>>2620824
That was all that Jim needed. He carefully took the lho stick out of the tin, rolling it around between his fingers. Good man. I put one between my lips and lit it before offering him my fire. “I think you'll like it. One of the advantages of my position is that I have access to a better supply than the guardsmen.”

He took a couple of puffs, savoring the flavor. “That is good,” he mused, wavering a little.

“Don't smoke them often?” People who didn't smoke them for a while usually reacted like that.

“No sir,” he confessed. “Maksim don't like it when I smoke.”

Catherine came up with a shallow metal bowl for us to put our ashes into. I had no clue what its real purpose was. Maybe she was just getting used to my methods enough that she had started anticipating it. Jim was watching our trails of smoke playing up towards the light overhead. “Fascinating, isn't it?”

“Yes, sir. The way the air moves it about. You don't realize how much air moves until you see it. I'd do it more, but... Like I said, Maksim don't like it much. The Officio Medicae said that it can hurt the lungs and stuff, and he likes to keep both of us fit.”

>>2620828
I pushed my amusement to the side. Good and distracted now. “You know, you mentioned this Maksim fellow earlier. I take it that you and he were... friends?”

That got a chuckle out of Jim. “I guess you could say that. I've known Maksim since... Actually, I can't even remember when we met, to be honest. It's been that long.” His smile slowly faded, and he gained an intensity to him as he stared at me. “He's a big man. Not Ogryn big, but still massive enough. He knows more about tactics, xenos and heretics than I do, and I try to stay informed. He's got a swagger to his walk, but not like he's cocky. More like he only puts his legs together when he's standing at attention. But he and I keep each other alive. Not that he doesn't spend more time protecting me. He's the only one to stay with me all this time since Hygar III's been in trouble. Since the daemon attacks. We've sworn that when it's time, we'll go back there. He's a good soldier. The best guardsman I've ever seen.”

Jim leaned forward, and I felt Catherine twitch slightly... But the guardsman only flicked his lho stick in the ashtray. With a wince, he leaned back in his chair, rubbing at his forehead. “Sorry, I... I get protective of him, you know? He's been through a lot, and... You know how every unit has that big, paranoid guy who hardly talks to anybody? The one that nobody really likes? Ever since he got injured, he's been that guy.”

FUCK YES YOU'RE BACK.

>>2620831
“Did that happen on that first trip?” I asked hesitantly. More hesitantly than I wanted.

Jim's brilliant smile returned at that, though. “Nah. I mean, I didn't really deal with him much back then. Well, I kinda did, but... It's hard to explain.”

“Please try.”

The Guardsman thought for a moment. I could see the gears turning in his mind, no doubt searching for words. When he finally started to speak, he looked like he'd given up.

“Okay, see, my first time in the warp was... Well, it was kinda scary. I mean, we were on a ship of leftovers. Not just us, but people from other worlds, too. So not only were we the low men, but we were low men with people who didn't even know each other on our first time into the warp. Not a good idea."

>>2620845
“Anyway, we was hunkered down when I started hearin' Maksim chantin'. After a moment, I realized that he was doin' the litany of warp travel. So I pull out my Primer and start readin' myself. We kept goin' from that to the prayer for safe return and back again. Just start repeatin' them over and over again. Each time, I get a little less scared, you know?I really had to thank Maksim for that. We just started goin' over prayers. After a while, I knew that we'd make it out okay. I mean, so long as I watched everybody else and kept faith in the Emperor's light, you know?

“Unfortunately, somebody must not've been keepin' too close to the faith, if you know what I mean. I started to hear a quiet little giggle from a nearby bunk. That got me thinkin', you know? I double-checked the Primer, and that's what it said. Anybody acts odd, you go tell somebody. So I went a-huntin' for the nearest Commissar. He was busy lookin' over somethin', so I just stood at attention until he noticed me. Demanded to know what I wanted. Couldn't blame him. I was interruptin' his work. So I says to him, 'Sir, there's somebody I think you should-' And that's all I got out. I hear laughter down the way from that one girl, and suddenly somebody else joins in.”

