security skills.

"Best fun with Inquisitions. Mars. Pfft. Tech Priests have many rods jammed many feet inside of the assholes. No fun. No to drinking. No to partying. No to breaking into aeons old Golden Ages of Humanities technology and to killin Daemon Engine. Rods in the assholes."

He stopped for a moment and looked at Damiel. "Why no one ever is liking to you?" He jams a thumb at Kage who had clearly paled when looking at Damiel. It was as "the fuck is that about" as Felyx got.

Damiel gave a pained, yet soft, smile at the inquisitor's words, but said nothing; it wasn't until Felyx posed a direct question that he spoke. "Talents... That's the kindest anyone's spoke of my curse." He turned to Felyx.

"Felyx, when Inquisitor Maud mentioned she 'sensed' my talents, she meant quite the opposite. Truth be told she can sense nothing of me with psychic ability. Simply put, I've lost the genetic lottery. I bear the Pariah gene, with a proper Omega Assignment from the Astra Telepathica. This marks me a Blacksoul, also called a blank or null, or whatever other title you wish. What it means is, I don't register in the warp. The Inquisitor may be interested in this because my lack of warp contact is potent enough to diminish the abilities of psykers and warp entities."

He pauses for a second, to gather his thoughts before continuing, "The pure negative warp energy tends to be... off-putting, to others. To those attuned to the warp, my presence is often painful. Which is probably why Egill disliked me so much, wherever he is." He gestures to the man who'd been following the Inquisitor. "I bet this man is a psyker as well, by how potent his reaction to me was. Am I right?"

Felyx stared blankly, taking in everything Damiel said with only the slightest of perfectly timed nods to show that he had been listening.

He didn't understand on an empathetic level. He thought Damiel was just like every other non-Omnissiad he had met. At first anyways. It was only after spending some time with the group as a whole that he realized people looked at and treated Damiel, on average, worse than they treated himself.

"Perfectly sense making. Warp is being to gravity as Damiel is being to anti-gravity engine. Psykers being to organic matter as Damiel is being to bolt round."

It had just made a lot more sense.

Donna stands, looking bored with all the psyker mumber jumbo she cared little for.

The way she saw it, no body was currently hurling lightning at her nor telling her which armored truck to rob so she didn't care.

That would probably change if she ever had to deal with the nightmare of someone who lost control of their powers......

“I would say its more akin to a dampening field than a bolt round, but yes you get the idea his talents have the potential to be a powerful tool against psykers and deamons.” She gives Damiel a tight smile “I will endeavour to stay cordial with you despite how you make my skin crawl.”

Maud had remained silent and attentive while you spoke about Torquemada and past missions and did not interrupt. She spoke again once you’d finished “hmm, well it seems to me that you were in over your heads, Torquemada under-estimated the problem. His loss is my gain. He is a hard man so I feel lucky that he didn’t execute you out of hand.”

As she speaks the shuttle transitions from the planets atmosphere to space, the bright daylight changing to darkness and twinkling stars. “Docking in five minutes and forty two seconds” the hardwired servitor pilot intones. With the shuttle now in the void you feel weightlessness as gravity leaves you behind. fortunately everyone is in their harness... except for Donna who starts to float.

"Wait...yew know 'em? Twerk-emada? Iffen 'e knows we ain' 'ere no more is 'e gonna com after us?"

She was all game for fun and violence, but something about that inquisitor scared the living shit out of her. It was like he had the one thing she was truly afraid of, and she didnt even know that herself.

"I know of him, but we do not walk in the same circles so your shouldn't worry about that. I really doubt he now cares what becomes of you." Maud watches intently as Donna's head gets closer to banging on the ceiling of the shuttle.

Maud seems content to leave you to your thoughts so the remainder of the flight is in silence. Much has changed over the last few hours as you leave your life sentence of breaking rocks and a short life expectancy behind. Saying that the life of an inquisitorial acolyte is also often short but at least fighting heresy would be more interesting or you could make a break for freedom at the first opportunity?

The shuttle docks and you disembark without ceremony, the hanger is silent and empty except for the noises of the shuttle powering down. You might have expected a welcoming party for the inquisitor or perhaps a ground crew to service the shuttle, but there is none. The hanger smells dank, you notice rust and exposed wiring and there is a general sense of disrepair of the place. As Maud leads you through the ship the poor state of repair is apparent throughout.

