Helios, Spike, Pinkie, and The Ancient had managed to escape the Exterminatus in time, though now they were somewhere possibly worse than a burned planet.
"The Teleportarium has taken us to the Space Hulk; the Harbinger of Damnation." said Spike.
"Not the safest place in the subsector, but we have our lives." said Pinkie. She looked to Helios. "What is our next move?"
Helios did not look to Pinkie. "We hold position." He said, his voice stripped of any emotion or tone.
Pinkie felt something like a string snap, and her face grew angry. "Philosophies! What did you say?"
Helios turned to the Scout Sergeant. "You heard me. We hold position." His voice was still toneless, but his expression said he was overcome with despair as he turned and looked away again. "I am tired of this hopeless charade. In the end we are nothing but heretics, nay, less than that, pawns of heretics. Puppets. Every century served, every battle in the Empress's name..." He slightly shook his head, and his toneless voice grew frustrated with anger, "All of it ordered by a heretic! All our glories lies!"
He closed his eyes and lowered his head as he took everything in. For countless years, he served a traitor. Everything he did was in vain. He felt nothing like a loyal servant, and everything like a slave to Discord. He felt he had no honor left in him. He felt his life was worthless, pointless, and pathetic.
"There is nothing left to say." Helios said softly.
"No... There is much left to say. And I will break my silence to say it." The Ancient said as she walked closer to Helios.
The Captain recognized that drawled voice. "Sergeant Applejack?!" He whispered in surprise.
The Pony Marine took her white helmet off, and sure enough, it was the veteran Applejack. "There was another like you, Philosophies, and we served together on Cronus." She said, referring to the long deceased Hoovitus. "During the Paranid invasion, we became fast friends. But Traytus called for him, and he went. It corrupted him, and he despaired, betraying us to the Dark Legion. I slew him..." She recalled that fateful day, remembering Hoovitus's dying words, but she focused back on Helios. "Cap'n Philosophies... I look to you now, and see the same signs..." She pointed her Plasma Pistol at Helios as she continued. "I will not risk that. I will slay Traytus myself, and if I must, you as well. Our past glories may be lies, but Traytus has not taken our one true duty from us. No one but the Empress can relieve us of that."
"Applejack..." Helios took in what she said, and then made his true decision. "Let us go. We must escape this place."
"Past records of expeditions to this vessel have reported a Teleportarium relay present." said Spike. "If we reach it, we can escape."