Our contact once more led us through a maze of side and back alleys, only dipping into the main thoroughfares now and then. Even these back streets were busy, with hundreds of people moving through them, each with some job or other. Like most of the hive, many of the buildings were taken up by industry, but unlike below, there were a few shops. Places selling nice things, from furniture to food.
Not many mind, but they were there, and they were busy, each one run by a servitor.
Thoroughly lost again, we turned another corner and spotted a woman, a bag slung over her shoulder and another by her feet. She wore nondescript work clothes, but even as dumpy as they were, they couldn't hide her curves.
Greeting our second contact, she passed her token over and once it was confirmed, Zardelle split us up. "Thank you. Aleric, you're with her. Katra, with them. The rest, with me."
Nodding, I passed a few items I'd been carrying for Catiel and then moved over to the new woman. She passed one of the bags to the other girl and kept the one slung across her back. "Got everything?" she asked.
I gave a nod and glanced at Katra. "Yes."
"Good, let's go. We've a lot of ground to cover if we want to get there in time." With that, she set off at a brisk pace, leading us deeper into the layer. She was even more cautious, making large loops to avoid patrols and checkpoints, which I appreciated.
I tried making conversation, but she shushed me, head cocked, listening out. So, we walked in uneasy silence, just the scraping of boots or the clang of our weapons. It did give me a chance to take in the city around us. A constant hive of activity. Forgive the pun.
Every structure and building we passed was active in some way, be that someone getting back from a long shift or doing the washing. Or at the other end, the steady thump of machinery. It was constant—almost relaxing. Well, it would have been if we weren't sneaking through it; the slightest mistake and bumping into the peacekeepers spelling death.
There were even recruitment stations, with recruitment slogans and propaganda pieces playing on a loop outside. Things like "From Hive to Hero—Join the Hammer of the Imperium!" and plenty others. A queue had formed, young men and women lining up to sign their lives away.
They'd be trained until the next tithe ships came and then shipped off to wherever they were needed. It was unlikely any of them would survive, and even if they did, they certainly would never return to Gravis Prime.
But even then, I wasn't sure it was a bad call on their part. The time in the military might actually be better than staying on the workshop floors.
After nearly an hour of fast walking, she slowed. "Here we are." she said as we turned into a narrow street, barely shoulder-width across. Towering over us was a support column for the roof—cables and structures hanging off of it. "We climb."
She kicked open a small hatch and climbed the ladder. I felt incredibly unsafe as we climbed higher and higher, the struts slick with grease and soot. We passed layer after layer of buildings until she hopped onto a rooftop. Pausing just long enough to make sure we were still behind her, she set off at a light jog across the rooftops.
My quads were grumbling by the time she eased off the pace, spiralling us up the column, higher and higher. Even our guide was soaked in sweat by the time she ducked into a dark building. We were at the very top of this hab block, with a perfect view of the surrounding area. Near the highest point on this whole floor, looking down on almost everything. Far off in the distance, I could see other pillars like ours looming—but beyond that, nothing.
Stepping in, she kept the glow bulbs off, keeping us in darkness. My helmet's night vision was enough to see by, thankfully. Stepping over to the window, I nodded. It was as good a view as the roof, better even. We were in cover, and the steady wind from the powerful fans wasn't threatening to blow us off the edge.
I paused to take it in. The smog twisting and swirling through the city blocks was almost pretty. Each one rose hundreds of metres of rockrete and plassteel, taller than any skyscrapers from my past life.
I turned at the woman's voice. "This is the spot. We've got several hours before the meeting starts."
I nodded and dragged a dented but well-cared-for table, with a drawing from a young child on it, over to the window. The rest of the place also looked well cared for, with the only mess a dark stain in the centre of the room. Sweeping everything off the table, I hopped up to check the angle, then got down and shifted it again until I was happy.
"Where precisely is the target?"
Moving to the window, the woman pointed out. "See the big pillar directly in front."
Peering through the scope, I grunted.
"Below that's the large cathedral to the Omnissiah. Then the one to the Emperor."
"Got them."
She guided me in until I had the building and window in question, which she confirmed by looking down my scope. With everything set up and ready, it was only a matter of waiting. I glanced around the tiny room with interest, a small kitchenette in one corner and a door leading to a bedroom and bathroom in the other. On the floor was another bed, small enough for a child.
It was pushed up to the wall, with a bit more of the stain nearby.
This time I registered it.
Bile rose in my throat; I realised it wasn't just a stain—but blood.
