Space Marine Husbandry series

What had felt like a silent eternity had only been a short 30 seconds. Wick had turned to again see the damage Selene had beautifully inflicted on Sleen.

His head was slumped back, a squelching cracking couplled with the clicking of his neck vertebra had sent chills down Wick's spine. Something he hadn't felt in years since coming to Earth.

"y00010101-u th-111100101nk....that w-1010110101ll...st-01010101p.....", as his head lowered down, the open wound had healed with the skin tones of the guards he had killed, replacing his once beady drown eye with a pale blue one from one of his unwilling victims, "mmMMMMMEEEAAAAARRRRRAAHHHH!", he fury was now boundless.

Tightening his grip on his combat knife, he knew this would be a death worth fighting for. "You! El Nino right?!". He called out to Alejandro, not knowing his real name.

El Nino was readying himself for a fight, he looked to Wick. "Si?!", he gruffly responded.

"You're unarmed and have no armor. There's a agency heading out this way. I would hate to know they've captured another Astartes. Traitor or not ....You must return to your master....", Wick had noticed Alejandro's willingness to help, assuming the old man who had intended to purchase him was his handler. "I shall finish this myself."

The sound of the helicopters from the foundation had become audible, like the looming moan.

With a nod, Alejandro knew that Wick's observation was reason enough for him to safely return to Señor Mateo. "Adios cuervo....", he bolted to the garage entrance to warn Señor Mateo.

It was just Wick and Sleen now.

His two hearts were steadily beating, he knew this was the moment. He put back his helmet, a dark knight ready to slay the beast that has been plaguing the innocent for years. Now manifested in its full hideous form.

"GANGWAY!", suddenly the scraggled battlecry of Gus had interrupted the blast of a bazooka missile heading straight towards Sleen's chest, blasting a sizable hole of gore and wires.

Although still very much alive, Sleen was now very much in a lot of unimaginable pain.

Wick, nearly feeling like he's just had a heart attack that stopped one of his hearts, turns around to see the rest of the gang. "BILHARD!"

"It would be a failed mission without you.", he sternly replied with a sly grin.

"I say we let the foundation handle that walkin junkyard! Let's make like a tree a leave!", Gus enthusiasticly loads another shot.

Joe, sensing the foundation is already close, "hey uh can your buddy here take the shot? Because we should have been GONE by now.".

Moors giving a fantastic grin, "No worries.", he presses a button on his belt, sending a signal to Tulio in the transport bus.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~`

Staying behind has proven to be a rather interesting decision for Tulio, holding a camera, he records the various people leaving the facility in a haste, including the rich patrons who had been doing some under the table dealings. "Oooooh Señor Governor of Texas, yous 'bout to get famous.", pointing to a set of other of Sleen's patrons. Recording not only evidence of what had been happening but plenty of black mail material. He then notices a familiar vanta black truck. An inconspicuous one that wouldn't have been traced back to anyone...but the Guadalajara cartel. "What the?". His phone begins to ring, picking it up, he can tell it was from a 'Tio 'Teo', "si?", he answers the call.

"~Ah, buenas noches pollito. I would suggest you leave as soon as possible. I can imagine your mama would be very upset with me if you are taken away forever.", a grandfatherly voice emanated from the phone.

"What the? Tio?! What are y-", the call abruptly ended. As Tulio contemplated this warning, he had noticed that there had been helicopters and trucks heading this way, one of which was dangerously close to the bus. Thinking fast, he sent a distress signal to Moors via labeled button on the dashboard. Clicking it had activated a rather strange means of cloaking. The entire vehicle itself had crudely cloaked itself as a mock-up of the same transport vehicles as the facility and question. ".....Moors you have to be fucking with me ...."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

With the gnashing of scrap metal and rising of slithering cables now moistened with the blood of what likely was 20 security guards. Sleen attempts to crawl towards the others. He lets out a long mechanical hiss, ladened with an industrial chemical smell, not too dissimilar to diesel. "W1111CK!!!! 111'M C0000101M1111IN6 T000 666R1100100101N41010101". What was ever left of Sleen, had be silenced, now only leaving behind a mechanical fury.

The gang were locked and loaded, ready to take their shots, if only if it were to make for more time of Tulio, "Aaaaany second would be optimal....", Moors groaned impatinatly.

Sleen crawling, leaving long gashes in the pavement of the garage, lunges forward, as if time had stopped......only to repeat the glorious 'divine hand' that had blinded Sleen's eye before, now came in the form an anti-tank missal, bullseye.

It was Tuilo, "HEY!!! THIS TRUCK IS AWESOME, MOORS YOUS A SPARE TRUCK????", filled with the gleeful adrenaline of pressing a big red button that just so happens to launch an admittingly, "pretty cool" rocket.

Moors stood there slightly puzzled, grateful, but puzzled. "Wait a darn minute, I don't recall putting that missile in the truck...", he grumbled a bit to himself as the other quickly scramble on to the truck.

Gus nudged his shoulder, "aw shucks, you 'meber that time back at Tulsa? Lets just say 'dem fed boys won't miss a genuine Class A, United States produced Anti-Tank missile.", he grinned.

Moors paused for a few seconds, "Oh the one with those pair of twins? You better be calling them occasionally, I distinctly remember one of them fancied you.".

"Y'ah mean Gwenny? Oh sweet gal passed a bit ago sadly, her sister Jennet doesn't seem to mind", Gus over the years has had a few moments that most men would be jealous of. If their charm consisted of being one of the most resourceful preppers and alien experts.

"LETS MOVE IT FOLKS, MISSION ACCOMPLISH IF WE GET OUT OF HERE NOW!", Bilhard waved for the others. Like a trained team, all members of this reluctant rescue mission got into the truck safely, packed in like sardines but better in the truck than running on foot. Moors headed to the driver's seat, "pardon me", as Tulio made space for him, moving to the passenger's seat.

The truck revved it's engine, burning rubber as it speeds up from the underground garage and into the Nevada desert. Nearly scraping two of the facility's containment units and a few members.

"STOP RIGHT THERE IN THE NAME OF THE SC-", just before facility guard could finish, a loud roar admitted from the garage again, Sleen was down but not out. Suddenly, priority had shifted the more immediate threat. "ALL UNITS TO GARAGE, AN ANAMOLOUS ENTITY HAS BEEN SPOTTED!", calling on the radio.

The truck was now father away from the site, seemingly out of reach. Wick looks to the camera system, looking throughout the horizon for Selene's headlights....she has escaped....but now she and Wick were separated...."....Au revoir, mon clair de lune."...he slumped down in his seat, not excused but deeply heartbroken, with the hope they will meet again. He looks to Bilhard, almost like a child who had been picked up by his parent's from school for causing trouble.

Bilhard's expression hadn't changed from the stern he has had the time being. "It is good to have you back safely, but you have a lot to answer for Wick. Insubordination, risking the existence of Fort Dorn, embarrassing the Imperium with perfo-", a light tap on his shoulder had just about paused his grilling.

"Give the boy a rest, he's learn his lesson." interrupted by Sten, who could see the stakes for Wick were particular.

Giving the situation some thought, Wick had recklessly acted out of something most Astartes struggle to obtain in its most sincere form....it is not part of the codex, but it is part of something that had been buried in many of them....before their changes.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Back at the Los Vegas strip, a lone Alpha Legionnaire waits nonchalantly for someone to finish their call. As a distraught business man hangs up his phone, sweating at the thousands of dollars he had lost in the night's game and passing by him as if the nearly 7ft tall marine was invisible, the marine gently squeezes himself in the cramped booth, shuffling through his little bag. Pulling out a $1.25 for the call, waiting for someone to answer the line.

"Hello~? Robertson residence, this is Susan speaking", a friendly coo gracefully cracked through the old booth's reception.

"Hello honey? It's me, Alphie, I am so sorry I didn't get back to you last Thursday (this was 3 nights ago) guys at the office convention got me all tangled up in a fine mess. First, Robert, you know from accounting, had forgotten his medication at the hotel, then that Fredrick convinced us to take a short cut, obviously we wanted to grab a burger out of town and before you can say "gadzooks", we all got in trouble with some roughhousers from the Tap co. operations team from Maryland. What a bunch of rascals. Again my sugar booger I'm so sorry I didn't get back to you.", he assured his wife.

"~Oh sweetiepoo, don't worry I understand. You go on such long business trips take such a long time. I am just happy your safe. Oh by the way, Billy has a soccer game this Saturday, and Milly has that science fair project she's still working on, I'm helping her out but I can't for the life of me remember where I put that darn drill.", Susan replied.

"Oh I believe its in the garage, my toolbox should next to the tool cabinet, anyway, I heading on the first flight home in the morning pumpkin, tell the kids daddy's coming home.", 'Alphie" joyfully responded.

"Oh that's wonder dear, have a great flight sweetie~kisses.", as his wife hangs up the call, a sigh of relief hisses from his lips. "oh thank the throne, I get to go home. Better pick up a gift or two for the kids. Oh almost forgot, thank goodness they didn't take this", taking out a large golden wedding band and placing back on his finger, he strolls back to one of the casinos to pack up for the trip back home.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Back at Gus's hideout, the marines get situated with their gear. Some preparing to say their goodbyes.

Wick giving Tulio a gentle handshake, "It has been a pleasure getting to know you and the others back at the casino. I'm certain they will find worthy enough replacements for me and Selene.".

"N'ah its ok amigo, besides, I am pretty sure the casino is already making some changes to the performance roster as we speak. And don't worry about Selene, I'll see if I can recontact her and you two will be in Paris in no time.", Tulio assured Wick.

"Now that your little tantrum is over Wick. You will return back to base, where you will have debrief with Aldercon. I am certain he would like to have a long conversation about your.....behavior.", getting back to business was something Bilhard had a near artistic talent for. He hadn't forgotten why they had come to Los Vegas to begin with. Wick, was more than prepared for his dressing down.

"Oh all right, its not like as if 'grilling' is going to solve anything.", Wick smugly replied.

Cahrilo quickly interjected as he had finished loading the bus with the rest of some items, "Oh, you mean the 'Hot Box'? Nope, we fixed that weeks ago, it's working up to 200 degrees now.".

The solemn realization that the dressing down he had hoped for is starting to sound like as if he was going to be dressed down like a Sanguinalia Day goose. ".....goodie.....".

Sten and Toke had just finished loading the truck, Cahrilo was checking on any new issues before heading down the road, Moors and Gus were having their own personal discussion a little aways from the bus, clearly it is a bit tense and quite. As for Joe, he was gathering some items Gus let him have; Clothes, important extraterrestrial meteorites (funky looking rocks) and a book written by his favorite science fiction writer Juelz Vern. He seemed a bit lost, not even sure what to do.

"Joe, are you ready to leave with us?", Sten asked him from the bus.

Joe was theoretically free for now, "....um...how well hidden is this place?", he asked with feigned curiosity.

"Outside from the world's most out of place concrete wall, its non too out of the ordinary from an abandoned military facility...", Toke peaks from the back of the bus.

Contemplating this, he nods his head, "Ok then, I guess I coming along."

Later as the bus heads up to the surface and prepares to drive off, Gus has a few parting words of wisdom for the squad.

"Gentlemen! It has been an honor to have y'all by my side in a intergalactic shootout in Vegas! Moors, have a safe drive, and remember, THE LONG ROAD TO THE STARS WILL ALWAYS GUIDE Y'ALL!", shouting with joy and enthusiasm, he takes out a kazoo to give the team a send off, playing the X-Files theme. Tulio, reluctantly standing next to him, wondering if Gus will give him a ride back to town.

The team waves Gus goodbye, Moors remorsefully having to respect Gus's wishes to stay in Nevada. "Gus, please be breathing next time I get you.", whispers like a prayer under his breath.

Joe, Wick, Toke and Sten had watched Gus from the back monitor as his continued playing until the sounds of a plastic kazoo faded quickly. "Quirky fellow ain't he?", Joe loudly thought.

"Yep", Toke dryly commented back, "Well, mission accomplished, I wonder how the lass and lad are doin?"

Sten, relieved that the mission had been finished within the week, he couldn't help but feel there was still something waiting for them back in Pine Hills. "Toke, remind me to brief with Fjord on what we had witnessed, if these humans have been using Astartes in such ways.....perhaps Aldercon may have some insight on it."

A somewhat gentle yawn aminated from Cahrilo, "I have to say that wasn't as bad as I imagined, but this is surly something for us to keep tabs on, right Bilhard?", nudging him in the shoulder.

Bilhard, stoic as usual, had nodded in agreement. "Yes. This mission has highlighted a concern of a few others back at base.....what is happening away from our sight....if others are in the same situation...the foundation's unexpected entrance was too close for my comfort...someone must have alerted them....but how...", his thoughts were racing, already attempting to put the pieces together. How did this underground gladiatorial ring go wrong in all the right ways for them? Who contacted the foundation.....he glanced at Joe...who never mentioned which chapter was he from. There had been cases in the past that corrupted marines looked identical to uncorrupted ones....was Joe one of them? If so, why hasn't he strike yet? If not...why keep it a secert?

A peaceful silence had creeped with the bus. Everyone deflating from the insanity of the past two nights.

Suddenly a little hiss of a sigh slide out from Joe's lips, "....I wonder what's playing on the radio...", he looks to Cahrilo who was next to a radio, turning it on to the local news.

"This is Maggie Hines with Los Vegas's 108.6 VOICE OF VEGAS live at the Paris Casino, with the recent disappearance of the two leading roles of headline performance, now canceled until further notice, we're here live with a ugh Mr. Green? Was that right?

"Oi dats korrect Miss Maggie, i, Gazzlegotz Green, will be replac'n Mr. Sleen, 'oo i 'ad no involvement ‘n his kurrent…ugh 'displosalment' so ta speak. I shall be headlin'n a new produktion, i kalled it "Gork an’ Mork on ice: Da Thrillsation uv da WAAARRRRRGGGG. It will be a musical performance start'n some bill'n performaz ya see. It will have passion, drama an’ most importantly, a propa an’ meaningful message.", an unfortunally familar voice had graveled its way into the once peaceful silence

"Wow that sounds epic! I can't wait to see it, ladies and gentlemen this sounds like its going to be a blast. Several of the old production's teams has signed a Hollywood contract for their show will be moved later to Anaheim, California later in the year. This has been the latest in 108.5 VOICE OF VEGAS."

*click*

The squad stayed silent.

"WAS THAT A FUCKING OR-", Moors shouted from the driver's seat.

"JUST DRIVE!" all shouting in unison.

End of Log 30

As the fighting continues, Bilhard and Cahrilo were just wrapping up their fight with Pinky, who became bored of fighting two opponents.

"Oh come boys, do SOMETHING interesting!", as he swings tirelessly.

"YOU'RE THE FOOL THATS USING A HAMMER, FIGHT LIKE AN ASTARTES YOU COWARD!", Cahrilo shouted attempting a side sweep.

The crowd was going wild, oblivious to the events occuring outside of the area. As for Sleen's patrons, they had begun to suspect that their host has been gone for far too long.

Señor Mateo had become worried, he had not seen Alejandro for sometime, and he had not appeared in the ring fighting the other 'steers'. ".......Jose, come here.", he motioned to his translator to come closer.

Across the room, another set of watchful eyes are observing the unease. "....oi, lades. Me finks we shood be leavins.", Mr. Green thoughtfully warns his escorts. Both of them mischievously smile, in a few seconds Mr.Green's entourage leave quickly.

Seeing Mr.Green leave, confirms Mateo's concerns. "Donde estas Alejandro.....", he whispers listlessly.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As the duo storm through, looking for the others, Moors attempts to track the group's missing gear. "Come on now....it's got to be hear somewhere.", Moors grumbling to himself.

"Say Moors, ain't dat one of ours?", Gus, who has strapped himself on to the side of Moors' terminator armor, points to a seemingly normal marine with iridescent teal colored bits of armor. The marine was looking around, frantically looking like he was looking for a place to hide.

With a confused tilt to his head, Moors was surprised to actually see an Alpha Legion Marine in the flesh. "Well well, ain't that something......you can even find them here...filthy traitors.....", preparing his drill, Moors stomps in the direction of the Alpha Legion Marine.

Gus looks to Moors' helmet with a side glance, shrugs, "hmm, guess not.", cocking his pistol just in case.

The Alpha Legion Marine was looking back and forth, suddenly stopped a blank wall. From a distance, Moors and Gus could see he was hitting the wall...as if he was finding a hollow spot. Stepping back, ready for a running start, he roundhouses the false wall. Landing with a heavy thud, looking up at his handy work and celebrates by raising his arms up.

The childish scene was awkward from Moors' and Gus's perspective.

Getting up and leaping into the hole, Moors conspicuously follows him, peering into the hole, the duo could see that somehow that marine FOUND the room that kept every marine's gear and equipment. Including their own.

Eeriely organized, the room looked like a lab, many of the pieces of armor that had been stripped from other Astartes were mounted on a wall. There weren't many, but many too much. The weapons had been laid out based on size. Personal items had been kept on boxes, hastily recorded with sharpy and a rough description of their previous owners.

The alpha legion marine was rummaging throughout looking for something. Watching him intently as it almost seemed as if he was ignoring the large yellow colored Terminator suited marine with a scraggly old many just hanging from his back. Gleefully, he takes out what looked like a leather satchel, walks to the wall where the pauldrons were mounted, thought about his choices.... nodding disapprovingly.....turns around to see Moors and Gus.

".........", he silently he stared at the both of them, he slowly walked away, trying not to acknowledge them, simply walking away with his satchel. Leaving the both of them in the room.

"Good gravy with biscuits, what do you suppose was that all about?", Gus looked at Moors. As for Moors, he strangely didn't have the heart to attack him for some reason. As if he wasn't a true threat...at least for now.

Looking around the storage room, Moors could pinpoint where their gear had been placed, still in tact. "Good, we have the stuff, let's warn the others.", Moors turned to Gus.

Another beep came from Gus's equipment, "Ooooowwei, we better getta upon outta here cus they comin in FAST!".

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Back at the garage, Sleen had been determined to hold on to the sports car.

Resorting to using his combat knife, Wick strikes the hydrologic wiring connecting the various parts of Sleen's mechanical arm, but nothing was was working, for every cut place and new set of mechanical augmentations grew over.

Likely because of Sleen's injuries, the augmentations kept healing over and over the body until had grown over cancerously.

Alejandro was pulling with all his might,ll through Sleen off balance. Only managing to mangle his arm to the point it is loosely attached.

The loud screeching of Sleen's decimated voice box eoch loudly throughout the facility.

Altering nearly every member of security, the roar could even be hear from the arena.

The rest of the gang almost stopped mid fight from the reverberation of the roars.

Everyone had stood silent.

This was the final straw for Mateo. It was clear that something was genuinely wrong. He stood up, and looked for an emergency fire alarm. Walked up, pulled it, and signaled the rest of his gang to make a quick getaway.

The other patrons were scrambling, they had no idea what was going on.

The sprinkler system went off, as the crowd leaves hastily, an emergency message does of:

"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM HAS BEEN ACTIVATED. PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY SAFELY TO THE DESIGNATED EMERGENCY EXITS." The automated message blared out, a lighting system had gone off to alert the audience where to safely leave.

The rest of the Marines had noticed even the locked sliding doors were now open.

"Come on lads! We have to find Moors!", Sten alerted the others. While they finished off the rest of their opponents.

"Hey what about that slimy traitor with tattooed arms?", Joe asked worried, the traitor in question was the Alpha Legionare who had slipped away from the fight as the chaos marines had decided to stay.

"Forget about him, we will seek him later!", Toke landed a final blow.

The arena had begun to fill up with water, the fight between Bilhard, Cahrilo and Pinky had abruptly ended.

"Oh poo! This RUINING my visage!", he frustratingly flipped whatever was left of his messy, greasy hair. He propped his hammer head down, climbed on the handle, jumped off and waved. "Chao you corpse emperor losers!", making a rude gesture with his fingers and running off.

Bilhard and Cahrilo do their best to jump out of the quickly flooding arena. Narrowly escaping.

They caught up with the rest to look for Moors and Wick.

Running down the hall, they could see that the security guards were running in a much more different direction.

"what in the-", Toke exclaimed quietly but as he did he ran straight into the cold, hard chest plate of Moors' terminator armor. Falling back and landing on his back, he was out for the count.

As the others could see Toke on the floor and looked up at the Terminator Armor with Gus hanging from the back.

"Oh howdy do! Sorry 'bout cha friend. Hehe", he chuckled.

Bilhard somehow mastered a smile on his heavily bruised face, "It's about time! Have you retrieves the gear?".

Moors lifts the bags he's gotten plus items that hadn't been collected by the other chaos marins. "I also took a few extras, also we need to hightail it out of here. That facility we've been borrowing from is coming here too."

Joe clicked his teeth, "Fuck, they're always around aren't they". More or less feeling inconvenienced than genuinely worried.

"Where's Wick, shouldn't be be with you?" As Cahrilo asked, another roar emanated from the floor above them.

Sten looked at Joe, "Are there OTHER obstacles we should be concerned with? That sounded dangerously close to a Hellbrute.".

Joe thought about that, "no...but only one way to find out. The sound is coming from the garage area just about this floor."

Bilhard shaking his head in agreement, "Well then, let's get a move on!", he picks up Toke, "Lead the Moors, we're bare here.".