>>2620851
Jim chuckled. “You know, I always heard my momma talk about righteous fury before, and I thought she was talkin' about herself when she got angry. Lookin' at that Commissar's face, though, I knew I was wrong. He looked pissed. Heard him growl 'not again' as he reached into a locker. Presented me with a shotgun, even, pullin' out his own pistol. 'Guardsman,' he barks. 'Guardsman, you're gonna help me quell this madness!' Well, I wasn't about to argue, you know? I ain't no heretic.

“So we start up and down the halls, him blastin' away anybody that'd gone warp-mad. Some of them were in pretty bad shape. Clawin' out their own eyes, gibberin', that sort of thing. Some of them, they even started tryin' to attack the Commissar. I had to put a round in those ones on occasion. He'd be so busy dealin' with one that he couldn't see the other. Never once complained, no sir. He'd just look at the body, nod to me, and keep right on goin'. I heard Maksim sayin' the prayer for the lost and the endangered at one point, and decided to join in. Dunno why, just felt right. Soon, a lot of people who wasn't taken by the warp started joinin' in. Made things a lot easier for the Commissar.”

“What a thing to live through,” I said was an admiring smile. “So soon after combat, to be forced to kill your own comrades.”

>>2620862
“Nah,” he said uncomfortably as he put out his lho stick. “A few of them, they'd started to, you know, mutate. Twist under their uniforms, you know? Figured we was doin' them a service, you know?”

“Did the Commissar ever say anything to you about it?” Sister Catherine asked.

“Just that I did a good job,” Jim said with no small amount of pride. “Another good Commissar, him. Good to say thin's about you if you did a good job in his eyes. Spoke real good, too, and was good with his speeches. He's another one I miss.”

“You seem to go through a lot of Commissars,” Catherine mused. Jim just shrugged and lowered his head. “There have been... rumors of some guardsmen taking a dislike to their Commissars and granting the Emperor's Benediction early.” I was proud of the sister. She was starting to pick up on my tricks. “Have you ever seen something like this?”

Jim took an uncomfortable time to respond. “Yeah,” he said at last. “I... I had to do it once.”

F5F5F5F5F5F5F5F5F5F5F5F5F5F5F5F5F5F5F5F5F5F5F5F5F5F5F5F5F5F5F5F5F5F5F5F5F5F5F5F5F5F5F5F5F5

Don't tell me that's the end....

>>2620867
My heart seized in my chest, but Jim was pushing on. “Wasn't by choice, mind you. Just... had to be done, you know? See, this was a few years after that, when Maksim and me had started really to bondin', fightin' side by side. We'd just been put on this planet... I can't even remember the name no more, to be honest with you. Happens with a lot of worlds, for us.

“Anyway, I do remember that it'd been pretty much on lockdown for some time. Cult had risen up to pretty high power, coverin' most of the planet. Even out in the wastes. Apparently, they'd found somethin' there right after the fightin' started. Dunno what, didn't ask, but it was enough that they weren't willin' to exterminatus the planet.”

Asellus IV. I'd read that much in his service history, which was more like an encyclopedia than a report. The world had contained a Standard Template Construct, which was unfortunately damaged during the fighting.

“Anyway, since we was leftovers, we got attached to a regiment already down there. Immediately set out to kill us some heretics, which I don't mind in the slightest. But after a while, we started noticin' somethin'... We ain't fightin' no heretics. We ain't fightin' nothin'. That got the hairs on the back of my neck standin' up. The vox officer, he'd get orders for us to go somewhere, but when we got there, no heretics. So we start takin' a hard look at everythin' goin' on. Slowly, bit by bit, we start seein' that the outfit we're hooked up with, who's been so chummy with us, you know... It ain't right."

Sorry, roomie.

>>2620930
Ok

>>2620923
“Maksim, he saw it too. So we start investigatin'. Emperor protect us, everywhere we looked in their ranks, heretics. Even... Even the commissar.” Jim sighed softly. “So, we get the rest of the guys together, those of us from the ship, and we let 'em know what's up. We're kinda in a jam at that point, you know? Orders say to take care of it, but when the vox officer and the commissar are in on the heresy, it's kinda hard to follow proper procedure. So we did the only thin' we could do.”

“You purged,” Catherine guessed.