Now I'd seen it. I couldn't unsee it, and in the corner, tucked slightly out of the way, was a pile of bodies, covers thrown over the top of them. Horror clawed at my throat. I took deep breaths, trying not to hurl. I didn't know why it hit me so hard; it wasn't the gore. I'd seen far worse. Maybe it was the look on the little girl's face, still wearing that confused, curious little smile. Or the cute drawings scattered around the room, dragging up memories of nieces and nephews.
Whatever the reason. I was going to be sick.
I stepped back out onto the rooftops, wind whipping into my face. Squatting down out of the wind and anyone's sight, I took deep, steadying breaths. My heart slowly settled, although I still felt slightly sick in my stomach. But I forced myself back into the room. Deliberately not looking into the corner, just staring out the window.
I caught Katra looking at me and signalled I was okay. Falling into a meditative state, the time dragged past. I was still not sure why we learnt sign language with our vox helmets, but I was still glad we had. Speaking of the devil and all that, my vox crackled to life. Zardelle, just checking in, confirming all was okay, and it fell silent once more.
Before I could go back to meditating, the contact, whom I had learnt on the walk over, was called Lavus, asked. "So, you really think you can make that shot?"
"Hmmm?"
"That shot's over three kilometres."
"Yeah. I'm confident I'll hit him. So are the bosses; otherwise, why would we be here?"
"I was told you could, just figured it would be some veteran or something, not a…" Katra snorted from the seat in the corner. Cocking an eyebrow, Lavus asked, "Am I missing something?"
"Just a little. Aleric here is the best shot in the gang. By a large margin. If he says he can hit it, he'll hit it." Waving her hand at the rifle sitting on the table. "Not to mention his monster. When you see it in action, you will see what I mean."
Lavus shrugged, "It makes no difference to me at this point."
"Why?" I asked.
"I'm burned."
"Burned?"
"Yeah. I'm one of the few who knew the meeting spot and when it gets hit. Well, I won't be around to answer questions."
"How did you come by that info?"
"I have no idea how my handler found out about it in the first place. But with a rough time, I just needed to find the exact time and spot. Picked up most of it working as one of the top girls in the district."
"So if you're getting out. What's next?"
"A place in the Court."
"Oh?"
"That's the deal, or promise if you like, when working for the Court. You work in their brothels or as their escorts, under their protection. They get a cut, and we pass on anything we overhear. If you do well, doors open. In my case? A team lead position working under the Whisperclove.
"Ohh nice, you'll like her." I said, remembering that was Peggi's nickname.
"You know her?" she said, surprised.
"Yep, I've worked with her on occasion. In a similar capacity to now. So we might work with each other in the future."
"Huh. So what about both of you then?"
"We are part of an elite unit." I said with a shrug, keeping it fairly loose. No point handing out details she didn't need. She'd learn when she was properly inducted into the gang. But for now, best to keep it light.
"And your rolls?" She asked, peeking over the rooftops.
"Sniper, as you might have guessed. Katra here is a heavy hitter of the group."
Her face was still covered by her helmet, but I could hear the smile in her voice. "I was, now my job seems to be bodyguarding this one." Katra said, pointing at me. "Keeping him out of trouble."
"And you do a wonderful job."
"So you two work together a lot?"
"Yeah, we usually get paired up. Our skills line up nicely. Although it might not be too much longer before I lose my bodyguard." I added, teasing Katra.
"Naa." Katra said, waving me off with a flick of her hand.
"Losing her?" Lavus asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Aleric here reckons I'm being groomed for unit command."
"Really? I figured you were the one in charge, Aleric?"
"I'm second in the squad, but that is mainly around logistics. Katra here is far better at the combat side of it."
"Now I know you're blowing smoke up my arse."
"Maybe." I smirked. While yes, I could, by leaning on my soldier knowledge. I didn't want it; I already had too many things pulling me in different directions. Didn't need another. I also had far more information than she did, so I knew for a fact that she was being groomed. Hell, I'd even recommended her. Not that it was needed; she was already on the short list.
I couldn't tell her, not yet. Partly because I was told not to, and partly because it wasn't set in stone. But I would tell her if it became relevant. Screw the orders, Katra had become a comrade and close friend over the years. Taking a bullet for someone built bonds fast. And she had taken several with my name on.
She was a rock for me, always calm. But more than that, she was content. I might even go as far as to say happy. She was unambitious, which in many eyes might be seen as a detriment, but in the gang? It was actually seen as incredibly valuable.
I was convinced it was part of the reason her name was put forward for control of an elite unit in the first place. Rather than someone like Catiel. Who, on paper, was the better fit, charming, a natural leader, driven, and disciplined. But always pushing for more. His loyalty was without question for now, but who was to say what the future held?
