Messages for Dad thread (Warhammer 40k)

[DuskDawnAndFate]

Messages for Dad

I can't believe this became a thing



This is a thread dedicated to just the series of scibblings called "Messages for Dad". It started out as a cute thing I wanted to do for my OTP, it got out of control, now it has a thread.

Originally, it started out on the thread If the Emperor Watched TTS Extras Thread.

You are free to discuss here, free to throw around ideas and such, just please be respectful. Please avoid roleplaying, this is a creative writing area. I don't mind you guys writing snippets, just don't go crazy.

I'll be keeping the reactions in, since they kinda go together and need each other. Plus, how will the ending make sense without them?

I'm sorry for the massive dump of story on the first page, this is a repost from the original thread and I brought them all here at the same time. No more multiposting from me here.

Either way, enjoy the ride!

Summary:
The Imperial Family have gotten messages that seem to have come from the future, a future where Chaos is winning, the Emperor is dead, there are children and there is more war. The events of the future influence the present, especially when they finally start to make steps towards a better reality, while the future only seems to grow more and more distant...

Aegidius Guilliman will have to live his life in this galaxy, and this broken Imperium, and to one day have to do what is right for his home.

Co writer is Showtime178
Linework for the Guilliman statue by some schmuck named Zcee who doesn't ever do work for TTS at all


PLEASE USE READER MODE IT'S ON THE TOP AND BOTTOM OF EVERY PAGE

Word Count so far: 452,358

Currently being rewritten!

TRANSLATIONS!
Chinese: Extras 6 only so far 【在纳垢的花园中，看到别样的绽放】 - 战锤杂文翻译集 - 刺猬猫​

 

[DuskDawnAndFate]

These past few weeks started simply, the Emperor had been about to leave the Great Crusade and head to Terra for his secret work. Before he could leave, he was sent a few vids to watch, he could have ignored them and gone off his merry way, but something made him stop.

He decided to spend a few moments with his sons before he left, and what better way to spend time was watch these vids right after Ullanor?

A single decision that led to all of his sons congregating around the Bucephalus, with countless fights, laughs and ribbing at each other and at him as they watched a series of future events called “Text-To-Speech”. And from there, it spiraled out of control. After watching all of TTS, they moved on to other events of the future, all the while bonding as a family, settling differences and old grudges all the while forming some new ones. Drawing pacts and making Tzeentch, the god of change scream “NOT AS PLANNED!” in constant intervals as the entire timeline was flipped on its head by the Imperium of Mankind's Royal Family constantly learning things from future and bygone eras. Lorgar even awoke to his full psychic abilities at some point during all of this.

Then they watched separate realities, different timelines from the mysterious vid archives that just seemed to keep filling with more vids to watch. They even sat down to enjoy some leisure time.

That is how those few weeks passed for them all even as on the Throneworld, a certain Sigillite was going madder and madder with the sheer amount of paperwork that was quickly piling up.

They even made a system, where eventually they all took turns digging through to find something to watch and so on. Lorgar found vids of religion, Ferrus would find vids of technology, Magnus about the warp, so on, so forth. And as the cycle repeated once more, the twin Primarchs were diving through some of the holovids, searching yet again for interesting content.

Unbeknownst to the entire family, the entire Imperium, even the entire galaxy... The series of vids that the Primarchs of the Alpha Legion would stumble upon would be the catalyst, the breaking point, the one which would push them over the edge. It would cause the entire universe to flip itself on its head and raise the entirety of mankind to a whole other plain of existence.

And it was very innocently titled…

Messages for Dad

...​

We join the family at the beginning of this very moment.

Alpharius and Omegon were digging through the pile of holovids, the thing having gotten so massive that they had just begun to throw all of the un-watched vids onto a pile, while the watched ones went to another. Yes, Magnus nearly had an aneurysm after seeing this the first time, but he got over it.

A certain blue and white heradly colored Primarch though…

“I swear brothers, can’t you at least put down the vids gently? If you began stacking them, a basic organized collection would finally be formed instead of it looking like a collegium dorm used clothing pile!”

The twins completely ignored their brother as they continued digging through the pile of unwatched vids and soon, one of their gauntleted hands poked out from the pile, a shower of other vids accompanying it as it presented one chest in particular. A chest covered in aeldari symbols and even some human runes. “It seems…” Alpharius (?) spoke up from the pile, his voice muffled, followed by Omegon (?) crawling out of the pile as well. “-We found…” And then the two stood up proudly, both holding the chest together now. Speaking in sync, “Something interesting.”

The Emperor, who was lounging on his throne, perked up when the twins finally found something after so long. “FINALLY YOU TWO FOUND SOMETHING. I WAS PONDERING WHETHER OR NOT TO SKIP YOU TWO.” They shrugged at this and he waved a hand at them, done with the conversation. “SO, WHAT DID YOU TWO FIND?”

They looked at each other, then at the chest, then themselves, then back to the family (in that order) before they spoke up together, again, in sync. “Did anyone send messages to father?”

“FROM WHERE AND WHEN?” The Emperor asked, looking directly at Horus and Sanguinius, maybe Rogal. He was sure one of those would be the one to do that, since most others kind of… not hate, per se, but not love.

“Odd…” Maybe it was Alpharius saying this, while perhaps it was Omegon who answered, “It says it’s the 42nd Millennium.”

“Okay, you two, stop. A message for Father? Obviously it has to do with some very crucial or even personal matters, it almost feels wrong to open it in front of everyone. We can’t just violate the privacy of our own Father.” Horus spoke up, ever the mediator between the family and their antics. He knew that his Father would want privacy and it was their job to respect that.

There were murmurs of agreement among the more upstanding of the brothers while the more uncaring ones grumbled about their privacy already being breached and the Emperor being a massive hypocrite. Why shouldn’t they? They barely had any privacy anymore since the vids started up, everyone’s worst sides were on full display every day, so it’s quite hypocritical they gave him that privacy.

The Emperor, meanwhile, was internally grateful. It was difficult to have his own vices and shortcomings on full display, so he’d like to not have it on full display for once. “THANK YOU, HORUS.”

Sanguinius, who was closest to the twins at the moment, looked over at the box in question on a whim and stopped for a second. “Wait, this isn’t addressed to Father.”

The twins blinked owlishly, then looked at the label marking the chest full of vids.

“Sanguinius is…” Began one of the twins. “Correct.” Finished the other.

“To who then?” Asked Horus.

“To…” “Guilliman.”

There was an audible pause as everyone in the room slowly turned to the Lord of Ultramar and Roboute looked back at all of them, the beginnings of a desperate look on his face even as it slowly twisted into annoyance.

“Don’t you dare.”

“I say we watch it.” Began Mortarion, ever the spiteful one of his brothers.

“It would be useful information most likely.” Continued Magnus.

“It would help me get over my grudge, a humbling experience is always helpful in the long run.” Said Lorgar with a wicked grin. “Isn’t that what you said to me at one point?”

“We DID have to deal with CUNTO SHITARIUS in all those other vids!” Angron yelled out, but he did have a nearly manic grin on his face, always happy to have his annoying monarch of a brother choke on some of his own medicine.

“Anyone else notice that it says ‘Messages for Dad’ on the label?” Added Magnus as he inspected the first vid.

“Dad? As in, father?” Stated Fulgrim in a surprised tone.

“Aye, who the hell finally got desperate enough to fuck ye-”

“THANK YOU, Leman, for that very ASTUTE analysis of my sexual life!” Finally spoke up Roboute in his defence. “Besides, you aren’t that petty are you all?”

The family looked at each other, before slowly turning their heads back at Roboute and simply staring even as Guilliman facepalmed hard with both of his bare hands, the gauntlets resting on the side of his throne.

“You are all incorrigible.”

“MAGOS.” Began the Emperor even as Magos Lehm booted himself out of hibernation. “PLAY IT.”

“Father, please, we still have a chance to-” Roboute began, hoping to appeal to his Father about this, but the Emperor gave no quarter.

“EVERYONE HAS TO DEAL WITH A BIT OF HUMILIATION, ROBOUTE. BETTER TO TAKE IT LIKE A MAN AND JUST GET OVER IT.” The Emperor answered, sitting back and watching the screen.

The vid started up, no one really realizing how much this particular set of vids was going to change everything.

204.M42

The Holovid started abruptly. The holorecorder shook as it was seemingly dropped and crashed down on what appeared to be a desk.

“Ah!” Came a young, squeeky and startled voice.

Clumsy, pale fingers traced over the lens as the holorecorder was picked up after a few tries and turned to face its user. A young boy with a very familiar jawline with baby fat, a very familiar nose and brow, with a very familiar looking clothing style as well.

The family looked at Guilliman, then back on screen, then again at Guilliman, the back at the screen.
Leman: “Well frack me and call me a Fenrisian wenches bitch, yer actually did it ye utter mad lad.”
Emps: “TO SAY THAT I AM SURPRISED IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT.”
Rogal: “The child has the features of Roboute, yet is quite clumsy.”
Perturabo: *smacks Rogal as the tradition demanded despite Rogal not even really being able to feel it* “Thank you for stating the obvious brother.”
Rogal: “My pleasure brother.”

The child’s hair was curly-bright blonde and cut short as it peeked out of the edges of a helmet. He wore a blue dress uniform with Macraggian and Ultramarine heraldry even as it was primarily colored blue. It was completely off set however by the armoured helmet that he was wearing on his head.

“Did I… did I break it?” He gently asked even as he looked over the holocam and rolled the footage back to check it for any corruption. The jumpcut from this action shifted quickly from the worried face of the boy to the wide grin he was giving to the recorder.

“Its fine!” He said with a pleasant chuckle even as he put the holocam back onto the desk with an audible thunk, showing his nicely decorated room. He made sure to keep it propped up and gently moved it to keep it in place. The boy’s room was spacious, with the same style of Macraggian artificery as would be expected. There were countless bookshelves lining the room with an assortment of books, figures of some type of game (The Emperor shrunk back at those memories of playing that particular game) and there were plenty of propaganda posters of the Ultramarines and the Astra Militarum to complete the look.

“Hi dad! It's me, your son, uh... Aegidius!”

*Guilliman was visibly confused but his heart seemed to be instinctively warming up to the idea of fatherhood*
Roboute: “To be fair… Aegidius is a good sounding name.”
Emps: “TO BE EXTRA FAIR, IT HAS ALLOT OF TRAGEDY ASSOCIATED WITH IT.”
Vulkan: “I hope he is more fortunate than any of his name carrying predecessors. I only wish the best for the cute little one!”

“So uh…” Once more began Aegidius, seeming confused at what he was supposed to do now. He nervously patted his desk, trying to not stare directly at the holorecorder, since he wasn’t sure if that was rude or not. “I know you gave me this holorecorder so that I could send you messages while you were away but uh…” Aegidius scratched his hair in frustration. “I guess… I could start with a report?”

Guilliman: “If that is what you wish son, then go ahead.” *Realizes that he just answered a holovid* “WHAT THE-”
Emps: “THAT’S JUST THE INSTINCTS KICKING IN, YOUR GENES ARE FAR STRONGER THAN A REGULAR HUMANS, EVEN IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA.”
*Meanwhile Magnus, Fulgrim and Jaghatai all nodded sagely, as if they somehow knew what that felt like. Lion meanwhile, was quite confused at this, but didn’t dare show it.*

“So uh, yeah, report I uh… guess I can start with a date? No wait, that will be hardcoded in by the holorecorder, I uh… well, you have been gone for a while but-” He tried to nervously scratch at his hair, but kept hitting the helmet, making him nearly yell in frustration, “ Agh! I can’t think clearly with my helmet on.”

He reached up and began fiddling with the pressure lock of the helmet, finally getting the seal undone after a few tries and slowly taking off his helmet to reveal the rest of his curly blonde hair and…

​

Jaghatai: “Brother, I have to say… WHAT ON ALL OF THE PLAINS OF CHOGORIS WERE YOU THINKING?!”
Vulkan: *Deeply struggling on the inside and going red from the restraint*
Mortarion: “This is just… disgusting.”

Where one would typically find ears on a baseline human, Aegidius instead had a pair of very sharp, distinct Aeldari ones. Even the shape of his eyes, not obscured by the visor on the helmet had a very distinct aeldari shape as well, even if the coloring was human like.

Emps: “WOW, EVEN YOU MANAGED TO WOO AN AELDARI, GOOD SKILLS SON.”
Magnus: “I just, wow, I didn’t think this possible…”
Leman: “Well, that’s just bleeding horrible.”
Roboute: “Can you please not pick on my future son? Or insult me for that matter? My private life is just that, private, and I will not-”
Angron: “Sure thing Eldar-fucker.”
Guilliman: “I just-”
Lorgar: “I wonder which one would be beautiful enough to ensnare you brother? Must be one with zoophili-”
Emps: “TOO FAR LORGAR, TOO FAR.”
Sanguinius: “How about we all just watch? I am personally interested by the child, despite his… unusual, origin.”
Konrad: “Seconding that.”
Emps: “WOW KONRAD, I DID NOT EXPECT THAT FROM YOU.”
Konrad: “The child is not responsible for being brought into this world, so I don’t care about him but it’s better than watching some of the other stuff.”
Corvus: “Agreed.”
Emps: “MAGOS, UNPAUSE.”

“Well, I suppose… The Primaris have been doing a great job keeping me company… Brother Tigris and Brother Brutus have been getting kinda distant lately. They say they’re just tired from all the fighting. Why don’t they just take a nap if they’re tired? Now that I think about it, why doesn’t everyone just take a nap? The regular Ultramarines barely sleep enough that their armor is all dinged up and scratched. The techmarines and Artificers can’t repair it quick enough and replacements are tough to come by. Even Big Bro Cato has his armor all beat up too.” Aegidius leaned forward onto his desk, head perched on his hands. “Do you think that you can give them a chance to rest? Imperium Sec… Secoon… Se… coon… dus… can’t be that crazy to always be fighting, can it?”

Emps: “DID THE KID JUST SAY ‘IMPERIUM SECUNDUS’?”
Fulgrim: “And to think that people associate me with personal glory.”
Horus: “And me, but I am quite sure that is not the case.”
Roboute: “Thank you, brother, at least someone is on my side. I am sure that if Imperium Secundus is in effect that there was a good reason for it.”

Aegidius shrugged, looking at the recorder as he continued. “Everyone in the city is fine, I guess? Some guys crashed and attacked, they broke a lot of stuff, but my brothers just got rid of them and nothing bad happened. All the people worked to get everything back together, even the Eldar helped too. Mom always did say that Craftworlders are a bunch of lazy, entitled assholes who don’t work for anything and they all should- Oh wait, I don’t think I can say all those bad words…”

Leman: “Not a bad lad.”
Mortarion: “I suddenly like this child slightly more.”
Guilliman: “He is a child! He shouldn’t know those words!”
Magnus: “He had to have heard it before to repeat them. Is Leman nearby by chance?”
Leman: “Hey!”
Magnus: “Can’t blame me for this one brother, I am right.”
Leman: *Wolfgrumble*
Ferrus: “Apparently the child’s mom has a foul mouth and talks bad about other Eldar on a regular basis.”
Fulgrim: “Exodite perhaps?”
Magnus: “I would disagree, exodites tend to simply avoid their other kin.”
Konrad: “And she is most likely not a Dark Eldar either, unless-”
Lorgar: “Unless of course Roboute is into that sort of-”
Guilliman: “AGAIN! Thank you for delving so deeply into my private affairs!”

“Well… I hope you get to come back home soon! You’ve been gone for a long time now, and we don’t even talk on vox or anything… So try and come back? We can play battleships, or army men or maybe we can read together? Oh! Maybe I can show you my new songs? I… I just miss you, Dad. I miss you and mom, the both of you are always gone and it gets really lonely here.” Aegidius smiled, waving his hands. “But it’s okay! I’m a big boy! I can wait until you come back! You always come back! Cause you’re the strongest, smartest and best person in the whole galaxy!”

Roboute: “I… It’s nice to actually hear someone speak so highly of me like that…”
Lorgar: “Don’t you have enough people doing that for you at home?”
Roboute: “Well- this is different… He’s just so earnest and… everything. It’s just nice to have someone feel that much love and affection towards me. That’s all.”
Emps: *wants to say something, but just lets it go*

He shifted a bit, making himself a bit more comfortable.

“So, I’ll be here on Macragge! I’ll study every night, I’ll read a new book every day, I’ll make sure to wash behind my ears and everything! So stay safe!” He waved again, in goodbye. “Bye dad! I love you! And say hi to mom if you see her!”

Aegidius then picked up the holorecorder, dropped it again, cried out that he broke it with a curse in completely fluent Aeldari, then it cut off to a blank screen.

Perturabo: “And we just watched that because?”
Rogal: “It appears that sometime into the 42nd Millenium, Imperium Secundus has been reformed and Roboute sired an heir. From what I have gathered from the child, not everything in the future is well, and that there is much more at play than what we have seen thus far. I gather that the future must be quite bleak, and that further viewing may shed more light on the subject.”
Perturabo: “That… was too informative for me to smack you.”
Emps: “HONESTLY, THIS WAS KIND OF INTERESTING. WHAT SAY YOU ROBOUTE? ANOTHER ONE?”
Guilliman: *Thinking deeply* “I… yes, play the next one.”

 

[Sergio2592]

First!!!!!!


Now I want to see the child of the fabulous hawkboy

 

[DuskDawnAndFate]

Silence was all that graced the room as the family patiently waited for the new holovid to play. Everyone had their own opinions of the child, Aegidius, and the information in these vids. Some were internally debating on whether or not watching more was going to be beneficial in the end, they did have a mountain of information of the future already, what more can one series do?

Meanwhile, Horus was lounging on his throne, waiting for the next vid to play. After watching the first vid, he was reminded of something else...

“Imagine having to deal with children…” Slowly muttered Horus under his breath.

“Excuse you, brother?” Cut in Roboute, surprised that he felt this strongly already. Maybe watching these vids wasn’t such a good idea...

Horus shrugged, a long suffering sigh escaping him as he continued, “I mean, dealing with some of you is like dealing with a bunch of children at times-”

“OI! What’s that supposed to mean?” Leman cut him off even as most of the family snickered. “I just fell for that? Really?”

“I hear wolves get slower in their old age.” Commented Magnus in a smug voice.

“YA DAMN NERD! I AM ONLY 2000 WOLF YEARS OL-”

“I’m sorry, but did you just say, ‘Wolf Years’!?” Interrupted Magnus, incredulity painted on his face as he regarded Leman.

“It’s a valid bloody measurement, accepted in the highest Imperial standards!”

“No it bloody well isn’t! I would know, I wrote that particular codex myself along with Robout-”

“Nerds!”

“You’re insufferable! This is almost as bad as the time you tried to tell us that measuring levels of destruction should be called ‘ANGRONS’.”

There was a grunt of annoyance from the Red Angel himself even as Leman gave a wolfish grin. “Well, I did also try to propose a unit for psychic catastrophe levels but you denied it.”

“BECAUSE CALLING SOMETHING ‘NERD FAILURE LEVELS’ MAKES NO SCIENTIFIC SENSE!”

“Magnus wasn’t around for this at the time, but during the earlier stages of the Great Crusade, Leman attempted to impose ‘Wolves’ for survival chances of a battle.” Added on Horus. Leman letting out a growl at this.

“I’m not surprised. I’ve heard children come up with better terms than that.”

“Honestly, I can’t remember that.” Added Leman as he reclined on his throne.

“What? Has all of that Space Marine level alcohol you tend to drink finally rotted away the memory part of your brain?” Asked Magnus, incredulous.

“Ney, I can’t. In fact, all I remember is that I met Horus on the day that I probably proposed that and then we had a feast and-ohhhh so that's why!” Leman then turned to face the Warmaster and gained his brothers attention by tapping him on the shoulder. “Say, brother, how many tables did I break that day?”

“What? Why would you ask me that? All of them were broken-”

“Aye, but how many did I personally break?”

“Oh, I don’t know… like, twenty maybe?”

“Ah, pretty out of it then.”

“YOU MEASURE HOW DRUNK YOU WERE BY BROKEN TABLES?!” Guess who piped up.

“Oh, of course not!”

“Oh… good, my intelligence was insulted just about as much as it could be by then.”

“By how many tables I broke, along with how many women I bedded! Though of course I was much more of a bachelor back in those days.”

Everyone heard and audible snap as Magnus’ logical mind decided to go for an extended vacation in the warp.

Thankfully, this was the moment Magos Lehm decided to interrupt the incoming fight. “My lords, the vid has been readied for playing.”

“GO AHEAD PLEASE, MAGOS.” Spoke the Emperor even as the projector began playing the holovid. “I SWEAR, ALL OF YOU ARE CHILDREN.”

204.M42

The holovid feed came alive, this time it thankfully didn't fall over as soon as it started, obviously because the holorecorder was on a much sturdier surface. It showed Aegidius carrying some bag with him as he hurriedly pulled it off to throw onto his bed. Quickly coming to the desk chair, obviously he was excited about something and could barely contain himself.

"Hi dad! I finally figur-" Aegidius threw himself onto his chair, but accidentally landed on the edge, causing him to slip and crash onto the side of his desk with an audible THUNK.

Aegidius let out a groan from the floor, shakily bringing a hand up and waving at the recorder. “...I’m okay.”

He slowly got up from the floor, shakily grabbing onto the side of the desk and getting up. The entire lower half of his face was covered in blood as his nose was bent in an abnormal angle. “Okay, that wasn’t as bad…” He chuckled humorlessly. “Sorry, dad. I know you uhhh… Don’t really like it when I mess up.” What was strange is that his voice had a slight whistle to it now, which surprised him as well. “Wait, hold on…”

Emperor: “MAGOS… PAUSE PLEASE. ROBOUTE, WHAT-”
Leman: “HOW IN THE WOLFIN HELL ISN’T THAT PUP CRYING HIS EYES OUT!?”
Magnus: “I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD SAY THIS BUT, I AGREE WITH LEMAN!”
Roboute: *Shocked into a worried silence* “I… Aegidius… I don’t know why he is like this. Mortarion, you’re the doctor, what do you think?”
Mortarion: “I am no expert on mutant physiology, but I’m pretty sure he must have experienced a large amount of pain early on in life and it affected his pain receptors. Or maybe he just has a dulled sense of pain. It could be either, really. I don’t really care.”
Roboute: “What could he possibly have gone through to be like that!?”
Emperor: “ROBOUTE, IT’S FINE. HE OBVIOUSLY DOESN’T SEE ANYTHING WRONG WITH HIMSELF AND IS NOT DEAD, SO IT’S FINE. MAGOS.”

Then he reached into his mouth and felt around a bit before wincing only slightly as he pulled out a small tooth. “Oh… I lost another one.” He shrugged, nonchalantly, “cool.” He put the tooth in some unknown container off screen as he put his chair back up and sat down on it carefully. “Hold on, I can’t breathe through my nose.”

​

Roboute: *Violently begins pointing at the screen* “SON! WHAT IN THE EVERLOVING FU-”
Vulkan: “Language my dear brother! The poor young one is obviously used to the pain.”
Jaghatai: “And this being an unnerving constant in his life… I really should send a hymnal to Chogoris when I have the time.”

And then he broke it back into place with barely a whine or complaint, as a wet snap came from the screen as it was back in place. “There we go. Oh wait, I’m covered in my own blood again…”

Fulgrim: *shivering* “Ugh, I have seen that thousands of times, but I still can’t get over people snapping parts back into place...”

He looked down to his clothing, “Blood is so hard to get out of clothes…” He looked back up. “Okay, so I was… Doing a lot better? I mean, this is the first time today that I got hurt and fell over. I was doing really good too! I was watching where I was going, I made sure not to run in the halls, I swear I was good!” He frowned, wiping away at the blood on his face with his sleeve.

Roboute: “Son… how can you be that clumsy with Primarch and Aeldari genes in your blood?”
Corvus: “Sounds like a really unlucky mixture of genes.”
Emperor: “THAT UNLUCKY? I DOUBT IT, THERE WOULD NEED TO BE SOME EXTERNAL FORCE IN PLAY.”
Roboute: *Worries increasing exponentially*

“But I don’t know, it just happens. I mean, I know you’re gonna be mad, but whenever I go to sneak peeks at the war meetings, I’m fine. But whenever I go do anything else, I get hurt! It’s weird.” He began to look around for a replacement shirt, leaving the screen.

Roboute: “YOU DO WHAT YOUNG MAN?”
Horus: “It’s not as If I wasn’t attending war meetings at his age.”
Roboute: “You are a primarch brother. And besides… our father is a horrible parent.”
Emperor: “HEY... OK, YOU MIGHT HAVE A POINT. MY CHILD RAISING SKILLS WERE NEVER THE BEST.”

Sounds of rummaging come from the screen, Aegidius peeking his head back in, “I hope you’re not mad.” Then back away, with a curse in Aeldari. “Sal Drag bren…”

Roboute: “I don’t suppose I can be son, just worried that- *Realizes yet again what he is doing* ARE YOU KIDDING ME?”
Emps: “GIVE IT TIME, IT SHOULD GO AWAY.”
Roboute: “Father, I’m worried that I might start lecturing the vid at some point.”
Emps: “I DOUBT YOU’LL GET TO THAT POINT, SON. CALM DOWN AND WATCH THE VID.”

Eventually, he did come back to the screen, using his old shirt to wipe away more blood. “This is so hard to do without water… Ugh, but if I do ask for something to help, then Big bro will come… I don’t wanna deal with him…” He sat back down, laying his head on the desk. “Dad? I got to ask… Why did you put Big Bro Sicarius in charge of me?”

“I mean, he isn’t so bad. He has a lot of stories, he can be fun to be around, he’s a good friend, and he’s a great babysitter… But… But I’m not a baby, you know…” He huffed, “Sorry, I’m just kinda… Not happy with school. Everyone is usually so down and so full of despair, or just disappear in a day because they are becoming my brothers. It’s hard to really enjoy it or… you know? I guess constant war is just… Not good?”

Leman: “Not the sharpest sword is he?”
Roboute: “He is a child brother, back off.”
Leman: “On Fenris he would already be fighting.”
Magnus: “And that is why it’s called a Death world.”

“Can’t you fix it? Can’t you just make it stop?” He looked up at the screen, big eyes looking up at him, as if demanding answers.

Roboute: “That is oddly… effective.”
Jaghatai: “Strange, I thought the effect was limited to females.”
Fulgrim: “Apparently not, it’s working on me too. Must be the aeldari genes within him.”

“But it can’t be so bad? I mean, they’re going off to be Ultramarines! That’s just so cool! I wish you’d let me be one, though I don’t know if I’d be a good one. I fall over all the time, you tell me I have to stay home because people get lost if I’m not… Then again, I don’t even like fighting, so I guess I’d be a really lousy Ultramarine…” He groaned, moving and hitting his head onto the desk with a soft thunk.

Roboute: *Winces* “He is too young to understand the trials as of yet.”
Angron: “No, he is the perfect age for them.”
Roboute: “He is but, the trials are difficult and… well-”
Magnus: “You can not see yourself putting Aegidius through them?”
Roboute: “Yes… I don’t know why, it must just be the instincts…”
Magnus: “I can see that.”
Jaghatai: *want to say something but just lets it go*

“Though for some reason I see the parents of the ones who go to become Ultramarines crying sometimes when they come to the fortress. They just seem so sad when one of my brothers tells them something then offers them a folded flag…”

Sanguinius: “That is… the reality of those who don’t pass…”
Roboute: “I know… I know.”

“Please come home soon. I don’t really have anyone to talk to. All my brothers are too busy fighting daemons that appear here sometimes or going off to war.”

“All the kids my age are kinda… scared of me? Or just angry with me sometimes. Lots of kids tell me that they can’t see their siblings anymore because of me.”

“And the Aeldari aren’t much help either. The craftworlders are still angry that they are stuck here in Macragge, and the Exodites aren’t happy with leaving their Maiden worlds and mainly keep to themselves in the plains and forests… And they all just either hate me or just stare at me… with some weird look on their face as they call me…” He paused, thinking, “He-who-shines-brightest?” Aegidius sighed, “it sucks not having friends.”

Emperor: “HE-WHO-SHINES-BRIGHTEST. NOW THAT IS AN INTERESTING BIT OF INFORMATION.”
Lorgar: “Indeed, what could he have done to earn that title?”
Jaghatai: “The eldar do not bestow titles needlessly nor without intent.”
Rogal: “He shines brightest. Not necessarily in the matterium.”
Magnus: “Rogal might just be right here… Perhaps this connects with what he said earlier?”
Roboute: “Which part?”
Magnus: “People getting lost without him?”
Emperor: “WE NEED TO WATCH MORE BEFORE WE CAN SET A HYPOTHESIS.”

“Kinda funny that I finally figured out what to say on these, and it ends up making me feel really sad and lonely instead. And I was so excited to tell you all about my day, or something I learned. Instead of just sending boring messages to you.”

Aegidius then sat up, rubbing at his cheek, scratching at the bottom of his hair. “Dad? Can I tell you something? And can you please not be mad at me?” He pauses, “...I don’t wanna be the Emperor when I grow up.”

Roboute: “WHAT?”
Emperor: “WHAT?!”
Lorgar: “WHAT?!?”
The entire family: “WHAT?”

He ducks his head, retracting into himself slightly, “Please don’t be mad. I… I don’t even know what being an Emperor is like. Being a Prince is bad enough. I don’t like fighting, I don’t like it when other people fight, I don’t even know what I should know and… This is all so much. I just… I don’t know. Why can’t you just keep being the Lord Com… Coh… man...der. Yeah, that. Why do I need to be Emperor? Can’t I just… Stay home and just read? I like reading, I went through about one third of the books in the library of Hera by now!” His face grew sorrowful once more.

Emperor: “HE IS DESTINED TO TAKE MY TITLE. THERE IS SOMETHING GOING ON HERE. SOMETHING FAR GREATER THAN WHAT WE ARE SEEING IF ROBOUTE HIMSELF HAS DECREED IT AS SUCH.”
Roboute: “I… I just want him to have a childhood…”
Fulgrim: “A fair request from a parent but…”
Angron: “This galaxy isn’t fair. You have to deal with it along with the rest of us.”
Roboute: “He is just a child brother-”
Angron: “So was fucking I when they hammered these things into my head.” *Violently points at the cabling leading from his head into his armour* “Life isn’t fucking fair. Especially for a mutant. Get over it.”

“I’m sorry. I’m supposed to be big now, so I can’t complain. I just don’t know what to do.”

Angron: *Huffs* “Kids got grit, I will give him that.”

“I… I’m going to stay tough dad! Tough for you! Don’t worry bout me I can-” Aegidius then glanced at something off the screen. “Is that the time already!? I haven’t done my history homework yet! I barely have 46 pages out of the 20 required ones!”

Magnus: “The fu-”

“I gotta go! See you later da-” Aegidius attempted to reach over and presumably press the power button but looked to slip on his chair, smashing his chin on the desk as he went tumbling to the floor.

“Oww… not again… turn on voice mode…” He grumbled from the floor as a positive sounding ping was heard from the holocam. “Stop recording… ohh the blood got all over dads model-” The feed cut to black.

Once the vid was over, all that was left was the Primarchs and a whole lot more questions than they entered with. What happened to the Emperor? To the Imperium!? What was going on that MACRAGGE was under daemonic attack? Why was Aegidius proclaimed practically as a prophet by the Eldar?

“My brain hurts…” Began Magnus.

“THE ANSWERS ARE A BIT… STRANGE. THE SITUATION EVEN MORE-SO.” Answered the Emperor even as he was rubbing his eyes.

“I thought watching these vids would answer our questions, but all it did was throw more at us and not nearly enough information to answer them!” Sanguinius ground out, surprising some brothers at his mood. “I find… cliffhangers to be… upsetting.”

Rogal blinked, “But you are not on a cliff. And you can fly.”

“Its… its not like that brother.” Slowly spoke Sanguinius.

“Patience brother.” Gently advise Horus. “I have no doubt that eventually we will see all of these questions answered, if any of the other series we have watched are to go by.”

“Cliffhangers are annoying. But at least they build on things.” Perturabo finally spoke up.

“Things that may just come falling down upon our heads like a stampede of wild Chogorian horses.” Added Jaghatai in a murmur as he looked to be thinking about something else.

“Aegidius’ mind appears to be standard for a boy his age. But his physical capabilities leave much to be desired.” Commented Lion from his throne.

“Agreed. The boy is weak.” Spat Konrad from the back of the room. “None of us had a choice on whether or not we wanted to lead legions and contribute to the Great Crusade. He’s just acting like a spoiled child.”

“Can we please not pick on my future son, brothers?” Spoke up Roboute, finally having enough insults on the behest of his son.

“Future-” “-son?” Asked the twin Primarchs, both wearing sly grins on their identical looking faces.

“Well, the crusade has to end one day. And when that happens I always had hopes of starting a family.”

“WELL, YOUR FUTURE SELF SEEMS TO HAVE TAKEN A VERY LONG TIME AFTER THE CRUSADE HAS ENDED.”

“And with a Xenos witch nonetheless.” Spat out Mortarion, the words leaving a sour taste in his mouth.

“And how would you know its a witch that bears my son?”

“Call it a damned hunch, you are just high enough on the loyalty chain and still proud enough of yourself that it had to have been one of the higher ranking ones.”

“And the Eldar don’t believe in political marriages as far as we know.” Added on Fulgrim with a little smile of his own.

“If there is anyone that could stand yer rambling brother, it would be one of those witches.” Grinned Leman.

“...didn’t we see that one Eldar woman? Later on in Text to Speech and even a few shorts on her as well? She stabbed Roboute and brought him out of stasis?” Corvus spoke up from the back, having been silently listening to them all.

“Along with that over-artificed piece of armour.” Added on Ferrus, finally deciding to contribute to the conversation.

“Could it be her? I mean… I wouldn’t mind…” Roboutes eyes went wide as he realized what he had just revealed.

Jaghatai spoke up quickly, “Remember, brother. She spent time as a Drukhari for a good couple hundred years. Vulkan and I don’t have the fondest of experiences with those damned knife eared assholes.”

“I do not, no.” Spoke up Vulkan. “But if it means that our brother will be happy then I will look the other way.”

Roboute rolled his eyes, “I appreciate the thought, but remember, there’s a chance she isn’t even around at this point. And even then, the vids of that future didn’t really show much of a… romance is a strong word here but…”

“Closed doors and hushed whispers are enough for me.” Spoke Konrad with an odd chill to his tone.

“...SO DOES ANYONE WANT TO TALK ABOUT HOW I’M BEING REPLACED?” The Emperor spoke up, trying to change the subject from possible ass clapping. N-not that he wanted to do the same thing or anything...

“How can one ‘replace’ a deity?” Asked Lorgar, going with the obvious diversion. “I mean, not that I worship you as a god anymore or anything… but the Imperial Cult is still presumably a thing?”

“NICE SAVE THERE. BUT YOU DO BRING UP A GOOD POINT. WHAT I REALLY WANT TO KNOW IS WHY THE ELDAR ARE EITHER REVERING HIM OR HATING HIM. THEN AGAIN, I CAN SEE A GOOD CHUNK OF THEM HATING HIM JUST BECAUSE HE’S HALF HUMAN.” He answered, going off on a tangent thinking about all of these inconsistencies.

“But we haven’t considered one thing.” Began Horus. “Aegidius never said, replace you as Emperor, father. He merely said he doesn’t want to be the Emperor. What is that supposed to mean?” Horus pondered this over.

“... FAR TOO LITTLE SENSE WITH FAR TOO LITTLE INFORMATION IN ORDER FOR US TO DISCERN WHAT IS GOING ON.” The Emperor had a feeling that this was only going to get more complicated as it went on.

“Just like the good old days… like pieces on a Regicide board all over again…”

Spoiler: Extra

Showtime178: “Holy fuck, this went from an eyesore to comedic tragedy… feels man… the fucking feels.”
Dusky: Ha, just wait till we get to the later chapters… >:3c
Showtime178: “Oh well… at least we don’t have the early art anymore.”

 

[DuskDawnAndFate]

As the family settled for the next vid, some of the more curious Primarchs decided to look through the multiple chests of the vids that were now recovered from the massive pile of as of yet, un-watched vids.

They all had the “Messages for Dad” title, but were sorted into different categories. There was the just “Messages for Dad” ones, but then there were “Extras”, “Wife-Tales.” and some other menial un-labeled ones.

“Which one should we even watch next?” Inquired Lorgar, being drawn to a particular vid covered in Colchic script.

“How about just continuing on with the main series? We don’t know enough about the situation to watch an 'Extra’ just yet, I think.” Added on Magnus, holding up the next vid even as a mechandrite of Magos Lehm gently took it from him.

“Aye, might as well. Who even knows why we would look at a bloody wifetale? It just sounds like a cheap pornosl-”

“TOO MUCH INFORMATION SON. PLEASE ALLOW ME TO KEEP AT LEAST THAT PART OF MY SANITY.”

“Father, are you not some forty thousand years old?” Asked Rogal even as the Emperor turned to face him.

“YES THAT WOULD BE ABOUT RIGHT ROGAL, WHY DO YOU ASK?”

“Considering the era when you were born, wouldn’t witnessing intercourse between your son and his wife be considered relatively norm-”

“NO! THAT IS FINAL! IMPERIAL DECREE ON THE SPOT: YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO MENTION THAT EVER AGAIN!”

“Father.” The khan spoke up, gaining the Emperor’s attention. “I would suggest that you do not visit Chogoris while I am there. Period.”

