text: You grab a tree with your mind, lifting it through the air, as gunfire erupts from your companions. Even the powerful bolter fails to break through its thick, rock-like exterior. You swing the tree with incredible strength, smashing into the creature and sending splinters around the place. The creature doesn't even step back, instead charging ahead towards you. You float to the side, as Hayes quickly arrives, raising his rifle and firing. As expected, the las beam has no effect.
  
  "Ha! It's good to be killing again!" Castus yells.
  
  "Fuck, we're not getting through this. Maybe we up the armament?" Fay says.
  
  "Go for the eyes and the inside of the mouth!" Hayes yells, firing his gun.
  
  Well, that didn't work. Time for something else.
  
  > ram a tree trunk down the beast's throat
  You levitate a tree trunk into the air, flinging it forward. It flies through the air and smashes into the beast's open throat, as the beast stumbles backwards as you drive the tree further down its throat. The beast tries to howl, but only ends up choking. You quickly levitate back as the beast stumbles around, before it finally collapses on the ground.
  
  > stand above the vanquished beast
  You quickly levitate over the beast, dropping onto it's head, gently pressing your boot against its head and smiling.
  
  "Karth one, nature zero," you say.
  
  "Barely counts as hunting with those powers," Hayes says, jabbing his bayonet into the monster's thick skin, as it simply scrapes along the hide. "Fuck me, this is thick. Could probably survive a Baneblade cannon."
  
  "How long before we have to return?"
  
  "About an hour," Fay says, drawing a knife and tapping it against the beast's hide.
  
  Now that you have some free time, you might be able to solve this whole romance issue, see where that goes.
  
  > spend some time with Fay
  "Hey, Fay. Ooh, that rhymes," you say, walking up to the Azajaja Tribal.
  
  "What's up?" she asks.
  
  "Come on, let's spend some time together."
  
  "I can't. I've already arranged to spend some time with Castus, then Hayes."
  
  "Oh," you say, disappointed, as Fay laughs.
  
  "I'm kidding, witch boy. I'll always have time for you."
  
  "Aw, romantic," you smile.
  
  "Oh, not for the romance. Only because the sex is good. Must by your psychic powers. Now, come on, let's go do something fun," she says.
  
  Fay begins walking off into the trees, as you follow behind her eagerly.
  
  "So... we're dating," you say.
  
  "Correct," Fay replies.
  
  "Well then," you say, floating forward.
  
  You both continue moving forward through the trees , as you take a deep breath. The voices chatter in the back of your mind, although they seem bored and disinterested. They'll probably come back soon enough, but for now you're content with their silence. You float on, both silent.
  
  "How many people were there back home?" Fay asks, breaking the silence.
  
  "What do you mean?"
  
  "How many people were there in all the tribes?"
  
  "Uh... ten thousand, twenty thousand maybe," you reply. "Why?"
  
  "Think about it. Our entire world was twenty thousand people. My dreams as a kid involved leading a group of a thousand warriors to purge out a bunch of Greenskins. With the forces we have now, we'd be able to wipe out the tribes a billion times over."
  
  "Yeah. We're doing well," you reply, looking up at the sky, with the sun slowly setting in the distance. "How far do you think we are from home?"
  
  "I don't know. A million miles. A billion. Hell, a trillion. Hard to imagine."
  
  "You come across the river and step forward, levitating over the stream, stopping on the other side.
  
  "Lucky psychic bastard," Fay bumbles, sitting down to pull off her boots. "I don't want to get my boots water-logged. I'll throw 'em over, OK?"
  
  You nod, as Fay throws her boots across, both of which land on the shore next to you.
  
  "Uh... maybe you should throw over the rest of your clothes. So they don't get wet," you say.
  
  "Why the fuck are we even crossing this river?" Fay says.
  
  "See what's on the other side," you say.
  
  Fay sighs, pulling off her coat and bundling it up. She tosses it over, and you catch it, as she begins to unbutton her shirt. She looks up at you expectantly.
  
  "Are you going to look away?" she asks.
  
  "I wasn't planning to," you say.
  
  Fay gives you the finger, buttoning her shirt up again.
  