A voxed chuckle comes out of the helmet, "not completely bare!". He shows that in the extra bags there were extra weapons, whether being from previous Marines or not. "How's about we get Wick and get out?"

~~~~~~~~~~~

The battle of the car garage has ramped up, Wick and Alejandro have been trying to loosen Sleen's grip on the car. The security guards had a new dilemma; shoot the 'steers' or shoot their own monstrous boss.

Tearing and hacking away at Sleen's vice-like grip, Wick and Alejandro hadn't been a successful.

"It's no use! She'll have to get out of the car!", Alejandro strained to pry open the mechanical claw.

Wick attempted help him, with both lifting loosen the death grip.

Sleen ironically was not too focused on them anymore, for now the security guards have taken a judgement call to begin shooting at Sleen. With everything flying bullet failing to hit him where it would make any difference. "YOU FOOLS CAN'T STOP ME ANYMORE, LOSERS!", with the nub of his dismembered mechanical arm, the wires had begun to heal over and bridge the separated parts. The wires nearest a set of guards attack them, attaching to their limbs and pulling them towards Sleen. Their flesh being torn piece by piece as they're forcibly assimilated into the mess of flesh and metal.

Selene had tried to pull the car away from Sleen but it was no use. "WICK! Where are the other keys?!", she shouted, practically reading both of their minds.

He quickly looked to keys that had been left in his hands, he could see the fob of another one of the speedier sports cars. "El Nino! Do you see another one of these vehicles!?".

Alejandro peaked over the claw, none behind Sleen, "No!", he glanced over and saw one just a few cars away. "There! Head to that side of the garage!". He attempted to rip the hydrologic tubing attached to the fingers of the claws, one was about to detach the claw from the car.

Wick had taken Selene quickly from the car, heading to one and only getaway car.

Looking over, he could see his prey escaping, no longer capable of being reasoned with, he sluggishly lubbers towards them, now incumbered by his sheer mass. Alejandro notices his movements, "RUN CUERVO!", he is able to tear off a chunk of the car, throwing it at Sleen's hunched over head.

Another terrible roar reverberated throughout.

Wick quickly found the car, "Head out as fast as you can! Don't look back mi amor.", the saddened echo in his voice was hard to miss. Selene had given one last kiss, turning on the car, the engine roared loudly.

Sleen turned to see that Selene was getting away, reaching out again to pin the car down.

From the rearview mirror, Selene could see the claw coming down, but just that moment as if it was instinct screaming at her, she checked the glove compartment and found a gun. Such convenience could be deemed as divine intervention, some would say an unfortunate blessing of the second amendment for this one special moment. Likely, the owner of the car was just careless.

She picked up the gun, the carelessness of the owner had already left the gun loaded, she turned and took her shot. As time slowed down, the bullet had dodged ever signal possible obstacle, like a hand guiding the bullet, so small that it wasn't perceivable. It's target, right into Sleen's uncorrupted eye. As the monstrous criminal turned his head to hear where the shot had come from, he could see the stoic yet satisfied smirk of Selene, who had finally taken her revenge.

Target hit.

Hitting his eye directly through his eye socket, traveling through the brain and right out the back. He stops as if someone had pulled his plug.

Wick, marveling at the marksmanship, turns to see that her car had ready gone. He could take a deep breath knowing she was heading to safety.

Victory was something she would have never imagined feeling in her life, but the bitter weight of leaving Wick behind had quickly soured the moment. What was supposed to be a smile had pulled down, she had no idea of Wick was going to be able to escape and find her. Through the rearview mirror, she could see the facility in the distance, but she could see helicopters coming in from the distance. "oh mon dieu, s'il te plaît, sors de là mon amour.", she uttered to herself. Wick knew she was safe, but was he and the others ready to escape?

End of log 29

Pinky and Bilhard we're still heading it on hard at each other. However unbeknownst to the two fighters, there had been a change of plans.

El Nino was silently furious, he wanted the chance to fight Bilhard at his best and fittest to truly measure if it was worth Señor Mateo's purchase. Instead, Sleen put a wrench in his personal plans, "I will get that miniature junk yard...". He quickly snuck back stage, towards where Señor Mateo had been seated with the rest of the more sorted patrons.

He stomps his way through the room, but gently head towards Mateo, "That bastardo gordo had El Toro fight that slimy l-", Mateo had causally turned his head to his Astartes.

"I believe we have much more bigger problems amigo.", he points to the arena, within the five minutes it took El Nino to head up to seats, EVERYTHING was going to shit. "But, it is, how do they say? 'Good for Business?'...", he glances at the patrons who were not SCRAMBLING to get their earnings before any more sudden changes, all cursing Sleen as they argue amongst themselves.

Mr.Green, was happily smoking in the corner with Miss.Blu and Miss.Yellow. "Oi, zounds like, Sleen's ina scrap, aight e?", he grinned mischievously.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"COME ON BIG BOY! Is that all you G-", just as soon as Pinky was about to finish, a platform lifted his leg up throwing him off balance again, it was a separate miniature fighting pit. Likely for multiple fights at once.

Thinking fast, and seizing a chance to even the odds, Cahrilo enters the ring with Bilhard with a makeshift shield and morningstar. Toke, Sten and Joe head straight to the Chaos marine side to find a means of escaping.

The Chaos marines had other ideas.

"Hey! This wasn't part of the program!", a word bearer growled enthusiasticly. "SsssUCH excitement!". His teeth chattered.

"Perhaps we must make our escape! We can have our way with the mortals later!", a Black Legion Marine growled.

Just as soon as they were able to make a quick getaway, Sten and the others head towards the Chaos marines confronting them.

A black Legionare makes the first move roaring, lifting his claws up to strike Joe.

Joe, armed with a javelin, he makes a quick strike to the chaos marine's neck, spilling and spraying his blackened blood all over the place. Toke taking up a makeshift spear, rammed it through an open maw on his chest, erupting a gnarled spear head from the marine's back.

At first, the chaos chuckled, than.... sensations he had never once felt in his whole life....had begun to occur. First, he felt a surprising amount of burning pain, more so than he usually felt. Suddenly, where the javelin had pierced his neck, the blood was not stopping like it usually does. Looking down, he saw the open maw on his chest, it hurt looking at it. His hearts began to beat slower and slower, one heart had stopped...the other was slowly ready to cease.

Roaring in pain, something very strange was happening, he wasn't healing like he usually does.... something was off. "BROTHERS! HELP *cough cough* Meee...", he went down faster than expected, landing with a heavy thud.

Both groups stared at each other, the chaos marines had suddenly came to a rather upsetting realization.

They have been winning against other Astartes for so long because Sleen had handicapped most of them prior to every fight, they had no armor, physically exhausted them to make the fight easy and worst of all.....

None of them were going to get help from their respective chaos gods....they were stranded on a planet they all hadn't ever been on....a planet the chaos gods somehow could not reach.

The others however, found their luck to be equally surprising....but not enough to spare them. "GET 'EM LADS!" Toke shouted.

The battle was on, and the odds were finally even.

~~~~~~~~~

El Nino and Mateo were watching the chaos.

Sten and his team were holding the line, cutting down each chaos marine one by one, Bilhard and Cahrilo were putting up a fantastic fight with Pinky. Who was simply enjoying himself.

Growling furiously, El Nino looked to Mateo. "I must go down there! No one breaks my rules!", just as he was about to jump right through glass balcony, Mateo had gently placed his hand on his forearm.

"No amigo, go down there with grace. Let the audience believe that this is part of the show for now....if there is any problem....we shall evacuate everyone safety...the assets will have to be reclaimed some other time...", he smiled gently.

El Nino couldn't argue with his old friend, he clearly knew he was right. Grounding his fury to clarity. "Than, I shall go there....and fight them myself....".

"Leave Sleen to me....he will learn to go with the program," Mateo looked to his other hired guns to quickly find Sleen. Likely to kill him.

Leaving the room in a calm huff, El Nino than spots something passing by swiftly in his peripheral. It was the ever familiar shadowy blur of someone's armor.

"hmmm........", he changes tactics and follows into the direction of the blur, taking light but sturdy steps.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Roughly a floor above, Moors and Gus where putting up their own fight. Bashing guards left and right, while Gus goes on having some target practice.

"HAHAHAHA! JEUST LIKE 'NAM, RIGHT MOORS?!", Gus cackled as he was having the time of his life.

"Haha! It is! This is more fun because now I don't have to hold back!", lifting a guard up and tossing him on to a small group.

Suddenly, mechanical steps begin to thunder close by.

"What the?" Moors turns around and sees what looks like a prototype Dreadnought armor... but modified to fit a human operator. The false-armored menace chargers to Moors, almost overpowering him.

The two giants duke it out. Gus takes a pistol and trys to pinpoint a weak spot. "Ha! Right there!", he sneers aiming to a fuel cord in the left arm side feeding into the armor. A direct hit servers the fuel cord, weakening the arm.

Moors lands a direct hit and topples his opponent. "How did they get this model's blueprints?!", Moors exclaimed. He looked down at the now frightened operator, scrambling to get out of the machine.

"Well, musta been some other one of your kind Moors!", reloading his pistol. He feels the unfortunately familiar vibrations of one of his sensors. He takes the little phone like device out of his pocket. "GADZOOKS! MOORS this rescue mission better get goin! They're commin in hot!"

What Gus was referring to....was the Security Containment Procedure Foundation...who had just pinpointed their location. If they do no get out of there on time, all of the Astartes will be in trouble.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wick, gently holding on to Selene, was attempting to find a way out of the underground facility as fast as he could. If he could not simply fly away with her, he could be at least able to find her a way to escape. "Oh mon amour, please forgive me I should have been here sooner.", his remorse for not being more diligent with his rescue was burning him with shame.

Selene, who although bruised, hurt but not broken, was just happy to be out of harms way for now, "mon corbeau, all that matters is you came back for me. Mon amour." She hugged his ceramite chest plate to the best of her abilities.

"What will matter to me more is that I can see you safely out of here to live another day.", he reciprocated by laying his helmet gently as he could on the top of her head. As he looked around for an exit, a vox intercom was coming in, "Moors, what's wrong?".

The crackling of the vox transmission sputtered, "You better find your better half and the others soon, Gus says we only have a few minutes. Maybe less."

"I'll be right there, I just need to get to the garage.", he turned the transmission off. "Selene, you must get out of here, I will find you when all this is done....". He remorsefully coos to her. He looks around for where the valets kept the keys, scoping out several fobs, he picks them all up.

The look of soft worry emanated from her, "But Mon amour, you are coming with me aren't you? We can both escape, have a life together....".

As the both of them find their way to a garage, full of the rich patron's cars, Wick finds one of the speedier sports cars. Looking at it closely, he was just lucky enough to have picked up the right fob. Testing the car, "This should be fast enough.... Selene. You must head back to the Casino, find one of our own, I've contacted them with everything ready to arrive at the airport. He has your documentation. You will be able to find a contact on your way back home.". He placed her down next to car. It was breaking both of his hearts knowing he will have to leave her again.

"But Wick, you just came back a-and what if I-", she felt Wick's hand come closer to hers. She knew he wasn't sure if this was the end. Tears finally rolled down in full strength, she hugged him furiously. "Please.... please come with me...I can't bare to leave without you.".

Unlocking his helmet, he took it off to be able to see her unimpeded. He gently hugged her back, he desperately wished he could. "I will....I just need you to be safe.".

Hiding behind the corner of the door witnessing the scene, El Nino had finally understood what his intruder had come for. "....so....the nina's pajarito.....is a little more than her 'steer'.....hmmm....", he was more than obliged to let her escape now. After all, it was clear she had someone who cared about her deeply...even if by Alejandro's perspective was merely a cold blooded assassin of the corpse emperor. "To hell with Sleen's payment....", he grumbled to himself, killing the girl's Astartes was not worth his time anymore.

Suddenly, the clanking and whirling of mechanical parts broke the silence. "SsssSSSeeeeeeellleeeeeennneee......", the familiar croaking of Sleen emanated from the darkness of the garage. The coughing had not only gotten worse, but something about the way his voice sounded artificial.

Wick quickly pulled out his bolter, pointing at Sleen, "I finally get to use this on your ugly mug...", he growled.

A red light dimly glowed a few cars away. It was taller than Sleen, but something terrible had evolved. "Y-you think you can j-j-j-j-ust walk out o-o-o-o-10110001-on me?". The loud stomp of Sleen's once mechanical leg not had somehow grown more elaborate. What was supposed to be a simple body brace, had become somewhat of a mechanical exoskeleton, not too dissimilar to what Wick had seen when working with members....of the mechanicus adeptus. The telltale signs of corruption were strong. Sleen....was barely the middle aged, sleezehead that Wick had met in Los Vegas...but was now...a much bigger threat...driven by greed and vendetta.

He quickly opened the car door, "get in and hit the gas the second I close the door.", he whispers to Selene.

Looking up at Sleen, she shutters in horror. "Wick, W-what is that?".

"HehehehehHAHAHAHAHA!!!", as Sleen creeps out from the shadows. "You don't recognize m-m--m101010-me? Sweethe-", suddenly, a whole other sportscar flies at Sleen just as he was about to finish his sentence.

Wick and Selene look back to see what the actual fuck just happened.

"DRIVE NINA! THAT AIN'T GOING TO HOLD HIM FOR TOO LONG! YOU PAJARITO, SHOOT HIM WHILE HE'S DOWN FOOL!", El Nino had thrown the vehicle to give Selene a heads start.

Selene gets in the car, "Mon amour, please find me!", as she says this, Wick gives her a final kiss. Their tears synchronize their decents.

"Be safe, mon amour.", Wick let go, looking into her eyes.

Starting the car and revving the engine, the car roared, wheels ready to run.

"NOT SO FAST YOU LITTLE-", Sleen had gotten up and recovered, declawing down at the trunk of the car. Holding Selene in place.

Caught off guard she screamed, Wick took out his bolter to shoot Sleen near his shoulder and head, although the shots landed, the metal didn't seem to even leave a scratch.

"Time for a bull's eye than.", aiming to what flesh was left on Sleen's face, the bolt went off but was parried by his metal claw.

"YOU THINK YOU CAN BEAT ME BIRD BOY! I'LL FUCKING COOK YOUR GOOSE!" turning to Selene, his not long wired tongue slathers the side of his face like a gecko, "and STUFF hers.", his sickening laugh echoed.

Loading more shots, Wick unloaded more blots.

El Nino shouted, "TU PENDEJO! You'll shoot the car! Hit the belly!", turns out El Nino's observation was correct.

Sleen electrically roars, raising his claw to strike down El Nino. He slams his arm down but El Nino blocks his furious blow, the one gift from Khorn that had not left him, he super strength.

Wick looks down at Sleen's stomach, as it turns out, his stomach had become distended with an inflamed infection from the foreign metal attempting to hastily fuse to his flesh. Leaving exposed just enough for a well placed shot.

Aiming his bolter, he pulls the trigger, only for an extra mechanical arm to parry the shot.

Out of bolts, Wick resorts to his combat knife, "making things hard for everyone as always....".

End of part 1

The five, unfortunate, and reluctant Astartes...armored with nothing but their fists and civilian clothing....were now in the middle of a mini coliseum.

"....so....this is it. This...is what these mortal value us as....", Bilhard growled.

An enormous TV screen slowly descends from the high ceiling.

As the lights flicker on, Sleen shows up on the feed. "GOOD EVENING FREAKS! I see you've finally made it! Let's check out your competition! Shall we?"

A large door elevates to the several chaos marines that were originally being held. Although most of them have removed what they could of their armor, some were now equipped with makeshift weaponry. Truly something post apocalyptic in aesthetic nature.

In the middle, there was only one who had worn the bare minimum of protection, wearing a traditional luchador outfit, with reds, blues and whites adorning the mask...was El Nino.

Towering over most of the other Marines, something unusual for a first born marine.

He stood out from the team, raised his handa up, and the crowd cheered. He roared as if he's already won. He looks at the group, with a menacing glare.

Something was different about this Khornate fighter. His bravado had substance, his stance had a purpose....he was lucid.

"Damas y Caballeros! Tonight! You all about watch the bloodiest show on earth!", as he boomed his voice to the mysterious crowd of dubious patrons, he than points to Bilhard.

"And you! 'Toro'! Are about to feel my fists! For I EL NINO, shall bestow the THUNDER!", he then proceeds to flex, posing for the crowd. As he turned around to make sure everyone had a fantastic view of his rippling muscles, a conspicuous set of markings could be seen on his back.... healed markings that once formed the sigil of Khorn...

Bilhard, who had never met this shocking eccentric chaos marine, was understandably confused. "........what in the..."

Sten looked to Bilhard with a cocked brow, "It is no surprise that it would be a World Eater would be the head participant of this....".

"He's showing too much personality that's for certain.", Joe commented.

"NOW! It would not be fair to have such 'honorable' brawlers UNARMED AND UNARMORED!", As he points to more MadMaxian wears. Armor and weapons flashed from scrap metal, old car parts and broken industrial grade machinery. Unwashed to boot.

"Well ....it is more than what many of our enemies were willing to give I suppose.", Toke mumbled, he looked at El Nino....there was genuinely something off about him..."aye, Sten....do you suppose you could take a peak man? See what's making him tick?".

Sten had closed in on El Nino the second he saw him, ".....he.....is doing all of this on his own...chaos has....left him?"

Through Sten's eyes, the chaos marines in the back were merely a mess of darkness and depravity....El Nino was a void in that mess....not a light, or a dark emptiness....but a blank space amongst them....as if he was his own presences.

As the gang reluctantly head to their "generously" given gear, their mind had become riddled with questions....one had remained the loudest....

"where the fuck was Wick and Moors?", Bilhard grumbled as he grabbed what looked like trashed power fists, likely from another unfortunate victim from battles prior.

Sten seeing what little this terrible gladiatorial battle had to offer, he had a feeling their luck was about to change, "hmm...I sense not too far."

"NOT YOU LOBO! You are fighting in the ring with me!", El Nino growled.

Sten was to fight El Nino the way he wanted to fight him; Honorably through lucha.

~~~~~~~~~~

Outside, a set of guards were peacefully keeping watch. Making sure no law enforcement or border patrol officers would come snooping around.

One guard, a rest position was staring off into the evening desert landscape of Nevada.

The other however, was a little more jumpy. "Hey....dude....Pete...."

Rolling his eyes, "what Kieth?"

"It....it happened again....my cousin-", a loud moan from Pete erupted.

"-for FUCKS sake dude....for the last time there's no such fucking things as aliens.", Pete argued.

"But seriously man! My cousin TOTALLY saw one this time! He was driving his truck out in stretch and saw those running light critters! He almost died bruh!", Keith excitedly shouted.

A deep breath spewed from Pete, "your cousin is a desert hick from Arizona who's favorite candy is fentanyl man, get your cousin some help or something that shit is sad a-", suddenly, the headlights of a truck coming towards them.

Raising thier guns. The truck slowly pulled up to their side.

Two men were sitting seated, both wearing rather unrevealing uniforms.

"ugh, hi..ugh... we're here to deliver 60 cases of Snack Cakes?", the driver was doing their best not too look at the guards in the eye.

The two guards began to inspect the truck, "...we didn't get any notice about a snack truck did we Keith?".

Keith inspected the passenger seat, a potent oder of BO emanated from the open window.

"Howdy do!", it was Gus. The driver, Tulio.

The guard stared at Gus, "...bro....why do you smell like shit?".

"Well I was about to ask you the same question! Only instead of shit, it's 20 volts!", the second the guard was about to call for backup, Gus hits him with a high powered taser to the neck.

"Hey what the-?!?", the second shouted but Tulio had swiftly hit him the chest.

"....GUS WHAT THE SHIT MAN?!", the calm demeanor Tulio had put up quickly shifted.

Gus on the other hand was jittery and giddy like a school kid. "Alrighty! Moors! Wick! Show time!", knocking on the back wall of the truck.

"This isn't part of the plan Gus!", Tulio shouted.

"It is now!", he giggled as he prepared his gear and bullet proof vest. "Here! This will protect you from their mind probes!", Gus handed Tulio a small plastic Grey Alien with a little sharpie marked symbol on the back of its head.

"....gringo loco...", Tulio breathlessly muttered.

A loud crash of metal bending had erupted from the back of the truck. A set of thunderous foots steps crunches the dry, sandy ground.

"Gus...you did it again.", Moors voice emanated from the vox transmission of his terminator armor.

Gus, giving his maniac, ear to ear smile. "Juuuuuust like Topeka....", Gus had been referring to an incident where he and Moors had invaded a previously secret government facility.

Tulio looks at the armored Moors, gives a whistle, and nods in approval, "Nice...hey how come you don't gots a beak like Wick's suit?".

A light chortle vibrates from the vox, "preference I suppose, now....let's get drilling.", Moors turns on the power drill on his suit and directly digs at the base of the entrance.

Looking around for Wick, Tulio looked both in the back and the skies for him, "Ugh, say wheres Wick? Wasn't he in the back of the truck?", he shouted over the loud drilling.

Gus has just finished gearing up, "took the back entrance! We're here to distract!".

"oh shit man...", the response was dry and tired.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sleen, huffing enough cigar smoke to choke a horse, was monitoring the fight below. "Hehehe.... ladies and gentlemen! Our first event will be a one on one fight with "El Toro" and the fan favorite, PINKIE!"

The second his name was announced, the Emperor Children marine, 'Pinkie', had begun to flaunt himself in such vulgar and sentimental ways. Gyrating his hips, having his long tongue feel his face for him and dancing for the crowd as they cheered.

"OOOOoooohhhh! It looks like I am about to get a little 'warm up'~", he hissed seductively at Bilhard. Giggling uncontrollably, "I hope you like 'em HARD and LONG!".

He takes out his favorite weapon, a makeshift hammer with pink and green sprayed painted imagines. Blood having already stained the bright neon coloring for being unwashed. Pinkie swung his hammer around like a baton, demonstrating an unnatural Grace to the depravity of what he was planning to do to Bilhard.

In the meantime, Bilhard, who has not been reluctantly labeled as "El Toro", likely a name that Señor Mateo had given him earlier, was stoic, focused and ready to lay a beating.

Raising both of his fists, slamming them together like a boxer, he was just waiting for an excuse to let what he knew was DECADES of frustration. "YOU WILL THE WRATH OF MY FISTS SOON ENOUGH YOU FILTHY DEMON!".

"Ooohh! A fisting?! Oh I like you already!", Pinkie filtered with him playfully.

"......I believe for the first time in my life am I.... reconsidering my decisions.", Bilhard had just realized what 'fisting' is in the context of earth slang.

Toke, who has firmly armed himself with not one but two smaller hammers, "Too late lad! I see you have never had to deal with Slenessh's grimiest?", speaking from experience, it was a bit of bad luck that he wasn't mathed with Pinkie for this fight. The best way to deal with them, is to defeat them quickly and efficiently.

Two things Bilhard likely knows.

"Hmf, I've dealt with plenty scum like him!", stomping towards Pinkie, ready to fight, Bilhard begins to focus on his strategy against his corrupted opponent.

A referee shortly appears, surprisingly unshaken at the two towering men about to begin this tournament of horrors. "Alrighty! Listen up. Fight hard, fight dirty! The crowd loves it. Oh and Pinkie please don't violate the guy afterwards at least kill him before you rape him ok? It scares off the paying customers.", speaking with such chilling nonchalance.

Pinkie gave a sickening smile, "Oh stahp it! You know much they love an after show!", he licks his lips, just fantasizing what is going to do if he wins.

"Right...have fun boys", running as fast a possible away from both of them.

Without even the courtesy of a bell, Pinkie landed the first hit with his hammer, sending Bilhard off his feet.

Stumbling a little, there was no time to recover as the chaos marine was mercilessly swinging and landing several good hits.

Bilhard, kept his ground and covered his face and head. "YOU COWARDICE-", the heavy concrete of the hammer head landed on his arms and shoulders.

The chaos marines and Pinkie, were cackling.

The other were shocked to see that the fight truly was supposed to be a dirty fight. As they were about step in a make it an even fight, the projector screen with Sleen's face appears.

"ah ah ah, NO TAG TEAM MATCHES ALLOWED.", he presses a button and a silent dog whistle a of sorts chirps throughout the ring.

Every marine, had come to a stand still from the shrill blasting.

The pain was especially brutal for Sten and Toke, their hearing was twice as powerful as the rest of them.

Pinkie on the other hand, didn't seem care, "ew, such an annoying sound....", he genuinely wasn't effected.

Blocking his ears, Bilhard tried to see his opponent who was just unblaikingly glaring at him, waiting for him to stand up.

The noise itself stopped, "Now, let's get the show rolling!", Sleen roared in the speakers.

Right on que, Pinky swung again, however Bilhard had dodged. Weaving way from the next heavy hit, he successfully lands a punch to this opponent's bare pectoral, knocking him off temporarily off his balance.

~~~~~~~~~~~

In a hidden room, Sleen watches from multiple cameras, his patrons now watching from the box seats near the arena. "Hehehe....looks like bird boy isn't coming back after all....too bad....so sad....", he turned around practically growling in delight.

Selene, who was now forced to wear another outfit Sleen had chosen and sadly with few bruises. She sat there silently, fuming with rage a deepened sadness....where was her crow?

Heavy stomps headed to her, Sleen grinned his toothy ugly grin, "Awww what's the-*hack!*-matter?...don't like the pretty dress?", his now clawed finger headed to under her chin.

Her resolve was breaking, for a single tear slid down.

Sleen took this a sign that he was winning his little mental war against Wick..."hehehe... FINALLY...you get the big picture.".

Suddenly, a small beeping had interrupted the scene. "What the?...", he trumpled to the monitors.

His curiosity had turned to fury.

Wick, in full Raven Guard armor, was standing in FRONT of one of the cameras in front of the door.... staring it down as if he knew Sleen was looking.

"ggggrrrrraaaaAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!", he stomped quickly to the door, with his enhanced arm, he decimated the door, but no one was there. "WHERE ARE YOU!!!!! I KNOW ITS YOU!!!!", huffing and heaving, he breathlessly turned around. He slowly walked back, "Looks like I'm gonna have to mo-".

Selene, was gone.

The only thing left, was a black feather.

"-.....no....nnnnnNNNNNOOOOAAAAARARRRHHHHHHHHH FIND THAT SLUT AND HER FREAK! KILL THEM BOTH!", at this point, he was frothing at the mouth, he slammed the monitor system, putting the whole show on autopilot.....

Where things were about to get a lot more.... interesting.

End of Log 27

The scenic route had calmed the tension between Fjord and Ronnie. The two were discussing on Fjord's misadventures with me in town. I was just simply listening quietly, just giving myself time to think a little.

Walking down the thicket, the smell of wet pine needles had resurrected a recent memory of mine...the first time I saw an Astartes....that....horned one. It's been surreal to see how diverse these guys are so far....but it makes me wonder what else I don't know about their lives...maybe something I shouldn't know.

"-and then, she opens the air lock, and BAM the alien gets sent into space! Man, you really ought to watch it like man. It's a classic.", Ronnie had just finished explaining the whole plot to Aliens, Fjord was listening intently.

"Ay, sounds like a brave guardsman, this... Sigourney. Hmmm...", I've always found it interesting that somethings tap into the minds of others as either fiction or real.

This whole experience has been so unreal, ever since that day....why did it comeback to the very same spot? Considering what has been going on, did grampa have anything to do with that horned Astartes?....or was it just a freak encounter....

Fjord raised his head up, sniffing the air a bit, "ah we're here. Almost in the same spot too.", as the three of us emerged from the tree lining, we were more than 'in the same spot ', we somehow ended up right on the same patch of concrete wall where Fjord was hit with those huge guns.

"I see they have yet to patch up the wall...Ha, laziness I suppose....or everyone is dead.", Fjord casually stated.

"Dead?!", Ronnie exclaimed, "W-what do you mean dead?".

Fjord tilted his head to him, "Well for starters lad, Imperial Fists never leave a job undone. Secondly, for the job of an Imperial Fist to go ud-"

Suddenly, a familiar shout echoed from the other side of the wall.

