C. Goto - Dawn of War

The flames from the missile impact had not abated, but the colossal eldar warrior sprang clear of the inferno that had erupted around its chest. There was hardly even a mark on it as it flipped across the plaza, closing the space between it and the Blood Ravens in a flurry of somersaults. Isador punched the missile launcher again, but the rocket flashed harmlessly over the gigantic eldar and smashed into the statue of Lloovre Marr, blowing it into a crumbled ruin.

With its last flip, the eldar creature reached the Typhoon and brought its flashing blade smoothly down on top of it. Gabriel and Isador dived out of the vehicle as the sword passed straight through it, rupturing its fuel lines and detonating the engine core. As the Blood Ravens rolled for cover at the edge of the plaza, the monstrous eldar creature stood bathing in the flames that ripped out of the wrecked Typhoon.

“In the Emperor’s name,” said Matiel, tumbling into cover next to Isador. “What is that thing?”

“It is a daemon conjured by the treacherous eldar, brother. It is called an avatar,” replied Isador, levelling his force staff at the creature and loosing a javelin of energy directly into its stomach. The blast was enough to attract the avatar’s attention-it turned to face Isador and began to stride in his direction.

Meanwhile, Gabriel was back on his feet and charging at the gigantic creature, his chainsword sputtering in his hand and a chorus of silver voices singing in his ears. Once again, the world was rendered into slow motion as Gabriel pounded across the plaza, his every step apparently accompanied by the symphonic tones of the Astronomican.

The avatar bent its legs, ready to spring forward at Isador, just as Gabriel crashed into it from the side. The two warriors tumbled to the ground, and Isador leapt out of his cover to assist his friend. Sprinting towards Gabriel, he called back over his shoulder to Matiel: “Deal with the barricades!”

Immediately, the Space Marines powered up into the sky, their jump packs flaring and their bolters coughing shells down towards the eldar encampment in the centre of the square. But the green-armoured eldar were fast and nimble, evading much of the fire and returning it in stinging volleys. From his vantage point in the sky, Matiel could see the figure of a robed eldar woman lying down in the middle of the defensive ring, propped up against the ruins of the monument that they appeared to be defending. He pulled a chain of frag-grenades from his belt and lobbed them down towards her.

Meanwhile, Gabriel wrestled with the avatar, struggling to keep the huge creature from bringing his great blade into play. The Blood Raven pummelled the hilt of his chainsword against the avatar’s burning armour, pounding over and over again until the faintest of cracks began to appear. Sheets of blue lightning jousted out of Isador’s staff, as the Librarian stood just clear of the two writhing warriors, launching javelins of power to assist his captain.

Lying on the ground with the Blood Raven on top of it, the avatar bucked and threw Gabriel over his shoulder, away from Isador. In the same movement, it reached for its fallen sword, but a blast from Isador sent the blade skidding out of its reach. As it sprang back up onto its feet, the avatar was pounded from both sides at once-Gabriel launched himself back into the creature’s face while Isador ploughed into its legs with his force staff. A huge explosion shook the ground at the same time as a cluster of grenades exploded behind the barricades. With a shriek of frustration, the avatar crumpled to the ground once again.

Gabriel drove his chainsword into the weakened crack in the avatar’s armour, finally breaking through. A sizzling jet of molten blood spurted out of the hole, spraying Gabriel in the face, making him cry out and reel in pain. As the captain rolled backwards off the avatar, Isador leapt forward into his place, thrusting the tip of his force staff deep into the wound and leaning his entire weight onto it. As the staff sunk deeper into the creature’s chest, Isador closed his eyes and released his rage into the weapon, letting its power cascade down the shaft and explode into a starburst of blue energy inside the eldar warrior.

The explosion threw Isador and Gabriel a hundred metres back through the air, until their flight was broken by the stone of a white building on the fringe of the plaza. They thumped into the wall, and then slid down into heaps at its base. When they looked up, the bloody remains of the avatar were fizzing and hissing all over the flagstones, but Matiel’s Marines were still raining fire on the barricades.

Gabriel was first on his feet. Pausing to offer Isador his hand, Gabriel pulled his friend onto his feet with a nod of admiration, and then sprinted off through the plaza towards the barricades. As he reached them, Matiel crunched to the ground next to him, and Isador skidded to halt at his other shoulder. The other Space Marines had also returned to the ground, and there was no sign of movement on the other side of the barriers.

The three Marines clambered over the barricades and jumped down the other side, where they saw a solitary eldar woman standing before a large pit in the ground, where once the statue of Lloovre Marr had been. She appeared unarmed.

Kill me, if you must, humans, began the eldar in an odd tongue that spoke directly into their minds. Cast my name to the winds, if it pleases you. But you must heed me. Bury again that which lies beneath my feet, for it will be the ruin of us all. I may have been your enemy in this-but we have a greater foe than each other.

Gabriel stared into the farseer’s eyes for a moment, and a torrent of images invaded his mind. Pictures of flames and blood, of the Astronomican itself lost in an inferno of chaos and darkness. Then the eldar looked away, fixing Isador with her stare.

“Do not listen to this alien, Gabriel. We must destroy it,” said Isador, apparently unable to tear his eyes away from those of Macha. His face was suddenly gaunt and pale.

Gabriel was silent for a brief moment. “She knows much, much that we need to learn, old friend.” As he spoke, he peered past the eldar and down into the pit. Its sides were sheer, and at the bottom was a pool of blood, as though it had seeped in to reach its own natural level. Held proud of the blood on a stone plinth was a curved, bejewelled dagger. Was this the key of which Isador had spoken, wondered Gabriel?

Isador was struggling within himself, trying to find his own thoughts in amongst the confusion of images that invaded his head. A familiar voice was whispering into his mind: It lies within your reach now, Librarian-reach out for it-it is yours-only this pathetic farseer can stop you-see how your captain doubts you still…

“What could she offer, except lies and treachery? Do not trust her, Gabriel! Suffer not the alien to live,” added Isador, quoting the motto of the Ordo Xenos Deathwatch kill teams.

“Knowledge is power, Isador-” began Gabriel, but his voice was cut off by a rattle of bolter fire from the Space Marines on the other side of the barricade. The three Blood Ravens turned to see what had drawn the fire, spying a squad of Alpha Legionaries emerging into the plaza from one of the side streets. But then a gasp of agony from the farseer made them all turn back again.

“The key!” cried Macha, pointing down into the pit.

Gabriel and Isador rushed to the side of the pit, flanking the farseer, and stared down. Isador let out a streak of fire from his staff as Gabriel snapped off a flurry of bolter shells, but the figure in the bottom of the pit was gone before the shots hit the pool of blood.

“Who was that, alien? And what did he steal?” hissed Gabriel, turning suddenly and gripping the farseer by the throat. The figure had worn the apparel of a Chaos Sorcerer, and the colour of his armour suggested that he was part of the Alpha Legion. He had taken the dagger and then vanished into one of the walls of the pit, as though there were a hidden tunnel under the plaza.