Arkhans Story Part 6

Arkhans world was dark and he felt like he was drifting. Where was the emperors light? Is this it.... The afterlife. He realised his eyes were closed. He tried to open them but his body felt so tired. He eventually did a light overwhelmed his vision. Everything was blurry but he could make out shapes moving. His hearing was also distorted but he started to pick voices out. Maybe he wasn't dead. His eyes were to tired he decided to settle on hearing for now. He closed his eyes and willed his ears to hear. As he lay there he started to hear much better. Sounded like he was in a hospital, he could hear medical staff and other patients. What had happened.... Oh yeah the massive orc. His shoulder and arm! His left side felt numb and cold. Well that can't be good. Sleep over took him as he listened to his surroundings.

"Arkhan lad wake up" a voice said, "Come on you sleep like a grox I swear and snore like one to"
Arkhan peeled open his eyes   his vision was much clearer now. He was in a room surrounded by a white curtain. Obviously a busy room outside of the curtain as he could lots of voices. "Finally he's awoken" the voice said again. Arkhan turned his head and there was Dax sat in a chair next to him. He tried to stand up but his world started to spin and he lay back down. "Woah slowly mate you have been out for a while" Dax said a look of concern across his face. "I thought you were dead Dax?" Arkhan managed to say, the shock and relief of seeing Dax was almost to much. "I very nearly was until some feth head dragged me across a battlefield and got me out of the orcs firing line. Though left me arm there it seems" Dax turned his body and Arkhan could see his one arm was missing. "Oh no Dax! I'm sorry" Arkhan said. Arkhan remembered his arm. His eyes flicked down to his left arm. Dax scratched his head "You my friend got a new replacement arm" Arkhan looked down and saw his right shoulder and entire arm had been replaced by a cybernetic arm. It felt wierd, it didn't feel different at all though now he thought about it his left side had less feeling in. He tried to move his arm and it moves like normal. "No cybernetic implants in the under hive?" Dax asked amused at Arkhans bemused face. Arkhan thought back to the few hangers he had come across with cybernetic implants but they were rough and often broke. "Not really can you imagine paying someone in the underhive to do this to you? Not the most sanitary place if you know what I mean" Arkhan smilied. Dax laughed "Well my friend the Imperium paid for yours!" Arkhan again looked where Daxs arm used to be. "What about you Dax why didn't you get a new arm" Dax took a breath in, "Well son they said I'm to old for a replacement unless I want to pay for one. My fighting days are over. Don't you worry you haven't got rid of old Dax though." Arkhan was saddened hearing Dax but also a bit confused, "What do you mean not getting rid of you? I'm very confused Dax, can we start again from when you got shot I think. I have definatly missed out on some info". Arkhan laid back against the pilows  on his bed. Dax stood up, "Right let me get some caffeine and I'll tell you a tale." Dax walked off through the curtains. Arkhan relaxed back into his pillows, he stared at his new arm and marveled at the tech needed to do this. He had seen a few augmented limbs in the undergone but they were not pretty. The arm moved effortlessly with his thoughts and seemed to respond to every little twinge. The only difference was a slightly duller feeling like he had slept on that arm for a long time. Arkhan guessed he would get used to that feeling. Dax walked back through the curtains with 2 steaming cups of caffeine. He put one next to Arkhans bed and sat back in the chair. "Right so we were starting at my glorious wounding for the emperor yes?" Arkhan nodded. "Well you dragged me through a storm of ork fire and refused to leave me like some people were telling you to. Bloody Silus! He survived, countless died hut he survived. Anyway then this massive ork appeared seemed to be the boss. Captain Vanden stepped in to cover us but was shot. This angered you it seems so you grabbed the captains chainsword and challenged the ork to single combat  " Arkhan was taken aback," I challenged an ork to single combat ? "
" Yes we were all quite surprised as well. Needless to say it didn't end well for you. Though you stuck a dagger in his eye after he lopped off your arm ! He did not like that at all" All that seemed vaguely familiar to Arkhan. "Then what? I can remember vaguely the ork about to kill me but after that nothing"
Dax smiled "That's where the story gets interesting. We were all ready to meet to emperor, me Shem and Kahla. When the Orks face exploded and chaos erupted. In charged the emperors angels themselves!! Astartes on our world can you believe it! Giants in green armour and weapons that just spat death. The Orks were soon running or dead. You see while we were fighting our own little war on that little hill bigger things were transpiring. Rather good fortune for us an imperial guard force and an astartes Salamander chapter strike Cruiser were passing nearby and diverted to help. The Orks for now are on the run, still causing Chaos but not by the main hives. "
