Mount Dakhan
Aeotheran
0200 Hours

She awoke suddenly as the sound of the communicator on her desk broke through her sleep. She opened her eyes in annoyance and turned her head. A red light was flashing on the screen, indicating an urgent priority call. She pushed herself up and off the bed, walking to the desk and sat down. “Receive call, audio only.” She paused. “Yes, what is it?”

“Tasha,” a familiar voice answered, “you need to come down to the hangar bay immediately, we have urgent business to attend to..”

“Sanguinius?” she replied in alarm, “do you know what time it is? And what are you doing on Aeotheran?”

“We will explain when you arrive”, the Adept replied, “Please arm yourself and join us.”

“Very well.”

A short while later the turbo lift opened into the cavernous hangar bay. As she stepped out, she frowned. It was roughly half full of member and House vessels, but quiet and dark. There was no sign of guards, droids or maintenance staff. The only lights were on an Epsilon shuttle parked near the door, its engines quietly humming. Curiously she walked forward, suspecting a trap of some kind. It had sounded like Sanguinius, but voices could be faked. Then she felt familiar senses near the shuttle, and as she walked forward she could make out three robed figures standing near the shuttle's ramp. She quickened her pace until she reached it and they turned, her curiosity rising further.

Locke Sonjie gave her a polite nod. “Thank you for coming so quickly Tasha’Vel, especially considering the hour."

“Would one of you mind telling me what is happening?” she demanded, “and why the black robes?”

“We have urgent business to attend to, Tasha,” Sanguinius replied, “on Sepros. We will explain once we are on route.” She frowned, studying the three of them. She had known each a long time, and trusted them. However this was still highly suspicious. “Not until someone tells me what this is about.”

“We have business with the Overlord,” Locke replied, “we did not wish to involve you, but it would look better later on if the House Summits were united in this.”

She felt a slight cold feeling go down her spine. The faces of the three Adepts were sombre and serious. “I see.” Sanginius turned to the third robed figure. “You are sure you can convince the Admiral?”

“I am,” Malik replied, “he has served a long time. He is loyal to the Clan. He will see this is the right course of action.”

Tasha’Vel looked from one to the other. “What about Malisane?”

“We do not have all night,” a gravelly voice came from inside the shuttle, “we must depart now.”

“My thoughts go with you,” the Neti Adept said quietly as they walked up the ramp.

Once the shuttle had left the hangar and powered up into the Aeotheran night sky, Tasha’Vel sat and regarded the two Adepts sitting opposite. “I think you owe me an explanation.”

Sanginius glanced at Locke and then spoke. “You are aware more than anyone of your estranged husband's increasingly dangerous behaviour.”

She nodded sadly, a touch of regret washing over her. “Of course.”

“The Overlord can not be allowed to continue down his present course,” Locke told her, “we foresee great harm to the Clan, its members and the people of this system if he remains its ruler.”

“And from what we can determine he is beyond redemption,” his Aedile added.

She nodded. “I see. So what do you intend?”

“We will offer him the chance to step down,” Locke told her, “and leave Dark Brotherhood space, and never return.”

“He will never agree to that,” Tasha’Vel replied in surprise.

“We know that,” Sanguinius replied calmly, “but we must at least give him a final chance.” There was a loud derisive noise from the Dakhan Quaestor in the cockpit and Locke gave a quick glance in that direction. “It was what we agreed,” he said loudly and firmly.

Her mind was racing, a surge of emotions washing over her. Their implication was clear. She felt a mix of strong feelings, mainly fear and regret, but also a strange relief. “Are you sure about this?”

Locke glanced at Sanguinius. “It is not our preferred course of action. However, we serve the Clan, and protect its interests. If there was another way we would take it, however there is not.”

“What about the others?” she asked.

“They are mostly unaware,” Sanguinius replied, “however we have spoken to the former GrandMaster. Officially he knows nothing of this, considering past history that is necessary, but once it is over he will support us in the Clan and from the Star Chamber should it be necessary.”

“And DarkHawk?” she asked.

“We hope the Proconsul will see the need for this,” Locke replied, “if not we will do our best to spare him.”

There was a pause while she considered their words. Sanguinius studied her face. “The three of us, and Malik, are sworn to this course of action,” he said quietly, “however you are not. If you can not join us you may take this shuttle and return to Aeotheran. You would never have left.”

“You must do what you think is right, Tasha'Vel,” Locke added.

She looked from one to the other. “No, I will join you and do what must be done.

