Dark Disciple(科幻战争)-第47部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！

mnemo…paper　in　his　fist。　“Guidance　systems　are　damaged；　and　the　aft　engines　are　at　quarter　power。”
Burias　was　silent　while　the　Coryphaus　muttered；　his　strategic　mind　working　to　solve　the
problem。
“Do　we　have　enough　power　to　break　from　the　moon’s　gravity？”　he　ventured。
“Yes；”　snapped　the　Coryphaus；　“but　we’d　be　drifting。　We’ll　conserve　our　power　once　we　have
broken　the　atmosphere；　and　fire　the　engines　to　take　us　past　the　Imperial　blockade。　We’ll　order　the
Infidus　Diabolus　to　break　from　its　mooring　and　come　to　meet　us　halfway。”
“The　Imperial　fleet　will　be　aware　of　its　presence　as　soon　as　it　pulls　out　of　the　radiation　of　the
sun；”　said　Burias。　“If　they　turn　their　fleet…”
“Then　we　must　pray　that　they　do　not。　Let　us　hope　that　the　cursed　Imperials　are　too　occupied　by
the　xenos　to　swing　their　blockade。”
“And　if　they　don’t？”
“Then　we　are　dead。”
147
CHAPTER　EIGHTEEN
“You　are　wasting　your　time；”　growled　Marduk；　blood　and　spittle　dripping　from　his　lips。　His　head
was　held　immobile　by　bladed　callipers　that　had　emerged　from　the　floating　slab　on　which　he　lay；
making　any　movement　of　his　head　or　neck　impossible。　He　glared　at　the　eldar　tormentor　out　of　the
corner　of　his　left　eye；　his　daemonic　right　eye　rendered　useless。
“I　won’t　break；”　snarled　Marduk。　“You　will　have　to　kill　me　first。”
His　torturer　did　not　look　up；　his　utterly　black　eyes　focused　on　the　incisions　that　he　had　cut　into
Marduk’s　neck。　He　was　gazing　into　them；　prodding　and　poking　around　the　area　where　one　of　his
progenoid　glands；　those　sacred　glands　that　contained　the　essence　of　his　enhanced　gene…seed；　had
been　surgically　removed　thousands　of　years　previously。　As　if　satisfied；　the　eldar　closed　up　the
wound；　and　lifted　what　looked　like　a　spike…ripped　handgun　from　a　pad　that　hovered　at　his　side。
Marduk　tensed；　thinking　momentarily　that　perhaps　the　eldar　was　going　to　kill　him。　The　eldar　ran
the　spiked　tip　of　the　pistol　along　the　edge　of　the　incision　at　his　neck；　and　Marduk　hissed　in　pain；
feeling　a　searing　laser　melting　his　flesh。　The　eldar　replaced　the　strange　implement　back　on　its
floating　platform；　and　Marduk　realised　that　the　wound　in　his　neck　was　sealed。
The　First　Acolyte　stared　at　the　spiked　pistol…like　piece　of　apparatus　for　a　moment；　and　then
flexed　his　neck　from　side　to　side　as　the　callipers　retracted　from　their　clamped　position　around　his
cranium。　The　bladed　lengths　slid　away　soundlessly；　and　came　to　rest　around　his　head　like　a　razorsharp
halo；　leaving　him　free　of　their　constriction；　but　still　protruding　from　the　hovering　slab；　just
centimetres　from　his　head。
Marduk　hissed　as　fresh　pain　seared　across　his　abdomen。　Two　long　cuts　bisected　his　flesh；　and
snarling；　he　leant　forwards　to　watch　the　monstrous　eldar　surgeon　at　work。　Doubtless　that　was　the
reason　his　head　restraints　had　been　retracted；　so　that　he　could　witness　the　surgery　being　performed
upon　him。　His　skin　was　sliced；　and　the　thick　black　carapace　beneath；　the　implant　that　allowed　his
holy　armour　to　be　plugged　directly　into　his　body；　was　cut　open　with　laser…tipped　tools。
The　biomechanical　creature　hovering　on　the　pulsing　ceiling　reached　out　with　four　slender　limbs；
each　of　them　piercing　one　corner　of　his　flesh；　painfully　drawing　his　sliced　black　carapace　apart　to
expose　the　stomach　cavity。　The　wraith…like　eldar　began　to　probe　his　organs　with　his　slender　fingers。
Marduk’s　chest　had　not　yet　been　cut　open；　but　he　knew　that　it　was　just　a　matter　of　time。　He　had
witnessed　two　of　his　brother　Space　Marines　have　their　organs　removed；　though　Marduk　had　noted
that　the　eldar　was　careful　to　leave　his　victims　alive；　using　inferior　substitute　organs　to　keep　them