"PASSWORD!"

Fjord knew exactly who that was, and he was going to take his chance, he gave the both of us a mischievous grin. "YOUR MOTHER!", he heartily shouted.

Ronnie just stood there in amazement. "bruh... really?"

I for one was expecting another shoot out, "if anyone takes out a gun, cover your ears."

"wait they're pack heat??", Ronnie snapped his head towards me.

We could hear the scuffled stomping of metal boots, momentary labored huffing and the unfortunate clicking of someone loading a firearm. I look up and see the world's grumpiest looking mask I have ever seen, it practically had a permanent frown. "WRONG PASSWORD YOU SON OF A- ohh it's y-WAIT WHY DO YOU HAVE TWO OF THEM NOW!?!".

"Oh hey, nice to see you again, please don't shoot us again.", I give a friendly wave hoping he recognizes us from last time.

I could see he was looking at all three us, flabbergasted a bit. ".... DOES ALDERCON KNOW YOU'RE HERE!", he shouted back.

I look to Ronnie to see his reaction, he seems to be getting exited about the situation, a bit scared but he's perked up.

"damn, th-thats a huge gun...", he looks to Fjord's utility belt and sees his piece. "Oooooh...what caliber is that?", he sheepishly asks.

Fjord looks to Ronnie, "ugh .75 I believe, some use bigger shots for bigger targets-", he shoots his head to the fist, "-Ugh no he doesn't know! Surprise visit really!", I could tell the unexpected visit was going to cost us.

The guard was pacing back and forth, grumbling to himself, "ALRIGHT! BUT IM ONLY LETTING YOU IN BECAUSE YOU AND YOUR HANDLER HAVE A HOSTAGE!", he then disappears back from the top of the wall, thudding down the stairs.

Ronnie looked at the both of us, "What the? Hostage??? You guys tricked me or something?!"

"No no, let him think that, just don't make any sudden movements, comments or anything. These guys are like the jughead's back at Tallimook? Yeah, think that but way more serious.", all us then turn our heads to a near seamless door appear at the base of the wall.

"Come on. You will be escorted to Aldercon himself.", he turns to somebody out of our line of sight, "Search the new comer.", is the three of us reluctantly walk through the door way, two other Marines, one blue and another yellow one are standing guard with him.

"Well well well, I had heard that there was a handler chosen after all this time, which one is it? The female or the male?", the blue one coldly asked. "Hmf, the female most likely.... considering the Astartes." The yellow sneered, Fjord had mentioned to me that his group of Marines had always been seen in a bad light...it makes me wonder what is the reality of Space wolves in that case.

Fjord understandably gave a low growl, "you'll show respect for my 'handler'.....", I could practically see his hair stand on end.

Ronnie stuck to me like glue, "dang, this is some intense shit. Also why does one of them looks like Big Blue?".

The one with blue snapped his head towards us, "That showboating fool?! An absolute disgrace to the Ultramarines! Instead of seeking the rest of his chapter, he's gallivanting around....the Codex does NOT allow for such a grievous waste of time.", he groned.

"Hey man c'mon, he's saving lives and stoping some serious crimes in Philly. Shits serious down there. At least he's helping.", I guess Ronnie was a fan of Big Blue than.

I turn to Ronnie and whisper, "please this isn't a time to be brave, these guys are the real deal. Like straight from...where ever they're from.", unlike Fjord, I couldn't read these guys for the life of me. Whether it be their helmets or cadence in their tone....these guys were scary.

"How would you appreciate your soldiers in your homewold's army doing the same thing? Would that not be subordination?", doubling down on his opinion.

"Oh come off it! Besides, we need good rapport with the Earth mortals, I'm certain your primarch wouldn't be too upset about it. After all, he is probably enjoying his new found purpose.", the guard retorts. "Now move it.", returning to his gruff demeanor.

Motioning to the both of us, Fjord turns to us and nods, "do not worry, I'm never out numbered.", shining a mischievous grin.

I genuinely felt safer knowing that at least. I turn to Ronnie to see he was looking around cautiously. "Lorey, did ...did you go through here?"

I shake my head, "no, we went over the wall actually. That's what that big hole was."

"Speaking of which lass, you fists forgot that hole in the wall or something? Or were you all finding a nice frame for it?", he chuckled.

The two fists look at each other with shock, I guess from their perspective there was any hole.

As we walk to the other side, we can see that there was a little more activity than last time. More Marines were walking around, just tending to their own chores and such. There was that friendly marine, Sha'kal, monitoring a group of them, it looks like they're doing some military exercises. As we pass by I could see he glaces back, that smile beaming like always and a friendly.

Funny enough, the other Marines saw that, glanced at our direction to see who he was waving at. One stopped as he was jogging, causing a domino effect while the furthest in the back made a sudden stop.

The both of us winced a little, "Oops, sorry!", I had to apologize.

"Hello Lorey, it is a pleasure to see you and Fjord again! Oh and don't worry, they're fine! Right gentlemen?", as he addressed three of them on the ground getting up, groaning from their own pile up.

Ronnie's eyes were wide open, if it was anymore hammed up he'd rubbing his eyes. "Woah...I...ugh...I thought-".

"That they were all in mechanical suits? No you're half right but that's all muscle down there.", personally, I was enjoying the view.

"...yeah....ugh...they're...huge...all of them...", he glanced at Fjord who waved back Sha'kal, he started to put the pieces together. He leans to whisper, "Are these guys like....super mutant government experiments or something?".

The guard fist snaps his head to him, "Watch it mortal! We're angels of the Imperium.".

"...no idea what angles these guys have seen but ok go off.", Ronnie grumbled.

Off into the distance, Aldercon had finally arrived to the surface from another entrance, he was out of his big, bulking yellow armor and into something more akin to a standard military uniform of a high ranking officer.

"Miss.Drake! I see you have breached our agreement in a record time of 70 hours, 20 mins and 48 seconds. Hmf, calculations correct as always.", he didn't seem too angry but that snide comment of his was a good sign he wasn't too pleased. Makes sense.

He marched right up to Ronnie, immediately intimidating him. Looking at him up and down like newly recruited meat. "....Stand up straight, boy! James has relayed quite a lot about you so I expect the best out of you. So far, you have the stance of a slacker, but I can you have guts, a newly acquired chip on your shoulder to boot .... likely grieving for someone's loss, my condolences....., yet James has told me you have the qualifications of a team leader. Good. Now then.....Miss.Drake why have you breach our agreement in keeping our existence safe?". The stoic tone in his voice was giving me the strangest sense of anxiety...than again.

"It seems we may have a... situation on our hands....one of the rangers from my work place was....killed.", I would imagine the next thing was going to happen was some semblance of a report, hopefully I'm not one filing anything.

Ronnie within every word Aldercon commanded he had stood straight like a soldier, at first it was an immediate response in fear until he heard Jame's name. "Wait hol'up you know James?", he looked Aldercon in the eyes, which was considerably a big mistake.

The Ronnie's colors flushed from his face with a shift of Aldercon's eyes. His knees even started to shake a little.

"....Yes....I do know your boss James. Like Miss.Drake, he was my handler when I had first come to your world.", the look on Aldercon's eyes was one of hatred or anything truly malignant, but it was akin to being starred down but a large animal.

I put my hand on his shoulder. "It's ok Ron, he isn't going to do anything. These guys have a ....rather complex life, trust me they're serious for good reason. But they're not going to hurt you. I promise.". The look of worry on Ronnie's face was telling.

Shaking his head a little, Aldercon than turns to Fjord. "Don't you think you're out of my line of sight fuzzball! That stunt of yours with the law enforcement officer could have cost us.".

Fjord gave an awkward smile, he knows what he did. "Hehe... At least I missed?".

"Come, I believe we need to register our.... reluctant new mortal here.... considering he works close with you and James, I believe it would be wise to have.... extra eyes.", he turned around, heading towards the same entrance we had gone in before.

Loosening up a little now that Aldercon wasn't looking at him, Ron let out a heavy sigh of relief. "Bruh, Lorey...how does he know James?! What the hell is a handler? A-and-", he stopped mid sentence and saw the training group from earlier, it seemed that that were now just taking a quick break and tossing around what looked like a huge football, but I could tell it looked HEAVY. I could even hear the impact of the ball hitting there palms from all the way where we were standing.

I turn to see what he was looking at, "aw, they know how to play football."

The wheels in Ronnie's head were definitely turning, "Lore...these are built different... aren't they".

"yeah, they' are....they definitely are....", I responded.

"......why do....we feel like they're....ugh...", Ronnie couldn't find the words to say without them likely sounding insulting.....but it was probably the same thoughts as me.....

~~~~~~~~

Later, heading down into the fort, I could see Ronnie had begun to feel a lot more awe struck rather than worried.

"Daaaang this place is huge! It's like some secret government agent kind of shit.", his head was looking at pretty much all the same things I had been looking at.

The bustling construction on some of the walls have moved on to other parts of the underground fort.

"Now, 'Ronnie', what you see here has no affiliation with any of your planet's government agencies, national administrations or any corporate or political group. We are our own governing body here.", Aldercon concluded stoically.

The tilt of Ronnie's head was hard to miss, "I'm sorry...did you say 'planet', like....y'all from outer space?".

I remembered that Fjord would sparingly allude to them coming from some other world but to actually be confirmed this by Aldercon is definitely a little bit more heavy. "Ugh, can you better explain that actually? I think this is the first time I'm hearing this too.".

His eyes shifted to view both of us individually, like a mounted camera, he let out a heavy yet strangely gentle sigh for a man his girth.

"If you two will make the assumption that we as the Astartes, warriors and guardians of the Imperium are ....as some would understandable consider us...."aliens"....as per the definition of 'someone from a different/foreign land'....you both would be correct... however -", he leans over the both of us, shadowing us like a great wall.... probably comparable to the fort's concrete wall outside.

"-we....are human.....not Xenos....do you understand me?". His stare would burn holes into our brains if he could....

I nodded my head, I look to see Ronnie nodding his head as well....

"Good...now.... about that rouge marine....", he concluded.

End of log 26

The gang had been running through the facility for some time now. Sten taking deep wiffs of the air and order to find Selene.

"She going in a different direction, but I think she has already been apprehended.", Sten huffed as he is leading the way.

"How are you certain that mortal hasn't been killed yet?", Bilhard following close by, "our first priority should be finding the rest of our equipment. We don't want it getting it into the wrong hands".

Joe, who preemptively decided to join them, was in a rather calm mood. "Ah good times, but this is a piece in comparison to the-"

"Joe, you wouldn't happen to know where they keep personally item would you?", Bilhard curtly while interrupting him.

"oh, well unsurprisingly I don't know. However if I had some idea...it will be where there are more guards. Or at least two guarding the door.", his rationalizing wasn't completely out of line.

Suddenly, the wall just around the corner had closed down, blocking the way to that particular hall.

The gang stopped.

"....did ....that wall just appear out of nowhere?", Toke had thought out loud. As the group continued, another hall had closed up.

".....they are leading us....", Bilhard stoically answered. Thinking fast, Bilhard looked for a way to avoid the next possible obstacle. He could see there were several doors, he quickly walked up to one and punched a hole through one of them.

It was a blank wall.

"By the throne! This is a maze of false ends!?", Bilhard shouted.

The others quickly checked the other doors. All false spaces of wall.

"Looks like we're being lead somewhere else....oh no...", Joe exclaimed quietly.

Sten turned to look at him, "What is it?".

"When I was transported here, I was blindfolded, but I could feel that it took a VERY long time to arrive down here.....but it was a straight trip down, then a few turns to the left, a right turn and a left....then I was plopped into my cell.....oh boy ....I think we fucked up the second we left through the guard's door.", Joe muttered to himself.

"What?! Why did you not tell us this before!", Bilhard shouted furiously at him.

"Well because I wanted us to get lost...... OBVIOUSLY I DIDN'T REMEMBER THAT SECOND!", Joe shouted back.

"Enough! There is no time to fight amongst ourselves. The scent is coming from the blocked hallway, if we all attempt to break the wall down, we can pass through.", Sten suggested.

The five Astartes prepare themselves to all simultaneously punch the wall down. With the first blows leaving a small dent.

"hmmm...again!", Sten directed.

Another set of blows began to make some progress, the indentation was getting deeper....but it was not relenting.

"What the hell is this metal?! It's like it keeps stretching forever or something!?", Cahrilo pondered.

As soon as the wall was so close to giving way, the air vents had released three times more of the knockout gas had fumed in.

"LOCK IT UP AND HOLD YOUR BREATHS!", Bilhard commanded.

The Astartes now we're working overtime with limited air, the metal had finally begun to give way. With the final blow leaving a sizable hole as big as Toke's fist, the plumes of gas had flowed out.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The facility was on high alert, five Astartes have seemingly escaped and avaided capture to this point.

Sleen, who had been watching the camera footage along with Señor Mateo, and several other mysterious patrons. Was starting to become impatient.

These patrons had come from various origins around the world. All upper elites with dubious dealings and businesses.

Sleen was grooling with frustration, the mechanical augmentations that now have begun to physically hurt him, but not as much as his frustration. "What is with these freaks?!?", he moved around like an angry animal.

Señor Mateo wasn't too unimpressed, he whispered to his translator, not even bothering to give Sleen any semblance of polite interaction.

"Señor Mateo askes if this is part of the show, Sleen..... don't look like it.", as the translator looks to him with a suspicious glare.

Suddenly, a chance to be a complete douch had sprung, "AH! Yes, you can place bets on who gets to be captured first! *Twitch and coughs violently* After all, what's a little preshow before the main event! Now place your bets!", some of the patrons had gave permission to give large sums of money, one.... was saving his pot for later.

"Oi! I bet those krumpin tinmen ar gointo escape! Ha! Ain't dats right ladies?", Mr.Green was amongst the patrons, referring to his two female escorts, who both were very happy to just have such a generous and gentlemenly boss.

"mmhmm, I think your right Mr.Green", one giving him a rub of his shoulders.

"Mr.Green NEVER loses a bet.", one addressed Sleen directly, practically challenging him on Mr.Green's behalf.

Sleen turns violently towards the laid back businessman, who has been looming in the corner. "What...did yo-", suddenly, a muscular hand, grabs what was still left of flesh on Sleen's face.

"OI! Yous respekts my ladies! Miss.Blu and Miss.Yellah getz to doz wuts dey wants!", almost crushing Sleen's head. He finally let's go as a warning.

The others had known about Mr.Green's unnatural luck streak. Everything from investments to just making simple, inconsequential guesses....Mr.Green....somehow could make it happen. Those who had bet against the Astartes were now becoming a little bit unsure of their decisions.

Sleen, practically smelling that he's losing money no thanks to Mr.Green, "ALL BETS ARE FINAL FROM THIS POINT! Let the games... begin!", he turns back to the cameras and sees the gang running down a hall ...one that he had been trying to avoid. "DAMNIT!"

Mr.Green was chortling so hard he nearly fell out of seat. "YUZ BLOCKED DAT WRONG WAY! HHAHAHAHAHA!", his cackling was contagious.

Although all bets were final, it was still interesting to see Sleen become more flummoxed.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Running down the halls, the Astartes head towards what looked like a large, open room....only to find a dead end with on door.

"....well...might as well lads...", Sten turned quietly to Bilhard.

With an affirmative nod, the group casually head towards the door. Turning the nob, the door had lead to the holding cells they were in previously.

"rerraaaaAAAAAAHHHHH!", a loud thunderous scream from Bilhard let out, "RUIN PRIEST WHAT MADNESS IS THIS?!?".

Sten too was mortified, how could his senses lead him a stray.

The sound of a little wheerling motor had erupted the silence.

It was an RC car with a piece of Selene's clothes on it. As the little, inconspicuous toy car zoomed into one of the cells, leading to the still open wall behind the cell.

"....well....looks like we never had a choice....at least this time it was kinda fun.", Joe shook his head in mild disappointment, as if the whole escape hadn't met his expectations.

Meanwhile, the rest of the Astartes were more than royally furious at the whole situation. What level of absurdist intelligence did mortals on Earth have that could have bestest the Emperor's finest?

Apparently, three AAA batteries, a motorized toy car and the knowledge two of five were the equivalent of bloodhounds.

The five enter into the dim, dark hallway of the entrance. They could all begin to hear a large crowd, cheering just beyond the hall, a light was just a bit yonder.

Sten, still feeling the sting of being deceived, was still anticipating the next move. He could sense multiple thoughts and minds just beyond the light.

As the blinding light revealed a sizable crowd of people. It was like a tiny colosseum from their perspective.

"WELCOME TO WRESTLE-TON! Where CARNAGE meets ENTERTAINMENT! Tonight! We have an incredible assortment of fighters!", it was Sleen on the intercom.

The crowd roared, and the others weren't sure how they were going to escape.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Viewing several trucks heading to the underground facility, Moors and Gus were making final adjustments to his power armor. As for Wick and Tulio, both had just come back from the airfield where he had originally left his power suit.

"don't worry man... you'll get fly boy some other time....you ready for this?", Tulio nudged him a little.

Wick was pensive about the plan, he knew if anything would go wrong, it could mean that not only would his fellow Astartes would suffer, but Selene would likely suffer an even worse fate. "yes. Moors, is everything ready?"

Moors chuckled a little as he had modified his armor to fit a set of miniature guns, a spraying gas, an electric disrupter on to his helmet, and a special drill, turning it one with an intense enthusiasm.

"Haha! This will be just like the good ol' times", Moors looked at the drill whirling.

Wick, knowing damn well this isn't going to be close to anything the two of them had experienced, "You are not planning on drilling through someone are you?"

Moors looked at Wick, "Oh no I'm just hoping to make some holes ......"

"right.", Wick shot him a look.

End of log 25

In a dark, makeshift medical room, a doctor had been meticulously constructing a device for mobily assisting a very, impatient patient.

"gGAHA! WOULD BE CAREFU- *COUGH COUGH*", Sleen may have come out of Wick's grip miraculously alive......but not unharmed.

His collar bone, left shoulder, three of his vertebra and his arm had been severely damaged from his last encounter with Wick. Having been crushed and thrown into a metal carrier with the speed of a moving car.

Now, metal extension to his whole body has covered all his extremities, forming a powered exoskeleton over what is usually a stout, unathleticly flaccid body. However, it was now a permanent part of his body, keeping his ribs and spine from collapsing in onto his organs.

"I-I am sorry M-Mr.Sleen, i-its just that this is a relatively new medical device. Or at least n-new to me...", the doctor was attempting to figure out the foreign mechanics of this device, completely unknown to him. "...it's so...so..".

"Alien? Yah. *COUAGK*", a wet, mucusy cough croaked. "Mr.Fe really has some *couack* nice...toys...hehe.... he's outdone himself", he tests out the metal exoskeleton like brace on his shoulder and arm. Moving it with an auditable revving of gears and motorts. "Heheh.", he looked to a metal table next to him.... grabbed it, crushing it in his hands like an empty can. "Hehehe.... haven't felt this good *cough* since that time in LA....hmm....are you doing?", he turned menacingly towards the doctor.

Stuttering in fear, "I-I ugh believe so, but I m-must warn you. All of this...is linked into your brain M-Mr.Sleen....if anything happens, you will severally damage yo-", Sleen leaned close to the doctor's face, growling at him, "...j-just don't do .... anything reckless?", the doctor's eyes locked into Sleen's now cold, soulless stare.

A sickening smile creeped ear to ear, "Reckless? Me?....nah.....", his eyes trail over to other parts. Some miscellaneous bits that look like they're used for fighting; drills, mechanical claws, what looks like a gun rail, "maybe....I should be a little more..... prepared", his grin had grow more toothy, as the cogs in his brain were turning, the unfortunate doctor had figured out what Sleen was thinking.

He had no choice.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Trapped in a clean but bare room, Selene had stayed in a corner. Her make-up running down her face, now with bruises on her body. She had felt hopeless, "oh mon corbeau, where have you flown off to...", she had muttered to herself.

She knew Wick was likely preparing to rescue her...but it was only a matter of time.

A few knocks at the door had startled her, her head shot at the direction of the door. Shaking in fear if it was Sleen again.

"Disculpe señorita, espero que se encuentre bien.", a gentle voice, finally.

The door had locked open, as the door creeped open, it was Señor Mateo. "I...hope you do not mind my poor English. My...ninos are a still helping me learn.", he greeted her with a friend smile. "oh tu pobresita, that fat man has hurt...did he not?".

Selene was prepared to fight back, she has been bruised but she wasn't beatin yet. "If you lay a hand o-", she could see Señor Mateo's hand raise.

"no no. I just do not like when a man...hurts a woman.", with a snap of his finger, his own personal physician comes in with everything to tend to Selene. "I do not a plan to harm you....I had heard the screams....".

Selene was understandably hesitant to let the physician near her, worried if he was doing to put her under or drug her.

Mateo could see her reluctance, "Senorita, it is ok. Doctora Jaun will not harm you.", as he stated this, Doctor Jaun has taken out a pair of gloves to examine any possible injuries or bodily harm to her.

The situation felt strange, why was Señor Mateo being so kind, was he the next.... client that Selene was going to be forced upon?

Señor Mateo simply gazed at her with a stern but soften look of concern, "I have never understood....why men like Sleen must hurt their ugh..... prettiest girls....it is...not like as if any real harm shall come to that....caracol.....but is it because of your ferocity? Your origins? Maybe....I do not know.....to my knowledge....true caballeros do not lay their hands on any women....ugly, fat, old, young, beautiful....none....our Virgen María was a woman...thus...no woman... should be harmed...evil women yes....but women...no.", he had paced around the small room as if he was lecturing her.

"...why...why are you... doing this?", she looked to the doctor who had found a significantly deep whelt on her arm. Wincing in pain, her eyes glanced over to the crack of the door, hunched over, just barley comfortable enough peak from the head of the doorway, there....her eyes met.....

...with 'El Nino'.

Her blood ran cold, eyes widen in horror at the looming monstrosity in white, red and blue at the door.

Covered in gnarled angry scars, 'wires' hanging from the back of his head, his crimson, blood shot eyes meeting hers.

What had made the whole ordeal even worse was his grin. Jagged, sharpen teeth, from ear to ear.

To poor El Nino, he didn't mean any harm at the moment. However, as he had gotten so use to his adoring fans accepting his grotesque appearance, he had forgotten to the average viewer....he was a monster of a being...no matter how 'healed' he has become.

Señor Mateo has noticed her expression, turning to the door, "Ah Alejandro! They you are. Come and greet the nice young lady....", he had motioned for Alejandro to simply crack the door open, he could barely fit through the doorway.

Selene turned to Señor Mateo, holding back her fear of what he had planned for her. And if it involved his own personal Astartes.

"...why...", she looked at him.

The soft smile he had on his face dimmed somberly, "I am here to ... apologize on Alejandro's behalf....I have been informed by Sleen that you and one of the 'steers' are.... intercoursing? Si?".

The questions had ran through her mind like bullets, "....a-apologize for what?", she asked cautiously.

A deep, regretful sigh flew from his mouth, "Because.... Alejandro will kill your 'steer', I had been a paid a considerable amount of money to make sure of that....it would not make me a good business partner...not to... comply.". Although Mateo had shown a deep remorse for what he accepted to do......El Nino had reveled in the idea.

"Hehehe, sorry nina....your bird's wings-", as he tried to cram himself through the doorway, crushing it in his grip,"-are going to be clipped.", a devilish grin had creeped across his face. He felt nothing.

The fact he could fight, be appreciated for it and kill any loyalist Astartes found was already the closest thing to paradise in his mind.

The tears flooded through, and as the physician finished, all Selene could do was sob. She knew Wick was strong, but was he physically capable of handling what she could only comprehend....

As a true monster.

"I could simply take you off of Sleen's hands...it is the most kindness I will be able to grant you....but you will have to comeback home with me, to Guadalajara. After all, you do not have any choice...... staying with Sleen.... could be...a problem.", there was an air of malicious intent in the whole ordeal; the physician, the conversation of chivalry, the apology....was it all to truly display cruelty?

"I will give you until the end of the match, to make your decision.", motioning to his physician and Alejandro to leave.

As the door closes, Selene wipes her tears. Remembering what she has gone through most of her life by this point, hopelessness washed over her like a heavy blanket. Wiping her tears away, she had lifed her head.

The door.

It wasn't fully closed....thanks in part to the enormous hand mark left by Alejandro.

"......une évasion", she whispered to herself. Slowly, she checked if anyone was passing by. Hearing carefully for any footsteps down the hallways.

Slowly opening the door, she peaked over the corner.

And bolted to down the hallway as fast as she could.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

At the holding blocks, Sten could suddenly sense Selene was on the move. Practically hearing her heartbeat and smelling her presence.

The only problem? She was heading into the wrong direction.

Sten stepped over to Toke's cell wall, banging it lightly to get his attention.

Waking up from a nap, the sudden banging had gotten his attention, "aye?"

"we must make haste, that girl Wick was with may be unknownly heading to danger.", Sten had shot to Toke's brain with his psykic transmission. "I will alert the others.".

Toke, rarely having to experience Sten's psykic communication, shutters from it. "Aeecchh, got it...but how do you recon we escape?", whispering a little to make sure none of the guards hear him.

"I'm not certain yet....but I fear in spite of the timing, we do not have much time.", Sten turned his head towards Cahrilo's cell and relayed the same message. Lastly he relayed to Bilhard, who had been quiet this whole time.

After a few minutes pensively waiting, the plan commences.

Sten, drops to the floor with a loud, audible thud.

"HELP! SOMEONE HELP! MY BATTLE BOTHER ISN'T RESPONDING! SOMEONE GET HELP!", shouted Cahrilo.

One of the guards would begrudgingly came over to his cell, "what the hell do you want?!".

With tears in his eyes, "Please help my battle brother! He hasn't taken his medicine! He need it or his hearts will stop! Look!", he points to Sten's cell.

Sten was unresponsive.

The guards from earlier cautiously check what was going on. Seeing Sten, motionless on the floor.

"Hey! Get up freak!", one of the guards yells at him. "oh shit come on! You can't kill these guys with a 16-wheeler but a fuckn bad ticker can?! Hey! Get the doc here now!", as he commands this request, one of the guards calls up on the walkie.

The chaos Marines across the room had become interested in what was unfolding.

Bilhard was next.

He violently shakes and screams in his cell, making for a fantastic impression of someone having a seizure.

"OH WHAT THE HELL?", the head guard quickly steps over to Bilhard's cell.

One of the more reluctant guards unlocks Sten's cell, pointing the gun at him while cautiously approaching him. Hoping this wasn't some cliche trick.

Poking and prodding the barrel of his gun at Sten's shoulder, he could see how firm the shoulder muscles on his back were. "Woah... getting punched by these guys must feel getting hit by a fright train.", two other guards come into the cell. Unsure of what to do, they tried carrying Sten by his arms.

The head guard was still dealing with Bilhard, "QUIT FUCKING SHAKING YOU BIG BASTARD!".

His assistant was right behind him, "Hey come on man! He's having a seizure you got to give him some air and space! Seriously man, my cousin had them-" as he removed Bilhard's muzzle....

Bilhard stopped, looked him dead in the eyes, and spat on his face.

"AAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!", suddenly the smell of acid burning the guard's face had sizzled in the air.

"HOLY SH-", the head guard had been given an extra helping of acidic spit to the face and neck.

"HA! I have been waiting to do that!", after hours of silence, Bilhard had finally broken free. Taking a few shots at the harnesses, he lets himself free, heading straight to Cahrilo.

Across the block, the chaos marines were reveling and cheering the escapees, more so out of morbid amusement than anything.

The three guards in Sten's cell has noticed the commotion, as soon as they had been distracted, two of the guards had felt a bone crushing pressure on their ankles, Sten had grabbed on to the both of them as he was laying down.

Lifting up and tossing one against against the wall and the other on to the electric bars.

The third had taken out his cattle prod, as soon as he was about to land a hit, Sten had quickly turn around, grabbing the guard's wrist.

Roaring like a beast, his golden eyes practically burning into the guard's soul.

Trembling as he now was looking at something closer to animal than a man.

Sten had yanked the prod from his hands and tossed him out of his cell. Running to Toke's cell to let him out.

"Wait Sten! Let's get Joe out of here two!", Toke looked up above his own cell, Joe had been quietly above them, simply hearing the scene. "HAHA! Come on lad! We're heading out of here!".

Joe had peeked his head and looked around, hardly believing this was actually working.

After Cahrilo had gotten free, he headed to Joe's cell to free him.

However, just as few seconds of victory has lead to an alarm being set off. The sound of metal doors in the back of the cell rooms had opened. The chaos marines had stopped making noise and began walking through the doors.

"What the? What's going on?", Toke had stepped out, the two Space Wolves look to what looked like an exit BEHIND their cells.

They couldn't help but feel there was an extra purpose to those doors.

"we must head to the guard entrance, those doors must be a trap.", Sten growled. He knew something was off.

