Chapter Text
"So what's the plan?" I asked making both Sylvia and Soph open their mouths but then shut them, staring awkwardly at each other.
“You first.” Sopha allowed, making the other Sister nod her thanks.
“We should find the Arbites first thing, to get a guide to this rat's nest.” She proposed.
“Not a bad strategy,” Sopha admitted but I shook my head.
“As if you could find them.” I muttered as I saw his face again. The man was stuffed in a too small shell of yellow and grey carapace.
“You want me to risk my men over some whores?” He had laughed coldly. “Fat chance sumprat, now get the frak out of here before I get annoyed!” I could almost feel my arm go limp from his shock maul jabbing me oh so gently.
“What did you say?” Sylvia’s cold voice snapped me out of it as I found myself futilely trying to massage my arm through my armor.
“I simply said that’s if we can find them.” I grunted.
“What do you mean, their whole job is to make sure the hives are secure?” Circe pointed out, causing my eyes to roll.
“Sylvia, you don’t remember being on the streets, do you?” I prodded and saw her flinch at the question.
“Only a little, I stayed as close to the shrines as I could.” She admitted. Made sense, the wealthy pilgrims were probably much more generous to the beggars, especially small cute ones. It wasn’t surprising she didn’t remember much with how young she was recruited.
“The Arbites won’t try and deal with a problem like this if they know they can just send us instead.” I pointed out. “I doubt you’ll find one down here.”
“They sound like cowards.” Sopha growled and I couldn’t help the humorless laugh I let out.
“Most of them are, and often in it just so they can beat others down and feel good about themselves.” I spat before an incessant beeping brought my attention to the proximity alert.
“Shit, Venus, get on the gun and figure out what kinda threat we’re dealing with!” Sopha ordered, and I was already unlatching the gunner's hatch. I stood up into the hatch, bringing my torso out of the vehicle and grabbing the pintle-mounted weapons grips as I scanned the area.
“Sororitas! The God-Emperor be praised!” A woman shouted as I noticed a group weaving through traffic to reach us.
“Stop the rhino!” I called down the hatch as a group of sickly thin men and women rushed to the tank, just trying to touch it. “Back away from the vehicle!” I called, dropping the handles, as I couldn’t bring myself to point my weapon at them.
“You are the answer to our prayers!” They shouted still clamoring at the vehicle.
“What’s going on?” Sopha demanded as she racked her bolter.
“It’s just some over-excited civvies, Circe, could you lead them in some prayers or something? I can’t talk to them like this.” I asked giving the icy woman a pleading look. She sighed and opened the door and started to address them as I pulled myself out of the hatch. I slipped off the front of the tank and a couple of people noticed me but I convinced them to turn away with some rations I had packed. Old habits die hard, so when I had found out we’d be going into the hive, I brought part of my stash of rations I had squirreled away over the years. I made eye contact with a woman at least a decade my senior who had a sheer dress that left almost nothing to the imagination. Her familiar tattoos on her arm confirmed my suspicions as they were prices.
“What’s the going rate for a ration these days?” I asked her, holding one up. While she played it cool I saw her eyes widen.
“About three thrones, but honey, it’ll cost ya five just for the time it takes you to get out of that armor.” Her sultry voice matched her heavy-lidded assessing look making me chuckle as I did the math.
“So at least six thrones, good to know.” I grinned as she looked surprised as I made a show of checking her arm. “How much for so intel on someone?”
“Depends how they tip.” She smirked, cocking a hip as I chuckled.
"I'm trying to find a bunch of zealots, probably obsessed with purity and fire?" I was met with a cocked eyebrow.
"Looked in a mirror recently honey?" I laughed again and looked through the small pouch on my belt. "But you looking for those bastards that are screaming about the Emperor’s will and kidnapping kids for a 'crusade of faith'?"
"That'd be them if I had to guess." I nodded, frowning at this information. To use something as pure as faith to do something that deplorable? There was only one punishment for that kind of heresy.