  "Fine, I'll stay dressed," she says.
  
  Fay steps back, before running forward and diving. You raise your hands, as instead of splashing into the water she instead levitates in the air, floating across the river. You release her back on the grassy blanks, where she lands softly on her back.
  
  "There you go," you say helpfully.
  
  "Why didn't you start with that?" Fay asks.
  
  "I was hoping you'd fully undress," you admit.
  
  Fay laughs, grabbing one of her boots and pelting you in the head. You stumble backwards with a groan, before Fay knocks your legs away, knocking you into the water.
  
  You quickly surface, floating out of the water, coughing out water.
  
  "Are you OK?" Fay asks, looking worried.
  
  "I'm soaking!" you complain, as Fay bursts into laughter.
  
  "Sorry, sorry! It's just pretty funny."
  
  You flick your wrists, sending Fay tumbling into the water. She swims to the top again, spitting out water, as you lower yourself back into the water.
  
  "OK, I deserved that," Fay says.
  
  You flick your wrists, tossing Fay's boots into the water.
  
  "You're a bad person," Fay says, diving underwater and surfacing with her boots, and tossing them back onto the shore.
  
  You swim to the shore, climbing back onto the short as Fay follows. You lie on the grass, feeling the sun on your skin, as you pull off your soaking robes. Fay unbuttons her shirt, laying it out in the sun to dry, revealing her bra. You attempt not to stare, but you obviously stare. She pulls down her trousers and lays down next to you.
  
  "It's nice to get off the ship," you say.
  
  Fay leans over, resting her head on your bare chest, looking up at you.
  
  "So..." she says.
  
  Fay moves forward, kissing you passionately. She wraps her arms around your shoulders as you quickly find your hands going directly where you'd expect to them. You close your eyes, and everything feels alright for once in this shitty galaxy.
  
  > An Hour Later...
  You lie, naked and covered in sweat and... other bodily fluids. You look up at the sky, now golden with the falling sun.
  
  "Karth! Fay!" Olive yells. "We need to go!"
  
  You curse, grabbing your robes which you drape over your frame as Olive hears you and jogs over.
  
  "Hey, guys, we.... Oh. Ooh. So this is happening."
  
  "Piss off, Olive!" Fay says, scampering under her clothes.
  
  "Yeah... you guys need to go to the ship. We're leaving soon," Olive says, her glance flickering between both your and Olive's genitals.
  
  "Olive!" you shout.
  
  "Sorry, fine, fine," Olive says. "I'll go!"
  
  Olive quickly heads away, leaving you and Fay lying on the ground.
  
  "Alright, let's bounce," you say, as you adjust your robes.
  
  Fay quickly dresses in her clothes, before standing and pulling you up.
  
  "Well, that was fun," you say.
  
  "Yeah, it was. But, back to work as always. Ready to conquer a galaxy?"
  
  "Damn right," you reply.
  
  > Hours Later...
  The dropship enters the landing bay, as you lean back against then wall. Gone is the scent of trees, the tweeting of birds, the delightful senses of the forest replaced with the smell of Promethium and grease, the noise of distant orders echoing off the hallway walls and the gentle hum of the machines that keep the ship going. Still, when you let your senses flood with the sounds and smells of the ship, you're reminded of the smell of tanned Puk leather, oil lanterns and wild flowers of home, and the constant chattering of Tribals outside your tent. If anything, you feel more at home on this ship than you ever did there.
  
  As you step off the dropship, you smile and walk on.
  
  > Continue
  "The change and mutation of the human form is natural. Your body is a tool. Forge flesh."
  
  "Pestilence. Plague. Rot. It's natural. The conditions that cause these mutants to come about seem terrible, but to give up on caring for the appearance of your temporary vessel is liberating..."
  
  "The sensations you can feel..."
  
  "Just shut up!" you say loudly, as John the Hermit, Primus' figurehead and Olive stare at you.
  
  "Not... It's the... fuck!" you complain.
  
  "FUCK! PURGE! OBLITERATE! I'M THE FUCKING DEATH OF WORLDS, DO YOU HEAR ME?! OBEY ME!" Smiley screams in the confines of your skull.
  
