The Lawman: Chapter 5

From Swords to Plowshears

With the sun bearing down on their heads, and the vast open fields of Carcan stretching out endlessly before them, Mutt wondered what the hell he and squad were doing out here. It's been months since his legion was reunited with their primarch, months where they did nothing but menial work and errands.

Yes, they had cattle to herd, civilians to protect, and new recruits to train, but why did they have to do all this? "Because son," His primarch's words echoed inside his mind, "If you can't even appreciate the value of this here cow, why should I trust you with the lives of people you are meant to save and protect?"

Sighing, Mutt resigned himself to the monotony of it all as he turned around and returned back to the caravan. For all his misgivings, he simply could not betray his primarch's wishes. He had to see this through, trusting what his Primarch had in store for them.

Currently, his squad was escorting a bunch of civilians to the next town over, a necessity given how underdeveloped parts of Carcan was. Now it was not to say that Carcan was some backwater, being the heart of the territory, but its lands were vast.

For every mile of territory covered by train, a thousand more was vast empty land. Settlements were simply too spread out to stretch the tracks, making travel hard for the simplest of folks.

The endless sea of grass, one fed by the Iron Ring illuminated overhead, and unbroken wilderness did make them the perfect pasture for cattle. That was if there weren't monsters just waiting to feast upon even these mighty bovine.

"Damn Dust Devils," He muttered to himself as his eyes scanned the horizon. Even when the scouts secured the area and the cattle were happily grazing away, he could not let his guard down, not even for a little bit.

Not only were vermin aplenty, but there were other more craftier strays. "Maybe they'd be more of a challenge," He thought to himself before shaking his head.

With his hands resting on his bolter, he gazed out to the plains of Carcan. It was a lush, but desolate land, one whose monotony was only broken by a couple of lonely trees growing in the field and the odd rocky outcrops that jutted up to the sky like castles amidst the rolling plains.

If not for the herd his squad was guarding, along with the few stray Carcan Bison thundering just a mile away, the land would probably be quiet as well. "So much land, but so few people," He whispered as he paused briefly and rested his aching legs.

He missed wearing his armor, but he can't waste using it out here when it'd be better used elsewhere. "Like in the front," A thought whispered into his ears before he sighed in frustration.

"No, you're just tired," He scolded himself. They've covered quite the distance before they set up camp for lunch. Best he took a break as well.

"You," He called out to one of the recruits, a fresh-faced youth from one of the other planets around Carcan, "Keep guard while I take a break."

"Yes sir," The boy saluted as he swapped out. By his reckoning, the boy just had his first few implants and he was doing well.

"A bit soft, but nothing the front wouldn't fix," He frowned before shaking his head. Distracting himself, he walked over to check on a young cattle who had just had her first calf; a mother who paused from its meal as it gazed up at him with intelligent eyes.

"Easy there," He whispered as he approached the beast cautiously, drawing upon the lessons of his Primarch. With large and heavy horns that were sharp and dense enough to punch through plasteel along with the thick musculature that helped this huge beast move, even he had to give it some respect. Just one swipe and he'd be sent flying.

He had to be gentle, and as his hands touched its flank, it remained docile, even going so far as to rub against the palm of his hands. They were formidable beasts, but they can be surprisingly affectionate, more so their young.

Eyeing the doe eyed calf rubbing up against his waist, he shooed it gently. "She's a beauty, ain't she?" A young woman's voice called out, making him pause and turn, finding a red headed youth staring up at him with a toothy smile.

"One day you're helping her mama give birth, and the next thing you know she's already bigger than you are!" She laughed as she walked over with several buckets in hand, "Not you though, mister at least not yet that is."

