Dark Disciple(科幻战争)-第7部分

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feathered　wings；　its　siren　call　signalling　the　death　of　those　of　weak　mind　that　heard　it。
They　passed　dozens　of　dark　arches；　each　leading　off　into　different　areas　of　the　labyrinthine　ship。
Warrior　brothers　stood　aside；　their　heads　lowered；　as　they　passed。　Black…cloaked　slave…creatures
scurried　out　of　their　path；　while　others　prostrated　themselves　pathetically；　faces　pressed　to　the　floor。
Moans　and　tortured　cries　came　from　darkness　beneath　the　walkways；　and　wasted；　skeletal　fingers
extended　through　the　metal　grids　in　appeal。　Thousands　of　wretched　slaves　were　kept　aboard　the
Infidus　Diabolus；　existing　in　the　darkness　and　squalid　conditions　below　deck　in　order　to　perform　all
the　horrific　and　mundane　jobs　required　to　keep　the　ship　running。　They　were　condemned　to　a　lifetime
of　servitude；　and　they　cried　out　for　death。
“The　priest…magos　of　the　Machine…God　is　necessary；”　said　Marduk　finally；　as　the　trio　walked　the
musty　halls　of　the　strike　cruiser。　“The　Nexus　Arrangement　will　never　be　unlocked　without　him；　he　is
the　Key…master；”　he　said；　referring　to　a　prophecy　that　told　of　one；　the　Enslaved；　who　would　unlock
the　potent　device　that　the　Host　had　uncovered　from　a　xenos　pyramid　upon　the　shattered　Imperial
world　of　Tanakreg。　It　would　be　a　powerful　weapon　in　the　arsenal　of　the　Word　Bearers；　and　much
favour　would　be　granted　to　he　who　controlled　it。
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“The　Key…master？”　scoffed　Kol　Badar。　“The　wretch　has　proven　useless　in　unlocking　the　device
thus　far。　He　cannot　be　trusted。”
“The　magos　is　mine；”　said　Marduk。　“He　is　my　puppet；　and　will　do　exactly　what　I　want。”
Magos　Darioq　was　changing。　At　first；　the　effects　on　his　body　had　been　subtle；　barely　noticeable；　but；
as　the　daemon　took　further　control　of　his　purged　system；　the　change　was　coming　on　with　alarming；
exponential　swiftness。
Stripped　of　his　robes　and　chained　to　the　wall　of　his　cell；　he　shuddered　in　torment　as　the　carefully
cultured　daemon　essence　writhed　within　him。　He　opened　his　mouth　soundlessly；　exposing　a
secondary　set　of　teeth；　thick　and　sharp；　pushing　up　through　his　bleeding　gums　behind　his　own。
His　flesh　was　wasted　and　pallid；　though　most　of　his　body　had　long　been　replaced　with
mechanical　augmentations。　His　entire　lower　body　had　been　replaced　with　heavy…duty　bionic
replacements；　immensely　powerful　leg…units　with　inbuilt　gyro…stabilisers　that　enabled　the　magos　to
bear　almost　two　metric　tonnes　of　weight　upon　his　frame。　This　was　necessary；　for　with　a　fully
activated　servo…harness；　the　magos　weighed　as　much　as　a　small　tank。　Black　tendrils　crawled　and
pulsed　beneath　his　skin；　and　his　flesh　rippled　from　within　as　the　daemon　made　its　claim　on　him。
Augmetic　telescopic　braces　were　fused　to　his　spine　for　stability　and　strength；　but　the　distinction
between　mechanical　augmentation　and　flesh　was　blurring。　Blood　dripped　from　rents　in　the　metal。
The　heavy　bulk　of　Darioq’s　servo…harness　was　clamped　between　his　hips　and　his　shoulders；　and
again；　the　hybrid　amalgamation　of　fusing　metal　and　flesh　could　be　seen。　Fleshy　muscles　had　grown
over　several　of　the　pistons；　enhancing　their　mechanical　strength　with　that　of　the　daemon　and　giving
the　corrupted　magos　an　even　more　hunched　appearance。　The　four　servo…arms　of　his　harness　had
been　sheared　away；　along　with　half　a　dozen　mechadendrites　that　plugged　into　the　nerve　endings　of
his　spinal　column；　and　they　wept　blood　and　ichor　as　their　stubby　remnants　twitched　and　jerked
spasmodically。　Two　of　the　severed　mechadendrites　had　already　re…sprouted；　fleshy　tentacles　of
glistening　muscle　growing　from　his　spine。　Plugs　and　sockets　covered　his　wasted　skin；　and　from
some　of　these　leaked　a　milky　ichor　that　hissed　as　it　hit　the　floor。
