Dark Disciple(科幻战争)-第20部分

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was　caved　inwards　by　the　shocking　blow；　killing　him　instantly；　but　the　Coryphaus　continued　to
strike；　until　the　man’s　face　was　an　unrecognisable　mash　of　blood　and　flesh。
He　dropped　the　Imperial　worker　to　the　ground；　feeling　a　small　amount　of　satisfaction；　though　it
did　little　to　abate　his　simmering　rage。
Why　had　Jarulek　left　him；　allowing　the　whelp　Marduk　to　assume　control　of　the　Host？　For
months；　he　had　raged　at　Jarulek’s　failing。　Long　had　he　hated　the　First　Acolyte；　and　long　had　he
waited　to　kill　him；　just　as　Marduk　had　killed　Kol　Badar’s　blood　brother　so　long　ago。
He　would　have　killed　Marduk　then　and　there　had　not　Jarulek　stayed　his　hand。
“Not　now；”　the　Dark　Apostle　had　said；　though　at　that　time　he　had　been　nothing　more　than　a　First
Acolyte　himself。　“He　will　be　yours　to　kill；　but　not　yet。　He　has　a　purpose　yet　to　perform。”
It　had　been　three　hundred　years　into　the　Great　Crusade；　and　Kol　Badar　had　waited　long　and
impatiently　for　his　time　to　come；　but　waited　he　had；　through　all　the　long　spanning　millennia；　until　at
last　his　time　had　come。
“If　we　both　return；　then　you　may　kill　Marduk；　my　Coryphaus。　Your　honour　will　be　fulfilled；”
Jarulek　had　said；　just　moments　before　he　had　descended　into　the　heart　of　the　xenos　pyramid　on
Tanakreg。　The　pleasure　of　finally　being　given　free　rein　to　kill　the　whelp　had　been　ecstatic。　That　had
been　shattered　when　only　Marduk　had　returned。
“Damn　you；　Jarulek；”　said　Kol　Badar　to　himself。
“You　should　dispose　of　him；”　said　Burias　in　a　voice　low　enough　for　none　but　Marduk　to　hear　him。
“The　insubordinate　old　bastard　is　long　past　his　time。　He　is　a　weight　hanging　around　the　neck　of　the
Host；　and　he　will　drag　it　down；　slowly　but　surely。”
“You　still　hunger　for　power；　Burias？”　asked　Marduk。
“Of　course；”　replied　Burias　sharply；　his　eyes　flashing。　“Such　is　our　teaching。”
“That　is　true；　icon　bearer；”　said　Marduk。
“He　does　not　fear　you；”　said　Burias。
“What？”　asked　Marduk。
“Kol　Badar。　He　feared　Jarulek；　we　all　did；　but　he　does　not　fear　you。”
“Perhaps　not　yet；”　agreed　Marduk；　“but　he　will　come　to。　I　am　changing；　Burias。　I　feel　the　touch
of　the　gods　upon　me。”
Burias　sniffed；　savouring　the　air。　There　was　an　electrical　tang　in　the　air　that　left　an　acrid　taste
upon　his　tongue；　a　sensation　he　had　long　come　to　embrace　and　recognise　for　what　it　was：　Chaos。
Jarulek　had　exuded　a　potent　aura　so　strong　that　it　made　those　of　lesser　faith　bleed　from　their
ears；　and　this　was　the　same；　though　admittedly　less　potent；　force。
“If　he　does　not　learn　his　place；”　said　Marduk　in　a　low　voice；　“and　soon；　then　I　shall　allow　you　to
take　him。　I　would　enjoy　watching　you　rend　him　limb　from　limb。”
Burias　grinned　savagely。
“But　that　time　is　not　yet；”　reminded　Marduk。
“No　life　signs　detected；　Coryphaus；”　said　one　of　the　members　of　the　13th；　looking　at　the　gleaming
red　flashes　on　the　blister…screen　of　his　corrupted　auspex；　“though　there　are　cooling　heat　signatures
ahead。　Possible　weapons　discharge。”
“Understood；”　growled　the　war　leader。
Burias　placed　one　hand　upon　the　cold　metal　surface　of　the　door　and　closed　his　eyes。
“The　air　within　is　rich　with　fear；”　he　said。
“Good。　That　will　work　in　our　favour；”　said　Kol　Badar。　“Burias；　take　point。　Go。”
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Without　ceremony；　Burias　kicked　the　door　off　its　hinges；　wrenching　the　reinforced　steel　out　of
shape　and　sending　it　smashing　inwards。
A　steel　landing　extended　beyond；　and　Burias　moved　forward　warily；　his　bolt　pistol　in　one　hand；
the　holy　icon　of　the　Host　in　his　other。　The　landing　was　narrow；　and　a　steel　stairway　descended　from
it。　Moving　swiftly　and　silently；　elegant　and　perfectly　balanced　despite　his　bulk；　Burias　stepped　down