Now Mutt was not unfamiliar with how casual and fearless the natives of Carcan were, having lived with them in the expanding settlement of Nowhere. This girl, however, lacked tack, something he found grating,

"Don't worry little Bessy, you'd get bigger soon enough! Even bigger than mister grumpy over here," the girl giggled as she knelt down and affectionately rubbed the calf's face, much to the young cattle's joy, "Oh yes you are, yes you are~"

"You named this calf," He said with a frown, "And you named them Bessy." Staring at the girl in mild disbelief, he asked, "Why?" Was there something in the water that made people on this planet so strange?

This was lost to the girl as she stared back at him as if he had grown a second head. "Yeah," The girl answered, "Wouldn't you?"

"No," He replied with a frown, offended at the mere thought he'd do something so foolish.

"That's dumb," She fired back as she hugged the little calf.

"Naming things are for pets," He scoffed, explaining like he was talking to a mere child. She was a young woman, she should know that naming meant forming attachments. "Why bother forming a bond with one when they're going to be slaughtered after they grow big enough."

They were livestock, not pets, meant to be raised and slaughtered. Even those in the hive knew that, but it seemed the girl thought otherwise as she stared at him mouth agape. After a short stretch of silence, she replied, "You're a dick you know that?"

"I don't see how that refutes my point," He scoffed, making the woman's cheeks burn, not that he cared. He wasn't here to coddle civilians. He was here to protect them and that was it.

Hands crossed across her chest, the woman grunted, "I name them cause I want to care about them alright?" Was raising them not enough? Why make it so complicated?

"Look," She sighs as she massages her brow, "They might just be livestock, and I'll probably slaughter them in the end if the butcher doesn't, but that doesn't mean I can't give them a happy life while they're here with us."

"A happy life…" He frowned as he looked at the defiant young girl before he noted, "It's illogical." Still, a part of him whispered in agreement, the part which whispered to him the words of his primarch. "But I respect your opinion." He might not get it, but he'd let this woman have this.

"And I respect you for being a cold heartless bastard," The girl smiled before glancing at his squad who were resting by the shade of a caravan wagon. "But I get ya. You have to look tough and your men wouldn't respect you, don't you?"

As he opened his mouth to reply, the girl got up. "Now if you'll excuse me, I got Bertha to milk over here!," She shook her head before she shooed him away, "Go on, git!"

Not wanting to deal with her brand of madness, he walked off, letting her milk in peace. "Oh before you," The girl called out, before he saw something bright trailing across the air. Hands darting, he caught it mid flight to reveal it was a silver coin. "I know you don't need that, but consider it a token of appreciation for helping my family move"

Staring down, he rolled the coin in his fingers. "What a strange woman," he replied before he walked off to his men who were taking shade near the trail wagons. For a rancher, she cared too much, but that might be a good thing when things settled down in this galaxy.

"Hey Mutt," Joker greeted as he gazed up from the pot of stew he was cooking before flashing him a toothy smile, "What ya got there?"

"A coin," He answered before glancing at the contents simmering inside the pot. It was some form of stew, one made from jarred tomato sauce, cuts of preserved meats and a healthy serving of cheese all generously provided by the caravan.

They didn't need it, as they had their own ration, but the scent was comforting in its own ways. It also made the nutrient paste all the more appealing. With his stomach grumbling, he sat down before Joker offered him a bowl.

"Are you keeping it?" The red headed jester of their group asked, eyeing the coin much like how a magpie eyed something shiny.

Eyes narrowed, he pocketed the coin before he answered, "Yes." Best he hid this keepsake away from grabby hands, much to man's disappointment.

"Darn it," The man sighed as he shook his head in mild dismay, "Here I thought I could get more for my collection."

"Oh fuck Joker," One of his brothers piped up, ribbing the smaller man, "We all know you're just going to use to buy yourself some booze from the general store!" This quickly led to punches getting thrown.

Rolling his eyes at his squad's antics, he walked a way-bit off the side and joined Trenchfoot. "How's things on your end," He grunted as he leaned back against the trail wagon before he dug into his stew.

