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c-u-c-koo-4-40k · 1 month ago

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The Silver Dragon Cometh - Part 2

Summary: A chance to relax and make new friends has turned into a battle for life and death. Lullaby must push to the Limit if they want to have a chance of saving their Primaris psychers from being forced under the thumb of Stormbreaker.

This be a second part! Read this previous part first! Here!

Next Fic in the Series (Under Construction)

What started it all! Here!

Tags: Second part of an amazing fic in a series of amazing fic with amazing contributions from @gallifreyianrosearkytiorsusan Characters from @kit-williams and @sleepyfan-blog make an appearance as well. (If I've forgotten to mention you and used your character just dm me I'll get that added)

@felinisnoctis @bleedingichorhearts @egrets-not-regrets @passionofthesith @bispecsual @barn-anon

Warning: More Fighting, description of injuries, blood, cursing, mental breakdown, and visions of what Could be.

It's like your eyes have finally been opened. Remnants of Silver Tinted magic cover the ground, eagerly being sucked up by your roots. The more they absorb the more clearly you see.

They don't grow straight, instead they grow in a circle; spreading around you. Above the roots is a dome of similar color and glow, it reminds you of a mushroom cap, of which you would be the stem. And In the dome you see…your friends.

You don't know how, but as you look at the colors, and that your roots are touching them…you know who is who in an Instant.

Jophiel's glow is red, Thressel an icy blue, Kerubiel is dark green, and Naneal seems to have an uneven mix of red and Blue. You glance over to the others, and when your roots touch them you let out a deep breath of relief.

They're alive, you can see and feel it. They're duller, marking them as non psychers but they're Alive. Khopesh is dark blue, Ramiel is purple, Olly is regular blue and Cedric…Cedric has a deep purple that is slightly more red. Not what you expected but you're just so happy they're alive!

And you're Not going to stand by any longer! You zero in on the large Silver Glow, and the silver remnants that seem to be clinging to your friends, and you tell your roots to Pull! And Push!

Claude blinks, he…he can suddenly think clearly. Above him Storm Breaker is still going on about how Inevitable his defeat is, how he should Stop resisting, how Pathetic him and his friends Are for causing this worthless struggl-

“SHUT UP!” Claude snarls lunging with speed and ferocity he didn't know he had. In fact, he suddenly feels like he's Bursting with energy! Like he can do anything!

And Anything includes landing a Solid fucking hit on Storm Breaker's dumb motherfucking silver face!

S-MASH! CHUNK! The Gray Knight actually staggers back at the impact. What the hell?! He's still exerting his psychic power. He Shouldn't be able to do that. “SCOUT! STAND DOWN I ORDER YOU TO-!”

“Do you Ever, STOP FUCKIN YAPPIN?!” Thressel snarled, he doesn't understand Why he can stand but he's not going to pass up this opportunity. He bolts for the Silver Bastard.

Draco scans his head back and forth, seeing all the Scouts can suddenly stand.

“Impossible! STAND DOWN!” He commands, unknowing that with every word spoken his psychery feeds your roots And your friends. None of it even reaches your Space Marines…not in the way Draco intends anyway.

Nanael and Jophiel take to the air, you carefully control the size of your dome so it covers them. It seems just being in the dome is giving them access to the power pulled by your roots.

Draco begins to lose ground, backing up as he's assaulted by Thressel, Claude and Kerubiel on the ground, and Nanael and Jophiel swooping down like birds of prey. He barely manages to fend off their blows, which are Unnaturally forceful, and any psychic barking he continues to try falls on deaf ears.

Behind him you see the others stir, Khopesh places his hands to the ground and forces himself up, grinning like a vengeful predator. Cedric and Ramiel feel their armor loosen and they stand as well.

You look to Olly, waiting with baited breath, and then you see him stir. He raises to his full height.

“Yes!” You cry joyfully, but you can't move due to the strain of using your power. You're also starting to feel nauseous, you've never absorbed this much before.

You have to control the flow so it doesn't zap your comrades. But that means a lot more is sitting inside you and your mycelium than it normally would. But you push through! You won't lose focus! You can't lose focus!

Khopesh, Ramiel, Cedric, Claude, Olly Thressel, Jophiel, Nanael, and Kerubiel all turn their empowered attacks on Draco, now severely outclassed and outmatched.

Fuck! He isn't sure how this could happen, he'll have to retreat again. How humiliating! A lightning claw slashes across his helmeted face, and he sees the awful grinning gaze of one of Curze's spawn looking at him through the helmet he wears.

Shit! But, he might be able to let out one more psychic blast. It would give him cover to escape!

Nothing…

He tries to focus his power again…but it slips away. No. NO! IT CANNOT END LIKE THIS!

“RAAAAAAAAAAA!” A familiar weight Rams into his side and he finds himself pinned beneath the Dumb Gutsy Ultramarine!

The others descend like Vultures, his left arm and his legs are impaled, only his right arm is free.

And it's here pressed to the ground he feels it. That same faint presence he'd sensed before, could this be…the reason for his undoing?

Draco musters up the Last of his psychic power, and opens his eyes to his warp sight. And what he sees makes his stomach turn.

Writhing over him like Maggots are hundreds…no Thousands, of roots. He realizes the subtle pull he felt before was his Power being drained, and he can even see the blips of silver leaving him, and going into the scouts above him, making their auras flare brighter.

But this cannot be their doing! So Draco focuses, staving off his failing consciousness, sending his sense along the roots to find their source.

And then he sees it…a small, fragile, Insignificant soul, the same color of the roots, and at their epicenter. Aaaaall the way across the clearing…it's not the soul of a space marine…it's the soul of a Human.

An average, normal, Pathetic Baseline is the reason for his failure!? He won't, he won't Tolerate this!

He wrenches his Right hand up and snags his Demon's Bane blade, slashing at the heretical psychery pinning him down with the mighty psychic fury given to him by the Emperor of Mankind. Only to recoil in Horror as the roots grow more fiercely, fed by his attempt to destroy them.

He truly has no more left to give, yet he still snarls and tries to attack- but for some reason it’s like everything has slowed down- he looks around sharply and snarls at the young Chaplain, “You- dare?!”

Ramiel is finally able to activate his Tempormortis- knowing that he’d only have one chance to use- it to slow down time in a bubble around him- in a very small area, but it would be enough to help keep the bastard down.

“Time dilation is active!” Ramiel barks out- the glowing large hourglass whirling and humming in his grasp. “I don’t know how long it’ll last against a Gray Knight- GO! We can pin him!”

Cedric pulls out from his med kit that he always keeps on him a fast-acting knockout drug a wrenches off Captain Storm Breaker’s helmet and jabs it into his neck and the drug hits his veins quickly- and the draining effect of Lullaby’s Mycelium network, as well as the fight is rendering the Silver Bastard Unconscious in seconds.

He manages one Final defiant gasp towards the reason for his failure, you feel his murderous rage through your roots. “Y-you!”

You grit your teeth against the urge to vomit, wrap your control as Tight around your power as you can muster though your vision vaivers and Yank! the last bit of consciousness from Draco's desperate hands with one final shout.

“SHUT the FUCK UP! And GO the FUCK TO SLEEP!!!”

Ramiel gasps sharply and bows his head, murmuring silent prayers to the God Emperor as the Tempormortis takes it’s toll from him.

A beat passes, where otherwise nobody moves…

Claude speaks to Cedric without moving a muscle from where he's holding Stormbreaker. “Is he Truly down?”

Cedric nods. “Yes…now we must restrain him. That drug is meant to down Normal Astartes, I have no idea how long it will last on…Him.”

