Post by MagusKariusPrelune on Sept 6, 2004 11:31:20 GMT -5
Originally posted by Stryde
Raalthon clanked down the ship's corridor to meet his new partner. His mechanical eyes searching the curving metal bulkheads glowed a bright blue beneath his hood. His dark robes marked him for what he was. Adeptus Mechanicus.
The soft clinking of metal sang as he continued. 86.4 percent of his body had been carefully crafted by him and his brethren. His limbs, fingers and toes comprised of alloyed adamantium and steel. Thin to the eye, but stronger than most wargear crafted by the Mechanicus. Even so, he was no warrior. He was part of a secret society of Xenos researchers called Xenarites. And he was one that rarely saw battle, more of a researcher, and an old one at that.
He had been looking forward to getting some more field experience nowadays, just like when he was getting his feet wet long ago. The dreary labs of Forge World 'Haven' had been his home for a century and a half. Although the specimens there were very intriguing, there had been a shortage of artefacts in the last decade. He was one of the Priests picked to locate and retrieve more, and this was his chance.
When he arrived on the corvette class ship, he immediately tapped an information node and recorded all pertinent data on his accomplices, along with the layout and schematics of the vessel. Although a new craft, it had been somewhat hastely built. He found some weaknesses that he could remedy, and looked forward to doing so on his off time. Rounding another corner, he approached the door that his brain had mapped out in his eyes.
The clang of metal on metal rang. The smell of labor hung in the air. Two people locked eyes as their weapons rebounded off each other. The training room had all manner of workout equipment, now pushed aside for this brawl. A dozen Imperial Guardsmen stood to the side in amazement and amusement, quietly making bets and applauding the combatants.
The one that seemed to be winning was a giant of a man, almost twice the height of the tallest Guardsman there, swung a huge iron sword dulled for practice. His name was simply Juxt, and his corded biceps manipulated the 30lbs of weighted metal with a natural ease. Even so, sweat beaded over his shirtless body from the effort. Scarring indented spots on his chest where he had recieved grievous wounds that were miraculously healed.
His contender ducked a slow, powerful swipe and rolled to her feet. She was as tall as the shorter of the men watching, but hardly a normal sight to behold. Her pretty head held short blonde hair with orange highlights and a locke of purple which she had to blow from her face often. Her weapon of choice was a simple Terran patterned dull short sword, and, of course, the rest of her body.
Her slim form was bionically augmented from a disasterous attack that nearly left her dead. From what the Guardsmen could see, shiny metal showed on the back of her neck just above the edge of her black workout shirt. Oh, that and her entire left arm and shoulder shined just as brilliantly. An equal match to her flesh-and-blood right arm.
She squared up and side-stepped a downward stroke from the young-looking giant. Bringing the short sword quickly across, Juxt hopped to the side narrowly deflecting the quick blade with his. When he brought his blade back up to the ready, she was gone from his sight.
"Good... but I've got you... dead," labored breath issued from her youthful mouth. Cheers and sounds of feigned despair issued from the crowd followed by phrases like, "Told you she'd win! Ah, the big guy never had a chance!" and "Juxt! What the hell is wrong with you! You had her five strokes ago!"
With a look of disappointed on his face, Juxt turned to see a smile on his master's. Her sword point was carefully placed at the back of his spine, ready for a killing thrust (if it were sharp). When he saw the look on her face, he knew it was directed at him and so he was compelled to smile himself. "Good move, My Lady. You must teach me."
"That's enough men, get going. Hope your learned something from today's lesson." She commanded them with authority her young age belied, but one her station never could. She was Inquisitor Jenna Stryde of the Ordo Xenos and only 24 terran years old. She staired into Juxt's strong blue eyes with her striking sea-grean orbs without giving away the fatigue she felt. "I used your massive blade to block your vision. This is the first time I've used that trick on you, but don't forget it. You must use all your senses to defeat your opponent. And when they fail, do not deny your instinct. The Emperor gave these gifts to you, so you better use them."
The door opened and the group of men exited. Some noticed him and gave quick nods, others continued chatting and exchanging credits. Raalthon passed them, noting and recording their faces. He looked inside the room and saw his query communicating with a tall fleshy man.
"Inquisitor Stryde, I presume?" his vox caster issued the words at a conversational level, and almost human at that. Stepping into the room, he removed his hood to reveal a head the size of a human's enwrapped in metal. He looked like a servitor, no trace of humanity in his LED eyes. Juxt looked taken aback at the visitor, but Jenna placed her good hand on his arm.
"Welcome to the Dracos II, Tech Priest. Yes, you presume correctly, I am Inquisitor Stryde. But if I may call you by your name, you may call me by mine." She held her metal hand out to him, "I feel we have much to discuss. While out of the earshot of bureaucracy, call me Jenna."
Raalthon computed the inflections in her voice and processed the necessary protocols. He extended his left hand to match hers. Poking from beneath his robes, his arm was as thin as piping and his hand was a series of wires and metal pins with electrical pulses lighting it. When they gripped hands, he felt a pressence he didn't know humans could facilitate. The machine spirit!
