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“Look. I made this for you!”
A small young girl ran up to him, standing on her toes to reach up and hand him something. He grabbed it with a smile as he sat down, the girl hopping onto his armored thigh with a gleeful smile.
“It’s wonderful, Fluella.” He said as he examined the bracelet she had made, using a piece of string and various seashells gathered from the nearby beach.
The Agri-Planet of Volega IV was a wide water-filled planet, with small islands dotted around, each bringing in large amounts of food from the local sea life.
Argaar Te'khargan had been visiting this planet for multiple weeks, his ship stopping to gather resources before continuing on. In the time he had been here, he had become well known on one the smaller village islands, helping out wherever he could, and becoming friendly with the young child, Fluella.
The girl had a wide, cheerful smile on her face as she began talking about her day, and anything else that came to her mind, Argaar continued to smile as he listened to her.
“Brother Argaar.”
Argaar looked up as he saw his Captain, Captain Arion standing there.
“Yes, Captain?” Argaar asked as he picked up Fluella and carefully placed her onto the ground before he stood up to meet his captain.
“All of us are being called back to the ship for important news. You may return here once you are done.” Captain Arion spoke before he turned around and walked off.
“Understood.” Argaar responded as he started walking off, before giving a nod to Fluella.
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“A fleet of Heretic Astartes have been detected, closing in on this system. We are to intercept them and stop them before they enter the system or land on any planets. The citizens are not to be told about this, as we do not want to bring any alarm.” That was what the Captain had announced.
This gave Argaar a wary feeling as he rode on the Thunderhawk back to the village he had been stationed at. It felt wrong to not warn the citizens, but if his Captain said so, he would follow his orders.
The Thunderhawk landed on the shore, as Argaar walked out alongside two other Marines and they all walked their separate ways. However, in a surprise, Argaar saw Fluella running towards him and reaching out to hug his leg.
With a smile, he knelt down to pick up the girl and lift her up before placing her on his shoulder. They both laughed as Argaar walked forward, only to be stopped by the woman that Argaar recognized as Fluella’s mother.
“Ah, Ms. Syawl, what brings you here?” Argaar asked.
“Like I’ve said, please, call me Natti.” She responded with a warm smile. “And I just wanted to thank you on behalf of everyone here for helping out so much in our village.”
“We will help any member of the Imperium who requests our help.” Argaar responded with a nod of his head.
Argaar put Fluella back down on the ground after she tried to jump off herself. Afterwards, Fluella grabbed Argaar’s finger and tried to pull him along. Argaar walked forward, following Fluella.
“C’mon! We’ve prepared something for you!” Fluella shouted as she ran ahead.
As Argaar and Natti made it to Natti’s small home, there was a decently sized dinner set out on the table. Fluella jumped into her seat as she laughed.
“We’ve wanted to give you a gift. We know you’ll be leaving soon, so this is the least we can do to return the favor.” Natti said to Argaar as he looked up to him, her smile growing wider.
“This wasn’t necessary-” Argaar began.
“Please, we wanted to repay you, even in any way we could.” Natti said as she put her hands together.
“Fine, but promise me that you two will eat some as well.” Argaar said as he walked over, and sat down at the table.
As the other two began to eat the meal set up, Argaar looked between the two with a smile. This felt nice. It felt like he was truly helping people, perhaps even more than fighting as a warrior. But he knew this could not last forever.
The three ate the meal with cheerful discussions across the table. As the meal was finished, and Natti began to clean up and Fluella fell asleep on a chair nearby, Argaar couldn’t help but feel guilty. Guilty about not telling them about the incoming danger.
“Argaar?” Natti asked as she took the dishes over to be washed, speaking low as to not wake up Fluella. “I’ve been thinking about something. Everyone here has been enjoying your help, and this place seems much happier. You look much happier than when you first came here as well.” Natti turned to Argaar.
“Wouldn’t you want to stay here and live a happier life? We would help you, and take care of you.” She then turned away to begin washing the dishes. “It’s… Just a passing thought.”