Khopesh sneers a bit. “I'd say why bother with restraint? We should simply kill him.” He growls. “Then again…killing him Slowly…yes we should find a way to keep him still.”

Cedric doesn't respond…but he doesn't disagree either.

“He’s a bastard… but he’s a Loyalist,” One of the other Primaris Marines murmurs- as they strip Storm Breaker out of his armor and fling his weapons, carefully to the side. You can’t tell which of them said it. You can't…you can't really focus well on-anything…at the moment…

“As much as his death would be… satisfying,” Kerubiel says, and means it, as he pulls out Astartes Grade Restraints- and slaps a Psyker blocking collar on Stormbreaker’s neck- making sure to have it almost cutting off the bastard’s airway with how tight is, “The fucker is a powerful Pskyer- and that’s an, unfortunate rarity here.”

You dropped your power the moment you heard Cedric say he was out. And now that the danger has passed you…you Really didn't feel good. Jophiel’s head snaps over to Lullaby- a flash of insight has him bolting over to their side.

“G-guys I-ne-need- Help-p!” You could still see and worse Feel the power surging in your roots all over your body, too much, It's T-Too Much!

Jophiel hesitates for a moment before carefully grasping your hands- try and help absorb the excess power. “Let go- use me as a grounding rod. Push it into the ground.”

You tremble, but you nod. Push, push, push push Push! “U-ulp! AhAH-AHHHHHHHH!”

Some of the power goes through Jophiel, but it's not enough for the overflow as it forces its way out of your hands And your mouth!

The waves of the psychic scream ring deafeningly in the air and the force bends your neck up to the sky. The rest crackles through Jophiel into the ground. You're practically blown off your feet by your own sound waves, and any part of the picnic that wasn't already destroyed in the fight is thrown aside and over.

You slump to your knees, and pass out. Jophiel catches you and curls around you protectively as his knees buckle, all that is heard from him is a muffled, “ow.”

Khopesh was already running over the moment he saw Jophiel move, and he was only stopped for a moment by the scream. He frantically claws and scrambles toward your passed out form.

“Lullaby is alive,” Jophiel says, gently shoving their unconscious body into Khopesh’s arms, “m’brain is … floaty.”

Khopesh feels tears, literal tears coming to his eyes, fuck! He shouldn't cry in front of a Scout, and he Knows it will be hell to explain what just happened with Lullaby to the others, but he's so happy and grateful his Lullaby is alive he, as Karlsor would say, DOESN'T GIVE A FUCK. Without thinking he pulls the Scout in and Knocks their foreheads together, gently. In his urgency he swaps to Nostraman. “Thank you, Younger brother. I owe you a debt of 50 million lifetimes.”

Jophiel accepts the touch with a nuzzle- little flickers of spectral light sparking in his eyes can be seen, even by non-psykers before he closes his eyes.

“W’come,” Jophiel says, flopping back on the ground, feeling very… sparkly. His feathers are very fluffed out- as is his hair. As if he’d stuck a metal fork into an electric socket. Or well, the Psychic version of one anyways.

Cedric runs over and begins to check the two over. Olly, though battered with a developing black eye, says the obvious.

“We have a better methods of treatment at the Base, if they're stable, let's move them.” He says.

Thressel agrees with a “Keru and I can handle carrying the big silver witch bitch…but what do we do if he starts wakin?”

Olly squares his shoulders, leans down and wrenches a cinder block sized rock from the earth near his feet. “I will do what I Must.”

Khopesh is stunned but laughs in delight. “Now That, is proper intimidation, good Work Brother!”

Olly nods solemnly. “Thank you…I will Do what I Must.”

Nanael looks at him. “...You want to hit him with the rock right now don't you?”

Olly nods. “Yes,”

Thressl barks out a delighted laugh at that. “Oh- I understand that want.” His eyes glitter with a mean sort of humor as his eyes sharply assess the Silver Uber Witch Bastard. His skin color is rippling red, and lightly tanned, and his eyes are changing colors. “Anyone else still feel super charged or what?”

“It will recalibrate his thinking,” Olly says innocuous. It’s that tone that Khopesh, as an older brother knows that Little brother is trying to pull some fuck-shit. “Mental recalibration is good for a person, after all. It’s in the Codex Astartes… somewhere.”

“It’ll give him a concussion,” Cedric says, trying not to laugh. “A Psyker with a concussion is suboptimal.”

Claude snarls, “A psycher with his Personality is suboptimal. I've sent a vox to Hura and Anrir. Let us not delay further.” Claude says, he approaches Khopesh who's holding you. You're stable, he can hear your heartbeat and breathing, but the thought that he'd be taken away from Khopesh and you…from his Claw…that you and his brothers could be Hurt.

He suppressed another snarl, and elects to leave the destroyed picnic to be cleaned up later. Your group and their captive make their way back to the base.

Nanael, Kerubiel, Thressl and Cedric are carrying Stormbreaker- Ramiel has packed up the bastard’s armor and weapons and is carrying it. Olly is watching the bastard for one wrong movement as he’s got the hefty rock in one hand, and the bastard’s head in the other.

They are met halfway to Rot Bone base- Karlsor and Hura meeting them- a trauma kit- and worried expressions on their faces.

“What happened?!” Hura asks, as he heads to check up on Lullaby, “Follow me- I’ll show you a less monitored entrance to bring Lullaby- the armor- and whoever that is in.”

“Who the fuck is that?!” Karlsor asks them as he reels back, “Fucking silver glowing shit head. Curze damn. He’s strong.”

Khopesh grinned, still shaken and coming down from the adrenaline high. “Indeed, but we achieved victory!” He's so taken up with it, he doesn't notice Kerubiel giving him a side eye.

“Well done boys!” Karlsor says with a proud, vicious grin, “Does that fucker need one of the special cells?”

Karlsor’s smile fades as he does a head count, “Where is Jophiel?”

He’d spotted only one set of fluffy wings.

Jophiel staggers after them- feeling off kilter- and like someone rearranged his brain. Ogh. He’s never felt that much power get channeled through his body. Ow. His bones. His brain. His Psyker ‘muscles’. Oogh.

He’s just gonna. Sit back down. “I’ll… clean up the mess.” Jophiel tells the others, hoping that his speech doesn’t sound as slow and slurred as it does to his ears.

There were Laws against making messes- now if his eyes would stop crossing and giving him overlapping images- as his brain starts to whirl and he feels the prickle-murmur feeling as he’s consumed by Visions of What Could Be, What Might Be, and What Was.

He barely managed to grab one of the cups before unconsciousness claims him.

Back at the base, You stir, dizzy and still exhausted. “Jophie? Where's Jophie?” You slur, and suddenly you feel a rush of pained sadness overcome you. “O-olly! Clauuude! W-where's Jophie! s’Not s-safe. Need't'be here, where's safe! Evry'bdy nee's to be Safe!” You hear Khopesh cooing, trying to soothe your frantic but loopy mind. You can tell you're being held by him at least.

“He was right- behind… us…” Olly says turning towards where he’d last noticed Jophiel, “Shit. He’s likely back at the Picnic site, taking a nap.”

“We’ll get him,” Claude says soothingly, dropping his section of Draco with only minimal warning to the other’s carrying the bastard. “I’ll grab him.”

“Everyone, sh-should be here! Silver bastard ruined it! Ruined our p-picnic!” Much like the psychery that had blasted out of you, you now couldn't stop your emotional breakdown from pouring out of you. “He ried to-take them ‘way, he H-hurt Olly! Hurt eve’ry’body! He ruined my c-cake!” Indeed during the fight or your scream Everything got ruined you sniffle and hiccup. “I worked Hours g-getting it j-just right and you- non’o You got to Have a p-ie-iece!” You sob into Khopesh's embrace, who strokes your back, and continues to coo.