The ship or at least the parts you move through feel relatively empty… and the few souls you do pass keep away from Maud, shrinking onto the sides of the corridors to allow you to pass. After a while Maud pauses for a moment, it seems the short ten minute walk has tired her as she steadies herself with one hand against a bulkhead “You’ve no doubt a few questions about this place. Lets talk while we walk… “ she shuffles off at a slower pace “This fine ship is called the Honest Trader…” Maud pats a wall in ‘affection’ (?) “… and the captain owes me fealty, he is an indolent man but he does what I ask. So he ferries me about the sector to allow me to do my work. You’ll find many parts of the ship deserted, it has a skeleton crew which if you wish you’re free to fraternise with. There is what serves as a bar from what I’ve heard which I imagine after your ordeals after the past few years might appeal. Our immediate plans are to travel to the planet Kul where there is some trouble brewing, the captain tells me that will take around a week. Until then explore the ship as you wish, get to know each other.” She gestures between Kage and the rest of you. “Ah, here we are. This is your quarters. It has washing facilities.” Maud says with meaning, she then punches a code into the keypad “6809” which she repeats to you. The door starts to opens slightly, then gets stuck half way before opening fully. Beyond is a communal space, with table chairs, off that are small rooms each with a bunk. There are also facilities for washing and shitting. While it is simple it is luxurious from what you’ve become accustomed too. She points down the corridor “you'll mainly find me at the second door down. Now before I rest are there Questions?”

Damiel kept quiet for the majority of their time with Maud, trying to avoid getting on her nerves. He occasionally leaned over to Felyx to whisper questions. ”What does indolent mean? Fraternise? Can you fix the door?” Finally, at the end of the walk he stands straight and addresses Maud, ”Madame Inquisitor, I don’t want to trouble you with requisitions. Is there an armory from which we may acquire equipment? And do we have any authority or recognition aboard the vessel with which to attain said gear?”

Felyx disembarks with the rest, watching Donna fall - either gracefully or less than as the gravity came back - with some amusement. Not at all an unexpected outcome. The state of the ship, however, was both unexpected and slightly unpleasant.

Felyx was no hard-line Omnissiad. He had met some in his day who would have gone into shock at the sight of things here, but this still irked him. The ship required at least a modicum more respect than what it was being given.

He couldn't help but blurt out as he looked on, "Where being are your servitor maintenance units? Ships is becoming shitholes, no? Shitholes reducing integrities. Integrities reducing increase catastrophic failures. Catastrophic failures increasing Warp colon-explosions-fuckery. Where being are your servitors?"

+++

Felyx answered Damiel's questions poorly. "'Indolent': causing littles to none of the pains; This man clearly being healer. 'Fraternize': to make frat; forming a group-bond based in parties and massive consumptioning of alcohols and designer drugs; to be hated by nerds for being rad bro-dudes."

He repeated the definitions as though reading from his own brain. His dictionary may or may not have needed updating - fitting for someone who talked like a servitor kicked in the head by a grox.

He looked at the door, sighed, and simply nodded. Then again burdened Maud with another question: "Giving to me appropriate tools and I attempt to un-fuck this place to appropriate levels of unfuckery doing."

On the walk to your accommodation Maud pauses as Felyx mentions the poor state of the ship. She regards a pipe which is leaking what is likely recycled water, there is a calcified section below caused by the steady and continuous drip, drip... "Enginseer Luthor would agree with you, but resources are scarce and so he does what he can to keep the ship moving and mostly habitable. She is probably past her retirement date but he says he can keep her going for a few more years.”

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

She gives Damiel a forced smile “There is no quartermaster but I do have a stash from which you can arm yourselves when the time comes.” She frowns and looks down at your leg chains and the general poor state of your clothes “… but I will send someone with clean clothing for you and perhaps sidearms to keep you safe against the crew of the ship.” She waits expectantly for a moment longer…

Felyx makes sure to ask where to find Enginseer Luthor. He would no doubt be the person to see about acquiring the necessary tools. No doubt he would want something in return, but Felyx had just become a hot commodity on this ship.

Kage spent his time contemplating the others, although he felt some elation as they headed in a direction other than the cells where he had spent the past length of time in isolation it would be good to spend time with people other than the Inquisitor. Although these others clearly had a bond he would be the outsider here, he would need to be wary less he become expendable.

Donna walked on the ship, as soon as the manacles were removed and her bionic was given its full range of she breathes out an almost orgasmic sigh of releief.
"Oh!, yew don no 'ow good that feels. Gi'mme those." she says as she grabs the manacles from the ships attendant. as relieved as she was, she felt a need to keep them and vent out her frustration sometime.

When the inquisitor replies to Damiel, a twinkle can be seen in her eye as the prospect of ultraviolence would seen again be a reality.
"Oui don suppose those cards that lead yew tewus told yew where to go next? Did they say anythin bout needin' a murderslut?"