If there was a shot at more power, I would put money on him taking it, even at the detriment of the team and gang. Not that I wouldn't do the same, to be fair. I came first.
Turning back to Lavus. "So how did you become a prostitute in the first place?"
"Not much of a choice." She said with an indifferent shrug. "A malfunction in a manafactorum killed my dad. Mum was forced to work awful hours to keep us going. Her health gave out, and she died only a few years later, never returning home one day. I met someone who worked with her years later and they said she collapsed, so she was taken to be converted. Leaving me alone at the cusp of adulthood. There weren't many options, and with the sharks circling, I made the only real choice." She fell silent, staring off into the distance.
I wasn't sure what I was expecting, but it pretty much fit most stories I'd heard. It wasn't the worst I'd heard—by far, it sounded like she had parents who loved her at least. That wasn't a given in the hive. Not that it was much of a consolation if the dark look in her eyes was anything to go by.
Steering the conversation to a lighter topic, I chatted to Katra. My eye still occasionally fell on the cover in the corner, but as time passed, I got used to it. It still made me uneasy. I knew the gang was harsh; I'd even seen it. But this was a sharp reminder.
I'd been lucky so far, mostly keeping clear from that side of the gang, skipping out on being an enforcer, where you'd see the worst of it. Looking at the little girl's face, it was a good reminder of the world I lived in.
We had fallen silent, all of us deep in thought, when I saw something.
"Movement." I said, scrambling to the table.
"Shit," Lavus said, "we should still have thirty minutes."
"Well, that might be so, but I definitely see the target. Here, look." I said, moving out of the way so she could peer down the scope. Being linked to the gun, I knew exactly where it was aimed, removing any confusion or possible errors.
"Yeah, that's him alright."
"Okay. Katra…"
"Got it." She said, voxing Zardelle to let her know. The plan was for them to strike after I had taken the shot. But if we were early, they might not be in position yet. After a moment, she said. "It's all good. They're in positions and waiting for our signal."
"Got it." I said, grinning.
"What's the signal?"
"It is pretty hard to miss." Katra said, smirking. When Lavus still opened her mouth, she cut her off. "You will see in a moment. Have you got any ear protection?"
"No?"
"Here, use these. Trust me, you'll want them with Alaric's monster going off in a tiny room like this."
I pushed their conversation to the back of my mind and started to focus. My rifle hummed as it came to life, rising in volume and pitch as it powered up to max. I only had one shot, so there was no point messing about.
I watched, waiting for my target to stop pacing. There was no risk of him leaving my sight; the large window showed the entire meeting room. The door opened again, and some more people filed in, guilders, I would guess by their outfits.
Rich colours and flamboyant outfits of the rich. But still, I could see the carefully woven-in armour.
Finally, they sat. I waited a few moments longer, making sure he wasn't going to twitch or something. When I was sure he'd stay put, I dialled it in, slowing my breathing and pushing my impulse unit to the limit.
Taking in as much information as I could. This was one of the hardest shots I had ever done, and I would not fuck it up.
The software in the scope calculated bullet drop and the wind speed, linking that to my visor, I could see a red dot representing where my shot should land. All my experience and knowledge confirmed that it looked about right. I cross-checked some of the numbers; they all lined up.
I shifted, making sure I and my gun were fully stable on the table, then synced up my breathing and heart rate. Reaching out with my MIU, I caressed the trigger. 3, 2, 1. Fire.
The gun slammed back into my shoulder, leaving scratches on the table. The deep boom echoed around the room, then escaped out into the city, disturbing the curtains at its passing and no doubt heard for miles. But I wasn't paying attention to any of that; I traced the shot, like a jet stream through the smog and then the misting of the glass as the slug punched through it and then disintegrated the target's upper chest and head.
"Target down." I said, sliding off the table and packing up. Folding the bipod and slinging it over my shoulder, the others doing the same, we made sure there was nothing that could be tied to us, and then we left. Going back the way we came.
It wasn't any easier and I was soon panting again.
But as we left, the blossoming spark buoyed my spirits. Gained from killing an influential gang leader at long range. It was a no-brainer where it went, with it fitting perfectly into my Sharpshooter fragment.
I almost stumbled as the knowledge washed over me. Nothing new, but reinforcing what was already there. More excitingly, I could feel it on the cusp of the next tier. Tier 4.
That might change my plans a bit. I was desperate to see what tier 4 was like. How good was I going to be?
