Dark Disciple(科幻战争)-第42部分

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could　well　believe　it；　though　these　warriors　looked　more　like　bloodthirsty　butchers　than　holy
protectors　of　humanity。
“Angels　of　death；”　he　whispered。
In　his　childhood　dreams　he　had　pictured　them　armoured　in　faultless　golden　plate；　with　angelic
countenances　and　noble　bearing。　While　such　beliefs　were　clearly　childish；　Solon　knew　that　there
was　something　horribly　wrong　here。　He　was　desperate　to　believe　that　salvation　had　come　to　Perdus
Skylla；　that　the　Emperor　had　dispatched　his　finest　warriors　to　free　the　moon　from　alien　invasion；　but
these　Space　Marines　filled　him　with　dread。
The　other　monstrous　tanks　disgorged　their　cargo　of　Space　Marines；　and　two　of　the　massive
vehicles　backed　under　the　shuttle’s　stubby　wings。　Locking　clamps　descended　like　umbilical　cords；
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latching　onto　the　immense　tanks　and　lifting　them　up　beneath　its　wings　while　the　other　pair
manoeuvred　into　position　behind。
The　first　warriors　stamped　up　the　embarkation　deck　into　the　belly　of　the　shuttle。　One　of　them
paused　on　the　ramp；　consulting　a　hand…held　tech…device。　It　turned　in　their　direction；　and　Solon　sank
down　lower　into　the　snow；　barely　daring　to　breathe。
A　warrior　with　a　helmet　fashioned　like　a　grinning　death’s　head　spun　to　face　them；　and　a　fresh
wave　of　panic　gripped　Solon　as　he　realised　that　they　had　been　spotted。　Other　warriors　turned　in　their
direction；　and；　raising　their　weapons　before　them；　they　began　to　march　towards　their　position。
Sick　with　panic；　Solon　staggered　to　his　feet；　his　heart　thumping。　He　lifted　his　hands　up　before
him；　to　show　that　he　was　unarmed。
The　Space　Marines　halted；　though　they　did　not　lower　their　weapons。　One　of　them；　a　lean　warrior
whose　head　was　bare　to　the　elements；　turned　to　the　skull…helmed　one；　speaking　something　that　Solon
could　not　hear。　The　warrior　appeared　to　approve；　nodding　his　head　almost　imperceptibly　before
turning　away　and　striding　up　the　embarkation　ramp　towards　the　interior　of　the　shuttle。
The　barefaced　warrior　turned　back　towards　Solon　with　a　cold　smile　upon　his　noble　face；　and
Solon　licked　his　lips　uneasily。　The　other　Space　Marines　turned　away；　but　this　one　warrior　remained
staring　at　them。　Solon　felt　as　if　he　was　transfixed　by　the　Space　Marine’s　gaze。
Then　the　man　turned　into　a　monster；　and　Solon　felt　his　sanity　fray。
“No；”　he　whispered；　as　the　warrior　grew；　his　shoulders　bulking　out　and　his　hands　extending　into
talons。　The　warrior’s　image　flickered　like　a　faulty　pict　screen；　and　for　a　moment　Solon　could　see　the
image　of　two　beings　overlapping　each　other；　both　inhabiting　the　same　space。　Although　he　knew
such　a　thing　was　impossible；　and　his　rational　mind　baulked　at　what　he　was　seeing；　he　could　not
refute　what　he　saw　with　his　own　eyes。　The　warrior　was　still　there；　lean　and　striding　towards　them
with　an　easy；　relaxed　grace；　but　there　was　something　else…　something　horrific。
It　was　a　hulking　daemon　from　the　pits　of　hell；　and　its　hateful　features　overlaid　the　classically
handsome　face　of　the　Space　Marine。　Its　eyes　burnt　with　malice　and　the　promise　of　pain；　and　its　lips
curled　back　to　expose　hundreds　of　sharp　teeth；　arrayed　in　serried　layers；　one　behind　the　other；　all　the
way　to　the　back　of　its　throat。　Tall　horns　rose　from　its　brow；　and　the　air　was　thick　and　cloying　where
it　exhaled。
The　two　images　became　one；　a　bastard　hybrid；　and　Solon；　horrified　beyond　reason；　began　to
back　away　even　as　the　daemonic　hybrid　creature　began　loping　towards　them。
“Run！”　Solon　roared；　his　paralysis　giving　way　to　abject　terror。
Glancing　over　his　shoulder；　Solon　saw　that　the　hellish　creature　was　gaining　on　them　rapidly；
covering　the　ground　with　tremendous　leaps；　using　its　arms　to　steady　itself　with　each　landing。
