“Salamander gene-seed of Primarch Vulkan, a quite strange gene-seed,” Ventarian remarked to himself as he read through the texts about the Salamanders and their gene-seed. The apothecary continued reading for a little bit before he looked up to look upon another data-slate that gave a far more brief explanation to the gene-seed of Vulkan, outlining its oddities and such so that Ventarian could gradually take in the facts and now how to treat one the members of his kill team. He scrolled through it, taking note of how the gene-seed altered the pigmentation of the Salamanders, making them near dark or jet-black skin, even affecting their eyes to make them red. Even stranger was their affinity to focus upon heat signatures without the aid of thermal optics, a fact that puzzled the son of the Lion all too easily as he attempted to familiarize himself with the gene-seed.

Luckily, there was nothing else to puzzle Ventarius as the gene-implants were all too similar to him and he would find it easy to operate on such similarities to his own Chapter’s though the risk of mixing them would, of course, be detrimental. Ventarius loosed a sigh as he moved away from the gene-seed, for a moment to instead move to pray to the Emperor wishing to receive his guidance and wisdom so that he may get through the watch without incident. The apothecary was still all too nervous about uncovering any Fallen within the ranks of the Deathwatch and he did not want to have his brothers come to interrogate anyone, not while he was still serving. The Sons of the Lion would be all too eager to catch anything that might lead them to Cipher, all too eager to bring redemption to the entire line of the Lion. That said, nothing yet implied that such were amongst the ranks of the Watch, but he knew that he’d have to remain ever vigilant for such threats as there was still a chance one may be binding amongst them. 

“My Emperor and My Primarch, guide my mind through this watch and guide my hands in battle to bring about the destruction of the foes of man. May you keep my soul ever vigilant against the threats imposed by the fallen and may you keep them at bay,” Ventarian prayed, keeping his head low as he attempted to placate his own thoughts. The Apothecary remained silent for a few moments as he hoped that his words would be heard by the Emperor before he would return to his seat and continue his studies of the other gene-seeds. His mind slowly replaced the paranoia with that of a resolute focus that would allow him to study in some semblance of peace for the time being.

[hr]

“A friendly bout?” The apothecary echoed before looking at his teacher letting a small smile come to his lips as he spoke once more, “I do not believe it would be fair to them to go against someone with so much knowledge upon the weaknesses of an Astartes.” 

The eyes of the apothecary moved to his would be opponents in a tung and cheek fashion before looking to the Salamander who seemed to answer in a simplicity that Ventarian could appreciate. Ventarian allowed himself to gauge his opponents, wondering which one would be most advantageous for him to go after first in the case of such a brawl, though such thoughts were moot until they were actually in the ring of battle. His head motioned to a small and polite bow, before stating a more polite tone befitting his status of an apothecary, “I do accept the idea of a bout, though I do maintain we should allow caution to remain as I do not desire to be operating upon broken bones quite yet.”