  "Uh... alrighty then. Do you want to take a break, or...?" Olive says.
  
  "Continue," you snarl.
  
  John the Hermit nods, and continues to read from his notes.
  
  "Genes have remained stable and unmoving as the steel the ship is carved from for the Bestial-12ABQ1 strain of mutant, so they'll be transferred to serve the great powers of the ship by working with waste recycling, by turning the old to th..."
  
  "Can you trust the mutants? Their mind is as shifted in loyalties as their form. They betrayed Kyros with ease, why not you? Don't you want to know where their loyalties lie? To embrace your powers to stay strong and in power?" Question Mark asks.
  
  "Let it all turn to the powers of decay. Let..." Rotgut moans.
  
  "Fuck, I take it back, shut it. I need a break," you say.
  
  "We can take a break. When do you think you'll be able to start this again?" Olive nods, as you shake your head.
  
  "Fuck that. I'm taking a break, you continue this. Do it without me. It's not like I give a fuck, right? Primus, Olive and you can handle it.
  
  "We'll get it done. Go jerk off or whatever you do," Olive says.
  
  This is your home, admittedly, and you love the ship. You feel home here. You don't, however, feel at home inside your head. The shore leave helped, but you miss the old bastard Meliodas. At least he stayed quiet and helped sometimes. You need to find a way to deal with this.
  
  > visit Meliodas
  Rumor has it, Meliodas hangs around the lower warrens. Maybe its time to pay him a visit.
  
  After a quick search, you find yourself in an abandoned cargo hold of the Roar of the Vortex. It's known to the mutant populace that inhabits the floor as the Red Market, and everyone else calls it the Craphole. The area is bustling with activity, as mutants sell and buy whatever it is the fuck mutants sell and buy. You walk along the paths, as the mutants quickly notice you.
  
  "Sir! Sir! You there!" a mutant with a horribly mangled face covered with dozens of eyes says.
  
  "What?" you ask, looking at the monster.
  
  "I recognize you! The holos showed you! You're the man who dethroned Kyros!"
  
  "Yeah, I guess I am," you say.
  
  "Ah, splendid!" the mutant says, shaking your hand. "Conditions have improved tenfold with you in charge, sir! You must be starving! Here, let me get you something to eat, free of charge!"
  
  The mutant disappears under the stall, before bringing up a large, horribly mutated rat the size of a small child. The rat looks at you, seemingly indifferent.
  
  "Uh... I prefer my meat cooked... and not a rat. Thanks, though," you say, stepping back.
  
  "Meat?" the man asks, confused. "No, no! This is the mother! Through it, we get milk! Then, cheese! You don't want to inspect the rat for disease before you have the cheese?"
  
  The mutant looks at you confused, before grabbing a lump of sickly yellow... cheese, you suppose.
  
  "Oh... I just ate," you say. "Look, I need your help. I'm looking for someone. Meliodas."
  
  "Meliodas? Yes, I know this name. I can take you to him. Follow me," he says.
  
  You follow the mutant along the market, before taking a side route off down a hallway. Soon, you find the daemon. He paints heretical symbols on the walls with his one blood, which drips down from his wrists.
  
  "Meliodas. I need assistance," you say.
  
  "How can I help?" Meliodas asks, his head twisting around at an unnatural angle.
  
  "The daemons. In my head," you say.
  
  "Don't you fucking dare try to get rid of us! DON'T YOU FUCKING DARE!" Smiley howls.
  
  "I need to get rid of the daemons in my head," you say simply.
  
  "I can do it. It'll hurt, though. And leave a few marks," Meliodas says.
  
  "Will it be serious?" you ask.
  
  "No," Meliodas says.
  
  "Do it," you say.
  
  Meliodas holds out your hand, and you grab it.
  
  "I'm going to flood you with the energy of the Warp. It should displace the Daemons in your head and lessen the impact of the daemons. Understood?"
  
  "Got it," you say.
  
  You clasp his hand, before pulsing. You feel the power of the Warp flood through you as you convulse, the roar of the Warp drowning out the voices of the daemons. Instead of four loud voices, you hear thousands of faint voices. You feel your left hand burn, but the noise distracts you. After a few minutes, the feeling ends, and you collapse to your knees.
  