“I HAVE ABSOLUTELY ZERO ISSUES WITH THAT.”

Meanwhile, Fulgrim just gave Jaghatai a look, which was returned. Magnus looked to both of them, all three coming to the same conclusion and soon, all three nodded to each other. All understood. It was a secret they would take to their graves with them. Unless, of course…

Father? Are you listening?

HM? WHAT DID YOU ASK SON?

Nothing, just wanted to check something...

“Can we just please watch the vid? The anticipation is killing me.” Began Roboute even as he turned to a surprisingly impatient looking Sanguinius. “And same with Sanguinius apparently.”

“Yes, yes it damn well is.” Spoke the Angel. “I am far too anxious and keen to see what happens to just sit here idly, twiddling my thumbs at nothing.”

“SO THAT’S WHERE ALL THE BAD EMOTIONS WENT…”

“You say something father?” Tentatively asked Magnus even as the Emperor quickly waved a hand at him, showing that he was fine.

“FINE.” Spoke the Emperor. “MAGOS, PLAY IT.”

Unfortunately, the vid they chose to view was only a few seconds long and detailed Aegidius trying to say hello, but he ended up dropping the holorecorder, which caused the vid to show a quick crack on the screen before shutting off.

Roboute could only pinch the bridge of his nose, a deep sigh escaping him. The antics of his son were...different, to say the least. Here he thought that Aeldari were graceful, deliberate in their actions and words. His son may be half Aeldari, but still! He expected… something. He cared about him, of course, but he still felt as if Aegidius wasn’t… the best…

“Well. That was a quick one.” Fulgrim quipped from the other side of the viewing room.

“I don’t know how he does it.” Roboute answered, not looking at the screen. “I really don’t. It’s exceptionally hard for a holorecorder to break in the hands of a seven year old.”

“...Roboute, believe me when I say this: A seven year old can cause a lot of trouble.” Magnus spoke up, a faraway look in his eye.

“Back on Chogoris they compare the youngest children to drunk angry midgets…”

Fulgrim shuddered, knowingly grateful that he wouldn’t have to deal with that.

At this point, the Emperor glanced at the three of them, his suspicion building from the last few vids. “DO YOU THREE HAVE SOMETHING YOU NEED TO TELL ME?”

The poker faces of the three would have impressed him, if he didn’t already know they were hiding something from him. He could have and would have used his own abilities to force the information from them, but… He was trying to be a better father to them. So forcing it out wouldn’t be appropriate… at this time.

“Not at the moment, Father.” Magnus answered, not looking at the Emperor.

Jaghatai shrugged, “Chogoris has many children and I have dealt with them on numerous occasions.” He answered honestly.

“Technically, we are all fathers you know?” Added on Fulgrim. “Astartes being our gene-sons and all that.”

The Emperor looked at Fulgrim. He had a sneaking suspicion that all three of them were hiding something very big from him. And knowing how both Jaghatai and Fulgrim could both be very eloquent without really saying at all...

Fulgrim looked at Jaghatai, desperation evident on his features.

Jaghatai glanced at Magnus, lifting an eyebrow even as Magnus recoiled and quickly shook his head even as the Emperor looked at him again.

Then Magnus had a brilliant idea. He looked at Rogal, and gave him the psychic equivalent of a nudge.

Rogal looked at Magnus even as he lifted an eyebrow and Magnus moved his head suggestively while sending him a mental request for a later personal meeting. The Emperor now looked at Rogal even as Rogal gave a curt nod in Magnus’ direction and the Master of Mankind recoiled in shock, his train of thought was violently derailed.

204.M42

The vid started up suddenly, but what was strange was how Aegidius wasn’t paying attention to the screen at all. Suddenly, it all made sense.

On screen, Aegidius seemed to be writing on some parchment, face scrunched up and his tongue sticking out of his mouth slightly as he worked. His pen quickly moved, every now and then he would scratch at his hair, idly grabbing and pulling a particular strand that just happened to curl more than the rest.

Roboute noticed something however. For how clumsy his son appeared to be while… well… living. Writing appeared not to be an issue however! The writing utensil that he was using was flowing gracefully along the parchment as if it was a leaf falling in the autumn times of Macragge.

“...ent desha, Tel'Aeldari shre'tel eshaal sienen Rûn. Sienen arsurinya fhaor ila nae…”Aegidius muttered to himself as he wrote. He sighed, “Stupid propaganda lines… Tutors making me write about how great the Aeldari Empire was. Wish I didn’t have to learn Aeldari, High Gothic is so much easier.”

Roboute: “Wait a moment- oh come on! REALLY!?”
Corvus: “What is it?”
Roboute: “Those lines he’s writing are basically saying about how great the Eldar are and how it’s ‘their divine right to conquer the galaxy’.”
*noticeable sounds of anger from Vulkan and Jaghatai*
Magnus: “Of course they are… Of fucking course they are…”
Emperor: “DIVINE RIGHT, MY ASS. THEY HAD THEIR CHANCE AND THEY FUCKED IT ALL UP. HOPE THEY AREN’T TRYING TO MAKE HIM BECOME AN ELDAR SUPREMIST.”
Roboute: “Do you honestly think I would let them?”

“Really hope I don’t have to meet with a tutor today. They’re always so stuffy… Stupid banana heads…”

*snickers from the family*

“Oh!” Aegidius suddenly realized as a tiny beep alerted him to the Holocam apparently having low battery. “Oh it uh-turned on…” He reached over to most likely turn it off, but couldn’t quite reach it. “Oh-E'Sum Ath Al Drukhari whore-” He got up and put one knee on his desk. Apparently though, he forgot about the very slippery plastek flimsies that he was writing on.

“AH!” He screamed as he slid backwards and landed straight on his behind even as the plastek flimsies were sent flying, gently fluttering toward Aegidius like leaves.

Guilliman: “WAIT! PAUSE!”
*The vid paused*
Guilliman: “Reverse, two seconds.”
*The vid reversed*

On the screen there was a clear shot of the plastek flimsy and what Aegidius was writing…

Guilliman: “Oh you got to be kidding me…” *Furiously rubs eyes*
Sanguinius: “What is the matter? It looks like fine Aeldari to me.”
Guilliman: “He… he mixed up the words…”
Lorgar: “Which ones?”
Emperor: “ALL OF THEM. EVERY. SINGLE. ONE.”
Roboute: “Even the spelling is off. Everything is off. I’m not sure how he did it, but well, Aeldari is notoriously complex, even for me. So, it’s not so bad.”
Magnus: “I speak it well enough.”
Roboute: “Yes, but you had more time then me and… actually, how did you learn?”
Magnus: *Sudden far away and… frightened look?* “Practice. A lot of practice.”
Lorgar: “...are those drawings next to the runes?”
Ferrus: “Looks like marines shooting at Tyranids.”
Fulgrim: “...he’s quite flamboyant with the blood.”
Angron: “I see nothing wrong with portraying reality.”
Magnus: “I uh, don’t think that was being flamboyant.”
Fulgrim: “What then?”
Magnus: “I think he might have just spilled a container of ink.”
Roboute: “...of course he did.”

Aegidius groaned from the floor again, then let out a whoop of joy, “YES! DIDN’T LOSE A TOOTH!”

Roboute: *facepalming*

After a few seconds, he tried to get up, only to yelp in pain. “DAMMIT! I THINK I BROKE SOMETHING AGAIN!”

Guilliman: “LANGUAGE YOUNG MAN!”
Sanguinius: “He just broke a bone and you’re focused on his language!?”
Roboute: “Okay, you have a point but-”
Corvus: “Just… Just admit it.”
Roboute: “Fine.”

“AHHHH THATS MY TAILBOOOOOOOOOONE!” Aegidius yelled out from the floor.

Soon, the door to his room was kicked open from off screen, the sound of heavy power armour and frantic steps and soon- a Custodes with the red of the Companions was on screen. “My Liege! What happened to you now!?” Shield Captain Pupponius demanded.

Emperor: “WHAT!? WHAT THE ACTUAL…”
Leman: “What tae fook…”

Aegidius, from the floor, groaned. “I’m sorry. I saw my recorder turned on, and I tried to reach and well… Now I broke my tailbone.” Again, no sign of the boy crying or even being in pain from having a broken bone.

The Custodes sighed as he gingerly picked up the tiny boy and gently held him in his arms. "You just can't seem to keep yourself from getting hurt, can you? Just last week that large scrape on your cheek healed up. Your nose finally fixed itself and now you have a broken tailbone."

Roboute: "How much does he break!?"
Mortarion: "Sounds like it's nearly weekly. Daily are scrapes."
Roboute: "This won't negatively affect him, will it?"
Mortarion: "Still not a xeno specialist, so... I dunno. A human kid? I'd say he's probably lacking in calcium and should go on a special diet to help fortify their bodies so they won't be stunted in growth and/or suffer from certain diseases and cancers later on."

Aegidius grumbled, settling in Pupponius's arms and looking comically small compared to him. "I don't mean to..."

Pupponius sighed, looking down at the little boy and sternly admonishing him with, "I know actual marines and Custodes who have experienced less than you have. A young boy like you shouldn't be suffering like this, we will help you overcome this enigma of your life in time. A boy of only seven shouldn't be having to see the apothecary this often."

Roboute: "Wait, he's only seven years old?"
Magnus: "Yeah, that makes sense. He does still have that baby fat around his cheeks and jawline, still has that bounce to himself, kinda short and lanky still."
Corvus: "How do you know that?"
Magnus: "From a book. I read a lot."
Rogal: "This is true. Magnus's personal quarters are actually the library."
Perturabo: "I... That's technically true."
Corvus: "This is still suspicious as all hell, you know."
Mortarion: "I agree- what are you hiding, witch?"
Magnus: "I am hiding nothing. I just read a lot. All of you are just suspicious for no reason."
Leman: "Who cares? The nerd reads."
Jaghatai: "I reccommend we move on and watch the vid."
Ferrus: "I agree, just move on."
*suspicious grumbling*

Aegidius crossed his arms over his chest, a big frown on his face as he thought over everything Puppy told him. It wasn't his fault! It was just so unfair! "How long is this one going to last?"

“I am not an Apothecary, my Liege. But I estimate... Three weeks my liege… and you won’t be able to sit.”

Emperor: “DID THE CUSTODES JUST CALL HIM ‘HIS LIEGE’?”

“Aaaa- are you kidding me?” Groaned Aegidius. “This suuuuucksssss…”

“Well, maybe next time you will be more careful, My Liege.”

“I’m trying.” Harrumphed Aegidius even as Pupponius began carrying him off screen. “Things just kinda happen, Puppy.”

“Pupponious, my Liege.”

“Things just happen! I don’t mean it to, but I just get hurt and there isn’t really much I can do about it. I just let myself fall, cause stopping it usually means more broken bones or more damage.” He puffed his cheeks in anger, looking like a slightly miffed puppy who lost his favorite toy.

Roboute: “no… NO!”
Jaghatai: “I CAN FEEL IT!”
Magnus: “THE POWER it is too strong!”
Fulgrim: “I AM POWERLESS TO IT!”
Angron: What the hell is wrong with all of you!?”
Roboute: “HE’S JUST TOO CUTE!”
Magnus: “It is a weakness! I cannot best it!”
Leman: “ALL HE’S DOIN IS MAKING EYES AND PUFFING HIS CHEEKS ALL OF YE ARE ON SOMETHIN-”
Fulgrim: “YOU JUST DON’T UNDERSTAND! He’s too adorable!”
*secret club snickering*

“But you are always there for me at least!” The family saw the edges of a smile even as Aegidius was carried off.

“We are your Companions my liege. Of course we are.”

Emperor: “CONSTANTIN! GET YOUR GOLD PLATED REAR-END IN HERE RIGHT NOW!”

At this point, no one was on the vid any longer, and after Magos Lehm confirmed there was nothing left, it was shut off.

A few seconds, and the Captain General and his host barged into the room, coming before their Emperor. The Captain General, Constantin Valdor, stepped forward to the Emperor. “My Emperor! What is it you require?”

The Emperor violently pointed at the vid. “THE FUCK CONSTANTIN?”

“Uh, am I missing something my Emperor?”

The Emperor looked back at the screen, only to notice that it was black.

“MAGOS! TURN THE DAMN THING BACK ON AGAIN! SHOW HIM THE CUSTODES!”

The poor Magos fiddled around with the projector as he desperately hurried to set it up again, somehow managing to do so only in seconds and soon the loop of the Custodes calling Aegidius “my liege” was playing.

“EXPLAIN!” Demanded the Emperor, looking completely serious.

“Uh my liege… is that an Aeldari-Human hybrid?” Valdor asked, confused.

“WHAT? AH YES, NOT THE DAMNED POINT! WHY ARE YOU CALLING IT YOUR LIEGE?”

“Hey!” Piped up Roboute. “Aegidius is a ‘he’ not an it!”

“DETAILS! EXPLAIN CONSTANTIN!”

“What do you mean details!? He is your grandson!” Roboute kept popping up, willing to defend his not-born-yet-son.

“YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN!”

“Primarch Guilliman! You have a son!?” Asked one of the other Companions in the room. Another clapped, for some reason, while putting his flamer away.

“AGAIN, DETAILS FOR LATER! CONSTANTIN, WHAT IN THE EVERLOVING FUCK ARE YOU DOING BOWING TO HIM!?”

“Uh… sire…”

“WHAT?”

“I presume that like the TTS series, these are from the future?” Trying to bring back reason, Valdor continued.

“YEAH, WHAT ABOUT…”

“You mixed up the timelines again sire.”

“OH FOR FUCKS-”

“It happens sire.”

“NO! NO IT FUCKING DOESEN’T!”

“Not to anyone half competent anyway…” Snickered Magnus even as the Emperor whirled on him.

“IS THAT A CHALLENGE SONNY!?”

“Not a challenge, if I know I’m going to slaughter you before you have a chance.” Magnus quipped. The silent Custodes covered the part of his helmet where his mouth would be, looking between the two of them.

“JUST LIKE YOU DID THE WEBWAY?”

Some of the present Custodes recoiled in shock even as Konrad let out a wheeze of laughter.

“I DID NOT DO THAT YET OK?” Yelled back Magnus in his defence.

“HOW ABOUT BREAKING ALL OF MY EDICTS? AND WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY YET!?”

Konrad now outright laughed as Magnus desperately attempted to defend himself.

“YOU KNOW WHY I BROKE THEM!”

“THEN HOW ABOUT MAKING A DEAL WITH AN INTERGALACTIC TUMOR!?”

“ALRIGHT! ENOUGH PLEASE!”

“Yes, enough please. Magnus is almost on literal fire.” Spoke up Corvus.

“And Konrad is starting to get a regular human shade of skin from all of the laughter…” Pointed out Sanguinius.

“I AM NOT DONE YET!”

“...So, are we dismissed?” Constantin asked, looking back to the Emperor, who just waved them off.

While leaving, Flamer Custodes turned around, looked toward Rogal and waved at him. Rogal nodded and gave a wave and slight smile back as he left. The Emperor gave him a look, and they promptly ignored the issue for now.

“...SO HOW ABOUT WE WATCH MORE VIDS!?” The Emperor supplied, hoping to ignore his blunder and hoping the secret doesn’t get out.

“HOLD ON! SO YOU CAN CRITICIZE ME BUT I CAN’T EVEN FIRE BACK!?” Yelled Magnus.

“SURE SONNY. JUST TRY, DADDY HAS A LOT MORE WHERE THAT CAME FROM!”

The last of the Custodes leaving the room froze and turned around in absolute shock from the words that just came from the Emperor’s mouth.

“OH… LET THE PERSONALITY SLIP A BIT TOO MUCH… SORRY ABOUT THAT, YOU CAN JUST GO.”

The silent Custodes paused, then shook his head and left with the others, done with his Father’s nonsense for today.

All the while, Magos Lehm finally found the next vid.

“Shall I play it Omnissiah?”

The Emperor merely waved a hand at him, indicating that he should and soon the vid began to play.

204.M42

Guilliman: “Wait… that’s not his room.”

Aegidius was sitting in a rigid chair, facing the holorecorder. A scowl on his face even as the very recognisable form of Cato Sicarius stood next to him.

“Explain, my liege.” Came a surprisingly strict voice from the Captain.

Guilliman: “What?”
Mortarion: “He is different.”
Sanguinius: “That voice threw me off for a second…”

Aegidius sighed before bowing his head in apparent shame.

“Dad… don’t be mad at me please… I just wanted to see what was going on!”

Guilliman: “See what was going on? What does he mean? Did he sneak out of the fortress or?”
Sanguinius: “Watch and we find out brother.”

“I uh…” Aegidius looked up toward Sicarius with a guilty look even as the Captain nodded.

“I… snuck into the war room…”

Guilliman: “YOU WHAT YOUNG MAN!?”

Sicarius made a hand motion, as if there was more to be said.

Aegidius scowled, “come on… Can I please not do this? My- my tailbone. It huuuuurts…” He weakly whined.

“That’s not true and you know it. Say it.” Sicarius quickly responded, cutting off the act from the child.

“FINE! I snuck into the War Room and I made Uncle Leman’s fur cloak catch on fire! And Uncle Vulkan’s favorite mug lost its handle… And Uncle Konrad may have accidentally gone blind after I shone too brightly when they found me…”

Leman: “YER FUCKIN WAT KIDDO!?”
Magnus: *Chokes on drink of water*
Vulkan: “I forgive you, little mutant nephew!”
Konrad: “Goodness gracious me, this reality can’t possibly be real can it?”
Sanguinius: “What? Konrad, what did you just say? And why are you there?”
Konrad: “I don’t know and I DON’T WANT TO KNOW!”
Roboute: “...how. HOW. How is MY SON, a little whirlwind of destruction!?”
Rogal: “If he was not so physically similar to you brother, I would suggest that he is in fact, Perturabo’s son.”
Konrad: *Asshole wheeze*
Perturabo: “OKAY, HOW ABOUT YOU GO AND COUPLE WITH A CACTUS.”
*Visible shock and pause*
Rogal: “I shall do this.”
Emperor: “NO ROGAL! DON’T ACTUALLY DO IT DAMMIT!”
Rogal: “Cacti are mighty natural fortifications, surely there is much to be learned from them.”

“And what else?” Sicarius prodded, wanting him to admit to the final part.

Aegidius glanced at the screen, then back to Sicarius, then back and forth. “Please don’t make me say it.”

“Just get it over with.”

Silence, then a sigh from the child as he mentally fortified himself, the chair around him slowly getting covered with frost and soon, full on ice crystals.

“...I’m sorry that I broke the War Table and summoned a daemon into the room.”

Magnus: “WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK!?”
Rogal: “The table is meant to be leaned on by potentially hundreds of regular human beings.”
Guilliman: “For once the obviousness is actually useful. How, by all the marble on Macragge, did he break a war table, SUMMON A DAEMON, and how is ICE forming all over him?”
Emperor: “THE ICE PART IS MERELY HIS PSYCHIC ANGER BEING PENT UP AND EXPRESSED, EVEN AS ONLY A PARTIAL AELDARI HIS PSYCHIC POTENTIAL IS MOST LIKELY MASSIVE. SUMMONING A DAEMON THOUGH...?”
Lorgar: “I uh… not even I know where to begin.”
Magnus: “Me neither.”
Guilliman: “This is just getting worse and worse for the poor boy…”
Angron: “Sometimes I can’t even tell if you care or just act like it for the damn nobility of it all Guilliman.”
Guilliman: “I am beyond offended you would actually think that about me. I swear that it’s real brother I just… I’m just still overwhelmed is all.”
Jaghatai: “...I recall the young boy saying something about daemons on Macragge last time. And with how he reacts when uncomfortable, I can see how.”
Horus: “Imperium secundus being active would also mean far far smaller borders..”
Mortarion: “It's all just going to hell.”
Konrad: *thinks for a bit* “...yeah, everything really is going to shit. How does this make you feel?” *looking directly at the Emperor*
Emperor: “HONESTLY… FUCKING TERRIBLE. I MEAN, MY CUSTODES HAVE ABANDONED ME, THE ENTIRE IMPERIUM IS FALLING APART AND MY GRANDSON IS A COMPLETE AND UTTER KLUTZ.”
Guilliman: “I… I can’t even complain about that.”
Emperor: “NOT TO FUCKING MENTION THAT APPARENTLY A DAEMON JUST MANIFESTED ITSELF IN THE WAR ROOM. THANK GOODNESS THAT THERE WERE PRIMARCHS THERE TO PROTECT HIM! IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED!”
Roboute: “Father… please just don’t... I don’t want to imagine that...”
Magnus: “Depends on the Daemon to be fully truthful, but if it destroyed the war table…”
Leman: “Bugger must have been massive.”

“And that’s why I’m personally sending this message to our Father, so he can make sure you don’t do something like this again!” Sicarius ground out to Aegidius, crossing his arms over his chest plate and looking down at the child. “And right when we got word back that your mother is coming back to planet soon.”

“WAIT NO! NO, YOU CAN TELL DAD! I CAN TAKE THE TWO HOUR LECTURE! BUT PLEASE NO. DON’T TELL MOM! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT IT'S LIKE WHEN SHE GIVES THAT LOOK OF PURE DISAPPOINTMENT? I SWEAR BIG BRO SHE STARES DIRECTLY INTO MY SOUL AND JUDGES ME!” he began to beg, hoping his mother wouldn’t hear about what he did.

Jaghatai: *winces*
Fulgrim: *covers his face*
Magnus: “Oh no…”
Vulkan: “...the dreaded mother of anger…”
Roboute: *flashbacks to Euten’s punishments*

“BIG BRO! PLEASE NO! THE LAST TIME SHE EVEN MADE ME MEDITATE FOR HOURS! THEN I HAD TO STAND IN THE CORNER! I AM WAY TOO OLD FOR-

Sicarius quickly held up a hand. “Far too much detail my liege, far too much, you have made your point.”

“Thank you big bro… thank you… last time I was sore for a week…”

“You need to be careful my liege.” Chided Sicarius once more even as he gave a surprisingly gentle pat on Aegidius’ head.

“Now. I do believe the milk rations are stocked up more than they should be.”

The family didn’t actually see the Captains face as due to Aegidius’ short stature, the holocam appeared to only be able to capture Sicarius from the chest downwards, though they did notice the Captains distinguishable helmet mag-locked to his thigh.

Guilliman: “Rations for milk? But Agriworld Herba should be relatively nearby… I really don’t like where this is going.”

“Does that mean we can have ice-cream?” Asked Aegidius a hopeful look on the child's face even as a surprising chuckle was heard from the Captain.

“Only if you promise to be good from now on.”

“I will! I promise! No more daemons, I’m going to focus and-and do my homework and train and-”

Vulkan: “He is but the cutest little mutant!”
Guilliman: “I don’t know whether to be offended or not but I am far too inclined to agree with you to be angry at that statement.”
Emperor: “INDEED, ABSOLUTELY ADORABLE.”
Magnus: “Just wait until he gets to puberty…”
Emperor: “WHAT WAS THAT YOUNG MAN?”
Magnus: “Nothing, nothing at all.”

A chuckle was heard from the Captain in growing volume as Aegidius continued to give reasons as to how good he would be.

“Your strategy is sound little brother. Come.” Sicarius held out an armoured hand. “Let us go find some Ice-Cream.”

“Yay!” Yelled Aegidius even as he quickly took the Captains hand and they walked off-screen even as one of them apparently pressed the button to stop recording.

Emperor: “WELL, THAT’S THAT, I SUPPOSE-”
Rogal: “Father. There is more.”
Emperor: “WAIT WHAT? BUT THE MESSAGE IS OVER.”
Rogal: “There is more. The vid would have shut off into a black screen, but it has not.”

And this was true, the vid continued on.

The feed fuzzed into what appeared to be a security holocam of the corridor. There were various other people and servitors walking about, but down the middle quickly padded Aegidius, holding onto Sicarius’ hand and occasionally lifting himself on it, giggling as they went. Occasionally, he would lift his little brother higher, bringing whoops of joy from the child. Sicarius’ footsteps were tiny in comparison to the tread of a usual Space Marine.

And on the Captains face, was a big dumb grin.

Roboute: “It’s… It’s actually kind of nice to see both Aegidius and even Sicarius actually enjoying themselves.”
Lion: “Why doesn’t he just carry him? They’d obviously get to their destination quicker if they just stop wasting time.”
Vulkan: “I would not call that wasting time, my brother. They are just having fun!”
Sanguinius: “Having fun, every now and then, does wonders for morale, you know.”
Emperor: “IT’S KIND OF COMICAL TO SEE A SPACE MARINE TAKING SUCH CARE TO SLOW DOWN AND JUST HAVE FUN. I WONDER WHY… HUH… I SUPPOSE THE CRUSADE DOESN’T LEAVE MUCH TIME TO THEMSELVES TO JUST SLOW DOWN AND ENJOY THEIR TIME.”

The feed buzzed over to another cam, to what appeared to be a storage warehouse, the two figures walked over to a box labeled “GOODS AND MORALE” and Sicarius pried open the sealed box, pulling out a tiny container of Ice-Cream and giving it to a very jumped up Aegidius.

Aegidius appeared to say something to the Captain, which made Sicarius smile again even as the boy sat down on a small crate, and using the tiny attached spoon, began to eat the ancient treat.

He stopped midway to his mouth and appeared to offer some to the Captain who reluctantly denied the treat and instead sat on a crate of his own, unlocking the Plasma Pistol at his thigh and beginning to check the weapon for any issues.

Roboute: “...yeah, now I can see it. He definitely is my son.”
Vulkan: “You would definitely instill a humbleness into him.”
Angron: “You? Humble? That’s a fucking laugh.”
Roboute: “I can be, you know. And I would want my children to know to both be humble and giving… And from what I can see, there isn’t much to share.”

Aegidius ate his tiny serving of Ice-Cream in about a minute and then looked up at Sicarius again, who was now in the process of fine-tuning the plasma pistol.

The boy uttered something which appeared to surprise the Captain, but then Sicarius reluctantly nodded and removed the Plasma cell of the pistol before handing it over to the tiny princling.

He placed it very gently into both of Aegidius outstretched hands and let go very slowly, only for Aegidius to be almost instantly knocked over by the weight, prevented from falling only by the Captain grabbing onto the collar of his jacket.

The Plasma pistol too was saved in the last instant, Sicarius sweeping it up with his other hand.

Aegidius sat back down on his crate with a sad look on his face and appeared to mutter something.

The Captain knelt in front of him and put the Plasma pistol onto his lap while saying something that caused a grin to appear on the child's face even as curious, tiny hands roamed over the entire pistol. Tracing every bit of artifice on the weapon even as Sicarius pointed to various buttons and switches, appearing to explain how it worked.

Aegidius then attempted to lift it again only to not be able to even really nudge the heavy weapon, but instead of getting frustrated he seemed to emit a laugh, one matched by the Captain even as the vid cut to black.

The vid was finally over, the screen black and nothing else was showing up. Magos Lehm began the rites of cleaning and so on, while the family just absorbed that final scene in the storehouse.

“He really is a sweet child, isn’t he?” Sanguinius spoke up, feeling fuzzy from the last moment.

Roboute nodded, a smile gracing his face as he thought back to not just this vid, but the rest of them. He was embarrassed to feel the overwhelming urge to respond to a vid of the future, and how much he wanted to know about this boy. It was shocking, and at times frightening on how much he cared in such a short time. This might be how parents usually feel? “He really is. Despite how clumsy, how much of a whirlwind of destruction he can be and how he seems to fumble through his studies… I honestly don’t care. He’s a good kid and I’m proud of him.”

 

[Lass McChurros]

Yay, now we can see the children from both present and future!!

 

[DuskDawnAndFate]

Since the last time, the family had already watched 3 of the vids of the future. Technically, 4, but that one was so short, it was barely even a vid at all. The last vid ended with Aegidius and Cato having a genuinely sweet moment, how the boy first thought to share with his brother, before even taking a bite of his treat.

To Roboute, this action was what wouldn’t leave his mind. Something so small, so insignificant, was enough to solidify something in his own mind. He knew why it did, the future was alluding to a much darker, more broken future. A future that put the future of the vids of before to shame. If only they could see more, learn more about the future, maybe then they would have a better understanding on how to stop it.

From what he was able to gather from the vids so far, beyond what his son would show, it had to allude to a darker picture. Rationing, even inside the Fortress of Hera, from what he was able to gather there were frequent war councils that his son was able to peek in on and allusions of the Emperor being gone. Or even worse, if he possibly could be dead. How Aegidius was already being pressured to becoming the new Emperor, Roboute just knew that everything must be beyond grim if this is what he had gathered so far…

“We need to watch more, Father.” Roboute spoke up, looking over to the Emperor who nodded to himself. “Even if these messages are meant for me, the world beyond, the Imperium has more for us to learn from. If you would permit, we could watch more to gain a better understanding of what lies in the far future?”

“I AGREE, ROBOUTE. THERE ARE A FEW PARTS OF THIS THAT WORRY ME, ESPECIALLY SINCE YOUR IMPERIUM SECUNDUS IS IN EFFECT.” The Emperor had at first been livid at the idea that Roboute had planned for Imperium Secundus, his first thought being his son would usurp his power. But after some thought and consideration, having a backup plan in case the worst happened was a good idea…

“Not to mention that Custodes, Father.” Horus spoke up from the Emperor’s right. “How they called the boy their liege is worrying, to say the least. I agree with Roboute, more can be learned from…” He gestured a hand to the pile of vids, as if they were waiting to be played, to show their secrets. “...them.”

“I am intrigued, I would like to see the fortifications of Macragge. There was the summoning of a Daemon into the heart of the Fortress of Hera.” Rogal intoned, making Perturabo sigh as he ignored the Praetorian.

“SO, WE ALL AGREE?” The Emperor looked to the rest of his sons, who all either agreed or would grunt in disinterest. “GREAT. MAGOS, PLEASE PLAY THE VID THAT IS CLOSEST TO THE LAST.”

Magos Lehm nodded and came to the pile, pulling out the next, pausing. “Omnissiah.” A look, and then he brought up a few more vids with his other hand and a few of his mechadendrites. “There are more vids now.”

“What?” Magnus blinked a few times before looking and quickly counting the vids again before stopping and counting yet again. “WHAT.”

“MAGNUS?” The Emperor asked, looking between his son and the vid pile. He began to quickly count the pile as well, then came to the same conclusion. “...WHAT.”

“Wot tae hell is wrong wit ye?” Leman asked looking between his Father and brother.

Magos Lehm spoke up, answering the question that the Omnissiah and his son would not answer, the both of them squawking more “what”s. “There are more vids than before, my lord. There were 136 vids, however there are now 172.”

“WOT.” Leman looked at the pile, quickly counting as well, then throwing his hands into the air as he tried to figure out how 36 more vids came to be. “WOT TAE FOOK-!?”

“No one touched the pile, right?” Fulgrim asked, Ferrus gained a flat look on his face as he tried to comprehend how this possibly could have happened. Fulgrim tried to figure out how this happened, but other than warp fuckery, there wasn’t much reason on how this happened in the first place…

“I assure you! No one has touched the pile! It’s just been sitting there!” Magnus spoke up, using his powers to sort through the vids as he counted them again, angry that the number was still the same. “They have been sitting there since the chest opened, and we began to watch the vids. And somehow, SOMEHOW, there are more vids!”

The only ones who weren’t perplexed by this, happened to be the two who had first found said vids. The twins looked at each other, then to the open chest. “Perhaps this chest…” Spoke maybe Alpharius, as possibly Omegon continued, “...is a warp anomaly that…” Then they spoke together, kinda, maybe, “...we shouldn’t even try to understand?”

“You… You want us to not try to understand what the hell happened that 36 new vids just… MATERIALIZED into existence without us noticing!?” Magnus could feel his patience and a bit of his sanity slipping away at the sheer madness of this statement.

“Yes.” The twins grinned, speaking together. Or did they?

“I uh… just… to be fair… there has been weirder things in my life…” Slowly spoke Magnus, rubbing his eyes in defeat.

From his own throne, Angron spoke up finally, “And? I don’t fucking care how it happened. It did. Now shut up and let’s get this over with. The sooner we start, the sooner we don’t have to see anymore of the smurf’s brat.”

Guilliman gave an angry glare towards his brother, who reciprocated it with his own uncaring look even as the vid finally began to play.

204.M42

The vid opened up into… darkness?

“Oh, wait, the lens is turned down.”

The holorecorder was twisted around, showing Aegidius’ blank expression. Surprisingly, there were a few healing scratches upon his face, it was in disarray and dirty with what appeared to be dust, while the part of his uniform that was visible looked slightly torn and dirty.

Roboute: “What happened to him!?”
Sanguinius: “I don’t know, just wait.”
Lion: “Hilarious that you tell him to wait.”
Sanguinius: “What do you mean by that?”
Konrad: “Give it time…”

Suddenly, a white armoured hand, holding a damp gauze came into the frame and lightly brushed one of the scratches.

“You don’t need to do that…” weakly protested Aegidius, even as the hand retreated, the gauze slightly red from blood.

“Just one more scratch do disinfect little Lord.” Came the rumble of a Marines voice from a helmets vox-caster.

The hand re-appeared again, holding what appeared to be fresh damp gauze, and brushed another scar before quickly retreating.

Aegidius now looked out of frame, presumably at the Apothecary who was tending to him.

“Thank you Brother!” He said, the light smile appearing to be genuine.

“Only doing my duty, my liege.” Spoke the voice of screen again even as a massive rumble shook wherever they were.

Roboute: “Oh, okay, maybe he just fell over again.”
Lorgar: “Must have been one hell of a trip if he managed to scuff himself and his uniform up that much.”
Roboute: “Everything is fine-”
Konrad: “Fate has a way of destroying ignorance.”

“All Astartes forces within the fortress! All Astartes forces within the fortress!” Came a voice from a loud Vox speaker. “Deploy to the western gate! Deploy to the western gate!”

Roboute: “OH COME ON-”
Konrad: “Told you.”

A Marine was heard running off-screen, presumably the Apothecary even as Aegidius sighed, an unhappy frown appearing on his face even as his ears sagged.

“All because of me…” He murmured even as he turned the holorecorder away from him, showing a long, expansive, well decorated hallway.

Lorgar: “Underground, obviously, but where?”
Roboute: “The Hall of the Revered dead, in the Fortress of Hera… what is he doing there?”
Rogal: “It appears to be well fortified. Thus, he is the for the purposes of his own security. Most likely.”
Emperor: “I AM WONDERING WHAT HE MEANS BY HOW IT IS BECAUSE OF HIM.”
Vulkan: “Or why our little nephew is so calm during an attack?”

The holorecorder moved even as Aegidius’ awkward footsteps were heard, the sound of his boots lightly tapping off of the marble floor soon becoming a constant rhythm next to the occasional explosion which caused a tremor.

He walked for a while until he finally stopped at one of the massive alcoves that were periodically scattered across the entire length of the hallway.

The holorecorder was pointed into the alcove, and it’s occupant revealed…

Rogal: “Dreadnoughts.”
Guilliman: “Indeed, the hall is where we give them rest… but this Dreadnought…
Emperor: “IT’S ONE OF MINE. A CUSTODES.”
Horus: “Hm, so the Dreadnoughts made it too…”
Emperor: “BUT THIS ONE LOOKS FAMILIAR…”

“Brother Santodes!”

Emperor: “ARE YOU KIDDING ME!? HE’S STILL ALIVE!?”
*Collective shuddering as they remember it*
Corvus: “...at least he’s inside of a regular Dreadnaught and not his… unique one…”
Emperor: “SMALL MIRACLES…”

A whir was heard, as apparently the Dreadnought inside of the alcove was only in a light slumber, despite all of the cabling and tubes being attached. The whir increased into a steady whine as the Dreadnoughts eye lenses light up, indicating that he had fully awakened.

Emperor: “WAIT WHAT. WHAT.”
Ferrus: “Aren’t dreadnaughts only able to be awoken by-”
Emperor: “THE CUSTODES AND THEIR DREADNAUGHTS ONLY ANSWER AND CAN BE WOKEN BY ME AND OR AN EXTENSIVE AWAKENING PROCEDURE BY A TECHMARINE! HOW IN THE SHIT IS HE ABLE TO DO IT!?”
Lorgar: “I… I really wish I had an answer to this. Kid can’t possibly be-”
Roboute: “Call my son with any description even remotely related to the divine, and I will personally throw my throne at you, Lorgar.”
Lorgar: “Okay, okay, fine.”
Emperor: “I WANT SOME FUCKING ANSWERS.”

“Did somebody call for me?” Came the deep, bass-like rumble of the Dreadnoughts voice, moments before the head turned and fixed Aegidius with a stare.

“Ah, little liege, what can I do for you today?”

Emperor: “EVEN HE IS CALLING HIM LIEGE! WHAT IN THE HELL!?”
Lorgar: “I thought you said hell didn’t exi-”
Emperor: “DON’T PUSH YOUR LUCK SONNY! I AM BEYOND FURIOUS RIGHT NOW.”

“There is an… an…”

The entire hallways shook again even as some dust came flying down.

“Attack.” The Dreadnought spoke. “Have you awakened me for battle?”

“No uh… I just want some time alone and… and…”

“Did you bring the board?”