~~~~~~

Selene had been running down different hallways to find the exit, or at least a hiding spot, but there was nothing but different rooms and holding blocks. As the alarm blared above her, she could feel that something was happening. "I have to get out of here.", she thought to herself.

She was only able to find one open door, 'Back Stage Entrance', this had to have felt like a well planned nightmare. She slowly goes through the door into a dark, dimly lot room.

There was nothing, inside.

She knew better. No one is that foolish to go into an empty dark room.

She turned to leave but a hideous surprise had been waiting two inches away from her face.

A large, gun barrel... pointed to her face.

"Hey there, my little pigeon.", Sleen, who has modified himself to a semi-mechanical monster...only leaving his pale, sallowed face, showing what humanity he had left. "Your little flying rat's friends are costing me a pretty penny in henchmen......so here's the deal....you are going to wear the nice, pretty dress I picked out for you ....and you're going to get a front row seat....to watch Wick....and his pals be beaten to horse glue....*click*", his threat was very much real.

"espèce de cochon inconcevable......", was all she could mutter.

Sleen's sick, twisted chuckle creaked from his throat, which was now a tangled mess of tubes and wires. "Yah still sound ....so cute when you insult me....", guess he found out what cochon means.

End of log 24

Back at Pine Hills, me and Fjord were preparing for a quick trek around the mountain range.

I had become infamous in the local outdoorsmen shop in town over the past few years. With every visit, I would make a small bet on my own survival on the local bulletin board. The shop owners have had to state warnings to certain folks that betting on me is a losing bet.

Everytime I comeback, at least someone loses a few bucks.

But today I wasn't in the gambling mood. Neither was the store owners, who were close friends of my grandfather. As I was browsing for new equipment or anything else we needed in terms of gear, Fjord was exploring the store with me.

He stuck to me like a holster, it was a strange for me considering prior to my ex and afterwards I had been single for the longest time.

It was.... refreshing to have a companion to say the least.

We head towards the gun displays for some extra arrows for my bow. I used a standard lightweight hunting bow. It was a small thing but practical for long treks.

Doug, the owner was looking at the both of us curiously, "I see you moved on to bigger and better 'things' I assume, dear.". He was referring to Fjord.

His ears nearly visibly perked up. "Ugh?"

"Oh, he's a friend, he'll be staying with me for a while.", a while it seems could be until I'm on my death bed considering how old Fjord could actually get.

He looks down and smiles a little, "yes, my name is Fjord. Pleasure to meet you.", he shuffles his shoulders a little. Likely flexing his broad frame.

"Hm, pleasure to meet yah, Lorey my condolences by the way. He was an honored friend here ...", Doug let out a deep sigh. "I assume the usual?", he goes to a corner of the display case and brings out a box of specialized hunting arrows. "Honestly even if they discontinue these there'll still be enough for you to buy for the next years. Most folks use guns and ammo.", he showed a large wall of different hunting rifles, guns and replicas.

"Hmf, I've seen bigger. They're delicate pieces aren't they lass?", nudging my back a little.

I look to the wall, "yeah, at least I can find and reuse my arrows."

A gruff huff from Doug let's out like a frustrated hog, in spite of his friendship with my grandpa, he wasn't too keen on my preference of weapons. Just that good ol'merican love for the Smith & Wesson I suppose. "Bigger egh? You from the fort up north?".

Fjord, a little distracted at the wall, glances down at Doug. "Oh no, I am part of a squadron but I'm not from around here.", he than glances over to the target wall. Seeing targets of bears, deer, wolves and a masked man with a gun. ".... interesting selection."

I gather my arrows, but as I pick some of them up, I noticed a Wonder Mart logo on the box, just poorly stuck on. "... they bought this brand too?", pointed at the sticker.

Doug glared at it, "yeeeep. They've been here, they pay well too actually. The store owner actually did a partnership ship mostly because so many folks buy here. I get a few deductibles from purchasing at Wonder Mart for doing my part. So it's a win win for me. Hehe.".

"....you might want to see this than.", I take out my phone and show the picture of McGregor's property. "They're sabotaging the farms now, the egg box was smashed up.".

Doug's mouth drops agape, "well I'll be damned!? You've shown this to McGregor?".

I shake my head, "no not yet, I'm waiting to see if I hear some more complaints. I'm not sure if it was a disgruntled employee or something management directed, so I'm not saying anything yet."

"well now....I'll sure ask around than. I'll bet I can get a few tips too.", Doug pondered.

"well thanks for the help", I nod.

Me and Fjord look around the store a little more, collect a few more items for the trek and pay for the items.

Entering the car, the both of us try to figure out what to do next.

"hmmm, I say we head to the fort lass, than we set up the cameras the way Aldercon wants. Just to be safe.", Fjord suggested.

I can't argue with that logic, after all.

"Yeah, he may not like our joke plan too. Better stay on his good side.", I start the car and head back home where we can gear up.

After an hour or so, he head inside and get the gear ready. "You're going in your armor I assume?", I ask Fjord.

"Yes I believe so lass, remember that traitor marine from your facility's camera?", Fjord had just reminded me of that footage....this may actually be a better opportunity to place more eyes in the forest.

"actually.....you've just gave me an idea....we can use the cameras in more harder places to place them, seem of we find anything else and just tell Benedict the footage got lost.", it's closer to stealing and lying but it's the lesser of two evils in our case.

Fjord's chuffs a little, probably feeling very clever to have inspired me. Which is a fact. "Hehe, I see we have a mission, I'll go and put my armor on.", he headed to the garage where he had left his things.

It has passed maybe a few minutes and I have already finished getting on for the smaller essentials, it was now time to get the bigger stuff like a tarp and some rope. As I head to the garage and just as I was about to knock...

I hear Fjord... praying? It was in a language I couldn't recognize at all....I stood there listening to it, then the clicking of what I assumed is him equiping those big, metal plates for his armor. Than just him stomping a bit, likely taking a step or two.

*knock knock*, "Hey Fjord, you doing ok? May I come in? I just need to get some things.", he opens the door and see him in full armor again.

It had been a days or so that I have seen him without his armor, he looked massive in it. In fact I had completely forgotten that this was his norm.

"Ah hello lass, are we almost ready?", he glinted a smile.

I smile back, "yeah, just need to prep a few more things and than we're all set. Speaking of which, let's check that box the other guy gave to us.".

He nods at me, at first he had readied himself to come through the already small doorway, until he had realized he was a little too big to fit. "oh, hehe, right. I can grab the items here and we look at the supplies outside, no?".

"yeah, hold on then.", I press the garage button, as the door opens, it revealed someone was at the opening.

Waiting just outside the garage door.

It was Ronnie. Just standing on the little slope leading down the hill.

"Hey Lorey.......", he wasn't surprised or shocked. In fact was worried me the most is that he looked like as if his suspensions were confirmed.

As for the both of us, I could hardly imagine the look of shock on both our faces. Feeling like we've been caught in the act.

"ugh.....Ronnie....I ...ugh...I can explain....", I genuinely had no idea how to explain this situation nor how I was going to convince him not to ask anything more about this whole..... situation?

I could see Fjord's hair was standing on end, but I could feel he was conflicted about having to choose to attack Ronnie or risk having his cover blown so easily.

Ronnie walked up slowly, his face stoic as if he was putting a front of confidence, but his movements betrayed a level of caution often seen in the field: it's the stride of someone heading directly to danger without wanting anyone knowing they're scared shitless.

"so.....that explains a lot....", Ronnie casually pointed out. "So......which one are you?"

If I could see from a fourth perspective, I was sure both me and Fjord had tilted our heads in syncly. "I beg your pardon lad?", Fjord asked carefully.

"...which one...of those metal men....are you?", Ronnie's expression hadn't changed, but the assertion in his tone said otherwise. "Are you the one....who's been attacking people? Hmm? The one some of the families around town have spotted in the campgrounds?"

Ronnie was interrogating Fjord? Did he not recognize the armor from the videos, he should be smarter than that.

Or was he so afraid of Fjord that all he could think about is what he is capable of.

This wasn't like Ronnie at all, he was usually more laid back than this .....what happened recently?

Ronnie turned to me, "....well ....Lorey, which one is he?", the stoic expression on his face soften to seek reassurance from me.

"Ron, he is one of the trio that walked passed the cameras, he isn't the one that killed the campers.......", it was than I realized something, Fjord's armor was covered in teeth, patches of pelts and runes, could it be something had developed back at the station? "Ron....what happened?"

Ronnie gave a sadden huff, it's....one of the volunteers.........Carly...she....she was heading to the ridge with one of the new hire, Conner......she was attacked, Connor said it was one of them.", he pointed to Fjord, glaring at him. "Said it was greyish, with fur, and claws....just like Fjord's ...armor....she was sent to the hospital and....she didn't make it", he stared daggers at Fjord.

This was horrible, the fact that Carly was attacked had made my heart crash right down to my stomach. There was no way another Space wolf was here, even if there was, why would they attack Carly of all people?! She wouldn't hurt anyone, this had to have been attacked by one of the 'corrupted ones'.

"I assure you, Ronnie....I am the only one of my pack here for the moment.....I am sure there is a good explanation for this...", Fjord was doing a much better job at keeping his composure.

I shake my head in disbelief, "Ron, he's been with me the whole time. Tied to the hip practically, when did this happen?".

He looked at the both of us, "this morning.....". I could see his shoulders and chest moving up and down even faster. "...rrrrrrRRRAAHHH!", he suddenly jolted at Fjord his a closed fist and landed a blow on to Fjord's chest plate.

With an audible cracking of broken finger bones.

Tears rolled down his eyes, but I doubt it was from the throbbing pain of his now broken fist. He lifted his damaged hand off of the plate and it had left four little blood smears.

Fjord hadn't reacted at all, but he felt for Ronnie. "...lad....I'm sorry.....w-we...will investigate this murder......I swear it....also....I'm... certain you have have broken yo-"

"I FUCKING KNOW THAT MAN!", Ronnie yelled at him, cradling his hand.

I was getting too old for this level of bullshit, I calmly head to the first aid kit, take out some wood scraps from the tool drawer and go straight to tending to Ronnie's hand.

"Ronnie.....what do you always tell me when I loose my shit....and jump to conclusions.....no matter how terrible shit gets?", I ask putting a disinfectant on his now swelling knuckles.

He was shaking in frustration, honestly I commend him for that considering he just raw punched an Astartes in the chest without any hesitation....it's either bravery or something else....

"......n-never...lose y-your cool....w-when you know....t-theres two sides-AH-", he flinch as I had probably touched a tender area, "-of the same story....".

I nod my head, "yes... because the truth?", I look to him eye to eye.

He looks at me, his gaze soften at little, "...is just hiding under the surface....". He lets out a heavy sigh, looking at his wrapped up hand. "Lorey....what the hell is going on around here?", his question felt very vague....

I look to Fjord, "....I...think we may need to tell Aldercon about this.....".

His expression says it all, "....I believe so.... maybe he will be a little bit.... willing?".

Ronnie looked at Fjord, "what the hell are you talking about? Willing for what?".

I could feel he still didn't fully trust Fjord anymore, but I'm certain he didn't have much of a choice. "Willing to let you....know about ugh...well...all of this.", I point to Fjord, than some of my gear. "....we were going to place cameras around the parts of the mountain the team hadn't placed yet.....it's for that guy, Benedict."

The stern face loosen to a face of realization, "....that Gabe Newell looking guy?.... Lorey yah know he's fucking weird right?". It was as if all his anger had just evaporated, as if the tension broke with some shitty joke.

"yep.....he literally accused Fjord of being a space dogman.", he look at him....dead in the eyes with no change in tone.

He looked to Fjord, who had given an awkward smile, "if it will make you feel better, I did find the accusation very upsetting.", obviously he was lying.

Suddenly, Ronnie was chuckling to himself, "....man...I cannot be this dumb, there ain't no way it's the same guy.....but...what Jeff had said about you....is that shit true?", his seriousness came back but just barely.

The smile had shrunk a little, "...I threw his vehicle at him...yes....".

Ronnie was piecing things together, "aight...fine... Lorey just please tell me what the hell is going on?".

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It had been an hour after that whole Punch incident, as the three of us trek down the same path as before.

"How are you doing there, Ronnie? You're hand still hurting?", he turned over his shoulder to see Ronnie still looking at him with a slight glare.

"ya...I'm fine....", he curtly answered.

I couldn't help but feel the tension between the two of them hadn't changed much, "ugh hey Ronnie, I have this ointment the other space marines had given me and Fjord, maybe it will fix your hand a little?", I take out the healing ointment, it was a heavy metal tin with wording I couldn't recognize. "....hmf, I wish I can read this...".

Fjord than stopped a little to look at the tin, "it says 'Lubricant', it think it's the other tin, lass.".

"oh, one second", I rummage through the bag again and find another tin.

"Ah that's the one.", Fjord cooed.

Ronnie was still emotionless, probably thinking the same thoughts as me earlier this week. "Man come on, they speak a different language too?".

"Yep, different cultures and everything.", I open the tin and the strong, musky, and shockingly bitter smell of the ointment hit out nostrils. "Holy shit what the hell is this?!"

"Ah fuck no! It smells fucking foul man I ain't putting that shit on m-AHOW FUK!", Fjord had gently grabbed Ronnie's arm, had already stuck one finger into the ointment and gently spread it under the tourniquet.

"there we go, it should be fine in a few hours, heals everything from most infections to broken bones.", he grinned a little at Ronnie.

However, Ronnie was skeptical, "are you telling me this is some miracle cream or something shit?". He looked at Fjord than at his arm.

As it turned out, it was healing rather quickly.

"yo...this is something freaky shit.", he could even move his fingers a little bit now.

"Let it rest, it should be better by the time we head to the Fort.", Fjord turned and began walking ahead.

Ronnie's head shot up, "Fort?! The fuck these are in a fort for?".

I shake my head, "well it's what they're use to. They're more comfortable in a military environment, so...they make do.", I motioned to him to hurry a long.

He stood there speechless, "....this better not be some secret underground government bullshit...we already work with that kind of shit.", he sounded upset but he was still willing to accept some of this new insanity.

"Well, let's just say, the government doesn't know about them....much.", it's all I could reasonably state.

End of log 23

If you want me to tag you in the next chapter let me know and DM me so you can catch up on the story so far. There will be a Q&A in regards to the story open from now on if anyone is wondering.

You're more than welcome to ask about storylines, give me a heads up on some unresolved plotholes (so I can fix them), and ask me about world building.

While the others were being prepared for their battle against El Nino; Wick, Moors and Tulio were headed back to Gus' bunker for extra help.

Driving out into the desert range, it was a race against time, the team weren't sure what was to happen, but they had to react quickly.

For it could already be too late.

"Gus should have some idea how to break into the place. Based on my readings, the facility is six stories deep. Something tells me it ain't for the public either, also.....they mentioned something about this "El Nino" guy, something tells me he's the main attraction to whomever is behind all this", Moors explained.

"Wait, I thought El Nino's fights were at South Point, how the hell could he not be for the public? I see his ads all the time.", Tulio asked as he was looking around the back of the truck, wondering why would they need so much tech.

Wick had been formulating what...or ...who El'Nino was. He was nearly unconscious when he had heard of this name, but he had heard it being muttered by the mystery buyer. "There's a likely chance it's an actor. One for the public, one for the intended audience.".

Tulio was putting two and two together, "oooooh like some illegal fighting ring? Oh that makes sense, back in Mexico city a few years back, Lucha Libre was banned for some time, it when underground and became an illegal fighting competition. Then after it had gotten popular again, it wasn't banned anymore.".

"hmmm ....I'm not sure if it's like that, but it's definitely underground.", Moors stops the truck at the same abandoned gas pump, rolled down his window to clown. "Gus! You there buddy?".

The intercom turned on with a sputtering crackle, "Welcome back to Gassy Gus's Gas Pump! I'll be right there!", as the intercom turned off, Gus happily hobbled out of the men's room this time. "Well by Orson Welles! Moors you're back! How'd it go?", giving gleeful bangs on the sides of truck. "Eh funny, you got enough gas?".

"Gus! We need some of your.... experience....you still have that drilling equipment?", Moors asked with a sly grin.

Gus' face stretched into a manic smile, "OOOH BOY HOWDY I DO, where too.", Moors in the past has employed Gus for a verity of covert excavation projects, considering one of the best types of jobs Gus had in his youth was a coal miner and a non-certified geologist. "Oooooh I can smell the iron rich, quartz deposits already.", rubbing his hands together in anticipation.

"Now Gus, we need the big guns. We have no idea what could be down in this place. I recon it's security is in-between government level and that Security Containm-", Gus sticks his hand out.

"Say no more! Now let me gather the gear and get coordinates and pinpoint the best spot!", Moors was more then welcome to oblige to giving Gus some of the information from last night.

Wick, getting understandably impatient, decided to go up to the front seat and talk to Gus himself, "Excuse me G-", Wick peered out from Moors' side, as he showed his face Gus pointed at him in surprise.

"Gah! Moors I didn't know you knew the Grey from Sector 17-M! It's a pleasure to finally welcome you to Earth great ones!", Gus bowed in a Y stance.

Moors wasn't too surprised about this and turned to Wick, expressionless and confused. "Ugh oh yeah I never told you Gus is a "Intergalactic Enthusiast", he loves anything from ugh...outer space...he thinks your this thing.", he takes out one of his car key charms and shows a little iconic black eyed, green alien.

Wick, looking at the charm with absolute apathy, "....he thinks I'm a Xenos?", he looks to Moors giving an awkward smile.

"yeah, just please go with it.", continuing the smile.

"Fine, Gus we genuinely need to hasten this mission. There is not just our comrades, but another civilian likely involved. We need to be careful and swift, for this could spell disaster for her.", Wick looked at him sternly.

Gus looked back at Wick, "...her?", and gave a hard salute, "Than I shall help rescue your mate too!", Moors was doing everything in his power to hold back the laughter while Wick had shown some semblance of color to his usually pale complexion with a flooded blush for the first time in his life.

"Well no time to waste! Come on down to my secret abode!", he ran back into the men's room, activating a secret underground ramp to his own abandoned government bunker.

"Hehehe, you're all going to love this.", Moors chuckled.

Tulio, who has been watching this from the back of the truck, was astounding. "Wick? You're an alien? I thought you did like...body mods or something.", he asked gingerly, only realizing the insane reality of this situation.

"..... we're from 'outspace', but we're not 'aliens'... we're just as human as you are.", Wick answered begrudgingly.

Tulio for the first time actually took a good hard look at Wick and Moors, contemplating what Wick has said, "well....you guys seem alot more of something else. Most people don't look like you guys.", he hesitantly spoke.

Those words stuck with the two marines, Tulio was not wrong to say what he said, his observation wasn't inaccurate either. Giving in considering that Sleen had at some point called the others 'Steers', and all the stares from strangers where ever they went. It was clear as Astartes, they were much more then men, they were something else alongside that 'man', something mortals on Earth do not consider normal to their standards.

Whether it is something to marvel, or something to exploit....is completely dependent on the situation.

Slowly driving down the ramp, lights started to illuminate the runway, showing a set of dusty, unused military jeeps.

As they parked the car, Tulio and Wick stepped out from the back truck.

"Hold it!", Gus croaked. He took out a lead pipe with wires and a light attached to it, waved around Tulio and Wick. "Hmmm.....gramifier is not picking anything up. Good.", he than takes out a gypsum rod. Waving it around. "Vibes check out". Gives a stern look at both, then a bright smile. "Welcome, to Casa de Gus! Where the finest of equipment can be hehe, redistributed for any intergalactic purposes!".

Tulio was a bit stunned at all of this, "ay... gringo loco.". He quietly grumbled to himself.

The four walked down to a large hanger full of hi tech government issued weaponry, vehicles, Gus's collection of space memorabilia, one rocket booster that had been unceremoniously removed from a crash site, and a small living space for Gus.

"Bruh, you call this a bunker?! This is like, a secret lair or something. Are you like...an ex-fed or something?", Tulio looked around in amazement.

Moors was browsing for anything new Gus could have taken in the recent decade, "hmmm ...Gus, where did you get this?", pointing at a very suspicious container with a familiar label that was commonly found on much of Fort Dorn's stolen vehicles.

Gus jingled his way to Moors, "hmmm....oh yes, got this baby back in '09, those secret organization guys again....they were chasing the running headlights I told you 'bout. You know...the ones with legs.", Gus was referring to the rumors of unknown creature with what people have claimed is one large luminous eye, mimicking a car headlight. Obviously, Moors didn't believe in such creatures.

