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gallifreyianrosearkytiorsusan · 6 months ago

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Author's Note: More of Jophiel’s in Living Waters AU. Thank you to @sleepyfan-blog for letting me borrow Cedric. Thank you to @kit-williams for letting me borrow Arnault, Roland. Thank you to @egrets-not-regrets for letting me borrow Erriox and Lenora- as well as helping me write some of their parts in this.

Summary: Jophiel speaks with Mara, who encourages him to tell Erriox and Lenora what is going on. To reach out to the Alpharii and Roland and Arnault. He sees the wisdom in doing so. Several painful conversations are had.

Warnings: Let me know if I need to add anything.

Past =-= Next

Tagged: @barn-anon, @bleedingichorhearts, @c-u-c-koo-4-40k, @egrets-not-regrets, @kit-williams,

Tagged continued: @sleepyfan-blog, @whorety-k, @ms--lobotomy @bispecsual @thevoidscreams

Tagged continued: @i-am-a-dragon34, @gra93fruit-blog

Mara says, “Alright, Zariel and Zarius are gone, what’s going on?”

“... One of the Magic trainers is on Ancient Terra,” Jophiel says, “and… he was the one to hurt me, and he kidnapped Claude.”

“Jophie, fledgling,” Mara says, concerned with every word he’s spoken, “have you told your parents that you’re hurt? Have you told your parents that one of your brothers has been kidnapped yet?”

Jophiel squirms a little before telling her, “Not yet, it- I. We know that Erriox is busy helping Lenora move to the Iron Shoal base temporarily for protection from the Black Templars. We don’t want to… distract them with this. Yet.”

“We are heading to safer shores- and you boys should come with us. I’ve negotiated rights for temporary settlement with Warsmith Eciton Formicas of the Iron Warrior’s shoal, we will provide aerial support and eyes until the Black Templar shoal leaves this area.”

Jophiel listens to her words, and reluctantly nods, “It makes sense to keep the peace and avoid certain… older Black Templars…. Especially since one of the Captains is Petras. He’s… really strict and inflexible with his definitions of… Piety and Purity.”

“I’m worried that this ‘trainer’ of yours is trying to find you boys again.” Mara says, before frowning, “And who is this Petras that also has you worried?”

“He ah. He’s a… primaris killer,” Jophiel stutters out.

After she prods him, now even more alarmed and worried- he explains what a Primaris Killer is, “they are loyalist First Born marines who have decided that Primaris marines are abominations that should be purged from life… simply for existing. Chaplain Captain Petras of the Black Templars has killed at least a dozen Black Templar Primaris Marines. He- he… he was Ramiel’s mentor and… and… killed him. Was one of the last of the Primaris Marines that he killed. Before the Chapter Master of the Black Templars put his foot down and decided that killing us wasn’t the right move. We thought that Petras wasn’t on Ancient Terra. Until Ramiel heard his voice and… yeah. He’s really bad news.”

“... Have you told Lenora and Erriox any of this?” Mara says, her wings fluttering a little in horror. “You should also bring this up with the little shoal of Alpha legion that adores Lana.”

“Why?” Jophiel asks sourly, “Alpha legionnaires are trouble and why would they do anything other than make things worse?”

“Because, they could help you- especially if Lana and I ask them to,” Mara says.

“... But that means telling them painful things,” Jophiel says, scowling down at the ground, “And giving them information that they could use to hurt us with.”

“... and you think they would use that to hurt you?” She asks him.

“Most First born, at least in our time,” Jophiel says, “Really don’t like that we exist. Claude was killed due to a lack of information and his first Born Sargent deciding to let him die, rather than allow an Apothecary to help him. Ramiel was murdered by his mentor, Catius’s First born Captain, the second captain of the Ultramarines abandoned him and his brothers to die in Space Hell to save his own skin.”

“You speak of your brothers,” Mara says, shrewdly, “but what about you Jophiel?”