A short while after Maud has left you to your own devices a crew person arrives with clean clothes and bolt cutters to remove your leg irons. They direct you to the aft of the ship where the majority of the crew live, you’ll find a few bars and also Engine-seer Luthor there.


++++++++++++ Engine Room – Plasma Drives ++++++++++++

While the state of the ship is poor it does improve a little the closer you move towards the aft of the ship, the throb and vibrations of the plasma drives through the ship at least sound and feel healthy and the poor state of the ship at least appears to be mostly in superficial, areas that are unimportant to the main purpose of the ship. Getting from A to B. The ship gets ever more busy as you get towards the business end of the engine rooms with crew covered in dirt, grease and oil toiling away. Tech adepts and overseers direct the workforce making repairs and keeping the engines operational.

Tech priest Luthor is easy to find, his red mechanicus robes are dirty with sacred oil, he appears to be mostly unaugmented except for his utility mechandrite and a cybernetic eye which glows green. It is hard to tell his age beneath the grime but he looks weary as he looks over a data slate his face bathed in its green glow.


++++++++++++ Habitation Deck A ++++++++++++

The habitation deck is a bustle with off shift workers, the area feels more like a cramped tightly enclosed town than part of a ship. The sounds of chatter, laughter, arguing and some music fills the air alongside the smells of cooking food, alcohol and obscura. The main communal area is a large open space open to a couple of decks, there are gantries criss-crossing it and the place is filled with tables with benches. Around the side of the open space people hawk their wares from cooked rat on a stick, alcohol and other consumables to clothing repairs and other minor services. Making your way through the crowd you find an empty table outside one of the bars where you can take it all in. Mostly people have ignored you as you’ve passed through for you wear similar clothing to the crew.

Engine Room - Plasma Drives

Felyx made his way to Luthor fast and efficiently, noting that there was no active archaeotech components to the engine room. He had a small hope that the Inquisitor would have perhaps had something special, as they often did, but this one seemed to keep to the bare minimum when it came to tech.

He sent a small pulse of electro-static binary to announce his arrival, though he was sure he had already been picked up. It was a small courtesy that he had no idea how to replicate outside of the Mechanicus circles.

+++Greetings and Salutations, Tech Priest Enginseer Luthor. I am Tech Priest Explorator Felyx-080 Turing. Guest aboard your vessel for the time being. During my stay, I require tools to make repairs to my living quarters and offer my assistance in any jobs you may currently be in need of.+++

As with most Techna-Lingua, the conversation was straight to the point.

It wasn’t until Damiel bathed that his senses remembered how it felt to be clean. The soft scents of the detergents, the true tone of his skin, and the gentle warmth of the water were enough to bring tears to his eyes. He wiped his eyes and rinsed his face, to watch the tears wash down the drain, imperceptible when mixed with the waters. He took his time, but when finished, he enjoyed a moment with the razor to groom his face and hair. The time spent in the pits had given him little room for care, though his patchy facial hair and unkempt locks wouldn’t plague him any longer. Finally, he dressed himself and made his way to the common quarters, waiting for the others to be prepared to familiarize themselves with the ship.

++++++++++++++++++++++++ Habitation Deck A +++++++++++++++++++++
Once any others were prepared, Damiel made his way to the habitation decks, walking among the peddlers’ stalls and slipping between the large bustling crowds. ”Void vessel? This is a hive.” he chides to the others as they move. ”There’s got to be a place we can pick up a drink...” He groans, stopping to scan the area for a bar, or at least a few tables.

+++ Engine Room – Plasma Drives +++

The techpriest looks up from the data-slate and replies with a customary burst of binary static, he has a slightly pained expression on his face "Assumption; Inquisitor Maud told you of me as only she uses Luthor, however I'm designated L00-4. Query; what instruction have you received on Mezoa Pattern Theta-7 plasma drive’s?”

As with most techpriests his conversation is also short and to the point, but he also looks flustered and tired and already there is a gaggle of tech adepts waiting behind you to speak with L00-4.


+++ Habitation Deck A +++

You have a small choice of bars, one looks quieter and the other rowdy; games of chance are played at both, the latter has a haze of obsucra smoke above it.

Donna bursts into the rowdy one and eyes the bar like a hungry beast. She moves through the crowd like a starving man who had caught sign of a delectable buffet.

She opens a seat in the patrons like she was parting the sea.

"Gimme awl yew got."

"eh? What-"

"Gimme a bott'ul."

"Of?"

She reaches out and grabs him by the collar,
"Oui. Doun. Care."

She breathed heavily. It had been long- Too long since she had a fix of her precious slaught. Some of the prisoners had concocted stimms, but they provided little rush compared to street product, and the after effects were much more severe than they should have been. After a few hits, she stayed away.

