The Aquila and the Rising Sun--The Imperium of Man Comes to Gensokyo

—Before Martin's eyes, a vision appears. It is of a place he has never been in person, but recognizes nonetheless from the sacred text - the city of Bhava-Agra, the Celestial capital. But the city shows plain the signs of war - half-destroyed buildings are all around, and the sounds of bolter fire echo through the empty alleys. And there are screams, screams of men... and of other things... and then the vision is gone—

Arcturus smiles at at the approaching vampire, and returns the salute, expression growing a little more official.

"Hello, Remilia. And thank you for coming out here to welcome us. As you can see, we're all still alive. The mission was a success, fortunately. Even dragged another poor soul into our business."

He inclines his head towards the reeling guardsman, before giving a wry half-grin, dispensing with the formal tone entirely.

"So, as usual, we've come back here to bother you guys a little bit, maybe even prod at you enough for you to agree to coming with us on our next job. Pick up a few supplies while we're at it. How've you been this last month? And where's Flandre?"

edited 3rd Jan '11 2:46:30 PM by l3wt

—Martin gasps, looking about himself. —

A vision?!

{Hoping not to get pulled back by his commanding Bone'ead, Trogg follows, looking at Gensokyo's landscape, Sakuya, and Remilia with a look of manchildish glee on his face.}

edited 3rd Jan '11 2:57:44 PM by Daionusthe23rd

My sister is inside. She wasn't very keen on going out in the sun. Indeed, it has been keeping both of us inside the last week. I will tell you everything once we are inside.

Her eyes landed on Drake.

So, you're the new man? What is your name, soldier?

...a vision...? No. Memories.

—The Marine fixed his wide-eyed gaze on the armour, backing up towards the table bearing his chainsword. —

What IS this?!

Saint Zelenin Arkangelsk—more commonly known simply as Zee to her friends and loved ones—stepped out of the Lysander's passenger bay, took a hearty draught of the clean air, and sighed contentedly. The Living Saint stood just within the shade of the shuttle's egress hatch, leaving her perfectly visible but allowing her to stay out of the sunlight; no sense in having to greet her old friends with a grimace of discomfort.

There's no place quite like home, is there? she thought with a beautiful smile, her arms crossed over the crimson armour of the adepta sororitas she wore; it was the very same suit she had donned for the final battle of the Gensokyoan Crusade, concluded more than a century and a half ago, and although it had been sundered during her confrontation with the Doom of Malan'tai she had painstakingly restored it over a span of several years, honouring the very equipment which had been partially responsible for saving her life that day.

Though a hundred and fifty years had passed since that day, and Zee herself was drawing close to her nineteenth decade of life, the Living Saint hadn't aged a day in that time; she was still as beautiful now as she was when she was young, despite never having undergone juvenat treatment. This, of course, could be chalked up to her nature as both a Living Saint and a vampire, offering her an extended lifespan along with her incredible power. It was one of many things that had been weighing on her of late, alas; unconsciously she glanced in her husband's direction, and a faint tinge of sadness came momentarily to her crimson eyes...

Her melancholy mood quickly vanished, thankfully, when a pair of familiar faces came out of the mansion to greet them. Zee's smile widened in genuine happiness as her gaze fell on Remilia Scarlet, and she felt herself swell faintly with pride at the elegant young woman her mistress had matured into over the years.

"It's good to see you again," Zee said, stepping out of the shadows to stand by her husband. One of the Living Saint's splendid wings lifted up slightly, shading its owner from the harsh rays of the sun. "Both of you. How have you been since I saw you last, mistress?"

This is... no, I am... remembering who I am. Being born.

—The suit of armor begins to move on its own, stepping out of its case—

I am sorry that I have caused you distress, Brother. By your reaction, I must be the first of my kind. Fear not, for it is not the power of Chaos which has done this, but your faith in the Emperor.

edited 3rd Jan '11 5:51:51 PM by Zudak

— Brother Martin snatched up his sword from the table, activating it with a growl. —

LIES!

—The armor's heavy gauntlets reach up, removing the helmet. Under it is the face of a young woman, about Martin's age. Her brown hair is cut boyishly short, and her grey eyes are the exact same color as the armor she wears. She is beautiful, in a way, but it's plain, unassuming beauty, a far cry from the breathtaking, inhuman beauty a servant of Slaneesh would be given.—

Brother, you know what the sacred texts say of this world. You have read about the beings called tsukumogami, haven't you?

— Brother Martin is momentarily struck both by dumbness and thunder. Roars of heresy compete with strident shouts of reasoning within his head. —

I... Yu-o-kai?

—The words had a distinctly un-Gothic taste to them.—

Yes, I'm a youkai. The tsukumogami born from this suit of armor after a hundred years on Gensokyo.

—Brother Martin switched the chainsword off, staring at the creature before him. Hesitantly, he moved towards her, peering into the collar of the armour to see if this entity was more than just a head. —

—She doesn't move, tolerating Martin's curiosity—

Have you never laid eyes on a woman before, monk?

edited 3rd Jan '11 11:01:09 PM by Zudak

—Despite the shock, Martin arches an eyebrow. —

I know human anatomy of both genders, thoroughly. Daemons have been known to project limbs from empty armour. I wanted to see if this was the case for your kind.

Ah, I see. Understandable. Very much so, in this case. Allow me to apologize again for frightening you.

— Martin nodded slightly, still very much rattled. —

Accepted. The Captain will need to know about this.

Yes, Brother. We should see him as soon as possible.

— The Space Marine was about to turn and move out, when a snag hit him. —

Can you move out side of the armour?

I...

—She looks thoughtful for a second, then removes the armor's left gauntlet—

This... feels very unpleasant. This armor is part of me. Or rather, it is me. I do not think it would be wise to remove it.

— Brother Martin huffs a sigh, then makes his way to his dress cabinet; he quickly changes into a grey bodysuit, shelving the tunic.—

My helmet, at least, I can carry, yes? Then let's get moving.

—She hands him the helmet—

Please be careful. That is my head you are holding.

— The Marine blinks, the wheels almost visibly spinning behind his eyes, and then takes the helm in the crook of his arm, opening the door to the cell, and marching onward from there. —

—The woman falls into step behind him, looking straight ahead, completely ignoring the strange looks she receives from the other Marines they pass on the way—