A Meeting of Clans

The night was dark, away from the hives. My clan roars its way across the desert on a motorized convoy, making our way to a gathering. What’s this? The radar is picking up something. The automated spotlights orient themselves, a wrecked Chimera. A great prize, and the scavengers turn their hungry gazes to me. I shake my head. A great prize, under normal circumstances. But we have more important things to worry about.

The vox on my control panel clicks to life and the hellish screech of a Nightlighter fills my ears. Ow. I activate the vox and reply.

“At night, even the faintest light shines.” There is a pause.

“Welcome, clansmen.”

We reached our destination, and the sentry waves at us. I wave in passing. Our convoy follows the dirt road down into a deep hole, once a great sea. Massive skeletons adorn the cliff walls, their sockets watch wherever we go. Creepy. The ramp levels off as we reach the bottom. I approach the driver, and he relinquishes control.

“Fall in.” The other vehicles move into position behind mine, our prize in the back. We crest a hill and my eyes behold a salt flat of vehicles. Clans from across the waste have gathered. We stop the convoy at the mouth of a cave. I disembark, and my clan follows. The guard nods to me as we gather.

“He’ll be happy you made it.” I merely smile. I walk in, my clan close behind, fifty strong.

I lead everyone through the twisting passages, voices can be heard far ahead. Left, right, down, straight. The voices grow louder and louder as we walk. They reach a crescendo as I find the door to the meeting hall. My clan bow their heads in reverence to The Emperor. The voices die. I open the doors.

A cave of immense proportions, holding the scattered clans of the wastes. High atop a rock formation, our leader stands.

“Ahh! The man of the hour! Step up here, old friend!” He yells. I separate from my clan and make my way to the top of the formation.

“Tavin Kelscius! Your efforts have struck a blow against the cursed Emperor’s Nightmare!” He turns to the crowd.

“Word has reached me! Tavin bravely led an ambush on a patrol of the Nightmare’s lackeys, the Icelusian Guard! He slew a score of soldiers and captured valuable weapons for use in our holy war, including a Chimera!” I snorted as cheers rang out. Yes, twenty guardsmen dead, with half again of my clansmen to pay for it. From an ambush on high ground. I shook my head.

“Yes, my friend. I know you dislike praise, but you deserve it!” His voice changed, from cheerful to somber.

“But not everything today is worth celebrating. A reminder of how insidious our enemy is.” He raises his hand, and a pair of guards come forward, dragging a young boy. What could this be about?

The boy is bloodied and beaten, gagged and bound. Our leader drags him forward.

“Just this morning, this precious child was found with this in his quarters!” He reveals a purple flower. No. Not another lost! The crowd gasps.

“I’m sure you all know what this flower means. The false servants of The Emperor use these to tempt our very children to join them in heresy! This poor child has been tainted by them, and so needs purification!”

Our leader steps back, and the guards chain him to the rock. A third man approaches, armed with a flamer. I look away. The whoosh of the flame and the grunts of the gagged boy reach my ears and I cringe. Then, the grunts turn to screams as the gag is burned away. I can’t take this any more. I look at the human torch and walk forward, drawing my pistol. I aim and fire. A beam of red stabs out and impales the boy’s head, he sags forward. I feel a hand on my shoulder. Our leader turns me around. His voice is sad.

“A mercy, for the poor child. May The Emperor save him now.”