going。　It　had　taken　some　time　to　cut　through　the　black　carapace　beneath　the　flesh　of　the　warriors’
chests；　but　the　tools　of　the　twisted　creature　were　powerful。
“I　have　no　interest　in　your　death；”　intoned　his　torturer；　still　engrossed　in　his　work。　Marduk　could
feel　the　fingers　probing　within　him；　handling　his　enhanced　organs。　The　feeling　was　uncomfortable；
but　he　pushed　the　sensation　away；　focusing　his　mind。
“If　your　intention　is　not　to　kill　me；　what　then　is　to　be　my　fate？”　asked　Marduk；　feigning
weakness　in　his　voice。
The　twisted　surgeon　did　not　pause　in　his　work；　and　for　a　moment　Marduk　thought　he　would　not
get　an　answer；　but　at　last　the　eldar　spoke。
“Upon　reaching　Commoragh；”　said　the　eldar；　though　Marduk　did　not　recognise　the　word；　“your
savayaethoth；　your…　soul…flame…　will　be　drained　from　your　body。　This　soul…essence　will　be
delivered　to　Lord　Vect；　for　him　to　do　with　as　he　pleases。　Your　savayaethoth　burns　brighter　than
148
those　of　your　comrades。　Most　likely；　the　Lord　Vect　will　take　it　into　himself。　All　that　you　are　will　be
consumed；　utterly　and　completely；　and　She　Who　Thirsts　will　be　denied　her　claim　upon　him　a　little
longer。”
“The　soul…extraction；”　continued　the　eldar　torturer；　“is　excruciatingly　painful。　What　you　have
experienced　thus　far　is　nothing　beside　it；　and　I　have　been　known　to　prolong　the　process　for　a　week
or　more。”
“What　will　happen　to　you　if　I　die　beneath　your　scalpel　before　then？”　asked　Marduk。
“My　master　would　be　displeased；”　said　the　eldar　simply；　as　if　he　were　talking　to　an　imbecile。
“Your　master　is　going　to　be　very　displeased；　then；”　said　Marduk；　and　his　primary　heart　stopped
beating。
Admiral　Rutger　Augustine　stared　at　the　blinking　icon　in　disbelief。　Scans　had　picked　up　the　telltale
sign　of　a　ship　moving　towards　the　rear　of　the　Imperial　blockade；　emerging　from　within　the　radiation
field　of　the　system’s　dying　sun。
“It’s　an　Adeptus　Astartes　cruiser；　sir；”　said　his　aide　in　awe。　“And　it’s　big。”
“Yes；　I　can　see　that；”　snapped　Augustine；　“but　is　it　friend　or　foe？”
“You　think　it　may　be　renegade；　sir？”　asked　the　man；　looking　at　him　in　shock。
“I　don’t　know。　I　have　received　no　information　of　a　Chapter　of　Astartes　coming　to　our　aid；
though　it　would　be　welcome。　That　they　have　not　intervened　thus　far　does　not　bode　well。”
“Initial　hails　have　been　ignored；”　said　the　aide。　“The　archives　are　being　scoured　as　we　speak　to
identify　the　vessel。”
“Fine；”　snapped　Augustine；　waving　the　man　away。
“Trouble？”　asked　his　flag…lieutenant；　Gideon　Cortez；　as　he　strode　to　the　admiral’s　side。
“Possibly；”　replied　Augustine。　“Damn　it；　I　need　more　ships。”
“We　could　always　order　the　Exterminatus　of　the　Perdus　moons　now；”　said　Gideon　in　a　low
voice。　“Pull　back；　and　swing　to　face　this　strike　cruiser。”
“No；”　said　Augustine。　“I　want　that　last　convoy　secured　before　I　make　the　order。”
“Are　the　lives　of　those　people　down　there　worth　risking　the　fleet　for？”　asked　Gideon。
Augustine　clenched　his　fists。　Then　he　sighed。
“I’ll　give　it　one　hour；”　he　said。　“Order　the　Implacable　to　disengage　and　swing　around　to　the　rear；
with　its　full　escort。　Order　them　to　stand　off；　though。　Let　the　Astartes　make　their　move。”
Glowing　runes　flashed；　appearing　in　the　air　above　Marduk’s　still　chest；　and　the　haemonculus’s
pitch…black　eyes　flashed　towards　them　in　alarm。
With　a　flick　of　his　bloody　fingers　he　banished　the　runes　and　brought　another　set　up　before　him；
swiftly　acknowledging　the　diagnostic　reports。　The　mon…keigh’s　secondary　heart　had　failed　to　pick
up　where　its　larger　organ　had　failed。　His　subject　was　dead。
No！　This　could　not　be；　he　railed。　There　was　no　possible　way　that　the　subject’s　heart　could　have
stopped；　unless　the　creature　had　control　of　its　functions；　but　such　a　thing　was　surely　impossible　in
one　as　lowly　as　this　lesser　being。