"oh...you do realize they probably want this thing back right?", Moors warns him.

"...hmmm...nah I'll keep it, anyway! Here's what y'all need!", Gus leads the trio to a large shelf of items, "I hope y'all brought your armor too. Some of these additions will be perfect! Drills, disrupter signals, the ever important rubber duck and this!", Gus picks up what looks like a small speaker, "I call it, the "Siren", play this lil'beaut and it will blast someone's ear drums.".

Wick was examining some of the items, most of which were stolen from the Government, others likely from experimental labs, "....we will likely only need to break in...have heavy cover and a distraction....Tulio, you will be on integral part of this mission.", he turned to Tulio with confidence.

Tulio, although way in over his head in this situation, was more than happy to assist. "You can count on me homes.", he says with a grin.

"well, I'm not certain if I'll need.my armor, speaking of which where's your armor Wick? I doubt you took a flight here....", Moors asked.

Wick had nearly forgotten about his armor, he had left it at the Air Force hanger near the city. "....oh...Moors, thanks for reminding me.....how about we also get these bottom feeders in a....predicament with the government?", he looked at Moors.

"I mean we can, but I'm certain they'll track us down.", Moors responded.

Gus chuckled a little, "nah, I have the tools of the trade, I know a few whistle blowers who will do a fine job at diverting attention away from y'all."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In the underground holding facility, the others were contemplating their escape. Meanwhile, Sten was pawing this "Big Joe", for more information.

"Big Joe, I am curious as to how long have you been here....it must have been for some time I assume?", although there was no point in looking up at the ceiling of his cell, it was better than activating the bars.

"yeah, I've been for a bit. Funny enough, this is the second time I've been trapped here....the first place really bummed me out.", Joe's cadence was more casual than most of the other Astartes. His diction even felt like it was loosened.

Tilting his head, he wondered what was he referring to, "....was it another government facility?", he didn't know if this Joe was another psyker like him. So he did not want to force himself into his mind.

"Yeah, but this place was WAY more lock tight. Imagine being treated like an animal that can talk or something....they did some weird tests. At first I didn't understand what they were saying, than they thought me to speak their dialect of Gothic, then English....that's where things got interesting....there so many interviews and questions.... medical examinations.....then....they started to send these orange cladded fellows with weapons.... obviously I killed them...it's not like I was going to let them get the upper hand....than....I met one of their scientists....what a doll......miss her a lot really...", Joe reminisced on that thought for a while. "...we sort of began meeting secretly...til they cought us. I never her saw again after that ....but it's weird because I could tell she was still there! She was still in that place, but something about her biological began to change, I could smell it. Lucky for me the place wasn't completely airtight. It was all that kept me going for a little....than.... something happened...", he stopped for a few seconds.

It was clear to Sten something about Joe's story felt empty, it seems Joe hadn't disclosed one important detail. "...What Chapter do you belong to, Joe?".

There was a pregnant pause, something that Sten had become wary of.

".......why.", Joe replied dryly.

"You should be comfortable with tell us....", while Sten remarked, he had felt that there was something he could do to find out for himself, specifically on his belt.

His belt buckle was a wide, military standard, silver colored buckle. He quietly took it off to shine it as much as he could, the reflection wasn't perfect, but it would suffice.

He stuck the buckle at an angle that Joe wouldn't notice, he could see that Joe wasn't wearing any armor, he had his back turned facing a mirror, his back not only had scars from previous fights in the facility, but also telltale signs of medical experimentation. Joe hadn't noticed the small mirror in the corner of cell peaking.

Unfortunately, someone else had. On the other side of the holding blocks, a security room was watching the Marines in the holding cell.

The security guard lazily sees Sten holding something. "Oh geez, I'm gonna have to take that from him aren't I...", he lumbered out of his seat and headed straight to the cells.

"Hey! You there! Whats you got there!?", the security guard casually pointed his gun at Sten, he knew that conventional bullets wouldn't actually hurt these guys. It was comparable to rubber bullets.

Joe had turned around out of curiosity, Sten could see Joe's face for the first time.

He had a large scar across his neck, as if something big had attempted to bite down. Dark brown hair, closer to black than it was brown. And crimson red eyes.

"Hmm...", Sten drank in as much of the visage as possible.

"HEY! Beardo! Quit that!", the guard took out a cattle prod and stuck right into Sten's arm.

A strong shock flowed through his shoulders, "RRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!", what sounded like a roar reverberated.

The chaos Marines on the opposite side aroused with excitement. Hollering and growling.

"Sten! What's happening?!", Cahrilo shout, "HEY knock it off!".

The guard has held his position and completely ignored them. Suddenly, Joe reached out, grabbed the guard by the arm.... crushing his forearm in the process. Lifted him to the bars.

Electrocuting him as Joe pulled the guard into the bars.

The screams echoed, the chaos Marines cheering.

The cattle prod had fell on the floor, thinking quickly, Sten recovered what he had left of the shock to quickly get the prod.

Hiding it in his pants.

Joe dropped the guard's corpse, and went on with what he was doing. "You better behave now bud. Or you'll end up like you friend over there.", referring to Bilhard.

Sten quickly got up.

As the foot steps of the other guards come in, pointing their guns at the Marines. One of the guards, likely a mercenary, looked out at the partly chared corpse. "Uuugh, looks like Quincy finally got cocky. Clean it up before the boss gets here. Alright which one of you guys did it?"

The lack of empathy for his fallen comrade was a surprise to the others, he had acted like as if this was a regular occurrence.

"come on guys .....be honest or I'm checking the cameras....and the "buzzer" is in the camera room....yah honestly want to shock you guys or be good boys and say what happened...", the guard instructed callously. "I'm not mad, but my boss will be."

Sten had looked over his shoulder, hoping the guards hadn't seen him steal the prod.

"Ugh it was me Frank.", Joe loomed over the guard in the cell above. "My buddy down here wanted to shake hands, I was about to than the guard just came over.... probably jumped the gun....it self defense on my comrade's behalf.", Joe gave an innocent grin.

The guard looked over at the corpse, than to Sten. "Hmf...fine I'll bite.....I don't want no funny business you hears?", he turned away and helped the other guards clean up the body.

The others were stunned, Toke looked at them drag the body to the other side of the room.

"Which one of you sick bastards wants him?", he banged on one of the cells.

The chaos Marines all began to fight over who got the corpse. Gnashing and attempting to claw at the corpse. No matter how pointless it was.

"YOUR COMRADE JUST DIED. You're just going to feed his body to the corrupted lot?", Toke protested to the guard.

The guard looked back at Toke, "Look, it's not we actually want to be here....yous honestly think we would have taken this shit job for shit pay? Naw, it's too much money to pass up....", he looked to one of the Black Legion Marines, since that one hadn't begged for his food he could have the corpse. As the guard used a code to heavily magnetize the chains on the marine's legs and wrists, more signifying to simply step back for the sake of animalistic obedience, he dragged his coworker's body to the middle, closed the cell behind him and watched as the chaos marine viciously tore into the chest of the corpses, stuffing chunks into his face, chest and pauldron.

".....yet it always feels like it ain't enough money in the world to get someone for tolerate this...."

End of log 22

50 years ago, 1974 in Guadalajara Mexico, a young and troubled Gustavo Mateo, has narrowly escaped the authorities but the rest of his gang.

A drug trade that had failed due to an undercover agent amongst them. On a high-speed chase down the highway and off to the desert near the mountain range, it was a miracle considering how far they've driven... If only it'd be a miracle if they had lost the FBI.

As the bullets continued ringing out, Gustavo had to think fast.

"I'm heading to the foot mountains! There's a cave system there where we can hide until the gringos are off of us!", Gustavo (age 19) shouted to his two last members. He drove as fast as possible into a tight side pocket of the mountain, where he had just luckily disappeared from the line of sight of the car.

He and his cohorts had slowly driven inside of the wide gaping mouth of the cave turning off the lights immediately as soon as they were deep enough in. "oh mierda! The tire tracks!", one of his colleagues had coughed.

They're only chance of escape now may have been dashed due to the short-sighted thinking and the underestimation of his plan.

"Come out with your hands up! Gustavo Mateo! Jose Salvador! And Pablo Montenegro! You're all under the arrest under jurisdiction of the FBI and the FDA!", for United States FBI agents had come out of an old Plymouth Fury sedan. The clicking of their firearms echoed in the cave opening.

They could see that Gustavo's car had entered the cave, they weren't sure however how many others were in there or what was inside the cave. But they're only worry was arresting them on the charges of drug trafficking.

"Mateo, tu burro! I told you to relax and stand still! If you hadn't shut that gringo! Then what I just taken the information and left!", his superior and gang boss, Pablo Montenegro, stopped him hard in the back of the head.

Gustavo has been in Montenegro's gang since he was a teenager, and he was always treated like as if he was still under initiation. "lo lamento, Pablo, but we would have been arrested anyway! You want to go to federal prison peacefully?! Hell no!", suddenly a burning urge to lay a fist on Pablo's face suddenly emanated from the very belly of a soul.

This wasn't the normal influx of rage he had felt throughout his life, but something far more darker. He fought the urge and one against it.

Suddenly, there was a deafening silence.

Like as if the Earth hushed itself for what was next to come.

A low, guttural roar slowly but surely bellowed out through the mouth of the cave as if the Earth itself was asserting itself from its depths.

I was loud enough to Shadow the glass of both cars, and send fear down everyone's spine.

"What the fuck was that?!", one of the federal agents had urinated himself in fear. The other three had put away their firearms and decided to bring out heavier weaponry, one of them got into the trunk getting grenades and other non-government issued weapons that they had illegally brought in with them. "Jesus Christ Jack! How the hell did you get those here?!", the same agent question in horror.

"Just in case if we some more of these hombres had an army.", Agent Jack responded.

But as soon as he picked up one more weapon, there was a sudden soft rumble.

One of the agents had felt this rumble, and then another, and then another.

He looked to the inside of the car and saw that his coffee was trembling. With each rumble following suit. "What the....".

Gustavo, his boss and Jose or deep already inside the cave with the unfortunate pleasure of greeting what was coming from the depths of the cave.

At first it was too dark for any of them to see what was coming from the back of the cave, but with each rumble of its footsteps, came a low guttural growl, echoing.

In the dark, they could see glowing red eyes and the silhouette of something monstrous. With a little light that's the late afternoon had left behind, the silhouette was highlighted with sharp jagged edges, shined with brass embellishments, and a towering figure not too dissimilar to the devil himself.

They would have been far more fortunate if it was the devil.

The monstrous figure lumbered over, curious to the strange object that had invaded his home, none of the men inside the car dared shine a light on it, and fear that it would be enraged.

Shaking and sweating, all three of them men could only speculate that this was a demon that had emanated from the Earth itself. Had this creature come to punish them for their sins?

The figure just stared deeply at all three of the men, then was interrupted when a gunshot had rang and hit one of its large crests.

It did not seem hurt, but it had felt disrespected. His wrestle gaze had turned to the origin to the shot.

"GOD DAMN IT MADISON! I TOLD YOU NOT TO SHOOT YET!", one of the federal officers had screamed at the other from the opening of the cave.

The figure to then decided to confront the Intruders out in the entrance of his cave. From the mouth of the cave the officers could see the same glowing pair of crimson eyes, nearly towering over them.

By this point the light of the afternoon had shun more than just small details, but the whole gruesome picture.

A horrific metal man, with blood crimson armor, adorned with sharp spikes with brass edges, jagged metal rods sticking out from his arms and back, and furious bloodshot eyes. He stood there silently, staring hatefully at the officers.

There was that upsetting calm silence again.

From inside the cave, Gustavo and the rest could hear blood curling screams, the bending and crushing of metal, continuous gunshots and each scream ceasing after a few seconds from each other. Everything went quiet after what felt like an eternity, what was only a few seconds.

The three men couldn't do anything, they stayed silently inside they're old car. Shaking in fear as if they were children once again.

The lumbering figure went back inside, frustrated, but satisfied that he had gotten rid of unwanted guests. Seemingly almost forgetting Gustavo and the other two. He glanced over at their car once more. But this time, although horrific and eerie stare, it felt more apathetic. As if his bloodlust was satisfied for that very moment. Lumbered over back to the depths of the cave, leaving the three men alone.

After what was roughly 3 hours, Gustavo turned on the car, breaking the silence of the three men who had just seemingly saw the devil kill for FBI agents. He slowly reversed back out through the cave entrance, as they slowly exited, they could see what the mysterious red metal man had left behind.

There was barely anything left of them, just mangled messes of men. One officer's head was bashed into his rib cage to the point it had split open, the other had been torn in half and crushed, the other had the car door slammed on to him, and the last had been twisted in a terrible way.

The car itself in comparison to the rest of them was relatively untouched, with the exception of the windows all destroyed, the trunk still open with agent Jack's weapons still inside and the car door being torn off.

Gustavo could feel the tears roll down from his eyes witnessing the scene. All three men had driven back to the city into the local bar. Where they stayed for hours trying forget what had they witnessed.

Pablo had drunk the most, saying nothing about the event, Jose could not stop sobbing to the bar tender's request, Gustavo....could not stop thinking about the entity.

Was it the devil who had saved them? If it was, why spare them? The questions in Gustavo's mins where buzzing like flies on roadkill. Ringing in his ears.

As the three men sat at their stools, a frantic and worried mother suddenly comes through the door.

"GUSTAVO! GUSTAVO MI HIJO WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN!", she slapped in the face and buried him in a strong, shaking hug, worried sick if her only son was to be thrown into a foreign prison. "YOUR FATHER AND I HAVE BEEN WORRIED SICK!", she was sobbing, just happy to see her boy was somewhat safe.

Jose(26), mildly still crying, "Señora Mateo can I have a hug?".

She stopped for a few seconds and invited him to her hug. "Oh come here Jose.", the scene was heartfelt as much as it was heartbreaking. "Where have you boys been, everyone at home thought you were dead!", she hugged them as if she would never let go.

Pablo, who had been ignored this whole time, ".....we saw the devil, Señora....he's fucking real....", taking another swig of his liquor.

Señora Mateo stared daggers at Pablo, if you weren't for him, her beloved Gustavo would never have to have resorted to such a life to support them. "He should have taken you!".

Pablo was staring at his shot glass, "hehe, who knew that the devil...also hated gringos?", he turned to her with an evil stare. "I say....we ask him for a favor...."

Gustavo lifted his head from the safety of his mother's embrace, "We're not going back there. He left us alone because we didn't shoot at him."

Señora Mateo was horrified, "oh please mi hijo no!".

Slamming his fist on the bar, "Get the others! We will have the feds off our backs for good...and Guadalajara....will be free of corruption."

"Jose talk some sense into him!", Gustavo pleaded. "Did you see what that thing did to those men!".

Jose was just as reluctant as Gustavo to agree to this, "m-maybe, we...can get the pastor to help?", with that statement Jose had sealed both of their fates.

"And get Martinez too! I bet the devil would like some carne.....", Pablo stares at Gustavo. "You better watch your tongue....pequeña mierda irrespetuosa", he left his payment and left Gustavo, his mother and Jose.

"Mama, please forgive me, I-", his mother lifted her hand to him.

"Mi hijto, you...and I are going to the church right now.", sniffling through her tears, "if I can't help you, God will ....you too Jose.".

Later that afternoon, just before the church was about to close, the local pastor was told the whole story by Pablo, and had prepared the gang of 30 or so members to visit what they assumed was the devil.

Nearing midnight, the gangs come to the mountain cave, all of which were equally horrified to see that the entity had still left the bodies, now currently being feasted on by vultures.

Pablo, armed with 30 men, several guns, a live pig, and several liters of holy water. To confront....or convert the entity.

"¡Demonio! I have come to make an offering! As gratitude for sparing our lives!!!", Pablo had set up everything to look like some occult offering. Something about him changed, from that strange second he laid eyes on the entity, he had simply lost his mind.

Gustavo and Jose were far more lucid, scared that this monster was simply going to strike them next.

There was a sickly silence once more, then came the rumbling of footsteps. There was no loud and thunderous roar like earlier this afternoon, just a low guttural growl.

The light from the headlights of each car were shining on the opening of the mountain cave, The entity and stayed just and the corner, trying to escape the line of sights of the gang.

Gustavo could tell that the entity did not like light, "Hey! Shut some of the lights off!", he calmly shouting at some of those nearest to their driver's seats.

"YOU shut up!", Pablo shouted at him. The growling was a decibel louder, and Pablo had begun to shake.

The live pig had panicked, squealing it's head off. It had somehow escaped its restraints and headed straight into the cave and a panic.

Wheeling could be heard all the way deep down into the cave, it did not stop until it was far away inside. Passing by the entity entirely.

Pablo was dumbfounded that they're only offering had just ran inside the cave. "TU PENDEJO!".

The feral growling was getting more aggressive The entity have now grown enough confidence to show himself even further. Coated in now dried blood.

"shut off the lights! It doesn't like the lights and it only makes him angry!", Gustavo warned the men.

The gang had begun to weigh in on what should have been done, some of the members have turned off most of the headlights, leaving only one on.

Pablo by this point was frustrated.

The entity had slowly begun to walk towards Pablo, thundering to the gang leader, was no defiantly standing in front of his cave entrance.

The creature stook a good 3 feet above Pablo, who already was a relatively tall man. Glaring at him, not even needing to size him up.

He was doing it for show.

Pablo looked up at him, maddened by his sheer size alone. He fell backwards and stumbled back on to his feet, running behind one of his cars.

Gustavo was just as equally terrified, but with the little light one of the headlights had given. He could tell that something was significantly different about this thing.

It was tall, horrifying and looked like it had birth to itself from the bottles of hell itself.

But his stare was full of pain, filled with apathetic sadness. In a very strange sense, he looked almost tired.

The entity turned his head to Gustavo, staring him right into his soul. He lifted his heavy feet, and stomped towards Gustavo. The other members had stumbled away from Gustavo, practically abandoning him with the entity.

He was more than dwarfed by the entity, it loomed over him....it's bloodshot eyes piercing right through him.

Gustavo couldn't move, the longer he stared back, the more a grading and grinding voice had leaked into his soul.

"bloooood.....for.....the.....blood god....", The voice loomed inside Gustavo's brain. He could see a dark giant, he could hear the screams and roars millions of corrupted souls from that second.

Gustavo was shaking uncontrollably as if he was going through a convulsion, he had recited his prayers over and over again, until all he could hear was his own prayers. Has the voice continued fighting and further and further, he had fought back with full strength of a soul.

With one final push against the intrusive evil, he let out his own battle cry, "rrraaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHhhhhh". He had almost tore his throat open with such a cry.

Gustavo, had somehow......

Beaten Khorne.

The crimson entity was taken a back by such resistance. He even stepped back a little, impressed with this young human's spiritual strength. He gave a crooked, sharp toothed grin.

"You.... banished him...", the entity growled. "I....can no longer....hear him.", you looked up at the stars, his bloodshot eyes cleaned a little.

The other members of the gang were both mystified and scared, what did Gustavo do?

Pablo with a shaking gun, motioned to Gustavo come back, "LETS GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE!", by this point emotion to the rest of his gang too quickly get out of there without invoking the wrath of this thing anymore.

Gustavo snapped out of it, he looked up at the entity and his horrific grin.

He nodded to him, turning around and running to one of the cars.

As the cars sped up, leaving behind the haunting figure, Gustavo looked back at him, he was looking back, watching the cars speed into the night.

The next day, early in the morning, Gustavo had woken up violently from memories that weren't his. Vivid visions of battlefields, bloodshed and friendly sparring amongst what can only be assumed as brothers. Covered in sweat and still in his clothes from last night. He could see that his mother had been sitting beside him, holding the cross in her hand, like we praying for him.

It was than he remembered how...and why...he was spared that night. He quietly and quickly gathered snacks, water and drinks.... Just before him had opened the door, you glanced over to a drawer in the living room, opening it up and he saw one of the Bibles his family had kept over the past few years. It was a strange urge to bring it, there would be no real practical reason for it, but instinctually gonna he feel that there could be some use for it.

You drove up again to the cave, this time seeing the horrific entity, sitting on a rock they opening the cave practically sunbathing, oddly enough with the same pig from last night and which he had kept alive this whole time. He was just sitting there contemplating, with the pig on his lap like a lap dog.

"...what the?", he decided to park a decent distance away from the cave, respecting the entities boundaries. He's slowly gone out and saw that the entity had greeted him with the simple turn of his head, he said nothing and just waited for him to come near.

"I can smell, the gun oil on you. I do not desire to hurt you....or at least....I do not want to change my mind.", he rumbled. Even with this threatening voice, the pig had not struggled or felt uncomfortable.

Gustavo had stopped, shocked that he knew he was armed. So, he had no choice but to bring the snacks and drink to him. "A... proper offering...amigo.", he had hesitantly called him.

It was clear the entity had no idea what that Ward meant to him yet, but he could feel that it was a good word...."a-migo?", he grumbled.

"y-yes, it means... friend.", Gustavo explained.

Gustavo can also say that the pig was relatively comfortable in spite of the hard armor, looked at him was mild apathy and went back to sleeping in the nice warm lap of the terrify man.

"w-what is your name...?", Gustavo asked.

The entity stood there, pensively thinking about his answer, "Sarek....", he muttered.

"......ugh..... would you like a different name? One that better suits you?", he muttered back.

The entity was taking it back a little, surprised that anyone would offer something is so strange as a second name for him. "....a different name?....", he responded.

"yes.....this morning, I couldn't help but feel that one of us has changed. Maybe one more so than the other, but I know that something deep down the side is telling me to give you a different name. One that will clean your soul. If you have one.", Gustavo had never been religious, not even when he would go to church with his family. Yet, meeting this, Sarek, had given him a new perspective.

"Would you like the name..... Alejandro?", it may have sounded random, but this was the name his grandfather would have given him if he were still alive.

The entity thought long and hard about this, never in his entire life was he given something as peculiar as a different name before, "....yes....Alehandrio.", he mispronounced a little.

The awkward silence was broken a little by Gustavo with a small friendly chuckle, "I'm going to have to teach you Spanish aren't I?", the strange and surrealistic feeling that he had just made friends with some demon, who has openly accepted his invitation for friendship without asking for anything so much as blood sacrifice.

What a strange situation, he thought.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

50 years later, on the same date, 2024. Las Vegas, in a secret underground fighting ring.

The strange friendship continues, between a man and his 'devil'.

As Señor Mateo box down the welded metal halls of the facility, he enters a room where it closely more resembled a living space fit for a celebrity, with a few humble things about it. They're sitting on the couch with a few other members of his bodyguards, playing a video game with them as if they were siblings.

Alejandro 'El Nino' Mateo sat amongst his 'siblings' and 'cousins', no longer adorned with the Blood stained armor he had once wore for the glory of a blood god, but now a glittering, blue, red and white luchador outfit fit for his gargantuan size. His mask covering predominantly the front of his face, custom fit to avoid the butcher's nails on his skull in which through some strange occurrence, I'm barely affected him ever since he entered our world.

Now only strange and immovable objects, permanently stuck to his head as a cruel reminder of his past, seemingly no longer hurt him.

His scars have healed, his rage controllable, his soul now his alone and his no longer plagued by rage and bloodthirst.

"I see you are enjoying yourself, how are you my old friend.", Gustavo smiled, giving Alejandro a hardy pat on his shoulder.

The reformed World Eater turned around, smiling his sharp toothy grin. "Hola viejo amigo, I heard tonight, I'm going to have some fun. Aren't I?", he chuckled.

One of the bodyguards, his 'cousin' Armando, nudged his rib, "Ha! Yeah man! Last night this guy was trying to bust out of his restraints!".

"Ah yes....the toro. That one you will not have too much problems mijo.....there is...one...I was surprised.....you had never told me....some of these Astartes.... could use magic?", Gustavo asked with concern.

Alejandro turned around looking at him, he pause the game real quick, "magic? What had one of them do to you Gustavo?", his calm demeanor had gone on guard.

But the reassuring pat to his shoulder, Gustavo gave him a soft smile, "no no, they had not done anything to me. However, my mind was read like a book by one of them.....it had started me for a short time.", he could see his world eater gearing himself up to fight.

"....put him in the ring last...... I want to obliterate him in your honor. No one disrespects my amigo and lives.", she let out a heavy blast of hot air from his nose.

Gustavo was pleased, 50 years he was successful as a member of the cartel, he was successful at protecting his hometown of Guadalajara, all thanks to Alejandro.

For tonight, it was their 50th anniversary. Celebrating all these years of friendship.....and power.