For a man who just learnt how to cook months ago, Joker made quite the tasty meal, hiding the taste of the nutrient paste under the spices. Perhaps he did have some use other than being a good distraction for the enemy, a sentiment shared by Trenchfoot.

Scraping the last bit of sauce from the bowl, Trenchfoot grunted, "A whole lot of nothing, just like our time spent in this hell hole."

Snorting, Mutt nodded, "I hear ya." It was the most frustrating part of it all. He trusted that his primarch had a plan, but they did a whole lot of nothing. It was just without the constant streams of gunfire and the rhythmic thump of artillery, he felt no excitement.

"We spent decades on the battlefield, shedding blood, sweat and tears and this is what we're paid with?" Trenchfoot grunted as he set his bowl aside, "Days out under the blazing sun, breaking our backs to watch cattle and children."

Gazing out to the perimeter where a couple of their recruits were off poking at something, he grunted, "Just looked at them. They're greener than the armor of Vulkan's son!" True to his words, he watched as a snake sprang up, latching at one boy's face.

"At least the other squads got some farm boys while all we got were some greenhorns that didn't even know how to tie a rope!" He gritted as he palmed his face, "Who the hell thought it was a good idea to stick 'em with us!?"

"Our Dear Primarch unfortunately," Mutt grunted back, making the other man groan in misery.

Shoulders sagging, the man let out a sigh, "So babysitting duty it is then." It was something they expected if they had survived long enough, but he didn't expect it to come this fast or how every last one of them were instructors in their own way. "Emperor damn it all,"

"Funny how being an instructor used to be sought after," He chuckled before letting out a wistful sigh. To fulfill their duties to the emperor and live long enough to share what they learned to the next generation. It was a dream.;

"But our primarch had to take the fun out of things," The man replied. With a heavy sigh, the man banged his head lightly against the frame of the cart.

"Good sirs," A young man's voice called out, distracting them momentarily. "Would you like something cold to drink?" A pimply face teen offered, hands shaking as he struggled to hold up to large pitchers.

"Thank you," Trenchfoot replied as he reached out, only for the drinks be swiped of his hands

"I'll take those!" Joker butted in, swiping both drinks from the boy before shooing him off.

As the red head sat down beside, ignoring the glares from both himself and Trenchfoot for stealing their drinks for his own, Joker grinned, now sporting himself a missing tooth, "You know Trenchfoot, I'm kinda liking it here."

"We got good food," He pointed out, "People that don't look at us like we're monsters and the easiest job in the world!" Downing both drinks, he added, "And look at this!" With one swift pull, he raised his bolter, "Fresh off the forge, not hand me downs."

"We finally have decent gear!" He cheered, to which Trenchfoot nodded reluctantly. The man had a point. It did feel nice no longer to scavenge the dead for good gear. "From how I see it, the Emperor's just rewarding us with some rest before they put us straight back into the fray."

Crossing his arms behind his back, the man smiled, "So I say let's just enjoy the sun while it lasts. It'll probably be the last time we'll have this peace."

"I suppose," Trenchfoot grunted before he frowned, "But if they want to reward us, then they should have just given us better gear while we were in the front rather than sticking us all the way out all here, doing nothing but menial labor like some servitors!"

"Ehh, you win some you lose some," Joker shrugged before turning to him, "What do you think, Sarge. Think this is all beneath us?"

Frowning, Mutt paused for a moment as he considered their words before he sighed, "If our Primarch wants us to perform civic duties, then will do it even if our talent's better used elsewhere." He was not going to turn away from his primarchs words.

Mutt learned with these cows, lived with these cows and slept with these cows and he hated every second of it, but he will not betray his Primarch just because of these cows.

"Speaking of talents," Joker said as he gazed up to the sky and grinned, "You see what I'm seeing?" Following the man's gaze, he found a dark shape circling up over head.

It was just a common kite, a common fixture in the vast blue skies of the plains. Normally, he'd chalk them off. He'd seen dozens of them near towering outcraps but there wasn't an outcrop nearby. They were out scavenging.