Jim nodded, smiling a bit. “That's what we did. I ain't no heretic, and the people with me weren't either. Figured out a time, changed our positions, then... opened up on 'em. Didn't go down as easy as we'd hoped, but you get used to that, as a guardsman. Sh... Thin's don't always die like you want. Anyway, to make a long story short, I shot one guy down just as my battery went dead for my las. Middle of that, didn't have time to reload, so I switched out for my auto-snub. Just got it in both hands when the commissar turned to see me. You know how sometimes thin's just seem to... I dunno, slow down? This was like that. We both raised our guns, we both pulled the trigger. 'Course, I learned how to doubletap my pistol a long time ago, unlike him.”

>>2620937
Jim laughed and patted his side. “I got real lucky. He took one in the throat and another in the forehead. Meanwhile, I only got a glancing shot off my armor. 'Course, the heat from what he was carryin' caught me on fire. Maksim saved my life for, like, the hundredth time. Tackled me to the ground, made me roll about in the muck, cursin' me out for takin' unnecessary risks. Don't remember too much of it, to be honest with you. It hurt somethin' bad, and after a bit, I guess I passed out.

“When I woke up, I'd found out that another regiment had found us, and just reported it as that we'd encountered heretics and had taken unnecessary losses, you know? Called in the Officio Medicae and got me sent back. That's how I finally got me my Medallion Crimsion, where I shoulda gotten my second Triple Skull, and apparently earned my Order of Peace.”

>>2620944
“Order of Peace?” I asked. I'd seen it on his service record, but wasn't familiar.

“Given out when you're injured killin' heretics, but can return to duty. Planetary award, 'cause of the heavy casualties. They patched me up real good, they did. Hardly any scars no more.” He paused for a wry grin. “Kinda wish I was with the Cadians, to be honest. Woulda gotten me my triple storm by now. Heck, them and the Tanith First and Only, the Catachans, the Mordian Iron Guard, they all get a ton more recognition than us. Either way, I ain't complainin'. It was Silon who found us, and he pushed for us to join his Scrappers.”

I couldn't help but laugh over that. “It's a source of pride for you, isn't it?”

“Yes sir!” He puffed his chest out again. “Silon's Scrappers got some pretty good standin' with the other guardsmen. They say, the Scrappers get there late in the fight, but they make sure that the fight gets done, you know? That we herald the end of fightin' somewhere. 'Course, they don't realize that we normally get stuck doin' the hard final pushes into the areas where the enemy's bunkered down for their last stand. Our squads get it done. We got ourselves a reputation, and we live up to it. Not everybody can say that.”

>>2620948
“You've amassed an impressive set of medals with them,” Catherine said approvingly. “The Eagle Ordinary, Hathor Laureate, Order of the Eagle's Claw, Hathor Star, Steel Aquila, Ribbon Intrinsie, Administratum Medal, Order of the Scarlet Wing, Crimson Skull, Macharian Cross, and the Binding Aquila. And yet, you were only promoted to the rank of sergeant a few years ago.”

Jim was blushing now. “Wasn't just me, you know? Everybody was involved with most of that. I was only doin' my part. Heck, after Lyssandra hooked up with us, she was a big help. Her augmetic leg gives her problems now and then, but she's stuck by me almost as much as Maksim has. So, yeah, I may have am-assed all these medals, and all of these service pins, but it's not like it was just me. Never woulda made it this far without everybody else doin' their jobs, too.”

There was that humility again. I got out another lho stick, offering him one. “Nah. Don't wanna push the recyc system on my account. I don't know the first thing about how they work, but judgin' by the looks of the people chantin' over those systems, it's gotta be hard enough.”

>>2620957
“Understandable,” I said as I lit mine up. That's a necessary trait for inquisitors; we can't care about anything other than purging heretics, at least officially. Which Jim was making increasingly difficult. He was just plain likable. Probably reminded me too much of my old life.

As if on cue, there was a knock on the door. “Enter,” Catherine and I called out in unison, which seemed to amuse Jim to no small end. Timidly, Venris entered the room we were using, carrying a pitcher of water and cups for all of us.

“Forgive me for taking so long to fufill your request,” he said with a bow, “however the Admiral wished for me to bring you a report while I was at it.”

