Warhammer40k reacts

[WARHAMMER 40K — REACTION ROOM]

There was no warning.

One moment, each of them had been where they belonged—on a battlefield, aboard a ship, within a fortress, upon a throne, or somewhere far more sinister.

Then reality itself seemed to distort.

In an instant, they were all standing inside an enormous unfamiliar chamber.

Rows of seats filled the room. At the very front stood a gigantic screen, currently displaying nothing but black.

There were no obvious exits.

For several seconds, nobody spoke.

Roboute Guilliman: "..."

Guilliman slowly turned his head, studying the room.

Roboute Guilliman: "This is not Macragge."

Lion El'Jonson: "No."

The Lion's hand immediately moved toward his weapon.

Lion El'Jonson: "Everyone remain alert."

Rogal Dorn: "There are no visible entrances."

Dorn walked toward one of the walls and inspected it carefully.

Rogal Dorn: "Nor any obvious structural weakness."

Perturabo: "Then whoever constructed this place understood defensive architecture."

Perturabo examined the walls with a critical expression.

Perturabo: "Though I can already identify several inefficiencies."

Rogal Dorn: "Of course you can."

Perturabo: "You say that as though it is a flaw."

Sanguinius: "Brothers, perhaps we should first determine why we are here."

Sanguinius looked around the room, his wings shifting slightly.

Sanguinius: "I confess, even I do not know how we arrived."

Leman Russ: "Neither do I."

Russ sniffed the air suspiciously.

Leman Russ: "And I don't like it."

Jaghatai Khan: "I do."

The Khan looked around with considerably more curiosity than concern.

Jaghatai Khan: "It is unusual."

Leman Russ: "You find everything unusual interesting."

Jaghatai Khan: "And you find everything unusual threatening."

Leman Russ: "Because it usually is."

Vulkan: "Perhaps neither conclusion is useful yet."

Vulkan calmly studied the chamber.

Vulkan: "We should determine whether anyone here is injured."

Ferrus Manus: "I am not."

Corvus Corax: "Nor am I."

Corax had already moved toward the edge of the room, inspecting the shadows.

Corvus Corax: "There is nowhere to hide."

Konrad Curze: "How disappointing."

Curze's unsettling grin slowly appeared.

Konrad Curze: "I was beginning to wonder whether whoever brought us here understood me."

Corvus Corax: "I doubt they intended to entertain you."

Konrad Curze: "Then they have made a serious mistake."

Angron: "WHO DARES?"

Angron's roar shook the room.

He immediately reached for his weapon, fury burning in his eyes.

Angron: "WHERE IS THE ENEMY?!"

Fulgrim: "Must you always begin with shouting?"

Fulgrim looked around the room with visible irritation.

Fulgrim: "Though I admit, the surroundings are rather plain."

Angron: "I DON'T CARE ABOUT THE ROOM!"

Fulgrim: "Yes. We noticed."

Mortarion: "Something brought us here."

Mortarion stared toward the blank screen.

Mortarion: "I can feel no familiar presence."

Magnus the Red: "There are psychic disturbances."

Magnus raised his head slightly.

Magnus the Red: "But they are unlike anything I have encountered."

Leman Russ: "Warp sorcery."

Magnus the Red: "Possibly."

Leman Russ: "That is never a comforting answer."

Magnus the Red: "I am aware."

Another presence suddenly became apparent.

Horus Lupercal: "Interesting."

Horus looked around at the gathered figures.

Horus Lupercal: "It appears we have all been brought here for a reason."

Roboute Guilliman: "You seem remarkably calm."

Horus Lupercal: "Panic rarely provides useful information."

Fulgrim: "Finally, someone sensible."

Perturabo: "Don't encourage him."

Across the room, a different voice spoke.

Abaddon the Despoiler: "Everyone stay where you are."

Abaddon looked over the room, assessing every individual present.

Abaddon: "Until we know who is responsible, nobody assumes this place is safe."

Khârn the Betrayer: "Safe?"

Khârn gave a low laugh.

Khârn: "I wasn't looking for safe."

Ahriman: "And yet you are not currently killing anyone."

Khârn: "Give me time."

Ahriman: "That is precisely what concerns me."

Nearby, a massive armored figure remained completely still.

Draigo: "This chamber is not the Warp."

Draigo's gaze swept across the room.

Draigo: "But neither is it a place I recognize."

Grey Knight: "Then we should assume hostile intent."

Draigo: "Until proven otherwise."

The sound of heavy footsteps echoed through the chamber.

Belisarius Cawl: "Fascinating."

Cawl stared at the walls, the ceiling, the seats, and finally the enormous screen.

Belisarius Cawl: "Extremely fascinating."

Rogal Dorn: "What have you determined?"

Belisarius Cawl: "Almost nothing."

Rogal Dorn: "Then why are you fascinated?"

Belisarius Cawl: "Because I have determined almost nothing."

Dorn stared at him.

Rogal Dorn: "...I regret asking."

A group of Imperial soldiers had also appeared within the room.

Commissar Yarrick: "Everyone remain calm."

Yarrick looked around with the practiced expression of someone who had survived far stranger situations.

Commissar Yarrick: "Panic will accomplish nothing."

Ciaphas Cain: "Quite right."

Cain glanced around nervously.

Ciaphas Cain: "Personally, I think remaining calm is an excellent idea."

Cain quietly moved a little farther away from Angron.

Commissar Yarrick: "For once, Cain and I agree."

Ciaphas Cain: "A historic moment."

Nearby, a Sister of Battle gripped her weapon.

Sister of Battle: "By the Throne..."

She looked toward the blank screen.

Sister of Battle: "What manner of place is this?"

Saint Celestine: "I do not know."

Celestine's expression remained calm, though she clearly did not lower her guard.

Saint Celestine: "But we should not assume that our captor means us harm."

Angron: "Then why have we been imprisoned?"

Saint Celestine: "I said we should not assume."

Angron: "Hmph."

Silence returned.

Everyone was now aware of the same thing.

They had not come here willingly.

They did not know who had brought them.

And they had no idea what awaited them.

The enormous screen remained completely black.

Roboute Guilliman: "We wait."

Leman Russ: "I hate waiting."

Jaghatai Khan: "You mentioned that."

Leman Russ: "I will mention it again."

Lion El'Jonson: "Enough."

The gathered warriors, Primarchs, champions, soldiers, and servants of both the Imperium and Chaos remained on guard.

For now, there was nothing to do but wait.

Whatever this mysterious reaction room wanted from them...

It had their attention.