Astartes vs haemonculi

Sargaul’s eyes widened. ‘You found the gene seed! We can return, then.’

‘No, brother. I have not. I need your help.’

Sargaul didn’t seem to be listening any more. ‘I must find the squad’s gene seed. We need to report back.’

‘The haemonculi would have been thorough,’ Sindul observed.

Barsabbas punched the ground. ‘Impossible. We are Astartes.’

‘Especially Astartes. Your pain thresholds are so high, you are every haemonculus’s greatest fantasy.’

‘What did they do to him?’ Barsabbas asked quietly.

‘I don’t know. It is dependent on the creativeness of the torturer and the hardiness of the recipient,’ Sindul said, licking his lips. ‘Injecting mercury into the liver, pumping glass filings into the lungs, stimulation of exposed nerves with contact acids, selective lobotomy–’

Blood Gorgons pg. 137