He couldn’t stand it any longer.
“Natti, I need to tell you something.” Argaar spoke as he stepped forward, standing beside Natti.
“Yes, what is it Argaar?” She asked.
“There’s been reports of an enemy fleet in the nearby system, and they may be coming here next. We haven’t told anyone as to not spread panic, but I need you to promise me something. Promise me that if things go bad, that you will take Fluella and do whatever you can to stay safe.” He said with a stern expression.
“I… Yes… We will stay safe.” Natti said after a moment of silence. She grabbed Argaar’s hands, her hands incredibly small and weak compared to his massive, armored hands, but still, he could feel her gentle touch. “I promise.”
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Everything went wrong that night.
The fleet invaded in massive clusters. Multiple Warp Rifts opened as Daemons poured through, massacurring entire planets. All of the other planets in the system were lost, and multiple Chaos Ships had gotten past the blockade and were now invading Volega IV.
In an uneasy rush, as soon as the Drop Pod hit, Argaar pushed through, Boltgun in hand as he gunned down Daemons of Khorne by the dozens as he pushed through the village, trying to reach the house.
It was in sight, and just before he reached the door, a Bloodletter slashed at him, causing him to drop his Boltgun on the ground. Before the Bloodletter could hit him again, Argaar pulled out his bolt pistol and shot it dead in the forehead.
His attention was quickly shifted as he heard a young child scream from inside the house. He immediately burst through the door, Bolt Pistol out and quickly locked onto his target. A Khornate Chaos Marine stood there, his Chainsword quietly humming as he held Fluella in his grasp.
“Argaar!” Natti yelled from the ground behind the Chaos Marine.
“Put her down.” Argaar demanded as he trained his aim right for the Berzerker’s head.
“Try all you like. The blood will flow no matter what you do!” The Berzeker yelled out as he revved the chainsword.
In a split second, Argaar shot the Berzerker in the head, causing the Chaos Marine to stumble back as his helmet fell off to reveal a Daemonically-Corrupted face, which instantly regenerated back.
With a sinister smile, the Berzerker threw Fluella behind him, into the arms of Natti as his chainsword screamed with its chain spinning at full speed.
Argaar threw his empty Bolt Pistol to the ground, and reached for his Combat Knife as he charged as fast as he could. Those split seconds felt like hours as Argaar scowled, and stabbed forward. But he was too late.
Just as he stabbed the Chaos Marine in the back, he had slashed his Chainsword at the two. With a yell of both anger and pain, Argaar grabbed the Khornate Berzeker and threw him against the ground, before ripping the Chainsword out of his hand and stabbing it right into the Berzeker’s chest while revving it the whole time.
With heavy breaths, Argaar turned to look at what had happened. He took off his helmet and threw it to the ground beside him to breathe. But for once, was pained by what he saw.
His helmet was covered in not only the blood of his enemies, but also the blood of those he loved. Argaar noticed that the bracelet had broken and fallen to the ground in front of him. He grabbed it and clenched it tightly as he closed his eyes with a solemn expression.
His anguish was interrupted as he heard multiple footsteps approach along with both daemonic growls and revving of weapons. He turned back to see multiple enemies, more than he could handle, even at full strength.
But he wouldn’t let his last breath be in vain.
He slashed the Chainsword, cutting down some of the Daemons as other ones came in and slashed at him. He felt pain across his chest and on his opposing arm. He stepped forward, ready to attack, only to be stabbed in the chest by a Chainsword and befalling the same fate that he inflicted to his foe earlier.
He fell backwards against the wall, feeling his life leaving him as his vision faded. He looked at the bodies of the only two people who had ever been nice to him, and reached out to gently grab Natti’s hand before he fell. He knew what he had to do next.
The Daemons and Chaos Marines closed in on him, ready to finish him off.
“For the Emperor.” He said with his final breath as he pulled out and detonated a Melta Bomb. As he felt his body be burnt to a crisp, he felt one last feeling knowing that he had at least avenged them.
Bliss.