A Grey Knight in Tartarus, part 6 (Finale)

>What fallowed would become known among the denizens of Tartarus as "The Grey Reaping."
>The Titans told tale of a wandering monster, clad in grey armor, that tore the life of any creature that crossed it's path.
>No amount of reasoning, no attempts to pacify it were successful.
>It only roared in rage, screamed prayers to an Emperor, and killed what it came across.
>It took the intervention of the Titanking, Cronus, to force the creature away.
>The Centaurs named it Godslayer, and feared it above all others, as it had taken their Father from them.
>The Smooze didnt' notice.
>The daemons feared the wandering Knight most of all, after the first creature to try tormenting it was torn to shreds.
>The Crime Dogs had the worst of it.
>When the Knight left Tartarus, only the careful guidance of the Dog Father kept them from fleeing to every corner of Tartarus in terror.
>Their were many attempts by Tartarus' prisoners to reason with it, then to fight it, until at last, they only avoided it.
>They only watched as it marched, undeterred, towards the Black Mountains and the lair of the Dog Father.
>From it they heard the prayers, the shouts for the "Emperor's" benediction...
>And they heard the creature beg for "Eris" to return to them.
>From that time until the end of time, the Emperor's name was associated with death in Tartarus.
>And Eris' with a loss so harrowing it could drive a monster to madness.


>You were tired.
>You had not slept, had not eaten, had not taken a drink in the past week.
>Even your posthuman physique was put to the test.
>Since you had lost her, you had not stopped walking.
>Not stopped doubting.
>Not stopped fighting.
>Not stopped killing.
>Your blade was stained with the blood of hundreds of creatures, daemons uncountable, and xenos beasts you could not put a name to.
>Dents and slashes marred your armor from where you had underestimated your opposition, and you still carred your limp from the fight with Tirek.
>But you were close.
>You were so very close to getting her back.
>A day's march from you, you could see the mountains up ahead.
>Vengeance was close at hand.
>It is enough to snap you out of the fugue of hate and despair that has consumed you for the entirety of your journey.


"Why in His holy name am I doing this?"
>You had long since fallen into the habit of talking to yourself.
>It helped relieve the burden of not having her to constantly bother you with questions.
>You missed being bothered.
>You had had much time to reflect as you travelled and killed your way through the Wastes.
>As a Grey Knight, you could not fall to Chaos' taint. You could never be a heretic, a worshipper of the Dark Gods.
>But you could fall to madness.
"She is a xenos. I am sworn to kill her and all like her, in the Emperor's name. Why am I doing this?"
>You didn't remember it, but you have had this argument with yourself at least seventeen times.
"She is my frie-my ally. I am no coward, that abandons his sworn allies in their time of need."
"She is xenos. I should leave her."
"I won't do that. Even if I should, I won't."
"Why can't I?"
>Your daemon blade has long since fallen silent as it listens to your madness develop.
>The wards engraved on your body and soul caused it too much pain when it tried to speak to you.
>You continue to march towards the mountains, lost in your reflections.
>So lost, that you do not notice the sand shifting beneath you.


>You don't notice the threat, even as a tentacle as thick as your leg is wrapped around your stomach.
"I should have killed her when we met. Has she tainted me with her xenos wiles? Am I damned? I do not doubt that He is with me, even in this place, but am I worthy of His eyes upon my soul?"
>Another tentacle bursts from the sand, wrapping around your storm bolter bearing arm.
>You ignore it, continuing to think and doubt.
"How can I think of hurting her? After what I have done for her alre-"
>The tentacles jerk you backwards, away from the Mountains you had been traveling towards.
>That is enough to wake you up.
"YOU DARE TRY TO KEEP ME FROM HER, BEAST?"
>You turn on the Sand Kraken as it rises out of the wastes, a mouth the size of a Land Raider bursting open with whirring fangs.
>It roars at you, spraying your battered armor with spittle.
>You roar back at it, the madness and fury in your voice giving the Kraken pause.
"YOU WOULD DARE, MONSTER!? YOU WOULD DARE? DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY I HAVE SENT TO THEIR GRAVES, JUST FOR BEING IN MY WAY? AND YOU WOULD TRY TO DRAG ME BACK?"
>You lift your wrist, a tempest of bolt shells erupting from your arm and slamming into the Sand Kraken.
"IS THAT ALL, MONSTER? IS THAT ALL YOU HAVE? MORE! GIVE ME ALL THE FEROCITY THAT YOUR FILTH CAN MUSTER!"