Jophiel twitches glancing at her and away- caught out. “... The trainers we had on Mars were… hard on us, rough, sometimes… they went too far. At least- from the way they’d sometimes get scolded for being ‘wasteful with the product’ and that ‘overly harsh methods will result in poor or lackluster equipment’, in regards to myself and my fellow Primaris Marines.”

“I see,” Mara says, taken aback. “Thank you for telling me all of this, Jophie. I really do think you should ask for Zariel and his brothers for help as well as tell Lenora and Erriox. This information is important and you should not hide this from your parents, fledgling. I can keep this from Zariel and his brothers, but you need to tell your parents or I will. I want to see Claude's safe return as he is part of our family as well.”

“Yes ma’am,” Jophiel says, “I’ll send them a message.”

He turns his wrist and sends a text vox-message to Erriox. [Claude has been kidnapped by a Knight of Grey. During the attempt I was wounded. Some broken bones, but I’m healing.]

Jophiel looks down at his wrist- he has an incoming call- it’s from Erriox, unsurprisingly enough he picks up the call and braces himself for what’s to come, knowing that Erriox and Lenora are not going to be happy about this.

“Hello Erriox,” Jophiel chirps, having his voice be honey smooth, and buttery soft.

Blood Angels were knowing to be very charming and their voices can be a weapon to soothe, enrage, bamboozle or trick others. A siren-like effect that could sometimes work on their fellow space marines.

“Don’t you ‘Hello Erriox’ to me like that,” Erriox growls at him. “What the fuck do you mean by ‘Claude has been kidnapped and I have some broken bones’. Also what, By the Throne on Terra, is a ‘Knight of Grey’.”

“I…” Jophiel’s voice cracked a little, “I am not allowed to speak of the Knights of Grey. They are very dangerous and from the Second Founding. When I… argued with him for taking Claude away for… for Psyker Training he… reminded me of how much stronger he is than me. That I survived was due to the potion that Mama Lenora gave me, and him not caring to finish off a welp like me.”

Lenora who had been mid packing when Erriox had gotten the first message that one of their boys had been kidnapped and another one was badly injured enough to have broken bones. She had to quickly set down what she was holding, otherwise she would have accidentally crushed it. She knows just how strong and tough her boys are- physically at least. For someone to kidnap Claude and break Jophiel’s bones, it made her nervous for them all.

“Could you ask where they are right now?” She requests worriedly. Lenora wants to also ask why they only know now, since she had thought her adopted sons trusted them, but that’s not important and could wait until this dilemma is over to address it.

“Where are you boys right now?” Erriox questions his idiot son.

“We are at Gannet Rock” Jophiel says, “it was closer than going home. With the shoal of Black Templars moving into the area for an… unknown amount of time, Ramiel, Cedric and Catius are helping them move stuff. I’m on lookout duty.”

Lenora relaxes a little, “Thank the Skymother the rest of them are together with the gannets.” She breathed.

“We were going to see what we could come up with for a plan to try and find and rescue Claude,” Jophiel tells them, “after telling you and mama. As well as seeing if Roland and Arnault would be willing to help us.”

“Question,” Erriox says, “And I have asked it before, and you didn’t answer was this: the fuck is a Knight of Grey? Are they a threat to any of us, Lenora and the gannets included?”

“I told you, they are a very secretive Astartes Chapter of the Ordo Mallus,” Jophiel says nervously, “They are… very powerful, and highly Psychic Chapter. They are also very good at slaying Chaos and Deamons. Sometimes strong enough that the Deamons don’t come back again. Ever. Their … their Chapter has been known for capturing and interrogating space marines of other chapters, no matter the rank- not even Captains are without being stolen, tort- er interrogated and… tormented by them to assess them for Chaos Corruption. There was something about an Ultramarine Captain- his name was Ven- something, who was taken by the Knights of Grey, No laws apply to them- for they are above it. They can, have and will, after being deployed, after fighting alongside Imperial forces, should those forces realize they are Knights of Grey, die at the hands of them. They are… were… some brought to be the Psyker trainers for the most powerful of the Psykers of the Primaris… they were… very… exacting and harsh trainers.”