Ferrus: “DID HE JUST AWAKEN A CUSTODES DREADNOUGHT TO PLAY REGICIDE WHILE AN ATTACK IS GOING ON!?”
Roboute: “YES. YES HE DID. AEGIDIUS, SEND HIM UP THERE DON’T JUST WASTE HIS TIME-”
Emperor: “ONE OF MY GOLDEN BOYS IS BEING USED AS A GLORIFIED NANNY FOR YOUR SON, ONE OF MY BEAUTIFUL GOLDEN BOYS IN A DREADNOUGHT IS BEING USED TO ENTERTAIN A CHILD. I DON’T KNOW IF I SHOULD BE EVEN MORE LIVID OR FUCKING LAUGH.”
Lorgar: “Careful, or you’ll get so angry, you’ll enter a homeostasis of anger.”
Emperor: “THAT DOESN’T FUCKING EXIST LORGAR.”
Roboute: “Actually, yes, it does.”
Emperor: “YOU’RE NOT HELPING, ROBOUTE.”

“Yeah!” A very familiar looking board was shown in front of the holorecorder. “I was able to grab it when I had to run here! I only tripped three times on the way!”

Roboute: “...did he seriously, seriously, just take down my personal regicide board that was passed down from my Father, Konor, from his father, down to the Hall of the Revered dead!?”
Konrad: “Yeah. He did. Can’t wait for this pay off.”
Roboute: “WHAT payoff?”
Sanguinius: “...you’ll see.”
Lorgar: *Slowly begins to grin*

There was a slight rumble from the Dreadnought, perhaps laughter?

“Indeed. Shall we play then?”

“Yeah! Oh and-” A hand came in front of the holorecorder, lifting it higher. “-I’m going to record it! So I can get better!”

“Good strategy little one.” Praised the Dreadnought, even as Aegidius quickly padded over, and sat down on the marble floor in front of the giant before opening up the board.

Corvus: “...are we really seeing a Dreadnought and a child playing a game of regicide in a crypt while there is a battle going on above them?”
Leman: “Yep.”
Emperor: “CORRECTION. WE ARE ABOUT TO WATCH A CHILD MISUSE MY GOLDEN BOY TO PLAY A GAME OF REGICIDE IN A CRYPT WHILE WHAT SOUNDS TO BE A PRETTY BAD AND DANGEROUS BATTLE RAGES ON ABOVE THEM IN THE FORTRESS OF HERA. AM I THE ONLY ONE WHO SEES HOW INSANE THIS IS!?”
Roboute: “OF COURSE I SEE HOW INSANE THIS IS, FATHER. ALL OF US DO.”
Jaghatai: “Pointing out the obvious isn’t really our strong suit. We have Rogal for that.”
Rogal: “I-”
Perturabo: *Smacks*
Rogal: “My point is made.”
Perturabo: “What!?”
Rogal: *Wink*
Perturabo: “Played like a damned piece on a Regi… I give up.”

“Would you like to be Emperor little one?” Rumbled the Dreadnought even as the board powered up, generating random pieces and Aegidius let out a slight whine.

“I… not really no…”

“One day that very role might be upon you, you cannot avoid destiny forever.”

“Yeah… I know… sure I guess, I will be Emperor.”

Emperor: *INTERNALLY SCREAMING*

“Fantastic. Then I shall begin, Worldclaimer to C 3.”

The piece moved via the voice command, and Aegidius quickly reached out a hand.

“I move… I move…. Guard to C 5.”

The piece moved.

“You look disturbed little liege, did something other than the attack happen?”

Aegidius let out a slight groan.

“No…”

“My liege. There is no need to lie to me.”

“I… well…”

The feed suddenly switched over to the much more familiar view of Aegidius’ room. This time, the recorder captured the massive space of the middle part of his room, with the shiny marble flooring, the centerpiece of the tiling of the Ultramarines Sigil with an Aeldari twist upon it. Aegidius sat on the floor upon some cushions, an empty spot before him, as if waiting to be filled.

Roboute: “Wait hold on. Last time, we saw camera splicing, but now this is entirely different! As soon as he says this, somehow, the vid changes to the event?”
Horus: “That must mean someone is making these vids, putting them together and is sending them to us.”
Konrad: “Like the fucking transdimensional chest of vids, being sent through a warp hyperbole and time current didn’t make that obvious.”
Magnus: “What did you just say Konrad!?”
Konrad: “What?! What are you babbling on about?”
Magnus: *Obvious confusion*

From this perspective, and being so close to an Aeldari, the boys own features really started to come out. From the shape of his eyes, his own cheekbones and even from how long his own body was. But also his human features, from his brow, nose and even how… chubby he was compared to the elder Aeldari.

Roboute: *Urge to pinch cheeks increased*

“Focus young one. You must focus.”

Aegidius was sitting on the floor, his eyes closed and his uniform as immaculate as ever.

“I am…” Grunted Aegidius even as an Eldar farseer in full armour slowly walked into view.

“By the gods child… not so much that you tense up! Relax your muscles, let your body sink to the floor, then push your mind outwards…” The farseer paced through the room, explaining the process, with a hint of annoyance on his face from the action. He imagined that slamming his head into a wall would be much more productive use of his time…

Magnus: “Oh come on… Teaching children about the warp and how to use their powers is a long, tedious process. Anyone who has done that before would understand that.”
Emperor: “SO-”
Magnus: “You do know I came from a planet that encourages and teaches young psykers all the time, correct?”
Emperor: “YOU THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE?”
Magnus: *Sputters in surprise*
Jaghatai: “To be fair, you have been asking us about that a lot.”

“I’m… trying….” Grunted Aegidius, his face going redder by the minute.

The farseer threw his hands up and shot back, “OH! By the- RELAX! You are tensed up!”

“But-but… I’m trying my best…” He opened his eyes and looked up at the Farseer, the child was shivering ever so slightly.

“No! You were at least in the beginnings of a trance! Now we have to start all over…”

“What!? All thirty minutes!?”

“Yes!” He looked down at the child, a look of resignation painted for all to see. “Because you cannot simply escape your mind!”

Lorgar: “Is that how it usually goes when doing that type of training?”
Magnus: “Not really. If they have been at this for as long as they said, then I can understand some frustration. Getting into a trance like state should be doable by any young psyker with the right training. But if they’ve been at this for a year and he still hasn’t made much progress…”

“I’m-I’m trying-”

“Not enough!”

“But-”

“Excuses excuses!”

“I’m-I’m-” A tear came to Aegidius’ eye, he was trying so hard! It was not his fault none of this made sense! His teacher just expected him to know what it meant to meditate, or how to look at his soul, or- or anything about the psychic arts! He just wanted to scream!

*Sound of metal bending*
*The family turned to Roboute, who had bent the arm-rests of his throne*
Roboute: “I am going to kill every single fucking Eldar I get my hands on…”
Rogal: “...Then how will you have your son?”
Perturabo: *Smacks*
Roboute: *Face slowly goes red*
Rogal: “It was a valid question.”

“Trying! Yes, you have said so for the umpteenth time! But it is not enough, how can you expect yourself to yield the currents of the great sea if you cannot even focus properly!?” The farseer began to rub at his temples. He never should have agreed to teach this half breed. Prophet or not.

Emperor: “AGAIN WITH THIS WHOLE TITLE AND PROPHET BUSINESS. I SWEAR, WE BETTER GET SOME ANSWERS SOON, OR ELSE SANGUINIUS WILL START CHEWING THROUGH HIS THRONE.”
Sanguinius: “N-no I wouldn’t…”

The visions he has had about the boy didn’t make any sense! The boy was supposed to wield power untold, to light the path of redemption and renewal. The visions had told so much about the boy- but none of this was working! They had been at this for nearly a year, and the boy could still barely make his way past his own mortal body!

Emperor: *stops and thinks about what this means* No… He couldn’t…? It would make sense, but maybe not… It would make sense…

“I-I-” The distress was now evident on the poor boys face. He was doing something wrong, he knew he was! None of this made sense, he just kept making mistakes! What was wrong with him!? Why couldn’t he just do something right!?

Roboute: *Snaps hand rest clean off*

“Damn your Mon-keigh father... If only the Emissary could have lain with a pure breed.” He muttered to himself, knowing that all of these problems just had to be about the boy’s parentage. If this was a full Eldar child, he wouldn’t be this- be this… this… useless.

Roboute: “Wait- NO!”
Mortarion: “Brother, I am sickened and disappointed.”
Roboute: “WE BARELY EVEN TALKED IN THE FUTURE! HOW IS THIS MY FAUL-”
Sanguinius: “CAN WE JUST WATCH AND TALK LATER!?”

This snapped Aegidius out from his own thoughts, focusing on his teacher. “I- hey can you… please not talk about dad-”

...unless… The farseer had an idea. What if he were to help Aegidius along…? Provoking anger has helped many students before unlock their potential. So what would happen if he were to provoke him? “Oh! So your father is who gets you out of your stupor!?”

Magnus: “ARE YOU KIDDING ME?”
Emperor: “WHAT IN THE FUCKING FUCK? NO. THAT IS A TERRIBLE AWFUL IDEA.”
Roboute: *Nervousness intensifying*
Lorgar: “Bets on how badly this will backfire?”
Konrad: “300 on him causing another incident.”
Roboute: “YOUR TAKING BETS ON HOW BADLY MY SON WILL FUCK UP!?”
Horus: “Now, now Roboute, calm yourself! This is entirely inappropriate of course and they did not say fuck up. They specified incident… that said put me on 400 thrones on him fucking up.”
Roboute: “OH YOU CAN GO TO HELL HORUS.”
Horus: *Dickish snickering*
Jaghatai: “Put me down for 1000 on the instructor not walking away from this alive.”
Lorgar: “That… that is being very specific brother.”
Jaghatai: “Call it a hunch.”

“Dad is-”

“Useless! If you were a purebreed you would be capable of a simple meditation!”

“That’s not-”

“But your weakling father had to give into his cravings!” That was a low blow, he knew it. But the anger he feels from the boy, it is causing something to happen. Yes, this had to be the right path. If he were to push a bit harder, perhaps then his power could be unlocked?

Roboute: “WAIT WHAT- I DID!?”
Mortarion: “So disgusting.”
Rogal: “Brother.”
Roboute: “What is it Rogal?”
Rogal: “Do you not know the basics of human copulation-”
Perturabo: *SMACKS*
Roboute: “... thank you Perturabo.”
Perturabo: “My pleasure.”
Rogal: “Always were more efficient at knocking down walls than putting them up.”
Jaghatai: *nods approvingly at Rogal*
Perturabo: “YOU WHA-”
Sanguinius: *VAMPIRIC SCREECHING*
Perturabo: “...let us watch.”

“Don’t-”

“Just like your entire race! A failure from start to end!”

“DAD ISN’T-”

“Just like you! A damned failure!”

“I-”

Almost there. He could feel it, like a dam waiting to break. He just needed to push a bit more, then… Then maybe, perhaps the visions would be true… “Just like your father and your mother. A damned failure and a waste of my time!”

“TAKE THAT BACK!”

The edge in Aegidius voice sounded… different.

Emperor: “OH NO.”
Roboute: “WHAT? WHAT IS HAPPENING TO HIM?!”
Magnus: “That voice… it indicates… something different.”
Roboute: “Different? Different how!?”
Magnus: “I… I can’t really describe it.”

“Why? Why should I?!” Yes! This must have been it! Just manifest a bit more, just a bit more- then whatever is within this child, whatever his potential is, could finally be awakened!

“DO NOT INSULT DAD AND MOM!” It gained almost an… aetheric voice…

Emperor: This all seems so familiar…

“Oh! Your weak point! Fantastic!”

“STOP NOW!” It almost had a… daemonic tang to it. The very air around the child appeared to electrify and tense.

Lorgar: “I can almost feel it…”
Magnus: “Its warp energy obviously, but it's being leak-ney redirected from somewhere.”
Lorgar: “It feels… it feels like…”
Emperor: “THE ASTRONOMICON.”
*Stunned silence*

This excited the teacher, he had never seen a child with this much power and potential! Manifesting something like this at this young- yes! The visions were right! He was right!

...but… What happened at the end? What would happen if he were to push just a bit farther? “Or what?! You will wail at me like some infant!?”

“STOP!”

The final push- just one more, he knew it! Show your true potential! “Filthy mon-keigh-”

“BEGONE FROM MY SIGHT!”

*The family are literally knocked backwards by the overtly familiar voice*

Aegidius’ entire body glowed with a blinding golden light, even as a mere instant later, all of that energy was blown outwards, causing an ear-splitting quake as the very air in front of him exploded with energy.

The Farseer did not even have time to react as he was completely obliterated out of existence, his very soul being reduced to ashes even as the entire fortified wall collapsed like a stack of autumn leaves.

Emperor: “HOLY SHI-”

A door was seen flying past the holorecorder, even as a glimmer of Gold and Blue Power Armour was seen as the golden light concentrated into an incredible force and shoot out directly toward the sky in a torrent of screaming voices.

It flew until it hit Macragge's atmospheres, where it split like a stream of water upon hitting rocks. It continued to burn until…

Lorgar: “Are those- are those ANGELS!?”

The flying white neverborn appeared to look the exact opposite of their ancient portrayals however, the wings and clothing appeared to be there, but that is where the similarities truly ended.

Their fingers were incredibly sharp claws, their mouths a maw of teeth and their faces the very definition of the word horrific.

Soon however, the light changed, turning from burning white to oozing purple and black as a Warp Rift opened in its place and soon, the Angels were fighting Daemonic neverborn even as an entire legion of the abominations began to be spewed out.

Magnus: “WHAT IN THE EVERLOVING FU-”
Emperor: “A WARP LEAK CAUSED BY AN ENERGETIC FLOW INTO- OH NO!”

The loud wail of an alarm was heard even as a pair of Custodes and Captain Sicarius managed to grab onto and drag off Aegidius, his aura appearing to calm down as they threw him to the floor.

“Aegidius!” Came the harsh, Vox augmented voice of Cato Sicarius as he quite literally slapped Aegidius out of his trance with his armoured hand.

The child came to and appeared to realize what was happening.

“We need to get him to safety! Immediately!” Spoke a Custodes.

*Roboute stood up fast, knocking his throne down in the process*
Roboute: “DO AS THE DAMNED CUSTODES SAYS!”
Leman: “Yer know yer yelling at a scree-”
Roboute: “I DON’T CARE RIGHT NOW!”

“Agreed!” Echoed Sicarius even as the alarms intensified and the entire fortress began to shake and the very sun appeared to simply disappear even as darkness overtook the feed for a second before the lights came on.

Roboute: “HOW BAD IS THAT?!”
Magnus: “... very…”
Roboute: “HOW BAD IS ‘VERY’?!”
Emperor: “HORRIBLE.”
Roboute: *internal screaming*

“Lets go!” Said another even as he picked up Aegidius.

“My-my holorecorder!” Cried Aegidius, desperately reaching for the object.

“Ah dammit!” Cursed Sicarius, before grabbing it and running out of the room.

Outside of it could only be described as chaos.

Rubble was everywhere as the entire fortress shook. Space Marines and Guardsmen were seen running to man their battlestations even as the group of Custodes and Sicarius kept running.

“Where to!?” Asked one of the Custodes.

Sicarius caught up and the holocam showed their plight, the stairwell was blocked with rubble.

Roboute: “How-how bad is that daemonic presence that this level of damage is being done!?”
Emperor: “MASSIVE. AEGIDIUS MANAGED TO OPEN UP A WARP TEAR DIRECTLY INTO THE DEEPEST PLAINS OF THE WARP. THE SHOCKWAVES AS WELL AS DAEMONIC ENTITIES IT CAN SUMMON ARE ALMOST INUMERABLE.”
Roboute: “How does he have this much power!?”
Emperor: “TECHNICALLY MAGNUS HAS THIS MUCH POWER. BUT I SUSPECT IT WAS MORE OF A CASE OF RE-ROUTING HIS PSYCHIC POTENTIAL FROM SOMEWHE…”
Roboute: “Well!? What!?”
Emperor: “I NEED TO THINK MORE ABOUT THIS.”
Roboute: “WHAT?!”
Emperor: “I NEED TO RESEARCH THIS MORE BEFORE I CAN FULLY ANSWER.”
Roboute: “DAMN IT ALL FATHER-”
Emperor: “BE PATIENT! I WILL ANSWER AS SOON AS I CAN. NOW STOP ACTING LIKE SANGUINIUS BEING DENIED MORE VIEWING TIME.”

Without thinking, the Captain smashed a window to his side.

“The sides are slopped! We will slide down and get his highness to the crypts! Its the nearest and safest place.”

The Custodes carrying Aegidius simple nodded and ran up to the window, even as the roof shook heavily under the power of something.

“JUMP, NOW!” Ordered Sicarius even as the roof came crashing down and the feed went black.

Roboute: “AEGIDIUS!”

The feed now switched back to the game of Regicide between Aegidius and the Dreadnought Santodes, they appeared to be on the ending moves.

Roboute: *Collapses back onto his fallen throne* “I… he survived… thank the throne…”
Leman: “...yer do know that was a flashback, right? That this already happened and the earlier part was him after tae attack?”
Roboute: “...shut up Leman.”
Leman: “YER KNOW AHM RIGHT!”
Roboute: “HOW WOULD YOU FEEL IF I DID THAT TO YOUR CHILD!?”
Leman: “I DON’T BLOODY HELL HAVE KIDS SO I DON’T-”
Emperor: “QUIET BOYS.”

“And I… raise the banner of triumph!” Squawked Aegidius as a flag rose from his lead figure, casting an aura of dread.

“I… submit.” The Dreadnought rumbled even as he tipped over his main figure.

“Wait. You submit?”

“Yes young one, you cornered me and exhausted my force. You win, congratulations.”

“I… I win? I WIN!” Aegidius jumped up, his hands in the air and a full on grin on his face as he began skipping around the room in joy.

Emperor: “OKAY, THAT IS CUTE. REMINDS ME OF WHEN HORUS WON HIS OWN FIRST GAME OF REGICIDE…”
Horus: “Wha- I did not sing a song and dance around after winning! And… wait, I never won against-”
Emperor: “NO, BUT YOU WERE SO SMUG AND HAPPY, YOU PRACTICALLY WERE. YOU DID IT IN YOUR MIND.”
Horus: “Did you just sweep away the fact that you implanted a memory of me winning a game of regicide?”
Emperor: “... PERHAPS.”
Horus: “I… am not even surprised.”
Mortarion: “How aren’t you outraged by that!? Or at least angry?!”
Horus: “When he raises you, you learn to accept him for all of his little nasty faults.”
Emperor: *Looks away*
Horus: “Including how sore of a loser he is at-”
Emperor: “THERE IS AN IMPERIAL DECREE IN PLACE THAT FORBIDS YOU FROM SPEAKING ABOUT THAT YOUNG MAN!”
Horus: “Point proven.”

“I won! I won-won-won!” He said in a sing song voice even as the Dreadnought rumbled with laughter.

“I woooon, won won won!”

“Yes you did young one, but beware. I still managed to exhaust over half of your immediate for-”

Aegidius stopped and looked at the dreadnought. “But… I never win!” He said with a pout. “At least I won for once, what's the cost compared to that?”

Horus: “Much higher than you could think.”
Corvus: “Beyond your wildest imaginations and then some.”
Rogal: “He is naive.”
Perturabo: *about to smack, but stops* “You’re not wrong. I’ll let that one side, since I agree.”
Rogal: “That is a flawed sense of logic on why you would or would not wound me for speak-”
Perturabo: *smacks*

The Dreadnought rumbled a non-impressed sound. “Everything. Your men, your forces are everything. If you do not fight for and with them, then what for?”

“I… I…”

A rumble wracked the hall as dust came flying down from the ceiling.

Roboute: “I still find it beyond odd that he’s so calm during this attack.”
Horus: “He must have grown up used to these attacks. They must be a frequent enough occurence for him in order to accept them as just another part of his life.”
Roboute: “That is a… fair point and makes it incredibly worse. How do you know that brother?”
Horus: *Gazes towards the Emperor* “Personal experience.”

“You must keep in mind Aegidius. These men will give their lives for you. You must not let them do so lightly.”

“I… but… I wooooonn...” A tiny whine came from the small boy.

“You tried your best, true enough, but try harder. One can never be too good at the art of war, as horrible and terrifying as it is.”

“I… I understand…” Aegidius sighed, hands held behind his back, foot kicking back and scuffing at the floor.

“Good, glad we got that sorted out.”

Leman: “Well, at least the lad can take the advice.”

“Heh, yeah, you always give such good advice Brother Santodes!”

“And it is my pleasure to give my council when requested, my Emp-”

Aegidius’ eyes went wide even as a finger flew to his lips. “SHHHHH! I thought I said to please not call me thaaaat!” He whined even as a sad look overcame his face.

Emperor: “HE ALMOST CALLED HIM HIS EMPEROR. HE ALMOST CALLED HIM HIS EMPEROR. HE ALMOST CALLED HIM HIS EMPEROR.”
Perturabo: “Now I see where Rogal gets it from…”

“Of course my liege, though of course we did agree on something.”

“Yeah, what?”

“You telling me exactly what you did to the farseer.”

Magnus: “nothing major, just true deathed a Farseer. TOTALLY NORMAL.”

The color drained from his face, eyes widened and looking away as he tried to not think about the incident. “UH... I UH-”

The distant sound of armoured footsteps quickly approached and was heard even as Aegidius ran for the holorecorder.

“My liege, the Lord Commander requests your presence.” Came the booming voice of Cato Sicarius. “The battle is done, but we are still securing multiple unexploded daemonic ordinance and- oh, Lord Santodes, I did not know you were awake.”

Cato Sicarius’ power armoured legs were now seen in the shot even as the Dreadnought responded.

“My master awakened me.”

Emperor: “OH NOW IT’S JUST DANCING IN FRONT OF ME MOCKINGLY. MY THEORY IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE ACCURATE WITH EVERY ADDITION.”
Magnus: “Are we just going to ignore the Text to speech refe-”
Roboute: “What damned theory!?”
Magnus: “That is a yes then.”
Emperor: “JUST A THEORY FOR NOW. A THEORY THAT IS LOOKING MORE AND MORE LIKE REALITY.”
Roboute: “I fucking swear…”

“Ah, yes of course, come along little brother.” A hand was seen stretching down to Aegidius’ height.

“Do I have tooo…?”

“Yes, it is still dangerous, especially down here now, one of the incursions occurred directly above-”

As if on cue, a massive explosion shook the hallway. Not even a blink later, the Dreadnought flew forward, the wires and cabling holding it in its alcove snapping as it ran and bent over Aegidius.

“Wha- bro-”

A massive chunk of falling masonry suddenly struck the Dreadnought on its armoured back before splitting into multiple smaller pieces which flew harmlessly to Aegidius’ sides.

Emperor: *Stands* “HOLD THE FUCK UP! HOW IN THE EVERLOVING FUCK!?”
Magnus: “What?”
Emperor: *realizes he is standing and clears his throat before sitting back down like nothing happened* “HOW DID THE DREADNOUGHT KNOW… MUST HAVE JUST BEEN INTUITION.”
Konrad: “Even I know your hiding something now.”

“Is everyone alright?!” Came Cato Sicarius’ demanding shout as what sounded like multiple Marines sounded off offscreen.

Aegidius now slowly turned and looked up at the Dreadnought. “I- thank you brother Santodes.”

“Only doing my duty my liege.” The Dreadnought rumbled even as it turned back toward the alcove. “Although I trust the Techmarines will be none too happy. Nor your father.”

“What? Why wouldn’t dad be happy?” He asked, even as the holocam was picked up and Aegidius slowly walked around Santodes. And there, on the ground where they were playing lied the Regicide board. It was completely fine. Except for being as thin as a stomped ration bar…

Roboute: *Takes a few deep breaths, increasing in volume and power* “Aegidius…” *claps his hands together, resting them against his lips, as if in prayer, and stares at the screen* “...I’m grounding you from the past.”

Aegidius let out a pained groan. “That… that was an heirloom…” He shuddered, a tiny voice coming out with, “I am… sooooooooo… dead… Wait, I feel like I was just grounded, right now.”

Konrad: “Oh dear me, messing with the timelines again.”
Roboute: “What the hell brother?”
Konrad: “What?”
Roboute: *Feels like he is slowly losing his marbles*

The feed cut even as the blue power armoured hand of Cato Sicarius was seen reaching up beyond the lens, most likely to pat the boys shoulders and give him some much needed comfort.

“OK… I FEEL LIKE WE ALL NEED A REST AFTER THAT.”

“And I need to check up on my legion.” Quickly spoke Guilliman even as he got up and quickly walked out the door.

“Yeah, that sounds fair. I should also probably gather the mournival and-” Started Horus, then his eyes went wide in realization. “WAIT A SECOND, WE’RE ABOVE ULLANOR. THERE AREN’T ANY ULTRAMARINES HERE!”

“He just gave us the slip in order to avoid talking about his future… ugh… wife.” Spoke Mortarion.

Lion shrugged, “Are Eldar even capable of understanding human norms?” He asked, lounging back in his throne.

“I just see them as mongrels.” Vulkan spoke up, uncharacteristic and genuine anger showing up on his face. Roboute wasn’t there, so he could speak his mind.

“Speaking of mongrels…” Spoke up Lorgar. “I actually do have some legion business to attend to. About a certain pilgrimage I was very lucky not to take.” Lorgar stood and began walking toward the door. “You can watch the next vid without me, this might take some time.”

“DO NOT BE TOO LONG LORGAR. WE WILL DEAL WITH ALL OF THE LESSER NEEDS AT A LATER DATE.”

Lorgar merely gave a wave as he walked out, vengeance and redemption on his mind.

Magnus stood up, looking to the Emperor, “Father, I believe it would be best for me to leave for a while. Is there anything you wish for me to pass on?”

“A FEW THINGS, I’LL SEND THEM TO YOU IN A BIT.” And then Magnus left the viewing room, ready to pass on the Emperor’s word and check on his legion and family.

“‘Ight!” Spoke up Leman, also rising from his throne. “I’m gonna head out and make sure the nerd doesn’t fuck up anything.”

“SO BE IT LEMAN. KEEP AN EYE ON HIM BUT RETURN AS SOON AS YOU CAN.”

“Will do father.” Spoke the Wolf King even as he strode out of the room.

“NEEEEEEeeeeeerrrdd-” He was heard calling in the hallway even as he walked out of hearing distance.

Angron sat back in his throne, not bothering to get up. “Almost feels like no one can say anything cause the blabbermouths of the family take up all the extra time between scenes to say- OW FUCK MY HEAD HURTS.”

“ARE YOU ALRIGHT ANGRON?” Spoke up the Emperor.

“I’m fucking fine, I need to fight something, the nails bite.”

For a moment, the barest fraction of a second, a regretful look suddenly overcame the Emperor before he straightened his face into his normal passive look. “SO BE IT. GO AND TRAIN WITH YOUR SONS ON THE CONQUEROR. RETURN WHEN YOU HAVE SATED YOUR NEEDS.”

Angron lifted himself from the massive throne, not caring to even nod towards anyone of his brothers or his father as he walked out of the door, his voice was heard faintly calling after Lorgar.

At this, the Emperor looked to the rest of the Primarchs who stayed behind. “SO WHO WANTS TO WATCH ANOTHER?”

 

[DuskDawnAndFate]

The family mulled around the idea of watching another vid. With some of the Primarchs gone should they watch another? It was after all a personal foray into some of the most intimate parts of their brothers offspring.

“From a tactical point of view, I say we should watch another.” Finally spoke up Corvus, breaking the silence.

“FINALLY, SOMEONE WHO AGREES WITH ME.” Jested the Emperor. “IT FEELS LIKE YOU WERE MULLING THOSE IDEAS OVER FOR WEEKS.”

Corvus blinked, looking at his Father, “But… we have only been sitting here for a couple of minutes…?”

“As if anyone could go do anything else with this family.” Ground out Konrad.

“A JEST, A WEAK ONE, BUT A JEST.” The Emperor waved, ignoring Konrad’s comment.

“Can we just watch the vid?” Spoke the lord of the Death Guard. “This is getting annoying and I have better things to do, like beheading a certain traitor.”

“Patience. Everyone will have the chance to get rid of any unwanted figures.” Jaghatai spoke up, speaking sense to his brothers.

Horus cleared his throat, “I agree with Mortarion. And I do believe watching more is in our best interest. If we had everyone here for everything, we wouldn’t have finished half of the series we already watched.”

“Speaking of everyone.” Happily spoke Vulkan. “Where are the twins? They appear to have disappeared.”

“MY ORDERS VULKAN. NOT TO WORRY, THEY ARE MERELY SETTING THINGS INTO PLACE.”

The Primarchs looked toward their father and blinked once.

“WITH SOME OF THE BEST CUSTODES KEEPING WATCH SO THAT THEIR PLANS DON’T DEVOLVE INTO A CONVOLUTED MESS.”

“Fair point.” Spoke up Fulgrim. “The two strive in perfection in the art of convolution and espionage, yet they twist it to such a degree that even they can barely understand it.”

…
Elsewhere
…​

The twins laughed maniacally, as they were teleported up onto the Alpha with the rest of their forces, ready to do their Father’s bidding.

They continued scheming until they felt a little tap on their shoulders and turned around to see a Custodes.

The Custodes flicked his flamer on, some flames spitting out, ready to be used as he let out a giggle, then a full blown cascade of laughter, all three brothers in their new crusade of righteous flames as they marched out like a finely tuned orchestra, ready for war.

It was then that the twins knew.

…
Back with the Emperor and family
…​

“Shall we get on with it then?” Asked Sanguinius, a note of impatience in his voice. He hated how sometimes it took forever for people to just shut up and play the vid. Maybe he should get himself checked out? He has been showing more aggression when it comes to vids...

“FINE. MAGOS, PLAY IT.”

Our usual Magos did as ordered, a prayer and a hope that the machine spirit would continue to be a good machine spirit.

On screen, it came alive as usual and soon it began to play.

The Holorecorder sprang to life suddenly, showing the red, blotchy face of Aegidius in a dark area by himself. The boy obviously was crying and hiding away, surprised when the recorder came back. He tried to turn it off, and it ended up showing more of his surroundings instead. Apparently he was under some large table, with what looks to be massive thrones around it and from what was visible, a grand door. With how quiet the room was, he was most likely alone.

Rogal: “That is the new War Room Table. I am hoping the boy does not break this one as well.”
Mortarion: “I am supremely happy that Roboute isn’t here to complain about that.”
Corvus: “Honestly, it’s nice to not have the more vocal of brothers here. Maybe we can actually focus on the vid, now?”
Konrad: “Don’t count on it.”

Aegidius could hear the sounds of the many Ultramarines outside of the War Room, most likely either trying to find him or preparing for his Father coming back. He didn’t really feel like coming out, he just wanted to keep sitting under the new War Room table, away from everyone.

Looking down at the reactivated holorecorder, he tried to fix the damned thing, but after that time he dropped it, it just seems to have a mind of its own now!

“Little annoying thing…” He murmured underneath his breath as he kept fiddling with a few loose wires. He could get another one but then he would need to hear another lecture about how important it was that he took better care of his stuff. He knew but it wasn’t his fault that he kept dropping it!

Suddenly he heard the door open and the telltale sound of heavy Power-armoured steps on the marmor floor echoing across the great War Room. Aegidius quickly scooped up the recorder, going impossibly still as he tried to be as quiet as possible. His ears picked up sharply, gently rotating to get a better grasp on the sound.

He saw as his father's ornate armoured sabatons from the Armour of Fate come into position right in front of him. He was about to reveal himself but then-

“Damned orks!” The swear was as chilling as a Fenrisian helwinter. The Night Haunter had entered the War Room. “I stopped the WAAAGH just before it threatened the northern asteroid fields.”

Ferrus: “How close were they to Macragge!?”
Sanguinius: “...Damned greenskins will never die, will they?”
Ferrus: “Seeing as how they were made during the War in Heaven and have been a menace to the Galaxy for a few million years, I don’t think so.”
Emperor: “WE ARE QUITE CLOSE ACTUALLY. ALL OF THE MAJOR ORK EMPIRES ARE DEAD FOR NOW. BUT NOT TO WORRY, I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON MORE METHODS TO MAKE SURE THE GREENSKINS STAY DEAD.”
Jaghatai: “One can only hope that one day we will be rid of their menace forever.”
Horus: “If that happens, then I will never relive the day I threw an Ork Warboss out of a window from the 85th floor… But it’s for the best.”

He saw as his father turned to face his brother.

“Good work, one less threat to worry about.”

He wanted to jump out. When was the last time he heard his father's voice? The last time he saw him? He rotated his ears towards them, capturing as much sound as possible.

“Aye, fantastic job!” Intoned his uncle Leman as he strode into the War Room, he looked to be carrying something… “We have another bloody issue.” He thunked something on the massive table, causing some of the Space Marines around the Primarchs to begin to swear and murmur amongst themselves.

“Necrons.” Spoke up Roboute.

Emperor: “WELL, THAT IS JUST GREAT.”
Rogal: “I did not know you were capable of sarcasm father.”
Perturabo: “I did not know you were capable of detecting it.”

“Aye. Yer wife told me to send you that one, she said she would be coming by soon by the way, needs to recover and meditate, whatever the fooking hell that means in Eldar terms.”

Mortarion: *Mutters something under his breath*

“So. Now we have a metallic unkillable race pressing on towards the annihilation of life in the galaxy and can just spring up from any planet that might be housing them.” Roboute’s voice sounded as if it had suffered countless years of wear and tear.

Jaghatai: “Our brother sounds world weary, I can only imagine how tired and downtrodden he must look like.”
Corvus: “Fighting non stop for who knows how long. Look at the state of his armour.”
Vulkan: “Indeed, it saddens me to see our brother and his battle plate in this state. Worn down into almost nothing, I see hasty battlefield repair work.”
Emperor: “I HAVE A REALLY BAD FEELING ABOUT ALL OF THIS.”

“Aye… any planet in the west-northern border that is. A dynasty sprung up, though I don’t know which.”

Roboute let out a sigh. “Get the Necron overlords head to Cawl. He will know what to do, see if he can extract any worthwhile data from it while he is at it.”

Emperor: “GOOD TO SEE HE IS STILL UP AND RUNNING.”
Lehm: “Omnissiah, are you really going to allow Cawl free reign in the new future?”
Emperor: “LEHM! ACTUALLY ASKING QUESTIONS. GOOD ON YOU! BUT FREE REIGN? OH NO, THOUGH I WOULDN’T BE TOO WORRIED. I HAVE MET HIM BEFORE AFTER ALL.”
Ferrus: “OKAY. WHEN.”
Emperor: “WELL TECHNICALLY. I HAVEN’T MET HIM JUST YET. THAT IS, NOT UNTIL EZEKYLE SEDAYNE AND HIM BECOME ONE. WON’T BE LONG NOW. I HAVE BEEN AVOIDING EZEKIEL'S NOTIFICATIONS FOR MONTHS NOW. HE IS GETTING DESPERATE. AND THIS TIME, THERE WILL BE NO ELIXIR TO LENGTHEN HIS LIFE.”
Lehm: “OMNISSIAH. Did… Did you just speak of tech heresy!? What… This one cannot compute this…” *distressed binary*
Emperor: *Waves arm* THIS PARTICULAR FATE MUST HAPPEN. IT WILL BE FAR MORE EFFECTIVE IF CAWL KEEPS THE LIFE OF EZEKIEL AND OTHERS IN HIMSELF. I WILL REQUIRE HIS ASSISTANCE LATER. FOR NOW, EVERYTHING IS PROCEEDING AS I HAVE FORESEEN. *The Emperor emitted a soft cackle as he looked up at the ceiling for just a second, causing all of the Primarchs to become very unnerved as they were reminded just how powerful their father really was*

…
Deep in the Warp
…​

Tzeentch at this moment, was bleeding full rage at this situation. Physically peeling skin from anger at all of his plans and unplans were upended and shredded into the cosmic toilet that is the unreality.

He spent countless lifetimes putting all of his plans together, manipulating others to manipulate another person to manipulate the one he wanted to manipulate but couldn’t offer anything he might want. Lifetimes of all of his plans with their foundations spanning millions of years was destroyed by one simple act of vids getting into the hands of the Anathema!

It had been imperative that he stopped it from happening, from the Anathema getting the key to possibly winning in the grand game. He had been so close to destroying the first vids, but then… Something happened. Something happened and he was stopped by a power that was so like the Anathema, and so like himself but more… Orderly.

The final nail in the cosmic coffin of the Grand Manipulator, the vids, was here and there wasn’t anything he could do! New vids keep leaking in from the hole of reality and unreality, and no one can get close enough to it! After those daemons were completely unraveled into nothingness where even he had a hard time remembering if they ever existed, that hole that’s leaking these accursed vids is a continuous pain. A festering, continuous pain that will never go away and with all the power he has at his command, there is nothing he can do to fix this problem!

Tzeentch will curse the Anathema of another place, another time, and the Tzeentch of another time and reality for their quick and decisive play against their grand game.

He can NOT let the others know about how royally fucked they were.

He will eternally ponder how and why and where someone got the power to cross reality and do this. He’s just thankful the damned hole isn’t growing or doing anything else. That is the one certainty in Tzeentch’s mind.

They are so fucking BONED.

…
Back with the Emperor and family
…​

A Space Marine stepped closer to the table and appeared to pick up the aforementioned head before carrying it out.

“Anything else?” Roboute breathed again, sounding as if he wished to be literally anywhere else but here.

