Dark Disciple(科幻战争)-第37部分

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hand　across　the　expanse　of　dark　water　before　dropping　down　onto　the　top　of　one　of　the
submersibles。　He　landed　in　a　steady　crouch；　and　grinned　across　the　open　water　towards　the　others
before　unscrewing　its　top　hatch　and　dropping　down　into　its　interior。
Within　moments；　Burias　had　powered　the　vessel　to　life；　its　twin　spotlights　piercing　the　dark
water　like　a　pair　of　glowing　eyes；　and　manoeuvred　it　towards　the　waiting　warriors　of　the　Host；　its
impeller　engines　creating　a　whirlpool　of　turbulence。
One　by　one；　the　warriors　stepped　onto　the　submersible；　clambering　into　its　belly；　until　just
Marduk；　Khalaxis　and　Darioq…Grendh’al　remained。
“You　next；”　said　Marduk；　nodding　towards　the　corrupted　magos。
“A　biological　entity　approaches；”　said　Darioq…Grendh’al；　and　both　Marduk　and　Khalaxis　were
instantly　alert；　weapons　raised　as　they　sought　a　target。
“I　see　nothing；”　hissed　Khalaxis。
“There；”　said　Marduk；　nodding　towards　a　darkened　side…passage。　His　finger　tensed　on　the　trigger
of　his　bolt　pistol；　before　he　relaxed　and　holstered　the　weapon。
A　shape　solidified　out　of　the　darkness；　staggering　towards　them。
“Rhamel；”　laughed　Khalaxis；　“you　whoreson！　You　had　me　worried　for　a　moment　there。”
“Fine；　brother；”　replied　Rhamel；　his　voice　strained。　“I　don’t　die　easily。”
Khalaxis　laughed　and　slapped　his　blood…brother　on　the　shoulder；　knocking　him　forward　a　step。
“Are　you　well；　warrior　brother？”　asked　Marduk；　eyes　narrowing。
“I　will　be　fine；　First　Acolyte；”　Rhamel　replied　fiercely。
“Remove　your　helmet；　warrior　of　Lorgar；”　commanded　Marduk。
Rhamel　pulled　his　helmet　clear；　standing　to　attention　before　the　First　Acolyte。　The　flesh　of　his
broad；　ritually　scarred　face　was　pale　and　waxy；　and　deep　rings　circled　eyes　that　glinted　with　a
feverish　light。　A　scabbed　wound　was　located　on　his　neck；　and　the　skin　around　the　puncture　was
tinged　vaguely　blue。
“You　are…　unwell？”　asked　Marduk。　“Poison？”
“Ovipositor　impregnation；”　intoned　Darioq…Grendh’al。
“What　is　the　machine　speaking　of？”　asked　Khalaxis。
“I　don’t　know；”　replied　Marduk。
“Source：　Magos　Biologis　Atticus　Fane；　Lectures　of　Xenos　Bioligae；　872。M40；　Consultation　of
Nicae；　Tenebria；　Q。389。V。IX。　Ref。MBim274。ch。impttck。　The　xenos　subject　species；　genus
Corporaptor；　observed　implanting　gene…template　into　body　of　host；”　said　Darioq…Grendh’al。
“Override　of　genetic　coding　documented。　Bio…gene…splicing　observed。　Conclusion：　Corporaptor
Hominis　overrides　genetic　makeup　of　host　species；　dominating　upper　cerebral　cortex　functions。
Speculation：　Corporaptor　Hominis　a　vanguard　species；　locating　and　suppressing　indigenous
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populations。　Genetic　corruption　of　local　species　suspected　as　a　method　of　drawing　Hive　Fleet　to
suitable　prey…worlds。”
The　three　Word　Bearers　looked　blankly　at　the　corrupted　magos。
“Potential　reversal　of　implanted　host　species’　gene…corruption：　nil；”　concluded　Darioq…
Grendh’al。
“Gene…corruption；”　murmured　Marduk。
“The　machine　babbles　nonsense；”　growled　Khalaxis。
“Speak　more　clearly；　Darioq…Drak’shal；”　said　Marduk；　“perhaps　in　words　that　we　might
understand。”
“It　is　believed　that　the　genestealers　infiltrate　potential　prey…worlds　for　the　tyranid　xenos　species
to　feed　upon；”　intoned　the　magos。　“They　infect　the　populace；　and　some　believe　that　the　collective
control　they　exert　over　those　bearing　their　genetic　coding　acts　as　a　psychic　beacon；　drawing　the
organic　Hive　Fleets　to　those　worlds　where　the　beacon　burns　strongest。”
“And　you　say　this…　implant　attack　that　Rhamel　has　suffered　is　altering　his　genetic　coding？”
asked　Marduk。
“That　is　correct；　master。”
“The　bodies　of　the　warriors　of　Lorgar　are　sacred　temples；　for　in　them　we　bear　the　mark　of