Jophiel’s voice had wavered and cracked with emotions, the longer he spoke. He took a couple of calming breaths and blinked back tears. He licked his lips, hesitating, before saying, “Uh… Claude managed to avoid their notice with his Psyker powers back when we were aspirants… But this Knight of Grey found… found out that he’s got Pysker powers and … for some reason, decided to train him personally. And I am… very worried about how Claude will be treated.”

Fuck. The more Jophiel said, the more concerned Erriox got. This is a problem even bigger than the Black Templar shoal.

“There is something I think I should tell you about this particular Black Templar shoal,” Jophiel says, his voice sounding small and young, “but I should- I should ask Ramiel and Cedric if they want to tell you themselves… They were… most affected by Chaplain Captain Petras- who … he was… was…”

Erriox breathed out, trying to keep his temper, “Jophiel. All this information would be helpful if you told us earlier. We will ALL have a talk about this secret keeping after this is over.” He said sternly.

“... Yes sir,” Jophiel says, his voice small again, “... it’s… really hard to talk about the past. It… hurts a lot. To think about it, and talk about it… is... Very hard.”

Erriox went quiet, having forgotten how so very young Jophiel and his brothers were and having to go through so much. He sighs, his voice gentler than it was before, “I know how painful the past can be, Jophiel, and your reasons for not wanting to talk or think about it. But when the past appears in the present, and they are a danger to you and possibly others, we need information so we can deal with these threats. You don’t have to deal with them yourselves. You’re not alone here. Do you understand?”

Jophiel listens to his hearts, and they are filled with love and affection for both of his adoptive parents. He nods, then he realizes that Erriox can't see him and says, “I will do my best to remember this, and let the others know as well.”

Lenora’s soothing voice chimed in, “Fledgling, we want to help you boys. We want to see you safe, happy and healthy. The last thing we want is to hear that you are hurt with no way to help you. I want you to trust that we love you and are here for you. No matter how busy we seem. We won’t let you boys deal with this alone. If there is something that troubles you or somebody is a threat to you, please tell us. That’s what we’re here for.”

“That is… Something that I will keep in mind,” Jophiel says, blinking back some tears.

The Iron Warrior remembers that Jophiel had been saying something about the Black Templar chaplain, “What were you saying earlier about this Petras?”

Jophiel squeaks a little in dismay and reiterates that he will ask Cedric and Ramiel to talk to them, and Roland and Arnault about Petras.

Erriox huffs, still a little frustrated by the Blood Angel’s non-answer, “For now, tell Ramiel and Cedric to notify their older brothers about rescuing Claude, and about Petras and the gray knight.” He instructs Jophiel, “I know you don’t like this, but let the Alpha Legion brothers know too. I suspect you could use all the help you can get. I will notify my shoal.”

“Yes dad,” Jophiel says a little grumbly about talking to the first born Alpha Legionaries, but will do as he's told to. “I will see you later.”

After he hung up with Erriox, he turned bright red when he realized what he had just called Erriox. Well. That will be an issue for Future Jophiel to deal with. He sends a text vox-message to Catius and Ramiel that Erriox had said that they needed to contact The Alpha Legionaries and Arnault and Roland about Claude’s kidnapping and about Petras as well. Also that Ramiel and Cedric need to talk to Erriox and Lenora about him as well.

The not-kidnapped part of his primaris squad has come down to the beach where he is at to discuss with him the message he just sent to them. Jophiel gives them a run down of the conversation he had with Mara and her ultimatum as well as what he had decided to do and who he had talked about Claude Issue, and how he'd slipped Petras’s name as Threat that could harm… certain people.