“Yes.” Spoke up Konrad. “I know you don’t want to hear this, and I don’t either. Agriworlds.”

Aegidius perked up, what did Agriworlds have to do with what they just said?

A groan now came from the Lord Commanders mouth. “Of course. Lost or under siege?”

Vulkan: “WAIT WHAT.”
Sanguinius: “Even the Agriworlds are being attacked!?”
Corvus: “This is beyond just attrition. The Orks must be lacking other more alluring targets.”
Horus: “What about the traitors? The Chaos Space Marines. The Black Legion. Anyone of those.”
Emperor: “DAEMONIC FORCES WE ALREADY SAW. BUT NO SPACE MARINE SUPPORT. IMPERIUM SECUNDUS MUST AS OF YET, BE HIDDEN FROM THE TRAITORS.

“Neither. Luckily I intercepted a force of Dark Eldar attempting to setup a raid onto Formulis VII.”

“Bastards are getting cocky.” Spat out Leman.

“Yes yes… ever since Yvrainne summoned the followers of Ynnead to battle for Commoragh they have been getting desperate. They need slaves as much as we need food and drink.”

*Vulkan and Jaghatai nod at this*
Jaghatai: “At least Roboute’s wife is doing some good. The damned dark Eldar do need to be exterminated.”
Vulkan: “No doubt.”
Emperor: “GOOD LUCK WITH COMMORAGH. VECT WILL NOT GIVE UP HIS THRONE EASILY.”
Vulkan: “Father, when will we launch our attack on Commorragh?”
Emperor: “NOT ANYTIME SOON. NOR IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE. BUT IF THE PLANS THAT I AM CURRENTLY PUTTING INTO PLACE WILL WORK, THOSE ABOMINATIONS WILL SHRIVEL UP AND DIE FROM PSYCHIC STARVATION. FAR TOO QUICK OF A DEATH THAN THEY DESERVE. BUT A NECESSARY COMPROMISE.”
Jaghatai: “Well, as long as they die.”

Leman spoke a Fenrisian curse at this and acted as if he spat towards the floor. “Good riddance with them, can’t wait till they all shrivel up and die.”

Yet another sigh from his brother. “If that is all from you two…” He waited a bit. “Then, Tetrarch Felix.”

Uncle Felix? Here, now!? What was he doing so far away from Vespator?

Corvus: “Ah, the Tetrarch is still alive. That is good news.”
Konrad: “Euugh.”

“My liege.” Another set of armoured sabatons came into view, showing Mk. X Gravis armour. “Vespator has been fortified thrice over, though the dominion under my rule has shrunk I am afraid to report.”

Sanguinius: “Uh oh.”

More murmurs at this.

“Though, I am not the bearer of only bad news. The remaining Tyranids have been completely driven out and or exterminated by the help of a passing by Ork WAAAGH.”

Emperor: “WELL, THE TYRANIDS AND ORKS FIGHTING EACH OTHER IS GOOD NEWS-”

“Best news we had since Terra exploded and Father died.” Muttered Konrad.

Emperor: “-I’M SORRY BUT WHAT IN THE ACTUALL FUCKING MAGICAL WARPISH FUCKING GOLD IN THIS ENTIRE SHITTY UNIVERSE DID HE JUST SAY!?”
Konrad: “...I said, that you died.”
Emperor: “I HEARD YOU, YOU LITTLE BAT WINGED SHIT!”
*Entire family taken aback at this*
Emperor: “PAUSE THAT VID! PAUSE IT!”
*The holoprojector paused by itself, the Magos not even having to touch the pause rune. Its holo tray opening and causing it resemble a surprisingly familiar face*
Lehm: “Well, you’re rude...”
Emperor: “I GIVE ZERO FUCKS AT THE MOMENT MAGOS, IF YOU EXCUSE ME! I JUST GOT TOLD I FUCKING DIED!”
Horus: “You get used to it.”
Emperor: “OH, DON’T YOU ACT LIKE A LITTLE CONTRARIAN RIGHT NOW YOUNG MAN. DO ANY OF YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW SCREWED THE FUTURE IS IF I DIED!?”
Konrad: “Extremely.”
Emperor: “EXACTLY! SO HOW IN THE FUCK ARE THEY STILL ALIVE!?”
Jaghatai: “With your death, wouldn’t the Astronomicon go out? Warp Travel, communications…”
Emperor: “THAT’S THE POINT! I MEAN… OH… OH FUCK… THAT ISN’T GOOD.”
Horus: “What isn’t?”
Emperor: “MY THEORY.”
Mortarion: “Oh for the love of- HOW ABOUT YOU STOP BEING CRYPTIC AND JUST SAY IT!?”
Emperor: “AEGIDIUS IS A LIVING PROJECTION OF THE ASTRONOMICON.”
Jaghatai: “This… Makes sense. A lot, actually.”
Emperor: “I MEAN, THE KID CAN MOVE AND FUNCTION NORMALLY. BUT HIS GROWTH, BOTH PHYSICAL AND MENTAL IS COMPLETELY STUNTED. IT COULD VERY EASILY BE A SIDE-EFFECT OF THE ASTRONOMICON BEING PROJECTED BY HIM. IT WAS MY SECONDARY PLAN AFTER ALL, THE PLAN TO KEEP THE ASTRONOMICON EMBEDDED IN MYSELF.”
Fulgrim: “That could also explain why the Eldar claim for him to shine brightly.”
Vulkan: “And how in the second vid, little Aegidius said how people could get lost without him?”
Horus: “Did you drop that idea because a moving space beacon meant to navigate people is a bad idea?”
Emperor: “NO. I DROPPED IT BECAUSE I DIDN’T HAVE TIME TO IMPLEMENT IT. THE ASTRONOMICON ITSELF IS SO MASSIVE THAT IT COULD STAY FOCUSED ON ONE LOCATION EVEN IF I WAS HALF THE GALAXY AWAY FROM TERRA.”
Lion: “Seeming how unreasonable Roboute is with raising his child, he will be supremely angry at you if he finds out what the future you did to Aegidius.”
Ferrus: “But one question remains, brothers. What happened and why is Aegidius the living Astronomicon? If What Father said is true, then how did this come to pass?”
Lion: “I am unsure. Father?”
Emperor: “SEEING AS I AM FUCKING DEAD. IT IS VERY VERY POSSIBLE THAT FUTURE ME... LATCHED…”
Horus: “Yes? Go on, were waiting.”
Emperor: “I REQUIRE MORE EVIDENCE BEFORE I GO DOWN THAT ROUTE.”
Sanguinius: “Well… How about… we watch and find out?”
Horus: “Oh yeah, sure. Right as Father was about to say something that most likely was going to change our entire outlook on these vids…”
Emperor: “FUCK OFF SONNY. YOU WILL FIND OUT WHEN YOU WILL.”
Horus: “Where is this attitude coming from? I haven’t felt like this since I was eight.”

“Bastards are useful for something after all.” Chuckled uncle Leman.

“Appears so my lord.” Spoke up Felix again, apparently not feeling in the mood for jesting. “Though now I fear that when or even if they destroy this tendril, they will turn and fall upon us. In which case I would evocate for… for an evacuation of-”

“No.” His father's tone stopped Felix mid-sentence. “I am afraid that we cannot… afford it, you stand, or you…” He let it trail, knowing what he meant.

Fulgrim: “The borders are that weak?”
Rogal: “Roboute refers to Manpower.”
Perturabo: “Just… I don’t have the energy to hit you right now.”
Lion: “A weak defence is nonoptimal, but workable, however, if one can’t reinforce or relieve it eventually...” *The Lion dramatically gestured something crumbling with his hands*

Or what? Aegidius couldn’t ask that, would everyone get mad at him again for sneaking in? But well… He was here first, they came in on him… Or what if… What if his dad was angry about what happened to Macragge while he was gone!? What if everyone was!? He shuddered, curling into a ball as he continued to listen.

“Anything else? No? Good. Now, we need to raise a few more guard regiments.”

A sigh came from the rest of the Primarchs even as a Lord General clad in the colors of the Astra Militarum stepped up. “Promise them… promise them one full meal per day, no exceptions.”

Vulkan: “I AM SORRY?”
Ferrus: “And there it is.”
Corvus: “Weak supply lines and a waning number of Agriworlds. Production must be at an all time low if rationing is that strict.”
Konrad: “Knowing our brother. The only reason why they haven’t all fallen to pieces is because of efficiency and the rationing being in effect for everyone. Not just common citizenry.”
Sanguinius: “Brother, that is quite an accurate evaluation.”
Konrad: *Shrugs shoulders* “I used the same stratagem on Nostramo when the poor couldn’t even get two meals per week and the rich were literally throwing it up in order to be able to digest more.”

The Lord General gave a salute and marched off.

“One meal a day!? I get three, why do they get one?” Aegidius accidentally blurted out, before letting out a squeak as he slapped his hands over his mouth.

Lion: “Not the brightest child.”
Vulkan: “Well… I can’t really call him dim, but he did bring up a good point…”

Everyone went quiet for a second, then the booming chuckle of his uncle Leman came through as he turned and began to walk away.

“Dismissed.” Sighed Roboute, somehow sounding even more defeated and disappointed than before.

The War Room was emptied, Aegidius could see how some hesitated at the door before leaving. His earlier fears from before were coming back up as he realized his dad was going to be so mad with him…

“Get out from under the table, Aegidius.” His father commanded.

He sighed, crawling out from under the table and getting back up, he tried to hide the holorecorder behind him, hoping his dad would just lecture him about one thing and not two things he did wrong. Okay, it was three things he did wrong, but to be fair, they were the ones to come into the war Room after him, so they were the ones who snuck in. Kinda.

Corvus: “That’s not how that works.”

“Dad?” He asked tenderly, poking to find out more of his father’s mood.

“Aegidius.” Spoke up Roboute again, appearing to come closer, only to grab the holorecorder from him and gently place it on the table. Roboute kneeled down, to not tower over his son and revealed a very tired looking Lord Commander in heavily battle-scarred battle plate. His once fully blonde hair now looked paler, grey mixed in occasionally. His face spoke volumes as to how much war he had seen lately, but it had a kind smile nonetheless. “You broke it again?” He asked gently.

Emperor: “...HOLY SHIT, ROBOUTE IS BARELY RECOGNIZABLE.”
Rogal: “That is untrue. No one else in the galaxy is as large, tall and has such a sharp jawline as our brother. His armor and shape confirm this is our brother. Perhaps you should have your eyes checked, Father?”
Emperor: “FIRST OFF, FUCK OFF ROGAL.”
Rogal: “I cannot copulate off of myself, Father.”
Emperor: “SECOND OF. AFTER WE ARE FINISHED WITH THIS SESSION GO AND READ A BOOK OF SYNONYMS. ESPECIALLY AN URBAN DICTIONARY. OR I WILL BOMBARD THE PHALANX WITH THEM UNTIL IT IS DISABLED.”
Rogal: “There are no books with enough power to disable the Phalanx.”
Fulgrim: “...anyway. But yes, I am unused to seeing Roboute like this.”
Ferrus: “Almost feels like he should have a scar over his eye and a robotic arm, like those movies Father showed us.”
Emperor: “CLASSICS.”
Ferrus: “I am still unsure why you did not allow us to watch past Rogue One and the sixth episod-”
Emperor: “THERE ARE ONLY SIX. THE OTHERS NEVER TRULY EXISTED.”
Sanguinius: “Some say they are only three.”
Emperor: “GETTING BACK ON TRACK!”

Aegidius deflated, might as well get it over with. “I… I didn’t mean to. I tried to be careful, I really did. I know you said I had to be careful with all of my stuff, and I am, but it just… Just happens…” He thought back to his own room, how empty it felt at times. He just couldn’t help but break his toys, his school work, his clothes, everything. It just feels as if something else is taking its frustration out.

“I accept the explanation, just keep trying your best.”

Sanguinius: “Roboute is being surprisingly curt with his son by comparison to how he is here…”

A door shut closed somewhere in the distance. “Now, second hand business. Its armour, remember that, be careful.” Roboute warned even as he gently extended his hands, much to Aegidius’ apparent delight.

“Dad!” He squealed as he launched himself into his father's arms. The two embraced, Aegidius was overjoyed to have his father back. He missed him terribly, so much.

Sanguinius: “Nevermind.”

“I missed you dad… I missed you so so so much.” He spoke, his voice murmured by him pressing his face as hard as he could into his father's neck. Just having him home and safe meant so much to him.

Emperor: “YES. POWER OF THE FATHER.”
Mortarion: “What do you know of that?”
Emperor: “THAT WAS A LOW BLOW.”
Horus: “To be fair, there were good moments.”
Emperor: “THANK YOU SON-”
Horus: “In between the mountains of crap.”
Lion: *slowly rising laughter*
Jaghatai: “Good one. I’m stealing it.”

“Good to see you too little one.” Roboute spoke, his voice tight with emotion. He hugged his son tightly, but carefully. His face showed how deeply he felt, showed how relieved he was to have his son there, happy to see him. Happy to welcome him home and not just be there to drop more burdens on his shoulders. His face was pure, open relief and love for the tiny boy.

Konrad: “Love and affection… Euuugh.”
Corvus: “Well, this is heartwarming.”
*back door opens*
Roboute: “I have returned, what did I miss-” *sees his future self*
Emperor: “HELLO ROBOUTE, PERFECT TIMING.”
Roboute: “...WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO ME!?”
Fulgrim: “Endless war.”
Ferrus: “Constant endless war.”
Jaghatai: “The not fun kind of war?”
Vulkan: “Father died.”
Roboute: “FATHER WHAT!?”
Konrad: “Father died and made Terra explode.”
Roboute: “HOW DID TERRA EXPLODE!?”
Rogal: “Father believes that Aegidius is the Astro-” *Massive hand of Emps slammed over his mouth*
Perturabo: “Aegidius is the Astronomicon and Father doesn’t like it.”
Emperor: “YOU BETRAY ME AGAIN PERTY MY BOY. IT’S LIKE ME AS ALCIBIADES ALL OVER AGAIN!”
Roboute: “HOW IS MY SON THE ASTRONOMICON FATHER?”
Emperor: “I AM STILL FORMULATING MY ANSWER!”
Roboute: *Holds head in hands as he collapsed onto his throne with a massive groan* “Well… At least it can’t get worse.”

It was apparent now at just how small Aegidius was compared to his father, despite having his head buried in his father's neck, the only thing keeping him up there was Roboute holding him. Aegidius’ legs barely reached Guillimans armoured abdomen.

Roboute: “Well… at least I come back to some heart warming eye-candy.”

His father then held him out for a few seconds, before allowing his son to snuggle back up with him. “Growing like a mushroom.” He spoke much to Aegidius delight even as his father's tone took on a more serious edge. “We don’t have much time I am afraid. And since you can’t run away from me when I ask you, what were you doing hiding underneath the table again?”

Roboute: “Why was he under the table?”
Fulgrim: “Details.”

A tiny gulp was heard from him, he hoped his dad wouldn’t ask but… Oh well… “I… I wanted to be alone. Cause… Cause I felt bad…” Please don’t ask, please don’t ask, please don’t ask, please don’t ask...

“Why?”

“...because of what I did…” He tried to not elaborate, but had a feeling his dad was going to ask-

“What did you do?”

Yup. Might as well get it over with… “...the daemon attack…”

“Yes I heard.” Sighed Roboute. “The Eldar was at fault from what I was able to gather of the security holocam footage.”

Aegidius lightly perked up at this, but immediately became more sullen when he saw his father's serious look.

“But that is no excuse, you need to stay focused Aegidius. You are the beacon. We do not yet know how or even why it works.”

Horus: “Confirmed.”
Roboute: “I just hope it’s not something that will hurt him…”
Emperor: *Was going to say something but stopped and decided to just wait for more information first*

“I know, I know…” Murmured out Aegidius, now attempting to bury his face into his father's massive chest plate, just so he didn’t have to look him in the eye. “People… People didn’t get hurt, did they?”

His father didn’t answer him.

“Dad?” Again, no response.

“Dad…” He attempted again, feeling nervous at his father's silence. “Dad… did I… did I…”

“You, no.” Finally spoke up his father. “Not directly. But the portal spawned Daemons Aegidius, an entire Daemonic legion.”

“Dad… did I… Did I hurt-”

“Yes!” Spoke up his father. “Yes, you hurt people.”

Lion: “Good job on bringing down the hammer brother. You made the correct choice for once.”
Roboute: “Even so, you shouldn’t get angry at a child. But he did do something that hurt and most likely killed people.”
Fulgrim: “While I do very much agree with you brother, I am also afraid that future you is in no position to be able to afford much coddling…”
Roboute: “I agree. I just hope that they can fix the situation and work on not letting it happen again.”

The boy, he thought hard about how much a legion would be. Then he thought back to the time he accidentally summoned up a big daemon and how it took a few of his uncles to kill it… If… If that was how strong one could be… Then a legion would… He didn’t want to think about it, he just- he wanted to be alone! Alone, and no one touching or talking or anything!

Frost and ice started to grow on his body, covering him up as his thoughts went wild at just how badly he messed up. If he messes up with himself, it’s just him. But if he messes up and other people get hurt or worse! Maybe he should just lock himself away, just sleep and not think, maybe he should-

“Aegidius!” His father's angry call snapped him out of it instantly. “Calm down! Not everything can be solved by locking oneself into his own mind.”

The frost began to melt.

“But-but-” He stuttered out, tears coming to his eyes.

“I know it’s hard son.” Gently chided Roboute. “But you must face your fears. If you don’t, you will never ever grow up.”

“I… I want to grow up…” He weakly admitted, feeling as if he was on the cusp of something, but it went away as soon as his father snapped him out of it. “I’m sorry dad. I mess up so much, I got people hurt, I… I just feel like I keep making things worse for people… I don’t think I’m gonna make a good Emperor like you said I would…”

Emperor: “THE PATH TO BECOMING EMPEROR IS FRAUGHT WITH OBSTACLES AND COUNTLESS DIFFICULTIES. THE SACRIFICES ARE MANY I AM AFRAID YOUNG ONE.”
Horus: “That is oddly… acceptable of one's faith coming from you father.”
Emperor: “I’M DEAD. SOMEONE NEEDS TO TAKEOVER, AND IF THAT SOMEONE HAS THE ASTRONOMICON EMBEDDED WITHIN HIM AND STILL LIVES, HE CLEARLY HAS POTENTIAL. THAT AND BEING A VIABLE OFFSPRING BETWEEN A HUMAN AND ELDAR, THAT’S THE PERFECT FIGUREHEAD THAT THIS NEW IMPERIUM NEEDS TO RALLY BEHIND.”
Horus: “Aaand theres the pragmatism…”

Roboute sighed, knowing this was going to be a difficult conversation. He really didn’t have the time to sit his son down and fully explain everything on why it was best for him to be the Emperor, or how bad the galaxy had gotten worse in only a hundred years after the Indomitus Crusade. “Be that as it may, son, there isn’t much we can do. We just need to keep moving forward, and that means you need to as well.”

“I didn’t mean for all of that to happen… I didn’t mean to summon them- I just got angry!” Aegidius brought up, frustrated that his father would just push aside this subject.

“Anger pushes psychic potential, it is normal.” His father sighed. “I will get you another tutor, a librarian preferably. And maybe your mother can teach you some when she returns.”

Aegidius looked at his father, his eyes wide with raw emotion. “Mom’s coming back? When? Today? Or-or is she here now?” He wanted to see his mom, she’d been gone for so long and so had his dad, and he just needed them...

Roboutes face was graced with a sad smile, obviously he brought up the topic to derail his sons train of thoughts.

“Dad? Where is mom? Is she alright? I haven’t heard from her in… months.” Aegidius looked up at his dad, questioning in those big eyes of his.

“She is fine little one.” Guaranteed his father, though his eyes betrayed his worry.

He watched his father, he could see it. “What happened?” He asked, curious on why his father wasn’t telling him. Mom wasn’t hurt, was she? She can’t be dead, he said he’d see her soon. So, what happened?

“Nothing you need to concern yourself with little one. As soon as she gets back she herself can explain it to you.”

The massive door to the War Room opened, revealing and un-helmed Cato Sicarius.

“My Primarch.” He spoke. “Sorry to interrupt, but the fleet is ready.”

Roboute: “I am heading out already?”
Emperor: “WITH WHAT WE HAVE SEEN AND HEARD, NO WONDER YOU HAVEN’T LEFT EARLIER.”

Roboute gave a nod and began walking out, still holding Aegidius.

“Your going away again!?” Butted in Aegidius. “So soon!? We didn’t even have time to play together!”

Roboute: “I’m sorry little one…”

“I have to go, little one. Duty calls, and I am the one who must always answer.”

“But you just came back! We only got to talk for a few minutes! Can’t you stay? It’s my birthday...”

Roboute: “It’s THAT bad!?”
Sanguinius: “From what we saw so far. It’s even worse, actually.”

“I can’t, Aegidius. I have to go. There is so much wrong with the galaxy, with home. I have to go.”

They both walked out of the door with Father and son going back and forth with each other, Cato Sicarius apparently noticing the holorecorder, coming closer and turning it off.

“So… that was… informative.” Began Ferrus.

Roboute sat back in his throne, hands rubbing at his face. “Future me didn’t even tell him a Happy Birthday.”

Lion scoffed, “That is what you’re lingering on? It’s just another year. What of it?”

Corvus spoke up. “You’re acting as if emotional attachment is a bad thing brother. A normal mindset and environment is a very important thing for a child still growing up.”

“OF COURSE, BUT LETS DISREGARD THAT FOR THE MOMENT, I’M DEAD!”

“Get over it.” Butted in Horus, having enough of his Father’s disbelief. “You’re acting as if this is the first time you're hearing about your own death.”

“I AM ACTING COMPLETELY REASONABLY!”

The door opened, revealing a much happier Angron and Lorgar. The former of the two hanging one of his massive arms on Lorgars shoulders.

“We have returned.” Announced Lorgar, taking his throne along with Angron.

“THAT'S GREAT, DID YOU DEAL WITH WHAT YOU HAD TO?”

A rumbling chuckle came from the Red Angel. “It was… enjoyable.”

“GOOD. I HOPE THEY ARE STILL ALIVE.”

Lorgar turned to his father, a burning fury evident in his eyes. “They are alive… but not in one piece.”

“Fuckers won’t be running away anytime soon.” Spat out Angron. “Nor doing any of their witch fuckery. Got no tongues to speak the words with.”

…
A moment earlier, with Lorgar and Angron
…​

“You know, brother. I never thought I would actually feel happiness and contentment from tearing a person limb from limb.” Lorgar idly spoke.

Angron grumbled lightly in pleasure, continuing to wash the blood off of his armour even as he looked at the pairs of severed legs, remains of shattered teeth and armour which lay all about the deck.

Lorgar paused, his mood darkening. “Though… I do have to say… Tearing them apart felt good for the moment, full pleasure at getting rid of the man who raised me and the man who was going to ruin our family… I feel empty on the inside now. They’re legless and armless, yes… But I feel… empty.”

“Revenge is thirsty work.” Spoke Angron. “It fills the soul and pleases you, but it also strips you to the core.” He winced as the nails bit.

“Thank you, though. For being here with me. I can always seem to count on you, can’t I?”

Angron looked up at his brother, genuine happiness in his eyes. “Always.” He grinned, showing his sharp teeth. To anyone seeing it, it would shake and creep them out to their core. But Lorgar smiled back. This was his brother at his best. And he would not have it any other way.

…
Back with the Emperor and family
…​

“ALRIGHT. NOW WHERE IS LEM-”

The doors smashed open, cutting the Emperor off.

“We’re baaack!” Loudly announced the Wolf King, Magnus trailing somewhat closely behind him.

“Alright. Call me interested, what did you two do?” Spoke up Horus.

“Oh, nuffin’ much. We just reconciled is all.”

“This bastard tried to have a drinking contest with me!”

“Oi! I thought we agreed not to bring that up!”

“We agreed to no such thing!” Said Magnus, a big dumb grin appearing on his face.

Jaghatai raised his eyebrows. “Now I am interested as well. What happened?”

“Nuffin!”

“I beat him!”

“Only because you cheated NERD!”

“Using my mastery of biomancy to enhance the processing speed of my liver is perfectly within any rules you are capable of coming up with!”

“Oi! The rules stated tha’ ye don’t use any of yer’ maleficarum ta win!”

“And I didn’t. I just used my natural powers that our Father gave us. And besides! We agreed to no table braking! THAT ONE WAS AN ANTIQUE BROTHER!”

“Oh, now yer going on about that again! I said I was sorry!”

“I THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING TO PASS ON MY ORDERS FOR ME, MAGNUS?” The Emperor reminded them, but still amused that these two were finally getting along.

“Oh I did Father, no worries there, it’s being taken care of… as soon as Ahriman nurses his hangover…” Magnus continued muttering on about how someone was able to even give a Space Marine one.

Horus then spoke up. “Oh yes, to bring you up to speed. Roboute’s son is the living Astronomicon and Father along with Terra are dead.”

Lorgar spat out the tea he was drinking. “The fuck!?”

“I… aeeegghhh… Okay.” Magny Magic shrugged, knowing that it had to be something big to make the future that horrible. Magnus looked around and counted the brothers and realized something. Used to the complete plot wits at this point “Father, where are the twins?”

“NOWHERE YOU HAVE TO CONCERN YOUR BUSY LITTLE MIND WITH. THEY ARE FUCKING SHIT UP IN A GOOD WAY. AND WELL, AS LONG AS YOU PASSED THE ORDERS ON, SO IT’S ALL GOOD. CAN’T JUST KEEP SITTING HERE AND NOT PASSING ON SOME ORDERS, YOU KNOW.”

Spoiler: Last part

Dusky and Showtime: “We feel Personally attacked.”

*FREAKING THE FUCK OUT*

Roll credits.

 

[DuskDawnAndFate]

After everything they saw so far with Aegidius, and how horribly everything went, the family decided to pause their viewing of Aegidius’s life and to check out the rest of the vids not about him.

“I think a break is in order. We could watch the other vids, since there’s so much of them…” Roboute tried to supply, not wanting to think about how terrible Aegidius’s life was getting, and wondering if it was going to get better.

“Aye, would be good to see about the others.” Leman agreed, diving for the chest and piles, searching for something to watch.

“Wha- Why do you get to choose!?” Magnus squawked from the side.

“Because I jumped first. Wolf pack rule and so on.” Leman shrugged, picking out a vid from the large unwatched pile.

“Wolf pack rules don’t apply here in the Bucephalus!” Magnus countered, but with a wave of his hand, the Emperor got them both to stop.

“I DON’T SEE ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. LEMAN GOT THERE FIRST, SO HE CHOOSES.”

Magnus sat back, grumbling to himself, while Roboute was deep in thought. Many of the others didn’t see many flaws with this logic and just went along with it. It’s a break, so it doesn’t really matter in the long run.

“Found one!” Leman barked, holding up a vid. “It says it’s about Fenris. So we have to watch it.”

“Are you kidding me? Suffering you in person is bad enough, but then going to watch Fenris-”

“Oy! What’s wrong with Fenris?”

“Other then it being a cold-arid, barren wasteland full of monsters?”

“Ey that… alright I’ll give you that.”

“CAN YOU TWO PLEASE STOP?”

Both of the Primarchs grumbled as they merely laid back in their separate thrones.

“MAGOS, GO AHEAD AND LETS GET THIS OVER WITH. I DO SEE THE JUVJK RUNE FOR “LAUGH” SO IT SHOULD HAVE SOME COMEDIC FACTORS.”

A prayer, and soon the vid started up-

203.M42

The vid opened up to security footage from the Fang, but what was off about the scene was how the hallway it opened up to was… nearly destroyed.

Leman: “WHAT TAE FOOK!?”
Magnus: “What? Isn’t that how it normally looks?”
Leman: “Nay, it doesn’t! What tae fook decided to rampage through tae Fang!?”

Suddenly, a voice was heard coming from a Vox loudspeaker.

“Team Fang! Team Fang! Hygiene evasion confirmed via Wolf King! Deploy, deploy!”

Leman: “Hygiene evasion!? What in the wolfin’ hell is that supposed to mean?”
Lion: “Perhaps you forgot to take your annual bath brother.”
Leman: “Ah keep myself clean, you clean-licking cat.”
Lion: “I do not need to do that, I have servants for it.”
Leman: “HA! Now that IS a good prefere-”
Sanguinius: “SHHH! I’m trying to watch!”

The walls were covered in tiny footprints of mud and snow, claw marks from what was most likely was a tiny wolf creature and many broken nets littered the hall. Surprisingly, there were many overturned displays in the halls, making it look like a mini warzone.

Magnus: “Are you sure it doesn’t always look loike this?”
Leman: “Bloody hell, YES! Are you sure that pile of worthless papers that you call a library doesn't look like that?”
Magnus: “U FUKIN WOT-”
Emperor: “BOYS!”

“Team Canis! Do you have a visual on her!?”

“Negative, Canis! Team Lupus has no visuals on her as well!”

Leman: “WHO IS HER?!”
Mortarion: “Probably one hell of a woman. Or one of your newest flings.”
Leman: “I lost most of my pursuits lately, just doesn't feel the same when every woman is almost literally throwing herself at you, yer know? Besides, I doubt that one of my flings could do that much dama-”

“Team Fang here, we just spotted here outside of our pack home! She went up one of the walls and is now-AGH! NOT THE EYES LITTLE SISTER! NOT THE EYE-MY NECK ISN’T MUCH BETTER!”

Leman: “... I sure bloody hope, by all of the snows on Fenris, that he didn’t just call her sister.”
Rogal: “He did, we all heard it brother.”
Leman: “Please… no… I would be the most horrible-”

“HOLD YOUR POSITION TEAM FANG, LUPUS IS CLOSE BY AND IS DISPATCHING REINFORCEMENTS!”

“HURRY UP! I GOT MY HELMET ON BUT SHE IS RUNNING AROUND LIKE A FURLESS SHE-WOLF AFTER-OH BY FENRIS-SHE JUST CLIMBED INTO THE VENTILATION SYSTEM!”

Leman: “-horrible fookin parent out of all of us…”
Jaghatai: “Don’t think so. I can see at least four here that would be worse than you.”
Emperor: “SON, WHAT DID I SAY ABOUT VERBAL MURDER.”
Jaghatai: “I obeyed your word father. ‘Brutal Verbal Murder’ would equate to me calling Leman the most incompetent parent of all-”
Emperor: “POINT PROVEN.”

The vid shifted again, showing an untouched room displays. It was full of large stuffed thunder wolves, displays of ancient weapons and shields upon the walls, trophies of battles long past. And then, the ventilation shaft opened violently, the grate kicked open and soon, a tiny ball of hair, mud, dirty snow and what looked like blood dropped into the middle of the room.

The tiny ball of destruction sat on the floor, raising a leg and scratching at behind her head, leaving flecks of dirt on the floor.

Fulgrim: “...is that little girl scratching herself like a DOG!?”
Rogal: “Yes.”
Ferrus: “Yeah, that’s what’s on screen right now.”
Perturabo: “I would smack the both of you right now if this wasn’t such a mind-numbing scene of incompetent parenthood.”
Leman: *shrinks into his throne*

“No bath. Hate bath.”

Corvus: “We can see that little one.”

The Vox loudspeaker was heard again.

“All father save us- she is in the Room of Eternal glory! All teams converge!”

The little ball let out a surprising, or rather, un-surprising wolf-like yelp and began running for one of the doors. Knocking down a display case holding some ancient piece of wood that split apart and was sent flying to all corners of the room.

Leman: *Suddenly and violently stands* “ARE YER FUCKIN KIDDING ME LITTLE ONE! IF YER WEREN’T A TINY GIRL I WOULD TAN YER HIDE UNTIL-”
Emperor: “WOW LEMAN CALM DOWN!”
Leman: “CALM DOWN? CALM THE BLOODY HELL DOWN!? THAT WAS THE LAST RECORDED EVENT OF ME’ DAD’S LAST TRIUMPH!”
Magnus: “Brother! It was wood I am sure that they can remake it!”
Leman: *Flops down onto his throne* “I sure do bloody well hope so… I need a drink…”
Roboute: “Now you know how I feel.”

She was almost out of the door when a massive wall of steel came slamming down in front of her, sealing her inside of the room even as the vox loudspeaker was heard yet again.

“She is trapped! All teams, all teams, surround and capture! All methods granted, repeat, all methods granted!”

Corvus: “All of them are acting like this is a life or death situation… Sure the hall looked to be all but destroyed, but a child can’t be that destructive-”
*The family stopped and heard rising laughter, looking to see both Magnus and Jaghatai going from soft chuckles to full on laughter*
Jaghatai: “YOU HAVE NO IDEA. You have clearly never seen the work of the angry little midgets!”

The tiny pup shook in place, looking up at the massive wall of steel. She had a feeling that the battle was soon going to be over. But her warrior instinct was strong, her canine DNA inherited from a Primarch proving too strong for her undeveloped mind and she would not give up without a fight.

Mortarion: “What? Did Leman breed with a wolf?”
Leman: “OY!”
Emperor: “NO, HE DIDN’T. THAT’S MY FAULT. WHEN I MADE ALL OF YOU, I WAS VERY PARTICULAR WITH HOW YOUR GENETIC MAKE UP WOULD WORK AND WELL… LEMAN GOT THE CANIS HELIX. I KNOW ONE OF YOU GOT THE FELINE HELIX, BUT I CAN’T REALLY REMEMBER…”
Corvus: “Could they have attempted to make a female space marine? Seeing as in how much of a desperate situation the Imperium is…”
Emperor: “NO. FAR TOO YOUNG FOR THAT, AND NO ONE IS THAT DESPERATE. THE FAILURE RATE OF A CONVERSION IS 99.76% AND EVEN THEN IT REQUIRES A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF MAINTENANCE.”

She prepared herself. Growling and unveiling claw like fingernails even as underneath all of that muck laid an actually cute little girl. Her hair stood up, making herself look bigger than she already was. It didn’t help much, since she was only around 3 feet tall.

Leman: “Damned pup doesn’t want to go down without a fight…”

The wall of steel in front of her began to lift.

She pounced.

Only for her eyes to widen to an impossible amount even as momentum was interrupted mid-air and twisted in the opposite direction, yelping while doing so.

“NO BATH! NO BATH DAD NO BATH!”

Leman: “WHAT!? BATH!? DOES THAT MEAN THAT THE ‘HYGIENE AVERSION’ WAS ALL FOR A DAMNED BATH!?”
Fulgrim: “You might be surprised what it sometimes takes. Although that is not the case with-”
Magnus: *Violent coughing*
Fulgrim: “-with most little princesses.”
Emps: “I SWEAR, ALL OF YOU WILL TELL ME-”
Magnus: “OH HEY, WANT TO TALK ABOUT HOW SHE SAID DAD TO LEMAN!?”
Leman: “Wait wot- OH WAIT THAT’S ME!”

The alpha was here, making the tiny pup nearly whimper in his presence. He spoke with a deep growl, a tone that made every fiber inside of her body squeak in terror. The behemoth of a man would make sure she would obey, whether she liked it or not. He caught her, hands making sure she wouldn’t go anywhere.

“Listen lil one! Ye’ smell worse than a whole season o’ fermented fish! Ye need that bath before the damned trolls mistake yer smell for pheromones!”

“NO! NO BATH! BATH BAD! BATH BAD!” The tiny pup shrieked, struggling in the grasp of the Primarch. All in vain. The little girl then began to howl, hoping to use her call of help for anyone to free her from the grasp of the alpha.

Leman: “I AM A FRACKING DAD! HOW CAN I BE A FRACKING DA-” *Sudden realization of something* “HA! ALL OF THE WOLF PRIESTS WERE WRONG!”
Magnus: “I don’t even want to know what you are thinking about.”
Lion: “Leman.”
Leman: “Wot?”
Lion: “I don’t see any mention of children till all the way to the 42nd Millenium.”
Leman: “...”
Lion: “I thought you were the ‘biggest ladies man’ of the family. Surely, something must be wrong with you to wait all the way until then to have a child. Roboute was in stasis for ten thousand years. What’s your excuse?”
Leman: “Oh… eh… wasn’t I like… lost in the warp?”
Lion: “You disappeared fairly late as I recall. During a feast.”
Leman: “Eh… I had… no time?”
Lion: “And as I recall, you are quite the braggart about your sexual exploits.”
Konrad: “Go for the throat, Lion!”
Leman: “...what the fook are ye tryin tae say.”
Lion: “All I am saying is that you mentioned that the Wolf Priests said-”
Leman: “YER PROVED YER POINT! STOP!”
Rogal: “Leman has very slow swimmers. A euphemism for a barely functioning reproductive cycle.”
Emperor: “LADADADA, TOO MUCH INFORMATION BOYS!”

“YER GOING TO TAKE THAT BATH OR YOUR GOING TO GET NUTRIENT PASTE FOR DINNER YOUNG LADY!”

She recoiled in horror.

“NOT DARE!” She proclaimed proudly, hoping against all chances that her father was joking.

“I would.” Leman got incredibly close to her. “I would even do it while we are in the great hall… feasting.”

She let out a tiny whine, much like a kicked puppy, and deflated in his hands. She looked up at him with huge, wide eyes through the mop of untamed hair, lower lip protruding out and quivering.

Fulgrim: “I admit… it still works.”
Roboute: “Same to be honest.”
Jaghatai: “Hmm, reminds me of my youth.”
Magnus: “Almost like my youn-” *Violent elbow to the gut from Jaghatai* “KHM!”
Emperor: “I SWEAR…”
Leman: “...it… I can feel it. It does have power!”