I glanced at the sealed papers on the tray. Three dots were at the folded corner – there was no need to look at it immediately. I looked up to Venris as Catherine set the report to the side. “Don't let it happen again. Go in the Emperor's grace.”

With a bow, Venris made his exit. Jim watched him go with narrowed eyes. Only after the heavy metal door was closed again did the guardsman address us.

“Hey, listen... I know you all are busy and all, but while you're here, that new guy there, you might wanna look into. I mean, he's kinda aimless, if you know what I mean. Always wanderin' around. His flack jacket, it's a little too clean. I know he's not a grunt, you can tell by the way he walks, but it's kinda like he just grabbed all of his gear off the shelf. And he's askin' a lot of questions, too. I mean, a lot of people when they first join the leftovers, they're curious. But he... He's a little more than just curious, you know?”

>>2620960
“We'll look into it,” Catherine said. She couldn't hide her smirk as well as I could.

“Actually, back to what we were talking about for a moment. With your service record, Jim, do you know why you weren't promoted until now?” This was a question that we'd actually debated off and on for a while, so I thought it fair to ask.

“Course,” he said with a loud chortle. “See, I wasn't ready for it yet.”

“And who decided that?” Now I was curious again.

“Me.” He said that with almost too much pride. “Sergeants, they gotta be smart, right? I ain't all that. Can't talk good like a lot of them, never went to school like plenty of them, and didn't get the basic trainin' that most of them got. So I had to work to make sure that I knew what I was supposed to. Keep my squad ready for any job we're given, and if they don't know how to do somethin', be able to talk them through it. Silon liked that, so he let me hold myself back until I thought my trainin' was done.”

“What all did you feel that you needed training in?”

“Oh, shucks...” Another chuckle. The man liked to laugh. “A little bit of everythin'. We don't always got armor, but when we do, we try and make it last as long as possible. While I ain't no techpriest, I kinda figured it might be wise to know how to operate one. Same with pretty much all the equipment.”

“So you wanted to be able to operate anything that you might have to?” I couldn't keep the incredulous tone out of my voice.

>>2620967
“Well... Yeah, but that's not all. See, I also thought I should, you know, read up on the Tactica Imperium and-”

“Wait.” I held up a hand as I tried to grasp it all. “Your commanding officer let you look at the Tactica Imperium?”

“Well, yeah?” Jim shifted uncomfortably in his metal chair. “I mean, he was waitin' to promote me anyway, and he likes getting opinions. Plus, he says I got a good mind for it. First, I didn't believe him, but then I got a medal for that kind of thing, so there's gotta be some sorta truth to it, right? Plus, he knows that I'd rather swallow my own tongue than be captured by the enemy.” He paused for a moment. “Besides, not like it didn't come in handy, right?”

Inwardly, I smiled. Time and time again, he was walking me right to the things that I wanted to question him about the most.

CHAPTER 2 END
TO BE CONTINUED

>>2620824
Anyone have a link to chapter 1?

Ima bet 10 bucks this guy's gunna get shot in the goddamn face by this inquisitor by the time this is over.

>>2620979
Don't count on it. I think I know where this is going, and it'll all depend on whether the Inquisitor is a Thorian or not.

Very well written. I can't wait for chapter 3.

Usual disclaimers apply: Lack of knowledge of the fluff, kant spel, poor grammar, made up/altered a few medals, blah blah blah.

I'll answer questions/comments about it if you have any. Also, advice, ideas, etc would be appreciated.

>>2620989
Hah, glad to see I wasn't the only one!

of course, if this is Inquisitor karamazov...

>>2620972
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2600504

>>2620979
We shall see, my friend. We shall see...

>>2620989
Thorian? (It's also late here, so I'm not firing on all pistons, so forgive me.)

>>2620998
\
No need, you've done an excellent job, as usual.

The medals all sounded likely, and there are plenty of planets that could award their own medals and awards to visiting guardsmen.

Also a nice view of a guard as more than cannon fodder... after all, they dont fight CSM every day!

Oh, yeah, and for the guy who wanted me to put it on the blog he had me make (if he's around or lurking) I'll post it after I reboot my computer in a bit. Want to finish downloading this update first.