  You focus. The voices of Smiley, Fucky, Rotgut and Question Mark are still faint in the back of your head, but they're not overpowering. The main sound is the thousand of whispers and the roar of the Warp, but it's certainly more peaceful.
  
  "Thanks," you say, releasing your breath and relaxing.
  
  You look down at your hand, noticing the eight-pointed star of Chaos Undivided is now burnt into it.
  
  "Ah, so this happened," you say.
  
  "I said there'd be scarring," Meliodas says.
  
  "You never said it'd be a Chaos symbol," you complain.
  
  "Ah... yes, it is," Meliodas shrugs. "Isn't it an improvement?"
  
  You think, realizing the endless voices have now been cut back, before nodding.
  
  "You're right. Thanks," you say.
  
  "Alright, let me go back to my rituals," Meliodas says.
  
  "OK. Thanks, Meliodas," you say, turning and walking off.
  
  > Continue
  You walk along the hallways, alongside a young, former slave who looks to be barely out of his teens.
  
  "Timothey J. Hawkins, sir. I tr..." he says happily.
  
  "I don't give a fuck. You're the best shuttle pilot we have, correct?" you reply.
  
  "Well sir, I've admittedly accomplished a few tasks, but I'm not sure about that. I did manage to land Kyros' Bloody Claws onto a sp..."
  
  "You're the man Hayes recommended, yes?" you respond, as you stop outside the war room.
  
  "Yes, sir. The..."
  
  "Terrific. Outfit the shuttle in whatever way suits your piloting style, I'll provide the funds. Got it?"
  
  "Yes, sir!"
  
  "Perfect. That's it, then," you say.
  
  "Yes, sir! Thank you for the opportunity! I promise I won't let you down!"
  
  Finally, you bid Hawkins goodbye, whilst knowing he won't last a week. You walk forward, to where Fay waits outside the war room.
  
  "Hey, Karth. You ready to deal with Kyros' allies?" he says.
  
  You wrap an arm around her, kissing her on the lips.
  
  "Ready to take on the galaxy," you smile. "How about you?"
  
  "Of course," she replies.
  
  The two of you walk into the war room, to find the rest of your lieutenants are already here. Today, you need to deal with Kyros' allies.
  
  "What'd I miss?" you ask.
  
  "Nothing. Ready to begin the debriefing," Primus says.
  
  "Do it," you reply.
  
  "Understood. The issue we have to deal with is Kyros' former allies. Kyros did not plan to take Terra alone. He had made pacts with dozens of warbands, made deals with endless mercenary outfits, gained pledges of support from Xenos empires and made countless more alliances."
  
  "Are these issues?" Fay asks, her head resting on the stock of her bolter.
  
  "To a degree. Most pacts were built on weak ground on the unsaid assumption that either party would turn on the other if given the chance, and now that Kyros is no more they're void and useless. Other parties have had changes in power due to coups or rebellions and their new leaders have no loyalty to Kyros. The only potential threats that could harm us are the Children of Apep, the Tau Empire, the Kabal of the Bleeding Thorn and the Dogs of War."
  
  "Who are they?" you ask.
  
  "The Children of Apep are a Chaos Warband led by Khalid the Despised. Made up of a strong inner-circle of Thousand Sons Space Marines, they now control a small fleet that reigns control over an alliance of a few worlds, space stations and outposts. They have a heavy amount of Psykers, and could potentially use their combined psychic powers to threaten our position," Primus says.
  
  "Who else?" you ask.
  
  "The Tau Empire are a fairly large empire of Xenos species with advanced technology. They..."
  
  "I've heard of them. They were allied to Kyros?"
  
  "We're unsure of that. It seems they did provide funding for a few of Kyros raids against Imperial worlds. Kyros seemed to have made a noted effort to avoid Tau interests. Kyros had all other information about them purged. I know nothing more about the relationship, but it's most definitely worth investigating."
  
  "OK. Who else?"
  