These　were　not　the　Emperor’s　divine　angels；　he　thought；　they　couldn’t　be。　They　were　the　flip
side　of　everything　he　had　ever　heard　about　them；　and　they　were　going　to　butcher　him　and　Dios；　after
all　they　that　had　struggled　through。
Solon　glanced　back　to　see　the　daemon　close　behind　them；　its　powerful　legs　bunched　beneath　it
as　it　prepared　to　launch　itself　upon　them。　Solon　shoved　Dios　to　the　side　as　the　creature　leapt。　It
would　not　get　them　both　at　once；　but　he　knew　that　he　was　only　delaying　the　inevitable；　for　neither　of
them　could　hope　to　stand　against　such　a　creature。
Solon　spun　around　to　face　the　monster　as　it　lunged　towards　him；　staggering　backwards　in　the
snow；　raising　his　hands　futilely　to　ward　off　its　attacks。
A　beam　of　pure　darkness　stabbed　through　the　air　and　slammed　into　the　daemon’s　body；
smashing　it　to　the　ice；　and　it　roared　in　fury　and　pain。
The　daemon　writhed　on　the　ground。　A　searing　hole　had　punched　through　its　side　just　above　the
hip；　passing　clean　through　its　body；　and　as　it　thrashed　around；　hot　blood　splashed　across　the　ice　and
snow；　causing　steam　to　rise　where　it　landed。
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Solon　spun　to　see　where　the　blast　had　come　from；　and　blinked　as　he　saw　several　dark　vehicles
gliding　smoothly　across　the　ice。　They　looked　similar　to　the　skiffs　that　the　first　colonists　on　Perdus
Skylla　were　said　to　have　used；　long　thin　boats　with　blades　on　their　undersides　that　had　used　the
power　of　the　winds　to　propel　them　across　the　ice　flow。　These　were　not　touching　the　ground　at　all；
but　hovered　two　metres　above　the　ground；　and　slid　forward　with　phenomenal　speed。
Another　lance　of　dark　light　stabbed　from　one　of　the　vehicles；　striking　one　of　the　daemonic　Space
Marines’　battle　tanks；　which　exploded　spectacularly；　the　immense　fireball　throwing　the　shattered
vehicle　high　into　the　air。
Dark　figures　leapt　from　the　sides　of　the　skiffs。　Somersaulting　from　the　decks　and　landing
effortlessly　on　the　ground；　they　began　running　lightly　towards　the　Space　Marines。
“Ghosts；”　breathed　Dios；　his　eyes　wide　with　fear　and　panic。
Grabbing　the　boy　around　the　waist；　Solon　lifted　him　and　ran。
Burias…Drak’shal　pushed　himself　to　his　knees；　growling　and　spitting。　The　shot　had　gone　clear
through　him；　passing　between　his　hip　and　the　base　of　his　fused　ribcage；　leaving　a　gaping　aperture　of
weeping　flesh　and　internal　organs　exposed　to　the　air。　Already　his　enhanced；　daemonically　infused
physiology　was　sealing　the　wound；　his　blood　flow　clotting　and　his　flesh　beginning　to　re…knit；　but　it
would　take　some　time　before　he　was　fully　healed；　and　no　amount　of　healing　could　repair　his
sundered　power　armour。
Pushing　himself　to　his　feet；　Burias…Drak’shal　hissed　in　pain　and　staggered；　falling　back　to　his
knees　before　once　again　rising。　All　thought　of　the　pair　of　humans　was　gone；　and　he　scanned　the
landscape；　focusing　on　the　dark　shapes　of　the　eldar　as　they　darted　towards　his　comrades。
Wincing　in　pain；　the　icon　bearer　began　to　stagger　back　towards　the　shuttle；　when　his　enhanced
senses　picked　up　a　familiar　scent　on　the　air。　He　threw　himself　forward　into　a　roll　as　he　registered　the
appearance　of　the　shadow…eldar　behind　him；　and　came　up　facing　the　being；　teeth　bared。
That　the　creature　was　of　eldar　origin　was　clear；　for　its　frame　was　tall　and　slight；　its　limbs　long
and　elegant；　but　that　was　where　the　similarities　ended。　Its　skin　was　as　black　as　the　night；　and　runes
of　twisted　eldar　design　were　inscribed　into　its　flesh。　These　runes　glowed　with　cold　light；　pulsing
brightly　as　the　creature　entered　fully　into　the　material　realm。
Burias…Drak’shal　felt　the　power　of　the　warp　within　the　creature；　but　it　was　not　possessed　in　the
same　manner　as　he　was。　It　was　almost　as　if　the　daemon　within　the　eldar　shade　was　at　once　there　and
not　there；　its　will　and　individuality　gone；　but　its　strength　tapped。