>The creature shrieks in agony, it's tentacles spasming, and it tries to dig it's way back into the sand.
"No! NO! YOU WILL NOT ESCAPE ME! COME, FEEL THE JUDGEMENT OF THE EMPEROR!'
>You roar and leap after the retreating Kraken, your sword leaping and darting, cutting chunks of flesh off the monster's body.
>Pieces of rubbery tentacle, fangs, and brain matter fly into the air as you ride the Kraken into the sand and dirt.
>It strugges to withdraw, but you stay with it, one hand clenched on it's flesh.
>It shudders as you hack at it, roaring along with it's screams.
>Eventually it falls still, and you shout out in disgust and outrage, tossing your sword away and leaping off of it's body.
"Emperor preserve me, what am I doing?"
>You hold one hand to your helmet, as if you are suffering from a headache.
>You sit next to the dying body of the Kraken, listening as it's dying breath escapes it's body.
>You sit, and for the first time in weeks, you meditate. You truly meditate, not to escape that which you do not understand....
>But to understand that which you fear to know.


>My title is friend.
>Those were the words he said to you when those damned Princesses cast you into this hell.
>The words that had haunted you since you met her.
>That's what she called you, friend.
>Not 'ally'. Not 'mon-keigh'. Not 'lapdog of the False Emperor', 'servant of the Inquisition', 'my lord Astartes', or even 'Grey Knight'.
>Her friend. Her Justy.
>You bore the same title as a heretic, a worshipper of the Dark Gods.
>Yet your faith in the Emperor's light was unyielding.
>You couldn't understand it. Never in the 200 years of life you'd live since your elevation to an Astartes had a creature treated you with such....
>Such kindness. Such loyalty. Such honesty. Such generosity.
>Never had a creature made you want to laugh with her antics.
>But she was xenos.
>Was it not ingrained in your teachings that xenos were the enemies of man?
>What would your brothers sa-
>You jump in realization. It doesn't matter.
>It doesn't matter what they would have to say.
>They are not with you.
>Only the Emperor and Eris are here for you now.
>The Emperor, your God, and Eris your....
>Your friend.
>Your friend.
>The friend that those damned Dogs held in that damned Mountain.
>Your head snaps up from where you sit.
>You smile in joy.
>You no longer hold any doubts.


>No more doubt.
>No more fear, no more guilt.
>Your mind is clear.
>Only faith, and duty...
>And friendship.
>You raise your hand, and your weak powers tug the daemon weapon into your grasp.
>You are tired.
>So very tired of Tartarus.
>You get to your feet, and you begin to run.
>A full powered, sprinting Astartes.
>It will not take a day to reach her, not now.
>A day is too long.
"I COME FOR YOU, DOGS! MAKE YOURSELVES READY! YOUR DEATH IS AT HAND!"
>You sprint into the rocky passageways of the mounting, and the yelping of retreating Crime Dog scouts is music to your ears.
>They had heard word of the slaughter on the Wastes.
>They had heard of your approach.
>And it filled their souls with terror.
>You watch as they retreat into a massive warren in the mountain's side, far above your head.
>You sheath your sword, grasp the rocks, and begin to climb.
"Eris! I AM HERE! I WILL SEE YOU FREED!"


>The Boss lights a cigar, his fifth since the boys had told him about the Knight.
>This wasn't goin' the way it should have been.
>What IS it with humans and being so obstinate and retarded?
>Eris smirks at him from inside her cage, a yellow-brown force prison that he'd erected himself.
"Getting a little nervous there, mutt?"
>The Boss tosses an annoyed glance her way.
>"Shut it, freak. There's no way your friend's dumb enough to reject our offer. Not with yer life on the line."
"It's not stupidity. It's called being loyal to a friend."
>The Boss snorts.
>"Same thing, dollface."
>Eris' smile turns into a frown.
"He's going to kill you, you know that? I saw him fight Tirek. Think about it, mutt. He fought Tirek by himself. And LIVED. You've got no hope."
>"Tirek was just as retarded as this grey giant o yours. He was strong, yeah, sure. Stronger than the Father, maybe. But the Dog Father's smarter than he ever could be, and he's got us to boot. Your friend's a corpse, unless you both take our deal."
>The Boss presses his nose on the cage, glaring at the draconequus.
>She smiles back at him.
>"Keep on smiling, honey, see what happens."
"Oooh, scary. A trumped up diamond dog midget's threatening me, whatever shall I do!?"
>The Boss' cigar smoulders and bursts into flame in his anger.