End of Log 21

The next morning, at Tulio's place; Moors and Wick were in hiding as the real Las Vegas police was now investigating what had happened the night before.

Moors was enjoying some breakfast as Wick was now worried sick about not only Bilhard and the rest of the Astartes, but also for his sweet Selene.

Tulio's mother had served another large portion of eggs, rice and potatoes. "More Señor?", she asked sweetly.

"Oh thank kindly Miss.", Moors letting her give him another serving.

She walked up to Wick who was slumped over on the coach, "oh everything will be alright Wick, Selene is a strong and smart girl. And you are a smart and strong man! You two will find each other soon.", she leaves him a plate as well.

Tulio's dad was watching the T.V and saw what was currently being reported on the Las Vegas strip. He looked at Wick, "....you do this? Roberta! ¿Sabes que tenemos delincuentes en la casa?", he shouted to his wife with mild concern.

As his wife turned to scold her husband, "¡No seas grosero con Wick y sus amigos, están en problemas y debemos ayudarlos!", she gives Wick a pat on the head.

Her husband, Javi, wasn't too sure about any of this. But if this favor was for a friend of his son, surely it had to be the right thing.

"-alright thanks again Magan," he hangs up, "ah man, Wick I'm sorry man. The cast back at the Paris says she isn't in her hotel suite.... seriously man what happened last night? Magan says the place is crawling with cops."

Wick looked up at Tulio, "Than she must be at Caesar's Palace. Hiding in the back room of the theater."

"I suppose we have to go and find her than?", Moors finished his food, washing his dish. "If she is close to this Sleen, than we can find the others."

Wick was still fuming about what Steen had said. "We need to make sure she's safe....if I cannot leave with her...I want her to leave safely.", he turns to Tulio's parents, "Ugh, gracias Mr and Mrs Armando. You've been very kind to us.", smiling greatfully at them.

"Oh you are very welcome mijo, you and your friend too.", Mrs. Armando shakes his hand.

"You two be careful. Big men fall of they not careful.", Mr. Armando wagging his finger.