“We can make another cake, together,” Cedric offers, soothingly, he can tell that part of this is the reaction to the shock of the danger that you had been in, as well as the over-use of psykery can cause emotional dysregulation. Also adrenaline and coming down from it can be a bitch to handle.

While you sob, another individual is stirring. Not like he can do anything about it, but he does wake enough to see…clinical white walls, the Bratlings and- “Y-you…Witch!” He rasps.

Your sobbing turns to rage, and it seems you've got One last little bit of extra psychery left to expel. You don't even mean to, you just shout. “SHUT UP!!!”

The blast wave is smaller, but it hits, causing the silver bastard real back and start cursing. As promised Olly raises his rock.

Only for Anrir to weave in before he can swing down and administer another dose of ‘go the fuck to sleep’ juice, right into Stormbreaker’s neck.

“Aw… I wanted to do some manual mental recalibration with a blunt instrument,” Olly said with a slight pout on his face as he puts his arm back down that had the rock. He’d had an almost manic gleeful look on his face when he spotted Stormbreaker start to wake up and lunged for him with the Rock.

Anrir returns the syringe to its place calmly. “I admire your Enthusiasm scout, but Patience first…” He turns to the room as a whole. “What. Happened.” He asks, leaving no room for debate.

No one says a word at first. Eventually Kerubiel speaks up, he actually seems to be in indignant disbelief. “What happened?! What Happened is that We find out This! Is what you all have been hiding from Us!?” He snarls sharply at his fellow Primaris as he points to You. Khopesh shifts you protectively. “Did you Really think we'd just…let that go?! That you wouldn't be questioned when a Human Baseline let off a psychic scream loud enough to deafen the surrounding area!?”

“What the hell are you Playing at!? Who is this Really?!” He demands.

Anrir regards the Scout, looking almost bored with his display. He turns back to Kalrsor and speaks in Nostraman.

Khopesh perks up when he hears. “No we can't make him disappear,” in the conversation, which causes Anrir to sigh.

Anrir turns back to Kerubiel. “I've heard you Dark Angels are excellent at keeping secrets…and given what you've seen today I hope that's true of All present in this room.” He says striding over to Khopesh. “This,” He says, gently tapping your head as you slump against Khopesh, “Is possibly the First recorded psycher of the Baseline populace in this instance of ancient terra.”

“Their abilities are exceptionally unique, and I say you owe them All a debt of thanks for aiding you in your battle with this…specimen.” Anrir's lip curls with barely contained disgust. He has neither forgotten nor forgiven what happened last time.

Thressl seems shocked. “Wait…so the boost we felt was…from them??”

Anrir nods, “Indeed! And the weakening of your Enemy was from them as well. For that is the essence of their power! To draw and redistribute the power of the warp!” He says with a frightening glee. “I will be taking statements for my studies of this bond from all of you! So do not move a muscle…”

“Ah, except you three, please follow Apothecary Hura to the containment room with our…guest. I will get your statements after. And of course I Heavily advise keeping this matter Quiet. For your Own health and Wellness.”

The ones that were told to go off with Hura go, and those that were told to stay, are staying. They know better than to argue with Apothecaries, especially with top secret shit that they shouldn’t know about, but got involved in accidentally.

“We need to find Jophiel- he was part of this- and tried to… ground? Lullaby, or something when they got super charged on Silver Fucker’s psykery.” Kerubiel points out. “And who knows what sort of state he’s in.”

He’s calmer now, he understands why secrets must be kept. Even though he Loathes it when secrets are kept from him. This fight had been a wild ride- and one that had kept getting more and more unexpected the longer it went on.

“It’s safer, the fewer who know,” Nanael is quiet, in what he says. His words were almost drowned out by louder voices.

He hadn’t really known much about Lullaby, other than what he’s been told. And he gets why the others that knew about their ability kept it quiet. The fewer people who know a secret, the less likely it’s to come out. Through loose lips, or by force.

Anrir briefly thinks over if they've got one of their special cells open, just in case. They will need to make a decision about their newest… Guest. Hura is also eyeing their newest… acquisition and resource.

“Boys, the armor should be kept in a locked- separate place from the normal Armory and weapons lock up. The Distinctive Armor of the Grey Knights might cause a…” Hura pauses over the words, “At least for the Chaos Marines that know of the Grey Knights might cause a hm. Panic.”

And a blood bath as people fought each other over the fucking amazing techno-psykery that is the weapons and armor of a Gray Knight. Hura can tell- hovering a hand near the armor- but not touching it- that it’s already causing pain and damage to his dermis, due to him by a Chaos Marine, blessed by Grandfather Nurgle.

“I have a… discrete area to contain such… holy sacraments.” Hura continues to say, “Taking that all the way to Stone Flame base will be… too noticeable boys. Even if you tried to sneak it in, in pieces.”

Hura says that as he notices that some of the boys start to look like they want to protest, after all, they and Khopesh, with Lullaby’s help, took down the Giant Silver Git. “The fewer that know that there is a Gray Knight… somewhere Near Gannet Point the better. Unfortunately due to their power, we run on Custodes Rules for Gray Knights, to a slightly lesser degree, because they are only slightly less powerful.”

In the meantime Anrir sets out to give a barely conscious you a proper check over, and when it is determined they're well enough for release he sends them and Khopesh to bed.

Khopesh is more protective than usual, and immediately carts you off to his room. Good, he should be proactive in protecting the things he loves, much like Anrir with his Draga.

After all of the boys had given their statements and been assessed for any changes- or differences in things for After Battle- and the Supercharging effect that they’d received from Lullaby. (They’d speak with and assess Lullaby more thoroughly, after they had recovered.)

“So, what do you want to do to Stormbreaker?” Nanael asks Cedric.

“I think killing him would be a good idea,” Cedric says, blue eyes glittering darkly.

“Killing him, while satisfying, might be short sighted,” Kerubiel says, “he’s a powerful psyker.”

“If we did kill him,” Hura offers, “we’d be able to do a post mortem on him- see what kind of changes they might have made to make Gray Knights so… impressive. Test the Gene-seed of the Gray knights and get some answers about those Silver Nightmares.”

“I want him dead, yesterday,” Khopesh chimes in darkly, he'd rejoined the group after putting his Lullaby to bed. He wanted to have this matter settled (be allowed to torture Storm Breaker later) and return to you soon.

“His organs- would be very useful, in brothers, in experimentation,” Anrir says his eyes glittering with thoughts of what they could do to the Silver Witch’s dying and dead body.

“However,” Hura says, “A Psyker of his power level, training, and stability, despite his… flawed…Deeply flawed, personality is… not something to be culled lightly, as much as I’m loathe to say it.”

____________

Jophiel feels almost feverish- and feels like a piece of flotsam in the sea. He’s riding a wave- a psychic wave that rolls from the area out- and away- the ripples, become a tidal wave- and it crashes. The sounds- the reverberations, almost none heard.

Almost none.

Something big. Something Gold. Something Predatory. Something that was, is, will be, waiting. Is, will be, was Sleeping. Is, was, will be waking. That which was, will be, and is Hunting- strides once more, will be, has been.