"This way." Lavus said, snapping me back as she led us to the extraction point. We might've been able to get out the way we came in, through the large checkpoints, but none of us fancied the risk. So, the smuggler's tunnels it was.
They were too narrow for the truck but were under the Court's complete control. We had hundreds of miles of them throughout the hive. Perfect for moving goods and supplies without anyone the wiser. Nobles also paid good money to smuggle in items that would otherwise be frowned upon.
They couldn't come through the normal spaceports, so they had to land and then be driven over land to the hive.
I occasionally checked in with Zardelle, but they were progressing nicely and were on schedule. Rounding the corner, we came to a little hole-in-the-wall shop. A front for one of our tunnels. Ducking inside, we moved out of sight and settled down to my favourite pastime.
Waiting.
Lavus bounced impatiently in her seat. She was going to need to get used to waiting. We seemed to spend our lives doing it. Luckily, we weren't waiting long; Zardelle voxed in—they were done and moving out. Once they joined us, we headed into the tunnels, Brix leading the way.
On a private vox I asked, 'Any problems?'
'No, smooth sailing. Ran into heavier than expected guards and the newbie, Shem, wasn't ready.'
'Is that going to cause us problems?'
'Naa, we had time to clear up after ourselves. But we'll need to recruit someone else when we get home.'
'I'll have another look through the applicants. Same role as before?'
'Yes, I think so.' Nodding, we fell silent. It should be pretty easy to fill his role. We had a long list of hopefuls. Perks of a prestigious unit. We also had a low turnover rate, which further enhanced our status. We still lost people, as seen today. But our losses were nowhere near those of other units.
It was a long journey back; luckily, once we were on a lower level, we rendezvoused with our truck again and were driven back. Even so, I was very glad to be home.
The missile of muscle and steel hit me as Snuffles pounced the second I stepped in. Laughing, I played and then just cuddled him the rest of the day.
---
Twisting my sword, I allowed Zardelle's blade to harmlessly scrape along it before I flicked forward in a counterattack. She leapt back with ease, but I didn't let up my pressure, forcing her right to the edge of the ring. Her defences were as solid as ever, but if I got her out of the ring, it was considered my win.
It was not to be.
She didn't fall for my feint, clashing heavily with my blade, and that was all she needed to push me right back; a painful slap across the shoulder ended the spar. Groaning, I slumped to the floor. I almost had her; I had improved massively since I started. The skills I got from my soldier and then warrior fragments gave me a good foundation, but it was all the practice since then that had pushed me along.
I hadn't put another point in it since or made a new one for blades, but I had been tempted to, but I had far too much to focus on right now. I was hoping to be able to add a few more in the future, but for now, they were far too valuable. I was getting good regardless.
I couldn't reliably beat Zardelle still, but it wasn't the gap it used to be, even when she was trying her hardest.
That couldn't be said for hand-to-hand. When we started, I was the dominant one; that had certainly flipped with her skill exploding in the last few years. I'd still say I was the more technically skilled, but it wasn't by enough to matter, her size and strength being the deciding factor. Even if I had reached 6 ft, I had slowed down, and it didn't look like I was reaching any taller than that. At least not without augments or genetic manipulation, which wasn't out of the question.
I was glad I'd been putting in the effort regardless. Apart from forming a strong bond with Zardelle, it had saved my life a time or two. Even with planning, not every mission went smoothly, with me kept far out of danger at long range.
I was just about to get up to go again when we were interrupted by the swish of the door opening.
Grinning from my place on the floor. "So you've decided to join us."
Stomping across the room to drop her gear off, Katra huffed. "With friends like you, I can't not join."
"You could skip it." Zardelle said. "Most of the team don't bother with the extra training."
Katra frowned at her. "Like I ever could. If I missed, I would never hear the end of it from you two."
Seeing a chance to rest, I took it. "You go next Katra. Zardelle just creamed me."
I got up and moved over to the chair to sit and watch, admiring the two women at the peak of fitness wailing on each other. Zardelle was clearly the more refined fighter, her movements smooth and fluid, every strike precise.
Not surprising really, Katra had little to no formal training before she started. After her third or fourth mission paired with me, I'd prodded her to join our training sessions. It didn't take much; she was one of the hardest-working people I knew.
She'd come a long way. We tried with blades at first, which was a disaster. Not suiting her at all. She kept swinging them like a hammer, trying to beat us into submission with them. So, we changed and got her a mace.
That changed everything.
She was a powerhouse, her augments enhancing her already large natural strength. She was much shorter than Zardelle at only 5'7. But she could pack on some power behind her blows, and when I could finally make a more impressive weapon for her, she would be unstoppable.
