Dark Disciple(科幻战争)-第49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！

from　his　flesh。　The　pain　was　intense；　and　it　felt　as　if　he　might　rip　a　part　of　his　mind　away　with　it；　but
Marduk　ripped　the　alien　device　from　his　neck　with　a　powerful　surge　of　adrenaline。
The　force　of　Chaos　hit　Marduk　like　a　roaring　tidal　wave；　staggering　in　its　power。　The　full　force
of　the　warp　rushed　to　fill　the　emptiness　of　his　soul　as　the　null…field　generator　that　kept　the　power　of
the　immaterium　at　bay　was　ripped　clear；　and　his　body　was　suffused　with　the　power　of　the　dark　gods
once　more。
His　vision　swam；　and　blood　dripped　down　his　back　as　Marduk　stared　dumbly　at　the　black　thing
in　his　hands。　Synthetic　claws　with　patches　of　skin　and　hair　still　clinging　to　them　rimmed　the　ovular
shape。
Understanding　came　to　him。　The　gods　had　not　deserted　him。　This　foul　device　had　merely　cut
him　off　from　its　blessed　presence。　It　was　a　form　of　null…field　generator。　Marduk　hurled　it　away　in
disgust。
Burias　stood　alongside　the　Coryphaus；　Kol　Badar；　on　the　foredeck　of　the　Infidus　Diabolus。　The
Idolator　had　docked　with　the　mighty　strike　cruiser　less　than　twenty　minutes　earlier；　and　Kol　Badar
had　straight　away　ordered　the　warp　engines　of　the　ancient　ship　fired　up；　preparing　to　jump　into　the
roiling　ether　and　leave　this　cursed　system　behind。
It　had　been　a　tense　flight　from　Perdus　Skylla；　for　the　damage　done　to　the　Idolator　had　meant　that
they　had　drifted；　powerless；　through　the　Imperial　armada。　At　any　moment；　Burias　had　expected　them
to　drift　into　the　path　of　a　broadside；　and　for　the　fragile　shuttle　to　have　been　blasted　to　smithereens。
Once　clear　of　the　blockade；　they　had　drifted　for　tens　of　thousands　of　kilometres；　until　at　last　they　had
been　drawn　into　one　of　the　strike　cruiser’s　immense　docking　bays。
There　had　been　unease　as　they　had　disembarked　from　the　shuttle　and　it　became　clear　to　the
waiting　warriors　that　Marduk　was　not　accompanying　them。　Refusing　to　address　the　Host　yet；　Kol
Badar　had　ordered　Darioq…Grendh’al　confined　to　his　spartan　quarters；　and　stalked　to　the　strike
cruiser’s　foredeck　in　preparation　for　warp　jump。
Flickering　screens　of　red　light　showed　the　relative　position　of　the　Imperial　and　tyranid　fleets；　and
though　the　Imperials　must　have　been　aware　of　their　presence；　for　the　Infidus　Diabolus　had　left　the
surging　radiation　of　the　system’s　sun　to　come　to　meet　the　damaged　Idolator；　they　had　made　little
move　to　break　their　blockade　to　intercept　them。　A　single　cruiser　with　a　host　of　escorts　had　formed　a
rearguard　behind　the　bulk　of　the　cordon；　though　it　had　made　no　hostile　move　towards　them　as　yet。
153
Indeed；　there　was　only　one　ship　nearing　weapon　range；　but　the　blinking　screens　relayed　that　this
was　nothing　more　than　a　passenger　freighter；　and　scans　had　come　back　negative　for　weapon　sweeps。
It　was　of　no　consequence　to　the　powerful　strike　cruiser。
Burias　felt　Drak’shal　stir　within　him；　and　his　eyes　rolled　back　as　he　ventured　inwards；　to　witness
what　had　roused　the　daemon　from　its　slumber。
“Jump　on　my　mark；”　said　Kol　Badar；　instructing　the　daemon…symbiotes　that　acted　as　the　strike
cruiser’s　command　personnel。
Burias　blinked　as　he　came　back　to　himself；　and　turned　towards　the　Coryphaus；　disbelief　and
dawning　horror　plastered　on　his　face。
“What　is　it？”　asked　Kol　Badar；　seeing　the　icon　bearer’s　face　pale。
“Marduk；”　gasped　Burias。　“He　is　alive！”
“Where？”　growled　Kol　Badar。
Burias’s　eyes　settled　on　the　insignificant　Imperial　freighter。
“There；”　he　said；　stabbing　a　finger　towards　the　blip。　Kol　Badar　swore。　The　bladed　fingers　of　his
power　talons　clenched。
“Hold　jump　routine；”　the　Coryphaus　said　at　last。
“What　are　you　going　to　do？”　asked　Burias　in　a　neutral　tone。　Kol　Badar　stared　at　him。