Jophiel wakes up with a gasp- and trying not to scream- tears falling down his face- as his visions flicker dizzyingly. Warningly. A crystal clear image comes into focus. Blood stained hands of a Custodes with its hands around the neck of—

SOMETHING IS COMING. IT HUNTS TO END THE MELODY. STRANGLE THE SONG AND SMOTHER IT IN THE CRADLE. ONCE MORE.

“Lullaby!” Jophiel chokes out and tries to get up, but his head aches and pounds and almost collapses face first, blood dripping from his nose, mouth, eyes, and ears. “H-have to… warn…”

And he is unconscious once more. A small puddle of blood forming around his head like a twisted halo. Several minutes later Jophiel wakes up- a wicked Psyker backlash headache waking him up and he lets out a small whimper as he cradles his head in his hands.

After the world stops spinning so much he slowly gets up. He- the vision! He needs to get to the others- and warn them- Warn Lullaby of the Monster in Gold. He slowly gets up and staggers in the direction of Rot Bone Base, where the others had headed to. That he’d been headed to- before he’d taken a… pause.

Claude had been allowed to go retrieve Jophiel and sees his brother-cousin staring blankly and bleeding out of several orifices. “Jophie… you here or Elswhere, brother?”

“I- gotta- warn,” Jophiel says staggering towards Claude as the other grabs his arms as Jophiel swayed and staggered dangerously, “Gold- danger- Lullaby- vision!”

“Okay, we’ll talk to Lullaby- after you get looked over. And we can talk about the vision with Karlsor, okay?” Claude says soothingly.

“Shockwave of pskery spreading from the mycelium.” Jophiel murmurs feverishly, “The Golden one awakens. To hunt- to stalk. To kill. Again. He comes. To strangle the melody, to make their song silent once more.”

“Well… that’s not good,” Claude says as he tugs Jophiel into the shadows of a tree and uses the shadow-teleportation to get them to the nearest shadow next to Karlsor, Anrir and Hura and almost falls on his face with a still babbling, bleeding, and wild eyed Jophiel.

“Help, he’s Vision-boggled.” Claude informs Karlsor. “And not making much sense.”

“The Gold- it hungers- and craves Their Death, of creeping mycelium.” Jophiel babbles, “The Golden One comes. Worse outcomes are more assured if Silver tarnishes and rusts into dust. Strangled and smothered the melody. Golden Death approaches. Lost.”

#c u c koo anon #space marine husbandry sentience #space marine husbandry #oc: Khopesh #oc: claude #oc: kerubiel #oc: thressl #oc: oleanderos #oc: ramiel #oc: cedric #oc: anrir #oc: hura #oc: draco

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c-u-c-koo-4-40k · 1 month ago

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The Silver Dragon Cometh - Part 1

Summary: Lullaby and Khopesh and their gaggle of Primaris friends/acquaintances are having a lovely picnic under the sun. The weather is warm, the food is filling, the conversation is surprisingly easy flowing. Lullaby even makes a few new close friends, and confides in them some struggle they're having with their powers. If Only things could remain so lovely...

Previous Chapter Here!

Next Chapter Here!

Where is all started! Here!

Warning: Social Anxiety, Fights, Injury, Cursing, Literally messing with people's heads, and what could technically be considered micro aggressions to go with the Macro aggressions.

Tags: This one is another collaboration with @gallifreyianrosearkytiorsusan! We've also got characters from @sleepyfan-blog and @kit-williams making an appearance. If you've contributed a character and I don't mention it here just DM me I'll fix that right up!

@bleedingichorhearts @beckyninja @bispecsual @passionofthesith @egrets-not-regrets @felinisnoctis

“Right,” Karlsor says, “try again, just like before.”

He holds out a hand, and like you've been doing for most of this session you hold out yours, a few inches above his. Parallel, not touching

“If it helps,” Karlsor says, “try to visualize the mycelium network stretching out their roots- like leaves of a plant extending to reach the sun.”

You try to do that. In recent trainings you had learned to Sense the slight difference when your powers were working. Feeling the flow so to speak, you could even tell when power was flowing out vs in. Sometimes, you could even see…Things very faintly when you absorbed enough energy. But it never lasted very long.

And try as you might, you really weren't feeling any power flow one way or another, no matter how hard you visualized your little roots reaching up (or down in this case) to make contact with Karlsors hand. You could feel the Strain of trying to push them, and it was honestly starting to give you a bad headache.

Karlsor meanwhile was using his warp sight, and feeling his own headache starting. He could see the mycelium tendrils reaching, but it seemed like a few inches was Lullaby's current limit as far as projection went for now.

Part of him wanted to say Fuck it and touch the little roots so they'd relieve his headache. He hissed, patience patience…His head throbbed in vengeance and his sight wavered, spots of darkness flickering in and out.

Yeah fuck patience they'd been at this same fucking bullshit for over an hour and went from one inch to a Maybe two inch limit. Karlsor dimmed his warp sight with a gruff muttered “enough…Fuck damn shit this hurts.”

He heard you huff with disappointment before a warm small hand made contact with his and the pain and throbbing lessened. “Sorry Karlsor,” You murmur.

“Eh, some training is harder to do than others,” Karlsor says, “Try and, ugh, meditate and think about stretching the network, without trying to use your powers. That might help?”

He sighs in relief, “Fuck I’m glad that your powers help. My headaches are a lot better now. Thanks.”

“No trouble,” You smile wryly. “You know as much as I do right now, Teach. I'll give it a shot. Besides, I'm glad I can at least do a few things consistently.”

“Consistency in what you can do, is really important,” Karlsor says seriously, “being able to do it more than once, means that it’s repeatable rather than just only being able to do something once. Scientific Method and all that grox-shite.”

“I Do appreciate the Scientific Method. But speaking of once in a while things…” You glance at the clock, “Would it be okay if we call today's session a little early?”

“I fuckin guess, but what for?” Karlsor asks.

You smile, and start gathering your things. “Khopesh said Claude wanted me to meet some of the other Primaris Marines they know. So we're meeting at the park for a picnic!” You answer cheerfully. “There's apparently some new arrivals And I even baked and decorated a cake! Do you want me to save you a slice?”

You omitted the near mental breakdown you had trying to make the icing look nice. It was a fun process but you wanted to make a good impression.

“Ah- I heard about them, one of them is a feral bastard of a Lamenter, and one of the other’s is another, ugh, Ultramarine.” Karlsor says- remember what Claude’s spoken of some of the newly arrived Primaris Marines. “A break’s a good idea- go on, have fun.”

“Pfft,” You snickered a bit at the shade Karlsor was throwing around. “Well as long as they like strawberry cake I'm sure it'll be fine. Thanks, Teach!“

“You’re welcome. Save me a slice, yeah?” Karlsor says. He likes cake. “If you can. Lamenters are very… soft with baselines.”

“Push meets shove I'll bake you your own cake, text me your flavor preferences!” You call back, and hit an eager run to the pantry.

“Deal!” Karlsor perks up with a grin.

He texts you [Meyer Lemon and Raspberry] for his flavor preference.

You pass by Pyrus in the hallway who gives you a cheerful greeting. “Hello Lullaby!”

“Hi Pyrus gotta run!”

You pass by the med bay where apothecary Zariel is exiting a room. He happens to see you. “Ah Lullaby finished with your studies?”

“For today anyway, gotta go, there's a picnic with my name on it!”

Zariel laughs, “Very well, mind where you run.”

“I will!”

You come to the food pantry where you happen to see Zaarius examining the larder and taking stock.

“Hello Zaar!” You greet him, clearly still bouncing with energy. “Is it still here?”

“Naturally dear,” He cooes, reaching to one of the high temperature controlled shelves. “One Strawberry cake with strawberry buttercream icing and Adorable vanilla buttercream rosettes. Unmolested…no matter how Badly certain individuals wanted to.”