With　his　hood　and　robes　stripped　away；　Darioq’s　head　was　laid　bare。　Only　a　fraction　of　his
original　face　remained；　the　rest　encased　in　mechanics。　A　grilled　voice　box　was　implanted　in　his
throat；　and　his　left　eye　was　an　impressive　display　of　sensors　and　optical　arrays。
The　distinction　between　the　mechanical　and　the　human　was　blurring　all　over　the　corrupted
magos’s　body。　Even　as　the　trio　of　Word　Bearers　watched；　the　metal　cranium　of　the　magos　swelled
and　rippled　like　water；　and　a　curving　horn　pushed　up　from　the　right…hand　side　of　Darioq’s　skull。　Its
tip　was　hard　and　bony；　but　clearly　organic。
His　right　eye；　which　had　been　milky　and　blind　when　the　Word　Bearers　had　first　captured　him；
was　now　solid　black。　His　brain　units；　held　in　protective　bell…jar　casings　that　protruded　from　behind
his　hunched　shoulders；　were　filled　with　dark；　writhing　clots；　and　black；　oily　tentacles　burrowed
through　them；　like　a　mess　of　bloodworms。
“Magos　Darioq　is　no　more。　This；”　said　Marduk　with　a　wave　of　his　arm；　“is　Darioq…Grendh’al。”
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CHAPTER　THREE
Guildmaster　Pollo　scanned　the　latest　despatches；　blinking　his　augmented　silver　eyes　intermittently　to
record　their　contents。　After　several　minutes　of　reading　and　recording；　he　dropped　them　onto　his　desk
and　leant　forward　to　pour　himself　another　drink　from　the　half　empty　crystal　decanter　in　front　of　him。
He　raised　his　glass　up　to　his　eyes；　gazing　at　the　play　of　light　upon　the　ruby　liquid　as　he　sloshed　it
around　the　ice。　Then　he　knocked　the　drink　back；　savouring　its　bite。　He　placed　the　glass　down　on　its
coaster；　and　rubbed　at　his　temples　with　both　hands；　his　eyes　closed。
“Bad　news；　guildmaster？”　ventured　a　voice。
Polio　turned　to　face　his　young　adjutant；　Leto。　He　was　little　more　than　a　boy；　barely　having　the
need　to　shave　yet；　and　his　eyes　flicked　around　nervously　as　he　waited　for　his　answer。　He　was　young；
but　he　was　a　good　officer　and　had　a　mind　like　a　sponge。　He　knew　that　in　time　he　would　have　made　a
suitable　guildmaster；　but　such　a　thing　was　not　to　be。
“You　should　have　gone　with　the　others；　Leto；”　he　said；　his　voice　tired。
“I　will　leave　when　you　leave；”　replied　his　adjutant。
When　the　first　astrotelepathic　despatches　had　come；　warning　of　the　xenos　hive　fleet’s　approach；
Polio’s　distaff　had　been　aghast。　That　had　quickly　descended　into　panic　when　the　extreme　dictate　to
combat　this　threat　had　been　transmitted；　and　that　panic　had　not　been　aided　by　the　sudden　departure
of　the　Administratum’s　advocate　of　Perdus　Skylla。
“This　world　has　been　condemned　to　death；”　the　administrator　had　whined　as　he　frantically
gathered　up　his　possessions。　“You　are　a　fool　to　stay　behind。”
“I　will　not　leave　until　the　guilds　are　fully　evacuated；”　Polio　had　replied；　his　voice　unwavering。　“I
will　not　abandon　my　post　and　leave　those　who　depend　upon　me　to　their　fate。”
“Do　not　judge　me；　guildmaster；”　the　administrator　had　snapped。　“I　am　a　servant　of　the
Administratum；　and　with　the　mining　facilities　abandoned　I　see　no　purpose　in　my　remaining　here。　If
you　have　any　sense　at　all；　you　will　leave　Perdus　Skylla　immediately。　Coordinate　the　evacuation
from　space　if　your　conscience　demands　such　a　thing。”
Guildmaster　Polio　had　wanted　to　strike　the　man；　but　he　had　held　his　anger　in　check。　He　had
turned　his　back　on　the　administrator；　and　had　watched　as　his　shuttle　left　the　moon　for　the　safety　of
the　Imperial　blockade。　He　had　ordered　his　distaff　to　vacate　Perdus　Skylla；　and　he　had　seen　the　relief
in　their　faces　at　his　order。　He　did　not　think　badly　of　them　as　they　saluted　him　and　boarded　the　first
chartered　evacuation　ships。
“Why　will　you　not　go？”　Leto　had　asked　him。
“I　swore　an　oath　of　service　to　the　guilds　of　Perdus　Skylla。　My　leadership　will　be　needed　in　the
evacuation　effort。　It　sends　a　message　to　the　guilds；　and　the　populace；　if　I　remain。”
