Unusual Love ║ Warhammer Harlequin And Guardsman Fanfic

Part 9: A Cruel Joke

Jandrie once more got low and began his long crawl back to the Imperium's line. Her voice filling his thoughts. He knew she had him wrapped around her finger, but he didn't mind in the least. After a while he reached the line and was helped to his feet by Gavin. 

"You get a nice haul Jan?" Gavin asked excitedly. His eyes big and eager. 

"That I did." Jandrie replied as he swung the bag from around his shoulder. The bag had obviously been stuffed nearly to overfilling with fruit. Gavin let out a hearty belly laugh as he reached in and grabbed one. 

"Jan, showing you that creek is the best idea I've ever had." He said as he bit into a fruit and tried to keep juice from running down his face. Jandrie gave him most of the fruit he had collected. He kept a pouch full. Jandrie went to his bunk and grabbed the gear he had poured out earlier. As he topped off his gear a man entered the bunk. It was Jandrie's commissar. 

"Jandrie Frostmoth?" He asked bluntly.

"Yes sir, reporting." Jandrie responded formally.

"Get your gear ready son, you're going over the top." To that Jandrie's heart sank to the floor and he felt as though he would throw up. "We go in an hour. If you have any goodbyes, say them now." He said bleakly.

A million thoughts ran through Jandrie's mind as he got ready for battle. He was about as ready as he could be. Making his way to the front he could still feel his stomach turning. The force formed at the front was pitiful. Nowhere near the volume of troops deployed in the initial attack. He knew that many had been wounded or killed in that attack.

Jandrie was no tactician but even he could see this was a desperate grab for more of a foothold. He peeked over the line only to feel a firm hand clap him on the shoulder. He turned to find Gavin. Jandrie smiled a half hearted smile. He looked down the line to see the commisar. He held a bolt pistol awkwardly. Jandrie realized that he had been the man who had his hand obliterated in the first assault. He held his whistle in his teeth.

After a few more men arived there were a series of loud ear shattering screeches from the whistles. Every man jumped the baracades to charge. It was only a few seconds before the eldar line began to fire. Men fell in droves. Jandrie saw as the commasar was suddenly face to face with a harliquin. The harlequin shoved a metal tube attached to its arm against the poor man's chest. There was a loud noise like a high tension wire snapping and suddenly the commisar fell to the sound of manic giggling from the eldar. Then Jandrie fell.

He lay for a moment. His mind asking if this was going to be his last moments. There was suddenly a strong yank on the back of his armor. He was lifted up. The hail of lasrounds and other weapons filling the air. Gavin had all but picked him up.

"Not today!" He all but yelled. Jandrie was back on his feet in a moment. "Time to fall back!" He exclaimed. The two dodged round after round as they ran to the safety of the line. Gavin practicly threw Jandrie over the baracade before returning fire. Gavin was the last man back over the line.

He turned and smiled at Jandrie after hopping back over. Jandrie let out a relieved laugh. There was suddenly an unfamiliar noise and where Gavin once stood there was a sticky red mist. Jandrie now found himself covered in Gavins remains. It had been a miracle by the emporor he hadn't been hit by a bone fragment.

Jandrie was to shocked to speak or even cry for his friend. The Eldar however sent up thunderous laughter and cheering.