<strong>-- Explorator Thraxius --</strong>(http://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=103946.msg4515299#msg4515299)<br/><hr/><br/>That's it.  He remembers now.  Not a war in the Emperor's name, but a battle for fame and profit.  Money was the lifeblood that kept him going in this festering Hive, and he always needed more of it.  They all did.  It was how this world worked.  So they killed and they scraped and they dealed, to ensure that good food would be on the table that night.  To some, that alone was worth dying for.  Worth<em>killing</em>for.  But was it really?  He could disappear right now in the ensuing chaos, and the only ones who would know of his cowardice would be fellow cowards.<br/><br/>The word stung his pride like a knife to the throat, and he found a terrible fury burning in his veins.  Max was a friend, a stalwart companion, but the mere<em>suggestion</em>that he flee this fight was a slap to the face.  He couldn't run.  He hadn't then, and he couldn't know.  Only death and disfigurement awaited him down that alley, but with a start he realized that he was okay with that.  A man could not hold regret in his heart, could not dwell on<em>what ifs</em>and hypotheticals.  He had chosen his path, and he would see it through to the very end.<br/><br/>Thraxius felt a savage scream tear itself from his throat as he charged onwards, weapon in hand.  Perhaps he would not see a warm meal waiting for him this night, but he would feast well on the blood and iron of his enemies, to the last breath if need be.