=][= Jenna Stryde Ordo Xenos
Raalthon clanked down the ship's corridor to meet his new partner. His mechanical eyes searching the curving metal bulkheads glowed a bright blue beneath his hood. His dark robes marked him for what he was. Adeptus Mechanicus.
The soft clinking of metal sang as he continued. 86.4 percent of his body had been carefully crafted by him and his brethren. His limbs, fingers and toes comprised of alloyed adamantium and steel. Thin to the eye, but stronger than most wargear crafted by the Mechanicus. Even so, he was no warrior. He was part of a secret society of Xenos researchers called Xenarites. And he was one that rarely saw battle, more of a researcher, and an old one at that.
He had been looking forward to getting some more field experience nowadays, just like when he was getting his feet wet long ago. The dreary labs of Forge World 'Haven' had been his home for a century and a half. Although the specimens there were very intriguing, there had been a shortage of artefacts in the last decade. He was one of the Priests picked to locate and retrieve more, and this was his chance.
When he arrived on the corvette class ship, he immediately tapped an information node and recorded all pertinent data on his accomplices, along with the layout and schematics of the vessel. Although a new craft, it had been somewhat hastely built. He found some weaknesses that he could remedy, and looked forward to doing so on his off time. Rounding another corner, he approached the door that his brain had mapped out in his eyes.
The clang of metal on metal rang. The smell of labor hung in the air. Two people locked eyes as their weapons rebounded off each other. The training room had all manner of workout equipment, now pushed aside for this brawl. A dozen Imperial Guardsmen stood to the side in amazement and amusement, quietly making bets and applauding the combatants.
The one that seemed to be winning was a giant of a man, almost twice the height of the tallest Guardsman there, swung a huge iron sword dulled for practice. His name was simply Juxt, and his corded biceps manipulated the 30lbs of weighted metal with a natural ease. Even so, sweat beaded over his shirtless body from the effort. Scarring indented spots on his chest where he had recieved grievous wounds that were miraculously healed.
His contender ducked a slow, powerful swipe and rolled to her feet. She was as tall as the shorter of the men watching, but hardly a normal sight to behold. Her pretty head held short blonde hair with orange highlights and a locke of purple which she had to blow from her face often. Her weapon of choice was a simple Terran patterned dull short sword, and, of course, the rest of her body.
Her slim form was bionically augmented from a disasterous attack that nearly left her dead. From what the Guardsmen could see, shiny metal showed on the back of her neck just above the edge of her black workout shirt. Oh, that and her entire left arm and shoulder shined just as brilliantly. An equal match to her flesh-and-blood right arm.
She squared up and side-stepped a downward stroke from the young-looking giant. Bringing the short sword quickly across, Juxt hopped to the side narrowly deflecting the quick blade with his. When he brought his blade back up to the ready, she was gone from his sight.
"Good... but I've got you... dead," labored breath issued from her youthful mouth. Cheers and sounds of feigned despair issued from the crowd followed by phrases like, "Told you she'd win! Ah, the big guy never had a chance!" and "Juxt! What the hell is wrong with you! You had her five strokes ago!"
With a look of disappointed on his face, Juxt turned to see a smile on his master's. Her sword point was carefully placed at the back of his spine, ready for a killing thrust (if it were sharp). When he saw the look on her face, he knew it was directed at him and so he was compelled to smile himself. "Good move, My Lady. You must teach me."
"That's enough men, get going. Hope your learned something from today's lesson." She commanded them with authority her young age belied, but one her station never could. She was Inquisitor Jenna Stryde of the Ordo Xenos and only 24 terran years old. She staired into Juxt's strong blue eyes with her striking sea-grean orbs without giving away the fatigue she felt. "I used your massive blade to block your vision. This is the first time I've used that trick on you, but don't forget it. You must use all your senses to defeat your opponent. And when they fail, do not deny your instinct. The Emperor gave these gifts to you, so you better use them."
***
The door opened and the group of men exited. Some noticed him and gave quick nods, others continued chatting and exchanging credits. Raalthon passed them, noting and recording their faces. He looked inside the room and saw his query communicating with a tall fleshy man.
"Inquisitor Stryde, I presume?" his vox caster issued the words at a conversational level, and almost human at that. Stepping into the room, he removed his hood to reveal a head the size of a human's enwrapped in metal. He looked like a servitor, no trace of humanity in his LED eyes. Juxt looked taken aback at the visitor, but Jenna placed her good hand on his arm.
"Welcome to the Dracos II, Tech Priest. Yes, you presume correctly, I am Inquisitor Stryde. But if I may call you by your name, you may call me by mine." She held her metal hand out to him, "I feel we have much to discuss. While out of the earshot of bureaucracy, call me Jenna."
Raalthon computed the inflections in her voice and processed the necessary protocols. He extended his left hand to match hers. Poking from beneath his robes, his arm was as thin as piping and his hand was a series of wires and metal pins with electrical pulses lighting it. When they gripped hands, he felt a pressence he didn't know humans could facilitate. The machine spirit!
=][= Jenna Stryde Ordo Xenos