“Aww, aren’t yer cute!” Said Leman with a nice big grin. “Yer se, that’s what I would normally say. But right now yer so fracking dirty and smell like a Kraken left to rot. So it ain’t gonna work.”

Leman: “Good one future me!”
Magnus: “You are cheering on your future self?”
Leman: “Someone has to!”

More adorable puppy whining coming from the girl.

“Now, yer can come with me and have yer bath. Or yer can explain to your mother and her sisters who are coming back tomorrow why yer haven’t taken a bath in over a month.”

Magnus: “A MONTH.”
Leman: “Well-”
Fulgrim: “A FULL BLOODY MONTH!?”
Leman: “Okay liste-”
Sanguinius: “Do you have any idea how foul that is!?”
Leman: “Kinda-?”
Roboute: “Leman, we can go for months without bathing. But a growing child needs baths! There are an untold amount of diseases they could contract! Even if they are half of us!”
Leman: “Okay, you have a point.”

Silence, then a small, audible gulp was heard from the little girl, her hair deflating and her original size on full display.

“That's what I thought. Now, bath time!”

Fulgrim: “Are you threatening to sic your wife on your daughter?”
Leman: “I… no-”
Jaghatai: “An effective strategy.”
Leman: “Uh… thank you brother?”
Magnus: “I can’t judge you for that.”
Leman: “Even you now?”

She began struggling again, even full on gnawing on the gloved hands of Leman, even as he carried her out of the room, singing the Fenrisian equivalent of a children's song. There were very visible teeth marks on his gauntleted hands.

Konrad: “Hmph, not bad.”
Mortarion: “Indeed, the gene-lottery seems to be with this one. Going off of what I know, if her teeth are that strong, then perhaps the rest of her bones are as well… I can only guess, since I don’t have access to their full medical history and scans.”
Leman: “So my kid is badass?”
Mortarion: *long suffering reaper sigh* “...yes Leman. Your kid is ‘badass’.”
Leman: “Good!”

“There once was a hero called Ragnar the red Hand, who came riding to the Fang from the ole training camps!”

Leman: “Aaaah! Haven’t heard this one in forever!”
Magnus: “It ... sounds surprisingly fine so far.”

Carrying her to a secluded room with quite a lot of Space Wolves guarding the entrance. Inside was a tub, a hose and a Wolf Priest with heavy duty cleaning tools in his hands.

“And the braggart did swagger and brandish his blade as he told of bold battle and maidens he bed!”

Magnus: “WAIT WHAT?!”
Lorgar: “Even I did not see that coming.”
Jaghatai: “A nice, traditional tune thus far.”

Leman had to physically hold her in the tub, the water running a dark brown as it washed over the girl. She let out howls of discomfort, which were ignored. The hose had to be used quite liberally, due to the dirt, blood and all the nasty shit caked on her getting in the way of the cleaning.

“But then he went quiet, did the Red Hand when he met a Valkyrie who said… ‘Oh you talk and you lie and drink all our mead! Now I think it’s high time that you lie down and bleed!’”

Lorgar: “This is beyond barbaric…”
Ferrus: “I… I don’t know how to react to this.”
Fulgrim: “How is this meant to be a children’s tune?”
Leman: “It’s a lesson!”
Angron: “It’s a good way to teach kids the reality of this damned galaxy. Pussies, all of you.”
Leman: *Smacks the hand rest of his throne* “Thank you!”

Enough water and soap, and the little girl started to shine through the dirt, showing off her adorable little face and angry wee eyes. She growled from under the water, the Wolf Priest working extra hard to scrub her with the brush, grumbling how this happened every wolfin’ month.

“And so then came the clashing and slashing of steel as the brave lass charged in full of zeal.”

Magnus: “OH GREAT! MURDER OF A POOR WOMAN BY A DRUNK-”
Leman: “VALKYRIE! ONE CAN BEAT YER ASS IN A FAIR FIGHT!”
Magnus: “YOU TAKE THAT BACK!”
Leman: “I BLOODY WELL WON’T! FROM WHAT I HEARD, THEY FORMED IN DURING THE FRACKIN INDOMITUS CRUSADE FROM SHIELDMAIDENS AND HAVE ACTUAL POWER ARMOUR AND GOOD WEAPONS! THE REGULAR WOMEN OF FENRIS CAN DRINK AS MUCH AS A MAN CAN, CAN FIGHT LIKE A MAN AND CAN SWEAR LIKE A MAN, ALL OF THEM ARE FOOKING BADASSES WHO CAN KICK YER ASS.”
Magnus: “THEN HOW DO YOU KNOW THE DAMNED SONG!?”
Leman: “EVERYONE CUSTOMISES IT! Wolf traditions and all that…”
Magnus: “SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU DON’T WRITE THINGS DOWN!?”

Finally rinsed, the girl was pulled from the tub, leaving a cascade of water rolling off of her as she was then assaulted with fluffy towels, drying her off and leaving her with distorted whines coming from the bundle.

“And the braggart named Ragnar was boastful no mooore… when his ugly red hand went flying out of the door!”

Magnus: “NOW WE CAN ADD MAIMING TO THE LIST OF THINGS THE POOR LITTLE GIRL KNOWS!”

Finally, she was dried, wrapped in a towel and finally able to sit comfortably in her father’s arms, looking like a tiny pupperito. She blinked a few times, noticing the song ended. She looked up to her father, asking “What happen to Ragnar?”

Leman was glad that even through her little bath ordeal, she did hear it all. “Ah, from what I recall lass, he wanted a trial from the gods... “

Lorgar: “Ah! Fenrisians still worship gods. I wonder why they get to keep that, even when Monarchia was burned because we believed in a god. Truly, even at the most basic level of civilization, faith can still prevail and make mankind fair and stable in a society-”

“... so they threw him from the top of the Fang.”

Lorgar: “WHAT!?”

She giggled, snickering about the death of the braggart. “Yey.”

Magnus: “Oh great. Your daughter loves it. Amazing. Can already tell she’s going to be just like you.”
Leman: “Yer say that like a bad thing.”
Magnus: “OH! I wonder why…”

“...it’s also good luck we were able to wash you so easily. You really need to stop running around naked.” Leman shook his head, “little destruction pup.”

Emperor: “LEMAN, PLEASE, DON’T LET YOUR CHILDREN RUN AROUND NAKED AND COVERED IN BLOOD AND DIRT.”
Leman: “Father, I was trying to fix it!”
Rogal: “You barely succeed brother. And this appears to be a monthly recurrence.”
Leman: *Wolfgrumbling*

The little girl looked down at her belly, patted it a few times and barked up at Leman. “Food now.”

Her father now gave her a wide smile.

“Equerry!”

There was a few seconds pause as Leman waited expectantly.

“Oh, where the bloody hell is he- Equerry!”

The door to the room opened and in stepped Ragnar Blackmane. “My lord Russ, I apologize but… Lukas is banished.”

Leman: “WOT!? I MADE HIM MY EQUERRY!?”
Magnus: “WHAT POSSESSED YOU TO DO THAT!?”
Leman: “... I suddenly like my decision.”
Magnus: “YOUR DOING IT OUT OF SPITE!?”
Leman: “Certainly bloody well not! I am merely saying that I can see the… effective side of it.”

“What?! Again?! In the middle of a damned Helwinter!?”

“Not the first time my Lord, nor the last I suspect.”

“Agh…” Leman rubbed his eyes with his free hand. “Fine, call for a feast!”

“May I ask, what for my Lord?”

Leman held up the tiny cute ball of a girl in front of Ragnar’s face.

“I got Freya clean! And there was only minor damage and this time no one died!”

Leman: “Egh, from wot I can see, gettin that little hell hound bathed does call for a feast.”
Fulgrim: “What? No it doesn't. You just need to have a better strategy for it. Rosie loves baths-”
*collective throat clearing*
Emperor: “ROSIE EH?”
Fulgrim: “I UH- I CAN EXPLAIN!”
Emperor: “NEW WIFE?”
Fulgrim: “...YES!”
Roboute: “You’re married!?”
Fulgrim: “Um… yes.”
Rogal: “Sincere congratulations brother.”
Fulgrim: “Oh um… Well, cat’s out of the bag.”
Rogal: “But there is no cat-”
Perturabo: *smack*
Lion: “Congratulations indeed, knowing you it was more of the political necessity however.”
Fulgrim: “Yes and no… can we not talk about it?”
Emperor: “FOR NOW. BUT YOU WILL TELL ME LATER.”

Suddenly the entire fang violently shook.

“What in the wolfin fu-”

The Vox loudspeaker spoke again.

“Iron Priests to the ventilation duct maintenance panels! The system has entirely collapsed!”

Leman: “Tiny cute ball of mass destruction…”
Roboute: “You get used to it.”
Jaghatai: “Indeed…”

Leman looked down at his outstretched daughter.

“Make that… significant damage.”

Freya looked up at her father her head cocked to the side, and if she had one, her tail would be wagging. “Awoo?”

“I swear little one, as soon as yer can get in armour and listen to commands, I’m taking yer with me exploring.” He began walking with his daughter towards a nearby mead hall. “If he were still alive, I couldn’t wait to see the look on Lion’s face when I let you loose among his sons! Like a wolf chasing a wee house cat…” Leman snickered in good humour, remembering better days.

Lion: “You better not brother.”
Leman: “Afraid brother?”
Lion: “Wouldn’t want to see your little one hurt.”
Leman: “Oh trust me, that is the least of what I am afraid of.”
Lion: “Then don’t be surprised when she comes up against something greater than her.”

As the vid closed, the last line before it went off was something along the lines of: “And make sure yer don’t chew through the table again, pup! Those are for smashing! Not biting!”

The vid suddenly turned off.

“Ahhh right as we were getin’ to the fun part!”

“That was enough tomfoolery for one decade I think…” Slowly spoke up Horus, falling into shock sometime during the beginning of the vid.

“Nonsense! I think she is but the cutest little ball of fluff!” Added on Vulkan.

“While also being a ball of mass destruction.” Slowly muttered Konrad. “The perfect unsuspecting weapon.”

“Oy! How about not using my daughter as a weapon!?”

“You said that you would do it yourself!” Protested Magnus.

“Different situation!”

“Oh! So using your daughter to poke fun at our brothers is fine with potential violent and deadly consequences is fine, but using her in a war-”

“She is just a pup brother!” Defended Leman.

“THAT YOU ARE SINGING WAR SONGS TO!”

“IN LEMAN’S DEFENCE, IT IS ACTUALLY A PART OF HIS CULTURE, AS WELL AS JAGHATAI’S.” Spoke up the Emperor even as Magnus turned to Jaghatai.

“It is true. There are many such songs on Chogoris, although with allot more throat singing.” Jaghatai rubbed at his chin in thought, “...now that I think about it, quite a lot have death, dismemberment, sex, crusades, violence, all of them are like that really. They’re fine.”

Magnus sighed rubbing at his temples. “It just seems odd that songs meant for children are so violent.”

Lorgar added on with, “To be fair, we are built for war and the galaxy isn’t very… child friendly, in the slightest.”

“I suppose so. Maybe I’m just a bit more sensitive to the topic because of… A reason I will not get into. Maybe I’m just making a fuss out of nothing.” Magnus relented, knowing that maybe he was just overreacting to this.

“EXACTLY. BESIDES, CHILDREN’S SONGS, LITERATURE AND ENTERTAINMENT HAS ALWAYS BEEN VIOLENT OR CLOSE TO VIOLENCE. EVER SINCE ANCIENT TERRAN TIMES.” The Emperor spoke up, thinking back on his own childhood and songs he heard during his wandering days. “A FEW FAMOUS ONES ARE ABOUT THE BLACK PLAGUE, RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION, TREASON WITH SOME BEHEADING, HUMAN SACRIFICE, MURDEROUS PSYCHOPATHS, A RIVER TURNING RED FROM THE SHEER AMOUNT OF PEOPLE DYING IN IT AND ANOTHER ABOUT THREE MEN WHO CONSPIRED TO OVERTHROW THE GOVERNMENT. JUST TO NAME A FEW.” The Emperor shrugged, “CHILDREN’S SONGS HAVE BEEN FUCKED UP FOR A LONG TIME.”

“I swear… humanity is such a crude vile species at time…” Finally finished Magnus even as the rest of the family was surprised or just outright acceptance at the customs of ancient mankind.

“YEAH, BUT IT’S AWESOME.”

“So that’s where Konrad and Angron get it from…” Muttered Horus.

 

[Centergg]

Messages for Dad

I can believe this became a thing



​

Click to shrink...

In the Voice of Rogal Dorn: Yey. I can likebombing this MARVEL again!
And this picture... is beautiful! My respect to it`s authors.
I hope we will read who are all this children soon.
Because I don`t recognize 3 of them and Sanguinius(?) daughter make me think about clones and build headcanons.

P.S. can i bring my story of Eleventh here as Omake?

 

[DuskDawnAndFate]

After watching the stellar parenting of Leman from the future, and the resulting debate on children’s songs, the family tried to figure out who would choose from the pile next.

“I don’t care if Leman calls it ‘Wolf Pack Rules’ or not, we should bring our system back of us taking turns for vid viewing!” Magnus spoke up, hoping to get a routine back in place.

“I agree with Magnus,” Roboute nodded, “it’s best we keep to a system, lest the faster of brothers will have the first pick every time. Not that we cannot plan for ourselves, but it would be fair.”

Leman shrugged, looking to the pile, “too late.”

Sputtering, Magnus looked to the pile to see Vulkan sifting through it. He looked up, smiling and waving at Magnus. “Everyone was taking so long to figure out what to do, so I got up and began to look!” He said this with a wide grin. “Do not worry! I am picking something at random, to be fair!”

Lorgar nearby shook his head, “knowing the luck of everyone here, you’ll most likely pick something that has to do with you in the future. Calling it now.”

“Knowing the shit luck of everyone here, he will pick something emotionally scarring as well.” Konrad commented from his throne in his typical sullen voice. It’s better for everyone else to go through the trauma of bad parenting, thankfully he would never have to go through that.

Vulkan did stop and pull a vid out at random, showing it to the room. There wasn’t anything special looking about the vid in question, no runes, no writing, nothing. Just a regular random vid. “I believe this one will suffice!”

“WELL, VULKAN, HAND IT OVER TO THE MAGOS AND GET COMFORTABLE.” The Emperor waved off his son, ready for more vid watching. He idly wondered if it was right to keep sitting here and watching vids, but then he remembered that Malcador usually was able to hold down the fort… so whatever. It’s not like with her where she would nag him into oblivion and attack him with her powers in another bout of emotional explosion. Now that he thought about it, maybe…? No… No, not yet… Maybe? No. He wasn’t wrong. Never wrong about that.

Magos Lehm took the vid gratefully and began the rites, he’s done this particular rite so many times now, it would forever be burned into his mind and cogitators. Perhaps this was the meaning of his life?

M42. 188

The vid opened up inside of an Apothecarion and from the multiple Salamander heraldries emblazoned upon the walls it belonged to the Salamanders. It showed a pacing Vulkan without his armor looking in between both directions of the hallway he was in. He would go in one direction, then stop, think and go the other, before he repeated the action.

Konrad: “Called it.”
Lorgar: “Are you sure that isn’t my line?”
Konrad: “Usually it would but take a second. Vulkan looks like he’s going mad and he’s in an Apothecarion. Calling it now, it’s going to be emotionally scarring.”
Vulkan: “Please no…”

Choosing between staying by his wife’s side or his son’s, was one of the more difficult choices he had to make. Obviously, his wife just went through her third time giving birth to one of their children, but she had their two older children by her side.

No one was with his youngest.

Vulkan: “Oh no… Please don’t let the little one be hurt…”
Konrad: “Well-”
Emperor: “KONRAD!”
Konrad: *crosses arms and sits back* “fine.”
Vulkan: “Mortarion? What are some of the reasons why a baby would be taken from their mother?”
Mortarion: “A variety of reasons. Usually it’s for the first check-up and making sure everything is fine. The child is given back to the mother within the hour.”
Vulkan: “What else?”
Roboute: “I did not know you knew how to take care of newborns Mortarion.”
Mortarion: “I fucking hate babies. Dealing with them is the bane of my existence. I was born with the knowledge and since I am an Apothecary, I have to know a lot about it. But yes, there are other reasons why the child will be taken from the mother. And it isn’t pretty.”
Vulkan: *takes a deep breath and watches the screen with rising worry, hoping for the best*

Vulkan had left his wife’s side, finding the neonatal care unit of the Apothecarion where they took his too early, too small, too frail son. The first two were able to immediately be given to their mother, already in her arms and able to be cared for from the get-go. Red-cheeked, healthy babies.

So why was his youngest so early? So small? So frail? Perrin and Venus had been easy, healthy, strong, on time. He was born just barely after twenty-three weeks.

Mortarion: “He’s dead.”
Vulkan: “But-but it says that he is in care-”
Mortarion: “He won’t make it through the night.”
Vulkan: “No! He will!”
Mortarion: “Fine. Don’t accept it from me. Listen to everyone on the screen tell you it’s going to die. What difference does it make? Make a new one and snap this one's neck as mercy.”
Vulkan: “WHAT!? How could you say such a thing!? I will not give up on the little one just because you have so little love and care in your heart! Or did your adoptive father suck it all away from you!?”
Mortarion: *slowly turns to Vulkan* “...what did you just say?”
Vulkan: “You heard me, brother! You are cold!”
Mortarion: *Looks back at the screen* “Blame father. He made me.”
Konrad: “I think this viewing is going along wonderfully.”
Emperor: “FUCKING HELL…”

He was worried over his youngest.

It was quick work to find where they kept him, where they kept his son, but it was another playing field to see him. The Apothecaries told their Primarch, flat out, that no. No, he could not be with him right now.

So he watched through the glass, watched as he saw his youngest be put into an incubator, watch as he was fed tubes, attached to monitoring equipment. And not for the first time did he wonder if this was the right thing to do.

During the earliest check-ups, they were warned that the tests were coming back strange, that something was different and wrong this time. Farther into the process, there were worrying reports. Then when his son decided it was time, did Vulkan’s worry reach its tipping point.

He was so small, he was dwarfed in his incubator, smaller than any of his elder children. Just barely over a pound and a half. He could fit in the palm of one of his hands.

Mortarion: “What else do you need to see? He’s too small, he apparently needs breathing and feeding tubes and now he’s beyond underweight. And you call me the cruel one?”
Vulkan: “He’s being given a fighting chance!”
Mortarion: “More like you are prolonging suffering under the guise of love. Mark my words. The Apothecary will recommend you let him die.”

Vulkan was so deep in worry and thought, that he barely registered when an Apothecary came to him, waiting to speak to him. He wanted to keep watching over his son, watching over his boy through the glass.

Mortarion: “A hundred thrones says the Apothecary suggests putting the child down.”
Vulkan: “Don’t you dare take bets on that! You aren’t too far away for me to break your back!”
Sanguinius: “Vulkan, calm down. It’s a delicate situation and-”
Konrad: “Fifty thrones says that Vulkan gives the kid a chance.”
Horus: “Are you fucking kidding me!?”
Perturabo: “Two hundred says that the child is deformed.”
Sanguinius: “WHAT IS WRONG WITH ALL OF YOU!?”
Vulkan: “This is my child! How could you all be taking bets on how much he will suffer!?”
Mortarion: “Calm down. He’s not born here. And besides, who knows how many of your own sons did you grant a mercy killing before? Or do I have to mention the pyromania?”
Horus: “Enough! I expect better from all of you, Father expects better from all of you! All of us! Are we really so sociopathic that we are having fun at the expense of a child’s life who is also our nephew? We are better than this! Beyond better than this! Vulkan’s questionable morality aside, all of you need to shut up and drop it!”
Rogal: “Do I get to hit Perturabo for being a terrible person?”
Horus: “Yes.”
Emperor: “YES.”
Rogal: *Smacks Perturabo*

“There is much to speak about, my Primarch.” Chief Apothecary Harath Shen began, knowing that this was going to be a very difficult conversation. He had been the same Apothecary who monitored the process of Perrin and Venus, their growth and how they changed over time. He monitored the process of the youngest and was the same who told his Primarch of the… possible difficulties.

“Speak then, my son,” Vulkan spoke in a worried tone, his eyes glued to the window leading to the neonatal care ward.

“It is… difficult sire.” The Apothecary treaded carefully. “He was born very prematurely as you know, and with… structural alterations.”

*Most brothers slowly turn to Mortarion*
Mortarion: “He’s a mutant.”
Corvus: *sighs*
Sanguinius: “...I…” *trails off uncomfortably*
Vulkan: “What?”
Sanguinius: “Nothing.”

Vulkan turned to his son now, the worry evident on his face. “What do you mean?”

The Apothecary sighed. “He is… different my lord. His body is…”

“Say it so that I can understand it my son, I shall not be angry.” Vulkan encouraged the hesitating Apothecary.

“He is a mutant, my lord.”

Vulkan’s red eyes went blank. Withdrawing into himself. So much was hidden in those depths, emotions he couldn’t place. Just the resounding question of ‘why?’ “I see…” He spoke silently. “How… bad?”

“Enough that I recommend giving him the Emperor’s Mercy.” The Apothecary spoke plainly, forcing the words out and hoping his Primarch would make the right decision. And if that decision just so happened to agree with him, he would feel not a shred of pleasure.

Mortarion: *Looks over, raising an eyebrow and pointing with one hand at the screen*
Vulkan: “Are you happy, brother?”
Mortarion: “Not exactly.”
Vulkan: “But you’re right. Surely you’d be beyond happy to know that.”
Mortarion: “I do not like my knowledge and profession to be insulted, yes. But am I happy about putting down an innocent child? Even if it’s a mutant? No.”

Vulkan’s first thought was to deny this, he didn’t fight every day in this galaxy to allow his own child to not have the chance to live.

“My lord… it is highly unlikely that he will even make it through the night as he is.”

He spoke sense. But he knew he couldn’t make such a decision by himself, his wife deserved to be a part of this. This was their son, not just his. “I need time to think.”

The Apothecary bowed his head in respect as his sire left without another word. Releasing his breath the moment Vulkan walked out of the room.

...​

Contrary to the Apothecaries' beliefs, however, the babe did make it through the night.

Mortarion: “Huh. Must have gotten some of Vulkan’s healing capabilities.”
Vulkan: “...so there is a chance?”

Then through the weekend.

Then the week.

Then the month.

Vulkan: “Where am I? Why did I leave!?”
Roboute: “Vulkan, calm down. I’m sure you were there with him, it’s just… skipping. You would be there for him, wouldn’t you?”
Vulkan: “...y...yes. Yes, I would.”
Jaghatai: “Then you would know that your future self would be there as well.”
Vulkan: “Yes, you’re right. I’m sorry.”

As he grew, his deformities and mutations only became more obvious. He cried almost constantly lest he was given a mass amount of pain medication, so much that it made his senses practically dull.

Putting that many painkillers in a child that size and age would have killed them long ago, thankfully or in some minds of Apothecaries, unfortunately, the genes of the Primarch kept the babe from succumbing to mercy.

Operation was considered and dropped so many times it became practically a routine amongst the Apothecaries. A plan was thought up of how they could… fix him and then immediately dropped when yet another flaw or development threw the plan off the rails completely.

Jaghatai: “So. It seems even our children have a chance to… Not be correctly formed.”
Magnus: “It seems so.”
Fulgrim: “Is it just certain ones of us? Or is the potential there for all of us?”
Magnus: “I don’t know, I’m not an expert in this field. Ask Mortarion.”
Mortarion: “Now what?”
Jaghatai: “What are the chances of a Primechild experiencing mutations like this? A Primechild growing up normally to a Primechild growing up with more problems. And everywhere in between.”
Emperor: “DID YOU JUST CALL THEM PRIMECHILDREN?”
Jaghatai: “Well, yes? They are children who come from us, the Primarchs. I just thought it was a good title for them since they are half of us.”
Emperor: “I LIKE IT. WE'RE USING THAT TERM FOR THEM NOW.”
Mortarion: “That makes things easier, but anyway... Theoretically zero. Practically, on a planet so heavily radiated that it turns one's skin black and eyes a pure red especially after multiple births. Much higher.”
Fulgrim: “So is it just home factors, or is it like baselines? Where there is always a chance of mutation?”
Mortarion: “Just like with baselines, deformities and mutations are always going to be a problem, the chances of that is connected to a large list of factors ranging from environment, family history, what the mother ingests during gestation, what the mother experiences during gestation, what kind of genes are given by the father and many more factors. There is no completely safe and healthy way to ensure a completely healthy child, unless you dabble into genecrafting.” *He waved an arm around the room* “...as you can see, even we are not perfect. Despite a certain someone trying his best.”
Roboute: “So there will always be a chance that a Primechild can grow and come out… wrong.”
Mortarion: “Yes. Very wrong. Our genes aren’t meant to be mixed with regular baselines, anything could go wrong. Imagine a baseline having our mind but not the biology to keep up. Or their muscles growing at an abnormally fast rate and their bones are unable to keep up or their mind simply crashes as it isn’t capable of comprehending its biology. There are multiple ways a Primechild could come out wrong, and so far we have seen two examples. And one is a halfbreed. It was only a matter of time until we saw a Primechild who just happened to have a very unlucky draw. At most half of the genes are coming from someone else, and that’s where it gets bad. So to speak.”
Emperor: “AH, YEAH, SURE. NO MIXING BOYS. TOTALLY.”
Jaghatai: “Right.”
Magnus: “Of course.”
Fulgrim: “Absolutely.”
Lion: “That would explain a lot.”

All the while Vulkan retreated to the mountains. Completely secluding himself away from everyone.

His wife… she wanted the babe gone, given the Final Mercy, for such pain was not meant for any life. She argued that if they really loved him, they would let him go. What scared Vulkan the most was how he actually stopped to consider if it was right to keep him alive. That maybe it was better to let him go.

He thought long and hard about it, about how either option had their blessings and curses. How the babe should have a chance to live, that maybe time could help with his issues. Or how possibly if he would get worse with time and life would be even more unbearable.

What was more humane? What was right? What was for the best for him?

He came to a conclusion, and Vulkan returned.

And he took the babe in his hands and for the first time since its birth, it stopped crying.

As his mutated only red iris eyes looked into Vulkan complete dark red ones. A connection was formed, an unbreakable one possible only between a parent and his offspring.

“Janan.” Vulkan spoke, christening the child and with it, sentencing it to life even as he turned to the Apothecaries. “He will live. Make him as comfortable as possible. I will not abandon my son.”

Vulkan: “Did I make the right choice?”
Magnus: “I don’t know. I can’t imagine having to sit down and think about whether killing my child would be better than to let it live a life of pain.”
Horus: “Mortarion did bring up a good point though, don’t we have to give the Final Mercy to our own genesons at times? How is this any different?”
Sanguinius: “He’s a baby. One of our own blood.”
Vulkan: “Shouldn’t he have the chance to live?”
Mortarion: “But isn’t it crueler to force that on them? I don’t see the boy-”
Vulkan: “Janan.”
Mortarion: *Rolls eyes* “-Janan. I don’t see him having much of a life to look forward to. Is it really better for you to keep him alive?”
Vulkan: “Maybe he could grow up and get better? Maybe with time he could overcome the hurdles he was given. You can’t see the future.”
Magnus: “Maybe. Maybe not.”
Konrad: “Definitely not.”
Horus: “Why are you so damned negative about it, Konrad?”
Konrad: “Because when you start seeing every possible fucking future in everything I would love to see you stay positive.”
Sanguinius: “Are you sure it’s because of that, or you want to be like that?”
Konrad: *Looks at Sanguinius, eye twitching* “One of the things I just saw that might happen to the kid is that he gets killed. Another is that he grows up in a life of pain and misery. And another is that he gets turned into mush by… by something. Most likely an explosion.”
Sanguinius: “And is that everything you see? Or like I said, only the ones you want to see.”
Konrad: “It’s all I fucking saw feather duster. Now fuck off. They aren’t always accurate.”

Janan cooed up at his father, the sound crackly and weak from all of the screaming that the poor boy had done throughout his short life so far. He was impossibly tiny in Vulkan’s hand, fitting there in just one. But despite how small he was, how much he went through, Vulkan saw the fire of a fighter inside of his tiny body, a man already developed, the body he was given the only restraint holding him back.

And at that moment, Vulkan knew, one day, the boy would be strong.

...​

M42. 201

Sanguinius: “What? Such a massive time skip!”
Horus: “How come you’re always the one to notice that?”
Sanguinius: “Because we might be missing out on content!”
Ferrus: “I am fairly sure that if it is cut, it is cut for a good reason.”
Corvus: “And do we really want to sit here and watch years and years of practically nothing?”
Roboute: “Are you trying to say something?”
Corvus: “Why do you immediately think I’m talking about you?”
Roboute: *Gives a dismissive grunt*

A groan sounded in the darkness.

Soon after it was followed by the creaking of a bed even as someone huffed.

“You can do it…” The voice was… different, far too much of a toothy sound to it than healthy.

The noise took a deep breath, the creaking of the bed increased, and suddenly, a dull thud rang out across the room followed by a pained grunt.

Not even a second later, the sound of running feet was heard, and the door to the room was flung open, showing what looked like a grown girl, almost a woman, wearing her nightclothes. She had short-cropped black hair which matched her pitch-black skin. Her completely red, glowing eyes made her completely stand out in the darkness.

Vulkan: “She really does look a lot like me.”
Jaghatai: “Yes, it’s almost as if she’s your daughter.”
Vulkan: “Please, I’m not in the mood for you to treat me like Fulgrim.”
Fulgrim: “Wait what”

“Janan!?” She called out in worry even as she flipped on the switch, only to gasp in horror. “Janan!” She cried out again as she rushed over to the figure on the floor covered in blankets, a quiet crying noise coming from beneath them.

“Leave me! I can geth uph…” Janan underneath the blankets spoke, apparently waving away the figure, who didn’t like that one bit as she began collecting away the blankets revealing… a monster.

Sanguinius: *Full on recoil* “Gah! He looks worse than the mutants from Baal!”
Mortarion: “...worse then I expected.”
Vulkan: “Apologize. Now.”
Sanguinius: “I-I’m… Sorry? He’s just… He’s…”
Konrad: “Don’t apologize dammit! Vulkan, accept it, your kid is a mutant. You can’t deny that fact.”
Vulkan: “Yes! He’s a mutant! But I don’t have to hear from all of you about it!”
Roboute: “Now you know how I feel.”
Leman: “Big difference between having a halfbreed and having a mutant that looks like his face was struck with a power shovel.”
Roboute: *Opens mouth and realizes what Leman just said* “Wow Leman… that was…”
Jaghatai: “Too far.”
Leman: “But he is. No use sugar-coating it.”
Rogal: “May I smack Leman as well, Father?”
Vulkan: “No. Let me.”
Emperor: “JUST CALM DOWN BOYS AND WATCH THE VID!”
Vulkan: “He just insulted my son. I should get one really good hit on him for that.”
Emperor: “A GOOD HIT FROM YOU WOULD PROBABLY PUT HIM OUT OF ACTION FOR A WHILE, SO NO. BUT I HAVE A FEELING YOU WON’T NEED TO.”

His jaw was bent, his back was slightly hunched, his arms were as thin as his bones… his chest… it looked… strange, as if it was far more rigid then it should be. And his legs were… muscular but slightly twisted.

“Venish… I can get uph myself…” Janan declared, looking up at Venus with his red irised eyes.

“Nonsense! Don’t try it, come on, let me help you.” She reached down underneath his arms and pulled him up, sitting him down on his bed, much to Janan’s protests.

She took a breather then, looking over Janan, who besides the obvious mutations and wet cheeks looked fine. Looking pathetic merely sitting there on his bed, his much paler almost grey skin tone setting him even further apart from Venus’ own coal black.

“Brother, why do you do this to yourself?” She asked, chiding him lightly as she knelt to lower herself to his level, wiping away the embarrassed tears from his face.

He looked up at her, his head tilted slightly due to his hunch. “I gotta tryh.” He spoke, his iron will evident in his tone even as Venus walked over to his window and pulled back the curtains, letting in some of Nocturnes reddish sunlight.

“I know, but like Father always says, you need to learn when to ask for help. Doing everything yourself doesn’t make you strong.” She gently chided him, almost like a mother would.

He gave her a look that screamed defiance, but he said nothing to that.

Emperor: “IT IS IMPORTANT THAT HE IS GIVEN SOME TYPE OF INDEPENDENCE. I CAN UNDERSTAND HE WOULD FEEL TRAPPED AND EVEN CODDLED, EVEN IF SHE IS JUST BEING A CARING SISTER.”
Horus: “Speaking from experience, Father?”
Emperor: “PERHAPS.”
Vulkan: “She is just being a good big sister, Nocturnean women tend to do that a lot. They’re very aggressive and protective of their families and siblings.”
Horus: “...how aggressive?”
Vulkan: “I’d say on par with Fenrisian women.”
Leman: “Bullshit.”
Vulkan: “I will bet on that Leman. After I hit you.”
Leman: “You will lose. On both counts.”

“You know you need to hold on to something to get up.” She continued to lecture him as he just stared at her. “We didn’t spend time forging and installing those railings for you for nothing.”

“I knowh…” He said silently, slowly seeing the reason in her voice. “I just wanted to geth up by myselh. Like a normal kidh.”

His sister looked at him. “You aren’t a normal kid, Janan. You have far too much of a brilliant mind for that.”

“And a shith body to go withh ith!”

Corvus: “Janan obviously has taken to his situation with… heart.”
Vulkan: “Thank you for being supportive brother.”

“Don’t let mom hear you say that.” Venus quickly reminded him, shaking her head at the comment. “Now go and wash up, busy day today, not everyday one celebrates turning thirteen!”

Vulkan: *Nodding* “Ah yes, the coming of age ceremony.”
Roboute: “Funny how a lot of planets have that sort of thing.”
Leman: “Some things humans do just end up being a staple.”

Janan rolled his eyes as if it would make a damn difference. They hoped for years that age would do something for him. As it was, even if he could stand straight he wouldn’t even reach half of his older brother Perrin’s size.

“Fineh.” He drawled out as he stood up, this time using the railings and hobbled over to his bathroom.

Getting dressed and proper hygiene was difficult, to say the least. Taking him close to a standard half-hour just to dress and wash his teeth and face along with combing his very long dark hair. He always felt that the longer hair could hide some of his uglier features.

He dressed in voluminous dark green robes. Two sizes too big for him, they helped hide his... condition.

He looked at himself in the mirror and scowled. Oh, how he hated that face. How he despised all those looks of pity his friends and family gave him. They meant well of course, but in the end, he was a monster, a freak of nature.

Konrad: *Winces*
Corvus: “Something wrong, brother?”
Konrad: “Nothing.”

He had stood in front of this mirror countless times before, wishing for a change, for anything, just to stand a chance at a normal fucking life. He would give anything! He didn’t care if he lost his legs or his arms! Just that he could move easier! So that his own mother didn’t look at him when she thought he didn’t know that she was! So he could make his dad proud! So he could follow Perrin and become a Space Marine! But NO! They rejected him! They all rejected and pitied him and his life just had to fucking be HELL!

Angron: “Kid has fury. I will give him that.”
Lion: “Fury can’t be all he needs to be a Marine, or else he would have been one. Perhaps he can actually show some promise in another way. Or else Vulkan had wasted his time.”
Mortarion: “It is too late to begin the procedures anyway.”
Lorgar: “He doesn’t need to be a Marine to find a purpose, anyway. He still has a chance to be something. To find his place in the world.”
Roboute: “Hmm, taking into account the status of the Imperium… we can only hope.”

His arm shot out, punching and shattering the mirror, sending shards everywhere even as his hand bled. How easy it would be to just lay an arm against the shattered glass, a sharp pull, and hopefully an end.

He looked down at the shards in the sink. He looked at one of the bigger ones, taking it in hand.

Oh, he could do it. He tried it in the past. Really REALLY fucking hard. But his Primarch DNA was strong enough, just strong enough to not make it as easy as this.

Vulkan: “WAIT WHAT”
Mortarion: “I could, but I’ll stay quiet.”
Konrad: “I won’t. Still think it was a good idea to keep him around?”
Vulkan: *Has to be restrained by Ferrus and Magnus* “Say that again!”
Konrad: “Gladly-”
Emperor: “KONRAD NO. SIT DOWN AND SHUT UP. IMPERIAL DECREE, NO ONE TALKS SHIT ABOUT VULKAN’S KIDS. VULKAN, SIT DOWN.”
Vulkan: *Angrily grumbling, staring down Konrad*
Konrad: *Hisses*

If it didn’t piss him off so much, he would have laughed. How his Primarch DNA kept him from dying so easily, but was still inert enough to keep him from being like his siblings. Like everyone else. Almost like a personal hell.

Oh well. He’ll kill himself some other time. Besides, he’d just end up inconveniencing everyone one more time, having to clean up his body.

Vulkan: “What… No. No, no. No, don’t think about yourself like that…”

He threw the shard in the sink and opened the tap, washing his already completely healed hand. He healed quickly, but not quick enough for him to live through any of the procedures. Entangled organs ingrown with bones. The Apothecaries said. An impossible task. They said.

Once he was done, he walked out of his room and down the stairs, taking it very slowly, one step at a time as he held onto the rail with his frail arms.