Lorgar。　From　his　genome　were　we　created；”　said　Marduk；　“and　such　a…　corruption　is　an
abomination。”
The　First　Acolyte　looked　at　Rhamel；　who　grimaced　as　another　wave　of　pain　shot　through　him。
“You　understand　what　must　be　done；　Brother　Rhamel；”　said　Marduk。　It　was　a　statement；　not　a
question。
“I　understand；　my　lord；”　said　Rhamel　through　gritted　teeth；　and　the　warrior　dropped　to　his　knees
before　the　First　Acolyte。
“What　if　the　machine　is　wrong？”　asked　Khalaxis。　“Could　not　the　chirurgeons　on　the　Infidus
Diabolus　reverse　this　corruption？”
“The　machine　is　not　wrong；　brother；”　said　Rhamel。　“I　can　feel　it　working　within　me；　changing
me。　Let　me　pass　with　honour；　my　brother。”
The　warrior　closed　his　eyes　tightly　against　the　pain。
“I　would　ask　that　you　do　it；　Khalaxis；”　he　hissed；　pleadingly。　“Do　this　for　me；　my　brother。
Please。”
Khalaxis　looked　at　Marduk；　and　the　First　Acolyte　nodded　his　head　grimly。
“It　is　only　fitting；”　said　the　First　Acolyte。
“As　you　wish；　my　brother；”　said　Khalaxis；　moving　in　front　of　the　kneeling　warrior。
Marduk　passed　the　champion　of　the　almost　obliterated　17th　coterie　his　bolt　pistol；　and　the　taller
warrior　took　it　in　his　hands　with　great　reverence。　Then　he　raised　the　bolt　pistol　and　placed　it　against
Rhamel’s　forehead。
“Into　the　darkness　he　strode；”　quoted　Marduk；　from　the　Trials　of　the　Covenant；　“into　the　flames
of　hell；　with　his　head　held　high；　and　he　smiled。”
“Be　at　peace；”　said　Khalaxis。
Rhamel　smiled；　looking　up　at　Khalaxis　with　eyes　shining　with　belief。　“I’ll　see　you　on　the　other
side；　my　brother；”　he　said。
Then　the　bolt　pistol　bucked　in　Khalaxis’s　hand；　and　the　back　of　Rhamel’s　head　was　obliterated；
exploding　outwards　in　a　shower　of　gore。
Marduk　dipped　a　finger　in　the　blood　and　drew　an　eight…pointed　star　on　Rhamel’s　forehead；　the
hole　of　the　entry　wound　at　its　centre。
“What　was　that　all　about？”　Burias　asked　in　a　low　voice　as　they　climbed　into　the　submersible；
eyeing　the　brooding　Khalaxis。
“Nothing；”　said　Marduk。　“A　brave　warrior　is　dead。　He　will　be　mourned。”
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CHAPTER　FOURTEEN
A　crowd　of　hooded　cultists　was　waiting　for　them　as　the　submersible　entered　the　docking　pool　within
the　mining　station；　pushing　in　as　Burias　climbed　out　onto　the　wharf。　Nevertheless；　they　kept　their
distance；　wary　of　the　immense　red…armoured　warrior　and　the　potent　aura　of　savagery　around　him。
The　icon　bearer　snarled　as　he　looked　upon　the　press　of　humanity；　and　dropped　onto　the　docking
wharf；　eyeing　the　crowd　darkly。　He　allowed　the　change　to　come　over　him　and　took　a　menacing　step
forwards；　enjoying　the　fear　that　made　the　people　recoil。　They　did　not　run；　however；　and　there　were
shouts　and　jeers　from　the　masses。　It　was　curious　behaviour　for　mortals；　and　Burias　could　not
understand　it。　Lesser　beings　always　reacted　to　his　presence　with　abject　terror；　so　why　did　these　ones
not　flee？
As　the　other　Word　Bearers　emerged　from　the　deep…sea　scout/maintenance　vehicle；　one　man
pushed　to　the　front　of　the　crowd。　His　pale　face　was　cowled　and　thin；　and　a　servo…skull　hovered　near
his　shoulder。　His　eyes　gleamed　with　feverish　light。
This　man　studied　the　Word　Bearers　as　they　disembarked；　an　expression　of　outrage　upon　his　face。
The　anger　twisted　his　features　so　that　he　looked　barely　human　at　all。
“They　have　spilt　the　blood　of　our　brood…fathers！”　he　bellowed；　holding　his　arms　up　high。　The
billowing　sleeves　of　his　robe　fell　back　at　the　movement；　exposing　pale　arms　pitted　with　plugs。
Spiralling　tattoos　covered　his　flesh；　oddly　alien　embryonic　shapes　that　wrapped　around　his　forearms。
An　angry　roar　rose　from　the　gathered　crowd　that　stepped　forwards；　faces　twisting　into　visages　of
hatred。
“Someone　shut　him　up；”　said　Marduk。
Kol　Badar　stepped　towards　the　man；　who　stood　defiant　before　him　even　though　the　people