the　steel　stairs　that　led　into　a　corridor。　The　hallway　extended　ten　metres　ahead；　before　turning
sharply　to　the　right。
The　walls；　carved　from　solid　ice；　radiated　cold；　though　he　barely　registered　the　sub…zero
temperature。　Moving　swiftly　forwards；　his　every　daemonically　enhanced　sense　alert；　Burias　rounded
the　corner　and　came　up　against　a　mesh…link　fence　that　rose　from　floor　to　ceiling；　barring　the　way
forward。　A　chained　gate　was　set　into　the　fence；　and　a　frozen　corpse　was　slumped　outside　it。
Curious；　Burias　moved　forwards。　It　was　the　body　of　a　man；　wearing　the　same　white　plas　armour
as　the　soldiers　they　had　fought　at　the　Imperial　bastion。　One　hand　was　clutching　at　the　locked　gate。
Clearly；　the　man　had　been　shot　down　while　attempting　to　flee；　but　the　locked　gate　had　barred　his
progress。　Half　a　dozen　dark　splinters　were　embedded　in　his　armoured　back　plate；　and　Burias
frowned。
The　icon　bearer　holstered　his　bolt　pistol　and　grasped　the　heavy　chain　that　secured　the　gate　shut。
With　a　sharp　jerk；　he　snapped　the　heavy　chain　and　dropped　it　to　the　ground。　He　wrenched　the
gate　open　and　the　corpse　of　the　enemy　soldier　was　dragged　across　the　floor　as　it　swung　wide；　frozen；
dead　fingers　locked　around　the　mesh…links。
Stepping　over　the　corpse；　Burias　continued　along　the　corridor。　After　several　twisting　turns　and
intersections；　it　opened　out　into　an　access　tunnel　at　least　fifty　metres　wide。　Down　the　centre　of　the
tunnel　was　a　sunken　carriageway；　and　two　wide　platforms　ran　alongside　it。
Moving　warily　into　the　tunnel；　Burias　stepped　over　wreckage　and　debris；　amongst　which　were
sprawled　a　number　of　corpses。　Their　bodies　had　been　slashed　by　blades　and　ripped　apart　by
unfamiliar　projectile　weapons。　Several　burnt　out　vehicles　were　scattered　throughout　the　tunnel；　like
the　discarded　toys　of　a　giant。　Several　were　upturned　and　leaning　against　the　walls；　while　others　had
fallen　into　the　sunken　carriageway。
Climbing　atop　one　of　the　ruined　armoured　vehicles；　Burias　squinted　into　the　distance　in　each
direction。　There　was　no　living　soul　in　sight；　though　the　gently　curving　tunnel　ensured　that　the　icon
bearer　could　see　no　more　than　half　a　kilometre　ahead。
He　dropped　onto　the　bonnet　of　the　white…armoured　APC；　which　buckled　inwards　beneath　his
weight；　and　stepped　lightly　to　the　floor。
“All　clear；”　he　said　into　his　vox…relay。　“Looks　like　someone　got　here　before　us。”
As　the　remainder　of　the　Host　moved　on　his　position；　he　dropped　to　his　haunches　to　inspect　one
of　the　corpses。
It　was　another　of　the　white…armoured　soldiers；　whose　face　was　purple　and　had　swollen　like　a
balloon。　Burias　plucked　a　long；　barbed　splinter　from　the　corpse’s　neck；　and　studied　it　with　interest。　It
was　half　the　length　of　a　finger；　and　so　thin　that　if　he　turned　it　sideways　it　was　all　but　invisible。　He
lifted　it　carefully　to　his　lips；　and　his　tongue　flashed　out　to　sample　the　serrated　tip。
The　taste　was　acrid；　and　he　registered　unknown　toxic　agents　upon　the　splinter。　He　tasted　blood
as　the　barbed　shard　sliced　his　tongue。
Xenos　toxins　entered　his　bloodstream；　and　his　limbs　began　to　shudder。　A　slight　sweat　broke　out
on　his　brow；　and　he　lifted　a　shaking　hand　in　front　of　his　eyes；　attempting　to　keep　it　steady；　but
failing。
He　felt　the　unknown　serum　coursing　its　way　towards　his　twin　hearts；　but　remained　unconcerned。
Indeed；　as　soon　as　the　venom　had　entered　his　bloodstream；　his　bio…engineered　defences　had
activated；　and　were　even　now　isolating　and　breaking　down　the　xenos　poison。　His　heart　rate
increased　as　his　body　combated　the　threat；　pumping　his　blood　swiftly　through　his　oolitic　kidney
implant；　cleansing　it　of　the　deadly　serum。
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After　less　than　a　minute；　Burias’s　heart　rate　had　returned　to　normal　and　the　shaking　sickness　had
left　him。
“Intriguing；”　he　said　to　himself。