I had been toying with a few builds. The most promising at the moment was a shock baton stolen off a peacekeeper. It needed an overhaul, but it looked to be the most viable option for now.
Her hand-to-hand was the same. Not bad; no one in the underhive could afford to be bad. Unrefined maybe, she was a brawler at heart, like many in the underhive. Relying on her instincts, speed and strength. That had certainly changed by now, with the skill and control she had over her body.
Once they'd had a rest, I stretched and got back on the mats. Rather than sparring again, I took them through some drills, practising throws against opponents both larger and smaller than them. They already knew it all, but it was worth going over again. Once done, we got back into sparring until we collapsed into the training seats, completely spent, sweat dripping from my brow.
"Anything interesting?" I asked Zardelle.
"Important?"
"Yeah, your closed meeting." I was curious. They didn't have many of those without me these days, for better or worse.
"Oh, that. Not at this stage. It won't be long before you won't need to ask me that question."
"What do you mean?"
"Oh, come on, you must know."
"Know what?" I asked.
"You are one of the most influential people in the gang." I frowned. I was well known, and people had a healthy respect and fear of me. I didn't have a seat at the table for nothing. But that wasn't anything new.
"He isn't aware." Katra said. "Or at least not fully aware."
I just looked between them, lost. "Where has this come from?"
Sighing, Zardelle turned toward me. "Aleric, you are the second in command of the elite unit in the gang." She said in an almost patronisingly patient voice. "You speak in my name. You are a feared fighter and the best marksman in the gang, by far. You run the mastiff programme, which has been an incredible success. Bringing in some of the most dangerous additions to the gang in the last few years, with dozens of dogs and over forty people working for you. Not to mention Snuffles. Then finally, we have the repair stuff. You are easily the best in the gang, able to fix even the most difficult items. Even able to do stuff that the exiled tech-priest can't do."
"But—"
"If there is a problem, it is you people turn to."
"That is not really true though, is it?"
"Yes, it is. In the core people, if they need something done, they nine times out of ten come to you."
Still not sure I was in full agreement with her. Sure, much of it was true; it was how I got my place at the table after all, but there were a dozen of us with a seat, and people come and go. Turning to Katra for support.
All I got from her was an unimpressed look. "What big job were you doing last week?"
"I was helping Peggi set up some false IDs for some of her contacts."
"And a few days before that?"
I had to think, but it came quickly enough. "Fixing some of the systems deep within the Fortress."
"And before that?"
"Help Selina with something." I hesitated to say more. I mean, I could, but I thought it best left unsaid. It was pretty unsavoury, helping her off someone getting a bit too powerful within the gang and starting to cause trouble.
One of the old guards, with quite the following. But they'd made it clear they did not agree with the direction things were going and as they were in command of the Court's largest market, couldn't be ignored. But she was too connected to be removed, so she needed to have an accident.
"And before—"
"Okay, okay, I get the point." To be fair, once it had been pointed out to me, I realised how abnormal that was. It was just an extension of some other role, things I had always done; it just had never clicked that I'd moved to only doing things for the leadership.
"That was what the meeting was about."
"You can't leave it here. You have to tell me more now."
Zardelle smirked. "No… I don't."
Grumbling, I turned away in a fake huff.
Laughing, she said. "All I will say is, we are looking to make some changes to the gang's structure in light of the war on the horizon."
Staring at her, hoping my puppy dog eyes would change her mind. It didn't.
"You can stare at me as soulfully as you want; I'm not giving you anymore."
"Fine." Changing the topic, I asked Katra, "How was the mission?"
"Like herding cats." She bemoaned.
Zerdelle and I both laughed at that. That was always the case; no matter how experienced they were, it still felt the same.
"Apart from that, how was it?" She'd just come back from a rather long patrol, leading it the entire time. A sort of trial by fire. A trial she'd more than risen to. It was a mixed squad too, with rookies, soldiers, and veterans on the team.
Nowhere near our calibre, but it was a stepping stone, getting her used to commanding and leading units. Something I knew Zardelle was very keen on.
"It was fine."
Snorting, Zardelle said. "It was fine? It was more than fine." Addressing me, she said. "The rookies are now in awe of her, and she got a healthy respect from the soldiers and veterans. Didn't have a bad word to say about you, Katra. You got ambushed by a Sumpspawn, and your leadership got you out with minimal casualties.
Openly laughing at Katra, I kept teasing her about it the rest of the afternoon as we chatted and trained. Hours later, we said our goodbyes with a plan to meet in a few days, with each of us having to go our separate ways.