Finally getting down, he turned and walked to the kitchen, seeing a pot with some boiling liquid about to boil over, he lunged and turned off the stove, but the liquid continued to bubble up. He quickly took some rags and hobbled over, taking off the pot with a heave of strength.

Vulkan: “No son! What are you doing!?”
Lorgar: “Oh no, now Vulkan is doing it…”

“Janan!” He heard his sister from the door into the kitchen call out in shock as he attempted to move the pot over to a cool cooker.

“I canh… do ith!” He declared, his voice strained as he moved the pot. “Almost… goth ith!” Then the pot tipped, sending the liquid pouring as it tipped over the stove, luckily going into its spill drain, the scalding liquid just barely missing Janan.

“Fuck!” The boy exclaimed even as Venus rushed by him and began cleaning up. “FUCK!” He declared again, more tears coming to his eyes as the pain flooded in. More frustration bubbling over the pain, knowing his mom, his sister, his brother, everyone else could have done that easily, but oh! Not him. Never him!

“It’s sad,”
“To see this.”
“Not having the strength,”
“To do basic tasks,”
“Must be,”
“Frustrating.”
Horus: "...when did you two come in?"
Emperor: “LIKE YOU WOULDN’T BELIEVE, BOYS. I DON’T BELIEVE THERE ARE MANY OF YOU WHO DO KNOW WHAT THAT IS LIKE…”
Horus: "Father, hold on, I know this is important but, when did the Twins-"
Angron: “I fucking do! It’s fucking humiliating to not have any power, to be weak and caged and unable to do anything for yourself or others! It’s humiliating to have everyone else free to do as they please while you get to sit back like a dog, treated like a dog and you can’t do shit to fix it! That’s how he feels, mark my words!”
Horus: "O-okay fine! No one cares the Twins just... materialized into the room! Whatever!"

“What were you thinking?” She began to scold even as she cleaned up the spill.

He wanted to answer, but the pain was enormous, making him feel as if claws were grasping at his muscles. So, instead of an explanation, all that came out of his mouth, was a mewling cry of pain.

“Janan?” Venus asked, turning around and seeing his muscle spasms, gasping and taking off immediately for her brothers' room even as Janan refused to collapse under the assault, hanging on to a nearby countertop even as he grunted, hissed and violently twitched.

Mortarion: *Leans forward* “Interesting…”
Vulkan: “REALLY.”
Mortarion: “Yes… mostly because even one of us would crumble up into a little ball from that amount of pain. He’s been feeling that from birth, which would mean his body has grown accustomed to it. For him to be like this, it must be extreme to even an unimaginable amount of pain that even he would feel it… Almost like Roboute’s halfbreed… But different, somehow.”

She returned mere seconds later, plunging a hypodermic needle into her brother's arm, causing him to release a sigh as the pain went away with a flood of warmth.

“You tried going without it too?” She asked him gently, taking a disinfectant pad and wiping away the already healed prick.

He stayed silent, refusing to answer her.

“Oh, Janan… don’t try it, not with this one.”

“Ahm not a baby, Venish!” Frustration bursting forward, angry that she kept doing everything for him. He was supposed to be strong like her! Not a weak, barely walking corpse of a boy!

“Janan, I’m not-”

“Ahm tryinh! Ahm tryinh to be strongh but ish not workingh!”

“You know the Apothecaries said you can’t go without the pain drugs Janan.”

“I don’th care! I needh to takeh careh of mysehlf! Howh canh youh evenh lookh at mehh!” He slurred, more tears coming to his eyes that he desperately attempted to suppress even as his self-loathing increased with the slurring tone of his speech thanks to his bent jaw.

Vulkan: *Feels his hearts clench up*
Angron: “There it is. That’s how he feels. Know it. Accept it.”
Vulkan: “I don’t like knowing he lives like this.”
Angron: “There isn’t anything you can do to fix it. So all you can do is accept it. Fucking shit. He’s used to it anyway.”

Venus let him rant at her, it was better he got it out now and not let it stew over the day. “Because I love you, Janan. You’re my little brother, and I just want to help you.” She answered him sincerely taking a rag and wiping away at his face, hoping he wouldn’t take it the wrong way again.

“Don’th…” He slurred out, hoping that she would leave him alone and not do the inevitable.

“No.” And she hugged him, squeezing him tight and letting him cry again.

It was worse, every birthday it got worse. And it all started out as a way of motivating him, the Apothecaries had promised that every birthday it would only get better.

It only got worse.

Mortarion: “Age doesn’t mean squat when the mutation is at a cellular level.”

…​

As was his custom, Janan skipped breakfast, preferring instead to eat some leftovers as he took the power train to the great forges built into Mount Deathfire.

His mother’s meals were delicious, since she was, after all, the greatest chef on the planet even with much more meager rations. But well, he never could shake the feeling of her silently judging him when he wasn’t looking…

Not that it mattered now. He had work to do. He didn’t want to stay home and attend the coming of age ceremony. He didn’t want to be around all the other kids who had brighter, more active futures ahead of them.

He didn’t want them to rub it in his face.

Work was better. Work made sense, work was something he could do. He didn’t have to be around the other kids and teens who weren’t mutants and had ugly faces and didn’t have weird bodies and looked like a failed attempt at life.

As the train rode at record speeds towards Mount Deathfire, his thoughts turned to that of his designs. His plans.

While his body was essentially pathetic, his mind was anything but. It was sharp, sharper than most. His eyes were able to spot even the tiniest of flaws. And while he couldn’t even hold a sword or smithing hammer, he never needed to. He could see and hear the imperfections of an object. There were always his brothers to help him craft his most ingenious of designs and he could always wield a pen to write and draw on a plastek flimsy, as difficult as that was for his mangled arms. His mind and knowledge were the only part of his father that he was actually able to use to his full ability.

Lorgar: “See? He is able to do something, and if what he says is true, he’s quite good at it. I’m glad he’s able to do something that he enjoys.”
Vulkan: “I agree. I would love to see some of the designs he comes up with, what he can do if he dedicates his time to it!”

The train came to a halt, and he hobbled off. His Power armoured brothers all around him coming to a halt and greeting him in various ways, all with smiles on their faces.

They were all nice to him… it always irked him in the beginning, like they only did it to be polite. He hated politeness. But over time it was wasn’t just a polite thing to do, it was expected and earned.

He had earned his respect, that much he was proud of. As mangled as his body was, his mind served the purpose of overlooking many products from the forges inside this very mountain. All from the improvements to their Terminator designs to the newer and much more efficient power packs and all the way to their newer, more compact, Thunder Hammer models. Finished off by eliminating the flaw of the Redemptor Pattern Dreadnought burning out its host. He swore that when he met who had designed the damn thing he would give him a punch to the gut… if he could. All of this made sure that his brothers would keep the Mechanicus from declaring him a heretek.

Ferrus: *Raises eyebrows* “Impressive.”
Vulkan: “Most impressive.”
“He has learned much.”
“But is he a master yet?”
Emperor: “HEY. HANDS OFF MY QUIPS.”
Ferrus: “I know that the Mechanicum can be…” *looks over to Magos Lehm who is grumbling to himself* “...a little overzealous. And the Mechanicus of the future has only degenerated further. I just hope Janan is careful since technology development can be quite tricky and the wrong Machine Spirit can be disastrous.”

Hobbling through two massive adamantium doors, the heat hit him directly into his face while bathing the rest of his body with unnaturally hot temperatures. Luckily for him, his father's genome was Nocturnian enough that he was able to weather the heat with relative ease. One of the rare cases where the genome had not failed him.

He walked along, the cane he used tapping heavily against the ornate stone floor. He had refused a wheelchair. He could walk. Or well, hobble. Anything was better than a damn wheelchair. He couldn’t even use the stairs then. As he walked across the long hall, all around him, hundreds of his brothers and serfs worked at the forges or anvils. All making some of the best weapons in the entirety of the Imperium.

Or what was left of it.

His father, Primarch Vulkan of the Salamanders, the Lord of Drakes, had left some time ago. Citing the need to find Imperium Secundus. A probe stating the existence of it having been found a couple of years prior along with the Navigators declaring the light of a new Astronomicon being present amongst the stars.

Emperor: “LOOKS LIKE WE WILL SEE VULKAN WITH ROBOUTE SOON IF THINGS GO TO PLAN.”
Rogal: “Father.”
Emperor: “YES, ROGAL?”
Rogal: “Aegidius has already implied and spoken of Vulkan being a part of Imperium Secundus. You are being redundant.”
Emperor: “I AM MERELY SAYING THAT WE WILL PHYSICALLY SEE HIM SOON ROGAL, DAMMIT!”
Rogal: “But Father. I speak the obvious plenty of times, yet I am smacked for it. You speak the obvious here. I do not wish for you to be smacked, but it is odd that I am punished for something you have just done.”
Perturabo: “I can smack Father.”
Emperor: “FUCKING TRY IT, BOY. SEE HOW FAR YOU GET BEFORE I THROW A PLANET AT YOU.”
Rogal: “You mean, throw Perturabo at a planet. If you were to throw a planet at him now while we are on the Bucephalus, you would not only kill everyone the ship but us as well and destroy the Imperial Flagship.”
Emperor: “I KNOW WHAT I FUCKING SAID.”

Hope. It was all that kept the dream going. Hope for a better time. Hope for the idea of continued existence. Hope that the grim darkness of the galaxy could possibly have turned.

He huffed. Hope. He had kept hope for so many years that its very concept was appalling to him. What was hope other than a false promise?

Konrad: “He’s not wrong.”
Horus: “Oh hush already! There is plenty of hope. Like not having a heresy and telling Chaos to go die in a latrine ditch.”
Konrad: “And hope there has gone ass up. Your point?”
Horus: “Hush.”

Finally, he reached the throne at the end of the grand hall and carefully climbed the few steps leading to it.

The Salamanders were essentially all equal here. The military hierarchy coming into rule only upon leaving the planet. But nonetheless, the throne was meant for the Great Overseer. The last one to judge the weapon of a neophyte during his trials in his coming of a Space Marine.

And right now. That overseer was him.

Vulkan: “I have no doubt in my mind that he had earned that position by himself.”
Lorgar: “If what he said about his accomplishments and his work are true, then I would agree.”
Lion: “At least he isn’t just being a disappointment.”
Horus: “Brother! That is no way to speak of Vulkan’s son!”
Lion: “It is the true way. No artifice necessary.”
Horus: *Sighs*

When his father had given him the position upon his leave, Janan was appalled. Great Overseer? What?! Only a true Salamander, a full Battle Brother of the Chapter could hold the position.

His father then pointed out that technically, he was one already born into the Chapter. Holding most organs and all. But above all, he had the mind of an Overseer. Surpassing even the greatest smiths of the Chapter in terms of his knowledge of the lore and weapon-making, ever retreating to his books whenever he did not know something, or hungrily asking questions.

Again, just because his body was dull, it did not mean his mind was as such.

And yet again, that is what his father had pointed out to him as he gave him such an honour. His older brother Perrin, accompanied their father on his Crusade to Imperium Secundus, giving full trust to Janan. As foolish as Janan thought that was, and as much as he complained about it… he accepted.

He hobbled by the throne, going into the private workshop behind the throne instead.

He thought he was doing an amicable job so far. Or at least, so the other Salamanders had let him know. He knew they thought him too rash and hostile at times… but they were too nice to say anything about it.

Sanguinius: “It is truly astounding of how nice Vulkan’s sons really are.”
Roboute: “Indeed. Perhaps a tad too much even at times.”
Sanguinius: “What do you mean by that?”
Roboute: “All I am saying is that at times, compassion can be a weakness. A weakness that can be exploited. I am not saying that them being kind makes them weak by default. Just that it can backfire if it is used too much.”
Vulkan: “I understand and am grateful for the criticism my brother. It has a good meaning behind it. Do not worry however, we are careful not to overextend our kindness to our enemies.”
Roboute: “Not what I meant but at least you get the gist of it.”

He sighed yet again as he sat down upon a supportive chair with a grunt of pain, leaning his cane on the work table even as a rare smile graced his lips.

Finally, he was able to be at his beloved work table, where he could sit comfortably and draw out plans, designs, redesigns and make improvements. The tilted surface perfect for him to reach and comfortable enough to work. How many designs had he already made? Too many he supposed. He gave a huff of laughter at his own weak jest.

All around the room and in sealed reliquaries, his many works were scattered. Those that were not weapons or armour often appeared pointless or even useless in the eyes of some.

To him, each one was a lesson, a lesson learned in pain and humility.

Ferrus: “I’d love to get a closer look at his workshop… I see many projects that he just needs a bit of guidance with.”
Perturabo: “It is admirable to see that he really does have a grasp on design. If he wasn’t held back by his body, I can see him being a beyond adequate artificer.”
Vulkan: “Beyond adequate?”
Perturabo: “Time is needed to be an exceptional one.”
Rogal: “Smack?”
Vulkan: “He means well.”
Rogal: “Perhaps.”

As his body had made him such, he drew the design first. Making sure that each part was thoroughly tested in his mind. Even the smallest servo could error massively upon the smallest miscalculation.

And then he had one of his brothers craft it.

Today. He started work on a new project. His most ambitious project, the one that he would put his entire mind and soul into, a project that he would make sure would be his greatest creation. Too many birthdays had passed with too many disappointments.

Vulkan: “What is he making?”
Ferrus: “...I’m not sure? Nothing written yet, no plans drawn, so not much information yet.”

Looking around the room briefly he spotted all of his previous attempts at healing himself.

He saw the primitive braces that he attempted to use before he himself realized that most of his bones could never be bent to grow in another way.

Then there were all of the molds he tried to mold his body into using various mutagenics and chirurgeons along with his brother Apothecaries.

Then came the internal modifiers using a heavily modified black carapace to be able to scrap and mold his nerves a different way at the very least.

Mortarion: “Impressive number of tests. But futile.”
Fulgrim: “I’m getting a lot of Fabius vibes from this…”
Horus: “The part about desperation? I have seen it drive many people to extraordinary lengths in order to achieve their goals.”
Fulgrim: “Indeed. But that is not what worries me. What does is that if this does not end well… well then poor Janan will be isolated even more.”
Ferrus: “Work consumes a man in more ways than one. It makes isolation… preferable.”
Perturabo: *Grunts, the statement hitting a little too close to home*

And finally… came the smallest little glass of liquified Fulgurite.

Emperor: “OKAY WHERE DID HE GET THAT!?”
Horus: “From what we have seen of my… heresy, wasn’t Vulkan stabbed with a slab of it in order for him to regain his sanity?”
Vulkan: “I believe so…?”
Horus: “Then wouldn’t it be logical that Vulkan would keep it since it was so useful?”
Emperor: “GOOD POINT.”

Oh, now that one had been a pain. A very expensive pain too. That was all the Fulgurite in the known galaxy. Thankfully his father had been able to save what those assassins used on him, leaving this precious substance for himself.

Horus: *Looks smug*

Liquifying it had taken years of work with a massive amount of trial and error. Not to mention exploding machinery and decades worth of migraines. Thankfully he was able to take the notes of others and rework it to suit his needs, working through and figuring out how to use it.

He had hoped to use in tactical doses to alter his body on a cellular level.

Mortarion: “Hmm, an interesting, if difficult attempt.”
Emperor: “NO MORE HMM’S FROM YOU YOUNG MAN. THAT, COMBINED WITH YOUR VOICE AND CHOICE OF COLOR PALLETE, REMINDED ME WAY TOO CLOSELY OF SOMEBODY FROM THE PAST.”
Mortarion: “Hmm. You’ve been oddly quiet this entire time, old man. Go back to being silent.”
Emperor: “HOLY SHIT MORTARION. YOU’RE NOSTALGIA TRIPPING ME ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE VERY EARLY THIRD MILLENNIUM.”
Mortarion: “Hmm.”

He had tried with his arm. And it worked! He had been able to use it and actually enjoy having a strong limb that didn’t scrunch up and could hold his weight! It had been a dream...

Only to revert back to its deformed state in a matter of days…

He would either need to dilute the Fulgurite in something and keep himself constantly submerged in it, which would be essentially impossible due to there being so little of it. Or concentrate the Fulgurite enough that it would last a few years at least. Which was impossible because its own molecular structure prevented him from doing it.

Then, once it was all gone, that was it. He couldn’t waste it to use and enjoy the effects for only a handful of years. He had to be careful and plan out what he was going to do.

Mortarion: “Sufficient idea. If he did not have the primary material in a finite amount.”

He sighed and let his head hit the headrest of his specially designed chair. He needed an idea, something to go from and figure out what he was going to do. He needed inspiration! No inspiration, no work, no ideas, nothing new. Anything could be an inspiration if he just… thinks about it...

Trains? No. Mirror? No. Railings- NO! Something, something, something! Even the most mundane item could be used for inspiration, but what?

He then thought about it, going back to breakfast this morning. The boiling pot, how it was used to cook things submerged in water…

Submerged.

Wait, yes! Submerged! He could use that...

What else was submerged?

Ferrus: “He isn’t…”
Fulgrim: “I think he is.”
Lion: “I mean… It’s a good idea. It would fix a lot of problems.”
Vulkan: “Oh no.”
Perturabo: “He just needs to make it as perfect as possible, since he only has so much to work with.”
Lorgar: “I want to say that someone should stop him… but…”

What else… he took out a datapad and linked it to the noosphere which in turn linked it to the main centralized database.

He flicked through his massive amount of files, each labeled with different chemicals before he found the one he was searching for.

Amniotic fluid.

Ferrus: “Sometimes I hate it when I’m right.”
Vulkan: “Has anyone ever wanted to be interred?”
Ferrus: “Well, there are plenty in my legion. But outside of them… not really?”

An interesting thing. With an even more interesting chemical mixture. Designed to preserve far better than anything else. The people put into them without so much as a modicum of preparation could easily survive for millennia.

Technically, he tried it before. His genome overpowered the fluid and healed him, albeit at a far slower rate, but still. It wasn’t practical and took a mass amount in the first place.

But if he tweaked it with something that already delayed his healing factor for sometime…

He quickly did the math in his head and well…

3654561 days until the healing even began to manifest…

Over ten millennia…

He did the math again.

Then again.

Then, for the first time in years, he pulled out a cogitator and did the math on it.

Then on a flimsy just to be sure.

Emperor: “AH YES. THE OLD, ‘I’M SO NERVOUS RIGHT NOW I DON’T KNOW WHAT ONE PLUS ONE EQUALS’.”
Lion: “That’s not a thing.”
Roboute: “No, that is a thing.”
Corvus: “It actually is.”
Lorgar: “Wait what?”
Magnus: “Yeah, it’s a thing.”
Lorgar: “How does that happen?”
Roboute: “Clearly you have never set up an entire logistical network for a crusade. It’s a nightmare. Even for me.”

He felt an unsteady grin spread across his face as he slowly turned to look at the vial of liquidized Fulgurite, sitting in its own tiny reliquary.

He felt a bubble of laughter come up, then it grew as he laughed louder and louder. It was there! How did he not think of this before!? He couldn’t stop the laughter from coming out, it was just… hilarious.

He had a lot of work to do.

Vulkan: “Oh no…”
Ferrus: “I recognize a phase like that. He isn’t going to stop until circumstances force him to do so. A few months perhaps-”

…​

M42. 208

Ferrus: “Nevermind…”
Vulkan: “And when you say he isn’t going to stop, do you mean like when we get so into a project that nothing else comes to mind and we keep working until it is done?”
Ferrus: “Exactly.”
Vulkan: “Oh... no.”

Perrin marched into the Grand Hall of Forges and allowed the heat to wash over him, the systems of his Power Armour adjusting as needed even as he took a big whiff of the smell of brimstone, ash, and heated adamantium.

Oh, how he had missed home. The smell of travel and battle was comforting, yes, but there was nothing better than the open pits of magma, brimstone, and metalworking.

The journey to Imperium Secundus was… less than stellar. His father really hadn’t been happy with the idea that his uncle made a peace treaty with the Eldar. Hell, he could remember how many raids there have been on Nocturne during his childhood by the damned sweat goblins since apparently there was a difference between them, the stuck up ones, the clowns and the smelly ones and then there were the extremely edgy ones who liked to write poetry about death and wear spikes everywhere...

Jaghatai: *Grunts in approval*
Magnus: “Of course there are differences! Most of you just don’t want to entertain the idea of learning them!”
Roboute: “He looks like he’s taking it well, brother.”
Vulkan: “I apologize in advance.”
Roboute: “Why?”
Vulkan: “Just watch. I know my future self.”

He even carried a scar over his left eye from when one of those damned knife eared assholes tried to kill him. Emphasis on tried. He ripped the things head clean off with his bare hands. He had been three. Ah… good times.

Angron: “Good kid.”
Vulkan: “I am very proud of him.”
Jaghatai: “I would be too.”
Mortarion: “Hmm. Better than the other one.”
Emperor: *Violent eye twitch*
Vulkan: “...and you ruined it.”

After traveling for so long and going through or by so many warp storms, they finally came to Macragge and now he had to be… nice to the damned knife ears. Even have to accept that he has a half… half breed cousin. Spoiled little shit, running away from home and making everyone panic. It made him sick.

Roboute: “WAIT WHAT. What happened to Aegidius!? When!? How!? Why!? GIVE ME ANSWERS YOU DAMNED VID!”
Konrad: *Muttering under his breath* “Just had to mention the damned half breed just as things got nice and quiet…”
Roboute: “Why would he try to run away from home!? Surely everything is fine, he shouldn’t feel the need or want to run away-”
Magnus: “R-Roboute, please calm down. We are here to watch Vulkan’s child-”
Roboute: “-But what if he was taken and Perrin is just taking it as him running away? Maybe… I’m trying to figure this out and see why he would do this and I can’t-”
Konrad: “GAH! I swear, if I ever have to deal with someone who talks like you on a daily basis I will gladly flay myself for hours, or take a bolt to the face!”
Sanguinius: *Starts grinning at Konrad*

Thankfully, he was able to avoid the halfbreed but not his other cousins. The little wolf and the little bat. They weren’t so bad. They were actually enjoyable. But after getting those reports, it was imperative they returned home for the coming battle. He liked Macragge, but it was soured and he was beyond thankful to be home.

Leman: “I know the little wolf is Freya, since well. Space wolf. I just hope she learned to not run around naked…”
Konrad: “NO.”
Magnus: “Brother. What ever is making you say that?”
Konrad: “Shut the fuck UP, Magnus.”
Emperor: “HOLY SHIT KONRAD, CALM DOWN.”
Konrad: “It’s not real. It’s not happening. Shut up.”
Horus: “We might be taking the hints in too many broad strokes…”
Vulkan: “I mean… We know Konrad is alive, but maybe it’s someone else’s?”
Sanguinius: “I DON’T CARE! Let’s just watch!”

But despite it all, there was one he had missed even more.

Uncle Dorn had even given them a couple of housecarls and an entire company of his Imperial Fists to help fortify the planet. That was very kind of him, father made sure to hug his uncle extra hard for that. Uncle Rogal didn’t even seem to mind.

Perturabo: “OH FOR FUCKS SAKE… You’re still alive…”
Rogal: “...yey. Existence. I am happy to know that in the future, I. Am still. Me.”
Roboute: “Hold on, I’m confused. Rogal hasn’t even shown up yet! I know this takes place a few years later from where we left off, but still.”
Angron: “Maybe whoever sent this grox pile of tapes forgot to cut out that part- OUCH! MY FUCKING HEAD!”
Emperor: “TOO META…”
Lorgar: “I mean… Are the tapes edited? I know that a couple we watched does have splices…”
Maybe Omegon: “You don’t question.”
Perhaps Alpharius: “A magical chest of sorcery.”
Definitely Omepharius: “That spews vids at random.”
Alpharius… or is it?: “But are surprised by the fact.”
Omegon… for sure: “That they might be edited.”
Lorgar: “Alright, the both of you need to sit down!”

Immediately he began walking across the Grand Hall, intent for the workshop behind the throne.

As soon as he and his father had landed they had been caught up on any missed events and immediately directed towards where the defences for the incoming attack were being prepared. The Librarians had picked up signs of turmoil from the warp, with images of possible attacks of their home. The star of the Thousand Sons was burning brightly in hatred for the Salamanders, and no one knew why.

Magnus: Wait hold on why, why are my sons going after Nocturne of all places!? No offense, Vulkan.”
Vulkan: “I’m too busy being offended that your sons are going to attack my home while my wife and children are there you red-skinned asshole!”
Emperor: “HOLY SHIT VULKAN, NOW YOU’RE GOING THERE.”
Jaghatai: *Writing something down while nodding approvingly*
Magnus: “I don’t know why they are going to attack Nocturne, Vulkan! I’m just as surprised as you are! I have no idea why they chose you specifically!”
Roboute: “Perhaps Nocturne is isolated? Therefore making it a target worth pillaging? Vulkan’s sons are legendary smiths and artificers. The bounty would be essentially priceless.
Magnus: “Normally I’d agree with you, but you forget. This is a known Legion Homeworld! Even with Imperium Secundus in effect and after the events of everything so far, going after a Legion Homeworld while their Primarch is known to be back is absolute suicide! Even if it is for a plan of the squid, this makes no gods damned sense!”
Vulkan: “Unless of course a certain book weakened your legion and whittled it down into chapters.”
Roboute: “Will you stop harping on that!?”
Leman: “Spehs book says this bad.”
Roboute: *Sighs* “That’s a no then...”
Magnus: “Will someone address my point!?”
Angron: “Revenge, you big idiot of a nerd.”
Magnus: “For WHAT!?”
Angron: “Doesn’t fucking matter does it? That’s the only thing which gets future you to reunite with your sons and attack everything. As evidenced by your trying to destroy Russ’ wolves twice by attacking their homeworld.”
Leman: “And getting yer spine broken yet again!”
Magnus: “I… Okay fine. Revenge. But I really want to know what it is that Vulkan did to cause my sons to seek revenge on him. If it even is revenge.”
Angron: “If it fucking isn’t, I will cave in my own head by ripping these nails clean off.”

But perhaps even more worrying than the reports of the possible assault were the reports of his younger brother.

He had not left his private workshop in years. Even eating and sleeping in it, coming out only to do his duty as Great Overseer.

Vulkan: “Hmm.”
Emperor: “NOT YOU TOO!”

As for Perrin... Well, he hadn’t seen his brother in eight years! Talk about a long time of not seeing your little brother! He was tempted to see his mother and sister but thought it prudent to see Janan first and inform them after. Better to go in with some ammo than without.

From what he had heard from the Apothecaries. He was growing as well as he could be, despite him staying for the most part in his deformed body.

Nodding to his battle brothers and passing the countless serfs in the middle of their work, he marched past the throne and into the workshop behind, the smell of unwashed hair and skin reaching his transhuman senses. It was going to be one of those days, wasn’t it?

“Hello, baby brother.” Perrin grinned as he made his way into the workshop, causing a groaning Janan to shift in his work table. “It’s been eight years, and almost as long as that from how long you’ve been away from home too.”

Janan let out a huff, scribbling something on his work table. “Eighph yearsth? Ah can’sh really rememberth… Ishn’t it 206?”

Ferrus: “Well then… he went deep.”
Vulkan: “...I have done the same.”
Ferrus: “We both have.”

“No, more of 208. Honestly, have you really been in here for so long you forgot the year?” Perrin corrected, looking around at the work room. The walls were covered in designs, diagrams, notes, all manners of written pieces that seemed to go together. Perhaps? “You know, home actually has a bed.”

“Ah hash a bed.” Janan pointed his pen towards a makeshift bed that was unkempt and looked like a place he could flop over on and off of.

“Right. And the food?”

“Venish brings me food,” Janan replied, continuing to work.

At this point, Perrin had enough. He could see just fine in this light, but the darkness was getting annoying. “Alright. That’s it. I’m opening the curtains.”

Emperor: “OH. HERE IT COMES.”

“PERRINH NO!”

“Perrin yes!” And then, he reached for the curtain, moving to reveal the bright light of the lava flows, making his younger brother screech at the light.

Fulgrim: “Sounds like the time I opened the curtains on Konrad. He made the same sound.”
Konrad: *Hissing*

“BRISH! BRIIIIIISH!”

Janan fell from his chair to escape the light. “Come now, it’s not so bad! A little light won’t kill you, brother.”

“Genthle brotherh! Be genthle-”

Perrin simply continued to open the curtains, one by one and continue to cause his brother to screech at him from the horrible bright light.

Fulgrim: “Yup. Exactly like Konrad.”

“Yoph betrath me brotherh.” Janan muttered from the floor, using his robes to cover his head from the terrible light. Perrin only chuckled at him. “Yoph so mean…”

“Mean? I’d do this for any other brother.” Perrin answered, standing over his brother. “Now come on, stand up. I know you can. A little light isn’t killing you, so don’t even try to complain.”

Lion: “Now that’s better. Can’t stand the idea of anyone coddling him.”
Vulkan: “As much as I do not like your tone, brother, I agree that it is best for the situation.”

Janan humphed at his brother, sitting up with great difficulty. “Ah shuposh yourh righth…” He sat up with great difficulty, making sure to pick up little things that had fallen with him. “Ish good to shee yoph brotherh.”

Perrin removed the part of his brother’s robe that covered his head, revealing the pale skin and too-long hair that obscured his brother's face. “Now, it’s good to see you. A little light would go a long way to making you look and feel better, brother.”

Sanguinius: “Time has not been good to him…”
Vulkan: *Glares at Sanguinius*
Sanguinius: “...shutting up.”

“Nowh yoph are beingh mean.” Janan moved back to his chair, going back to his work and having to rub at his eyes. The extra light was making his pupils contract, his vision would have to adjust before he could continue. “Buth ish good yoph are hereh.”

“Oh? How so? Do you need me to deliver news? Maybe tell mother and Venus you’re not dead? Be your scapegoat?” Perrin jested, chuckling at the idea.

“Turnh aroundh.”

“Pardon?”

Janan turned around in his seat, the seat swiveling in place. “Turnh aroundh and witnish my greatisht creashun!” He proclaimed with his arms wide open as if unveiling a masterwork.

Perrin turned around, only seeing the massive wall, the fallen curtains over something big and… “Oh. You killed the canid again.”

Vulkan: “Do not kill the canid! They are meant for companionship and love!”
Leman: “I agree. But wolves are better.”
Emperor: “CANIDS CAME FROM WOLVES, LEMAN.”
Leman: “I know tha’! Ah’m jus’ sayin’ ah like wolves.”

A sputtering behind him. “No! Ah didnh kill dah canid!” Said family canid, was currently on the floor submerged in a type of glass container, full of a bluish, clear, fluid floating aimlessly. There were tubes connected to the bubble-like container, leading to another container to the side. “Hesh fine, jush a liddle… Shleepy.”

“How long has he been sleeping for, then?”

“Ah… Ah year…? Nosh impotanh!” He waved to the curtains, “da canid wash onlyh the tesh! Yoph wouldh hash sheen ith if you hadnth meshed wish my curtainsh!”

Sanguinius: “Actually, can we go back to the canid?”
Horus: “I don’t think we will.”
Konrad: “Don’t count on it.”

“Right.” Perrin moved to remove the curtain, revealing the massive creation and the notes suddenly began to make sense. All of it was connected to the main idea written on the wall, the diagrams, everything was connected. “What… What did you do?”

“Ah made a new bodyh.”

In front of them, towering even far above Perrin was the unmistakable form of a massive Dreadnought. But… it was different. Big even for its type… “Looks like you based it on a Redemptor..” Perrin murmured as he approached to admire the handiwork better.

Ferrus: “Holy… that is the biggest Dreadnought…”
Lorgar: “Well… he went for it.”
Angron: “Looks more like a Knight.”
Vulkan: “Not tall enough… but much bigger still. And more elegant.”
Fulgrim: “A masterwork.”

“Betterh dan da Redemphder! Ih burnsh outh too quishly, I madeh ith better. It ish da besth Dreadnash in the entireh Impeerium!” Janan quickly answered, pointing out parts of the design that he improved and parts that he changed out.

Ferrus: “I don’t think he’s overestimating that…”

“Heavily modified Amniotic Sarcophagus with… a lot of neural implants, different fusion reac- your fusion reactor.” Perrin ran his armoured hands along the intricately designed fingers of the Dreadnought, no bigger than his own Power Armoured ones. “Intricately modulated fingers with fully movable joints and… ah, that’s why you need the extra sensor nodes for, you can feel.” He turned to see his smiling brother. “You added a damned black carapace, I don’t even want to know how long that took.”

Mortarion: “What… a full neural interface at that level…”
Ferrus: “That is one… very beautiful Dreadnought.”
Perturabo: *Merely nodding along*
Vulkan: “I… I am so proud of him.”

Janan shrugged, “ah losh of time. I’m moreh proudh osh the fluidh. Dat’s whereh da canid comesh in.”

Sanguinius: “He… He’s going to let it out, right?”

“Ah, our father's son eh?” Janan asked in a joking tone as he spotted the absolutely massive attachable power fists that hung to each side of the Dreadnought. “With a built-in heavy flamer and… is that Volkite?! Where by all the drakes did you get that!?”

Vulkan: “WHERE DID YOU GET THAT, BOY? ANSWER YOUR BROTHER.”

He at least had the sense to look embarrassed at this. “Ah… Ah mighth haveh taken ish from fathersh collecshun…”

Vulkan: *Deep breath* “As long as it will be used properly…”
Konrad: “You look pretty mad. Are you mad Vulkan?”
Vulkan: “I am not mad, I just wished he asked.”
Roboute: “To be fair. You were essentially unreachable.”

“Of course.” Perrin sighed, deciding to deal with that later. “Tell me more about the fluid, what makes it so different?”

“The Fulgwiteh.” He spoke it so simply, like it was obvious.

“At least you asked father before about tha- wait WHAT?” He whipped his head around to his brother, who didn’t look the least bit sorry about swiping something that important and valuable. “You merged the liquidized Fulgurite with the Amniotic fluid? Why and how long did that take!?”

Mortarion: “Holy shit, what?”

“Thath wash da longisht part. Shank youh canid.” The canid responded by floating aimlessly in the bubble of fluid, “Ish wash a shtroke of geniush! Da Fulgwiteh shtops the healingh and…” He pointed to the canid again, “ah made a liddle hole on hish leg. Monsh ago! Shtill hashnt healed. Shorry canid.” Again, the canid responded by floating there, essentially frozen in time.

Vulkan: “Leave the canid alone!”

“Janan… Do you actually intend to put yourself in that? A willing entombment?”

Janan nodded as he took a sealed bottle and began to drink from it in front of Perrin, who sniffed the air and made him recoil slightly. “Are… Are you drinking the amniotic fluid!?”

“Yesh.”

“Why!?”

“Ahm gettigh readyh! If my bodyh ish ushed to ith, I canh imtomb a lot eashier!” He shrugged, “Ah won’t even need to shleep! Thanksh to the fluid am drinkigh and my genomh, ish possible! Anh whileh the canid shleps, causeh of my genomeh, I wonth! Anh proven! Shanks Canid.” He continued to float there.

Perrin looks at the canid, then leaned towards his brother. “I think it’s dead.”

Vulkan: “It better not. But if what Janan says is true, then I am glad he has made something worthwhile to help him.”
Emperor: “THEORETICALLY. TAKING THE PERPETUAL GENOME INTO THAT CONTEXT… HE JUST MIGHT HAVE.”

“No ish noth! Look.” He turned around and pressed a rune on the control panel for the bubble, watching as how the fluid was drained from the canid’s bubble and into a separate container. Quickly, the canid sat up and backed away silently from the bubble, looking as new and healthy as before. “Shee? Hesh fine.”

Vulkan: “Good.”
Konrad: “Why are you so concerned about a stupid canid?”
Emperor: “I’M JUST GOING TO STOP YOU RIGHT THERE, AND JUST SAY THAT CANIDS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN MAN’S BEST FRIEND. FOR OUR ENTIRE EXISTENCE. THERE WILL BE NO CANID DISRESPECT IN THIS HOUSE, YOUNG MAN.”
Rogal: “Father. We are in the Bucephalus-”
Emperor: “DAMMIT ROGAL-”
Rogal: “-and not a house.”

Perrin wondered how long the canid had actually been in there. “I just…” Perrin began, stuttering before he looked back towards the massive Dreadnought. It was extremely well made he had to confess, especially now that he looked at the legs and saw that Janan had also managed to somehow upgrade those. “Are you sure? Are you really sure Janan? We can always have the Apothecaries try mor-”

“NO!” Janan shouted immediately, “Ah’ve had ENOUPH!” His face suddenly skewed with rage as he just imagined what Perrin said, more waiting and more time and more pain and MORE! “Two decashs! Two! Ah donh wanh to waish anymore! Ah’m gonna fish ith myshelf! Ah’m doneh waitingh!”

Roboute: “Wow, that came out of nowhere.”
Angron: “Really? Fucking really? If you think this came out of nowhere, you’re even denser than I remember! The fucking kid has been given a shit hand in a shit life! Maybe if you came down from your high riding and mighty chair you’d actually understand how he feels you blueberry fucking muffin!”
Jaghatai: “Angron is right. But considering Roboute’s current worry with Aegidius on his mind, I’m not surprised that he let it slip past.”
Angron: “Even you’re on my side-”
Jaghatai: “Of course that doesn’t excuse the mass amount of self-pity spewing from you like grox manure at the moment.”
Emperor: “...NO COMMENT.”