With a grimace, he got up before scanning the horizon. "Eye's open," He warned his men, "We got some Dust Devils on our tail. Perhaps a couple of miles down wind." He couldn't see or smell them, but they were close. He could feel it.

They were an illusive bunch and relentless to boot. Now that the jig's up, it was just a matter of time till they showed up. The question now is how many of them were out there. Slipping his fingers between his lips, he whistled loudly and the camp froze before they burst into action.

"You, tell the civilians to move inside!" He commanded one of his men. The wall of horns that cattle presented should protect them. Turning to another, he added, "And you, go get the others. Form a perimeter. I do not want any of these bastards getting through!"

At the burst of activity came the howls and cackles, heralding their arrival. "Emperor damn it all," Trenchfoot gritted as a wall of dust shifted in the horizon, "Again?" Like their name sake, they came cloaked in dust and wind, darkening the skies above. "Didn't we scare them off last time?"

"Apparently not," Mutt muttered as his gaze followed their wispy form dancing within the sandy gale and what terrible things they were to behold.

With red glowing eyes and razor sharp teeth, they howled and bayed as they skirted just a handful of paces around the herd. They should stand their ground, he reminds himself. They were simply too fast and nimble to waste any shots.

Still, as they bared their teeth at him, taunting him behind the first line, he felt old suppressed instincts bubble back up to the surface. Feeling his blood thrumming, he barred his teeth as the call of battle echoed out. It's been quite a while since he felt this excitement and he welcomed it like an old friend.

"You thinking what I'm thinking?" Joker grinned as Mutt's fingers hovered over his gun. He shouldn't break formation. These devils, as fearsome as they were, would not risk diving into the wall of horns and guns surrounding the Caravan, so why stay back and let them run away?

Turning to his men, he found their expectant gaze as they shared the very bloodlust just waiting to be fed. Old habits die hard and what were a few more skulls to decorate the mantle of their cabin? "What do you say boys?" He replied, sporting a grin of his own, "Who's up for a little hunt?"

The new recruits did need to be shown things are done, and nothing beats a good old head hunt, a sentiment echoed by his men as they pulled out their weapons. The answer was clear. With his men behind his back, he roared out in challenge.

They were the Emperor's finest, his sword and his executioner. No xenos or monster shall make them falter. "To hell with letting these bastards toy with us!" He shouted as he rallied his men. He was eager to take more trophies. "To arms!"

Today, they charged into battle and they were going to take their heads.

-x-x-x-

It ended in disaster. One moment, he was taking heads and reliving their legions's glory days, the next he knew he was getting torn apart. What had started out a hunt, ended in a rout and now he laid in a hospital, tended to by the local Medicae of Nowhere.

"You Astarte's truly are something else, ain't you, son?" The old man chuckled as he poked and prodded as all healers did. "Would have sworn you'd die after trying to fend off all those Dust Devils from that caravan, and thank the stars you did, but it seems the reaper wouldn't be visiting you anytime soon."

Considering his failures, it'd been for the better if the reaper did. As he stared at the ceiling, the doctor tapped at a primitive brace holding his broken limbs. "You were lucky, all of you were," Than man noted, making Mutt scowl, "Thankfully, that Apothecary of your's a miracle worker."

"With how your wounds heal, you'd be back on your feet in a day or two," The old man said, but it wasn't the wound that ailed him. Just as the medicae said, he'd get back to his feet. What he cannot change or heal, was his failure.

He failed his primarch, and now he lived through it. "Now you go get some rest while I go check on the rest," The medicae ordered before leaving him alone in his thoughts, that was until his visitor made themselves known.

"So you're the one that lost all those cattle," said the young girl as she dragged a chair over before setting it down and plopping herself beside him, "Man, here I thought you guys were tough but you got whooped by a bunch of Dust Devils."