Cedric feels the worry bubble in his gut, but he’s also determined to do this. To… speak about what’s going on. They do need to warn Arnault and Roland about Petras being around, and they would more likely be able to rescue Claude with the might of an Emperor’s Champion on their side, as well as an older Battle Brother Black Templar with at least a century’s worth of experience on his side.

Ramiel speaks up, “... So be it, we’ll tell the Teal Bastards first since they are closer- and then send a message to Roland and Arnault that we need their help rescuing Claude… then tell them about… about the Honorable Chaplain Captain Petras.”

“Alright- let’s go talk to the First Born Alpha legionaries then,” Jophiel says with a sigh.

“You stay put- we’ll go collect them,” Catius says with a determined expression on his face.

It’s not that difficult to spot the teal colored octopi mer-first born space marines. Catius hesitated before activating his ‘swimming through the air’ ability and called out to the closest of the Alpha legionaries.

“Orlys,” Catius says, hesitantly before saying an unhappy sigh, “Could you collect your squad? We… we need your help with something.”

“Sure thing- I’ll let the others know,” Orlys says, noticing the way that they seem terribly upset, determined and worried.

The rest of the squad assemble swiftly, and they are guided to where Jophiel is and after a couple of false starts and complicated looks between the four Primaris Marines. Jophiel finally manages to get out an explanation of what is going on.

“... Thank you for gathering here so quickly,” Jophiel says, “... Claude has been kidnapped by a Knight in Grey. I don’t know if you know about them or not.”

“We have heard of Knights in Grey from our brothers in other times,” Zariel says, his attention now hyper focused on Jophiel. “How do you know about them?”

“Because, during the intervening ten thousand years when the Mechanicus created us,” Jophiel starts, “we were State Secrets of the Highest Order for the Imperium. So naturally, a few thousand various First Born Space Marines were brought in to be trainers for us for various things that the Mechanicus couldn’t, or wouldn’t teach us in their own ways.”

He pauses for a moment looking from face to face and down at the sands of the beach and took another breath and continued to speak, keeping his voice as steady and calm as he could, “most of the Psyker trainers, especially for those of us with greater Psyker powers were… given to the tender care of the Grey Knights to train. One of those… Harsher Psyker trainers have recently come to Ancient Terra, or at least, come to this area of Ancient Terra and… well. When we were on Mars, Claude’s Psyker powers had gone beneath their notice, and the notice of the Mechanicum. They decided that Claude was going to be personally trained by them, regardless of his wishes.”

Jophiel winces when his wings twitch a little in agitation and he breaths through the pain and looks between each intensely focused Alpha legionnaire faces as he continues to speak, “Despite my best efforts, Claude was kidnapped, and this is better- a healing potion, Cedric’s skills and the others carrying me here, I’ve been… recovering, it will take a couple of weeks, perhaps more for me to get to full strength. Who knows if-... Claude has that kind of time. Or if we can find him. We would like your help to rescue Claude from The Knight of Grey.”

“Alright,” Zariel says slowly, “We can help you rescue Claude- but we might need more than just us and you boys to rescue your fifth squad member from a Grey Knight- they are nearly peerless fighters and Psykers of a mighty few can hope to match.”

“Ramiel and I are going to contact Brothers Arnault and Roland and ask them for help,” Cedric chimes in with a determined look on his face. His hands he’d tucked behind his back while Jophiel had been explaining part of the situation.

“There is… something about the Black Templar shoal that has recently moved in that may make things more… difficult to deal with,” Ramiel said, not looking anywhere, one of his hands reaching out to grasp one of Cedric’s, his body almost treacherously having him shuffle into Cedric’s side.

Ramiel’s chest is giving him phantom pains and his breathing hitches and picks up, before he deliberately slows down his breathing as he closes his eyes tightly before opening them again, tries to continue to speak,“One of the leaders of this migratory Black Templar shoal is… the Honorable Chaplain Captain Petras.”