around　him　shrunk　back　from　the　Coryphaus’s　titanic　frame。
“You　have　befouled　the　inner　sanctum　of　the　brood…fathers；”　howled　the　man　at　Kol　Badar　as　he
approached。　He　came　up　barely　to　the　Coryphaus’s　chest；　but　held　his　ground　defiantly。　“And　for
that　grave　insult；　you　will　be　punished。”
“Who　is　going　to　punish　me；　little　man？”　asked　Kol　Badar。　“You？”
The　man　quivered　in　rage；　and　with　a　scream　of　hatred　hurled　himself　at　Kol　Badar’s　immense
figure；　hands　outstretched　like　claws。
Kol　Badar　wrapped　his　power　talons　around　the　man’s　head；　and　lifted　him　off　his　feet；　which
kicked　uselessly　a　metre　off　the　ground。
The　crowd　surged　forwards；　many　drawing　laspistols　and　cudgels　from　their　robes；　screaming　in
outrage。
Bemused；　Kol　Badar　clenched　his　fist　and　there　was　an　audible　wet　crunch　as　the　man’s　skull
was　crushed。　He　hurled　the　body　into　the　crowd。
There　were　hundreds　of　the　frenzied　cultists；　but　they　were　as　nothing　next　to　the　warriors　of　the
XVII　Legion。　None　of　the　Word　Bearers　deigned　to　expend　any　of　their　precious　ammunition　upon
the　crowd；　and　they　weighed　in　with　chainswords　and　fists　as　the　crowd　surged　in　to　surround　them。
It　was　as　if　the　crowd　was　in　the　grip　of　some　kind　of　group　hysteria；　thought　Marduk；
eliminating　all　fear；　and　replacing　it　with　this　frenzied　hatred。　That　was　exactly　what　this　was；　he
realised　these　people　were　the　dupes　of　the　xenos　hive　mind。
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The　butchery　was　over　in　minutes。　Bodies　lay　sprawled　across　the　floor；　many　of　them　maimed
and　brutalised　almost　beyond　recognition；　life　fluids　smearing　the　metal　flooring　with　a　thick　gruel。
Pulling　his　blood…smeared　helmet　from　his　head；　Marduk　sucked　in　a　deep　breath；　inhaling　the
hot；　heady　scent　of　death。
“Glory　be；”　he　said；　a　rapturous　smile　upon　his　face。
Gears　groaned　as　the　giant　lift　rose　from　the　shaft；　powerful　engines　hauling　it　up　the　immense　chain
connected　to　the　mining　station　eight　kilometres　below。　It　came　to　a　clanking　rest；　and　steam　vented
from　its　engines。　The　sides　of　the　diamond…shaped　lift　crashed　open；　and　Sabtec　bowed　his　head　as
the　First　Acolyte　stepped　from　within；　his　armour　caked　in　blood。
The　champion　lifted　his　gaze　once　more；　eyes　flicking　over　the　blood…drenched　warriors
marching　from　within　the　lift。　He　raised　an　eyebrow　as　he　saw　that　only　half　of　the　warriors　that　had
accompanied　Marduk　returned。
The　First　Acolyte’s　gaze　wandered；　coming　to　rest　on　the　corpse　of　a　Legion　warrior；　lying　on
its　back　and　with　its　arms　crossed　over　his　chest。
“Namar…sin？”　asked　Marduk。　Sabtec　nodded　his　head。
“Report；”　said　Kol　Badar　as　he　stalked　out　of　the　lift。
“Dark　eldar；”　said　Sabtec；　“though　ones　we　have　not　fought　before。　They　were　shadowcreatures；
here　and　yet　not　here。　Two　brother　warriors　fell　along　with　Namar…sin。”
“I　do　not　see　their　bodies；”　said　Marduk。
“They　were…　taken；　my　lord；”　said　Sabtec。
“They　were　taken；”　said　Marduk　flatly。
Sabtec　stood　with　his　head　held　high；　looking　resolutely　forward。
“Yes；　my　lord；”　he　said。
“You　allowed　two　warrior　brothers　of　Lorgar　to　be　taken　by　eldar　slavers？”　snarled　Kol　Badar。
“They　were　taken　while　under　my　command；　my　lord；　yes；”　said　Sabtec；　“and　I　will　accept　any
punishment　that　my　shame　requires。”
“You　offer　no　excuses；　Sabtec？”　asked　Kol　Badar。
“None；　my　lord；”　said　Sabtec。　His　voice　betrayed　no　fear。　He　moved　his　gaze　towards　Marduk。
“If　it　would　please　you；　First　Acolyte；　I　shall　take　my　own　life　for　the　shame　I　have　brought　upon
the　Host。”
“That　will　not　be　necessary；　Sabtec；”　said　Marduk　smoothly；　“though　I　am　pleased　at　your
devotion　to　the　great　cause。　I　shall　have　need　of　loyal　warriors　in　the　days　to　come。”
“The　tyranid　invasion　could　beg