>>2620989
Oh, now I'm curious as to what your idea of where it's going is, too. I want to see how close people can guess.

How long can we expect to wait before the next chapter? Do you have an idea for how long you want this to go on?

At the end, he starts gibbering maddly and explodes to reveal a hidden demon that was secretly planted in him during one of the many campaigns.

Of course.

>>2621085
No gaurantees. I thought this one wouldn't be posted until Wednesday, so... Yeah. I'm going to guess a week again, but if it's early or late, no complaining. I'm job hunting, so that still takes first priority.

Unless I suddenly come up with something SUPER BRILLIANT, there should be two more chapters. One this sized, one the same size (or larger) than the first. No promises, though, as this all is vague speculation.

>>2621096
I even drew this up just for you.

>>2621096
Of course.

Interesting theory. My two proofreaders had different ideas, but I can see how that would be a possibility. That said, I'm not going to state what my final intentions are until... well...

Also, for added fun, read it in the voice of the G-man. Suddenly, Jim gets very creepy. (STRESSING FOR THE ONE OR TWO PEOPLE OUT THERE: he doesn't really sound like the G-man, he sounds more like NAME EXPUNGED)

>>2621132
You, my kind Anon, just became my hero.

...Yes, I'm that easy to please.

Sad thing is, I don't have the hours in the day to draw all this awesomeness. Any chance of a few character descriptions, thin?

>>2621153

You're welcome. I just like the idea of unknowing martyrdom for the team you do not support. How can that not appeal to anyone?

>>2621139
In my mind, Jim sounds like Gary from VTM:Bloodlines, but maybe thats just me.

excellent stuff loved chapter one and this just as good. you know its good stuff when you finish and are dying to know more about the characters

...I was afraid somebody'd ask that.

Jim is of average height. Normally he's of better-than-average build, but recently he's lost a lot of weight, making his cheeks a little hollow. His face is lined from a life of smiling; he's always laughing and trying to lighten the mood a little, and only grows serious when the shit hits the fan, in which case he's made lesser men run from his expression alone. His hair is a muddy brown, and his face is clean-shaven whenever he's not on the battlefield. Strong chin, but not nearly Bruce Campbell strong, and a hawk-like nose. Bright blue eyes that seem to notice anything. Near his hairline by his right temple is a small scar, and hints of more scars can be seen at the base of his neck and behind the left sleeve of his uniform. Reminders that he's won his medals the hard way. (Uniform note: Jim has won his laurels, so wears the colors and badge of Silon's Scrappers. No clue what that is, though.)

Maksim: By contrast, Maksim is a hulking brute. Every inch of his body is nothing but muscle, and just looking at him you know he means business. His eyes are always screwed up in a squint as he looks around suspiciously, from having been watching Jim's back since they've met each other. His lasrifle looks almost small in comparison to the rest of him. Dark hair and eyes, but from the squinting and the fact that he rarely takes off his helmet, you'd never know it.

Sister Cassandra: She's a bolter bitch, the kind with white hair. What more do you want out of me?

Narrating Inquisitor: (HAHA, will name him some day. Maybe.) No clue, I "see" the story through his eyes, so his face isn't important to me. I figure he dresses rather well and is a playboy type in appearance. He doesn't hold outward signs that he's with the inquisition, though, because that makes his job easier.

Lyssandra: Jim's best friend next to Maksim. She's taken more visible punisment than him, having lost her leg and scarred up her face. Her cybernetic leg gets her by, though. Short cropped blond hair, flat chested, think a blond Vasquez from Aliens, only with the hair more spiky.

Grey Knights: Duh. Moving right along.

Venris: Shorter guy, lean. Looks like he's seen a hard life and gotten by through the skin of his teeth. Sharp, bright eyes. Usually has slumped shoulders.

And.... That's enough for you to choose from.

>>2621199
I was burned out on Vampire when that game came out, so... I got no comment on that.

>>2621272
>>2621277
The former CF is on the case, thanks thin.

>>2621288
He's Neil Ross, trust me; he's a cool guy.

Freaky OP, my main character in Dark Heresy is named Venris. What a strange coincidence that is absolutely irrelevant to anything you guys are talking about.