"si si, papa, not these strong men. They're capable of a lot more than what you know." Tulio spoke.

~~~~~~~~~

Location: Back Entrance of Caesar's Palace Theater

Tulio, Moors and I had been able to enter through the back of the theater, unfortunately, the theater had been in use for the casino's own show.

As the three of us begin to question the cast members, no one has seen Selene....until we asked the security guard.

At first he was reluctant to comply, but luckily Tulio was persuasive enough to convince him of the severity of our situation.

It is a little extraordinary how 50 dollars worth of Earth currency can do for someone.

"well, I guess she was your last night...", as the guard went through the footage, Selene had done everything that I instructed, including stay secretly within our rendezvous room.

As you fast forwarded to any significant changes in the footage, it was clear what had happened. As the four of us watch as three men break into the room, Selene was captured and was taken by force.

Somehow Sleen had found her....but how.....and how long has he had known.....

"Hey Wick, um....loosen your grip. Save it for the men who took her.", Moors had noticed that I had gripped the table and crushed the wood into splinters and dust.

"...oh... please.... pardon me...I had forgotten my own strength.", I apologized to the guard.

He wasn't too happy to see the damage but I figured he wasn't willing to argue with a man who could do that to the wood of a table. "yeah... don't mention it. You want me to call the cops? I mean this is some serious stuff and I'm pretty certain they would want to know some more information about this.", I could tell he was being genuine with the statement, but I wasn't too sure of how many individuals were deep in Sleen's pockets just yet.

".... From your very honest and professional opinion, what is the likelihood that law enforcement may not do anything for her?", the weight of my statement could not compare to the pointlessness of it.

The man's expression changed from concern to uncertainty, "hmm... Well that depends, was she a dancer or is she just a regular gal? I mean I don't want to be that guy but if she works at some of the strip clubs then I'm sorry but I'm not certain if the cops would care.", I understand as remark and I did not take offense to it.

"she was an actress in one of the performance plays at the Paris Casino.", responsed.

"well I mean that could help but...", I stopped in there, it'll be a lot faster and a lot more efficient if we had taken over from here.

"I think you kindly for your assistance.", as I leave the room, I could here Moors and Tulio thank him as well.

I felt Moors' familiar heavy hand on my shoulder. "Well, it's just the first step. I'll have to figure out where she went though.".

As I started to formulate a new plan, was then I figured the Tulio was not present at the casino last night, "Tulio, I need you to go back to the casino and see if you can find some clues to Selene's whereabouts. Do you still have Sleen's office keys?", I could see his all too familiar mischievous grin.

As he reaches in for the keys in his pocket, he snickers in the light, "oh yes I do man, let's just hope he hasn't changed the locks.".

As the Earth saying goes, "now we're cooking with fire.".

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As Wick's and Moors' rescue mission has finally begun, a new set of dangers begins.

Hidden five stories underground, just roughly a few miles away from the South Point Casino, a secret literal underground fighting ring occurs.

For as long as the Astartes become more exposed to public awareness over the past decades, it was clear to some parties of their unique profitability.

Specifically, as pitfighters.

With a pounding headache, unintense nausea that had never been experienced before, Bilhard wakes up. He was still muzzled and restrained heavily, as he opened his eyes he could see that there were other maximum security level cages....with 10 other.....entities.

He was alone in his containment unit, but from what he can see, it wasn't just him and the others, he could see that there were also corrupted Astartes, but many of them had been stripped of the majority of their armor, only leaving parts of the armor that identify what chapter they're from.... Thier pauldrons; Word Bearers, Black Legion, Emperor's Children and one member of an unknown chapter with shining teal armor.

"...what...what is this place?", as he forced himself up, his restraints have limited his movement significantly, what worried him the most is that the restraints were made of a material that not even he could break through. "....Sten! Toke! Cahrilo!", he tried calling out for them but is muscle restraint his speech as well.

Growing more frustrated, he had to calculate a way out, if you could not chew through his restraints, breakthrough, or even observe his surroundings farther than where he was restrained, he had only one other option.

He had to make as much of a commotion as possible. With enough virility and energy that he still had left, you screamed moved and wrestled as much as he could. If you could not guard the attention of the guards, he could certainly rile up the rest of the more corrupted Astartes. As a screaming and wrestling echoed, it enticed and aroused the attention of a few of the Astartes.

"would you give it a rest, your friend's already tried that!", a voice that had emanated from above his cage echoed out. "Geez, you free walkers are something. Too much noise and too much whining on the first day.", an arm reach for down and waved at him. "They call me "Big Joe" here. Saw you and your buddies being rolled in here, who's your primarchs? Wait never mind don't bother answering, you got one of those stupid government quality muzzles.", the voice sounded casual yet cynical.

A mild groaning from the left side of the cage echoed, "eeeehhhh....aye? What happened? I haven't felt like this since the pack celebration of Sanguinelia a few decades back.... wait... Bilhard!? Sten?! Cahrilo! Where in bloody hell are you all?", it was Toke.

All Bilhard could do was muffle his name, and move the wall around as much as he could.

"wait, Bilhard is that you? Ironic, I always figured that I would have to be muzzled at some point ha!", it is good to see that Toke was still in good spirits in spite of a situation.

"oh that's great, I see we have a Space Wolf, pleasure to meet you, they call me "Big Joe", this Big Joe reached his arm down to see if Toke was free in comparison to Bilhard, the two were able to shake hands. "I'm finally, I play a good game of rock, paper, scissors for the first time in years.".

Toke was unrestrained as he was able to pick his arm out in front of Bilhard's cage, "Hey! Look I know you lost and got trapped in there, but that doesn't mean you're supposed to be so glum about it.", shockingly, within the casual clothing that Toke had borrowed, there was a reflective shiny item that he could peer into through the reflection, the belt buckle he was wearing. "oh, my bad, I didn't know you were just tied up like some rabid wolf. You look a little worse for wear too, I'd ask what happened but I thought you'd be able to tell me.", he could see through the reflection Bilhard I've been forcibly restrained due to the maximum resistance he had to the tranquilizer.

Much like Bilhard, Toke began to see around him. "Aye, Big Joe, what is this place? And why are there bloody traitors all over the place?".

"Hey! We are just as reluctant to be here as you! Space mutt!", a chaos Marine that can only be deducted as a member of the Emperor's Children hissed at him maliciously, "do you honestly think any of us would be trapped here like animals if we were willing?".

One of the other chaos marines growled at him, "oh shut up you lascivious deviant, you're here on your own terms. After all it seems that you like to take it harder than anyone else here no thanks to that traitor!", would look like to be another member of the Black Legion glared at him knowing which direction his voice was coming from.

The unnerving cackling from the depraved marine echoed uncontrollably through the air, "oh stop it you're here because you'll get free food you greedy bastard! And all the humans that you can beat to a pulp! Hahahahahahahaha!", the hair on Toke's neck went on end and Bilhard's blood ran cold.

With a loud growl, Toke had silenced the Emperor's Children. Feeling as if his fun was ceased, he let out a sickening chittery noise that only members of the Space Wolves could hear due to its low decibels.

By this point, the both of them were making enough noise to cause a stir.

Suddenly what sounded like a low hum to the ears of your average person, rung incessively throughout the facility, reaching everyone's ears and causing them immense pain.

"Ain't technology such as swell thing isn't it boys?", a familiar but currently pained sneering echoed through the intercom system, it was Sleen. "Now quit all of your whining, you all have a very special performance tonight. El Nino is going to choose who he wants to fight, oh sorry Pinkie! He's tired of having to beat you while you're laughing, it says it makes him uncomfortable.", Sleen finished.

The Emperor's Children marine lowered his head, "oh....I thought we had something special", he sarcastically moaned.

"now, we have some high paying customers tonight and I want you freaks of nature to understand that you're fighting for your freedom per se.... Well you're not actually all free, in fact you're going to all be bought tonight! Think of it as being like a puppy, and you're all going to get adopted by a loving forever home..... That is unless you enjoy the idea of your forever home being one of the high paying customers from an undisclosed country.", something is voice was off, you sounded like as if he was recovering from a heavy injury. "Ow! God fucking damnit! Fucking Wick, bastard broke my collar bone... Anyway, enjoy your breakfast! Hope you like horse feed! HAHAHAHAAHAH~ow damn my scapula....", the intercommons.

As it does, a man with large bags of what is genuinely industrial farm food, comes in and leaves a bag in a shoot for each containment cage. As soon as he stops in front of Bilhard's cage, he chuckles with curiosity as to how such a heavily restrained Marine is going to even eat anything. He just leaves the bag and continues on.

"oh joy, hey can I get some ketchup with this stuff?", as the man leaves a bag of feed on a small lift heading towards Big Joe's cage, a mild grown softly looms. "Oh fantastic, it's the organic stuff, must be my lucky day.", Bilhard could hear him they're the bag open and begin munching.

This had to been considered one of his lowest points in his life.

"are you kidding me?! You're feeding us kibble?", Toke protestingly growled as he watched the food cart man walk away ignoring him. You could see that now he was feeding the rest of the Marines the same set of bags, only they didn't seem to object too much. Some of them even gluttonously swallowing as much of it as they could in one sitting. ".... For the Love of the emperor have some self-respect. Maybe not even for the emperor just have some self-respect in general.", he grumbled lovely to himself.

"oh my head...ugh? Where am I?", it was Cahrilo, he had finally woken up, he looked down on his leg where one of the food bags had been unceremoniously left like a pillow, "what?", suddenly a small grumbling came from a stomach. "Oh. F-", he ran to what looked like a butcher's sink and vomited, the tranquilizers had negatively affected the food from last night.

One of the corrupted Marines was watching him throw up, "......when your done can I have some?", you genuinely asked.

The rest of the corrupted Marines were cackling uncontrollably at the statement, this had to have been an inside joke with all of them.

"Lads, are we going to leave here?", Toke asked, and he did the doors opened to reveal Señor Mateo coming in with the rest of his men. He had walked around observing the potential fighters for El Nino. To which Marine that he was not interested for El Nino, he shook his head from side to side, for those he wanted, he shook his head up and down.

"Aye! You there fancy man! Where are we!", Toke roared at him. Señor Mateo turned to Toke's direction and was mighty pleased at the energy of his purchase. He marveled at Toke's hight and size.

"Mmmm, sí...creo que te llamaré El Pequeño León...y a ti, El Hombre Lobo," he looked to Toke than he glanced to Sten's cage just beside Toke.

Sten had been awake this whole time, silently contemplating. He looked at Señor Mateo, with his pysker ability, he had peered into the mind of Señor Mateo.

"I know you cannot understand me, but I am certain you will understand how me and my colleagues feel about this.", he spoke, but through his mind he was communicating with Mateo very differently.

The look of shock and horror on Señor Mateo's was exactly the reaction Sten had hoped for.

The usually cheerful and somewhat calm Señor Mateo grumbling to himself, "¿Qué diablura es esta? ¿ÉL es capaz de hacer brujería?", he whispered to his translator a different question, "You! Lobo! Que mierda you pulling on us!?", The bodyguard had never seen Señor Mateo so rattled before.

Sten sat there, calm, expressionless and hoping there was some way of getting more information from him. "....... What do you consider is witchcraft, is my Emperor given gift..... I want to convince you... To set us free... You do not understand the powers of which you keep locked up like savage animals behind you....", Sten was referring to the chaos Marines behind across the room. All of which either enjoying their serving of animal feed or watching intently as they could see their potential foes in the ring openly display what they are capable of.

Mateo was horrified, but he was slowly starting to think to himself, "éste... va a luchar contra El Niño, sólo él puede quitarle esta magia diabólica.", he did the sign of the cross. He leaned over to his translator and whispered again, "you're going to be fighting El Nino tonight, you will not be given the honor of a mask and you'll be given the least amount of protection demonio lobo!", the translator finished as they walked away.

Toke and peered over wondering what had happened, "aye, did you spook 'em?", he looked at Sten with concern.

Sten grinned, "I spoke to him, but sadly he was not willing to listen..... But I have discovered what our opponent is..... We are in for a very difficult night ahead.....".

Suddenly the laughing and cackling of the chaos Marines across the room started to echo again, the same Emperor's Children Marine begin laughing breathlessly, "Oh you're in for a terrible beating now! I could hear your thoughts you silly little psyker! Do you really honestly think knowing that information is going to help you by this point?! They're just going to give you a lot less than armor and protection buddy! Oh don't make sure you lose. I know they have done for me.", he then showed what had happened to his right arm, a mechanical augmentation, not too dissimilar to what the mechanic is adeptice would give but what had been created using technology from Earth, was given to him courtesy of who was likely the ringmaster of this underground trafficking. "Oh you're going to be very disappointed when you find out who gave this to me! Then you're going to see what your corpse center is worth!", his second and cackling continued.

Cahrilo stood up angrily, it grabbed the bars and fried bending them but as soon as he did he felt an intense electrical shock more so than he had ever experienced during training.

"it's no use, I guess El Nino told them everything. Or at least, he told them everything on how to restrain us.", Big Joe cynically spoke with his mouth full. "This place was built to hold Astartes, Emperor knows how on Earth they found the technology to do so. I have to admit though, this place is a whole lot better than the facility that I was held out for a while.", he continued munching on his relatively tasteless breakfast.

Trying to ignore the burning feeling on his palms and the electric stinging throughout his body, "you were held somewhere else?", Cahrilo groaned.

"Yeah, not certain how, but whoever is behind all of this must have talked to them. Cuz some of the stuff seems rather familiar, a little more open air then those glass containment units for sure, but I do miss being served actual food. So what's your name buddy? How did you like the pressurized electric bars?", Big Joe have referred to what had currently just happened.

Each of the bars had been given primary and secondary restraints, each restraint had three levels.

Level one restraints were simply pressurized electrical bars, if any amount of pressure or manipulation had occurred, the entire containment unit itself would admit an electrical shock.

Level two included sensory disruptions, similar to the ones that Sleen had used on the room itself. Only the ones in the cages were intense and included a chemical that wouldn't induce nausea along with the auditory disruption.

Level 3 was where currently Bilhard was being kept in, complete restrainment.

"Cahrilo, the other space wolves are Toke and Sten!", he muttered. "what is this place?".

"it's a gladiatorial fighting ring.... Unfortunately it's not just Astartes that are forced to fight here to death for the highest bidder...", Sten groaned a little.

"oh so your buddy is a Psyker? That's nice, not going to be much use here. They have some electromagnetic thing underground that prevents anything beyond mind reading here. You should have seen what they did to a human psyker. The guy was beaten in one second. Never seen somebody just crumple up like an old tin can too.", the fact that Big Joe alluded to the possibility not only Space Marines had come to this world, but other members of the Imperium holds much more weight to their situation by this point.

"you have got to be kidding me.", Toke side exhausted.

"me, and chuckle nuts over there I've been the oldest ones here. I've been having to deal with this place since I busted out back in '85. Starting to regret my decisions though, I mean being held in a containment facility dedicated to anomalous entities, much like us, maybe wasn't such a bad idea.... That or it could be just bad timing.", Big Joe sighed.

"you keep saying that you were in a previous facility, it wouldn't happen to be one infamous for-", Cahrilo I've been interrupted by a small snap of Joe's fingers.

"Bingo! Those guys. Also did you guys make enough of a ruckus to attract their attention? I would really appreciate if they could just help us out right now.", he didn't really mean that considering what this organization would do to everyone here would be considerably far worse.

"oh I believe we have stolen a few of their equipment and vehicles actually in the past few years.", Cahrilo admitted.

There was a small silence until there was a hearty cackling from Big Joe, "YOU GUYS WHAT?!", his laughing continued to the point of hysterics, "oh man, I don't know where the hell of you guys been, but you guys are in a whole lot of trouble, did you take out some of their bugs?!", the team wasn't understanding why he thought this situation was so humorous to begin with.

"Ugh, I think Moors is removed most of the innards of many of their stuff and triple checked everything....wait! Bilhard! Can you hear me?!", he shouted to Bilhard.

Bilhard wasn't too sure of what to do, until he remembered that Morse code was taught throughout the facility in case of something like this were to happen. You begin to bang on the wall of his containment cage.

After a few taps, Cahrilo had understood Bilhard's situation. "You must have put up quite a fight huh? Aldercon would be proud!", Cahrilo responded verbally.

"Aye, where Wick?! I haven't heard him this whole morning!", Toke asked.

Bilhard how to get banged a message relaying what had happened that night.

"Ok, I will .....", Cahrilo was not any difficult position, he had to figure out a way to non-verbally communicate with Toke and Sten about the fact Wick had successfully escaped.

"No need lad! I understood that loud at clear. Toke, when we're close, I'll explain to you later.", Sten had already probed Bilhard's memories from last night and Cahrilo's mind just now.

As they were having their conversation, Sleen, who is now wearing medical braces around his neck shoulders his arm and his leg. "Would you freak stop banging on the walls?!!! I'm trying to take a nap!", he coughed painfully as it was clear that Wick had done significant damage to him physically. "When I get my hands on him... I'm going to chop them up and feed him throw a wood chipper I swear!", Sleen growled, but then grinned sickeningly. "Hehehehe, you see my dear, when I get your little goth boyfriend back here.... He is going to be put where he belongs.... IN A GOD DAMN ZOO!", he turned around as he had his guards forcibly bring Selene into the holding room by her arms.

She had been hurt in the process.

"now my pet, if you don't behave... You're going to have to play with one of them.", Sleen points to one of the chaos Marines, which is reveling at the idea of having a new toy to tear apart, "you are going to do as I say..... And You and Wick....may get out of this alive. I mean in one piece I'm not guaranteeing you that, that would be too generous of me.", he sneered.

"-as for you lot! Oh I can't wait to show you guys off, unfortunately I don't know what the hell one of you did but Señor Mateo wasn't at all too happy to find out one of his purchases had made him uncomfortable! And that cost money! So I hope you guys don't mind being separated for the rest of your sad freak lives! I'm just hoping to get my money back from Mr. Green... That big dumb bastard always bets on the wrong guy! Hahahaha! Chump.", he limps around monitoring the rest of them.

Although Sten and Bilhard we're not in the same room, the two of them are already attempting to figure out a plan.

They could trust Wick and Moors to get them out of there, but in the meantime, they had to survive the fight with El Nino first.

End of Log 20

After the night's performance, the crew headed back to their rooms after another near perfect performance.

As for the rest of the Astartes, they headed back to their hotel rooms, with mixed feelings.

Bilhard, scowling in frustration, was looking at Wick from across the hotel room.

Wick, glared back.

Sten had been observing the situation, wondering when the tension would break.

A few knocks at the door was just the break he needed.

Looking through the peephole, he could see Cahrilo and Toke both giggling a little, with a bag in their hands. Sten opened the door, he could smell the potpourri of cigar smoke, buffet food, liquor.....and ladies perfume.

"ah....I see you lads were enjoying yourselves...", Sten droned.

"AH HA AYE, BROTHER! This may be a hive of hedonism, but it do be a fun row!", Toke chuckled giving his lips a lick. "Oy, Cahrilo, pass me that bottle again.", it was then Cahrilo pass him a sizable novelty bottle in the shape of a woman's boot. He than proceeded to chug a little, "you want some? It makes for a fine treat.".

"If you mix a dozen different drinks at once, people bet money you to see how much you can drink, and when they lose....", Cahrilo shows a pillow case of cash.

"So... gambling? Is that what you two have been doing? Absolute debauchery? I expected better from you Cahrilo.", Bilhard stared daggers at Cahrilo.

"Oh please Bilhard, let your guard down. The heretical activities here in Las Vegas are hardly anything worth worrying about. I've been here long enough to say, there nothing truly sinister outside of the usual struggles of man.", Wick motioned to Cahrilo to show him the bag. "How much were you able to make?", he peered into the bag and could there was a little more than money. Random valuables, car keys to cars he most certainly had no idea where to find them let alone were not guaranteed to be rentals, lingerie and a phone or two. "....I believe you may want to return some of these.", Wick gave an awkward smile.

Sten was mildly amused at the whole situation, "but it's now time to get into more important matters...how can we help you on your mission...", Sten asked Wick.

"For starters, I had originally planned to leave by the end of the week I now plan on leaving by tomorrow morning. I had given Selene instructions on what to take and when to meet me. I have a colleague tha-", he saw Bilhard raise his hand.

"-we will not be including any civilians within this mission. You will have to notify your colleague his services are no longer required.", Bilhard sternly responded.

Wick turned his head to Bilhard, "I have everything under control, what you all can do is simply get us out of the city as fast as possible. The rest of the plan is to divert attention away from Sleen and his men. He's a weak and greedy man and I'm certain he may find some way in finding out our escape.".

"oh come now, what can one wee fat man do to us?", as Toke had finished his sentence, there was a heavy knock at the door.

"THIS IS LAS VEGAS PD. COME OUT WITH YOUR HANDS UP.", blasted from the door.

The room went silent, Wick stood up to check the peephole, ....it wasn't the cops.... But a group of heavily armed men in tuxedos.

"interesting..... gentlemen...I do suppose we have enough space in here to stuff them in the bathroom....do we?... I'm counting four m-", suddenly, bluish smoke started bellowing from the under the foot of the door, flooding the room with gas.

At first all five Astartes weren't too worried until it became clear something about this smoke affected them much more differently.

"What th-~~~", Wick went down first as he was closer to the door.

"COVER UP!", Bilhard tore a piece of the bed sheets and covered his face with it like a bandana. The others followed soon after.

Toke was coughing under his mask as he was the second closest to the door, "how could this be?!? What in thiii-~~", Toke had fallen unconscious.

It was clear what was happening, the gas was knocking each of them out. Sten quickly headed to the glass window and broke through to let fresh air in, "WE HAVE TO TAKE THEM OUT OF HERE NOW!", he toted Toke over his shoulders, Cahrilo with Wick.

Looking down from the sixth floor, Sten had to make a quick decision, "I hope you all are not afraid of heights!", he leaps out and attempts to land on to the next building, nearly breaking through the roof.

Bilhard quickly gathers their equipment in case if it's left behind, "Cahrilo go ahead! I'll follow you guys down!", he commanded as he began to barricade the door with his body, the banging continued as the group of four men on the other side of the door were unsuccessful. Looking through the people again, he was now seeing that there was five more men, holding a battering ram this time. "GET OUT OF HERE NOW!", this time, the battering ram was starting to help.

Cahrilo had followed Sten to the same building, the both of them running away and leaping off to the ground level.

Bilhard had been left behind for the sake of barricading the Intruders, he looked at the door and decided to take the same leap of faith, without somebody holding him, his landing would probably be a lot more smoother. As he sprinted out of the window, the sounds of the door crashing open had echoed from the window.

All five Astartes were on the move, Bilhard had just caught up with Cahrilo and Sten. "How is this possible?!? What was in that gas, theres no materials on Earth that can knockout an Astartes like that so quickly!", he ran in perfect pacing.

"there's a lot we don't know about this planet Bilhard! And there's an unfortunate chance we could find something here that can incapacitate us!", Sten concluded as the conversation was immediately interrupted by a large transport truck nearly colliding with all of them at once, nearly dodging them.

And the back of the truck, five other heavily armed men point tranquilizer guns at all of them, shooting off as many shots as possible.

Sten, Cahrilo were all hit in the chest. While Bilhard had been able to dodge a few, he reached into the bag pressing an emergency signal for Moors to come in and assist.

"Looks like Wick's lady friend is going to have to wait for us on a later date.", Bilhard quietly assessed, suddenly he felt a sharp electrical shock on the thigh of his leg. He had been used to electrocutions before from enemies prior, but this was an extraordinary amount of electricity. He looked down and saw what looked like a more stronger version of a cattle prod.

With a loud clank, he felt something around his neck, it was a restraining claw. He looked to his left and right and saw that Sten and Cahrilo had begun to slow down, being hit with some unknown substance.

What Bilhard hadn't noticed was that he too was injected with a tranquilizer dart. Has mine begin to slow down and slowly fade, fighting the mystery cocktail, you can feel his muscles weakening, falling to his knees shaking as his body was trying to metabolize the injections, but to no avail.

Just before he was about to go unconscious, you could see Sleen slowly coming out of the truck, chuckling to himself.

"What's da matter Jughead? Getting sleepy? Hehehe... enjoy your nap.", Sleen mocked him as he passed out.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Staring out into the starry Nevada sky, Moors couldn't stop thinking about what Gus had told him about the long road to the Stars.

How he could feel the urgent need in Gus's voice to commit to his plans.

"....I swear Gus...if you don't come out of that bunker next time I'm there....", he let out a sigh. He had no idea what he was going to do.

Gus was a son, little brother, and friend all rolled into one for Moors ....it only been as recently as the past few year since he's been far away from him.

He left the last of his cigars, it was his third box of cigars too. He had been listening intently to the radio to keep his mind off of things.

Until a faint beeping started, turning to the dashboard and saw the emergency rescue signal had been activated. "By the throne?", by this point, Moors was not expecting Bilhard do you have any need to activate the signal to begin with.

He checked a security camera around the bus in case it was being used to signal that group was near the bus, nothing. He had decided to check the GPS scanner to see where was the signal coming from. The signal was heading to an open desert lot near South Point casino. "What the??", he starts the truck immediately, heading straight to casino.

"What in tarnation....", Moors thought to himself.

Never at any point for an Astartes here on Earth to have needed the emergency signal.

What could have been so serious to actually have Bilhard use it?

A few minutes past and Moors stops a few yards away from the mysterious building housing several large cattle trucks. Yet, these trucks look like they were big enough to handle transporting animals the size of elephants. Moors had scoped out the trucks and could see this was far more than animals.

He could see that there was moving platforms transporting five large crates.

He could see a group of well dressed men with an older Latino gentleman with a bright white suit with red accents on the legs and arms. He looked like a cartel boss from the amount of armed men he had.

A short, fat man in a business suit came out of one of the trucks. Greeting the other man with zeal, only for him to be stopped by his bodyguards.

".....mind if I listen in on you two conversing...", Moors turns on a device that connects to any cellular device, turning it into a secret microphone.

As the static from the speakers come through he could hear there conversation.

"Well Ola, Señor Gustavo Mateo! What a pleasure to finally meet you.", he held out his hand.

Mateo said nothing but smiled gently, leaning to one of his bodyguards to translate for him. "Señor Mateo says that it is also a pleasure to meet you, Mr.Sleen. He wants to know where is the cargo? Three steers?", the bodyguard finished.

"Oh change of plans! There's more of them! So I'm afraid you'll have to raise the paseos a bit. I mean one is rare but five is a deal of a life time!", Sleen finish.

Mateo's changed to a more pensive expression, thinking about the sudden change, he leaned again to his bodyguard, "Señor Mateo would like to know what colors are they.", he finished.

Sleen was confused for a little, until remember what he meant by colors, "oh sorry I have no idea actually, they're naked. No armor. Sooooo it's a bit of a blind bag. Hehehe", Sleen chuckled.

Moors was confused, what was any of these men talking about?

"come look for yourself, this is one took a little while to get him to calm down. He's definitely a fighter." Sleen hits one of the cargo boxes and it moves a little.

It was Bilhard, his shouting was muffled but he was still fighting.

"Can you believe that it's taking 12 ounces of your lovely tranquilizer to put him down?", Sleen said exacerbated, knowing well that those tranquilizers were not cheap. Costing almost half a million each dose.

Mateo peered in the box carefully, he could see Bilhard glaring hatefully at him, he was restrained heavily by industrial grade cattle restraints. His mouth covered by a heavy duty muzzle. Mateo was not too impressed but not too surprised. "Ah........sí, como un toro rabioso. Perfecto para El Niño.....", he leaned again to his translator. "Señor Mateo wants to see the others", he finished.

Sleen knew what he was doing, he was checking the merchandise before purchasing it, regardless as long as one of his purchases included Wick, he had out of the buyers looking for Astartes for their own.... purposes. "Ok, just please take the pale, black haired one, he's a pain in the ass.", he showed the rest of the team.

All restrained similarly, Mateo was more curious about the Sten and Toke. Never had he seen more hairy Marines, he pointed to the both of them for purchase, he also pointed to Wick, as Sleen requested. Sleen peered into the one cage with Wick in it. "Hey! You hear me!? You insufferable little bastard! I'm finally having Selene all to myself! She would make a much better little play thing than she would anything else.", the second he mentioned her name, Wick woke up.

With the immediate strength he was able to snap out of the restraints, as it turned out, because he was unconscious no one expected him to escape the restraints so easily. He snapped out of them and broke through the wall of a change, just barely reaching Sleen.

He let out an ear piercing roar, something about this roar was primal and unnatural.

It was closer to a high frequency shreeck with a billowing of a large animal.

The bodyguard's immediately began to shoot at him but none of the bullets had pierced his skin. He broke out of the box and went straight for Sleen.

The second he picked him up to crush his windpipe, he saw Moor's truck from a distance.

Now he had a choice to either finally take revenge on Sleen for all the abuse he had put him and Selene through, or regroup with Moors to rescue the rest of his team.

For him to make a decision in his mind felt like forever, but he only just had a few split seconds. He tossed Sleen as hard as he could on to the wall of the truck, and sprinted to Moors.

From the truck, Moors was already preparing to pick up Wick mid run.

As the bodyguards were entering their vehicles in order to catch up with Wick, Wick on foot was out running them by the skin of his teeth.

"MOORS!", Wick shouted.

As Moors maneuver the truck in a way that Wick could enter through the back hatch, Wick made a jump for it and narrowly escaped.

Moors turned over to see Wick, "Hey buddy! Where are the others?!", Moors could see the pain in Wick's eyes.

"We need to go back!", Wick shouted.

Moors looked at his rearview mirrors and could see that there were currently six cars driving at top speed after him, all of them taking out what looks like heavy weaponry in order to shoot the truck.

"Hold that thought!", he pushes a few buttons to let out from the rear of the truck hundreds of spike strips.

As they all deployed it, all the the car is immediately begin to swerve as their tires tore apart.

There was no way of them catching up to Moors now.

"Alrighty, we're in the clear. What happened back there?! Where are they taking the others?", Moors question after question trying to understand what happened.

Wick was panting, not only did he feel as if he'd abandoned the others, but he now knows Sleen was going to hurt Selene somehow.

"We need to go back!", Wick pleaded.

"We will buddy....we will ....", it was up to Moors and Wick now.

End of log 19

After an hour so, we head to the car and....see a mail man? A conspicuously large mail man, with wires coming out of his head and connecting to his shoulders. It didn't help he was wearing onlya hat to cover it up and it still looked uncanny from a distance.

The two of us watched as this was clearly another covert Astartes simply placing a package in the now yellow mailbox.

"Oi! What in blazes are ye doin?", Fjord shouted from across the driveway.

The "mailman" just looked at him, "....I am performing my duties as a postal service officer! Nothing to see here citizens of the United States of America.", this clearly was the worst possible acting I have ever seen.

"Hey it's ok! Aldercon knows us!", reassuring him felt strange considering he should have known us.

He stared at us, not really sure what to do. "I do not know who this "Aldercon" is.", now this was getting strange.

I walked up to him and wondered what was going on. "Hey ugh,-", I look at his name tag and it was a generic name, likely because it he wanted to disguise himself, "ugh...Joe....what's going on?", I could see he was looking a little high strung.

"Handler, Aldercon has requested extra vigilance around 50 miles around perimeter of the area and within the confines of the town. Do not fret, this is merely a simple sweep.", he gives me a wink. "Also, here. Supplies for repairs, all the necessary tools for tracking and recording any information and medical ointment.". He hands me THE most heaviest medium sized box.

"Oof! Thanks, I'll put this inside. Have a great day.", I nodded to him as he left into his..... postal truck. Which was literally a large military van with a stolen plated side of a real postal truck.

As he drives off, I wondered as to how nobody has figured out about these guys.

I can tell they knew what to do in terms of espionage and disguises, but it was the equivalent of wearing a groucho marx mustache or the Clark Kent effect....it was obvious but it somehow worked.

Fjord walked up with same level of confusion, ".....I could see his bloody metal hand too....dumb bastard.".

"Wait he had a what??", I literally didn't notice.

Driving downtown once again, I stop by the same coffee shop from a few days ago. From the driver seat, I could see Benedict sitting with his crew again.

"Fjord, follow me, theres someone I want you to meet.", I point to Benedict and his eyes lock on.

"Ah, who is that, another handler?", he scratches his sideburns.

"Nope. This is....an ex-bigfoot hunter.....now he hunts Astartes...or at least he hunts for footage of Astartes.", I turn to see him with a puzzled look on his face.

"... footage? Is that not.... something Aldercon wants to avoid?", he groaned.

"Yep. We're going to see how much he knows... And how much she can tell who is human and who is an Astartes.", he was connected the dots after my statement.

"ah, yes.", as we both leave the car, we enter the coffee shop as if we're getting something.

I turn to Benedict looking at me from the table with that smug yet charmingly dubious grin.

Something tells me....I'm going to have a rather interesting surprise. "So, Fjord, I know we just had some breakfast at home but would you like a snack?", i could see he was sniffing the air and enjoying the smell of the shop.

"Oh no thank you lass. Although everything does smell a bit different. I don't smell the musky reek of corpse starch anywhere.", he crooned a bit.

I... don't want to know what corpse starch is....

"Ah! Miss Drake! A fine pleasure to see you once more.", Benedict announced from his usual table at the right side of the shop. "I see you have a... compadre with you?", he placed his fingers together to act coy.

"Oh Hey Benny.", I joked.

He's grin turned into a small annoyed scowl, "Do not call me Benny.", he pointed.

He than glanced on to Fjord, and gave a huge smile. "COME! Why don't you sit with us. We were just discussing our latest find! I call it, 'the Red legion marine'...", as me and Fjord make a seat for ourselves as best as week could, I could hear the creaking of wood from Fjord's chair.

I was seated on a metal chair, "ugh, you want to switch?", I ask.

Fjord having reconsidering the possible fragility of his seat struggling to handle his bare armorless weight, "ugh...I believe that would be a wise choice."

We make a quick switch.

Benedict was watching us intently, "now....these....are top secret.", he slid a set of four photos, they were of that fast moving marine from the wild cam footage. "I'm... certain you're familiar with this specimen?", I had to come up a bluff.

"...oh wow, ugh, that's absolutely horrifying....but the guys back at the reserve haven't seen this one....yet ....", it wasn't the best lie, mostly because in the past I've people like Benedict walking around the area with the same set of cameras.

Fjord glanced over and made a rather brute observation, "......that's a WordBearer.", he pointed to the symbol on his pauldron, "he has no real allegiance to the Black Legion either....in fact factions have a tough time tolerating each other.".

I give him hard stare. Now that he just stated everything he just said, Benedict may start to suspect on who or in this case what he is....

Fjord, shot me a glance and realized what he had just let slip out, "oh but of course I could just be wrong....I ugh...read it in a book.".

This just made the whole situation almost just as worse, considering that implies somebody wrote a book about Marines.

I can see that the look on Benedict's face along with the rest of his crew we're looking at Fjord with mild suspicion.

"hmmm..... Melissa, care to site what urm....I do believe you haven't introduced yourself to us...", he motions to Fjord.

"Oh, my name is Fjord... I'm very new in town.", giving a smile.

The look of the gang started to go from suspicion to surprise.

"Woah, sweet fangs. Where did you get them done? I've been thinking about doing a set myself but they're expensive as hell", the one I assume is Melissa spoke.

Fjord, understandably having no idea how to answer that again puts us in a deeper hole, "oh they're natural lass, they started to grow when I began my process.".

I give him a little nudge on his leg, "He ugh, did hormone therapy, yeah he was born with a very rare condition and when he was young he started doing this hormone treatment that helped him be a little more physically better... It's just a side effects is hair growth and....teeth growth.", I tried, and most likely I'm failing as much as Fjord is.

Benedict on the other hand was now glaring at the both of us with increased suspicion, "Hmmm..............I have never HEARD of such a thing."

"Actually that sounds cool. Oh my name is Charles McHines by the way.", the beef farmer reached out to shake both of her hands.

After he shook mine, he then as he shook Fjord's, he could see his hand was twice the size of his own. "WOAH, now that's a handshake!".