Jaws set, he gritted out, "Shouldn't you be in class, missy?" It wasn't an all too uncommon occurance for the daughter of their primarch to visit "her brothers", but he did not have time to deal with her shenanigans. He just wanted to be alone.

The girl, however, wouldn't give him that, choosing to pester him with her presence. "I snuck out," she admitted with a casual shrug, "And Thalia's covering for me so I got another hour till they figure it out."

"I'm just here cause a big sister has to watch over their little brother especially after they mess up," the tiny terror said smugly as she flashed a grin at him, "So, tell me how a bunch of my brothers got all torn up by vermins."

Seeing no way out of this and no way to get her off his back, he sighed. "They ambushed us…" He answered, remembering it clear as day; The sinking realization that things had gone terribly wrong, heralded by the cries of cattle and their thundering hooves.

"Pray tell, how that happened," said the girl as she crossed her arms across her chest

"... We chased after them," He answered, frustrated at the reminder.

"And look at what that gets ya," she sighed, shaking her head at him. "Those dust devils gorged themselves on some prime cattle while you and your little squad got all chewed up. You're lucky paw was nearby things could have been worse."

"I know!" He snapped, unable to hold himself any longer. "I failed and I had made peace with that, so why must you lecture me?" Was it not enough that he failed his primarch? "Just leave me alone…" He sighed, tired of it all.

Frowning, she crossed her arms as she replied, "I refuse, not until you actually mean it." Not wanting to play her games, he kept quiet, but she simply would not stop. "You know, if you actually cared, maybe you wouldn't screw up."

"We screwed up because we are not made for this!" He argued, unable to take her insults. She might be his primarch's daughter, but he didn't care as he let his frustration known.

"These hands are not meant to labour under the sun like some serfs, nor are they made for delicate tasks such as taking care of livestock," He gritted out, hating every second he spent away from the war. Why must they stay here for all this? Why must they keep making mistakes for a task they weren't supposed to be doing in the first place?

"We are his chosen few, remade in the Emperor's gene labs to become his finest warriors," He whispered as his shoulders sag, "We are warriors, weapons even, meant to serve the imperium." His place was in the battlefield, not in the prairies. "We are meant for more, not whatever we are doing here."

Silence soon descended upon the room as he laid there while Hikaru gazed at him with an unreadable expression, and he braced for the worse. That was until he felt a small hand atop his head. "What are you doing?" he asked.

"You looked like you needed that," She replied, with her expression still of dismay, but they now held a far gentler side, one far caring of him. He hated that look, but it felt… nice. As she pulled back, she added, "You know, things aren't that bad."

"Heck, you're doing exactly what Grandpa made you for," She grinned brightly, lighting up the very room with her presence, "You're serving people."

"I doubt that," He scowled, refuting her claims. How could he serve the empire in this far flung corner of the galaxy? He should be out there, not here. The girl, however, remained adamant as she sighed out.

"Look," She started, "What is the Imperium?"

Frowning at the stupid question, he considered just staying silent but decided against it as he answered, "The Imperium is the home of humanity. It is the planet we liberate, the stars we conquered, this very galaxy is our Imperium-!"

"Wrong!" She cut him off, "The Imperium's its people, silly!" Before he could question him, she asked first, making him pause, "Remove the planets and stars, but keep all the people. What do you still have?"

What did they have? Humanity would have no home or any place to call their own, but there were people. Humanity was still alive. "The Imperium lives on…" He whispered out loud, earning him a smirk from the young girl.

"Remove all the people and keep all the stars and planets. Heck, throw in the ships and tanks the Imperium in the things we keep and tell what do we have left?" She asked this time.
If humanity was to die off, then there is only one answer. "... We have nothing,"

"Exactly," She nodded with a self satisfied smile. "So from how I'm looking at things, paw's just teaching you a different way of serving the Empire," She added, leaving Mutt stumped. Was all this just a lesson for them? That they were doing this for the people all this time?