The　shadow…eldar　hissed　at　him；　elegant；　alien　features　contorting　to　reveal　an　array　of　small；
sharp　teeth；　and　its　milky；　elongated　eyes；　shockingly　white　against　its　black　skin；　flashed　its
murderous　intent　a　fraction　before　it　moved。
The　creature　disappeared；　leaving　a　smoky　outline　in　its　wake；　before　it　reappeared　beside
Burias…Drak’shal；　the　blades　emerging　from　the　back　of　its　forearms　slashing　towards　his　wounded
side。
Burias…Drak’shal　was　ready　for　it　this　time；　swinging　his　arm　around　in　a　brutal　arc　that　would
have　decapitated　the　slender　eldar　had　its　reflexes　been　less　than　preternatural。　It　swayed　backwards
from　the　blow；　the　possessed　Word　Bearer’s　talons　passing　just　centimetres　from　its　face。
Burias…Drak’shal　pushed　his　advantage；　throwing　a　stabbing　blow　towards　the　eldar’s　torso；
seeking　to　rip　its　heart　from　its　chest。　The　shade　threw　itself　backwards　and　disappeared　again；　only
to　reappear　to　the　icon　bearer’s　left；　and　the　twin　blades　protruding　from　the　back　of　its　arm　stabbed
deep　into　his　body。　The　blades　of　its　other　arm　slashed　across　his　pauldron；　slicing　monomolecular
cuts　through　his　power　armour　and　drawing　blood　from　his　bicep。
Burias…Drak’shal　snarled　and　spun；　lashing　out　at　the　shadow…eldar；　but　his　claws　merely　passed
through　a　dark　mist　as　the　creature　leapt　away　once　more。　It　reentered　the　material　plane　to　his　other
side；　its　blades　flashing　again；　and　the　icon　bearer　felt　hot　blood　begin　to　flow　from　another　trio　of
wounds。
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His　anger　grew　as　the　eldar　continued　to　prey　upon　him；　taunting　him　with　its　speed；　and　Burias…
Drak’shal　roared　in　frustration　as　once　again　his　claws　found　nothing　but　air。
For　all　his　anger　he　could　sense　that　there　was　a　pattern　forming　in　the　creature’s　attacks。　It
attacked　and　jumped　away；　always　moving；　and　always　attacking　from　a　different　angle。
As　the　shade　disappeared　once　more；　Burias…Drak’shal　spun　around　on　the　spot；　anticipating
where　its　next　attack　would　come　from　and　lashing　out。　The　eldar　appeared　where　he　had　expected；
and　even　its　alien　speed　and　reflexes　were　not　up　to　avoiding　the　icon　bearer’s　pre…emptive　strike。
Burias…Drak’shal’s　talons　closed　around　the　slender　eldar　neck；　and　he　pulled　the　creature
sharply　towards　him；　throwing　it　off　balance。
“Got　you；”　growled　Burias…Drak’shal；　pulling　the　alien　straight　onto　his　rising　knee；　which
thundered　into　the　creature’s　sternum。
Burias…Drak’shal　grinned　as　he　felt　the　bones　and　tendons　under　his　grip　strain；　and　he　clubbed
the　creature　in　the　back　of　its　head　as　it　bent　over　double。　It　was　slammed　to　the　ground；　and　Burias…
Drak’shal　followed　it　down；　driving　his　knee　into　the　small　of　the　eldar’s　back。
Burias…Drak’shal　pulled　his　right　hand　back；　and　thrust　down　with　all　his　enhanced　might；
seeking　to　drive　his　talons　through　the　back　of　the　creature’s　skull。
It　disappeared　from　beneath　him；　his　talons　spearing　deep　into　the　ice；　and　the　icon　bearer
snarled　in　frustration。
Flicking　his　head　to　the　side；　he　saw　that　his　brother　warriors　had　been　engaged　by　the　bulk　of
the　eldar　raiding　force；　and　with　a　hiss　he　began　loping　painfully　towards　the　escalating　battle。
Baranov　could　barely　contain　his　satisfaction　as　he　hauled　the　bay　doors　of　the　Rapture　open　and　the
pompous；　condescending　elite　of　Perdus　Skylla　gaped　in　horror。
Eldar　warriors　were　standing　just　outside　the　bay　doors　of　the　Rapture。　Several　of　the　courtesans
screamed；　while　others　whimpered　in　terror　or　merely　gaped　and　soiled　themselves。　Baranov
grinned；　and　stepped　to　the　side。
A　screaming　woman　was　dragged　from　the　shuttle　by　her　hair；　and　the　remaining　high…ranking
guilders　shrank　back；　only　to　be　pushed　forward　by　Baranov’s　burly　crew　members。
Chuckl