The descent of a Tyranid Hive Fleet represents death and termination. For the Genestealers, it is no different.
These devout believers cheered and rejoiced at the arrival of the messengers of their gods. They offered the best of everything they could find as a sacrifice. Under the influence of psychic interference, the Tyranid organisms appeared sacred and beautiful in their eyes, embracing them with a deceptive mercy.
Guided by these creatures, the cultists marched toward the portals to a "new world"—pools of water that looked exquisitely beautiful to their clouded minds.
Lachi wanted to remain on the front lines, but curiosity finally overcame her desire for combat. Surprisingly, Yuki and Yuno followed her as she left the final bastions held by the Imperium. They claimed they wanted to see for themselves what the process was like.
Lachi couldn't help but chuckle. Had even these two "messengers" never witnessed the process of believers ascending to Paradise? She was in high spirits. Since her childhood, Uncle McLaren had told them about the greatness of the God-Emperor and the land of milk and honey that awaited them.
"Messengers, perhaps I can delay my return to Paradise for a short while. I am young; I could follow an expedition to the next planet to spread His greatness." Lachi wanted to do even more.
She saw majestic towers—great structures rising from the barren desert. This was the might of the God-Emperor, creating such massive wonders in such a short span of time. Countless "angels" flew through the sky, and innumerable believers soared alongside them.
Their faces looked solemn and divine. The scent they emitted was fragrant and clean. She heard her own kind chanting hymns, singing of the God-Emperor's glory. This was everything she had ever dreamed of.
She talked to Yuki and Yuno with a feverish joy about her happiness. This was the long-cherished wish of the entire cult.
"Uncle!" Lachi waved.
In the distance, her brilliant uncle waved back and shouted to her, "Don't look at the sky!"
What did that mean?
"This place should be the underground workshop," Yuki noted, observing the surroundings. "Our troops have pushed forward quite quickly. There should still be quite a few defensive measures inside, right?"
Lachi looked at her uncle in the distance and said with some hesitation, "Yes... we have secret passages and explosives buried in the walls, but now maybe—"
She saw Isa. They had grown up together, working toward the day they could return to the God-Emperor's embrace. Isa's expression was one of joy, but something felt wrong. What was she saying?
Yuki's voice sounded in her ear: "Tell me where those things are. We might be able to use them against the Vostroyan Firstborn in the Hive."
"Please follow me."
Lachi hesitated. A bizarre, sickening sensation welled up in her heart. She couldn't pinpoint what was wrong, but the feeling was agonizing. She saw Uncle McLaren standing next to a divine angel. He was not far from the pool that led to Paradise.
What was he saying?
"They will take us to the eternal gardens among the stars," McLaren used to say. His thick yet skillful hands had always woven firefly lanterns for her.
In the instant McLaren entered "Paradise," Lachi saw everything clearly.
The world shifted. The white spires turned into twisted biological growths with strange insects crawling over them. The angels flying in the sky became Gargoyles; their massive wings and brutal limbs held no tenderness.
The Tyranids were herding the believers. The cultists jumped into the reclamation pools with smiles on their faces, but the moment they began dissolving into a slurry of organic matter, their sanity returned. They understood everything in the final seconds before death. Their screams and wails became the "hymns" heard by those whose senses were still clouded.
Lachi smelled an acidic stench far more pungent than the chemicals in the air. She touched her nose; it was bleeding.
And McLaren, from beginning to end, said only one word: "Run!"
She finally saw Isa in the reclamation pool. She had already melted, with only half her face still slowly sinking.
Isa—
"No... it's not like this."
Lachi looked at Yuki and Yuno. Their faces were the same as before. At that moment, Yuki noticed Lachi's change in demeanor.
"What's wrong?"
They had never worshipped the God-Emperor. They worshipped a monster—a creature that viewed them as fodder, possessed no sympathy, and would never bring happiness.
"Liars!"
The moment Yuno raised her hand, Lachi fired the fastest shot of her life. A melta bullet struck Yuki. The resulting violent explosion shattered most of Lachi's bones.
Using the shockwave, she rolled toward a secret passage entrance. She used every ounce of her strength to open the hatch and tumbled inside.
"No, this can't be real."
She continued to roll down the passage and triggered the explosives.
BOOM!
The yield was staggering, making even the deep tunnels vibrate. Lachi relied on gravity and momentum to keep moving forward. Everyone had been deceived. She had to return to the front lines. She had one last chance to atone.
In the deepest part of the underground—a place only the workshop's high-ranking members could reach—there were still supplies left behind, intended for those unlucky enough not to be "taken" by the God-Emperor. Lachi quickly activated the systems. The place was empty, but she knew the Tyranids would follow her down the secret passage soon.
"Faster, faster!"
Lachi crudely set her broken bones. At this moment, she had to be grateful for the genes that allowed her wounds to heal rapidly. She found a motorcycle and a large amount of ammunition. Commotion was already starting outside.
"Damn it."
Lachi worked at top speed, straddling the bike. She opened the exit and set a detonation timer.
"I won't just sit here and wait for death. That's not the way of the people of Amir!" Lachi told herself. "Perhaps there are countless beings in the universe who can strip away our happiness and our lives, but there is one thing they can never take—our will to resist!"
She twisted the throttle. The knight of the desert set out on her journey once more.
Faster, faster!
Finally, driven by ancient mechanical gears, a passage opened in the desert. A motorcycle and a girl burst out. Facing the scattered Tyranid organisms appearing on the road, Lachi—now fully aware of their ugliness—fired without hesitation.
These Termagants and Hormagaunts were the lowest of the Tyranid hierarchy. Lachi's bullets cut them down easily.
It was never too late to turn back.