In simple terms, from the very moment the sensors were deployed, he began to feel the true weight of his responsibilities and worse. This was just one hive among the tens that were on the planet. Before, he could only deduce and guess how inhumane this planet was, but now he was witnessing it.
"I have… Arrange a meeting for me to meet the heads of the noble families," Bastion said as the door was closed. The interior of the vehicle was manageable... Well, if not for the Servitor he was staring at.
At this point, Bastion wondered if these people were actually doing this to make people pay or if it was just fun for them. Searching through the databases, he found this servitor to be vat-grown, but even then, he wondered why they didn't just grow a brain in a vat and use that instead, rather than these people.
...
Selene POV
I have witnessed a miracle, and for some reason, that brought a smile to my face, even if what it meant was horrifying to me. Judging from the expression of the Inquisitor standing before me, this was a scene that affected all, not just me.
Staring at his grace, who now seemed vast, his tall figure wrapped in holy light that brought with it an unbelievable warmth.
The halo above his head confirmed his status more than anything could have so far, but this brought more conflicted feelings than it should. A man who had tampered with dark sorcery was, in truth, a Saint, as the Ecclesiarchs have preached.
"I'll be right back!" Lady Dresk said before turning around to leave, her vox bead to her ear and her auspex scanner in hand.
It was clear from her expression that what they had witnessed was truly the hand of the Emperor.
"... What's next on my agenda?" a ragged voice pulled me out of my thoughts, and looking up, I found Lord Bastion standing in front of me.
His figure was as massive as always; a gentle giant was a term that might describe him if I hadn't witnessed him squash the head of an assassin servitor with just a squeeze.
"Next would be the newly built barracks in the mid-Hive," I replied.
Soon, we were leaving the convent as he got into the hovercar, a vehicle he seemed to hate for some reason.
It was the top-of-the-line vehicle, made from Ceramite and forged by the tech-priests for his nobility, but he looked at it with such disdain.
"Help me arrange a meeting with the heads of the Noble Families; it's about time I met them officially," His Lordship said. "As you wish, your grace," I replied before quickly adding that to the schedule.
Ever since his resurrection, his lordship had been particular about order and some other things... The maids didn't approach his room unless he was absent or requested it.
The relief ladies had found themselves jobless; he personally prepared himself for the day and, for some reason, seemed to hate the sight of servitors but never ordered their removal.
Even now, he sighed when he saw the vehicle's servitor but said nothing. It was a perplexing behavior. "Hold on to something and prepare for a crash," His lordship suddenly said as his expression turned serious.
I could see his eyes glow golden as he kept staring into the distance. I didn't ask questions, nor could I even do so; my duty and contract demanded loyalty.
I immediately did as he asked, as I grabbed onto the door handle and planted my legs on the board before me, ensuring to hold on tight. Just as he had said, not even seconds later, I felt what seemed like an explosion rock the vehicle as it was immediately thrown out of the air, crashing into several buildings as it made its way to the ground.
Everything turned black after the second collision, but the last thing I saw was his lordship somehow diving towards me... His form was as though he was swimming through the air.
...
Bastion stared at a building in the distance where he could see a small person standing with a large weapon in hand. After warning Selene to prepare herself, Bastion quickly began to calculate how far the ground was and if he could make it. The answer was not surprising; even he would suffer a broken bone or two from this height.
Looking at Selene, the case was even worse for her... He watched as the shell hit the side of the hovercar. Turning to the Servitor, from its expression, he could tell that it was doing its best to stabilize the craft, but it was all in no avail; the engine was hit.
Somehow managing to keep himself upright and balanced, he quickly removed his seatbelt before repositioning himself. They were reaching the perfect altitude to survive all this, and he didn't plan to waste it... With a single kick, the door went flying despite the reinforced nature of its frame.
He took Selene in his arms, ensuring to hold her head in place as he swung around and used the other door as leverage to push himself out of the falling vehicle.
Now in a state of free fall, a normal human would find it difficult to tell up from down, but Bastion could easily tell... In fact, nothing so far had been disorienting for him.
Falling headfirst, Bastion quickly swung around as he crashed through the side of a building, feet first as he got closer to the ground floor. His figure was by far larger than Selene's, so he used himself as a shield for her.
He was falling from a height at least a kilometer above ground level... Well, the upper Hive's ground level. He smashed through the side of the building, doing his best to avoid the hovercars that were passing.
The ones he couldn't avoid, he used as leverage to slow his fall. Luckily, the Imperium's inefficient design was perfect for his survival.
"Who sends an Assassin in broad daylight?" Bastion thought as he finally came to a stop atop what seemed to be a cathedral... He had used the cathedral's spire to nullify the accumulated speed.
From there, he began a controlled descent until he was at the ground floor, where he dropped the unconscious lady... She was injured but only slightly, thankfully.
"Who's there?!" A voice shouted as Bastion crashed through the stained glass windows to the ground at last. "Send for help and tell the Arbites to surround this place; there is a loose assassin here," Bastion commanded.
"My lord?!" The priest shouted, surprised, but Bastion didn't reply; rather, he turned away as he began walking to the exit.
Despite such a fall, Bastion found it to be more of an annoyance than anything. Looking up to the original place, he had spotted the assassin... He saw no one, but very quickly, he turned around to see the person standing atop another building.