However what worried me was that Steven, an old peer from highschool, wasn't too surprised.

"Oh and Fjord, this is Steven, I want to highschool with him.", Steven in his usual weird kid self gave Fjord something he liked to call, "The flimsy hand", as a way to determine the personality of those he meets. There's no basis to this handshake, but it is funny to watch as many people get uncomfortable shaking you as possible.

Fjord sort of looks at the hand and tilts his head, gives him an equally flimsy shake of his finger, not wanting to crush his hand.

"...hmm.... bro's got it.", Steven ominously croaks.

"....got...what?", Fjord asked.

"Steven please don't, he's not going to get the joke.", I knew what was coming.

"Bros got....DA BEEEEEEAAAAAANS.", Stevens level of absurdist humor unfortunately is not universal no matter how funny it is to most other people within his circle of Friends

Fjord on the other hand was actively confused. "....what beans? Lorey what beans does this man speak of?".

I lean close to his ear and whisper, "sometimes we call animal paws 'beans' to be affectionate or something.", Fjord just stares at me and then stares at Steven.

"....ok...you have.......rooooots.", and I rather light hearted tone.

Steven has absolutely no idea what did he mean by this but he was just chuffed to hear that Fjord has... Somehow accepted his invitation for friendship.

"wait what does Roots mean in this?", I ask.

He leans to my ear, "I just made it up, your highschool friend scares me. I can't tell what he's thinking.", he cautiously looks at Steven who is now just wiggling and being silly in the seat.

The whole situation was weird but whimsical at the same time, meanwhile Benedict was starting to lose his sense of humor as the seconds go by. "EkEHM....your .... Professional opinion...Lorey?".

"oh I'm sorry, I lost the plot a little bit over there.... But ugh.... I think I have seen this one in one of our wildlife cameras but I'm not certain if it's the same one.... I would really hate it to be another one". I tried my best to be as vague as possible to see how far these guys have done their investigations.

Melissa looks at me and then Fjord, "well you see, me and Benedict have been doing our fair share of hiking as of lately and actually I have collected-", she takes out a small box from under the table, "-some of the things he's been leaving behind! It looks metal as fuck though.", she said opens up the box to show little creepy relics and bits. Stuff that you would imagine people who perform satanic witchcraft or something a lot closer to dark religion would be doing.

I for one am surprisingly shock that someone of her subculture would even dare be so foolish has to even pick it up to begin. If it's a weird creepy thing that somebody made from the bits of the forest that is in the forest, you leave it there and go about your merry way, you don't just pick it up.

"Melissa, I'm not certain if you believe in witchcraft or not but don't you think that this is a bad idea to just pick up what he leaves behind? I mean what if it's cursed.", I dryly ask.

"oh don't worry your little head, I work with this kind of stuff all the time. The only thing I know is that the best way to diffuse dark magic is it a little holy water.", she then on ironically takes out a spray bottle with the words 'holy water', "I had the pastor bless it.", either she knew exactly what she was doing or maybe she is just soaked everything in regular water.

"aye lass, messing with those is dangerous! It could corrupt your soul! WordBearers are tricky bastards!", he then takes a closer look at some of the items and notices that what should have been covered in sigils and blood, now look like they were washed clean. "Ugh?", picks one of the items up and start smelling it. "Why does half of this stuff smell like flowers???".

I didn't pick one up and I start to realize, it smells like Rosemary, bay leafs and basil. "Oh I get it, you did a lot more than just spray it with holy water didn't you...".

I was under the suspicion she knew what she was doing, although to Fjord's displeasure, she was a wiccan.

"yep. I knew there was dark magic when I saw the look of the guy, so I just decided to bring my 'cleaning supplies' and boom! Dark aura no more.", although she's a little bit cliche, I do have to respect somebody who knows how to properly perform all of this.

"yes Melissa took some soap and leaves and that stupid holy water that I'm certain that a Pope has to bless and not some random Pastor from Oregon.... And just washed off the evidence! We could have proven that these marines are actively out there hunting people!", Benedict looked at Melissa with frustration.

"like as if I'm going to take it to the cops, I was going to take it to one of the native reserves around here to investigate if anyone has seen this marine.", she responded.

"oh you were going to take it to us then?", I asked.

"no, to be honest I have no idea who to talk to about this. It's not like as if they're going to take somebody who brought in a bunch of creepy sticks and animal bones macably put together and some weird demonic ritual seriously.", she said with a sigh.

As much as these guys obviously had a lot of time in their hands to the point they would rather risk their lives just to get footage of a Space Marine in the wild, I couldn't help but feel bad or how much exposure they were putting themselves through. I'm wondering by this point if I can just convince Aldercon to let them help.

"hey Fjord, do you think we should go and ask-", he shook his head before I could finish my statement.

"-ask whom?", Benedict stared with anticipation at me. "You wouldn't happen to be holding out on some essential information? Miss Drake? Because I assure you, with your insider information and our resources-", gets up from his seat,"-we will prove to the world that not only these marines live among us..... BUT PLAN ON TAKING OUR MOST PRECIOUS RESOURCE! They plan on harvesting our DNA in order to make more Marines! Creating an army do battle against the lizard people of Los Angeles and the government slaves in Washington! For you see Lorey, they are here to help us fight against the planetary conspiracy of creating a world order between slave all of humanity!", he says this with the reverence of somebody who has discovered a great revelation. As he looks outside the window to dramatically look at the world he's so adamantly believes in danger due to this very specific reason, I can't help but feel more embarrassed at this point.

Mostly because of how on Earth did not only I get into this mess, but these guys who I can only sum up as the heavily discounted Scooby-Doo gang, have become associated with me and Fjord.

By this point, the both of us probably were Scrappy and Scooby in this situation, completely lost in the insanity of it.

"...ugh... Benedict I don't want to hurt your feelings but that is the most insane shit I have ever heard.", I coldly respond to him.

"see I told you that one wasn't going to work.", Melissa chuckled.

"WOULD YOU QUIT BUSTING MY BALLS.", Benedict frustratingly turns around what gave Melissa with a annoyed glare.

Fjord was just absolutely entertained by the whole situation. ".... Well I do suppose they're here to protect humanity. But I don't know anything about any lizard xenos.", this is like the third time he practically puts a neon sign on his forehead saying "I am a Space Marine ".

Benedict turns to Fjord, feeling like as if his conspiracy theory was validated. "Is that so? Are the Space Marines human? Subhuman? Super human?", he means towards him.

Fjord by this point probably didn't want to give away anymore information, "ugh...I don't know. They could be mechanical for all I know.".

"hmmm robot space soldiers here to protect humanity from the forces of intergalactic darkness....sounds.... plausible... logical even.", you're just as glasses with his pinky. "Intriguing, but where are your sources Fjord???", dramatically again turns to him. By this point he was just prodding him for more information.

"Ben, seriously stop scaring the sexy werewolf guy, but seriously are a werewolf? Because your hair is crazy. I love it.", Melissa genuinely asked.

"ugh-", I interrupted Fjord before he could respond, "well look at the time we going to go and get some camping supplies. I've been planning on going on a trek up the mountain boarder for a while and I just remembered we needed a few extra camping gear. Right Fjord?", I ask him hoping he understood what I was doing.

"Oh right! We needed more...twine.", I'll have to commemorate his dedication to trying to be elaborate.

"....hmmmm... Perhaps you would also like this.", Benedict hands me a heavy duty toolbox, as he opens it up it is filled with extra camera gear for me to set up in the middle of the forest.

"wait you want me to put up cameras around the mountain range?", it was then I remembered why he tried to make friends with me in the first place. I was knowledgeable about the forested area enough to know where there could be more cameras.

"perhaps these would be a much better quality than the ones at your government facility, or perhaps a place just a few miles off of one of the campsites.... Specifically the one next to the mountain range?", he gives me this look knowing that if I refuse, he probably knew how to get me to do it.

".... First off I work with the state, second what if I say no?", this is probably a great chance to figure out what he knew. So far he's told me nothing but absolute insane conspiracy theories, surface level information one could only just look up online and a bunch of semi blurry photos.

From the standpoint of somebody who is doing reconnaissance, he barely knows anything.

"well if you say no, then I'm going to have to post on our online blog that there is an armorless space marine walking around with you, either pretending to be a normal person or someone else.", I was completely floored, I know there was enough information he could have deduced something but how did he figure it out so fast.

".... What are you talking about....", I looked a Fjord and he looks back at me. The both I was practically were caught.

"you know exactly what I'm talking about, Miss.Drake, for you see, just about 3 days ago, me and Steven we're hiking up that area in order to find more substantial evidence other than Melissa's silly box of rat bones!", the volume in his voice was starting to worry me.

"dude can you just lower down your voice a little bit, even if you don't want anyone to know what you're talking about, you sound kind of a little cringe.", Melissa spoke.

"yeah come on, we're here to ask for their help, why are you threatening them?", Charles responded.

"Ugh, well because if they don't agree to our demands then we we will have to push extreme measures in order to reveal the truth! Duh! Anyway, I know very well Fjord is likely a 'canis familiarus sapien' from the Orin's belt region of the galaxy, and that his race has made a deal with the Marines to also protect humanity.", again with the absolute confidence of what he thinks is true.

Fjord just stared at him, "I am a what lad?", he looked at him annoyed.

"You, are ....a space dog man!", handing me a file from a website that clearly just made conspiracy theories from all around the world showing a poorly drawn picture of a Wolfman and science fiction garb. "Sited around 1973 in Liverpool, England! This entity suddenly appeared in a grassy field, as a stumbled around attracting the attention of the village folk, he ran off into the forest never to be seen again! Then continued sightings occurred all the way towards the North of Sweden!", it was then he showed me another page from this file.... With a very familiar photo.

"Ugh, Benedict, that's Rupert D. McCainel. This man believed werewolves were real. Oh shit did you get this from his family website or something????", I couldn't honestly believe how stupid he really was to believe in half of this.

"ah, it's dat man from that book you showed me. Toke said he looked like Grimnar.", Fjord was looking at the picture again. Probably now wondering what on earth did this fat weirdo was talking about.

"Sir Rupert D. McCainel was an avid cryptobiologist far ahead of his time! And whom may I ask is this... Grimnar? An ancient Viking lord? Some unrecorded Legendary folk figure?", Benedict by this point was fishing Fjord.

Did he know what Fjord was?

"Ben, come on. Let's not interrogate a potential friend.", Melissa steaming him down. "Sorry about Ben, he's been a little excited ever since he found this concrete wall near the mountains. Seriously only you and Steven found that thing and haven't been able to find it since.".

Bingo. He knew about the Fort wall.

"Oh is it one of those 'abandoned staircases in the middle of the forest' things? I told you those were abandoned properties that built their stairs with much stronger material.", I sarcastically remark.

"Oh please. This was a professionally constructed concrete wall in the middle of the forest, freshly made and laid with equipment tires strooned about! Clearly a secret government facility is underway. This must mean that these marines are intelligent enough to use complex machinery such as forklifts. Mysterious indeed", Benedict remarked.

"Fjord, what do you think of all of this?", I ask worried if he has had any of his feelings somewhat heard about any of this.

"I'm still processing how am I a dog man... I mean I am flattered but I don't think anything that you said is correct lad. I for one, never heard of any Xenos like that.", he remarked. By this point he's probably been more severely disappointed yet somehow entertained.

"Hmmm, xenos you say?", Benedict continued.

"look Benedict we got to go now, we're a little behind schedule and I want to see if I can find some supplies for my next trip up the mountain. I'll lay those cameras for you, just as long as you stop harassing Fjord with all of this complete nonsense. He's not a space dog from some planning on the Orion's belt or anything.", I sternly respond. This whole conversation had begun to become extremely unhelpful.

"fine, but I will be expecting the footage after your trip is complete! Me and my cohorts will be eagerly awaiting such valuable evidence.", he I just as his glasses again.

".... Yeah just take your time, we're not in a rush to get any of it anyway. I hope you stay safe on your survival trip by the way.", Melissa politely wished.

"yeah sorry about the convo, Benedict could get a little bit too excited about his silly theories. We just want to take a closer look at these guys and see how they're like. I mean I heard there's one in Pennsylvania that acts like a superhero! Like Superman or something.", Charles so far has proven to be one of the more reasonable people amongst this crowd of conspiracy theorists along with Melissa who seems to be a reasonable person.

Steven is ...well Steven.

"we very much appreciate this meeting with all of you. You see like a humorous bunch, hopefully we see each other again.", Fjord surprisingly seemed rather ok with this whole silly ordeal.

"well it's been nice knowing you guys, hopefully we'll see each other around and I will bring back the camera footage. Just as long as you guys stay away from the camping areas around Pine Hills. Unfortunately, my boss James has told me that those areas will be prohibited for the summer due to some.... Extraneous and dangerous circumstances.", I give a polite not to all of them and I look to Benedict, "oh and Benny, please don't accuse people of being some random alien from outer space okay. Fjord's feeling were very hurt.", I jokingly reply.

Dude looks at me with a small look of confusion until he realizes what I am attempting to do, "Oh yes. Oh my poor wee and frail constitution, what would me own ma say if she had seen her own son so brutally hurt.", the hammy performance wasn't needed but I loved it.

Benedict however wasn't too pleased with being mocked. Especially by someone who's easily dwarfing him by a good foot and half. "hmmm indeed.... perhaps I had been insensitive. Good day to the both of you.", I swear if he had a fedora he would have tipped it.

The both of us get into the car, heading off to any outdoor activity store we could find.

I look to Fjord, who was slumped in his seat. "Fjord, are you ok? Look I wasn't expecting Ben to be so....stupid...I thought he was just dramatic.", I felt Benedict's comments were way out of line.

He was deep in though but he snapped out of it a little, "oh, don't worry lass. Nothing that fool said actually meant anything. In fact it was rather entertaining. But it's clear here on this planet, most mortal seem to be very unaware of what anything related to Xenos. But...there something I'm wondering.....HAVE you mortals come in contact with ...."dog-men"?", he chuckled a little thinking about it.

"ugh, no... honestly dog-men from space is genuinely something new to me. So...yeah....let's just say there's a lot of extremely bored people in the world....I'm sorry.", from what I've learned today, Fjord's world seems to have its own taboos and issues that I had no idea about.

His more stern look softened a little, "lass you have nothing to apologize for. Being part of the Vlka Fenryka, we tend to have some....remarks. Hmf, none of them bother me whatsoever. So....what shall we do with this?", he holds up the cameras the Benedict gave. "How 'bout we show him some real footage?", I could see he was giving that mischievous smile of his.

It was a contagious smile too, "I think....he would very much appreciate that actually.

End of Log 18 prt2

An all too familiar chill had sent my whiskers on end.

"ggggggggrrrrrrrrrr......", I could feel them. Lurking in the underbelly of darkness.

The foul skittering of a chaos. Like a den of tyranids. Just yonder into the mountains. I gaze upon the early morn, "....it can't be....".

Yet there was one thing stopping me from simply charging forth upon my favored enemy....Lorey.

I couldn't just leave her here alone. The others are still out on their mission. And I do not have faulter in my skills....I do not know the strength of this threat.

It could a small gathering....or an army.

As I ponder, I wonder as how would I explain the horrors to her, she will need to understand them....there will be a great chance she will encounter a Chaos marine...but how... I could she had many books, perhaps she was one of those more learned folk. They are ....well less ignorant enough to handle such information....twas then I remember her wearing the talisman Sten had given her....the talisman of safety.

I was confident it was doing the trick...as I glanced over to her books...I could see a rune. A family one at that, yet there....other runes... Some foreign, some I have seen in the likes of the Iron Snakes, Ultramarines....and Minotaurs....a large blue and white eye...I have seen only once or twice amongst their most power librarians. Yet I've seen it many times amongst the Thousand Sons....the eye of Tzeentch.

I must make sure, these can be trusted.....I want her to be safe, I must trust her.

For her sake, for the devastation of failure.....well...would be too much.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The usual morning routine begins with the both of us. Being my day-off. I've decided to wear more comfortable clothes.

The standard black sleeveless shirt with jeans with sandals. Never fails.

Fjord was up early today for some reason or another, I hear shuffling of pages down stairs. As I go down I could hear him grumbling to himself.

"Good morning Fjord, you're doing alright?", the second I get down, I see him scowling a little looking at one of my books. Specifically a book on ancient religions and magic.

"What are you doing with all this?!", he shows me a page with sigils and a brother humorous depiction of some marginalia from the 9th century, "This could be seriously dangerous, lass! Using magic like this is heresy.", he gives me a look of serious concern and what feels like betrayal.

I couldn't for the life of me understand what triggered him to do this or if he just got curious. "Fjord, I...don't practice magic. It's just part of a study I did in college. It was to study how ancient cultures had understood the world THROUGH that. There's nothing to worry about.", I could see he was genuinely serious.

"Ok, how about this. Explain all-", motioning to all my books that have strooned all over the room,"-this...to me over breakfast...I'm sorry if any of this offended you or anything...", if I had known this was going to upset him, I would have either put those away or explained it to him better.

I have rubbed people the wrong way in the past because of my personal beliefs, so hopefully this isn't one of those times.

As I prepared breakfast, he watched me with worry in his eyes.

"Lass, I must ask you....what does that eye mean?", he pointed to my mati eye. A Greek symbol of divine protection from evil. "There are those in my world who use ... something similar...I want to make sure...that you are safe wearing it.".

I take a look at my necklace and see my mati next to the rune Sten had given me, "oh this, it called the evil eye, but I like to all it be it's more appropriate name. The mati. It's supposed to represent the eye of the divine, spying on those who seek to harm us and protect the user, it's just part of well... what I believe in."

"....what kind of divinity?", he asked sternly.

I had to go to the leaving room and grab a book that had multiple sections on gods from all around the world.

"Well, I fallow these ones.", I point to the Greek gods to see his reaction.

"Great Throne how many of them are there??", he was surprised.

"well, this Pantheon has 12 standard gods, than dozens among dozens of smaller gods and titans. It's actually complex.", I can tell he was examining each depiction closely, like was reviewing them.

He looks at it a little bit more. "...some of these 'gods' share the names of Astartes I've met in the past. This one here shares a name with a very venerable Imperial Fist actually....", he points to a passage that contained the name "Pollox".

I could see he was making his considerations very carefully.

"Show me other gods.", I chuckled a little and turned to a page of Native American gods, he seemed ok with them, than a page of Chinese mythology, he wasn't to sure what to make of all the chimeric creatures.

The most interesting reaction was when I turned the page to the Norse gods.

He was fascinated to say the least, "I...can read some of these runes lass", he than gazed at a picture of Odin, " ...."the all father?"....", his eyes traced on to Fenris, there was that contemplative face from the fort. The face of deep retrospective thinking.

"hmmm...well....you said this is for... 'academic purposes '?", he cocked his brow at me.

I smiled a little, "yeah, these are all known gods, most sadly people don't pray to them anymore, many of their rituals lost to time or others ....but some still prosper in some ways.".

He was thinking really hard about this whole deal, "fine lass ....if there are gods that some of the very finest the emperor blesses share names with...then it should be fine....but NO magic.", he points to me making sure I understood his rule.

"oh ok, no magic, and Thank you for being concerned about my well being.", I pat him on the shoulder. "So, I'm wondering, what is your deal with magic? Are the other Astartes like this?"

He paused a bit before answering, "yes...magic is heresy. It is a force from the warp that corrupts your soul. There 're some psychers that can control it...bah, but they might as well be heretics themselves, lass...the true masters are Rune Priests, gathering the blessings and deriving their power from Fenris. Protected by the greater force of our spirit and by the Emperor.".

"hmm....that sounds like Druidism.", I've always understood that there was a difference between wizards, druids and other fictional archetypes of magic...I'm wondering if there were druids.

He tilts his head, "lass, what in the name of Russ is a druid?".

I get the book and turn to a page of Celtic mythology and point to an old depiction. "They're like...I'm don't know the Popes of ancient Celtic religion. Wise men who spoke to the gods and nature as a means of deriving wisdom and protection."

I could see he was just looking at a passage that showed a video game druid as a modern depiction. "....aye, that be close....I think...".

I giggled a little, I could tell he was trying to piece together the whole deal. "Alright. I'll make us some breakfast again."

He looked at me with a smile, "alright then, let's get the mourn started. So, what are your plans?".

As I was getting the food stuffs ready to cook, I glance and see Benedict's silly business card. ".....we need to find someone...if Aldercon wants us to do reconnaissance...than we'll have to rule out the most likely to be stupid enough to accidentally find Fort Dorn.", I turn to see him giving a mischievous look.

"oh right. Do away with 'em lass?", he flashes his fangs.

"NO. WE'RE NOT KILLING ANYONE. Mostly because these guys are harmless.", I objected.

His hardy chuckling gave it away he was testing me. "Don't worry lass I was just kidding.".

End of log 18 prt1

Walking around the casino, Bilhard and Sten have separated from Toke and Cahrilo to search for Wick. Although Bilhard and Sten have deduced Wick has to be performing in the show tonight.

Toke and Cahrilo search through their stomachs.

"You mean to tell me....there are places to eat for people to just....gorge themselves on food?", Toke looking at the buffet with Cahrilo.

"Yes. It is to convince people to stay longer and enjoy multiple different items. Personally, this place is useful for us.....", he than takes out hard cash. "I've been saving this in case we can not use the gold.".

Toke looks at the money, looks at Cahrilo, looks at the buffet. "...you are now an everlasting friend to me as if you grew up from the same pack do you understand me?".

Cahrilo, knowing very little of Space Wolf culture, accepts the implications of this.

Bilhard and Sten had now found themselves near the entrance of the performance theater, likely with Wick inside.

"He is here. I can sense his thoughts.", Sten had been using a particular variant of mind reading that Ruin Priests has utilized.

As the two were heading to the door, the security staff had been braze enough to stop them.

"Um sir, we do not allow anyone inside the theater after the doors have closed sir, if you had missed your reservation then you will have to purchase a ticket for tomorrow.", the man who had obligated to wear a modernized butler outfit for the event stated.

"We are here on a matter of importance, is there a chance that we make contact one of the performers for tonight's event?", Bilhard asked politely.

"Oh um...no, and sadly I can't tell you anything else either.", the man responded, "we can't because it's a matter of security and we do not want any of the performers being harassed or stalked by any of the patrons in the casino.".

Sten and Bilhard had a feeling this would happen. "Sten, do it."

He furrowed his brows, "I refuse to do so, it would be a great misuse of my rune abilities."

The door secretary how to become uncomfortable, "uhm okay I don't know what's going on and I don't know if you're doing this for a bit but I'm going to have to ask you to leave, go purchase a ticket at the front counter and return back tomorrow."

"Do it, we are wasting time.", Bilhard commanded quietly.

Sten placed his hand on the security guards head, intruding upon his subconscious, "open the door and lead us to the performers. We come in peace and do not want to cause any harm.", the expression on the security guard space was that of terror and fear....but he was heavily compelled to follow the commands.

"y-yes....f-fallow me." as Sten let go of his head. He slowly walked the two Space Marines to adore that was labeled 'employee and stuff only'. Opening the door with his security badge, he escorted them inside, reading them downstairs to the backstage area where there had been a small group of fans already waiting for their chance to take pictures with some of the actors actresses for personal and press reasons.

From behind the curtain, they can see how the performance was going. Bilhard was a little bit familiar with what had been going on but was disappointed to see that it was not accurate to the literature he had at one point was compelled enough to read. For Sten, this was already a strange and unusual performance, to him this was some bizarre ritual event. However he was enjoying the strange atmosphere of it all.

"this is unusual, I do not sense any chaos here, 'tis heresy by some degree of the definition, but it simply seems like dancing.", Sten remarked.

Bilhard scoffed, "the only thing I see is an insidious display of nearly naked women running away from whatever is chasing them. This is hardly a parody of a performance.".

A gentle poking of Sten's side had alerted him, he looks down and sees one of the female fans.

"Hey there sexy, do you want to take a selfie?", she was waving her phone and attempting to be cute doing it.

Bilhard answered for him, "I'm afraid not madam, we are here on important business, we are not allowed to be photographed.", although he had given his warning politely, he looks down and sees not only her taking a unconsenting selfie of Sten, but along with her friends who were posing with her.

Sten on the other hand did not know what to do, he did not want to object but at the same time he did not want to be in the situation.

"Please, I'm... not interested lass.", Sten wasn't too happy with the flash being on his face.

"HEY GET THOSE BIMBOS OUTTA HERE! NO FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY IN THE BACKSTAGE AREA!", Sleen I've been watching the whole thing from a distance. "And take their phones too!".

A newly hired bodyguard had taken the girl's phones away and crushed it in his hands. Washing and shoving her out so the back door.

"HEY WHAT THE F-", the girl and her friends have been kicked out of the event, leaving Bilhard and Sten behind with an uneasy feeling that something is going to happen.

"Yous gentlemen ok? Those girls weren't bothering you or anything? Were they?", he came from the dressing room, likely either harassing or getting everyone in line for the performance tonight. Taking a long drive of his cigar. "Well well well.... Look at the size of both of you!", Sleen was at this point marveling at the both of them.

Bilhard was attempting to save face. Although it was helpful that The bodyguard had destroyed the evidence of their existence here in the casino, he was not too sure if kicking the girls out of the event was disproportionate to what had happened. "We are fine sir. They were not bothering us actually."

Sten had a pretty good idea of what Bilhard was doing, he quickly looked into the mind of Sleen for a few seconds.... And his blood went cold.

"you too must be from that Wrestle-ton gig that's happening down town. I have to admit it, if I was attending that I would definitely put my money on you two beasties. I'd really hate to be the guy who would be fighting anyone as big as 'El Nino'.", Sleen cackled with smoke puffing out of his mouth. "The name's William Sleen, had producer, co-director and co-runner of this beautiful production of 'The Pantheon', numba three hit show of Las Vegas for the past 5 years.", he stood there smiling.

"Bilhard, I need to speak with you in private about this man.", Sten leaned in to whisper.

"I know, one second. Sir you wouldn't happen to know a man named Wickovk Korvux? He also goes b-", he could see Sleen's face go from a friendly business demeanor to a simmering anger.

"-You mean...Wick? Yeah..... causing me grief every time he comes here.", he points to the stage.

The lights didn't down as the music becomes more orchestral. Selene appears from the slow rising trapdoor from the middle of the stage. Dressed up in a glimmering white leotard with accents of blue and silver adorning the whole body. A braided cornrows now fashioned into an ancient Greek braided knot, the loose end resembling a crescent moon.

As she was prepared to perform she seemed to define gravity with suspension lines, making her appear as she is just simply flying floating from her point of entry. As the music crescendos, the stage later reveals that there is a much bigger item underneath, a large globe. The sphere was no bigger than a SUV and just about half of that weight, but to an Astartes it was comparable to lifting a large cardboard box. As the Earth literally lifts itself from the middle of the stage, it could be seen that Wick, who had been dressed up as Atlas for this piece was underneath. Seemingly lifting the impossibly heavy structure. The performance was bent of represent how the moon revolved around the Earth, as Selene 'flew' down to greet Wick with a soft caress to his face... Only two be lifted off again for a final act for the scene. She was to lend on the top of the globe, without Wick dropping or moving the globe itself, but lifting himself up from his kneeling position to standing up. As he was able to gracefully move in one flawless motion, it was as if Atlas himself had found the extra strength to hold the world above his shoulders.

The crowd roared and chaired, proving why this was one of the few parts of the performance used for the promotional material.

Viewing from the backstage area, Sten and Bilhard were taken back by Wick's involvement in the show and what he had gotten himself into. He was not a performer in their eyes, but a clown in a tasteless circus.

Bilhard was furious. Sten, not having much context to Wick's behavior how did the unfortunate position of being in the middle of two very different perspectives.

"What a fool....", Bilhard growled.

"He maybe a fool, but he is one of the only few people in this production that brings in the big bucks. The crowd goes nuts when he does it! They probably think that thing weighs a ton! Was with his size, people don't even bother questioning it! He does another parts too you know.", Sleen had been using Wick as a strong man, on occasion as a fumbling hero or in some cases a brutish monster depending on what was chosen for that week's programming. Actively either humiliating him or taking advantage him.

Sleen turned to see the two equally large men and thought of an opportunity. "So....I...ugh...can offer you two a role.", hoping one of the men can replace Wick.

Bilhard gave him a hard stare. "No."

Sleen, shocked that someone would ever say no and turn down an opportunity for stardom to HIM of all people. "No?"

"We are here to speak with Wick. That is our only goal.", Sten had chosen his words carefully, peaking into the mind of an enemy was against his code as a Rune Priest, but for he had discovered ....the potential to cause havoc was a bigger possibility. For the moment, Sten understands why Wick was here.

He was here because his duty and nature had brought him here. Being the son of Corvus, one could not blame him for elevating his goals for freedom. Wether it be his, or that of someone he had deeply fallen for.

After Wick's performance was finished, he headed to the dressing room to get ready for the finale. Another, and hopefully last, performance complete.

"Perfect, after tonight, I s-", suddenly the ear grating voice of Sleen twinges his eardrums for yet another time.

"Wick! I got a pair guys here you know.", begrudgingly points to Bilhard and Sten who had followed him.

Caught by his own battle brother, Wick couldn't help feel betrayed in some way. The only one he could blame was himself. "...oh...Hello Bilhard.", he looked at Sten, not recognizing him with his wolf shaped helmet. "I see you've brought a friend..."

Bilhard was furious, the antics of a teenager had more reason than prancing around on stage. He looked at Wick with disgust, a once admirable Raven Guard, pretending to be some primordial heretic god from the past...all for what? "....You are going back to base EFFECTIVE immediately.", he didn't care what Wick had to say, all he knew is that he was done having to babysit another Astartes.

Sleen on the other hand was enjoying the prospects of having Wick be forced to quit. "OH? You're military big guy? HA! What did Mommy and daddy didn't want you to go to art school or something?".

Knowing full well he needed to focus for this performance, he ignored the both of them. Silently changing wardrobe.

Selene had just come a quick conversation with someone, "Wick, mon corbeau, that was a great perf-oh.", she had notified Sleen standing next to Bilhard and Sten. She looks at Wick with concern in her eyes.

He gives a reassuring nod and smile. "Thank you. You were perfect as always.", he would have called her by her pet name, but he didn't want to give Sleen the impression they had been seeing each other.

Sten now gazes at Selene, using his abilities on her, now fully painting the big picture. "Good evening, your performance is was lovely, and I was impressed with Wick as well.", trying to at least break the ice more gracefully than Bilhard.

She was looking at Bilhard and Sten with curiosity, were they related to Wick more than simply by occupation? They're stature points to a different direction in her mind.

"ORION AND ARTEMIS ARE UP IN 20 MINUTES!", the stage director announced.

This was more than an opportunity to attempt to at least talk to Wick in private, away from the two mortals that have gotten themselves in the middle of them.

"We need to speak to you in private.", Bilhard glared at Wick.

Sleen, with a grin that reaches ear to ear, "Well I know just the place. Right this way gentlemen.", he leads the three men into a private office, turning to Selene with restrained frustration. "As for you...my little bird, you....are going prep for the show....", this wasn't his usual sleezy annoyance at her antics. This was more serious.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

By this point, I had gotten use to Bilhard's drilling from the years of crossing him and his strict line of code.

I'm just disappointed in myself for having been caught...I wonder how much they had witnessed.

"-AND GOING AWOL TO PARADE YOURSELF LIKE A CIRCUS ANIMAL?!? DO YOU HAVE ANY UNDERSTANDING OF THE DISRESPECT YOU HAVE BROUGHT ON THE ANONYMITY CODES OF FORT DORN!?", to compare my to a beast of entertainment is a rather corse way of describing.

But it is worth it considering I could spend just a few more moments with Selene.

Just one more inquiry had gnawed at me the moment I saw him, "Pardon me, but who might you be?", I look to the what I could easily deduce was a Space Wolf. Finally, a reasonable Astartes who could at the very least sympathize with my mission.

"My name is Sten. I have been requested by Chaplain Aldercon to assist in returning you home. As soon as possible.", judging by his cadence, he was a veteran. Experienced, likely have mellowed throughout his years in service...and judging by the markings on the base of his neck, a Rune Priest.

Simply to put, a wild card psycher.... knowing very well of our own chapter's psychers. He can be trusted to an extent.

"Ah, it is a pleasure to me you. I assume you understand why I am here, wolf brother.", i addressed him.

I could see the look of disbelief on Bilhard's face, "What the hell is he talking about Sten?".

"He's here on a mission that best suits Raven Guards. He's here to help someone. That girl....the one you performed with....you are set on freeing her from her..... services.", Sten's respect for Raven Guards Sten from their shared empathy and desire for rebellion. The only difference is that they follow the Codex rather than go against it.

The softening expression on Bilhard's scowl had gave way for second, "....is that so? I guess the duties of an Astartes never cease.".

"I did not want to tell you or Aldercon because at first it was...well mostly for my own reasons. Than, as I had spent more time here, I had found purpose in my desire to challenge myself. Not with competition but rather in hopes I can make a difference... even if it one person for now.", Wick lamented as he was putting on his Orion costume.

Having more design inspiration from medieval Europe rather than ancient Greece, the costume was an awkward fit.

"I see.... your goal is admirable....fine, you may finish your mission, but once you are done you are never allowed to come here again. We can not risk exposing ourselves. If you want to, once we go back to Fort Dorn, we can initiate something of this nature for you.", Bilhard began to understand Wick's desire. Even though to him this was a risky use of the resources, he understands that compassion for mankind comes before their own desires.

Something he himself had to learn the hard way.

"ORION AND ARTEMIS ARE UP!", the director announced the last call.

"I must leave, I hope to leave with Selene tonight.", rushing quickly out the office.

The both were at a loss for words.

Sten glanced to Bilhard, "it must be a little difficult for you to understand.....but there is far more than duty behind his motives.".

"I understand perfectly. It's that this could impede on our task to protect mankind covertly...... we...can not let anyone know.", as Bilhard was still stern yet more understanding.

Wick and Selene's performance had begun. As the lights went up, the symbolic hunt of Orion for Artemis had begun. What can be interpreted as the nature of man and woman, predator and prey culminating in the natural order or at the very least by Sleen's interpretation.

By no means was it an original concept, in fact the performance may have been plagiarized directly from other dances.

However instead of a shocking and with Orion forcing himself upon Artemis, is now a gentle waltz between the two characters. As one slowly accepts the other.

The two had never been so close publicly since he had started. This was the only way to demonstrate their love for each other. As the perfect crescendo, the final step was for Orion to lift Artemis was one hand, as she arches in a man of reminiscing a crescent moon. As he placed her gently down, an arrow strikes Orion.

Ceasing their love, for it had become forbidden by Apollo for his virgin twin to ever be soiled by another.

And in the performance on a sobering but tragic note.

The crowd roars like never before, for those who had come to see this version of the show or met with a refreshing and tasteful ending for the first time in the performances existence on the Vegas strip.

Sleen, who had seen his version heavily criticized prior to today's alterations, was not too pleased to see how much of a success these changes were. "Hmf, looks like these schmucks haven't even heard of dark comedy?".

As he was stewing in his own frustration at the success of Wick and Selene's performance, Hans had returned.

Covered in suspicious bruises.

"BOSS the staff! They JUMPED me a-", he was stammering and embarrassed. The whole time he was gone he had been kept in a local strip club away from the strip, probably having the time of his life and only remembering he had one job to do.

And Sleen was a scary man.

Who knew scary people.

"AHHHH SHUT UP! You're lucky you're just a muscle. And I've got some... interesting things to tell the Club back at the towers about not just one suspected buck...but three whole steers.", he than held a USB card. "Hehe, strong looking ones too...... guess 'El Nino' will finally have someone to play with.".

End of Log 17

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