The First Mission, part 5

This Story Takes Place In The Warhammer 40k Universe

Caffus picked himself up, despite his ringing ears and aching muscles. As loud as the area had been, it was now completely silent. All around him people were picking themselves up. Lug reached down to help him, but they paused when they noticed the lighting had changed. The bonfire had gone out, and been replaced by a sphere of light floating high in the sky. It was like a tiny purplish sun, pulsing with cold light. Where the fire had been, three figures stood watching Caffus’ group.

For an instant Caffus thought he was looking at three beautiful women, but as the light from the sphere grew they resolved into something else. Each… creature stood a full foot taller than Lug, with vaguely female forms but these had clearly never been human. Their heads sported horns, their arms ended in oversized crab claws, and they moved with a grace and purpose that any dancer would envy.

They surged toward Caffus, and he couldn’t tell whether it was lust or murder behind the creatures’ eyes. The most intense fear Caffus had ever felt washed over him, and he knew that he would die. These misshapen, yet somehow beautiful, creatures would destroy him. They would rape him over and over until he begged for death, then torture him a thousand different ways. And they would laugh the entire time. Caffus was going die, horribly.

Lug stumbled toward the creatures, desire for those profane forms overriding his good sense. “Lug!” Caffus call didn’t stir the big man. “Lug, stop!” One of the creatures reached for the big man with its razor-sharp claw. Caffus reacted, and put a bullet through each of the creature’s eyes. Caffus ran for Lug, to pull him back to reality. He could hear Ravion and Ishta fighting, but he was focused on Lug. He didn’t see another of the creatures coming for them. It came from nowhere, hissing and spitting, and with a flick of its wrist Lug was gone, replaced by red mist.