A Bloody Rose Story

 We didn't know! We didn't realize till it was too late… No! No! That's' not true! We simply chose not to see it… to ignore it… so high was our hubris that we thought we were as gods! All the money and all the power while the lower levels were our slaves! But the funny thing about slaves is that, like vermin, they conspire against their betters! Like a poison, they followed after their own lust for power! Trusting in false promises and gods! 

And like vermin, they followed after the prince of vermin! The chaos god Nurgle! While receiving his gifts, they turned half the hive into dying freaks, mutants that need to be purged by fire! But once the foundry was lost, so too was the world! That is how I lost my second home! After all, how could we have known… that they were going to use a train to spread their "blessing" to others? A train that carried innocent people to their deaths… 

It reminds me of the hell that was on Nostramo… but that was a different kind of hell. Forced to flee as the Night Haunter destroyed his own homeworld! How can the son of the emperor destroy his own world? Never have I seen such cruelty in a man… But I understand it… For the men who were ruling Nostromo were far crueler than he could have ever been! 

→→→→→→→→→→→→→→Log number 900, found in liberum of the night lords, log code name…. Zso Sahaal 

Locked away in a train filled with night terrors, Layla sat there praying to scented incense! As her mind was locked in the void reaching out to the machine. Molly said: 

[Hey Mary, do you really think the machine spirit will hear her… do you think it's still even alive after all this time?] 

[I don't know…. But if it still lives… then I can't think of anyone else it would hear, other than Layla… her voice is like the voice of an angel!] replied Mary as she gazed at Layla   

As Molly was about to say something, Layla suddenly opened her eyes to shine their blue hue! And as if lost in those eyes, the machine spirit heeded Layla's call and woke up from its deep slumber! The engine blew the dust from its core! The monitors opened up their screens, as the whole train hummed in its lively voice. 

But as tears ran down Layla's face, she said: 

{what a lovely spirit! So warm and kind! Yet so… sad.} 

[umm... Why do you say it sad?] asked Molly 

{I can't describe it with words… it's just… its purpose is long forgotten…} replied Layla  

[purpose? A machine can feel such a thing?] replied Molly 

Layla didn't reply, for monsters were at the door! With each bang echoing in the back, Layla looked confusingly at the train controls. Not knowing how to work the train, Mary then interjected: 

[sigh, Layla this is why you're supposed to pay attention in class! Belief and praying can only get you so far! The bishops taught us everything! Look I will drive the train but there's one small problem…] 

{What is the problem? Everything looks fine to me...} replied Layla 

[do you see that red blinking note at the bottom of the monitor...] said Mary with puff cheeks 

{Umm… yes…} replied Layla a little annoyed Mary didn't get to the point 

[well, it seems like cart three is derailed and we can't pull this train out until we disconnect from it! And to make matters worse it needs to be done by hand!] replied Mary 

{so, you saying we have to go outside and disconnect it manually? Just great!} replied Layla 

[so… who going…] said Molly as the banging continued 

{well, you and me, of course! While Mary will stay behind and keep the engine going! Unless you know how to read the monitors…} replied Layla 

[nope! I failed all the nerd stuff!] replied Molly 

{Ya… I kind of figured that, now how to deal with the monsters outside…} 

As the new moon graced this night with its presence, leaving behind a dark night filled with dread! A blinding white flare lit up the night as it came out of Layla's hands! And with it, revealing pale monsters that had their brains sticking out and sharp claws for fingers! Seeing what they were, Molly and Mary had no idea! But Layla instantly recognized them for what they were! Freaking out, she backed away from the train's glass windows that were made from unknown material. 

[what's wrong Layla? Do you know what these things are?] asked Molly 

{If I'm correct and I pray to the emperor that I'm not! Those things are Tyranid gene stealers!} replied Layla in a shock 

[gene stealers? Tyranid?] replied both Molly and Mary at the same time confused 

{yes! But I don't think they're fully formed yet… I feel like they are missing something important… well either way that's good news to us, and bad news to them!} replied Layla 

{I just hope their Neuroloid hasn't become a Neurotyrant yet! Or this could get very bad!} continued Layla 

[There's a difference?] replied Molly 

{A big one! A Neurotyrant is… well it's a mega computer! Let's just leave it at that. Seeing as the night not getting any younger. And I don't want to be stuck here when they figure out a way to punch a hole in this tin can!} replied Layla 

As that white light continued to flicker, the girls readied themselves as Molly picked up her shield and held her long sword, while Layla held her sword in one hand and the other her bolter! Mary, on the other hand, sat in the back! Ready to close the door behind the pair! With one last bang, the girl tore open the door and began their slaughter! 

As Molly jumped off the train, she rammed the one in front with her big shield, while Layla shot and killed many more! As they stuck to each other like glue, they continued their killing spree, as Mary would send out flares periodically to keep the lights on! 

Like a pair who had been together for years, they covered each other as they struggled to get to the third cart! As the clouds began to rain to wash away their blood-coated armor and weapons, the pair made it to the second cart! 

[ugh! There is no end to them!] screamed Molly as she kept up her killing 

Getting tired and only at the second cart, Layla began to worry, when abruptly a small turret on top of the train began firing round after round at the aliens! As the aliens burst into clouds of bloody mist with each hit, the pair's spirits were renewed, as they kept pushing on until they heard a loud screech! 

As a red flare let up the sky, the alien could not hide from Layla's eyes! She saw it there, trying its best to hide amongst the metal of the train! The one who screeched! 

{A lictor} Layla thought in her mind! As she fired what rounds she had left into the creature! 

Feeling the bullets slamming against its scales, the Lictor burst forth another screech and came charging at Layla! With its mantis claws and dangling tentacles that could hold back weaker prey! Hearing the empty clicking of her gun, Layla positioned her sword to the front! But knowing Layla was no match for this creature in terms of strength, Molly used her shield to absorb the creature's mantis strikes! Annoyed that his attack was impeded, the lictor tore away the shield from Molly's grasp and went in for another strike! But it was too late! For as its arms came down, a sword glowing in pure flames chopped off its arms! Then it's head! 

The Neurolord lost in the purity of the flames of Layla's sword, only came back to reality as it heard the dying screech of its warrior! Annoyed that one of its warriors was dead, the Neurolord swore it would have her no matter what! 

With the death of the warrior, Layla thought the pressure would lessen. Only to be disappointed that the pressure only increased instead! This time, monsters who haven't even fully mutated joined the fray! And without her shield, Molly was forced against the door to the second cart! Tired and scarred, Molly forced open the cart door to the surprise of them both! For inside the second cart were weapons of all kinds! 

As Layla hurried to close the door behind them while seeing creatures desperate to break in, she stabbed and maimed them, as they tried to squeeze themselves in without a care about their lives! But as that light from the flare flicked out of existence, a roaring flame burst from inside the cart that incinerated all the aliens as they tried to come in! For Molly had found the flamer hidden in the back among the weapon cash! 

[now what?] asked Molly 

{now… we rest} said Layla as the fire from her sword went out like a candle. 

[sigh… Girl how can you sleep with all the banging….] replied Molly as the aliens outside never ceased in their pursuit.  

While Mary watched the pair enter the second cart from the monitors, she could hear the snarls from the monster just outside her thin walls! She could feel them scratching up against them, while they gnawed against the lid, she opened to send out her flares. The excess banging, they do just to scare her… as that red flare died out… she could have sworn she saw just a glimpse of it hidden in the rain… the Neurolord!