" Astartes? I've seen holo vids of them but never thought they were real! And they rescued us? “ Arkhan was aghast. Dax leaned back in his chair "Well I'm not sure about rescuing us more like taking a high point for an advantage over the enemy but I'm alive because of it  so I don't mind. I'll tell you this, one of the Astartes, a Sgt I think came over to check on you personally. Said something about seeing you fighting the ork boss. " Arkhans was amazed. Astartes existed! One had noticed him! Even if for a brief moment. He wished he had got to see them fight. If the holo vids he had seen were even remotely true it would have been a sight. The curtains surrounding his bed were pulled back revealing to Arkhan the ward for the first time. It was filled with around 10 beds. Most were filled with men, some had people by them others were alone. Heads started to rise as the doors opened. Arkhan looked towards the entrance, a man in imperial guard uniform walked in followed by 2 soldiers. Arkhan guessed he was an officer like Captain Vanden. The officer spoke to one of the medical staff behind a desk and they pointed at Arkhan. "Ooo smarten up Arkhan lad we got officer company." Dax said standing up, Arkhan wasn't sure what to do so tried to sit more upright in his bed. The officer walked over, Dax saluted. The officer returned the salute and stared at Arkhan. "Trooper Arkhan Blaide?" he said, his voice clear and precise. "Yes......... Yes sir. Sorry sir I've only been in the army a few days" Arkhan felt like an idiot, the officer snorted and pulled off his cap. "What a few days too Arkhan. Epic last stand and taking on a ork war boss single handedly. Yes you have made quite an impression. Here I was a humble logistics officer getting a message to supply a random unknown trooper with some of the best augments the Guard can provide from an Astartes no less!  Then a few hours later a message from a Captain in the Panthos Rangers asking for you to join his unit. So you have been quite popular considering we are in the middle of a war. I had to meet you in person"
"Thank..... you..... Sir. I was just trying to not die." the officer smiled. "Aren't we all Arkhan aren't we all. Well I'll be leaving. Your new commanding officer is on his way so I expect you to be off fighting the emperors enemies very soon" with that the officer stood up and saluted. Arkhan and Dax returned the salute and the officer swept out of the ward. "Well that was something wasn't it" Dax said collapsing in his chair. "Yep guess I need to get used to being in the Guard now?.... Still beats the underhive" Arkhan said. "Well let's hope so the galaxy is a scary place but keep your faith in the emperor and hold fast" Dax looked super serious when he said those words. Arkhan was nervous but any life was better than dying in the cold dark of the under hive. Emperors throne he could die in the next battle.... Still better than the underhive and he would get to see some different sights at least. "Dax, what's guard life like?" Arkhan asked, "Well it ain't easy Arkhan. Let me tell you that, it's dangerous" Dax moved close and whispered "Not just from the enemy" he lent back again. "But you make good friends and its a lot better than wasting your life away in some factorium" Arkhan nodded happy that what Dax said sort of matched up with what he thought. "So the Panthos Rangers are after you?"

"Never heard of them and don't know why they would want me? “ Arkhan replied." Well son the Rangers are our finest regiment. Not the run of the mill line regiment. And very selective who joins their ranks. So you got noticed it looks like" Dax replied. The doors clattered open again as another patient was wheeled in. The soldier was missing a leg but mercifully seemed to be sedated. Dax stood up, "I'm gonna go over and see if I can help that poor fellow. You are doing fine here." No worries. Thank you for staying by my side " Arkhan replied. Dax had been a good friend and only the second person he could count in. The first his old gang leader Razor who had been took away by the Arbites. Dax put his hand on Arkhans shoulder and walked over to the sedated soldier. Arkhan laid back and tried to rest.  After a short nap the doors banging open woke Arkhan up with a start. He had no idea how long he had been out. A soldier dressed in green camouflage with armour and a Las gun stepped across his back   was holding the door open. After a brief moment another soldier walked in, tall and broad shouldered, power sword strapped to his belt and a plasma pistol  in a holster on his right leg. He walked straight to the desk and spoke to the staff again they pointed to Arkhan. He was starting to feel a little uncomfortable with all this attention. The soldier pulled off his helmet, turned and walked towards Arkhans bed. Arkhan recognised now he was an officer of some sort but also his face...... No it couldn't be? The soldier walking towards Arkhan looked an awful lot like someone from a life he thought he had left behind.  