“Then　I　shall　remain　with　you；　sir；”　said　the　boy。
Polio　had　promoted　him　to　be　his　adjutant；　and　had　been　pleasantly　surprised　to　find　that　the
young　man　adapted　to　his　role　admirably。
Polio　sighed；　picked　up　the　reports　and　flicked　them　to　Leto。　The　young　man　caught　them
awkwardly；　and　scanned　their　contents。　The　guildmaster　poured　himself　another　drink　as　his
adjutant　looked　at　the　first　of　the　reports。　Leto　looked　up　in　shock；　his　face　pale。
“Keep　reading；”　said　Guildmaster　Polio。
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The　reports　contained　disturbing　information：　evidence　of　slaughter　in　three　of　the　main　mid…ice
access　highways　that　linked　the　Phorcys　starport　to　the　guilds。　The　attacks　had　occurred　just　hours
earlier；　and　there　had　been　no　survivors　nor　any　eyewitnesses。　It　was　impossible　to　gauge　the
number　of　casualties；　but　there　was　something　in　the　realm　of　twelve　thousand　citizens　reported
missing。　Thousands　more　had　been　killed　in　the　stampede　to　get　out　of　the　tunnels；　and　the　Skyllan
Interdiction　Forces　had　shut　the　access　tunnels　down；　pending　an　armoured　investigation。
Three　guilds；　two　of　them　major　houses；　had　no　direct　access　to　the　evacuation　freighters。　That
translated　as　almost　four　million　people；　trapped　on　Perdus　Skylla　until　the　tunnels　were　opened；　for
it　would　be　almost　impossible　for　them　to　make　the　journey　on　foot。
Three　days　had　been　the　estimate　before　the　xenos　fleet　made　planet…fall。　It　had　been　a　logistical
impossibility　to　evacuate　all　of　Perdus　Skylla　in　that　time；　but　now　with　access　tunnels　locked
down？
Guildmaster　Polio　was　a　realist。　He　did　not　delude　himself　into　thinking　that　he　ever　had　even
half　a　chance　of　getting　more　than　perhaps　twenty　per　cent　of　the　population　of　Perdus　Skylla　offworld；
there　were　just　not　enough　ships　to　facilitate　the　evacuation。　He　cursed　the　bureaucracy　of　the
Administratum　that　had　given　his　world　such　callously　short　notice　of　its　doom。
He　had　finished　his　glass　of　amasec　by　the　time　his　adjutant　had　read　through　all　the　despatches。
“What　does　it　mean；　master？”　asked　Leto；　his　face　pale。
“It　means；”　said　Polio；　cradling　his　empty　glass；　“that　there　are　enemy　forces　already　on　Perdus
Skylla。”
“The…　the　tyranids？”
“I　don’t　think　so；　no；”　said　Leto。　“Something　entirely　else。”
With　a　sound　akin　to　the　birth…scream　of　a　fledgling　god；　the　Infidus　Diabolus　ripped　through　the
skin　of　the　warp　and　entered　real…space。　Flickering　arcs　of　energy　danced　across　its　hull；　coalescing
over　the　towering　spires　and　cathedrals　devoted　to　the　dark　gods　of　the　ether。　The　full　awesome
majesty　of　the　strike　cruiser　slipped　from　the　protective　womb　of　the　immaterium；　and　the　rift　was
sealed　behind　it。
Within　the　bridge　of　the　colossal　vessel；　Marduk　and　Kol　Badar　leaned　over　the　flickering　datascreens
before　them；　studying　the　stream　of　information　being　relayed。　They　saw　an　image　of　the
sub…system；　spinning　slowly；　and　flashes　of　light　began　to　appear；　marking　the　positions　of　planets；
ships　and　radiation　fields。
Remnants　of　the　warp　remained　within　the　ship；　and　scenes　of　depravity　and　bloodshed　flashed
up　over　the　screens；　momentarily　disrupting　the　feed　of　information。　For　a　fraction　of　a　second；　the
screens　showed　a　skinless　face；　its　eyes　on　fire　and　its　cheeks　pierced　by　blades；　before　they
returned　to　normal。　A　moment　later；　the　screens　flashed　again；　and　an　image　of　a　writhing；　bloodsoaked
figure　appeared　on　the　pict　screens　for　less　than　a　tenth　of　a　second；　accompanied　by　the
blare　of　static；　overlaid　with　unholy　roars　and　screams。
The　pair　of　Word　Bearers　ignored　the　distractions；　peering　through　the　ghost…images　of　daemons
ripping　apart　flesh　and　bubbling　blood　that　appeared　on　the　screens；　focusing　on　the　wealth　of　subsystem
inf