Ethina Origin part 5

Mercia looked around the office of the General and felt a slightly uncomfortable feeling. It was very militaristic. Medals and trophies on the wall and lots of weapons. She knew of the man she was to meet, he was a big shot on Scintilla and hence in the Sector. She was there because she had heard rumours among the Adepts that his daughter in-law had been seen with a unmarked Sister of Battle, and the description matched the one she had been given by nobles on Quadis when Gunnar and she had went there to search for Ethina. The only difference was that the Adepts had said she had a powerarmour, which seemed weird, she had not been wearing one on Quadis and Merica knew of no other then Space Marines and Adept Sororitas who wore that. The Sororitas would never have given Ethina one and the thought of Space Marines doing that seemed impossible. Gunner was down in the lower parts of the city, visiting some family.
The door opened and she stiffened when she saw a massive man come in and sit down in front of her, he looked like he could snap her in two with his bare hands.
"What was it you wanted Mother Merica?" he asked and she felt her mouth go dry, she was used to talking to military personal but he was quite something. Intimidating.
"I come in search of a former prodigy of mine, she has been seen with your daughter-in-law," she said and he raised an eyebrow
"My daughter-in-law?"
"Yes.. the sister of your daughters husband?"
"Well shouldn't you talk to Sorkrat Authwhaite? He is her husband.."
"He is off world, sir, and I have understood that your son-in-law and his sister are rather close so..."
"They are I guess, they work together... Rouge traders. What do you want to know?"
"Well.. Have you any idea who this woman I'm seeking is? What she does?" Mercia watched him closely, trying to see if he lied to her. He had lied about the rouge trader part, at least a bit...
"Who is this woman then? They hang around a lot of people.. and I do not keep count of them all,"
"Her name is Ethina..."
"The battle sister? Feisty girl," he interrupted her with some kind of smile on his face "Yes I have met her. A true soldier,"
Merica felt hope bubbling up within her like a warm fountain of joy, someone who had met Ethina! And knew people she knew! This was the break she needed.
"Do you know were she is?! Is she all right?" she could not contain her excitement and he looked her somewhat amused but then he grew serious
"I... She grew up in your schola progenum?"
Merica grew cold, something was wrong. Very wrong. She knew that look, it was a look of condolence.
"Yes..." she whispered and he made an uncomfortable face.
"I think you are a bit too late, they... they have gone on a very dangerous mission. I doubt they will be coming back,"
"What?!" she rose, not in a conscious act but the words he had spoken upset her. What was he talking about? If she was working for rouge traders, why would she not come back!? He just watched, he had no reason to fear her and he knew that.
"I can't tell you more I'm afraid, my son-in-law made the preparations for not returning, so I gathered that what they are doing is so dangerous that they plan not to come back,"
She gave him a grave nod, excused herself and left. Tears build up in her eyes, another suicide mission.
"Miss Merica," he came after her,with a look of shared concern in his eyes, "I can give you the name of the ship my son-in-law owns with his sister and other partners. It is the Crusades' blade. Maybe you can find some information to give you closure,"
"Thank you... I.. really must go now,"
"I understand, Emperor guide your way,"
They both did the Aquilla sign and left in different directions. She felt like she had been hit by a sledgehammer, some part of her had felt hope when she had learned of the sightings with the Adept. Now... No, it started to dwell upon her, even if she repressed the thought. Ethina tried to die, she was just to proud to end it herself. Were could she be? And what kind of mission was this? She went to the Administratum headquarters and researched the ship he had mentioned to her. She frowned upon her discovery, it was indeed a rouge trader marked vessel, a gift from this Authwhaite to Castella Moonshine. Maybe if she could find out more about this Castella she could find more about Ethina too? She started digging through reports and found the newly claimed star system that Castella had claimed together with her brother, a techpriest and there it was, Ethinas name. A star system? A small proud smile came upon Mericas lips, expanding the Empires hold in the galaxy, that was truly a good thing. She also saw a great deal of reports from the Gelmiro System were she found mentions about Ethina, or at least what she thought was Ethina because it was not supposed to be any Adept Sororitas there, together with a chapter of Space Marines. She frowned and rubbed her nasal bone trying to get a grip on what role her prodigy played in the world now a days, her involvement in important and dangerous affairs seemed beyond the mere rouge trader bodyguard she had expected. Then the thought hit her, the Inquisition. They were a part of the Inquisition. That was the lie he had hid behind, the title of rouge traders. A part of her felt immensely proud over Ethinas work if it was the Inquisition, another sent a cold chill down her spine. She slowly chewed her lip and rose from her seat heading down into the hive to find Gunner, she suddenly felt a huge need to ventilate her findings with him. He knew more of the military and how it worked in reality then she. She was after all a Adept, proficient in the way of the bureaucracy and scholarly ways of the Empire. Not the practical world of militarism.

Ethina walked out of the building, leaving the terrified nobles and those acolytes behind her. Her job there was done. She put her hand through her hand in a exhausted gesture, a deamon. She had not expected that. Some cultists and heretics yes but not a deamon. She slowly walked through the streets, the colours were fading again. The adrenaline was pulling back, taking the crispness of the world with it. Her eyes wondered over the people in the streets, this world disgusted her. The filth of humanity resided here, those too rich and powerful to answer to Societys rules. Well no one was too rich or powerful to answer to his rules. They had it coming to them. She walked through the doors to the abandoned house she resided in at the moment and knelt in front of the figurine of the Emperor. She let her tarted robes fall, exposing her scared body to the darkness around her and to him. With a low chant she started the cleanse herself, cracking the whip with a practised flick over her back. She remembered those first times, when all she had felt was the pain. It had been torture, it wasn't the case any more. The flogging helped cleanse her mind from the darkness and made her mind refocus on what she was supposed to do. She felt pure after dealing with unpure people, and it reminded her in trying times that she was not the reason for her life. He was. Her purpose was to protect those unprotected and to punish those who needed punishment. She was his vessel until such a time he released her through death or rose from his golden throne to reclaim the galaxy and save them all. She felt the calm fill her body and soul as she laid down the whip and prayed. His certainty filled her and cleared her from dubious doubt and thoughts. She finished up her ritual and cleansed the altar thoroughly before taking a deep breath and washing of most of the battledebris before putting on the robes again. She leaned out of the window of her occupied residence turning her eyes to the stars. It had been so strange to work with a group. Their camaraderie had made an impression on her, and reminded her of what she missed. It felt like an eternity since she had last fought together with anybody like that. A close-knit group that had endured many horrors together. She pulled up her boltpistol and stroke it with a whirlwind of emotions stirring inside of her. Grief and longing for her sister, determination of her cause, proudness for her achievements. Thankfulness towards the psyker Karl who had put the bolter in her bag that dreadful day she had left the Sororitas. She let her fingers stroke every scratch and dent over the pistol remembering the fights it had followed her through, she could remember every single one of them. It was her closest friend now, the one thing that stuck by and had been with her through thick and thin. That pistol and the Emperor. A soft smile found its way upon her face, she trusted his plan. Whatever he had in store for her, she knew she would accept it and follow through. She needed no one else, but sometimes during nights like this she wished for company. Someone to share it all with. With a slight sigh she turned from the window and pulled up her datapad from her bag, it was time for her entry. She had to document what had happened, she always did. She had a thought of that it both reminded her of her cause and kept it easier for her to stay on track, and if she fell someone would find it and maybe learn from her experiences. A small part of her also hoped it would show the world the good she had done, so someone would remember her as more then a traitor.