You hear a familiar grumbling walking in with more items for the pantry. “I only said I wanted a Bit of the icing.” Khopesh grumbled, placing items on shelves with rapid speed even while he complained.

Zaarius rolled his eyes. You trotted over to give your love a hug. (Carefully while still holding the cake.) “Hey Sweetness! You'll get to have some soon.” You reassure him with a kiss on the lips. “I'll make sure you get the first piece!”

Khopesh trademark purrs picked up as you embraced him. “That is acceptable.” He agrees then turns to Zaarius. “As promised all the items are unloaded and sorted.”

“Properly?” Zaarius asks pointedly, knowing younger marines penchants for slacking on work they deemed unimportant.

Khopesh huffed with slight indignance. “Of course! What do you take me for a Space Wolf? Any Nightlord worth their pelts does Not mess around with Food.”

“And yet you wanted to snag a bit of my cake early?” You ask dryly.

“Sorting and Storing food, not eating it dear Lullaby.” He explained with a flash of teeth. “When processing a carcass the most important factor is proper cutting, sorting, and preserving for the Purpose of eventual consumption. Or eventual leather work or scrimshawing in the case of skin and bones.”

Zaarius arches an eyebrow at him, “No, but young ones can get impatient and sloppy.”

Khopesh made a slightly dramatic gesture for Zaarius to examine his section. Which the Noise Marine did and actually gave a somewhat impressive hum. “Not bad, very well Khopesh, you are released until your next kitchen duty. Enjoy your outing.”

“Excellent!” Khopesh growls with vigor, before scooping you, and the cake up so you were riding in the crook of his elbow.

“Oop! H-hey!” You say with delighted laughter, and sling an arm over Khopesh's neck for better grip. “By Zaarius! See you around.” You call back as you are whisked away by your goofy Nightlord.

Zaarius chuckles and shakes his head at the two. Young love.

________________

Olly had brought some chocolate rocks- which were not rocks at all, but were chocolate with a crunchy candy coating as part of snacks for the picnic that he was invited along with. Ramiel and Cedric had done the lion’s share of the cooking, while the rest of them cleaned up and carried the picnic food stuffs, drinks and supplies.

Olly turned to one of his brothers, careful to approach while the other was not doing anything too consuming. In this case Claude laying out the blankets and cutlery.

“So…this baseline Khopesh is bringing…what are they like?” Olly asks.

Claude pauses for a moment. “Don't worry. They're very sweet.” He assures Olly. “And funny, and warm and reassuring.”

Jophiel gives Claude a sideways glance, but doesn't comment. Warm and reassuring? There's nothing warm and reassuring about being crawling with bizarre unknown (possibly heretical) psychery.

Olly looks down to the chocolate rocks he'd brought with him. “Do you think they'll like the candy?”

Kerubiel sneered a little, his arms crossed over his chest, still not certain why they needed to be interacting with a baseline human that wasn’t Bonded to a Night Lord, but somehow someone that they cared for.

“Meet'in a new person won’t, likely hurt us,” Thressl noticed the look on his face and shoved an elbow into his side, “lighten up ya sour puss!”

If Kerubiel had actual fur it would've raised in hackles at that comment. “I am not a Sour Puss!” He hissed.

Thressl smiled. “Sounds like somethin a sour puss would say.”

Kerubiel huffed. “I just don't understand why we're playing baby sitter to a soft handed, Soft Headed baseline.” He turned to get back to his proper task.

Only to be met with Claude appearing Right in his face. The Dark Angel nearly jumped at having his space taken up so suddenly. His teal eyes were Deathly, serious. “Don't call them that. Unless you want me to tell Captain Ash'val you've had another ‘lapse in good sense.’”

Lion on the Hill what the Fuck?! Kerubiel had never seen Claude look so serious…and Much less threaten to rat him out to a First Born??

Still though! He wouldn't take it back, he just…wouldn't push the issue. “Fine…but only because it would be unbecoming as a son of the First.” He groused. “When are they supposed to be here anyway?!” He asked, trying to distract himself from Claude still Staring at him.

He was three seconds from bapping Claude in the face, when a call came from up the path they'd taken. Claude rolled his shoulders and tilted his chin a little, his eyes flashing teal- ready to smack the shit out of his brother cousin if need be.

Claude did break from staring him down to swivel his head in the direction. All of the Primaris Marines hear someone coming over, and Claude relaxes, and smiles a little when he spots Khopesh and Lullaby

“We have arrived!” Khopesh called out to his gaggle of little brothers and cousins.

“And we brought cake!” Your voice came after. “Hi Claude!”

Claude happily approached you and Khopesh first, as you were set down on your own feet. You approached the short haired Primaris, and offered a hug, which Claude gladly accepted. He keeps half an eye on Kerubiel- just in case the other tries to smack him when he turns his back on the other.

The firm but affectionate squeeze lasted a perfect amount of time, as Khopesh then took his turn… He returns the gesture to you very gently, making sure to not use too much strength.

“C'mere you little Bird Fiend!” He growled playfully, snatching up Claude and lifting him a bit off the ground.

Claude tilts his head back in a laugh, and hugs Khopesh back just as strongly.

“Ah brother this is a bit much!” Claude stated but didn't actually struggle. Khopesh did acquiesce to placing him down with a gentle thud! Followed by playfully ruffling his hair.

“So! What is there to eat!? I've spent all morning around food I wasn't allowed to eat.” Khopesh says cheerfully, before taking several deep sniffs of the air. “OoOooh! Brawts from the Bakery run by that Templar. Yes!”

You notice a much…Taller fellow standing a bit awkwardly behind Claude. He has something in his hands.

“Olly, Cousin! Come here!” Khopesh crows joyfully. “This is my Lullaby.” He introduces you and you give a small wave and a “Hello,”

“I've told you about them before.”

Olly has a look of realization. “Oh! Is this the human you said you wanted to place in a terreriu-

Khopesh cuts his adorable dense cousin off. “Ah Hey! What have you made now? More things that bubble and foam?”

Olly seems to shift a little in place. “Ah No Sorry…didn't have the time or supplies. I made chocolate rocks with candy shells and gems inside. I Hope they are to everyone's liking…”

You peak to see and indeed, that's what he's got in the box he carries. “They Look good! I can't wait to try one!”

“You can have one now if you like?” Olly says shyly as he approaches the pair of them. The colors of the chocolate are slightly off- made from natural (safe to consume for baselines and space marines) colors. Rather than that weird ‘food dye’ stuff that comes from uh… less natural stuff? Which tasted wretched he could taste Red 3, and it was. DISGUSTING. Yuck.

“If it's okay with you.” You agree holding the cake in one hand and your other one out.

Olly smiled, and grabbed a piece of his candy (tamping down on the urge to spend minutes finding Just the right one), handing it to you. Although, he did pick one of the Best Looking and Smelling one. He had tasted tested- and had the others taste test them (and had a Baseline human- one who was Bonded to Hura, try them, just in case. Baseline humans had different tastes, different preferences, but sometimes Astartes made food that could be… odd to baseline human palates.)

You examine the candy, marveling at the color and the tiny bits of sugar gems. “It almost looks too good to eat! You made these?” You ask for a bite to see the cross section.

There is a cross section of the blue colored chocolate jewel candy, the thin coating of candy is a nice blue, with dark chocolate with little ‘gems’ of crystalized sugar and bits of jam. A cross between a chocolate truffle and a jammy candy.

