Dark Disciple(科幻战争)-第39部分

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An　orb　of　energy　appeared　around　the　corrupted　magos；　and　the　coruscating　electricity　of　the　potent
conversion　field　fried　the　tiny　creatures。
The　magos　turned　heavily　towards　its　attacker　as　the　flickering　energy　field　disappeared；　and
Marduk　sensed　anger　surge　through　the　daemon　inhabiting　the　ex…priest’s　flesh。　Darioq…Grendh’al
planted　his　feet；　bracing　himself　as　the　two　servo…arms　over　his　back　stabbed　forwards；　their　forms
blurring　as　they　were　altered　by　the　power　of　the　warp。　Metal　re…formed　and　a　pair　of　fleshy
tentacles　joined　with　the　servo…arms；　forming　a　cable；　part　organic　and　part　mineral；　pulsing　with
energy。
A　pair　of　incandescent　beams　roared　from　the　reformed　servo…arms；　and　the　power　of　Chaos
screamed　in　Marduk’s　ears。
The　beams　struck　the　tyranids；　and　half　a　dozen　of　them　were　engulfed　in　an　inferno；　hissing　and
writhing　as　their　flesh　mutated。　Tentacles　tipped　with　chitinous　barbs　burst　from　within　the　tyranids；
ripping　through　their　flesh　and　thrashing　out　through　eye…sockets　and　mouths；　turning　the　xenos
beings　inside　out。　Within　moments；　all　that　remained　of　the　tyranids　struck　by　Darioq…Grendh’al’s
fire　was　a　thrashing　mass　of　tentacles。
“Impressive；”　said　Marduk　with　a　smile　as　Darioq…Grendh’al’s　servo…arms　moulded　back　to
their　usual　form。
“Two　minutes；”　shouted　Kol　Badar　as　yet　another　spore…pod　slammed　down；　crushing　a　handful
of　tyranids　beneath　its　impact。　This　pod　was　much　larger　than　the　others；　and　powerful　forms　larger
even　than　an　Astartes　warrior　struggled　to　free　themselves　from　within　it。
“To　the　north…west；　move！”　roared　Kol　Badar　as　a　trio　of　giant　tyranid　beasts　ripped　free　of　the
skin　of　the　large　spore…pod　and　reared　up　to　their　full　height—easily　twice　that　of　a　normal　man—
and　another　brood　of　smaller　creatures　swarmed　from　the　howling　winds；　angling　towards　the　Word
Bearers。　More　pods　slammed　down　from　the　heavens。
“Move；　Grendh’al；”　said　Marduk；　impelling　the　creature　with　his　voice　of　command；　and　though
the　daemon　resisted　him；　its　will　was　overpowered；　and　it　reluctantly　turned　to　do　as　it　was　bid。
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The　Word　Bearers　carved　through　the　hordes　of　lesser　tyranids　like　a　spear　through　water；
smashing　them　aside　as　they　drove　forwards。　A　warrior　stumbled　as　maggotlike　organisms
splattered　across　his　armour；　acidic　life…fluids　melting　through　his　armour　plates　and　burning　into
his　flesh。　Marduk　lifted　the　warrior　back　to　his　feet；　supporting　him　with　one　arm　as　he　fired。
Spotlights　tore　through　the　darkness　and　the　swirling　snow；　and　the　hulking　shapes　of　Land
Raiders　appeared　through　the　whitewash　of　fog　and　ice。　Incandescent　las…cannon　beams　stabbed
from　side…sponsons；　scything　through　tyranid　organisms　that　hurled　themselves　at　the　Word　Bearers；
symbiotic　bio…weapons　spitting。　Heavy　bolters　scythed　through　dozens　of　the　xenos　beasts；　ripping
them　apart　with　their　high　calibre　rounds。
The　Land　Raiders　came　to　a　grinding　halt　before　the　warriors　of　the　XVII　Legion；　growling　like
daemonic　beasts；　their　hot　breath　steaming　from　exhaust　stacks。　The　frontal　assault　ramps　smashed
down　onto　the　ice；　and　the　warriors　of　the　XVII　Legion　stormed　inside　the　gaping　interiors　of　the
immense　steel　beasts。
Sabtec　relieved　Marduk　of　the　wounded　warrior　he　was　supporting。　The　warrior　was　reciting　the
Doxology　of　Revilement；　focusing　on　the　words　to　alleviate　the　pain　of　the　bio…acid　melting　through
his　armour　and　flesh。　As　he　passed　the　warrior　into　Sabtec’s　care；　Marduk　spun　around　standing　in
the　door　of　the　Land　Raider　as　the　last　of　the　warriors　of　the　Host　stamped　forwards。
The　larger　tyranid　creatures　they　had　seen　clawing　their　way　free　of　their　spore…pod　were
