Chapter 3 - Infection
[Action A | Saturday, Sept. 17th, mid-day onwards, Around Mayfield]
[Undeath wasn't agreeing with Dakki. She had "died" before, or at least gotten extremely close to it, and this didn't compare on an "oh Holy Light it hurts" level. In fact, she felt numb. Quite the blessing, given the poor state of her left calf and the gnawed mess that was her ( Read more... )
[Undeath wasn't agreeing with Dakki. She had "died" before, or at least gotten extremely close to it, and this didn't compare on an "oh Holy Light it hurts" level. In fact, she felt numb. Quite the blessing, given the poor state of her left calf and the gnawed mess that was her ( Read more... )
Standing on top of a lamppost and looking down with emotionless blue eyes, three more of these swords appear with a silver glimmer in Ciel's right hand. ...Small reliefs, though her demeanor doesn't hint that in the least: she got there in time, and that's all that matters.
Ah, she ran into Aurica late, some time after the younger girl has already spoken to the Space Marine. He headed out first before her, but she possessed the advantage of higher grounds to facilitate search. Garviel's stature especially was easy to spot, but knowing how quickly this can end the moment he's engaged, she had to be even faster in order to stop a messy decapitation.
Really, this shouldn't matter. One zombie isn't any different from the next, no matter what sort of person they used to be as a conscious individual. They have to be destroyed to stop this from spreading. Garviel's likely to splatter the corpse all over, but that's still an efficient method to destroy it, and once that's accomplished, there wasn't any need to look more into it.
Yet still, there's something that can be said about every life, even when its value has been reduced to nigh nothing in a place where the concept of mortality itself has been taken away. At Aurica's request for a proper sendoff, she could effectively achieve this through performing a Purification Rite, and while it would disintegrate the entire body to ash... It nevertheless remains a means to cleanse the body and soul, of a being that has already been warped whole beyond recognition.
While the zombie recovers, she'll cast her glance down at Garviel. It's quiet and non-confrontational: if he has any questions/objections as to why she's suddenly here, he can voice them and she'll answer accordingly in turn.]
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Ciel.... I appreciate the help, but why are you here?
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Her well-worn instinct to figure out what unseen thing was attacking her was still present, even in her hunger-crazed state.
The thing on the lamppost was on a lamppost. The thing on the ground was huge. Huge meant better eating. She could crack it open and get a bite, of course. Ciel was disregarded. She set off for Garviel again.]
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[Dakki won't be allowed the luxury of movement as three more Keys rain down from above, forming a cross-shaped pattern with the first and effectively trapping her in the center with a binding spell. With a light hop, Ciel jumps down to land back on ground level.
She takes a step forward to where the undead stood paralyzed.]
Do you honor the fallen, Garviel?
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[ He looks at the paralyzed undead quizzically, before looking back to Ciel. ]
At any rate, why do you ask about this at this time? I intend to give her the Emperor's Mercy, as Aurica requested.
[ He looks back to Dakki, drawing his bolter from the mag-clamps on his legs. ]
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Haaaahh....
H-hungry....!
[The moan that she lets out is terrible.]
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When Terra was still known as Earth, according proper respect to the dead is part of the duty that religion fulfills for the people. Secular as you are - please allow me to take care of this. That body needs not be desecrated any further than it already has been.
[She'll finally stop half a dozen feet away, directly in front of the decaying woman. Raising one empty hand, she will draw a cross in thin air, though white lines will somehow remain visible to the naked eye as she closes her eyes and quietly begins to chant in Latin.
The tone is solemn and soft. Even if it's out in the streets filled with the stench of blood and decay, this would still instill a ceremonious sense of peace to those whose ears it may reach. The prayer in question is a Ten-Count Aria, shortened to Five in accordance to the situation at hand. The farther she got, the brighter the cross that bound Dakki became, until eventually, the body is almost entirely swallowed by light. She won't even feel pain; just a numbing of her remaining senses while everything seems to grow lighter, in terms of weight. And towards the end...]
Kyrie eleison. Amen.
[A final flash and the whole body vanishes in one single instant, turned to ash that's just as quickly blown away by the evening breeze. Finally lowering her hand, she dismisses all 4 Keys in one gesture, turning the blades back to the Bible pages that they were originally created from. Only then do her shoulders slump a little and she turns around. With the lingering afterglows fading fast, there soon won't be a single trace remaining here, of what's just happened mere moments ago.
All that's left now is to hear from Garviel; she's done what she has been asked of.]
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The Emperor knows her name.
[ He looks around, some of the other zombies and drones closing in, and says to Ciel. ]
Well, it would seem I'm good bait. Between the two of us, we will make a clean sweep, no?
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...the light was good. The light made it all stop. It made the hunger go away. It made things clear again, if just for an instant. Her head rolled gently upright, and a look of faint awe came to her face.]
H-holy Light...
[And then it consumed her, and she felt nothing at all.]
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Regardless, this has had its share of emotional strain, but now that this is done with, she should get back and let Aurica know - if she's still awake. If there's anything more that she can do to set the younger girl's heart and mind at ease, she'll try her best.
Though that's planning ahead. As for their immediate situation...
She'll allow a small questioning smile to crack through.]
I don't mind, this will be over quick, but would you really need my help? [He has more than enough skill and means to take care of this on his own, that she knows. But isn't he still conflicted about her ways in general?]
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No. I suppose I would not... but that leads me to question why you interceded on behalf of this one to begin with.
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I would have used my bolter, then burned the corpse as is respectful among the Legiones Astartes. We leave nothing for the scavengers to feast on.
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Hands behind her back, she takes a step backward.]
I need to head back and keep watch. [...] Please take care.
[With lowered eyes and a small nod, she'll hop back onto a nearby lamppost before quickly disappearing into the night, as quickly as she came.]
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