The　coteries　had　been　moving　through　the　tunnel　system　for　about　an　hour。　They　had　encountered
no　sign　of　life；　though　there　was　evidence　of　furious　firefights。　The　tunnels　were　as　silent　as　tombs；
and　cold　light　blazed　down　upon　them　from　the　rows　of　strip…lights　overhead。　Abruptly　the　lights
flickered　abruptly　and　died。
“Five　unknowns；　moving　on　our　position；”　barked　Namar…sin；　breaking　the　silence。　“Coming　fast。
Very　fast。”
Marduk　and　the　Stetavoc　Space　Marines　of　Namar…sin’s　coterie　were　instantly　moving　for　cover。
A　faint　whine　could　be　heard；　approaching　rapidly。
“Ware　the　north；”　Marduk　bellowed；　just　as　five　blurred　shapes　roared　out　of　the　darkness　of　the
side　tunnel；　moving　with　impossible　speed。　They　scythed　through　the　air；　skimming　two　metres
above　the　ground　and　banked　sharply　into　the　access　tunnel。　They　were　as　sleek　and　deadly　as
knives；　and　shot　forward　as　their　engines　were　gunned。
Khalaxis　and　his　coterie　were　caught　in　the　open；　and　before　they　could　even　raise　their　weapons
to　fire；　three　of　their　number　were　cut　down　beneath　a　hail　of　barbed　projectiles。
Another　was　dropped　as　the　jetbikes　streaked　through　the　coterie；　a　curved　blade　slicing　off　one
of　the　warrior　brother’s　arms；　severing　it　at　the　elbow。
Then　the　jetbikes　were　past；　hurtling　by　the　Word　Bearers　and　jinking　around　the　scattered
debris。
Bolters　coughed；　lighting　up　the　darkness；　but　they　were　too　slow　and　the　enemy　too　fast。　One　of
the　Anointed　unleashed　the　fury　of　his　reaper　autocannon；　and　hundreds　of　high　calibre　rounds
chased　the　jetbikes　as　they　banked　around　in　a　wide　circle；　passing　behind　the　wreckage　of　the
derailed　carriages　of　the　rail　conveyance。　The　autocannon　tore　through　the　carriages　of　the　train　and
ripped　out　great　chunks　from　the　rockcrete　walls；　but　even　the　enhanced　targeting　sensors　built　into
the　Anointed’s　Terminator　armour　could　not　match　the　speed　of　the　enemy。
Empty　shell　casings　fell　like　rain　from　the　mighty　weapon；　but　the　jetbikes　roared　on　through　the
darkness　unscathed。　A　missile；　launched　by　one　of　Namar…sin’s　Havoc　Space　Marines；　streaked
through　the　darkness　towards　one　of　the　jetbikes　as　it　rounded　the　debris。　With　preternatural
reflexes；　the　jetbike’s　rider　spun　his　vehicle　around　in　a　spiralling　corkscrew　roll；　and　the　missile
passed　beneath　it　harmlessly；　impacting　in　a　fiery　explosion　against　the　wall。
Marduk　fired　his　bolt　pistol　on　semi…auto　at　the　enemy　silhouetted　against　the　flames　of　the
explosion；　but　even　though　he　had　compensated　for　their　speed；　still　he　was　too　slow。
Two　more　of　Khalaxis’s　coterie　were　cut　down　as　they　scrambled　for　cover；　and　then　the
jetbikes　were　gone；　disappearing　up　the　tunnel　that　they　had　emerged　from　only　seconds　before。
Kol　Badar　was　roaring　orders；　and　the　remains　of　Khalaxis’s　17th　coterie　dragged　their　fallen
brethren　into　cover。
The　one…armed　Namar…sin　and　his　heavy　weapon　toting　Havoc　warriors　rose　from　their　position
and　ran　forwards；　half…dropping　into　cover　behind　a　wrecked　Imperial　vehicle　while　others　took　up
position　behind　rockcrete　pillars。　They　readied　their　heavy　weapons；　hefting　them　to　shoulders　or
bracing　them　in　their　arms；　their　stances　wide　as　they　sought　targets。
“More　hostiles　inbound；”　shouted　Sabtec。
“Where？”　snapped　Kol　Badar。
“Behind　us；”　replied　Namar…sin；　and　Marduk　swore。
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“Sabtec；　protect　the　rear。　Enfilading　fire；”　ordered　Kol　Badar。　The　warriors　of　the　13th　moved
instantly　into　position；　moving　with　practiced　efficiency。　All　the　warrior　brothers　were　in　cover；
with　one　line　facing　north；　one　west。
“Khalaxis；　report；”　ordered　Marduk。
“One　dead；　one　as　good　as；”　growled　the　towering　champion　of　the　17th。
The　Anointed　split；　two　moving　to　join　the　13th　in　the　rear；　the　other　two　standing　with