His voice cracked and he coughs, his breath has become slightly ragged again, he really doesn’t want to be so emotional, so vulnerable around Hydras- but needs must. They needed to be warned, for they have bonded to a harpy and he’s… ever been so strict in how he views things.

“He’s a Primaris Killer,” Cedric says.

“I didn’t realize there are Chaos Black Templar Warbands- or are they Renegades?” Zarius asks with a surprised blink.

“No- Primaris Killer exclusively refers to Loyalist First Born Marines who have deemed us heretical or abominations to be purged of life,” Cedric says as he shakes his head a little as he explains what that term means.

There is a flash of emotions that cross the Hydras faces, but it’s too quick and fleeting, and they are so very good at hiding their true intentions and emotions- with centuries of experience on their side.

“That seems,” Zariel says carefully, “A very poor, and stupid decision on part of the supposedly Loyalist space marines.”

“Eventually, the various chapters learned of Primaris Killers and decided on what to do about them,” Ramiel has managed to find his voice again. “And had sided with the words of the Imperial Regent which is- we are not heretic, not abominations, and so long as we are Loyal Angels of the Imperium, we are allowed to live and fight side by side with our First Born… brothers.”

“Thank you for telling us,” Zariel says, voice low and soothing, “It must have been painful to discuss such things.”

The Scouts all nod at his words, there is a moment or two of silence that stretches. Ramiel lets go of Cedric’s hand as his communication device pings. He had sent an Urgent Message to Arnault and Roland- requesting them to come to the Gannet Harpy Colony Rock to meet them. He’d sent in the text vox message that Claude has been kidnapped, Jophiel wounded and they need help.

Ramiel picks up the incoming call from Arnault and Roland- shifting the call to multi-channel to speak with both of them at once. “Hello Arnault and Roland, thanks for calling me so quickly.”

“More details bitte,” Roland says, blue eyes dark with emotion.

“Ja sir!” Ramiel says before explaining the situation with Claude- and how Jophiel got caught in the crossfire.

“So an uber witch in fancy armor stole Claude?” Arnault sums up the situation quite succinctly.

“Yes sir,” Ramiel says with a nod.

“We are here to help you,” Roland calls out- within earshot of them, fully armed and armored.

Arnault is as well, “And none of you can say nein to us.”

“We are glad for your help,” Ramiel and Cedric say, relaxing now that Roland and Arnault were close by.

“There is more we need to tell you,” Both of them say, and look between each other and at them, “but we’d like to wait until Erroix is here to explain it once.”

“Is it about this … Petras that Jophiel spoke of briefly, but wouldn’t explain more about?” Erriox rumbles out- swimming from another direction.

He’d come into contact with his War Band and asked around about Knights of Grey. Few had any idea of what the Flying Fuck he’d been talking about- and the very fucking vague description that Jophiel had given him, as well as the armor design.

Some of his Chaos Brothers had tensed and spoken of Psykers wielding wrath and psychic might strong enough to permanently destroy demons and other creatures of the warp. Of how one Grey Knight had managed to tear his way through all of the circles of Slaanesh without being corrupted and had nearly discorporated the youngest of the Four.

That had informed him of not only the combat prowess, strength of psykery and will power that the Knights of Grey can have among their Chapter. They are of unknown lineage, as far as anyone call tell they popped up like silver status one day and started fucking Chaos’s shit up.

Also they have a very ‘scorched planet’ modus operandi if they are discovered by any faction. As in, ‘if everyone is dead, no one can speak or remember that we are in existence. And yes- they have done that to multiple loyalist worlds. Which speaks of their… callousness and casual cruelty.

Ramiel and Cedric take turns to explain who the Honorable Chaplain Captain Petras is, and what he’s done to Primaris Black Templars in particular. And how many of their fellow brothers they have killed.

“Verdamnt bastard!” Roars Arnault in anger, “That piece of schiesse, might have killed future Emperor’s Champions with killing kleine brüder!”

“Ja,” Roland says darkly, “und this was a common habit among the First Born brüder of your era, Ramiel? Cedric?”