The soldier who held the door followed and stood slightly further back from Arkhans bed. While the officer stood next to the bed "Well well well Arkhan Blaide. I knew if anyone got out of the underhive it would be you. You were destined for something better than that Gak hole." the voice!! And the face it couldn't possibly be? Arkhan nervously asked "Razor?" the officer smiled wryly and sat down. "Now there's a name I haven't heard in a long time" the soldier stood at the end of the bed turned his head slightly clearly intrigued and  listening. "Brings back some memories that name. Some good mostly bad"  Arkhan found himself nodding in agreement. "but the arbiters took you away. We thought for sure you were dead" Razor nodded "So did I Arkhan, so did I. I got dragged before a magistrate who used to be a Guardsmen. He decided instead of an imperium bullet it would be a Xenos bullet that would kill me that way I would do some good. Thankfully no penal battalion just regular guard. This gave me the chance to prove myself properly. I managed to get noticed during one particular battle by a Ranger "  the soldier at the end of the bed muttered" and I've been paying for it ever since " Razor ignored the soldier with a smile." and here I am a captain with my own company. We were sat in our transports flying to another battle all excited at the prospect of flying past the home planet and then we hear about the Orks. Xenos  scum. We dropped behind the Salamanders and helped secure this little Fort on a hill and I start hearing stories of a soldier challenging an ork war boss to one on one combat. I thought that sounds like the kind of soldier the rangers need. Can you imagine my shock when I hear the soldiers name? Whispers of Arkhan Blaide everywhere " Arkhan rolled his eyes." I didn't really think about what I was doing I just got mad when he shot the captain and laughed" Razor nodded "You keep that love for captains Arkhan." Razor laughed at his own joke while the soldier at the end of the bed rolled his eyes. "Right let's get down serious business. I want you in my company. Your in the guard now son so its either with me or another regiment. I knew your worth before the ork invasion now you proven it on a grander scale. I can't promise you an easy life hell I can't promise you a long life but the Rangers are the best Panthos has to offer." Arkhan was taken aback by it all everything was happening quite quickly. He knew he was going with Razor though he wasn't sure he was worthy of the planets best regiment but he would try to be. This new zeal shocked Arkhan who being from underhive had grew up unbelievably cynical but being out of the hive and meeting Dax had opened his eyes. The emperor needed soldiers and Arkhans main skill set was fighting. "I'm with you Razor. To the end." Arkhan stopped and hesitated Razor noticed "What is it son?"  Arkhan gulped and looked over at Dax who was adjusting the blankets for the sedated soldier  "That soldier is Dax is there anything you can do I know he's got one arm but he kept me alive through all this he's an experienced PDF. He would be useful?" Razor turned and looked at Dax who noticed that he was being watched.  "hmm a one armed soldier. For sure he can't be a ranger but I'm sure we can find him something in logistics. Right you have a day or so left here then you join the Rangers. Report to this building in 48 hours." the soldier at the end of the bed handed Razor a paper which Razor handed Arkhan." You'll get kit when you reach this building so don't worry about and probably say bye to Panthos I doubt you will see her again. " that hit Arkhan even though realistically he'd been an under hiver so wasn't really attached to his planet more just trying to survive. Razor stood up to leave " Oh and its Captain Jaman from now on. I left Razor behind with the Arbites. " Captain Jaman stood up, "Yes sir." Arkhan saluted and Captain Jaman returned the salute and put out his hand. Arkhan shook it "Damn good to see Arkhan. Damn good" with that he was gone and Arkhan was left dumb struck. Dax came over "Was that someone from the Rangers Arkhan?" Arkhan nodded "Yes a Captain Jaman and you won't believe this Dax......... I can't believe it myself" Dax looked confused "What is it Arkhan?" he asked. "That officer was my old gang leader. He got carried off by the Arbites and I thought he was dead. There he was a Captain in the Panthos Rangers!" even saying the words sounded odd. "What? That's crazy how does that even work. I guess you off with the Rangers then?" Dax replied. Arkhan leaned forward "It's a long story invoking a lot of luck on his part. You are coming with us if you want? You can't be a ranger but he said he could find you a job with the regiment." Dax looked shocked. "He said that?" Arkhan nodded "Well I asked him if you could tag along" "Arkhan, that's amazing. I've nothing left here it has to be said and all the PDF will be doing for years is hunting Orks. Let's go see the universe then. I mean you'll see the dangerous end I'll be safe in a ship hopefully" Dax laughed as he said that. Arkhan couldn't help but laugh as well. "we have to report here in 48 hours" he showed the paper to Dax. He read it "I know this place. Well things are about to get interesting"