Perrin held up his hands in defense, knowing how his brother felt in a way. He waited and toiled for two decades, now he finally had the chance to escape his cursed body. Could he really blame him for choosing something that others considered a curse?

“I can’t be the one to give you my blessing to go forth with this Janan.” Perrin reminded his brother in a gentle tone. “Only father can.”

Janan calmed down slowly, deep angry breaths through his nose, almost like a simmering grox held in place forcefully. “Ah knowh… Ah knowh… Ahm shorry.”

Perrin reached out and hugged Janan to him, being very careful not to crush his brother's head on his armoured chest. “There is nothing to forgive baby brother.” He spoke even as he thought about how they were going to explain this one to their father?

...​

His youngest child was always on Vulkan’s mind. He was so weak, fragile, needing more attention than a regular child. From being born small, to his bones mutating, to everything about Janan being… Janan.

So when Vulkan was summoned by his youngest, he immediately left to meet with him. It wasn’t every day that he could be there for Janan, and it had been eight years since he was home...

Just seeing his beloved wife, Kai, was already enough to welcome him home properly!

With how urgent Janan sounded, along with Perrin imploring him to go, it must be important.

Striding into the Great Hall of forges in Mount Deathfire was truly his coming home. He had spent more time here on Nocturne than anywhere else, crafting the finest and deadliest of weapons.

And so had apparently his youngest. Venus had explained to him about how he hadn’t even come home in years! What was he thinking? Did he think that his mother did not love him so much?

Quickly walking across the Hall in his massive Terminator armour and ignoring most of the greetings given to him by his genesons, he walked directly for the elevated throne, seeing Perrin standing there, no doubt waiting for him.

Ah, Perrin. He was so proud of him! Born with most of the organs he only had a little amount of indoctrination to go through along with the surgeries passing quickly. His skill on the battlefield was quickly on the rise, even if he was just an average-sized marine, his reaction time was far quicker. Time was all he needed, positive his eldest would forge his own legend, even without his father attached to him and his accomplishments. Vulkan couldn’t be a prouder father!

Lion: “Clearly the better of the two.”
Ferrus: “Not necessarily for much longer.”
Vulkan: “I have three children.”
Lion: “And from what we have seen, one is basically useless for combat. And I’m not talking about the mutant.”

It was truly a shame that he and Kai would no longer have any more children. Since the last two tries had… not succeeded. They had decided to stop trying to expand their family and pour all of their love on their current living children.

“Father.” Perrin nodded to him, a small smile playing on his lips. “Janan is inside. I would enter with you, but… He wants to explain it himself.”

Vulkan felt his eyebrows rise in shock. “Are you sure? Janan wants to see only me?”

A nod, “Yes. He wants to explain it himself.”

“Explain? Explain what? Why he has not been home in all these years?” Vulkan spoke in a stricter tone, or at least, an attempted one. He could never truly be angry at his children, no matter how hard he tried.

“Well…” He trailed off, it kinda was? It kinda wasn’t? He just hoped Janan let the canid out before their father came in. “A little of yes and no. Just… Just hear him out. It’s his best work yet, and he’s excited to show it to you and gain your approval.” Perrin supplied, hoping their father would listen to his baby brother.

“His best work? So he has been working on something all this time?”

“Oh, you have no idea dad…” Perrin stepped aside to let his father pass by. When his father entered, he saw that, no. No, the canid was still there. He just hoped Janan could plead his case...

Inside, Vulkan passed the threshold of the workshop, the place a mess as he immediately came face to face with his youngest. He didn’t look very different from last he saw him, which wasn’t a good sign at all. He did pass by the family canid, floating in a fluid without much care. How many times has he told Janan to leave him alone and not experiment on the canid!?

Vulkan: “He’s back? Janan! I am disappointed!”
Sanguinius: “With how nonchalant the canid is, this must happen a lot…”
Vulkan: “Noooo…”

“Dadh.” Janan greeted him with a nervous smile.

Vulkan gave his son a smile and a generous pat on his shoulder. “It is good to see you, Janan! Your brother has told me you wish to show me something. I would think you would explain why you have not been home in years.” He finished with a slightly stern tone in his voice.

“Wellh uhg I… justh… justh turnh aroundh.” He had a desperate look in his eyes. “I willh answerh anhy questionh.”

He did and had to pause as his Primarch mind took in the notes, the diagrams, the chassis, the fluid… Within seconds, he was putting together a picture in his mind that he wasn’t sure how to feel about. “Ah. So this is what you have been working on.”

“Yesh. My greatsht workh.” Janan stated confidently, despite his wavering tone.

“I can see that.” Vulkan nodded, working out why his son would make something like this. He already knew why, but hoped it wouldn’t be so. “And you intend to…?”

“Go thwough wit it, yesh.” Janan spoke in a determined tone, making his decision all the more obvious. “I didh the testh, they all workhed.”

Vulkan: “Oh nooo…”

Vulkan watched the family canid floating in a container nearby, if it was alive, despite him telling Janan to leave the poor creature alone and to stop killing it, then perhaps his son was onto something. “You’re positive that you have completely worked it out?”

“Yesh, lookh!” Janen hobbled over to his work table and scooped up a lot of plastek flimsies before hobling back to Vulkan and handing them to his father. “Eveyrh factor!” He then hobbled over to some diagrams hanging on the wall, desperately pointing at them. “Fifthy sixth prototypsh!” He hobbled over to the Dreadnought itself, running an almost loving twisted arm across its chassis. “And theh finalh product!”

Ferrus: “Those plans are… incredibly well tested.”
Perturabo: “He has to be thorough, he only has one chance to get it right on launch.”

Vulkan looked through the flimsies, read all the notes, absorbed all of the diagrams, went over the numbers. Janan really did think of many, if not all possibilities. He knew if this was anyone else proposing this idea, he would have gone along with it… But this was his youngest. “Are you positive that it is made from the best materials, perfectly crafted and approved?”

“YESH DADH!” Janan swung around so violently that he would have fallen had Vulkan not reached over and stopped him from doing so. “I TRIEDH DADH! I DIDH I TRIEDH EVERYHTHINGH! I- I-” Tears started coming to Janan’s eyes as with increasing desperation he attempted to explain his situation to his father. “NOSHING BUTH PAINH DAADH NUFINH BUT PAINH!” He cried, his nose becoming runny as well, causing Vulkan to reach for a nearby rag, cleaning his son’s face much like Venus did many times before.

“I know…” Vulkan answered, cleaning his son’s face. He hoped time would help him, but if it hadn’t this far, then it probably wouldn’t anytime soon, or at all. Did he make the right decision? To ultimately have his son intomb himself into his own creation, just so he could live his life?

Vulkan: “...I don’t know if I did make the right choice. But I am happy to see that he was able to do something great. So maybe I did make the right choice?”
Emperor: “DON’T GO DOWN THAT ROAD, VULKAN. THE WHAT IF GAME IS A LONG ONE AND WILL NEVER END.”

All these years were just pain for his son. But they were also years of brilliance, years of dedication and years of designing and creation. He was proud of him, even if at times he wondered if it was morally right to keep him going despite all the pain he lived through.

“I’m not saying no, Janan.” Vulkan answered his son after cleaning his face. “I’m just wanting to make sure everything will be safe for you. I don’t want your creation to have a single mistake, I want you to be sure everything is perfect.”

“Is betterh thenh dis.” Janan pointed up and down his pathetic body with his gnarled arms, the tears slowly stopping.

He hugged his son, careful to not hurt him like others he may have accidentally hurt with his hugs. “Then I will support you.”

“Dadh…” Janan gasped as he desperately attempted to reach around his father's massive waist. “Dadh…” He cried again. “Thankh you… thank youh…”

Fulgrim: “I do believe we might just be witnesses to the rebirth of the century.”
Konrad: “Or one hell of a death.”
Mortarion: “No.”
Vulkan: “Pardon?”
Mortarion: “By my calculations and experiments written down, especially the ones I can see from here... There is a good chance of him surviving. Very good. He has been preparing both physically and mentally for the entombment. That, combined with all of his other preparations and the quality of the Dreadnought itself… the chances are high that he succeeds.”
Vulkan: “I would hug you if you would allow it, brother. Thank you.”
Mortarion: “I won’t. And don’t, it’s just a fact of deduction.”

“Anything for you, my son.” He held him tight, not knowing if he would get the chance to do so again. “I will be here when you awake.” He tried to hug him harder to no avail even as he felt a tear of his own slip out of an eye. “How long will it take you?”

“A fewh… fewh weeksh…”

Vulkan nodded, knowing he had a few weeks to spend with his son before it was over. “Then you will come home and see your mother, your sister and enjoy your time outside.”

Janan let out a sad chuckle even as he accepted his fate, thankful that all would soon be over.

“And make sure you let out little Noodles over there. Stop experimenting on the canid!”

“Ohhh…” Janan groaned, hesitantly pressing the rune on the control panel for the bubble. Not wanting to explain how this was Noodles number four… He didn’t think his father would be able to tell the difference, much less mother and Venus...

Vulkan: “What!? SON!? NO!”
Emperor: “WELL THEN…”

“Is there something different about Noodles?”

“Noshing!”

…
Weeks later
...​

209.M42

Janan and Vulkan stood and watched as the very many cables were plugged into the Dreadnought.

Janan was already inside of the sarcophagus. The procedure went rather well, despite it taking multiple days of carefully removing body parts and bone structures and then untangling the organs from each other, all the while doing it even as Janan was sedated and submerged in his custom made Amniotic fluid.

It was an extremely dangerous procedure. If his heart slowed, if his blood stopped pumping or if he hitched a breath for even a second. Janan would die. That was the nature of the fluid he had made.

Vulkan swore that he never saw the Apothecaries move with such tender care in their entire lives…

Vulkan: “Pull through Janan. You can do it…”
Horus: “I am sure he can.”
Konrad: “I-”
Sanguinius: “Don’t you dare Konrad.”

But now came the moment of truth. All of the programs Janan had written were being uploaded into the Dreadnought even as his conscience was assimilating with the Machine Spirit.

No one was taking any chances. The Dreadnought itself had been sanctified hundreds of times over by the finest of the Chapters techmarines and the Master of the Forge himself overseeing the rituals.

Magos Lehm: *Is muttering incantations himself*
Vulkan: “I thank you, kind Magos.”

But despite all of their preparations, all of their care… something was wrong…

Janan, or rather, his new body, refused to boot up.

And Vulkan was getting increasingly worried…

Vulkan: “Janan! Is he- no, please… no…”
Ferrus: “The integration system must have failed.”
Horus: “How bad is that?”
Ferrus: “Depends.”
Vulkan: “Depends on what?”
Ferrus: “On exactly how well Janan programmed the Dreadnought’s systems.”
Horus: “Let us hope he has done enough. Whatever it was, I am sure it was his best.”

“My lord.” A Salamander begged him again. “You must come to the strategium! The Thousand Sons have transitioned in the system.”

Vulkan held up a hand. “I will stay until my son awakens once more. I have promised.”

And so they waited. For another whole perilous hour of the techmarines running around, checking all systems and trying everything and anything to get Janan’s new body running.

Mortarion: “An hour to get a Dreadnought fully running? Un-optimal.”
Vulkan: “Mortarion please-”
Mortarion: “But not surprising. Every single part of the Dreadnought is custom made and then artificed. Nothing about will be standard. Especially the code.”

And Vulkan stayed. He stayed until he heard the fires of battle begin to rage in the far distance…

“My lord, I beseech you!” Another Salamander begged as he had been sent by the outer villages. The sorcerers were advancing. And they were advancing fast, burning and destroying everything in their wake.

And Vulkan couldn’t take that…

“I am sorry Janan…” He whispered even as he turned and ran.

Vulkan: “Son… forgive me…”

…​

++SYSTEM DELAY: DETECTED++
++BOOTING INPUT OUTPUT SYSTEM++
++ERROR: RESETTING TO BACKUP CODE 3251++
++RESET: SUCCESSFUL++

++BOOTING SYSTEM++
++BRINGING USER ONLINE++
++AWAKENING MUSCLE FIBERS++
++RUNNING CONTAINMENT SYSTEMS++
++LIFE SUPPORT: ONLINE++

Janan blinked. Or rather, he did the mechanical equivalent of blinking.

Vulkan: “He’s alive! Oh… thank the throne…”

Everything was kind of blurry, like he was asleep for a long time.

He must be in his room. No doubt Venus would be up in no time to wake him.

Wait… he couldn’t move…

++USER SCAN COMPLETE: INTEGRATION… 92.3% COMPLETE++

Oh… how did he forget that? Wow… wait… there was something missing… nothing hurt anymore… this was normal life?

++SENSES ONLINE++

And just like that, he could feel.

He felt the gentle warmth of Mount Deathfires lava which was… exactly 134 meters away. He heard everything, the panicking of some of his brothers as clearly as if it were with his own ears.

And then he saw them- oh wow! Did he seriously make himself this tall!? Kind of unnecessary now that he thought about it.

Ferrus: “His sensors appear to be operating as well as they possibly can… impressive.”

His brothers really did look worried though…

++VOXCASTERS ONLINE++

Really? Well, might as well try- “Brothers.”

The sound of his own voice startled him. So deep and rich and- “Holy- I don’t stutter anymore! The stupid jaw is gone!” He proclaimed happily even as the techmarines stared up at him with apparent awe.

“Brother Janan! How do you feel? Is everything online? Can you move?” A nearby Techmarine asked, quickly working to make sure the youngest son of their Primarch was fine and able to be deployed as soon as possible.

“I am fine… still bringing things up, but it will be fine. In fact, I feel awesome!”

++PRIMARY SERVOS ONLINE++
++SECONDARY SERVOS ONLINE++
++TERTIARY SERVOS ONLINE++

Ferrus: “Three servos systems? Wow… and I thought the weapons were overkill…”
Vulkan: “He has given himself the control and fine motor skills denied to him by his genetic body… I am so proud…”
Perturabo: “Not bad. Not bad at all.”
Lehm: “By the Omnissiah… He is truly blessed…”

He instinctively waved his massive arms in the air, smashing some rock and causing dust to fall down onto him.

“Oh, guess I do not know my own height heh…” He looked around the room, pleased that everything looked as well and sharp as if he was using his own two original eyes. “Well, no time like the present to try this.” He reached out a leg, and the Dreadnought obeyed instantly, causing the leg to raise itself before gently coming down again. Then he did it with the other. And then the other. And then the other… “I can… I can walk!” He swiftly marched around the room, enjoying actually being capable of moving freely and without much effort by himself for the first time in his life, all the while being careful not to crush his brothers.

Corvus: “I… don’t think I have ever seen a Dreadnought move so… smoothly.”
Ferrus: *Nodding his head in approval* “The servos are complete and utter masterworks.”
Emperor: “YOUR SON HAS OUTDONE HIMSELF VULKAN.”
Vulkan: *Pushing back tears* “I am so proud of him…”

“Brother Janan, while I am ecstatic that you are able and willing to move, it is imperative you get a grasp on your new body as soon as possible! The entirety of Nocturne is currently under attack by not just Thousand Sons, but parts of the Black Legion and elements of the Dark Mechanicum!” The same Tech Marine quickly spoke, hoping his young brother could fully integrate himself.

Vulkan: “Thousand Sons, the Black Legion, and the Dark Mechanicum all at once?”
Magnus: “It sounds like it is more than just revenge. All three working together…” *shudders*

Janan stopped his pacing and looked down at his brother before looking at the rack where he had been mere moments ago.

“So you say…” He rumbled.

++WEAPON INTEGRATION SYSTEMS: ONLINE++

He strode over to the rack, and just to test it, took a nearby Bolter rifle from a rack. In his previous form he couldn’t even lift one, now it was tiny compared to him.

Using his senses along with the new mechanical fingers he took it completely apart in a matter of seconds before putting it back together, cocking the bolt and firing off a shot where it harmlessly hit the wall and detonated.

“My hands are excellent...” He praised his own work, now gazing at the massive power fist gauntlets hanging off of the rack which he had designed for himself.

Ferrus: “That’s an understatement if I ever heard and saw it.”
Emperor: “I HAVE NOT SEEN SUCH EXCELLENT WORK SINCE THE DARK AGE…”
Lion: “Hmm. What of his weapons?”
Horus: “I have a feeling that we are about to see.”

He stomped over and slid his hands into them…

++SONG OF NOCTURNE: SYNCHED++
++PROMETHIUM RESERVE: 100%++
++BANE OF ARMOUR: SYNCHED++
++VULKITE RESERVE: 100%++
++GAUNTLETS OF VINDICTION: SYNCHED++
++WEAPON SYSTEMS: ACTIVATED++

Rogal: *Raises eyebrows* “A very good assortment.”
Ferrus: *Almost drooling* “You don’t say…”
Fulgrim: “Are you alright?”
Ferrus: “Yes. It’s just so beautiful.”

“Brother, how much longer will this take? We are needed in the defense!” Another Techmarine urgently spoke. Every moment they spent here, was another moment they could be defending their home.

“As long as it takes.” The first answered.

“No.” Rumbled out Janan. “I am ready.” He turned with his massive form, looking down at his brothers. “Let us kill some traitors.”

The vid cut to black.

The family sat there for a minute or two, stunned into complete and utter silence.

“NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF A DETERMINED INVENTOR.” The Emperor finally spoke. “I HAVE SEEN THEM MOVE QUITE LITERALLY MOUNTAINS OUT OF PURE FRUSTRATION. WITH ENOUGH TIME AND DEDICATION, ALMOST ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE. A DOUBLE EDGED SWORD OF HUMANITY, I’LL ADMIT.”

“Kid did good, I have to admit.” Angron bit out with a feral smile. “I can’t wait to see him rip something apart.”

“Here here!” Russ sounded off. “Going into one of those things willingly… aye, now that takes guts.”

“Mortarion?” Vulkan suddenly asked, turning to face his brother and wiping his tears away with a handkerchief. “Do you still stand by your words?”

Mortarion rolled his eyes even as his rebreather let out a long, agitated, sigh. “Yes, brother. I was wrong. I never once claimed to be an expert on the possibility of Primechildren, even if all of you keep looking to me for guidance. You happy?”

Vulkan’s smile brightened the room. “Yes. Yes, I am. For him.”

 

[DuskDawnAndFate]

After the jolly giant finally calmed down, Konrad spoke up. “Can we get back to the main stuff again please? Seeing all of this is making me sick.”

“COME ON, KONRAD, IT’S NICE TO SEE THAT SOME OF YOU CAN BE HAPPY IN THE FUTURE. NEED I REMIND EVERYONE THAT THIS FUTURE HAS ME DEAD?”

“Yes, Father, you have mentioned that a good few dozen times now…”

“CAUSE IT’S SO IMPORTANT. EITHER WAY, KONRAD, JUST LET THEM HAVE THEIR FUN. OR I’LL SEE ABOUT EMBARRASSING YOU NEXT.”

Konrad stopped and slowly began to laugh, head thrown back as he let his entire body be consumed with deep belly laughs at how absurd the situation was. “...there is no way in the fething warp that I would ever have kids.”

“BET YOU YOU YOU’RE WRONG.”

“Bet you you’re an asshole.”

“OKAY, EMBARRASSING YOU NOW.”

“You wouldn’t fucking dare.”

“TWINS.” Alpharius and Omegon instantly perked up. “GIVE ME THE VID.”

Horus slapped the armrests of his throne, gesturing at the Twins. "Oh? Now you acknowledge them!?"

"CALM DOWN, HORUS, AND STOP QUESTIONING WHAT THE TWINS DO." The Emperor shot back, while the Twins nearby grinned at their oldest brother. Horus threw his hands into the air and just scowled about this, but dropped the subject.

“What fucking vid!?” Konrad demanded, not caring about Horus' hissy fit about the twins.

“THIS ONE.” The Emperor lifted a hand even as the twins flung a black colored vid towards him. Once he effortlessly caught it he showed it to Konrad, who instantly and violently recoiled.

“NO!” He screamed in defiance even as the Emperor chuckled.

“NOT SO COCKY NOW ARE YOU? YOU LITTLE SHIT.”

“FOR THE LOVE OF THE NIGHT FATHER! DON’T PLAY IT!”

“TOO LATE!” The Emperor threw the vid at Magos Lehm who caught it with one of his mechandrites and quickly inserted it into the holoprojector.

“NOOOOOOOOOOO-” Screamed Konrad even as the vid played. Somehow with an even clearer picture than before.

204.M42

It was the dead of night! The darkness of night was like a blanket over the great city, almost suffocating with its pitch blackness. The great city of Macragge Magnas Civitas was recovering from another attack, the people sleeping away their long day of work! But alas! The night was not any safer than the day!

Emperor: “HOLD UP! THIS SOUNDS LIKE A KIDS STORY.”
Sanguinius: “I think it is a kids story…?”

FOR YOU SEE!

In the dead of night is when treachery and injustice occurs. It is during this time when the hero we need and deserve will strike against the foes of mankind! Murderers, thieves, you name it! All of those who go against the laws of Ultramar will be struck down, by the hero of our tales…

THE NIGHT HAUNTER!

Horus: *barely contained laughter*
Emperor: “THIS SOUNDS LIKE ONE OF THOSE CHEESY EARLY 50’S CARTOONS. OH... WAIT…”
Magnus: “Wait, Father, wasn’t there some show about this very premise that you told us about…?”
Emperor: “YEEEESSSSSS… UGH… IT REALLY HASN’T AGED WELL.”
Lorgar: “The Night Haunter is the hero? This is just… Oh boy.”

The Night Haunter, he has the face of a bat, hair long and oily black as night with eyes like two black holes that stare deep into your soul and see all of the sins that you have committed! Even when wearing his armor, he makes not a sound! For he is the Night Haunter, the night is his domain as he will silently slay the foes of Ultramar!

Our tale begins on another cold, rainy night! A man was escaping through the city, he knew that the sin he had committed in the day would be paid for in the night! He knew that time was running short-

FOR THE NIGHT HAUNTER WAS ON HIS TRAIL!

Konrad: *Turns around and smacks head into throne*
Ferrus: “This reads like poorly made fanfiction…”

The man had been skipping work, stealing food and refused to be a part of the community. He was EVIL! And he must be punished as is the law of Ultramar!

He stopped when he reached an alleyway with a dead end, he knew if he did not escape that-

NEVERMIND! IT WAS TOO LATE!

Fulgrim: “Despite it lacking production, I do like the visuals going along with this. It could use for more development and tension in the story, but for a child it isn’t so bad…”
Lorgar: “...are you actually seriously giving constructive criticism for this?”
Rogal: “Yes, he is.”
Fulgrim: “Supporting a child in what they like while giving advice on how to improve is vitally important you know.”
Jaghatai: *Idly nodding*

He felt the presence of the Night Haunter behind him, he could feel the shiver of fear coursed through his body as he realized that he was cornered and there was no escape. He turned around to see him, a giant of a man who was over ten feet tall, and as wide as the alley! He shivered as he looked up at his captor, knowing his time was short.

The Night Haunter grinned down at the man and then… HE SPOKE.

“I have come to destroy you, for the good of Ultramar!”

Jaghatai: “The quality of Konrad’s lines have really dropped.”
Konrad: “I DON’T SPEAK LIKE THAT!”
Corvus: “I don’t know… That’s what I hear everytime you speak.”
Konrad: “I DO NOT SQUEAK LIKE A PREPUBESCENT CHILD. I HAVE THE GROWL AND TONE OF A DARK AND BROODING MONSTER.”
Rogal: “No.”
Perturabo: “Yeaaaaahhh… I agree.”

And just like that, the illusion was shattered. Suddenly, the entire backdrop of the scene was replaced with a small boy on a makeshift stage before other kids. His voice was too high and squeaky for the Night Haunter and the illusion was shattered.

Fulgrim: “Ah, he made the set himself. I like the scribbled backdrop.”
Ferrus: “Is he wearing a costume over his clothes?”
Fulgrim: “I think so.”

“Wait, my mom always said the Night Haunter was a bad guy.” Said one kid from the crowd watching the display.

Konrad: “YOU’RE DAMN RIGHT! THAT’S WHY I OFFED MYSELF IN THE FIRST PLACE THERE!”
Rogal: “Quite clearly. You did not.”
Konrad: “SHUT UP YOU JOLLY BUILDER BOB!”
Jaghatai: *Noting something down*
Perturabo: “HEY! ONLY I CAN TELL HIM TO SHUT UP.”
Rogal: “And hit me.”

The footage was most likely a servo skull who was passing by, the scene playing out before them below, as if they were looking down at it from somewhere above them.

The boy on the stage who was dressed in an elaborate costume of Konrad stopped, then hissed at the kid, “You were lied to! The Night Haunter is a good guy and he works with the Primarchs to keep us all safe and you need to sit down and stop interrupting my story!”

Konrad: *Groaning in actual physical pain*

“How many nights are cold and rainy? You keep saying that in all your stories.”

“WELL… Cold rainy nights are where all the bad things happen. It’s dramatic! So shush.”

Emperor: “I’M GETTING STAN LEE FLASHBACKS.”
Magnus: “Stan who?”
Emperor: “NOBODY IMPORTANT ANYMORE…” *Sighs in good memories*

“But we had a daemon attack on the city during broad daylight-”

“OKAY. NO. JUST… YOUR SPEAKING PRIVILEGES ARE REVOKED!”

“Awwww!”

Horus: “...And that’s how we know he’s a grandchild of the Emperor.”
Konrad: “SHUT UP! Nothing’s been confirmed!”
Lorgar: “Yet.”
Emperor: “I DON’T KNOW IF I SHOULD BE INSULTED OR PROUD…”

“ANYWAY!” The boy cleared his throat, going into a stance on stage before them all, continuing his story and hoping he could continue on with it without someone interrupting him.

“The Night Haunter comes closer to the man, and he begins to tell him of all his wrong doings! He spoke of all of his sins and with each one, the man’s face dropped, since he knew that with each spoken sin he was trapped and would be condemned.”

“When the Night Haunter was finished he looked to the man and said in a deep growling tone, ‘What do you have to say for yourself, you cur?’”

Corvus: “Okay, that’s actually a really good impression on what you should sound like.”
Konrad: “Kindly go fuck yourself little Raven.”

One kid raised a hand and shook the boy out of his theatrical hand waving, making his drop his hands and sigh dramatically. “Whaaaaaaat?”

“What’s a cur?” The kid asked.

The one on the stage smacked a hand onto his face and rubbed at his eyes, sighing, “A Cur is a bad person who does wrong. Like a criminal.”

“Ohhhhhhh… Why didn’t he just say criminal-?”

“BECAUSE IT’S MORE DRAMATIC AND SHUT UP!” He looked to the crowd again, waving his arms out, “Can I finish!?”

Mortarion: “The kid certainly has Konrad’s temperament.”

Everyone stayed silent.

“Good. So like I said… The man dropped to his knees, and began to beg for forgiveness from the Night Haunter. He tried to tell him that with his presence, he saw the error of his ways! But for you see-!”

Another kid waved their hand.

“...what?”

The kid shrugged, “Why do you always say ‘for you see’? It sounds dumb.”

The one on the stage made a face at the kid, “It’s called flair. So anyway-”

“What’s flair?”

“It’s… It’s just a thing to make it more exciting. Can I please finish?”

“Oh. Sorry.”

“Quite alright! So where was I? Oh yeah! But for you see! The man wasn’t really sorry at all! He was actually trying to curry favor with the Night Haunter! He wanted to hopefully get away from this with his life and begged the Night Haunter to spare him! But you must remember, our hero is smart and cunning! He knew what the man was doing!”

“So he readied his claws and spoke to him again, ‘I must add lying to your sentence! Do you know what it is?’”

He made a motion before the crowd, grinning widely as he prepared what looked to be a choreographed section of the performance. “‘Your sentence is… DEATH!’ And then he charged at the man and began to tear his to pieces! SLASH! CUT! TEAR! AND THE BLOOD! SO MUCH BLOOD! IT IS THE BLOOD OF SOMEONE WHO HAS DONE WRONG!”

At this, the boy began to throw around red strips of cloth at the crowd, who laughed at this, his dramatic sounds of death as he acted out the brutal murder on stage.

Lion: *Slow clapping*
Mortarion: “Absolutely stellar acting.”
Perturabo: “So realistic. Better than the theatre on Olympia.”
Rogal: “No, it is not.”
Perturabo: “I would slap you if that wasn’t an indirect compliment.”
Konrad: *Slowly sliding down his throne in embarrassment*

“And so the Night Haunter finished his work! Another criminal was dead for the good of Ultramar! And that, folks, is why you should always be a good citizen! Or you will end up like that man who was just torn to pieces!” He then dramatically fell to the ground, throwing more strips into the air above him, like he was spurting blood. “BWWWAAAARRRGGGHHH BLUOOOOBLOOBLOOO…”

“THE END!”

Konrad: *Facepalming so hard that his skull might cave in*
Angron: “...I like the blood.”

There was some clapping while others stayed silent.

Fulgrim: “Tough crowd.”
Sanguinius: “They did just witness the reenactment of a brutal murder.”
Angron: “And? They’ll get used to it.”
Lorgar: “Is this normal for Ultramar?”
Guilliman: “What!? Are you kidding me!? Of course not! The planet is clearly under constant threat and to top it all off, overcrowded and undersupplied! Society tends to change under those conditions!

“The harlequins are better at this than you are.” Spoke up an Eldar child sitting with a few of their peers.

The boy on stage sat up, strips of cloth stuck in his long hair. “Hey! You can’t compare me to the harlequins! They train their entire lives and put on shows rarely. They’re professional. I’m just doing my best!”

“This was such a waste of fifteen minutes…” Another kid spoke up.

“Hey! Not many shows are even put on anymore. I’m doing my best and I do this everyday. No one else does.” He looked at the mixed reactions in the crowd, before muttering to himself. “Yeesh… tough crowd.”

“I thought it wasn’t that bad. Doesn’t look that different from the real Night Haunter.” Spoke up a kid who was dressed in a military uniform, quite clearly from one of the richer families who had fallen on hard times.

Konrad: *Grumbling*
Leman: “Don’t see the difference either to be honest.”
Konrad: *Full on snarl*

The kid then reached into his uniform and flung a golden coin at the child on stage who caught it easily. He looked down at it with a wide grin. An entire Throne! By Maccrage, he would be eating good tonight!

Inspired or at the very least, persuaded by the rich kid, the others threw their own trinkets. Many were only coppers, but everything helped when you didn’t know when you got to eat next. Especially with so many fluctuating prices.

The boy caught them one by one, his ability to catch them from different spots and velocities was coincidentally entertaining to a few kids who watched as he caught them all.

Horus: “Plus one to him being Konrad’s-”
Konrad: “NO!”

“Woah. You’re good at that.” One grubby kid said. “Why don’t you juggle or do more stuff like that?”

“I dunno. I just like putting on shows more.” The stage kid shrugged, waving off the crowd that was dispersing away from the little stage behind the buildings in the back alleys. Before long, he was alone as he counted his earnings for the day after shedding his costume.

His smile only widened. He made good money today! His mom would have been so proud. This would be enough to stock up for an entire week for the both of them without even serious rationing!

His smile slightly sagged as he sighed and remembered that she wasn’t there anymore. It had been two years but it never got any easier…

Leman: “Tough luck for the poor kid.”
Lion: “It made him tougher. I fail to see the disadvantage.”
Magnus: *Sputters* “Besides the obvious emotional scarring?”
Lion: “He will get over it. There will be far tougher challenges in his life, then the loss of a parent.”
Magnus: “Just from his age, losing his mother two years previously, if he was not half Primarch the child would have died of starvation long ago! There isn’t any way for him to grow stronger, it would just be another pointless death!”
Lion: “Then it would have proved him unworthy of the title.”
Perturabo: “Agreed.”
Magnus: *Sputters again* “Are the both of you just inhumane bastards!?”
Lion: *Lifts eyebrow* “No, merely efficient.”

He cheered himself up as he stored the coins in his tattered clothes and walked out of the alley. He made sure to put up a sign that said ‘Out for today’ as he left.

Only to see men in robes looking over his viewers.

Mandatory health checks he heard they were. But his enhanced hearing picked up on some snippets over the clamor of the crowd.

“...become a battle-brother?”

“...maybe...have to… parents.”

One of the serfs put an arm around one of the children's shoulders.

“...eternal glory… never alone… untouched by disease…”

Guilliman: “I despair to see what my chapter has fallen to if they need to send out recruiters…”

That sounded kind of nice to him actually, and apparently it did the same to the child as he agreed and climbed into the transport parked on the busy street with the Ultramar heradly emblazoned upon it.

The boy who gave the act now frowned. Why would anyone join them? With so many useless laws and rules and the ones who abandoned his mom and him!

Then one of the serfs noticed him.

“Child? Come here, you seem to be the right age.”

The boy stumbled back, eyes wide. He wouldn’t go! He wouldn’t fall for their tricks!

“Boy?” The serf questioned again, stepping closer even as he turned and ran.

“Hey! Get back here, we just want to ask you a few questions!”

The boy ran as fast as his legs could take him, which funny enough was much faster than the serfs would think. He dashed away like a Space Marine, already gone before they could even see which direction he went.

Horus: *Points at screen* “Need I say anything?”
Konrad: *Growling* “Stop it…”

“Oh… bother. Did you see where he went?” The serf asked the other, who shook their head. The boy was now firmly on their radar, if he could run like that, then what else was he capable of? The serf then had an idea as he looked down to the children around him. “Children? Do any of you know who that was just now?”

They looked to each other and one answered, “Yeah. That’s Damien. He performs here every day.”

Sanguinius: “Damien? A lovely name.”
Emperor: “IN OLD TERRAN TIMES AND IN AN OLD TERRAN RELIGION, THAT’S THE NAME OF THE SON OF THE ULTIMATE EVIL. OR ULTIMATE REBEL, DEPENDING ON HOW YOU LOOK AT IT.”
Lorgar: “Why not both?”

Another spoke up, “He’s weird, but he’s not so bad. He knows a lot of weird and long words. He can also do really cool tricks and can make really realistic noises. All of us threw money at him and he caught them all.”

A girl spoke up, “I think he lives near here.”

The serf nodded, yes… Yes this boy, Damien, definitely had the makings of a strong Marine...

“Do you know where his parents are?”

“Nope. We think he’s an orphan.”

The serfs gave sad sympathetic smiles. While the amount of children orphaned by the war was astonishing and stretched any social care for the common citizenry beyond its breaking point, it also made recruiting for the Chapter and regiments far easier. “And you said he performs here everyday?”

Ferrus: “The sad reality of orphans…”

“Everyday. He puts on shows.”

Well… Catching him would be easy if they could just surprise him. But for now, might as well take these new recruits and see what can be done with them. The sisterhood orders would be combing through soon for candidates as well.

…​

The footage changed, another servo skull taking over as the entire market was seen from a higher vantage point.

Roboute: “Wait… It’s THAT bad!? The architecture… the housing, the overcrowding… it’s THAT BAD!?”
Perturabo: “This makes me feel sick to my stomach.”
Roboute: “Thank you! I’m glad someone sees how horrible this is for the people!”
Perturabo: “I was talking about the buildings.”
Rogal: “Hasty and ugly constructs. Inefficient use of space. Poor fortification… hasty fieldwork built under necessity more than actual planning.”
Roboute: “That… is a very worrying assessment…”

By the time Damien stopped running, he barely even felt tired at all. He just ended up stopping because he arrived at the markets and wasn’t sure if he would run someone over if he kept running. He stopped behind a particularly large stall, his head peeking out to find any of those robed guys walking around the area.

The market was lively today, somewhat more then usual. In the distance he could hear various preachers talking about the Emperor and all that usual nonsense. The noise of the area was nearly deafening to most. There were the sounds of the merchant stalls, people going back and forth in their daily business, workers passing by, people selling their wares, the noise was constant around him.

He could also see various women… some girls really combing through the public while others gave sermons, gaining the attention of other young girls.

One of them looked at him. She was pretty, shoulder length cut hair with a scar going from one of her eyes all the way to her chin.

He quickly averted his gaze, feeling a blush begin to form as he pushed forward through the crowd towards the food stalls.

He passed by people who were deep into their own conversations. Two Eldar were quickly speaking back and forth at each other, almost angrily.

“-I don’t care how you frame it. I care more about keeping my family fed than whatever it is that you’re doing. The human city side is better than the Eldar side.”

Emperor: “DID AN ELDAR JUST COMPLIMENT HUMANITY!? NOW I HAVE TRULY SEEN IT ALL...”
Jaghatai: “...we have clearly seen it all.”
Vulkan: “This truly is a dark timeline.”

“Really now? The Eldar side is at least cleaner than the human side, you know.”

“I think that’s only because all of you are too busy on making it cleaner and look nicer because you can’t accept your craftworld is gone. Besides, the human side is cheaper.” The first one bit back, sighing.

The other one sighed. “You’re right I suppose…” The other accepted with a defeated look. “But I can’t get used to this human food. No matter how hard I try.”

“How do you think I feel? I used to live on a Maiden world. I suppose we should give praise and thanks to Isha there is any food at all lately...”

Roboute: “Considering how bad the food shortages are no wonder the people are suffering… I wish I could do something…”
Emperor: “I AM SURE YOU ARE ROBOUTE. JUST IN THE FUTURE.”

Damien passed them by, not giving them much more thought.

There were others of course. Beggars holding out ancient Imperial Guard helmets. Some were missing limbs while others merely had that far away look and were being looked after by who Damien thought was their former comrade in arms.