>The dogs had been holding the Warren's fourth gate for the past 10 minutes.
>All the guards posted outside were dead, slaughtered by your hand.
>They shot at you from murder holes and gaps in the door, diamond-tipped crossbow bolts and slugs from primitive tommy-guns slamming into your armor.
>They dent it further, but you can find no fucks to give about the situation.
>You find that you like that word in your new state of mind. A commissar had used it once near you.
>You slam your fist into the steel door, grunting in satisfaction as it begins to buckle.
>You hear the dogs curse and retreat further into the Warren, as they had been doing for the day and a half you had been assaulting their little mountain fortress.
"I carry the light of my faith, scum! Your fortress will fall."
>You slam your shoulder into the Warren gate, growling as you tear your way through the steel door.
>You expect another gate, another barrier to your quest.
>So it comes as a surprise when you see her, curled up in a crackling prison.
"Eris!"
>She perks up immediately, rising.
>"Justy! You made it! For a second there I thought you were getting rusty."
>She's smirking, but you can feel the genuine happiness in her smile.
>"Fuckin' touching."
>Your gaze, for the first time, spots the short Crime Dog at her side, a cigar in his mouth.
>"Now that yer here, let's have a chat, shall we? You're turnin' out to be a real disappointment, 'Justy.' Yer remindin' me too much of another stubborn idiot."


>The dog snaps his fingers, and you slowly turn and watch as Crime Dogs seem to crawl out of the walls, in the tens, in the hundreds.
>Dogs of every size, shape, and description come out of the shadows, holding tommyguns, crossbows, and massive clubs in their paws.
>You see real brutes, massive dogs that rival you for size, close in on you, but they stop as the Boss snaps.
>The shadows behind the Boss shift, and you watch as the darkness of the Warren grows two massive, red eyes.
>A Canine, swathed in shadows, the size of an Avatar, glares down at you. It makes no sound.
>The scent of the daemon wafts from it.
>The Boss takes another drag from his cigar.
>"Here's how it's going to go down, see? You've cost me a lotta boys in the last few days, buddy. That's manpower that can't be used on gettin' back at Celestia. That's a waste. I hate waste."
>He snaps his fingers, and a light goes off, revealing a stone arch at the side of Eris.
>"That there's a portal. A portal that some noble retard shut off tryin' ta stop us."
>He snorts, and the Dogs chuckle gruffly.
>"Now what's gonna happen, is that Eris here is gonna use her little freak-powers to force open the portal, the way her old man could. Then you're gonna go through, and you're gonna kill everything on the other side, and widen it fer us, so we can come."
>"If you don't, we're gonna beat you ta death. And then we're gonna torture Eris here until she does what we want."
>He snaps his fingers, and Eris shrieks suddenly as her cage stabs at her with blades of force.
>"So what's it gonna be, retard?"
>You flip your sword around in your hand, bringing it up on guard. Your choice was made for you the moment you entered the room.
"You're going to need more dogs."