She had looked for amasec of any quality, it was always a good time. But the prison had no sugar stores, and without sugar, there was no amasec. She was on a penal colony, not just a prison but a planet on which there was nothing else. There was no way to get anything as refined as sugar besides coercing a guard. She tried but it was a failed attempt.

Now she had easy acces to a good time. She was going to drink the place dry......

Felyx makes a mental note. Maud had taken this Enginseer's designation and made it more comfortable for herself.

+++Truly, Low-Gothic lacks the clarity of Machine Cant. I am trained in their operation as per standard training procedures, but I am no specialist such as yourself L00-4. Until recently I was assisted by a Utility Servitor Unit to assist in machine-repairs and maintenance. Without my tools, my current skills are 'sufficient.'+++

+++ Habitation Deck A +++

There are exclamations of annoyance as Donna makes her presence felt getting to the bar but the patrons quickly fall silent when they see the large, muscled woman. With her bottle of amasec claimed there are is an empty table with benches for seating you make yourself comfortable at. Many at the bar eye Damiel with loathing in their eyes and those sat at adjacent table move after a few minutes with comments about the poor ‘smell’ in the area.


+++ Engine Room – Plasma Drives +++

“As you would have noted the ship is in poor repair which is unavoidable due to the lack of resources and capacity. Priority is therefore given to critical systems. It would be beneficial if you assisted working on the maintenance backlog of non-critical systems.” L00-4 turns to one of the waiting tech adepts “Adept Petrov, assist Felyx-080 in acquiring tools and share the maintenance backlog.”

With that L00-4 returns to his work giving apologies that he is unable to spend more time exchanging information although he adds he would like the opportunity to converse again. The adept gives Felyx tools and access to the maintenance backlog, the list is extensive and would require many 1000s of man hours to complete. There is work required to all manner of systems including maintenance of the many servitors on the ship.

Kage, after having spent all the time since his mind cleared and his soul free found locked up with only the Inquisitors strict teaching as interaction, he found himself at a loss and gathered up in the wake of Donna and Damiel. The latter intrigued him - he found himself repulsed by his very existence as if he knew there was something profoundly wrong with him but also he felt drawn to him as the incessant buzzing of his mind, which the Inquisitor has informed him was the ever present warp pressing in and wishing to rend reality asunder, quietened around him so tag along he did settling in to the table with the other two and trying to relax.

Felyx makes the sign of the Cog somewhat clumsily as he departs L00-4's presence. It had been some time since he had done it, and he was never one to be too orthodox to begin with.

With the tools in hand he makes the acquaintance of Adept Petrov and scan the backlogs.

"I shall be to starting in this one," he tells Petrov. If Petrov had any advice now was the time to speak, as Felyx was starting to move. There were servitor units in need of maintenance.

Donna tilts the bottle end up and drinks as much as she can as fast as she can. She felt the wave of drunkenness a minute later and decides to have some fun.

She stands up, and yels, loud enough for all to hear.
"Yer rouight yew ah! Sumthin up in the place does smeel a bit off. It took me a moment but Oui realizes it was yew awl along."
Her belligerence was turned up to 11, liquid courage fueling her drive.

She waves off a breeze in front of her nose, pretending to wave away a sour smell.
"Yew being over theah ain doin' me no favors. Perhaps yew bettah try over theah."
She points to the door. Those who understood her heavy accent would realize the insult and the challenge, but there was also a deadly edge in her voice that dared them to oppose her.


It even sounded like she wanted them to try.....

Damiel tried to lead the three, as much as a walking scapegoat could. As he walked, he was paying close attention to the crew and their affects, trying to get a bead on the ship he'd been brought onto. At the bar, he'd thought it the perfect place to get an ear on any ship's rumors and get a feel for the demeanor of the crew.

That is, until Donna opened her mouth. He'd had more than his fair share of fights with the ganger, she itched for any opportunity to cause problems; whether with friend or foe, he was quite convinced she didn't care. When she began to yell and cause a commotion, he looked around and sized up their odds of victory, probably pretty low. He pretended to keep his cool but was ready to spring up from his seat as soon as the party got rolling.

He leaned forward to Kage and stared him down. "You never answered me on the shuttle, but your face said everything you couldn't. At least you can walk with me without breaking into a cold sweat. Listen... when the fighting breaks out, you may want to make a break for it. Donna will laugh, but knowing your limits is what keeps you alive. They're all itching for a chance to break my nose, but you've got that slippery feeling, I'd bet they'll leave you be." He motioned to the pubgoers around him as he spoke, waiting for someone to be a bit drunk enough to take Donna on, and the chaos to break loose.