Chapter 1: There is more to it than meets the eye..
It had been hours. Adonis had killed so many of his former subordinates that their was was a constant stench even his helmets filters could not keep out. His mind wanted to stop. The magnitude of Constantine's betrayal staggered him. Reports were filtering in that the filthy traitor had been spotted in the west sector of the City, banded with the heretic Inquisitor that had started this mess.
The gloss of the burnished black plate he wore had been dulled and slicked crimson, gore and shattered shards of bone stuck all about it. As he had staggered into the Camp days ago, amazement was apparent on the face of the scout who encountered him first.
His Chapter had thought him dead, as only the terminator guard Adonis had taken had survived, and they had searched for hours before declaring him dead in the wreckage and leaving to rejoin the Chapter. Their rage had been colossal, and their squad alone counted for more than two squads and Constantine's terminator guard themselves, the last five of that fallen group repenting and being accepted back into the fold.
Adonis sat now, in creme colored toga edged in thread of gold, an Apothecary examining his arm. Shaking his head, the Apothecary removed his helmet with a hiss, the seals opening his sense to the outside World. The marine possessed the usual deep eyes and soulful face of one of Sanguinius sons, though the stark black hair and ivory skin hinted at their other father, who none but Adonis knew.
'M'Lord... You seem to have healed nearly perfectly, though in fact even an Astartes should be bed ridden by now. However, I believe I need to go see the Chapters tech-marines and have my armor checked. The auspex and bio-scans I have conducted have indicated changes in your genetic sequences and odd shifts of hormones. In essence, m;lord... Your genetic code has actually become.. More... pure, somehow. '
Blinking slowly, Adonis flexed his hand, the bindings being lifted off as the Apothecary extended his gauntlet, several mechanical arms sticking out from the narthecium, vials in them filling with colored and potent chemicals, regimes made to encourage and bolster his Astartes physique. Usually these drugs were used with absolute caution, but it was absolutely needed that he be up and able to lead his troops, for the sake of the PDF on this world.
Clearing his throat, Adonis addressed the Marine before him, watching as he turned to face his Lord, surgical robes spattered with dried gore and death, singed in a thousand places. The reductor casing open, indicating he had spent it's large ammo capacity in administering the Emperors peace to fallen brothers.
'What do you mean, Apothecary... Diocletian, yes?'
'Yes m'lord, Diocletian. What I mean is...Whereas before your genetic scans were well above standards and rigors the Mechcanius and others place on us, now it is nearly a perfect fusion. The unknown donor tags have been seen to take a recessive stance in relation to the markers from Sanguinius gene-traits. Your body is also reacting quite oddly, and the ossumodula is sending out increased levels of hormone, as well as the medusalla
(organ names may be mis-spelled or wrong, will check for veracity later) This has been announced to the Council, and they are of the mind you should stay here until you are fully recovered and we know what this means... And as acting Chief Apothecary, I must agree m'lord. '
Swallowing with a gulp, Diocletian handed Adonis a data slate brimming with reports and figures, most of them grim enough to make the grizzled and veteran commander of the chapter sigh as he read. Remus had suffered as well, and his hand was being grafted several bionic fingers, and his jaw and leg needing several sections of adamant reinforcement and bracings. The report, issued by Diocletian himself, contained traces of humor in it, suggesting the High Prelate needed perhaps secondary surgery to offset the commanding bite his jaw now carried.
Halfway through an update on munitions and store, Diocletian spoke again.
'They..They have also requested that Remus be brought planet side... Lord Alexander has fallen. Inquisitor Taliwein was seen battling him yesterday with that damnable weapon he had given to Remus.. Shortly after, our reports indicate Alexanders was struck by a spell cast forth from the weapon by the heretic... It killed him, and Asireloth then used his corpse as a shell for a Daemonhost. The Council sees this as acts justifying the release of the Sinner... And I also agree. "
Adonis looked at him, eyes dark at the memory of his friend.
'Apothecary... You are no raw recruit... Have you an inkling of what you ask me to unleash?'
Diocletian nodded, his face grave where before it had contained a slight trace of the ironic humor he was famed for.
'Yes Lord.. But this is the third aberration he has created that has lived. All told, all but you, Lord Remus and Master Antonious of the council were turned into such beings. Lord Alexander slew them all, though Captain Julius of the Eight Company has been sighted in the Southern sector, with two squads of his company left and full command of the local PDF. '
Rage entered the Apothecaries voice, rage at the thought of his charges being so defiled and used. As Adonis scrolled down the dataslate, he could seem pict-captures from Alexanders armor of the beasts he had fought. Once noble and great men, Astartes of the truest mold, were corrupted beyond belief and turned into chained and bound horrors that scarcely resembled the warriors they had once been.
'Give the go ahead to release. My access code, and arm him fully. I want him planet side within the hour. And Diocletian? See to it you check the armory. Your armor is damaged, and if any is recovered, terminator plate will suit you better. These reports also show you saving several squads, at grevious injury to yourself. You will need it if your are to continue with such service. As for me? Have the armorers bring me my armor, but fit it with a normal backpack. I will command from the ground this time.'
'See to it they also send me a servitor, my personal effects from orbit, and my lightning claws. I must gird for war. Put the call out to Helbrecht for aid, he is the nearest Commander. We have need of him and his Templars. Our Chapter must be purged of the filth infecting it. to do this, we will need help.. '
Adonis couldn't help but stop and think of what Diocletian had said. His genes were changing? But why? And why did the inject him with some chemicals designed to bolster his immune system and overall physique? There was more to it than he knew, and the Terran saying 'More than meets the eye..' leaped to his thoughts as he stood from his medicae bed and saw the Apothecary out.