stalking　towards　the　Land　Raiders；　their　tails　thrashing。　Each　pair　of　upper　arms　ended　in　scything
blades；　and　their　secondary　pairs　of　arms　moulded　into　long…barrelled　bio…cannons。　A　swarm　of　the
lesser　tyranids　raced　towards　Marduk　as　the　assault　ramp　began　to　close；　and　he　fired　into　the　pack；
dropping　two　of　them。
Lascannon　beams　made　the　air　crackle　with　electrical　energy　as　the　twin…linked　side…sponsons　of
the　mighty　Land　Raiders　fired；　and　one　of　the　large　tyranid　creatures　was　vaporised。　The　other　two
lurched　forwards；　discharging　their　long…barrelled　bio…weapons　towards　Marduk　even　as　the
swarming　horde　of　lesser　xenos　raced　towards　him。
The　bio…weapons　ammunition　splattered　onto　the　assault　ramp　of　the　Land　Raider　as　it　rose；
spraying　acid　across　the　thick　metal　that　began　to　hiss　and　bubble。　A　drop　splashed　onto　Marduk’s
chest　plate；　burning　a　hole　through　his　armour　and　searing　his　flesh；　but　he　ignored　the　wound　and
slashed　with　his　chainsword　as　the　lesser　tyranids　launched　themselves　onto　the　Land　Raider’s
chassis。
Heavy　bolter　fire　ripped　two　of　them　to　shreds　as　the　Land　Raider　lurched　into　reverse；　but　two
of　them　hurled　themselves　through　the　closing　aperture　as　the　assault　ramp　hissed　closed；　and
Marduk　killed　the　first；　impaling　its　head　on　his　chainblade；　the　whirring　teeth　ripping　its　skull　apart。
Sabtec　killed　the　second　creature；　slamming　its　bestial；　xenos　face　into　the　side　of　the　Land　Raider
again　and　again　until　it　was　an　unrecognisable；　bloody　pulp。
More　of　the　small　tyranids　scrabbled　at　the　assault　ramp　as　it　closed；　but　then　the　assault　ramp
was　sealed；　severing　several　stabbing　blade…arms　that　fell　to　the　floor　inside；　leaking　foul…smelling
fluids。
Marduk　slumped　down　into　one　of　the　seats；　breathing　hard。
Only　then　did　he　realise　that　he　still　had　the　bony　blade…arm　of　one　of　the　creatures　protruding
from　his　chest。　He　ripped　it　clear　with　a　sharp　movement；　and　tossed　it　to　the　floor　alongside　the　pair
of　tyranid　corpses。
The　Doxology　of　Revilement　was　still　being　recited　as　Sabtec　tore　the　melting　breastplate　from
the　warrior　of　his　coterie　who　had　been　splashed　with　bio…acid；　and　the　champion　sprayed　a　black
film　over　the　wounds。
“First　Acolyte；”　said　Kol　Badar　over　a　closed　channel　from　the　other　Land　Raider。
“Go　ahead；”　said　Marduk。
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“The　tyranid　invasion　may　have　covered　half　this　world　already；”　said　the　Coryphaus。　“I　feel
that　it　would　be　inadvisable　to　proceed　to　the　drop…ship’s　location　overland。　We　do　not　know　the
numbers　of　the　xenos　between　here　and　there。”
“Agreed；”　said　Marduk。
“I　suggest　that　we　order　the　ship　to　launch；　to　meet　us　half　way。”
“Understood。　See　that　it　is　done；”　said　Marduk　severing　the　connection。
Bloody　and　battered；　Marduk　pulled　his　helmet　from　his　head　and　stowed　it　in　the　alcove　above
him。
At　last　they　were　leaving　this　doomed　Imperial　backwater　planet；　he　thought；　and　he　smiled；
exposing　his　sharp　teeth。
A　month；　maybe　two；　and　he　would　be　back　on　Sicarus；　returning　in　glory。
The　Land　Raider　rocked　as　tyranid　bio…weapons　struck　its　armoured　hide；　but　still　Marduk
grinned。
Glory　would　be　his。
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CHAPTER　FIFTEEN
Dracon　Alith　Drazjaer　of　the　Black　Heart　Cabal　strode　down　the　dark　corridor；　his　thin　lips　curled　in
distaste。　He　moved　with　the　supple；　arrogant　grace　of　a　born　warrior。　A　pair　of　heavily　armoured
incubi　bodyguards　walked　warily　on　either　side　of　him；　the　sweeping　blades　of　their　punisher
glaives　lowered。
They　passed　dozens　of　cells；　all　crammed　with　wailing；　wretched　slaves；　many　of　whom　had
already　felt　the　ministrations　of　the　haemonculus　Rhakaeth；　or　soon　would。
The　wretched　creatures　were　mostly　human；　but　there　were　other　lesser　species　packed　into　the