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3sx_P7Qpys&list=PLA1FB5A4572046D4B&index=11&feature=plpp
_video
>The Dogs come for you in a wave of fur and fangs and flesh.
>You charge out to meet them.
>You impact against the charging wave of dogs, and the result is carnage.
>Carnage.
>There, a Crime Dog, his body rent from groin to throat from your blade.
>Another, his neck snapped from the backhand of your fist.
>Another, his chest torn out as your storm bolter fills his body with mass-reactive shells.
>Another, your boot buried in his face, crushing him into the earth even as you rip and tear at his kin.
>Another.
>Another.
>Another.
>You spin and duck and weave and slice and rip and tear and crush and kill, and kill, and kill.
>The sheer weight of their numbers presses on you, their claws and clubs battering your armor and your flesh, their guns and crossbows struggling to pierce your armor.
>You have no time for words, for imprecations or prayers to the Emperor.
>This is the slaughter-time, the time you were born and bred to be a master of.
>You hear a snap, and fire roars out at you, incinerating the Dog in your grip even as it splashes against your wards.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4Y_qI-1I6k
>You glance up, even as the fire dies down around you and the Crime Dogs recoil from the heat.
>You spot the Boss, staring at you in shock and horror.
>"But....How..should be ashes..."
"MY FAITH IS MY SHIELD, SCUM!"
>You lift your blade, and you charge again.
>Dogs get in your way, and your roar out your wrath, ramming them aside with your shoulder as you make your way to the Boss.
>As you make your way to Eris.
>Your blade rises and falls, scything through Dogs like a scythe through wheat.
>You scale the short terrace of rock that the Boss stands on, chanting litanies of hate as he hurls fireball after fireball at you.
>Terror is written on his face as he watches the blasts of fire fade, only to find you still standing.
>Unbent.
>Unbowed.
>Unbroken.
"Come, beast! Hide behind your minions no longer! SHOW ME WHAT PASSES FOR FURY AMONG YOUR MISBEGOTTEN KIND!"
>You leap at him, your blade darting out like a striking snake, and the Boss rolls away, scrabbling to safety as you come at him.
>You feel dogs struggle to strike you down as your back is turned, and you point your storm bolter behind you, unleashing a storm of shells into their midst.
>You take one more step towards the Boss, and a massive paw comes crashing down between you.
>The Dog Father has seen enough.


>The Dog Father is no dog.
>A massive daemon, shaped of shadows and fangs, in the vague shape of a massive, monstrous canine.
>Unknowable malice radiates from the red pools he has for eyes as his second paw hurtles at your head.
>You dive to the side, rolling out of the way as the paw slams into the stone path.
>With a roar, you riposte, ripping a burning line across the ebony limb.
>The Dog Father responds by backhanding you into a wall.
>This was bad.
>This creature rivaled Tirek for sheer power, and wasn't fool enough to come at you alone, into a trap full of rune circles.
>You were battered, tired, and bleeding.
>Even at your best you did not have it within you to SLAY a daemon prince, let alone hold one off.
>But you had to.
>Defeat was not an option.
>And victory did not necessitate the daemon king's death.
>You surge to your feet as the Dog Father's snarling maw crashes into the wall you impacted, as he tries to tear you in two.
>You feel your runes heat up at his passing, your bones burning from the power contained within the monstrous daemon.
>You charge past him, pausing only to tear another rip in his hide.
>You charge at your true goal.
>Eris' cage.
>Tommyguns blaze slugs at your form, and crossbows send bolts flying at you, while the Boss hurls lightning and fire at you.
>You grit your teeth and soldier on through the oncoming storm, until you are within range of your goal.
>And then you bring your daemon blade down upon Eris' prison.


>"Awwwww fuck."
>"AWWWW YEEEAAAAH!"
>The prison shatters into shards of force and magic as your daemon blade chews through the enchantment.
>Eris bursts out of the prison, arms in the air, triumphant.
>"Justy! You di-*urk*"
>You interrupt her by reaching out and grabbing the draconequus in a hug.
"I have a great many things to apologize for, my....my friend. The greatest is that I let you get taken in the first place."
>Eris at first stares at you, her jaw dropping open in surprise.
>Then she returns the hug with surprising force for a creature that much smaller than you.
>"Dude, as Dad would say, c'est la vie. I for-WHOA LOOK OUT!"
>She reaches out a paw over your shoulder, catching a hail of some incoming crossbow bolts in a yellow aura, before turning them back on their owners.
>You let her go, and then whirl around to face the charging Dog Father and his brutes.
>Eris turns her back to yours, her paw and talon lit up with magic as she faces the Boss.
>"Touchy feely moment later?"
"Agreed."
>"Let's do this then. Together?"
"Always."
>With a roar from a thousand throats, and the silent snarling of a daemon-dog, the Crime Dog's entire citadel descends upon the both of you.