Tasha’Vel looked out of the window as the shuttle made its descent towards the partly ruined palace, and as it landed in the grounds she studied the dark area beyond. “There are no guards,” she observed.

Locke nodded, “Good, then Malik convinced Simonetti. He has ordered them back to their barracks. Now it will be just us, and him.”

“We must move quickly,” Sanguinius added as Malisane left the cockpit and joined them. They walked down the lowered ramp, the three Sadows in their dark robes and her in her armour. As the ramp closed the four of them made their way quickly across the grounds to the Temple of Sorrow.

Tasha’Vel still felt the same mixed feelings of trepidation and determination as they entered and strode together down the corridors. This felt somehow like a bad dream, similar to others she had experienced, but she knew it was not. This would be the final confrontation with her husband, and it would be a new dawn for the Clan she had been a part of and served for so many years. She did not know what would happen after tonight, just as she was sure those with her did not either, but that was a problem for another day. For now she would join them in what needed to be done.

They paused when they reached the heavy doors to the great hall, and at a gesture from Locke they swung open. Tasha’Vel suddenly felt something unatural in the air around her, a feeling of discomfort and confusion she could not place. “Wait, there is something wrong, I sense something.”

Sanguinius glanced at her, and then at Locke and Malisane. “I sense nothing.” The other Sadows made a slight shrugging gesture.

She fought to understand the strange feeling around her. “How can you not feel it?”

“You are imagining it,” Malisane replied harshly, “we can not wait.”

They made their way inside and down the centre towards the throne. Tasha studied the robed figure sitting there, and her glance flicked to the similarly dressed Proconsul standing by his side, watching them approach. The feeling of unease and unnaturalness on her mind was stronger now and she fought to push it back.

The Overlord of Sadow studied them as they stood in front of him, noting their faces and stance. “So, the time has come?”

“It has indeed,” Locke replied.

Slowly Bentre got to his feet and stood on the dais overlooking them, as DarkHawk moved slightly to their left. “Then we will proceed.”

Suddenly Tasha’Vel felt the feeling and pressure on her mind lift, and she stiffened as more robed figures appeared, surrounding them.

As her head quickly turned, she recognised the faces of the rest of the Sons and Daughters of Sadow, each intently watching her from beneath their deep hoods. As she took this in, she heard Locke, Sanguinius and Malisane move to join the circle around her. She now stood facing the Overlord alone.

Bentre looked around at the assembled figures, and then back at Tasha’Vel. “Warlord Tasha’Vel Versea. You stand here in this place to be judged by the Sons and Daughters of Sadow who have sworn to serve this Clan and protect its interests. You yourself have long been a member of Naga Sadow, and your actions have been weighed by those present against long held standards of loyalty and service. We will now decide whether you are worthy to receive the highest honour we are able to bestow upon you.” He looked around the room. “Who among you supports this member receiving such an honour?”

“I do,” DarkHawk Sadow said from next to the Overlord.

“I do,” Muz Ashen Keibatsu added from across the circle.

“I do,” Ashia Kagan Keibatsu said from one side of him, and a second later Kojiro Keibatsu Sadow also replied. “I do.”

On the other side of the circle Teu Buhkari Sadow and Jades Sadow both intoned. “I do.”

“I do,” Sanguinius Tscura Entar spoke, and a second later Locke Sonjie added, “I do.”

“I do,” Malisane Sadow added, and then having joined the circle behind her, Malik Sadow finally spoke. “I do.”

Bentre nodded. “Then we are in agreement. Warlord Tasha’Vel Versea. You are henceforth named as a Daughter of Sadow, with all the duties and privileges that come with it. May you long continue to serve Clan Naga Sadow.” At this Teu and Jades stepped forward, lifting a black robe and lowering it over the armour of the newest Sadow. Then the other Sadows bowed to her.

As the assembled members began to disperse, Tasha’vel followed the robed figure of Sanguinius towards the door, and caught his sleeve. “Why use that ruse to get me here,” she demanded under her breath. “why did the four of you put me through all that?”

The Adept turned and faced her seriously. “To test your resolve,” he replied as he glanced at the Overlord sitting back in his throne, “one day it may not be a ruse.”

---

Today, the Assembled Sons and Daughters of Sadow have the pleasure of announcing the recognition of our very own Tasha’Vel Versea, former Rollmaster and current Aedile in House Shar Dakhan, as the most recent inductee into our ranks. Please join all of us in thanking her for her service and loyalty to the Clan and join us in celebrating this recent achievement.

Bentre Stahoes
Son of Sadow