“Bring　us　to　heading　L4。86；”　said　the　Coryphaus；　holding　the　gaze　of　the　icon　bearer。　“Order　the
starboard　gunnery　crew　to　prepare　weapons　for　firing。”
Burias　raised　an　eyebrow。
“Is　there　a　problem；　icon　bearer？”　rumbled　the　Coryphaus。　Burias　licked　his　lips。
“No　problem；　my　Coryphaus；”　he　said　at　last。
With　fresh　energy　coursing　through　his　body；　Marduk　rose　to　his　feet；　his　eyes　burning　with　the　fire
of　devotion　and　belief。　He　stalked　towards　the　pathetic　figure　of　his　torturer；　who　was　vainly　trying
to　crawl　to　safety；　and　lifted　the　skeletal　eldar　into　the　air。
Hefting　him　like　a　rag　doll；　Marduk　stepped　through　the　bladed　portal　doors。
The　corridor　was　long　and　lined　with　hundreds　upon　hundreds　of　cells；　each　filled　with　piteous
slaves。　Many　of　them　lay　on　their　backs；　with　blank　masks　pulled　over　their　heads　that　plugged　into
sockets　in　the　walls　behind　them。　They　groaned　and　twitched　as　a　barrage　of　terror　was　sent　into
their　brains；　while　others　were　hooked　up　to　all　manner　of　torturous　devices；　while　their　cellmates
looked　on　in　horror。　Marduk　saw　a　naked　human　stretched　backwards　across　a　rotating　wheel…like
device；　his　hands　and　ankles　bound　and　a　slender　blade　poised　in　the　air　above。　With　each　turn　of
the　wheel；　the　man　was　brought　fractionally　closer　to　the　blade；　cutting　into　his　flesh　in　a　line　from
chin　to　groin。　Other　figures　hung　from　insubstantial　chains　of　light；　bizarre　apparatus　attached　to
their　heads　by　biting　metal　claws　and　their　eyelids　held　forcibly　open　by　tiny；　black　legs。　A　parade
of　horror　passed　before　their　eyes；　and　they　thrashed　around　trying　to　escape　their　torment；　but
unable　to　look　away　as　every　debauched　and　horrific　act　imaginable　was　flashed　directly　into　their
retinas。
None　of　the　cells　appeared　to　have　bars。　Indeed；　nothing　appeared　to　hold　them　within　their
confinement　at　all；　and　Marduk　moved　warily　along　the　corridor；　eyeing　the　tortured　humanoid
forms　to　either　side　of　him。　Few　registered　his　passing；　and　those　that　did　stared　at　him　with　hollow；
despairing　eyes。
Marduk　saw　other　cells　filled　with　what　could　only　have　been　the　haemonculus’s　experiments；
wretched　eldar　grotesques　that　had　been　twisted　and　surgically　altered　into　whatever　form　pleased
the　perverted　creature。　He　saw　some　with　additional　limbs　grafted　to　their　bodies；　others　with
feathers　that　protruded　where　hair　ought　to　have　grown；　and　others　bent　over　backwards　and
walking　on　all　fours。　One　of　them　saw　him　holding　the　torturer　before　him；　and　it　screeched　in
outrage；　frill…like　flaps　of　skin　flaring　up　on　either　sides　of　its　neck　and　a　tri…pronged　tongue　darting
154
from　its　mouth。　Others　turned　to　see　what　had　enraged　it；　and　as　one　they　wailed；　gnashed　their　teeth
and　whimpered　to　see　their　master　laid　low。
One　monstrous　grotesque　opened　its　gaping　mouth；　the　aperture　spreading　in　four　quarters　that
peeled　back　from　its　neck　to　its　cheeks。　It　threw　itself　at　Marduk；　who　spun　towards　it；　but　it
slammed　into　an　invisible　barrier　of　energy　that　let　off　a　stink　of　ozone　and　hurled　it　backwards。
More　of　the　inmates　began　to　turn　in　Marduk’s　direction；　and　he　saw　the　hatred　in　the　eyes　of
many　of　them　as　they　looked　upon　the　skeletal　form　of　the　haemonculus；　helpless　in　Marduk’s
grasp。　They　rose　to　their　feet　to　witness　his　passing；　lining　up　to　form　a　twisted　honour　guard　for
him。
One　of　the　inmates；　a　human　male；　started　calling　to　him；　but　Marduk　ignored　its　cries；　even　as
more　of　the　wretched　slaves　began　to　holler；　whoop　and　cheer；　speaking　a　thousand　tongues；　both
human　and　xenos。
This　one　human　was　particularly　insistent；　running　alongside　Marduk　within　the　confines　of　his
dark　cell；　begging　and　pleading。
Marduk　paused；　seeing　a　troop　of　eldar　warriors　moving　towards　him　in　the　distance；　clearly