“Ja, about half of them sided with ‘purge us’ while the other half decided we are more useful alive,” Cedric says quietly, while the rest of the boys nodded.

“Most of the First Borns weren’t as… overt in other chapters of directly killing us and our brothers,” Catius explains, “Not as direct about it as the Black Templars. But some would- for example, abandon entire companies of Primaris Marines to the depravity of the warp and the demons to kill us all painfully, to save their own skins and not come back for us.”

“That sounds very specific, Catius,” Erriox points out shrewdly.

“It is very specific, as that happened to me, and my company of Primaris,” Catius says quietly, his eyes skittering away from the eyes of the first borns watching him.

“That really fucking sucks,” Erriox says, his voice a bit softer, a flash of understanding on his face. “A few of my war band are going to be mustered to help rescue Claude.”

“That’s good to know,” Jophiel says as he leans into Erriox a little bit, who gently ruffles his hair, “He’s one of my boys, after all. We Iron Warriors take care of what’s ours.”

Arnault and Roland are fussing over Ramiel and Cedric, and give each other a Significant look, Roland having sent a text vox to his fellow First Born Black templar [After helping rescue Claude from that -witch- we need to get the story from the M41 and M42 brothers on why by The Throne On Terra they think hurting and killing little brothers who are loyal is a good idea.]

The response that Roland gets back from Arnault is short and to the point, [Agreed.]

A few hours later Erriox gets a ping on his vox and he informs the rest of the group that’s already come together on the beach near the Gannet Harpy’s roost, that a couple squads of his War band have arrived.

While Erriox’s war band has heard of Erriox’s squad of boys, they haven’t met any of the skittish Primaris scouts. And while they are curious to get to know them, they wished it was under better circumstances than ‘one of his sons got kidnapped by a self righteous shit head’ reasons.

Erriox had warned them that his war band is a mixture of Loyalist, Renegade and Chaos Iron Warriors, and his boys while eyeing them warily, hadn’t started growling at them. For now at least- the way Roland and Arnault eye some of the more obviously mutated Chaos Marines, with their hands near their blades- this could become a clusterfuck.

At least Arnault and Roland were trying to reign in their ‘stab the heretic’ response- because they know that having more backup is better than less for a really Thrones-cursed powerful Combat Space Marine Psyker. They went over various plans of attack, and over the intelligence that they have on Gray Knights, which wasn’t much, even what little the boys have on them, which was helpful.

“Is there any ways we can help?” Mara calls out.

They all turn to look towards the elder Gannet Harpy, and listen to her as she speaks. “Ma’am, your people have a lot of magic and plenty of strength, there is no doubt.” Erriox starts, trying not to be insulting. “However- he’s likely to be swimming under the ocean’s waves.”

“True- but our trackers can help you find Claude and this… Knight of Grey,” Mara points out, “And once they do, they can keep out of the way, provide support and healing as needed.”

“All excellent points,” One of the Iron Warrior Captains says with a nod towards her. “If you would lend some of your best magic-tracking scouts, it would help us find young Claude and this… Grey Knight.”

“Of course,” Mara says with a sharp nod, “I shall go find them and ask for volunteers.”

“Very well ma’am,” The Iron Warrior Captain says with a nod.

A few minutes later there is the fluttering of wings and they turn and see who’s arrived to help rescue Claude. Zariel and his brothers twitch a little when they see their brilliant beloved Lana as one of the volunteers.

They are deeply unhappy that she’s decided to volunteer for such a dangerous mission. But- if they say that, she’s going to rightfully call them out on their grox-shit saying that they are on this dangerous mission as well.

They won’t insult her by asking her to stay behind- Claude is one of her little cousins via adoption, and if she wants to help… Well, they’ll just have to fight more cleverly and ensure this Grey Knight doesn’t go after her in particular. They finish as much prep work as they can, with as little information as they have and they set off- trying to track down the Grey Knight and Claude.

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