  "The Kabal of the Bleeding Thorn is a group of Dark Eldar pirates and raiders led by a mysterious figure known as Merideza who had seemingly forged an alliance with Kyros. They're infamous in this sector for their quick, brutal raids on worlds to enslave the populace. They're a powerful organization based out of the sub-dimension known as the Webway in a city known as Commorragh, where all Dark Eldar stay. Although the species aren't known for their loyalty to former allies, they might see our growth as a potential threat."
  
  "And the others? The Dogs of War?"
  
  "The Dogs of War are a renegade chapter of Space Marines led by Chapter Master Christian Firenaza who went renegade after fighting a vast Tyranid fleet and taking severe losses without any support from the rest of the Imperium. They primarily work as a mercenary outfit. Although technically, only the space marines are the Dogs of War, they now consist of dozens of mercenary outfits that serve under them, all known as the Dogs of War. Although one would assume their mercenary status would mean they won't strike at us if they're not being paid to, loyalty seems to be strong among space marines. They might want to avenge Kyros."
  
  "We need to attempt to negotiate with these factions to secure their loyalty to us, or at least ensure they're not going to attack," you say.
  
  "Understood. The Children of Apep's flagship, the Quill, is collecting tribute from subject worlds and we can easily head there to negotiate. The Tau Empire has a major presence here, and we can most definitely negotiate with them whenever you'd like. The Kabal of the Bleeding Thorn spend little time in realspace, but we can communicate to them through one of the human raider groups that serve them. Finally, the Dogs of War are based out of a massive space station known as the Iron Hound. It's a fairly active space port. We could be there to negotiate soon enough."
  
  > negotiate with the factions
  Well then, you have the psychic-heavy Children of Apep, the large and advanced Tau Empire, the Dark Eldar raiders the Kabal of the Bleeding Thorn and the mercenary outfit the Dogs of War.
  
  > visit the Children of Apep
  "Alright, connecting..." your pilot says, as the ship attaches to the bays of the Quill. All your lieutenants stand around you. Immediately, you spot a trio of space marines clad in blue with yellow trim marching towards you. Those on either side are helmeted with a crest behind their head and holding bolters in their hands. The one in the middle has no helmet, instead wearing ornate golden robes over his power armor, holding a bolt pistol golden staff topped with a snake, with two Sapphires as the eyes. You rarely see a space marine with his helmet off. This man has short blond hair and a clean-shaven face.
  
  "Ah! Kyros' over-throwers, is it? I..." the marine says, before stopping to stare at Meliodas. "You.... ah, I sense it now. A daemon, is it? Tell me, were you trapped inside Kyros' skull for all the times I met with him?"
  
  "No, I've just moved in," Meliodas replies, as the marine nods.
  
  "I am Khalid the Despised," the marine says, as his two guards stare blankly at you.
  
  "My name's Karth," you reply. "This is Meliodas, Cain, Castus, Olive, Fay, Durge, Elizabeth, John the Hermit, Captain Hayes and Elios."
  
  "Fuck, did you really need to bring the whole crew?" Khalid asks, staring at your lieutenants.
  
  Khalid strolls along the line, nodding slowly as if he expected this.
  
  "Yes, yes... at least you got rid of that crazy Khornate bitch. Still, you kept the sentient Slaaneshi dildo, the morbidly obese sore, the failure for a psyker and the jar-head. Oh look, you've a few more to your roster. A... I don't even know what this freak is," he says, staring at Cain. "Then we have a mutant who deserves to become dust like my own, a bunch of kids and the daemon who can't find a better crew. A pathetic group if I've ever seen one."
  
  Khalid steps back, as most of you stare at him in shock. Only the Staine Siblings and Hayes seem unsurprised.
  
  "How fucking dare you?" Fay says, as she raises her bolter to point at Khalid's head.
  
  "Oh, you must be one of the shit-eating, backwater Ferals that Kyros tried to turn into a super-soldier, right? Tell me, are you pregnant by your father, your brother or your cousin? Who am I kidding, with a planet like you came from, he's probably all three," Khalid smiles.
  
  > blow this bastard's head off with a blast of psychic energy
  You fire a bolt of psychic energy that slams into Khalid's head. You feel a wave of psychic energy flood through your skull before your head explodes.