Oh, the story is awesome too.

>>2621300
By any chance did you roll a 92 while choosing your character name? That's what I did!

I SO suck at names it ain't even funny.

>>2621313

Could be worse, if you just combine religion and pop culture you get names like "Bastet Zimmerman"

>>2621313

I rolled a 93. It's a pretty cool name I suppose.

>>2621313
NOT even funny. I'm starting to type like Jim now!

>>2621296
Ah, okay. Had to google him, but yeah, I know him. From some of the other stuff that I've heard him do, I can kinda see it.

>>2621332
No, see, I suck at names because I'm paranoid of ending up like that. "Does this sound alright? No, no, stupid. What about this? ...no. ...FINE, the character's being named either Robert, David, Samantha, or Cassandra! AGAIN! That's it, I'm done, I'm foaming at the mouth!" ...yeah.

Cross-posted to my /tg/ writing blog for the people who asked for it.

http://thethinfatguy.blogspot.com/

Also, a fair warning: After I finish this story, you guys might not see me for a while. I've got other things that need finished, too, stuff that doesn't fit in with any particular board. Then there's NaNoWriMo around the bend, I've got to figure out what I'm doing for that, too. Finally, NEED JOB GET

quick question:

while I love reading this story, I don't follow some things. for one, I don't know anything about those medals he's got. second, I don't understand all these moments where the inquisitor is surprised. is it heretical to read a primer, or learn how to operate tanks? could someone please explain these things for me or point me to fluff that I should read to get a better grasp on things?

>>2622380
You're lucky I got back on. I'm supposed to be asleep right now.

Medallion Crimsion. purple heart; Order of Peace, already explained; The Eagle Ordinary, you did more than required but nothing special; Hathor Laureate, acts of valor that helped win a battle, but nothing TOO special (Silon's Scrappers only); Order of the Eagle's Claw, you got sent in via drop pod; Hathor Star, basic medal, Scrappers only; Steel Aquila, shit hit the fan and you survived; Ribbon Intrinsie, your unit was lynchpin to victory against overwhelming odds; Administratum Medal, protected personnel or property of the august body; Order of the Scarlet Wing, injured in a battle where you participated somehow in an airborn assault (good story about how he got that one, I'm not telling it); Crimson Skull, while in combat you provided medical aid; Macharian Cross, good tactician; and the Binding Aquila, I made this, Scraps only, held the squad together and lead them to victory.

As for the surprise, you'll have to point stuff out to me.

This is a Thorian Inquisitor:

http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Thorians

I'm sure mr. Thinguy can understand the relevance of this to the story...

>>2622507
Mr. Thinguy is horribly ashamed that he didn't read this sooner, as it might have changed several ideas from the outset. But, other things are already in motion, and I'm no fan of retconning.

That said, thank you! Despite my facepalming for not checking the wiki before asking, thanks for taking the time to point that out to me.

>>2622536

I still want to see some Thorian ideas used in the story. Maybe there's a rival inquisitor looking to use Jim?

>>2622580
Oh, I didn't say that it wouldn't have an effect on the story. I just said that there were other things in motion and I wasn't going to retcon what I'd already laid out on the table. 'Course, I'm not saying that it WILL have an effect, either. At this point, I'm still holding my cards close to my chest. We've got two more chapters coming, and I don't want to spoil the pot.

>>2622507
What, that Jim is the Emperor Reborn? |:(

>>2623739

He can't be:

He's not an ork.

>>2623739
Shit, I always knew it.

For those who missed it:
>>2623123

I can tell this is going to end in tears, awesomeness or a horribly complicated Tzenchian plot.

Dude, this is still alive?

>>2625093
don't complain, just pray the litany for MOAR WRITEFAGGOTRY

>>2625273
Yes, I'm working on it, but this is going to be a big one, and I'm going to have to run it past my proofreaders multiple times.

>>2623739
I'd like to reiterate: I didn't know about that stuff when I came up with this story. While I have my own explanation for everything that's happened, of course, the inquisitors might be of another mindset.

FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF

I have to wait another week for the next part.

>>2625662
Spoiler: It involves orks.

I am such a dick.