“Yes,” Olly says, then rambles on the process he had to go through in order to make the candies, the temperatures, the timing, the flavors and the combinations, and why he’d chosen the colors and flavors he had- he was able to ramble more when Kerubiel stomps over and shoves a sandwich in his mouth.

“Olly, shush!” Kerubiel says, “I doubt they care about you prattling on about candy making. Honestly, you need to learn to be quiet.”

“... Yes Keru,” Olly says, shuffling his feet and trying not to visibly wilt.

OH! Oh No, This catty bitch did Not. “Actually! I Like hearing him talk about baking and candy making.” You huff. “And no I'm not just saying that to Spite you, though I do enjoy doing that.” You aim pointedly at the…familiar Dark Angel.

You turn a much kinder gaze onto Olly. “I'd be a big hypocrite if I didn't like candy making. I got my bachelors in chemistry after all, they say chefs are born in the kitchen. Chemists, are born in the bakery…candy store in this case but you get what I mean.”

It is Now Kerubiel fully recognizes both the Night Lord and the Baseline human. Oh no. Not them. Again. Claude as does Thressl, and they both notice the way that Kerubiel reacts to them and they look at each other and then at Kerubiel and are on either side of him, and wait for the scolding to end.

“What did you do?” Thressl asks Kerubiel, a shit eating grin on his face.

“When did you meet Lullaby and Khopesh?” Claude asks.

“And how badly did you piss them off?” Cedric asks, with a disappointed sigh. Kerubiel was great at a lot of things, socializing was not one of them. And he was shit at socialization at times. The Dark Angel just groans at the indignity of the memory, and his subsequent punishment.

“It's fascinating how just a change in temperature can Completely alter the resulting structure of the final product! I mean take caramel for example!” You posit. “Bless my mother she tried to make me a caramel syrup when we were out of the regular kind one morning, but the temperature was off and we ended up with caramel drops that were like Cement on our French toast. Couldn't even eat it, because it hurt our teeth. And getting it off the plates was a Nightmare.”

“It’s a lot of fun!” Olly says, after finishing the Surprise Bite of the sandwich, that Kerubie had shoved it into his face, and pulled the rest of it out of his mouth.

“Khopesh also said something about bubbling and foaming? Do you make other things besides candy?”

Olly nodded. “I have made Marble soda before, using marble pieces and the base facilities. I was told it was quite enjoyable.”

You balked for a moment. “Wait! You actually made soda out of rock? How??” Then your chemist brain caught up. “Marble has Calcium Carbonate! You actually used the calcium carbonate in the marble to make the Carbon Dioxide for the soda water? That's amazing!”

“Yes- it was a lot of fun to figure out how to make- and the experiments were still edible- uh, by Astartes standards, anyways.” Olly says, with a big grin on his face as his eyes sparkled. He didn’t have the patience to be a fully trained Chemist- trying to understand the different symbols and whatever the fuck a neutron is and why the different numbers matter hurt his brain. The teacher-brother had said that “you asked the right questions, but can’t seem to do the math, I think you’re better off staying a battle brother, little one.”

“What acid did you use? Or what source?” You ask excitedly. “Or I guess boiling or heating would allow for thermal decay which would also release CO2. One moment.” You place the cake down on the picnic table and pick up a Stick and your phone.

“There are acids that can be used? Source? I did the boiling and heating method,” Olly replied.

“Source as in what food ingredient. For example, vinegar has acetic acid or lemon juice has citric acid. But you did the thermal option so in that case…” You reference your phone and drawn

CaCO3 — Heat –-> CaO + CO2

“In simple terms you took this starting ingredient or Reagent, and applied heat until it broke apart into Calcium Oxide and Carbon Dioxide, notice how the same number and types of symbols appear on both sides, they've just been rearranged. When you were heating a white powder was left behind and discarded, that is the Calcium Oxide. The other is the gas you used to infuse the soda. So your not human safe products likely had too much Calcium Oxide.” You declare. “Which would have made them more bitter and well…poisonous.”

You break from your rambling, realizing you got a bit Too excited. “I Really like chemistry…sorry.”

“Oh no! You misunderstand.” Olly reassures you. “You are correct that the ones that were not baseline safe Did have a much more bitter taste- and activated the anti-poison glands.” Olly says. “Um- Zaarius was happy to take the Calcium Oxide off my hands for… some… thing? Huh… I probably should have asked the Chaos Chemist what he wanted with the by product, yeah? Hm. But well- at least he has a use for it… whatever it was.”

“Maybe he's making Cement or blowing shit up.” You say, mostly joking…mostly. “Calcium Oxide, also known as Quick Lime, is Caustic and reacts with water.”

“Ah, oh dear,” Olly says, “Cement is the friendlier option. I don’t think that Hura would allow him to blow up the Rot Bone Base. Uh- maybe let Anrir know?”

He had looked towards Khopesh and Claude at that. He hadn’t known that white powdery stuff could be used to make concrete, or into an explosive. But- it made sense why the Chaos Marine would want it. And why he’d paid so well for the powder, once he knew what it had come from. Oh bother.

There are some stumbling, scuffling noises- and a space marine, of similar size to the primaris in badly damaged yellow-gold armor looking armor with red accents and with a black and white checker-marked pauldron with a bleeding heart in the middle.

Nanael comes over, “Sorry I’m late! I got - uh- waylaid- oh no. Am I too late?” He had brought some of the last minute items that they had run out of - and had been sent off to go get and was back. “I got the stuff…”

“Welcome,” you pipe up cheerfully. “We've got cake and food and some damn fine candy rocks so even if you've come by accident you should still snag some.” You say jokingly.

The newcomer perks up at your greeting. “It’s nice to meet you- uh? I go by Nanael, what’s your name?”

Nanael blinks down at you then over at Khopesh and tries not to growl at the Night Lord. Shifting closer and setting the stuff down. “Thanks for getting it Nanael,” Cedric says. “This is Lullaby, and the Night Lord is Khopesh. He’s one of Claude’s Claw.”

“Nice to meet you Lullaby,” Nanael says to you. He looks over at Khopesh, a calculating gaze in his blue-red eyes. “... I’m glad to meet a couple of people that Claude cares for so much. I have heard some. Interesting things. About both of you. Good things.”

“Awwww! Claude, you been talking sweet about me behind my back?!” You ask with glee, “I'd honestly say there's no better compliment than someone speaking well of you, even when you're not there.”

“Well Yeah,” Claude says, “you’re pretty cool. And some- uh- some of us haven’t really met many baseline humans before coming to Ancient Terra in non-combat situations before.”

You notice Jophiel looking…unsure when Claude says that. You decide to pivot the subject a bit.

“I am curious…how many battles has each of you seen? Like I know ya'll are all different ages From different ages, so who's got technically the Most experience out of all of you?” You ask, gesturing to the circle of space marines around you.

A beat passes, and for a moment you feel the creeping dread of having committed a social faux paus crawling up your back and stirring in your gut. Cedric is not thinking about the fact that, due to the standards of certain eras, that Jophiel would be considered a Neophyte, not a Scout. He is so desperately not thinking about that.

Only for Khopesh to pipe up. “Well obviously it's me. I'm the oldest here!” He states confidently.

“That is most likely true,” The Primaris say with varying levels of grace.

“How old are you?” Jophiel asks Khopesh. “I know that all of us have at least fought in… one battle- many of us multiple even!”

Your Nightlord seems to pause, thinking it over. “Hmm…you know what? I forgot!” He says simply eating another bite of brawt with a smile.

“HUH!? How do you not know how old you are!?” You ask incredulously.