>The Dog Father opens his massive maw to swallow you whole, and your roar in defiance as you jab Tirek into his upper jaw, and stick your boot in his lower.
>The Dog Father struggles to bring his jaws down, even as your blade works its way into his head.
>Dogs still come at you from the sides, slashing at you with their bear claws or tommyguns.
>Eris handles these, teleporting among them and tapping them on the head, whereupon they start snarling and turning on their brethren.
>She stops when the Boss hurls lightning at her, which she clutches in her paw like a baseball before hurling it back at the Boss.
>"Gonna have to do better than that, Rover!"
>The Boss snarls in frustration, before starting another spell.
>You shove your bolter arm down the Dog Father's throat and unload shells into his gullet, roaring your defiance until he lifts backwards, releasing you.
>You have to duck under another massive paw swipe from the growling daemon-dog, and you glance around to take in your situation.
>The dogs are still coming. They pour from the walls of the Warren, clutching guns, more bows, clubs, and knives.
>There are too many of them for you to kill.
>You will fall here, that much is certain.
>And you do not care.
>You recall the Imperial Guard, the same men that your brothers mocked for their weakness when you were called in to save them.
>Against insurmountable odds, they did what they were best at.
>They held the line.
>How could an Astartes do less?
>As you battle, a spark forms in the portal arch.


>You spot it immediately, even as you dodge another swipe from the Dog Father
"Eris! The portal, get it open!"
>She ducks and weaves under a blast of fire, shouting back to you.
>"Don't even bother! I'm not my Dad! I can't take us both through! Not safely!"
"Then fix it, and GET OUT OF HERE!"
>"I'm not going to leave you behind!"
"This isn't a negotiation, Eris! Get it open, and get out! I was born for this. I was never afraid to live, I am not afraid to die!"
>You don't listen to her response.
>As the Dog Father sweeps down for another bite at your flesh, you leap to meet him.
>His teeth grind into your armor, piercing your flesh around your middle, and you welcome the sudden flood of agony as he bites, trying to rip you in twain.
>You bring your blade down on his head once, twice, thrice as he worrys at you like a dog with chew toy.
>Then you spot your target.
>His burning red eye.
>You thrust your blade into the red spot, and you are rewarded with a howl of absolute agony as he tosses you free from his mouth.
>You stumble, pain forcing you to one knee as you watch the Dog Father thrash and howl.
>The Crime Dogs look on in horror as their Progenitor writhes in pain.
>You raise your blade to your forehead, the same blade you had held for two centuries of crusading. The blade you had captured a daemon with.
>The Dog Father's head comes down at you once more, and you don't have the strength to stop him.
>The blade you would die with.


>You raise your blade and give one last roar of defiance...
>Before a serpentine torso wraps around your waist and HEAVES you backwards.
>Eris groans in effort as she tugs your giant metallic ass out of the Dog Father's reach.
>You both collapse at the foot of the portal, her from carrying you and you from pain and exhaustion.
>The Dog Father gets to his paws, panting and snuffling in pain.
>YOU WILL NOT ESCAPE.
>The first words it speaks, and they thunder in your mind as Eris struggles for breath.
>You turn towards her as the both of you lie there, death coming for you in an army of dogs and daemons.
"I...thought I...told you....to get out."
>"When...have I ever....listened to you, Justy?"
"Go. You can still make it."
>She shakes her head, regaining her breath as she spies the approaching dogs.
>"Not without you."
"Go, Eris. If the portal can only hold on-"
>"I can't make it stable with two, but I can bridge the gap. Something, or someone, is trying to get a bridge to Tartarus working. I don't know if we'll reach them. I don't know if we'll reach anything. For all I know, it could tear us to pieces, or send us jumping from reality to reality until we end up-"
>You hold up a finger, and she stops.
"You talk too much."
>She smiles.
"Together, then?"
>"Always."
>She rises, floating, as you struggle to your feet, limping to the portal.
>Her eyes glow like miniature suns as she opens the connection, tearing a swirling, golden hole in reality.
>You turn your head as you limp, and you spot the braying Dog Father and his Legion as they descend upon you.
>That is the last thing you see as you and Eris dive through the portal, headlong into the unknown.