alerted　by　the　ruckus。
“Release　me；　I　beg　you；　my　lord；”　cried　the　man；　no　more　than　a　metre　from　Marduk；　but
separated　by　the　invisible　wall　of　power。　Marduk　glanced　down　at　the　wretch。　The　man　had
obviously　not　been　in　his　confinement　for　long。　He　bore　no　obvious　injuries；　and　his　skin　was
relatively　clean；　in　stark　contrast　to　the　filth…encrusted　masses。　More　than　that；　his　eyes　did　not　yet
have　the　hollow　look　of　hopelessness　within　them。
“Why？”　asked　Marduk　simply；　which　gave　the　man　pause。　He　licked　his　lips；　and　Marduk
swung　his　head　back　the　way　he　had　come；　seeing　another　troop　of　dark　eldar　warriors　running
lightly　towards　him。
“I　have　a　ship　docked　on　this　vessel！　We　could　escape；　you　and　I　together！”　cried　the　man　as
Marduk　made　to　move　on。　He　paused；　and　swung　back　towards　the　wretch。
“What　guarantee　do　you　have　that　your　ship　is　still　here？”　he　asked　quickly。
“None；”　admitted　the　man；　matching　Marduk’s　fearsome　gaze　without　faltering；　“but　how　were
you　planning　on　getting　off…ship？”
Marduk　swung　his　gaze　around　once　more；　seeing　the　eldar　warriors　drawing　nearer　from　both
quarters。　The　ones　to　his　right　were　closer；　and　he　saw　several　of　them　drop　to　their　knees；　raising
weapons　to　their　shoulders。　Marduk　lifted　the　haemonculus　up　in　front　of　him　for　them　to　see；
placing　the　blade　of　the　spider…eldar’s　limb　upon　its　already　blood…drenched　throat。　That　gave　the
warriors　pause；　though　they　did　not　lower　their　weapons。
“Things　are　not　looking　so　good　for　you；　friend；”　said　the　man　in　the　cell。
“I　am　not　the　one　in　a　cell；”　said　Marduk。
“True；”　said　the　man。　“The　cell　controls　for　this　section　are　behind　you。”
Marduk　swung　his　head　around　to　see　a　blank　wall　panel；　though　even　as　he　looked　upon　it；
glimmering　runes　of　xenos　origin　flickered　into　being；　hovering　in　the　air　a　few　centimetres　from　the
wall。
“Touch　the　middle　one；　the　one　that　looks　like　a　serpent；”　said　the　man。　“No；　not　that　one；　the
one　next　to　it。　That’s　the　door　release。　I’ve　seen　the　guards　use　it。”
Marduk　paused；　indecision　staying　his　hand。　The　man　might　be　lying。
“What　have　you　got　to　lose？”　asked　the　man；　as　if　reading　his　mind。
Marduk　backed　up　to　the　control　panel；　his　eyes　flicking　between　the　two　groups　of　eldar
warriors　that　had　begun　to　edge　forwards　once　more；　just　waiting　for　an　opportunity　to　fire　without
hitting　the　haemonculus。　His　eyes　drifted　down　to　the　eldar　runes　flickering　in　the　air　in　front　of　the
panel。
155
“Release　him；”　Marduk　growled　into　the　haemonculus’s　ear；　tightening　his　grip　on　the　skeletal
creature。　The　eldar　made　no　move；　and　Marduk　pushed　the　blade　more　forcefully　against　its　throat；
drawing　blood。
The　eldar　reached　out　a　long；　bony　finger；　moving　it　towards　the　glowing　runes。
“No　tricks；”　said　Marduk；　“or　I’ll　have　my　own　torture　fun　with　you　before　anybody　comes　to
save　you。”
The　haemonculus’s　finger　paused　just　before　it　pierced　the　holographic　image　of　a　rune　that
resembled　a　jagged　blade。　Then　it　moved　to　the　side　and　passed　through　the　serpent…like　rune；　the
one　that　the　man　had　indicated。
There　was　a　descending　hum；　and　the　man　reached　out　a　tentative　hand。　There　was　no　surge　of
power　and　no　stink　of　ozone；　and　the　man　exhaled　deeply；　flashing　Marduk　a　grin。
“Thank　you　friend；”　said　the　man。　“My　name　is　Ikorus　Baranov。”
Marduk　ignored　him。　He　was　less　than　nothing　to　him；　but　the　puny　human’s　words　were
enticing。　How　were　you　planning　on　getting　off…ship？
“Now　the　rest　of　them；”　said　Marduk。　The　haemonculus　faltered；　gargling　something　from　its
shattered　throat；　and　Marduk　pushed　the　blade　deeper。
Instantly；　the　haemonculus’s　hand　flickered　over　a　series　of　rune　images；　and　all　the　cell　doors　in
the　section　powered　down。
At　fi