"You here to do what those spineless shits of Arbites are too scared to and snuff them out?" She asked with a serious face.
"Just that." I confirmed with a nod, earning a vengeful smile.
"That I'd give you for free Sister, they nabbed one of the house's kids a week back."
"Can you lead the way?" I asked and she nodded.
"To get near those psycho pieces of shit?" She barked out a humorless laugh. “That’ll cost you more than some rations and some fun in an alley Sister. They’d be happy to put a working girl like me to the frakking stake.” She shook her head as I flinched.
“Bastards always are…” I growled, smelling burnt perfume and ash that had been swept away a decade ago. “How about for a shot of battlefield grade antibiotics?” I offered making her eyes widen.
“Just cause you can talk doesn’t mean I believe a Sister like you would give that away to a whore like me.” She growled defensively, as I reached into the medicare pack on my belt.
“I was raised in a house just like you, I wouldn’t give you empty promises,” I told her handing over the cylinder that she held like a holy relic.
“Yeah, I can take you there for this…” She said looking it over. “I didn’t catch your name love.”
“Sister Venus, and you?”
“You can call me Star.” She smiled as she slide the medicine away into a hidden pouch in her clothes.
“Sister!” I was interrupted by Sopha shouting over to me.
“Follow me, and sorry in advance for my Sisters.” I handed her a ration before making my way back to the rhino through the now dispersing crowd.
“I see you made a friend.” Sylvia raised a questioning eyebrow at me, hand on her hip.
“Star can lead us to the fanatics, apparently they’re grabbing kids for some kind of crusade,” I told them, making Circe flinch. “We should ditch the rhino for now.”
“Why would we give up such an advantage,” Sylvia asked harshly. “I doubt the rabble down here would have anything down here that could even scratch it!” I took a second to take a deep breath. The girl may have actually been a tactical genius, but we’d never know if her blunt criticisms always got in the way.
“We’ll be faster and more flexible on foot.” I began. “We bring the rhino, and our only option is a full frontal assault that they have time to prepare for, cause this thing ain’t exactly discreet.” I gestured to the thirty ton vehicle.
“We could sneak up and be in their midst before they even knew it.” Sopha grinned, with a flash of blood lust in her eyes.
“Maybe some robes would help us hide better?” Sylvia suggested, warming to the idea.
“We’ll still stand out, but at least they won’t immediately know we’re Sororitas.” I admitted as Sopha ducked into the tank. I turned to our guide who was currently trying to eat a ration delicately, trying not to look desperate. “Star, how far do you think they are?”
“A couple hours if you can keep up.” She shrugged as I grinned back.
“Oh don’t worry, we can keep up.” I responded as Sopha came out with the waterproof tarp we would drape over the tank in bad weather and immediately started slicing it up much to the rest of the squad's dismay.
“What in the Throne do you think you’re doing?” Circe snapped.
“That’s important…” Sylvia’s protest was cut off by a chunk of tarp smacking the girl in the face, making me have to bite a glove to muffled my chuckle at her startled face like a feline all puffed up.
“Making disguises like you suggested!” The taller woman grinned as I caught mine and used rope from my belt to make it into a passable robe, and while it was formless and a little short, not covering my full legs, it would definitely help with blending in a bit better. She tossed a smaller clothe to Circe who stared in confusion.
“I guess that’s okay…” Sylvia huffed. “I think she’s saying to cover her your helmet Circe.” She told the girl who, went to protest, but then thought better of it, and mumbled something that almost sounded like thanks. I never thought I’d see the day!
“So…” I started giving my two commanding Sisters my best innocent eyes. “If we’re raiding the rhino, can I take the extra ammo from the turret?” They glanced at each other.
“I don’t see why not…”
“Thanks Soph!” I patted her shoulder as I passed her.
“Leave one drum here just in case!” Sylvia instructed after me. “We move out in five!” I grinned at this.
“Yes mother!”