Emperors Will be done Pt19

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The votes had been close for the first few days, then option 2 pulled ahead in the end.

Results:
Option 1: 23 votes
Option 2: 40 votes

So let's continue (the choice is on the next page):
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What is it that Father Barivendus used to say during mass? Ah, “Guns and warriors are useful, but it is our indomitable will that promises ultimate victory.” But, I had also remembered him quoting from the litanies: “Be vigilant and strong. The Emperor knows what evil lies in the vacillation of a weak fool.” I would walk from church with my head high and a puffed chest to show the Emperor I am NOT a weak fool. I believed that, and therefore I did not hold evil within myself…… That was back when I was younger.

Now in the darkness of these wet caves, I begin to boil over with anger. I can see why the Ordo Xeno can take Ork prisoners for further study. I doubt they would be missed by their greenskin comrades. With all the death they had caused the civilians on this planet, they deserve such a fate. But why take Xin’Vauk? She belongs to a small hidden group, with no war or killing in their mind, just to find MEDICINE!!! I have never seen the Tau so close before, but I can judge that if it went their way, they wouldn’t have been responsible for any death on this planet.

My sister was killed without mercy. She even had the most faith in the Emperor out of all of us. But it didn’t matter. My parents…scorched along with the rest of an entire planet’s population. I bet they didn’t even know why had been doomed. This alone was enough to make any person insane. I still had hope. My brother kept me sane through boot camp. He was all I had. You’d think I’d crack when I stood there with his brain matter all over my face, staring down at a hole in my brother’s head. But it seemed so long ago.

Now Xin’Vauk came along, bringing my pointless life out of the pit, and gave it purpose. And now, she pays the price of abduction. I have suffered too much to let this just pass by my sorry life.

Kai’Faan spoke to me in his Xeno tongue. I was too angry to understand. I had looked everywhere to find that Tau weapon Xin gave me a few days back. I can’t tell you how hard it is to look for something hidden in rock and rubble in the darkness of the caves. But I had found it lying at the bottom of the stream. Pulling the gun out of the water, it still looked perfectly functional. I am still amazed by how advanced this weak species had become.

But I wouldn’t get within 2km from the 137th’s command module holding this weapon. Giving the weapon to Kai’Faan, he seemed confused. A wave of frustrated tones came from his xeno words. The scientist couldn’t even get up to walk without assistance. His wounds still took a toll on him. I tried to gesture best I could with my hands that he had to stay hidden here until I got back. As I walked away, he painfully got up to follow me.

I yelled at him to stay. I almost lost my resolve, mostly from anger and frustration. I gave him the backpack with the leftover medpack and seed samples, and bade him to stay here and hide. He has medicine, he has water, and he even has a gun to use if needed. He held the weapon like it was unfamiliar. No wonder they leave the fighting to the Fire Caste. Kai’Faan was out of his element. I do hope I see him again.

Hours of moving through the caves upstream alone, I finally saw a light ahead. On closer inspection, it had been the torchlight through a hole leading to the sub-levels of the city’s catacombs. The river must have eroded away this wall a little. I broke through enough to slip to the other side. At least from here, I can get to the surface.

My trek to the city grounds had been uneventful. I couldn’t tell you what I noticed for I was in deep thought. I couldn’t get her tortured body out of my head. What could they be doing to her?
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