More　glowing　runes　appeared；　hovering　in　the　air　above　the　mon…keigh’s　body；　and　Rhakaeth
frowned　deeply　as　he　pulsed　a　swift　mnemo…command　to　the　lesser　talos…artifice　hovering　above
him。　The　creature’s　spider　limbs　were　twitching　nervously；　sensing　the　displeasure　of　it　master。　His
subject　was　not　breathing。
Rhakaeth　stabbed　a　needle　into　the　Space　Marine’s　neck　before　dropping　the　syringe　to　a
waiting　hover…pad；　and　summoning　a　breath…regulator　to　his　side　with　a　wave　of　his　hand。　Above；
the　lesser　talos…artifice　sank　low　above　the　table　at　Rhakaeth’s　mnemo…command；　rubbing　its
forelegs　together。　Blue　electricity　jumped　between　the　two　bladed　limbs；　and　at　Rhakaeth’s
command；　it　touched　the　tips　of　the　blades　to　the　subject’s　chest。
149
The　subject　jolted；　his　body　arching　as　power　surged　through　him；　and　the　runic　projectors
informed　Rhakaeth　that　its　twin　hearts　had　recommenced　their　regular　beat。　Two　heartbeats　later；
they　had　stopped　again；　however；　and　the　haemonculus　realised　that　the　being　was　resisting　his
attempts　to　revive　it。
Rhakaeth　gestured；　and　additional　hardware　emerged　from　the　underside　of　the　operating　slab；
hovering　up　to　his　side。　It　mattered　not　that　the　creature　was　attempting　to　kill　itself。　It　had　no　choice
in　the　matter。　He　would　keep　it　alive　whether　it　wished　it　or　not。
Leaning　down　low　over　the　subject’s　lifeless　face；　Rhakaeth　hissed　in　the　crude；　human　tongue。
“You　will　not　escape　me　so　easily；”　he　hissed；　“and　I　shall　make　you　pay　for　such　disrespect。”
The　subject’s　dead　eyes　flickered　suddenly；　its　primary　heart　lurching　back　into　life。　Rhakaeth
tried　to　pull　back；　realising　that　he　had　been　tricked；　but　he　was　too　slow；　and　the　subject’s　teeth
flashed　for　his　throat。
It　had　not　been　hard　to　fool　his　torturer。　The　eldar　were　an　arrogant　race　and　Marduk　had　guessed；
correctly；　that　his　captor　would　have　no　real　understanding　of　Astartes　physiology　or　what　it　was
capable　of。
It　had　been　a　simple　matter　to　activate　his　sus…an　membrane　and　begin　the　process　of　entering
suspended　animation；　though　it　had　taken　more　control　to　halt　his　primary　heart　completely。
Marduk　bit　into　the　eldar’s　neck；　his　teeth　gripping　the　jugular　tight。　The　eldar’s　flesh　was　dry；
like　a　desiccated　cadaver’s。　It　would　have　been　so　easy　to　rip　out　its　throat　in　one　sharp　movement；
but　that　would　achieve　nothing　other　than　fleeting　satisfaction。　Instead；　he　turned　his　head　to　the
side；　pulling　the　eldar　across　him；　dragging　its　face　towards　one　of　the　recurved；　protruding　calliper
blades　positioned　to　the　side　of　his　face。
Bladed　spider　limbs　stabbed　into　his　flesh；　straining　to　pull　its　master　free；　and　he　felt　the　scalpel
fingers　of　the　eldar　slashing　frantically　against　his　face　and　neck；　but　Marduk　had　no　intention　of
relinquishing　his　hold。　With　relentless　strength；　he　pulled　the　eldar　towards　the　blade；　careful　not　to
tear　its　throat　out。　Still；　the　eldar　resisted；　but　its　body　was　weak　in　comparison　to　Marduk’s；　even
restrained　as　he　was；　and　the　thick　muscles　of　his　neck　bulged　as　he　pulled　the　haemonculus　onto　the
point　of　the　blade。　The　tip　of　the　calliper　pierced　the　dry；　wasted　skin　of　its　cheek；　and　a　trickle　of
blood　ran　from　the　wound　down　the　blade。
The　eldar　uttered　something　in　its　sharp　language；　and　the　blade…restraints　were　instantly
retracted；　ensuring　that　the　torturer　was　not　impaled；　but　also　freeing　Marduk’s　limbs。
The　First　Acolyte　surged　upright；　tearing　a　chunk　of　dry　flesh　from　the　eldar’s　throat。　The
haemonculus　fell　backwards；　gasping；　hands　trying　to　stem　the　blood　flow　gushing　from　the　wound；
and　Marduk　swung　his　legs　from　the　bladed　slab　hovering　just　off　the　floor。
His　stomach　was　still　sliced　open；　and　four　of