It sounded absurd, and he was seeing that it came from such a young girl, but he couldn't refute it and he was left laughing at it all, something which the girl joined in as well.

He was so preoccupied with the thought of what he should be doing that he forgot why they were doing all of this in the first place. "Has anyone told you how perceptive you are, young Miss?" He asked as he reached up and wiped away his tears with his cast.

"I get that alot," Hikaru grinned, "But I'm just teaching you what Gruncle Malcador taught me!"

"Gruncle Malcador?" He replied in mild amusement. Was she speaking of the Sigilite? Surely he wouldn't just drop his role managing things with the Emperor to teach the man's granddaughter.

There were thousands of experts he could choose from and that wasn't speaking of the girl's father who probably handled their education before their primarch was discovered. Plus, if he were, he should have seen them along with his primarch.

It was probably just another person trusted by the emperor and their primach, one that the girl seemed quite afraid off as she hushed him. "Don't let him catch you saying that! He hates it!" she warned, glancing behind her.

Raising his arm, he played along as he made a promise, "I swear it with both my heart." Besides, if the real Malcador really did hear him say such a ridiculous name, he'd probably be killed on the spot. Strangely, after that, he felt his shoulder lighten as if he had just dodged something.

Shrugging, he turned his attention back to the girl who had this contemplative look on her face. "You know, it is kinda boring that all you do is work," She mused before she snapped her fingers, "Tell you what! I'll go try and convince Papa that you guys need something to shake up the routine. Maybe some paintball or some sports!"

"We could use some rest from the cattle," He nodded, "But aren't we serving the Imperium?" It was boring, but it did have a purpose.

"Yes, but consider this," She replied, "If I could convince paw to let you guys play paintball, me and my sister can come and join you!"

"... Was this all a ploy so you can make us your playmates?" He asked, incredulously. It was quite the bold ploy, he'd give them that and blatant as well. Even a blind man would have seen through this ruse and the girl remained unrepentant.

"Is it working?" She smiled, making him laugh.

"Yes, yes it is," He nodded. She really was just a child despite her gifts.

"Sweet-!" She celebrated, only to cringe as the very air started to rumble. "Oh crap."

"Hikaru!" A loud booming voice echoed, shaking the very foundation of the building. He couldn't even block it out as he clamped his hands over his ears. It was so loud he swore it not only shook his very bones, but his soul as well.

"Welp, looks like my cover's blown!" Hikaru chuckled nervously as she got up and started backing away from the door. "Get well soon ok and stay out of trouble!" She waved as made a dash for the windows, "I promise I'll get paws to guys to do something exciting!"

"Wait!" He called out, and the girl skidded to a halt. He had forgotten to ask something, something he should have asked the moment he woke up. "Is… is the girl ok?" He asked, "The civilian milk maid I mean."

Smiling back, the girl answered, "Yup and don't worry! She's worried about you and will probably visit you once she gets well enough!" Did the girl talk to her?

Before he asked, the voice echoed out once more, "Hikaru you blasted brat, come back here this instance or I swear to the Emperor that I'd tan your hind!"

"Oops, gotta go!" She apologized as she opened the window and smiled at him, "Bye~!" Down she went as she leapt out of the window, making his stomach drop. Just as he was about to bolt up, he saw her jumping up over the building, letting him sigh in relief.

"What a strange girl," he noted. For someone who had such a profound view of the world, she was quite irresponsible wasn't she?

A/N:

And that's the second half of the previous chapter. If you're wondering why Morrison is doing all this, it's simple really. They don't need training to get stronger. They needed training to be more human.

Anyways, I'll try to post a poll tommorow. Sorry for the delay cause this thing keep fighting me. Needed to nail the tone down and I think I got it. Next up is a chapter for Empress! Maybe I'll sneak an extra chapter of Empress this month if I have time, but for now, it'll just be next chapter. Sorry.