crowded　cells　as　well：　tall；　reptilian　k’ith；　kroot　mercenaries；　stony…faced　demiurg；　as　well　as　eldar；
either　those　of　Drazjaer’s　dark　kin　that　had　fallen　from　his　grace；　warriors　of　his　rivals；　or　his
deluded　craftworld　cousins。
The　cells　closest　to　the　haemonculus’s　operation　chambers　were　filled　with　his　experiments；　and
these　blighted　creatures　filled　the　corridor　with　their　sickly　cries。　Humans　with　their　spines　removed
flopped　impotently　on　the　floors　of　cells；　while　others　that　had　had　their　legs　replaced　with　muscular
arms　whooped　in　insane　rage；　hurling　themselves　against　the　invisible　barrier　separating　them　from
Drazjaer。　They　were　thrown　backwards　as　energy　arced　across　the　barrier；　accompanied　by　the　stink
of　ozone。
Other　twisted　monstrosities　had　insect…like　eyes；　more　than　one　head；　or　random　limbs　sprouting
from　their　bulbous　stomachs。　Some　had　leathery　wings　grafted　to　their　backs；　and　others　pulled
themselves　across　the　floor　of　their　cells　with　flipper…like　appendages　where　human　hands　had　once
been；　their　lower　bodies　shrunken　and　wasted；　like　the　malformed　legs　of　a　foetus　not　yet　reached　its
term。
Some　of　the　abominations　scratched　at　faces　that　were　already　torn　to　bloody　ribbons；　and　all
cried　out　for　death。　Still　others　flexed　overgrown　muscles；　fan…like　webs　of　skin　opening　up　beneath
their　arms；　while　others　appeared　almost　normal；　with　just　minor　enhancements；　such　as　arms　that
ended　in　glittering　blades；　or　had　sharp　ridges　of　bone　running　down　their　craniums。
A　pair　of　Rhakaeth’s　grotesques　guarded　the　door　to　the　haemonculus’s　chambers：　his　altered
ones；　his　companions；　his　twisted　cortege；　his　more　successful　experiments。　These　eldar　had　come
to　the　haemonculus　willingly；　desperate　to　experience　new　and　varied　sensations；　and　they　had
begged　and　backstabbed　their　way　into　Rhakaeth’s　favour　in　order　to　feel　the　touch　of　his　razors。
One　of　the　grotesques　stood　taller　even　than　Drazjaer。　Hundreds　of　quill…like　spines　had　been
surgically　inserted　into　his　flesh；　running　down　his　spine　and　across　the　backs　of　his　arms。　His
mouth　had　been　cut　into　a　new　form；　a　vertical　slash　bisecting　his　horizontal　lips；　and　additional
musculature　added　so　that　when　it　opened；　its　four　corners　peeled　back　independently。　The
abomination’s　eyes　were　those　of　some　serpentine；　alien　species；　and　a　dual　pair　of　eyelids　blinked
as　the　grotesque　looked　towards　the　approaching　dracon　and　his　incubi。　Its　quills　stood　on　end　and
began　to　shiver　noisily。　More　spines　flicked　from　within　his　forearms；　and　others　slid　forwards　from
the　base　of　its　palms。
The　second　of　Rhakaeth’s　guards；　a　female　eldar；　was　completely　naked；　though　her　flesh　was
covered　in　small　metallic　blue　scales　that　shimmered　and　turned　a　dusky　red　as　Drazjaer　drew　near。
Her　luscious；　ruby　lips　parted　and　a　forked　tongue；　pierced　in　a　dozen　places　with　metal　studs；
flicked　out　past　sharpened　teeth。　The　fingers　of　her　left　hand　had　been　replaced　with　long　knives；
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and　parts　of　her　body—and　her　companion’s—bore　scars　and　fresh　wounds　that　had　clearly　been　the
result　of　her　caresses。
Neither　of　the　altered　eldar　warriors　bore　weapons；　their　enhanced　bodies　their　instruments　of
death。
The　incubi　at　Drazjaer’s　side　levelled　their　glaives　at　the　pair；　and　runes　flickered　with　witchlight
upon　the　blasters　built　into　their　sweeping　tormentor　helms。　The　potent　weapons　were　neurally
linked　to　the　incubi’s　brain　waves；　and　could　be　fired　with　a　mere　thought；　leaving　the　warrior’s
hands　free　to　wield　their　punisher　glaives。
The　grotesques　hissed　at　the　powerfully　armoured　incubi；　the　female　creature　flexing　her　fingers；
and　her　male　counterpart　turning　his　upturned　hands　towards　them。　Drazjaer　had　seen　that　one　fight
before。　It　was　capable　of　firing　the　spines　f