Khopesh shrugs. “Never bothered to count. After I passed the trials, and became a full fledged Nightlord everything from before got pretty fuzzy.” He says, still eating. “Regardless, as a representative of the 30th millenia I am Confident I've got the most battle experience.”

“Well…true, but battle experience isn't Everything.” Thressel hummed, a glittering mischief in his eyes.

Khopesh regarded the Primaris coolly, but with interest. “Is that so?”

“Aye! What do you say to a little…competition? Friendly match.”

Khopesh smiled and you suppressed a groan. “Right here right now? Don't tease me Scout, you don't play with a Nightlord when it comes to challenges.”

“You're on!” Thressel howls with excitement, literally, and bolts off into the more open part of the field. “Oi! Old timer! You gonna move those creaking bones or am I gonna have to wait for the 30th millenia to come again!?”

Cedric shakes his head, before standing. “Honestly,” He grumbles, then calls to the eager Space Wolf. “HOLD On If we're going to do this, we're going to do this the Right way.”

Khopesh stands, then dips back down to plant a kiss on your lips. “For luck! Watch me win my darling!” He bolts after, and the other Primaris turn to watch or gather near their brethren. Seems a small tournament is going to be held.

Surprisingly, it's just you and Olly left by the picnic blankets while the others set up, and discuss rules. Things are peaceful, steady, if still a Little awkward with most of your mutual group out on the field.

“So…” Olly posits. “How has your training with Claude and Karlsor been going?”

(!) “Uh…what do you mean?” You ask, trying to hide your underlying nerves. Does Olly mean…? No, no he couldn't Possibly. Why would he have been told-

“It's okay, Claude has nightmares occasionally and ah…he sometimes talks in his sleep.” Olly explained sheepishly

Fuck.

“So wait…you know about…the Thing?” You ask carefully, trying to keep your voice down. Olly nodded.

“You have some gifts that need training and to keep quiet about it,” Olly says, “I won’t tell anyone else- and Claude doesn’t know that I heard his nightmare-mumbling- and kept him from telling others. If you wanna talk about it with me you can.”

You glance at the others in the field. “Are they far enough away? They can't hear us.” Olly nods again.

You take a deep breath. “Well I'm not…unhappy. But I'm also…frustrated.” You explain, still keeping your voice down. “In theory I Should be able to project my gift further, so I can use it Without needing to touch things.”

“I've learned how to intentionally move psychic energy from one space marine to another. I've even learned to make it go the Opposite direction it would naturally flow. It's like walking against the flow of a stream but I can do it…”

“But no matter how hard I push, I can't seem to make the…roots of my power don't go out further than a couple of inches…” You say, rubbing the back of your neck awkwardly.

“And…though it's unrelated, I can feel Jophie still isn't comfortable with me being here…” You say, with a little more sadness coming into your voice. “I guess part of me hopes if I can learn and Do more…he and others wouldn't be so afraid. I know that's silly, people are going to fear, it's their choice what they do with that fear. Still…kinda stings though.”

Olly hums for a moment, thinking over what you've just told him. He pulls out a candy rock and hands it to you, before taking one for himself and beginning to chew on it.

“I don't know what to tell you about Jophiel…but for your Gift Perhaps…” Olly posits as he eats. “If your gift takes the form of Roots, maybe it doesn't want to travel in the air. Maybe it would prefer to travel through the ground?” He offers.

You both sit there for a moment. Olly seems to think the pause is awkward and coughs a bit. “Ah sorry, that's a silly idea isn't it…”

“No, I think it makes a bizarre amount of sense and I'm…kinda surprised I hadn't thought about that.” You reassure him. You place your hand to the ground between the two of you. “I can't see it normally, but tell me if you Feel something…” You ask him.

Olly looks confused. “Alright…what am I meant to feel?”

You push on your power, taking hold of that subtle thread as you'd been trained to do. “Claude says it feels like…”

“Calm…” You glance up at Olly, who's now looking down at you with…well Wonder. “It feels calming…soothing…like a comforting hand on the shoulder but…in the heart.”

You smile widely. “Hang on Olly! Let me back up.” You scramble back a few steps then place your hands down again. “Ready?”

Olly nods and again, you push. It takes a moment, but Olly holds up his thumb when he feels the power connect. You feel the connection too. It's subtle but it's there. Olly grins a little- happy to be able to help, he doesn’t know much about Psykery, but he’s heard his Psyker touched brothers talk about it, part of sounds like it’s about finding the …resonance of things?

Or something like that. Like with Psyhicic lightning- it’s like normal lightning, it wants to go down with the least resistance, so learning to not fight that and to direct and ground it so to speak is one of the major stumbling blocks- or so he’s heard the others complain about when he’s heard them talk about it.

So he’s glad his idea about the roots wanting to be in the soil and loam, rather than in the air, is more than just a silly idea. Perhaps once they are more trained- and have a better idea of what they can do they’ll be able to push their roots through the air more? Sometimes that’s the case, sometimes it isn’t.

“What if I move?” Olly calls out to you- and then sends a vox text message that shows up on your phone. [Let’s see how far the reach of your root network is. I’ll back up a few steps.]

You give a thumbs up and the Ultramarine scrambles much like you had, just in the opposite direction. The others are still completely taken up with their sparring. Olly nods, and continues to move.

After counting his steps he sends another text message [I’m going to climb a tree and see if the Effect is still in place.]

After that he starts to climb- getting onto a supportive branch. You can just Barely see a bit of blue in the tree line, so you Push in that direction.

It's hard, but you feel a difference when you Assume your roots reach past the trees. You text Olly with one hand. [Can you feel it?]

No response comes for a moment, as you strain to make your roots Reach to their new maximum. But before Olly can respond you feel…something else.

(!)You- you lose focus, and stop pushing causing the power to dissipate. You…you could've Sworn you felt…a Tap?

It was like something reached out to your roots and literally…poked them?? But that's not possible, the only one in the trees is Olly and he hadn't mentioned being able to do that?

Suddenly, your stomach feels…uneasy. You place your hand to the ground and push again, past the trees, past Olly on his branch.

You pay closer attention. You feel the connection to Olly, same as you had before but there was…something that didn't feel like Olly, it didn't even feel like Claude or Karlsor or Xerxes or Dölgöön or any other psycher you'd touched it felt…

Dangerous.

Draco had been walking through the forest- when he’d felt something strange- he had felt a light psychic energy. It wasn’t one that he recognized- so he’d crouched down and put his armored hand to the ground. He lightly reaches out his senses and pokes at the… whatever it is.

‘I wonder what that is?’ Draco thinks to himself. His brow furrows as he stretches out his senses to try and find the source of the strange weak psychic presence. It’s drowned out by some far brighter- and some far more familiar psychic presences- and some new ones as well.

Ah…the Scoutlings…and Other Scoutlings. Draco straightens back up to his full height.

[Come to me.] Draco commands Jophiel and Claude- not only them, but to Thressl, Kerubiel and the very untrained Nanael.

Nanael- unaware of his nascent Psyker powers, that comes with his Perpetual state collapses to the ground clutching his head as his nose bleeds. “W-wh-what the fuck is this?!”

Jophiel, Claude, and Thressl all sway and groan clutching their heads and swear. “Fuck- it’s that silver bastard again.” Claude groans out.

Kerubiel hisses like an angry cat and clutches his head- he refuses to collapse- the way the other’s are. He’s a Son of the First- he’s better than that. The booming voice- has no Power of Him!

“GET OUT OF MY HEAD!” Thressl bellows out loud and with his Psykery. Damned witch- trying to take his mind- Out- OUT. GET OUT!

