//------------------------------// // // PROCESSING // // Story: A Noble Death // by LSTS Connor //------------------------------// The halls of Vendratis, a sacred place among the Hives of old. It was where the first traitor Vendratis redeemed himself by saving the Empress in Red at the cost of his own life. It was the only place considered to be sacred ground during the civil war, where no changeling blood was ever to be split. It was here where the final surrender was ratified and the war came to an end when the last Venator Xarix gave his life to save both sides from a sudden dragon attack. It is an ancient position. One that has been held by many a traitor for hundreds of years. Its mission was simple: To uphold the Swarms Code, no matter the cost. The position was equally respected as it was feared, honorable yet shameful. A Venators duty only ends in death. Such was the main thought that went through Mobius’s head as he was brought before the blood-red doors of the Halls. The upside-down heart, the symbol of the Venator, was emblazoned all across the large pair of doors as the names of previous Venators were imprinted on each and every heart with the details of their death described beneath them. His gaze jumping from heart to heart he managed to find the heart of Xarix. He had met the Venator several times before during the war. He was… quiet to say the least. He only spoke when required to and only if what he said was substantial enough to be useful to him and his fellow Kommandants. Mobius himself didn't know all the details when it came to why he was made Venator as he was away at the northern front.  From what he could discover though Xarix had been hoarding his love rations for his own personal stash, breaking the 3rd Tennant of the Swarms Code. He used to be a member of her majesty's praetorians, earning him the opportunity to become a Venator to pay for his crimes. He was a terror on the battlefield whenever Mobius caught a glimpse of him during the war. He threw himself at the enemy’s lines, with no regard for his own life. He was the Venator and nothing would prevent him from completing his penance to the Swarm. And now… now it would be Mobius to carry the mantle for as long as he lived. The door to the halls crept open allowing the trio inside its sacred walls. The walls were a bloody red as statues of the Empress stuck out above them. Adorning the blood red walls were several ancient and bloodied weapons put on display as a painting of a battlefield stood above it. The weapon on the wall taking a prominent role in the artworks above it. A large golden upside-down heart stood in the center of the room, the silhouette of an armor stand visible before it. To its right stood the caretaker of the halls, the red glow emanating from their eyes boring into Mobius’s soul as they watched the newest Venator approach. Queen Chrysalis soon entered from Mobius’s left as she took up position next to the ancient armor sitting before Mobius. Its color was an abyssal black, dark green splotches adorned its surface as a single red one was visible upon the armor's helmet. The Queen looked towards the caretaker and nodded. Then she looked towards the praetorians flanking Mobius and motioned for them to leave. They did so reluctantly with the pair bowing and leaving without another word. Meanwhile, Mobius’s eyes were watching the caretaker of the halls move behind the large heart and re-emerged with a dagger in one hand and a tome in the other.  “Kommandant Mobius of the Xeraxis Hive.” Spoke the Queen drawing his attention away from the caretaker. “You have been granted the opportunity to find redemption in service to the Red Empress as her Venator.” She moved to the side, allowing the caretaker to step forward before the Queen spoke once again. “Now you must choose. Take the tome and die now as a traitor to the Empress. Or take the blade and seek redemption as her next Venator. Mobius of the Xeraxis Hive, make your choice now.” Mobius’s gaze flipped from his Queen to the Caretaker and then the objects they held. His mind was a whirlwind as he looked at the objects before him. Before suddenly a serene calmness overtook him as something powerful grazed against his mind. His vision began to tint slightly red around the edges when he looked towards the dagger. ‘Take it’ His mind heard from the dagger before him. ‘Become the instrument of my will’ His Empress whispered in his ear. Its power was strong, its emotions serene, its will impossible to comprehend. He couldn’t think, he couldn’t speak! But now he knows what he must do. He grabbed the dagger as the redness faded and the presence receded. “What must I do?” Asked the Venator towards his Queen. “ Spill your blood against the Armor and repeat after me to complete the ritual.” Answered Chrysalis, moving to the opposite side of the armor stand. Mobius nodded resolutely as he raised his front hooves above the armor and deftly cut his empty hoof, spilling his green blood upon the armor below. “I Mobius of the Xeraxis Hive do solemnly swear.” Began the Queen with Mobius swiftly repeating. “To pledge my life to the Empress as penance for my crimes.” Continued the Queen, Mobius repeating as the armor below him began to glow slightly. “I shall become her next Venator and enact her will until death redeems me from Damnation.” The Armor began to shake slightly as Mobius repeated his Queen's words. “I am now no longer Kommandant Mobius of the Xeraxis Hive. I shall now be known as Venator Mobius of the Red Empress.” At the bleeding changeling utterance of the final verse, the armor below him suddenly sprang up towards its new Venator. The military dress uniform was thrown aside as the armor found its new home. It crawled along Mobius’s Carapace as its shell fastened itself against his Kitin. A strong burning sensation instantly erupted all across Mobius’s chitin causing him to drop to the floor, yelling in pain as the armor finished its work. Its seemingly living metal burned into his chitin, fastening it permanently against his body. The changeling panted in exhaustion as he shakily stood back up onto his holed hooves, a slight billowing of smoke rose from the edges of the armor as the last of its body burned itself into his chitin. His hearts were racing as he began to look over his newly armored body. Most of his previously exposed carapace was now covered by the armor with his wings visible being given two small slits to hang out of. His hooves had suffered the same fate as very little of his hooves were now exposed to the outside world. Mobius could even feel the metal within the holes that covered his hooves. Finally, there came his chest that was also covered. However, just below his neck was a large area of exposed Chitin shaped in the form of an upside-down heart. His head was also covered by the armor whilst his face was free of the living metal covering the rest of his skin. “Rise Venator Mobius. Until the day the Empress comes for you, that armor shall remain affixed to you. Removal is impossible, but it will serve you well as it has many a Venator before you.” The Queen looked to the side, grabbing a sword and shield that appeared to be made of the same material as the armor. “ You are the Empress's sword as you are the Swarm's shield.” Finished the Queen, handing the weapons to Mobius. He grabbed them carefully as they were suddenly connected to his armor and moved across his body to be sheathed against his wings. Mobius watched as his weapons moved to their own across his body before he looked back towards his Queen, a red fire behind his eyes. “What would you have your Venator do, my Queen?” And a predatory smile overtook her face. “I believe some of my children need to be avenged. Don’t you think so too, my Venator?”