You whip your head back to the sparring matches at Thressel's pained howl. It's not just him though; Claude, Thressel, Nanael, and Kerubiel are all doubled over. Cedric, Ramiel and Khopesh are frantically trying to get the Scouts to Tell them what's wrong!

“Silver bastard,” Claude manages to choke out to Khopesh. Fuck his vision is going strange.

“BAH! ENOUGH! FACE US COWARD!” Kerubiel snarls, you notice he turns a certain direction so you do as well. Something moves just beyond the tree line and your eyes are met with a reflective Flash.

Your heart Sinks into the acid churning your stomach into nausea.

no…No…NONONONONONONONO! You tremble, you shake, your legs lock up and you find yourself unable to move.

Time seems to slow, and what fills your ears becomes muffled.

A bright flash in the trees…

Reflections of glimmering gold armor…

NoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONO-

It's only when Khopesh's voice breaks through the haze that you come back to the present. “Silver Witch! Get your disgusting slimy mind bastardry Out of My Scouts Heads!”

Wait…Silver? And that's when you see the true face of the current threat stride into the clearing where you'd all had your picnic.

It's not an insurmountable monster in gold, but an unfamiliar and smaller Goliath in silver. Another Space Marine?

“Enough foolishness!” The silver space marine bellows again, and you see the way the psycher scouts tremble; grasping their skulls like something is ringing inside them. “Stand aside Bratlings, and I will make yours and your cousins discipline Merciful.”

Khopesh sets himself into position, alongside Ramiel and Cedric. They form a defensive wall between the afflicted Primaris, and the silver Goliath.

Olly is Carefully hopping from tree to tree to get closer to The Asshole Witch in Silver. He heard about this asshole being here- and now from the others. Had seen some of his ilk take his Psyker brothers away. Some returned, some didn’t. Not again- he’s not going to let one of them take his brothers or cousins away!

You hear Khopesh respond, “It is You who will need Mercy, Silver Witch. But you will find it sorely lacking from us!”

Cedric's voice is lower, but were you to hear it you'd feel your bones ice over at the murderous tone coming out of the Marine you knew as a kind young apothecary. Who liked hugs but felt awkward about asking for them.

“You wouldn't be the first body I've buried,” Cedric assures the Silver Witch. “Nor the first psycher to meet that fate, Any who threaten my brothers will be shown the same end.”

Ramiel, doesn't speak, his mind is pure focus, following and complementing the formation of his two other brothers. They are outmatched, and forced to defend, but they will give it their All.

A beat passes then…

The Silver Goliath becomes a blur, when your eyes can catch him again he has caught Rami with a blow, but the young Templar holds as firm as he can. It still causes him to skid back, leaving trenches in the earth.

Cedric and Khopesh counter, setting upon the Silver Marine. Dealing with two opponents doesn't seem to phase him terribly, he bats away their strikes.

For a moment it seems Khopesh has left him an opening, striking with his Lightning Claw his raised arm is a hazard. The Silver Knight moves to Capitalize!

Only for Khopesh to feint, turning both claws to catch the swinging blade, one sinking Into the Grey Knight's ceramite gauntlet. Like Ramiel he's pushed back a bit leaving short curved trenches, Cedric attacks the Goliath’s other side, covering and taking advantage of Khopesh momentarily stopping the sword blow.

Only for the Silver Marine to raise his non-sword hand and set off a Blast of crackling silver Lightning, pushing Cedric back who is caught by Ramiel.

“CEDRIC!” You scream in horror seeing the apothecary sporting soot marks and smokestacks on the armor he's wearing.

“AGRh!” You turn back, seeing the Silver Bastard. Khopesh managed to pull one of his claws free and Sink it into the Bastards side while the fucker was busy frying Cedric.

“VILE GUTTER RAT!” Draco bellows indignantly.

Khopesh smiles with his full sharp teeth before he uses his claws to pull himself close and Slam the bastard for a jumping headbutt. It causes the Goliath to stagger, not expecting such an undisciplined move, but that's all Khopesh needs. He wrenches his stabbing lightning Claw free, and ferociously repeats the action, while the Other claw is still awkwardly impaling the bastard's hand, keeping them joined.

And making the squirmy bastard Very hard to Hit! Draco thinks. As the Nightlord stays aggravatingly close, too close for punches or kicks to make impact.

Meanwhile, Cedric only pauses for a moment to set back on his feet, before he lunges back into the fray alongside Ramiel. They capitalize on Khopesh being essentially attached to the Grey Knight: flanking their tormentor, and attacking his sides.

The Grey Knight Is having a little more trouble batting aside these blows with the added weight of a Nightlord slowing his movements, And the bratlings, coming from his 3 and 9. Annoying little wretches! They want him to get mean? Fine!! He will get mean.

You watch with hope as it seems your Space Marines are doing it! They're forcing him back!

Until you see another crackling light, appear. Your heart jumps into your throat. “Watch Ou-!” You cry, but it's too late.

A shock wave of silver lightning Blasts in a ring around the Goliath, knocking the attacking Space Marines down and back. This time they can't seem to get up as easily, and remnant sparks fizzle over their armor.

“NO!” You cry out. This…this is your Nightmare!

Weak, Pathetic, Not even worth a backwards glanc- Shut Up! There must be Something you can do! But it will mean...

Everyone with Know.

If the Silver Monster hears you he pays you no mind. Instead he flexes the fingers of his impaled hand, fucking casually. The psycher blast seems to have tired him a bit, but he's no where near going down.

He strides past the Space Marines he's just incapacitated, perhaps the shock has locked up their armor? They're still alive, at least you think (please be alive please still be alive Please Please Please!)

He's making his way to the Scouts, still incapacitated themselves, but they try…God they try to stand and fight.

“We…we won't! We won't go with you!” Claude hisses.

Though it strains him Draco uses his psychic voice. [Silence!] He says, forcing the defiant Scout to Bow.

“That's better…Enough of your defiance. Obedience is what is expected of you. Now ACT LIKE I-!” He reinforces the next shout so it hurts more. All the Scouts tremble but he's cut off by a sudden Crashing weight!

“FOR MACRAGGE!” A voice bellows and the awful sound of Ceremite on Ceremite Screeches through the clearing!

Draco is dumbfounded for a moment, only to find arms in Blue Ceramite wrapped around his midsection, pinning his arms and SQUEEZING. The strength is actually making it hard to breath, and denting the ceremite around his waist.

Draco glances behind and sees another unfamiliar face, another Scout, but Clearly not a psycher.…A shame, he must have guts or be Severely stupid. But the guts would be beneficial to a user of the psychic arts.

As it stands though this Scout is just another Waste of his Time. Draco focuses his psychery into his core, and releases another Blast.

You watch in horror as Olly, sweet wonderful Olly is also Blasted back like your Khopesh…Like Ramiel…Like Cedric…

His body lays limp with the crackle of psychic lightning just like the others.

No…No…NO!

You slam your hands to the ground and you Push! You know this could mean your secret getting out, and you don't even know if you can soak up power like this but you're going to fucking try! You push your power to reach your Space Marines, to reach the Silver Bastard, you push to the fucking Limit!

And when you try…you finally See.

#c u c koo anon #gallifreyian writing #space marine husbandry sentience #space marine husbandry #oc: Khopesh #oc: claude #oc: cedric #oc: kerubiel #oc: thressl #oc: draco #oc: oleanderos #oc: ramiel #oc: nanael

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kit-williams · 1 month ago

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big ass lore drops

come on Anrir just let olly do what must be done at least once