He tried not to look at them too much as he passed them and they begged for money and food. He barely had enough for himself…

“Please kid… I haven’t eaten for a week…” A very frail one begged from the ground.

Damien clenched his fists and shut his eyes… Just ignore them. Walk away.

But… His mother wouldn’t want him to do this…

He quickly reached into his tattered clothes and gave the man a few copper before pushing onward even as the man cried after him for the Emperor to bless his kind soul.

“From three weeks to two…” He murmured to himself as he finally smelled the food vendors.

Sanguinius: “Despite coming from Konrad, at least Damien is kind and generous, even when he is starving himself.”
Roboute: “Kind of like Aegidius.”
Lorgar: “Perhaps there is an inherent good inside each of the primechildren, like how we care for humanity in our own way?”
Emperor: "PERHAPS..."

He steered clear away from the ones carrying what little sweet smelling deserts and fresh breads there were. Making sure to avoid the armed guards standing by those stalls. He wouldn’t be able to survive on those for long, went bad too quickly. Too expensive as well.

Instead he moved and went down a flight of stairs, coming to the dreary “undermarket” as it was known. The noise from above was able to mask what happened down in the undermarkets pretty well. One could find anything here if he tried hard enough.

Roboute: “FUCKING DAMMIT- REALLY!?”

Macragge Magnas Civitas was known for being able to avoid a black market for the Imperiums entire existence. But desperate times had finally caused one to form up.

He could see the skimpily dressed girls. Some had bruises, others were just outright pretty. His enhanced eyes could see into some darker buildings and see some probably not much older than himself…

Roboute: *Gripping throne so hard that the metal hand rest is bending*

He shuddered as he fixed his eyes towards the front again. Making sure to not look around too much. Looking at the wrong person in the wrong way was enough to get chased, beaten and robbed.

Finally he got where he wanted to.

“Hey mister!” He shouted up to the vendor, a dusty old veteran minding his stall of assorted goods.

“Oh, kid, you’re back. What do you want?”

“What can you get me for this?”

He carefully showed the Throne made of gold and the vendors eyes went pleasingly wide.

“Give it here.” He said and Damien somewhat reluctantly gave him the coin.

The vendor instantly bit into it, then closely looked at it. A pleased smile coming to his face as he spotted his teeth marks.

“Well, for this you can get…” He started reaching underneath his stall and pulling them out.

Silver plastic wrapped bars. Marked by the symbol of the Departmento Munitorum. Dozens of them…

He didn’t know what was in them, and he wasn’t sure he wanted to. He most certainly didn’t know how the grizzly veteran managed to get the tasteless rations.

Sanguinius: *Shudders* “I remember just how disgustingly those things were described to us.”
Emperor: “SOYLENT GREEN!”
Rogal: “Recycled human tastes bad… who would have guessed.”
Perturabo: “...yeah, no reason to hit you.”

But… they were cheap. And they fed him without him suffering too much from malnutrition. So they couldn’t be that bad could they? At least they weren’t charred rat.

His eyes widened as the man stacked two dozen of them.

Enough for an entire week! Well, it’d be even longer if his stomach body didn’t need him to eat so much… But still, a week was good enough!

Fulgrim: “I know that they are disgusting but isn’t standard Imperial Guard doctrine only one per day? One is supposed to have about two thousand calories.”
Mortarion: “Well, you need to remember that Space Marine and Primarch bodies do need more calories for growth. We burn through so many calories, we need the extra nutrients to not start tearing our own bodies up. But we are fully grown so we can easily go even weeks without a scrap of food. But when we go back to how Damien is half Primarch, and still very much growing, we do have a base from how many calories he would need to not only grow, but to sustain himself. A growing boy would need a lot of calories by himself, but when being half Primarch, he would need a lot more. Which also explains why he’s so thin.”
Fulgrim: “...Sometimes it’s weird to see you go into apothecary mode.”
Mortarion: “Well, then don’t make stupid fucking statements that I have to debunk.”

His smile widened as he pulled out a hole ridden burlap sack and quickly began piling them in even as a man pulled up with some crates and whispered something into the sellers ear.

“Hey kid…” Spoke the trader in a grim voice. “Price went up I’m afraid.”

Damien looked up at him with wide eyes.

“What?” He asked in a voice full of fear and disappointment even as the man stared down at him in pity.

“They’re raising an entire new regiment. Those are now way harder to come by. And to top it all off, considered Alpha level contraband. They’re promising any new joining members a full meal per day.”

Roboute: “Talk about it coming back to bite the populace…”
Emperor: “YOU HAD NO CHOICE. YOU NEED DEFENDERS FOR THE IMPERIUM.”
Roboute: “That’s the effective side yes, and I am not doubting I made the wise choice but… it doesn’t make it any easier to see my own people starve.”

“Well-well…” Stuttered Damien. “How much can I get for the money I gave you?”

The man sighed before his eyes hardened and he answered. “Five.”

“Five!? That won’t last me five days… with rationing…” He silently added in that these would only last him a day or two. He hated how much food he needed to eat just to survive…

Vulkan: “Poor little boy, I would feed him as much as he would want to…”
Konrad: *Grumbling in his throne, totally not feeling worry or anything*

The trader sighed again as he looked at him sternly and a man wielding a stun stick stepped around the stall, looking at Damien. “Then maybe not eating so many at a time? Learn to ration, kid.”

Damien proceeded to very reluctantly give back fifteen of the bars before turning and quickly walking away with his meagre rations. If only the seller knew how hard it actually was to ration for himself...

He knew he shouldn’t have given away those coppers...

…​

The next day, he decided to take the advice from one of the kids of yesterday. Employing more acrobatic stunts and tricks for his stage. He tried juggling last night and was pretty good at it, even found enough rocks for throwing.

He got the entire crowd to throw rocks at him so he could dodge them, amazing them with his reflexes and skills.

He got a few coppers that day, which was good considering that his usual crowd wasn’t as thick as it was before.

All because those robed guys came and took some of his customers away.

With what he knew of money and how much he was making, he would barely have enough for just one bar… great.

As he was counting his earnings, his enhanced hearing picked up on the nearly silent movements of someone much bigger than him coming towards his stage. He went still, listening and waiting for whoever was trying to come at him.

He craned his head, listening and soon he saw that some robed guy was coming into his back alley. Same robes as those guys from yesterday…

He clutched his money close to him and bolted, using his superior speed against them. They were running after him, their shouting voice getting softer and softer as he got away from them again. What was up with these robed guys!? Couldn’t they see that he didn’t want them to come after him!?

Eventually, he ran so far, so fast, he weaved through building alleys, markets and between some waste collectors until he was able to get to his home alley. An alley that had only one entrance and was a dead end. His mom built a nice little hole for the two of them there, hidden behind a moisture collector.

He had everything he needed there, a roof to keep the rain out, some thick boards and paper as a floor so he wasn’t lying on duracrete, a soft pile of cloth for his bed and cloth curtains to protect him from the wind that might blow through. He even had a metal shipping crate that he kept all his belongings in.

Corvus: “It’s the thoughts that make the home.”
Lorgar: “Oh yes, you grew up in a mine, correct?”
Corvus: *Nods* “Indeed, with slaves no less. We didn’t have much, barely a place to sleep. But it’s the thought that counts.”
Angron: “Reminds me of the slave hole I slept in when I was young.”

Though… He was getting a bit too big for his bed now. He’d have to see about getting more bedding soon. It was big enough that his mom was able to stand and lie down comfortably. But it was home, and he didn’t need much else.

He collapsed down onto his bedding, letting out a sigh of relief. It was easy to get away from those robed guys, but all that running just made him hungry…

What was he gonna do!? His customers were thinning out because they keep getting collected, his body just keeps wanting more and more food, it was only a matter of time before he had to…

Had to…

No… No he wasn’t going to steal. Stealing is wrong. He believes in law, order and justice! And stealing goes against his beliefs!

Konrad: *Finally looks up, denying the feeling of being slightly impressed by the boys resilience and will*

But…

Did they all go willingly? What was so great about that fortress anyway?

Leman: “The kid isn’t bloody well thinkin’ of doin’ wot I think he is?”
Roboute: “Please no.”
Konrad: *Most surely NOT getting worried*

He sighed as he got up and walked out of his hole towards the massive gleaming fortress in the distance, surrounded by slums, hastily constructed buildings and barracks.

He could find out.

Rogal: “The chances of a regular human scaling the main outer walls of the fortress of Hera without equipment are… 0.0032%.”
Konrad: *SO NOT WORRIED*

His stomach growled as he brought out one of the bars and began to tear into it, a plan formulating in his head.

Jaghatai: “I like this kid.”

…​

The moon was high in the sky as Damien began climbing the walls of the massive fortress. No one had luckily noticed him so far, obviously not being on the lookout for a scrawny little kid who was crazy enough to scale over a hundred meter tall fortress wall with nothing but the clothes on his back.

Konrad: “Oh for fucks sake.”
Corvus: “He is surprisingly agile and strong, considering the state of his body.”

His hands digging into the stone work, leaving behind tiny holes where his fingers dug in. Climbing higher and higher.

He could do it however, even in his scrawny state he still had more strength and control than even a fully grown human.

He didn’t know why. But he honestly didn’t care.

…​

In the distance, two guards watched over the steam of their hot recaff as a dark shape slowly climbed up the straight fortress wall as if it was merely a hill meant for an easy hike.

“I uh…” Spoke one, stuttering over his words. “Should we call this in?”

“And wake the commander?” Said the other one, too busy dunking his nutrient bar into his recaff. “No… just call it into the un-urgent vox. That way we did something and can’t be blamed for it.”

Roboute: *Eye twitching, clearly annoyed*
Lorgar: “Clearly, we can see that the general workforce hasn’t changed much in the future.”

The first one nodded, just watching how this kid was scaling a hundred meter tall wall with barely any difficulty.

Just as he picked up the vox and sent the most appropriate code for the situation, the kid reached the top… and vanished into thin air.

“What the!?” He yelled, blinking even as he tapped his other partner on his shoulders who was staring equally bemused at the situation.

They both looked at each other. Then down at their recaffs as they carefully sniffed it.

Starvation be damned, they both thought as they took another big gulp.

Roboute: “I don’t know whether to be disappointed, cry, or just do both…”

...​

Damien reached the top of the wall, climbing over and falling flat on his face as he reached the walkway. He sat up, huffing away some of his hair that got in his face. Well… That wasn’t so hard.

He thought that this would have been a lot harder to do, considering it WAS the fortress. In fact… he was sure he would have been spotted by now.

Konrad: *Facepalms so hard there is a sound of bones cracking*
Corvus: “That is… not the best way to go about on a stealth operation…”

Whatever.

He snuck around, willing himself to be as invisible as he could, using the dark of the night to keep him hidden. But then he wondered, would the robed guys be able to see him in the dark? He knew that the Space Marines can see in the dark, so he needs to be careful to not be around them.

Hopefully.

At this point he kinda wished he had a corpse dust box to hide and sneak around in. He heard those were used for hiding a lot.

Konrad: “Ah yes, the corpse dust box. Part of any Raven Guard stealth operation. At least Night Lords don’t use that.”
Corvus: “Yes, I suppose the Night Lords like to go about the Eversor path. No one can spot you if there is no one to spot you.”

He saw a door slide open and one of those Space Marines walk out. He was massive!

He quickly got over his awe however and bolted for it, silently running into the door as it slid shut behind him.

He grinned to himself, he got in un-noticed!

Just like the Night Haunter would do it. He giggled to himself as he stuck to the shadows and walked down the narrow hallway.

Konrad: *Turns around and smashes throne with head, breaking away part of the backrest while groaning loudly in embarrassment*

…​

“Watch station Sigma, come in.” Came a voice over the vox as the sleep deprived operator of the watch station picked up the receiver.

“Receiving.” He spoke in a gruff voice, having awoken from an unintentional nap.

“We uh, scanned some unknown biometric signatures at rear entrance 212B. Can you check on the feed? Over.”

Konrad: “OH FOR FUCKS SAKE! HE MAKES THAT BASIC MISTAKE!? HE’S CLEARLY NOT MY KID!”
Emperor: “SO QUICK TO THROW HIM UNDER THE BUS. FOR SHAME.”

“Checking.” He spoke even as he put down the vox receiver and pressed the speaker rune.

His fingers danced over the keyboard of runes configuring the security holocams for his watch station. He found the appropriate holocam and turned it back two minutes even as he lit up an Iho-stick.

He coughed. They only got more and more vile. They stopped putting filters with them as standard issue years ago at this point.

The footage loaded and he saw as a shadow whizzed into the doorway.

The Watch Station operator’s eyes went wide. “Control. We have an intruder!”

“Specify type.” The man on the other end demanded.

“I… don’t know, it was merely a blur. Saw a shadow-”

“By Terra!” Cried out the man. “Make sure the Crown Prince is safe, and form a squad to hunt down this ‘shadow’. And do it quietly if at all possible.”

Konrad: *Violently pointing at screen*
Emperor: “HE WILL GET BETTER! WERE YOU BORN WITH IT- WAIT BAD CHOICE OF WORDS. HE JUST NEEDS A MENTOR TO TEACH HIM ON WHAT NOT TO DO. SOMEONE LIKE HIS FATH-”
Konrad: *Hissing*

The man hung up the vox even as he took another drag of his Iho-stick.

Never a damned dull night in this fortress with the Crown Prince around…

...​

At this point, Damien was positive that something was wrong.

He barely saw anyone, and he was dodging past people way too easily. He would have felt confident in all this, but this was the Fortress of Hera! The most fortified and well defended place in all of the Imperium!

But well, all of that was a second thought. He had a slightly bigger issue.

Mainly that he was horribly horribly lost.

Konrad: “BOY! I AM GOING TO SO THOROUGHLY SPANK YOUR ASS AND THEN TEACH YOU TO PREP-” *Shuts up instantly as he realizes that he implied that he cares*
Fulgrim: *Grinning*
Konrad: “NO.”
Jaghatai: *Nodding along*

He was so lost, he had no idea which direction he came in from. Or if he was in a corridor he already went through. He was positive that he was going in circles…

Which coincidentally was a good thing, since he was confusing his trailing teams. Not that he knew that.

He paused and tried to figure out what he could do and where he should go. He tried using his nose to sniff out where he was and where he should go. There were a lot of conflicting smells in the fortress, but he did pick up on a nice smell…

It was food!

Konrad: “DON’T FORGET YOUR MISSION! YOU’RE NOT A FUCKING CANID LIKE LEMAN!”
Leman: “OI!”

Like a hungry dog, he trailed after the aroma of food. With how late it was, it was most likely the kitchens preparing for breakfast in… thinking on how long he was in here and how long ago since he left his house… Breakfast should be happening in two or three hours…

So he had time.

He snuck around, following the delicious aromas. His stomach growled as he patted it, hoping to find scraps in the bin. It’s not stealing if it’s in the bin!

Konrad: “SOMEONE STOP THIS KID!”
Leman: “Implyin’ ye actually care?”
Konrad: “MY REPUTATION IS ON THE DAMN LINE! THAT’S THE ONLY REASON WHY!”

…​

“This is Team 9! Lost sight of the query! Over!”

Roboute: “That many teams to catch one child?”
Lorgar: “One primechild.”
Roboute: “True, so it makes sense I suppo-”

“This is Team 29! Saw target heading for the kitchens. Over!”

Leman: “Wait wot”
Konrad: “There… might be hope for him…”
Roboute: “No… no way…”

“Team 56 here! We’ll get him!”

Roboute: “Are you KIDDING ME!?”
Konrad: *nodding appreciatively* “Maybe there is hope for him yet…”

“Team 58 here! We got a pict sent in from the walls security footage! We’re chasing after a young boy! Over!”

“Team 57 here! Excuse my High Gothic. But did you just confirm we are chasing after a fucking kid!?”

“Team 58 here! Yes. This child scaled the wall by himself with no tools!”

“Hunter Teams, this is command. Stand down! I say again, stand down! This is now another matter.”

“Team 1 here! Please clarify command. Over.”

“Lord Curze has taken personal interest. All hunter teams are to return to barracks. Over.”

Entire family: *Look pointedly at Konrad*

The many humans collectively shuddered. Many of the teams had been witness to the Primarchs terrible presence in the past. The thought of a little boy under the Primarchs unyielding will… was inconceivable.

One guard summed up their collective thoughts with a single line of, “Well… sucks to be that kid.”

...​

By this point, Damien had found the kitchens and was currently half in and half out of a bin. He found lots of good scraps in there! He even got carrot peels!

Sanguinius: “...he’s… He’s inside of a trash can.”
Vulkan: “Yes he is. Poor child.”
Corvus: “He went through multiple teams trying to catch him and he’s just inside of a trash can eating trash.”
Ferrus: “Hunger drives people to do unreasonable things.”

He just kept munching on anything that was edible in there, never tasting a carrot before! They’re actually kind of sweet...

His eyes perked up as he heard a sound… it was soft and whining… like a machine… oh crap!

He pushed himself out of the bin, wincing when it toppled over and crashed into the ground. He scrambled away, hoping that he received enough sustenance from his hasty meal to continue with his mission of freeing any unwilling people.

He ran through the corridors, sticking to the shadows, climbing the walls to reach the rafters and jumping from chandelier to chandelier, even causing one to go crashing down. At one point, he even ran out a balcony and dropped down to one below it.

Corvus: “That… is impressive.”

Try as he might however… the shadow pursued. Staying stuck to him like a hungry rat to its meal.

Eventually, as he was trying to shake off the shadow, he felt something grab him by the back of his tunic and raised him off his feet and into the air. He curled up in the air, knowing that he was caught and he was going to get punished. His body was turned and who he saw made him nearly squeal with joy.

“Well, well, well. So you’re the little rat that got into the fortress…” Spoke the giant to the captured boy. He was huge! Taller than a Space Marine, long black hair with dark eyes, pale almost dead like skin, armor a deep dark blue, hands covered in talons. And the grin! Sharp teeth in a shark like grin! This just had to be him! “Anything to say?”

Damien couldn’t stop it, his dark eyes that matched the Night Haunter’s own were wide in awe as he took in the form of HIM! He let out a shriek of joy face blooming into a wide grin, “IT’S YOU!”

Konrad's face contorted in confusion. People don’t squeal with joy when they saw him. “What did you just say?”

“Its-Its-YOU! The Night Haunter!”

Leman: *Begins to chuckle*
Magnus: “And so it begins.”

Konrad winced as he was yet again reminded of his old hated monicker. “No. Not anymore.”

“But-but- I saw the posters! Fear not the night! For it is haunted by our own Lord!” Damien recited, remembering that he has a couple of those posters in his home.

Leman: *Full on howling with laughter*
Horus: *Slapping his arm rest in laughter*
Konrad: *Wanting his life to end*

Konrad wanted to groan and immediately go strangle whichever menial adept of the Munitorum came up with that damned line. He started walking towards the nearest security outpost.

“I- I- I’m such a big fan!” Damien’s hands and feet shook with excitement, not even caring he was around eight to nine feet from the ground now. “I have a couple of your posters and I tell stories about you and- and-”

Leman: *Falls off of his throne, clutching his stomach even as tears run down his face*

The kid must be crazy, decided Konrad as his eyes briefly ran up and down the rags that covered the child. Homeless most likely, and very scrawny. Eating barely enough to survive. He smelled too. Reminding him off himself in his very early start back on Nostramo. That damned world could rot for eternity now for all he cared...

“-ever since then I decided that I was going to be just like you! Well, not with the killing part. I think blood is kinda icky really, but still! I learned as many laws as possible, I follow the rules, I make sure the other kids follow the rules too- I don’t steal and I make sure to be a good citizen! You know, since justice is so important and all like you said and-” Damien had been talking nonstop, so excited to be right in front of his idol.

Leman: “Oh I fucking- I fucking can’t!”
Konrad: “WILL HE EVER SHUT UP!?”
Mortarion: “Just… so much talking…”

Konrad tuned most of it out as they turned the corner. No. Not the security outpost. Medicae first. Poor kid was most likely just crazy.

“And yet… you snuck into the world's most secure fortress… causing a disruption to the entire security system…” He looked forward, walking around the fallen chandelier. “... and damaged property. That is trespassing, causing distress and destruction of Imperial property all in a matter of minutes.”

“-okay so that was my bad. I had a good reason to! Kids that I knew were taken away and I wanted to come see if I could help them or see if they were alright, but I got distracted by the smell of food cause I’m always really hungry all the time and I thought that, well, stealing is wrong, but it’s not stealing if things are in the trash can so I dug through those and well there was a lot of good stuff in there. I didn’t mean to cause damage I just thought that someone dangerous was coming after me so I ran and tried to get away! If I knew it was you chasing after me I would have been a whole lot more careful you know, but then again I think I would have turned around and said hello and tell you how much you’re my hero and how cool I think you are and-”

Magnus: “I know I talk a lot, but this is ridiculous.”
Leman: *Wheezing from the floor* “-almost like you!” *More laughter*
Magnus: “I DO NOT JUST SPEW OUT VERBAL DIARRHEA WITHOUT PAUSING!”
Horus: “Brother… Brother, you do actually.”

Konrad tuned the kid out completely as he strode into the Apothecarium. Startling the Medicae on duty and causing the poor guy to nearly spill his recaff everywhere.

“Lord Curze!” The Medicae quickly saluted even as he glanced at the still talking kid. “What can I do for you my lord?”

“Found the rat, brought it here. Take it. It won’t stop talking.” Konrad nearly growled out, even though he was tuning the kid out, it was still annoying.

“-never been in a place like this before it’s so clean are you leaving me here? I have so many questions I need to ask you since you’re my hero and everything, I just can’t believe I was carried around by you of all people! I just can’t believe all of this happened because I scaled the walls and tried to see how all my friends are doing, well, they’re not really my friends, they just pay me for my performances but still I care about them and I just wanted to know they were alright and-”

“Well… we can do the standard tests, but then I’m afraid it’s back to the streets for him my lord.” The Medicae answered his lord, he was now tuning the boy out as well, since he was talking a mile a minute and didn’t seem to be taking many breaths in between sentences.

“Back to the streets? He snuck into this fortress!”

Corvus: “Fair point.”

The Medicae winced. “I’m sorry my lord, but that is the policy with underaged children. That is of course, unless the Ultramarines want to take him.”

“Ultramarines!?” Yelled the scrawny little kid suddenly, getting the attention of both of them. “I don’t wanna be an Ultramarine! They’re the ones who took all my friends! If anything, I’d rather be a Marine for any other chapter or whoever!” He stuck his tongue out at the Medicae, letting him fully know what he thought of the Ultramarines.

Roboute: “Well… there have been more subtle ways of refusing to join.”

Konrad let out a surprised snort. A kid living on Macragge who didn’t idolize the Ultramarines. Now that was precious! Then again, this is the same kid that is showering him with hero worship.

“I’ll stay.” Konrad said to the Medicae. “Do the tests.”

Emperor: “LOOK AT YOU, BEING A GOOD DAD.”
Konrad: *Batgrumble*

“Wait you will!? Oh my gosh this is so great! This means I can ask you all the questions I can! I’m just so honored to be around someone like you, you must be very busy all the time you know, since there’s a lot of bad guys in the galaxy and the war going on, you know. Do you still tear people apart with your claws or is that a thing you don’t do anymore, cause like I said earlier I think blood is icky but fake blood isn’t so bad it looks kinda cool, especially if you get to act out the death scenes, did I mention acting out death scenes is like my favorite thing to do on my performances-”

“Very well my Lord, please put the child on the table.” The Medicae then put on a pair of gloves along with his white coat even as he got a carrying case.

Konrad put down the chatterbox onto the table even as the Medicae gently coaxed Damien’s over clothes off until he was left sitting in only his underwear. A big dumb grin still everpresent on his face, the exact opposite of the pitiful state of his body.

It was dirty, and extremely malnourished. Both the Medicae and Konrad could easily count each of the child’s ribs. There was barely any muscles, and even bone to go along with it.

Mortarion: “...correction to my earlier statement. Obviously we now see what happens when a ‘Primechild’ doesn’t get the proper nutrients and nourishment as they grow up.”
Vulkan: “He is just a little sack of bones!”
Corvus: “And yet he climbed a hundred meter tall wall with his bare hands.”
Mortarion: “Obviously we can see that his Primarch genes do come out to help him. Another hypothesis I have been working on concerning the children. It seems that even though they aren’t full Primarchs, they do gain a random set of abilities and perks that we have. Aegidius does have the brain power of a Primarch at times, even showing a resilience that we would have, same with Vulkan's mutant Janan. We have also seen that Perrin looks to have taken to augmentation and his marine conversion like an avian to the air. While Venus has not shown any gifts yet, this is not like Freya where from what we have seen has strength and speed, she made a Space Marine cry out in distress. And from what we can see of Damien, he does have the superior speed, reflexes, and makings of an infiltrator. All the extra calories he burns have been taking their toll on his body, but from what I can see, he is making do.”

And yet… this child… this malnourished, dirty, homeless, weakling of a child successfully managed to dodge the Night Haunter for a full minute.

“-yeah I know I’m really really skinny, but I swear I can never get enough food, you know, I’m just always so hungry all the time, even after I eat a meal that other kids eat. I’m not trying to be a pig, I just can’t help it, I guess it’s just another thing that makes me different from other kids, since they’re not as fast as I am or as nimble or- wait am I bragging? Is bragging a bad thing? I don’t mean to brag, I’m just kinda stating the truth, since you know I have to be honest all the time since that’s really important, even my mom told me that before she died two years ago-”

The Medicae opened the carrying case, a look of pity on his face as he took out a rather sharp looking hypodermic attached to some sort of screen.

“Slight pinch.” He said even as he quickly managed to hit a vein on Damiens arm. It wasn’t hard. They were showing as if he was looking at a pict from a medical textbook.

“What? Did you do something? I didn’t feel anything. Then again, I don’t really feel pain much, really weird, but it’s okay, it just means I can go a lot longer than other kids since I don’t really complain about that type of thing since complaining doesn’t really solve any of my problems, I wonder how long this will take I feel kinda cold, and it feels weird to sit around in my undies you know-”

The hypodermic sucked up the blood even as the Medicae reached over to the counter and gave Damien a nutrition bar. “Eat this, you need it.” It was mostly because of the blood draw, standard procedure. But the Medicae had to be careful, give him too much at once and the poor boy could even die.

The nutrient bar was eaten in nearly one gulp, but they were positive he chewed thoroughly and ate it in a matter of seconds. This did little to stop his long tirade of talking. “So as I was saying, kinda cold in here, you know, hey does your armor keep you warm or do you like it being cold, I never know what it’s like in armor like that so what’s it like wearing armor like that is it comfortable, do you kinda forget it’s there? Or do you always feel it? Is it kinda like how your nose is always in your sight but your mind just kinda ignores it-”

*Everyone is just tuning out the talking*

The device in the Medicaes hand pinged and caused his eyes to go wide with surprise.

“What is it?” Curze asked impatiently.

“Nothing… and that’s the thing. No diseases, no stunts in growth, hormones are completely fine, digestion is completely normal.” The Medicae looked up at Konrad. “Besides appearing malnourished and dirty… the child is… well… completely healthy.”

Mortarion: “Hypothesis confirmed.”

“Well yeah I’m healthy I never get sick once! I just kinda keep going and going and going and going and going and going one time I was able to stay up for like a week without sleep, and I barely cared it only took me until it was two weeks where I finally had to fall asleep it was wild, but I was up and about again in the morning after a full night’s rest and I was fine like those two weeks didn’t even happen, can you do that or am I just weird and it’s just me? I hope I’m not a mutant that would be bad since I know mutants aren’t tolerated, I heard about that from a pamphlet someone was reading out loud since I can't read you know, I gotta keep up with my learning since my mom told me that using my eyes is important, especially since hers didn’t work at all-”

Konrad had enough. “Just give him the standard compatibility test for all active chapters and be done with it.”

“That will take about an hour if I am going to run it through all-”

“Just mine then!” He spat, truly irritated now. “I don’t know how much longer I can handle him just rambling!”

“Of course my Lord.” The Medicae hastily spoke as he retreated to a cogitator and plugged in the hypodermic device that he had used to draw Damiens blood.

“Should only take about a minute or two-” The Medicae cleared up as he plugged in the device. Only for a ping to sound immediately and the screen to go green. “What?!” Shouted the Medicae in utter surprise.

“What now?” Asked Konrad, seriously contemplating just walking out.

“My lord… I think I need to do a second tes-”

“Oh for the love- get out of my way!” Konrad moved and shoved the Medicae to the side, looking at the screen on his own. What he saw, truly stunned him for the first time in millennia.

CHANCES OF GENE-SEED REJECTION… 0%
CHANCES OF ASTARTES ORGAN ACCEPTANCE… 99.87%
CHANCES OF AUGMENTATION SUCCESS… 97.35%
GENETIC MAKEUP MATCH… 100%

The Entire damn family: *Slowly turning to look at a somehow even paler Konrad*
Horus: *Turns to Konrad, with a smug look on his face* “So… You wanted proof.”
Konrad: “Shut. Up.”
Horus: “Why? We had to wait for proof to come up and now here it is. Congratulations. You’re a father.”
Konrad: “I’ll fucking murder you.”

“Hey what’s on the screen I can’t really see it from here, I’m kinda too little to see you know, it must be important for you two to be crowding around it, almost like the markets near where I live, it’s always crowded there, with humans and Eldar there, the undermarkets aren’t as crowded as the upper markets you know, but the undermarkets are more dangerous than the upper markets, but I gotta say the upper markets are so overpriced you know-”

“Shut up.” Quietly spoke Konrad, causing Damien to instantly fall silent.

For a moment, the only thing heard was the breathing of the Primarch as his mind contemplated and thought how such a thing was even possible.

How… oh… oh… he said she was blind…

“Child.” Konrad spoke again, never turning. “Describe your mother.”

Damien sat up straighter, “My mom? Oh, she was really nice and pretty, she had long brown hair, her eyes weren’t working at all, she was actually completely blind you know, so they were like milky? She was a bit darker than me and you, but that isn’t really hard to do, since we’re both really pale. She said it was important for me to eat since she said that my metabolism was going to be really high for someone like me, which I don’t really understand why, it’s just kinda always like this. Oh wait, MY MOM! My mom came from off planet years ago, she said she was on this planet that was under attack and then she was saved by a bunch of Space Marines that appeared over her planet and they saved them, but their planet kinda got destroyed so they stayed on the ship for a while but she said she met my dad on there I don’t really know my dad, she said he was kinda scary to talk to but whatever I guess? She died two years ago, since she tried to work but we never got a lot of money and I needed to eat a lot more than she did but it wasn’t so bad since we lived in an alleyway next to a moisture collector. So what else do you wanna know-?”

Sanguinius: “No offence to Konrad but… how did he get with such a wonderful sounding lady?”
Rogal: “Because she was blind.”
Emperor: “WAY TO BRING DOWN THE HAMMER, ROGAL.”
Rogal: “My hammer is back aboard the Phalan-”
Perturabo: *Smacks*

Konrad’s mind was a rollercoaster of emotion. How? How did this… fucking universe keep fucking shit up for him!?

He wasn’t ready to be a father! He failed with his gene-sons! So how could he handle one actually born of his own blood!?

He turned to look at him. For the first time truly taking in his sight.

The pale skin, dark eyes, darker loose hair. That was obviously his. But that nose… the shape of his chin. The way his smile curled his cheeks… The dimples...

Fuck! Fuck fuck fuck fuck! FUCK!

Think! Fucking think! What could he do!? He could- he could-

“Medicae!”

“Yes my lord?”

“Give the kid a bath. ”

Angron: “Ha! Pussy.”
Konrad: *Too worried and angry to react*

That would buy him some time as he stepped outside of the Apothecarium, looking at the rising sun in the distance through one of the massive windows even as the Medicae coaxed Damien towards the showers in the backrooms.

Fuck… what was he going to do… wait… what was the kids name again? Shit, maybe he shouldn’t have tuned him out...

…​

The Lord Commander of the Imperium had stopped by on Macragge as a mere pit-stop on his way to the other edge of Imperium Secundus. But he couldn’t resist taking a moment in his office to himself.

Roboute: “Why are we on me all of a sudden?”
Emperor: “KNOWING KONRAD… WAIT FOR IT.”

His hands flew over documents and paperwork even as his mind was occupied by another matter entirely. He never needed his full attention for the damned papers anyway.

He was roused out of his thoughts by a knock on his door.

“Enter.” Roboute called out, wondering who could be wanting his attention this early already.

The door was opened and Roboute had to nearly pinch himself when he saw who it was and what he was carrying. There was his brother, Konrad, at the door, looking panicked and holding a bundle of a towel that was wrapped around a child that looked a lot like his brother.

Emperor: “RIGHT ON SCHEDULE.”

He looked between the two of them, the boy, then his brother, the boy, then his brother, then the boy who was now waving at him, then back at his brother who was quickly and desperately motioning towards the boy with his eyes and head.

Sanguinius: “Now that he is cleaned up, he is kind of cute… Big dark eyes popping out of a towel… adorable.”

Roboute put the documents down and put his hands together, tapping against his mouth while leaning forward. And said the first thing that came to mind. “So when did you get a son, Konrad?”

Before Konrad could speak, the boy, Damien gasped really loudly and practically shrieked in joy, “I’M HIS SON!?”

Lorgar: “PFFFFFFFT-” *dying of laughter*
*Most of the family is laughing at how loudly and surprised Damien is that Konrad is his own father*
Konrad: “Uuuuuggghhhhh…”

Konrad looked as if he was going to have a migraine, letting out a long, shuddering sigh. “According to my calculations… About sevenish years ago.”

Roboute looked to the boy, “How old are you, boy?”

Damien was silent for a while, working up the courage to speak to the Lord Commander. He softly spoke to him, “Seven, sir…”

Horus: “Like we need any more proof Konra-”
Konrad: “I REALLY DON’T FUCKING CARE! HOW THE FUCK DID I GET A KID!? WHO WAS CRAZY ENOUGH TO SLEEP WITH ME!? HOW WAS I CRAZY ENOUGH TO SLEEP WITH SOMEONE?!”
Leman: “Best questions you ever asked.”
Rogal: “The only person who would want to initiate coitus with Konrad was quite literally a blind woman.”

“Oh, now you’re silent!?” Konrad cried out, one hand coming up and rubbing at his face. “Please don’t get him to talk, I can’t stand another long tirade of his…”

“You get used to it.” Spoke Guilliman by pure experience.

“No. Not with this one. I nearly got a migraine with him constantly talking. From when I found him, picked him up, walked to the Apothecarium, to the testing and even after it, he wouldn’t stop!” Konrad ground out, looking down at Damien who grinned sheepishly.

Mortarion: “Future Konrad has a point.”

“I don’t mean to… I just talk and my mind just goes and goes and goes-”

“SHUT UP. NO.” Konrad immediately cut off Damien, stopping him from going on another tirade.

Roboute sighed before getting up, rising to his massive height and walking around his desk. “What do you plan on doing with him?”

Konrad looked back to his brother. “I don’t know. I don’t know how to take care of a kid! You know what happened to my own gene-sons! You take him.”

The Lord Commander gave his brother a look which simply screamed ‘are you fucking serious right now?’. “No.”

Roboute: “Did you seriously just try-”
Konrad: “FUCK OFF PAPA SMURF! I AM IN NO DAMN MOOD!”

Konrad let out a deep sigh, holding the kid out and away from him and towards his brother with one hand. “Take him.”

“Brother.” Spoke Roboute calmly. “Look him in his eyes-”

“No.” Konrad immediately cut him off.

“Look your son in his eyes and then tell me that.”

Internally screaming, Konrad turned Damien around and looked him in the eye. Damien, even before when he looked at Konrad with all that hero worship, now looked like Konrad was the greatest gift in the entire galaxy wrapped up on a shiny silver platter and it was addressed to him. The smile on him was so… So open and… and…

What the hell is wrong with him!? He couldn’t take care of a kid he didn’t know the first thing about taking care of a child and just- just this was such a bad idea, it would be so much easier to just hand him over to Guilliman and…

No… No he can’t now. Shit.

“What did you do to me?” Konrad asked out loud, unable to look away from the situation.

Konrad: “OH FUCK OFF! NO! NO NO NO NO!”

“Made you realize the glory of fatherhood.” Spoke Guilliman. Already typing something into a datapad. “Your name, young one?”

“Oh! My name is Damien sir! I don’t right know what it means, actually. My mom gave it to me and I’m sure it must mean something since most names do have a meaning to them, I just don’t know what mine means really. Wait, if the Night Haunter is my dad, does this mean my full name is actually Damien Curze? That actually sounds kinda cool now that I think about it, kinda like I have a family again, wait, if he’s my dad and he calls you brother, does that make you my uncle, and does this mean I don’t have to eat trash anymore, what’s going to happen to me now, actually? I just have a lot of questions now, since this is the first time someone’s actually answering my questions and-”

Konrad: “FUCK! NO HE STARTED TALKING AGAIN!”

Guilliman nodded along as he input something into the datapad. “The fortress’ defenses will now recognise him as friendly. You can talk to any of your remaining sons, or, in my recommendation, any of the new ones about his personal guard escort. If luck will see it through, I can get him the same tutors as Aegidius has.”

Konrad: *Primes claws* “YOU AND I NEED TO HAVE A TALK BLUEBERRY!”
Roboute: “FOR WHAT!? Future me is only doing everything that is needed to make sure the kid is taken care of! He’s doing more for him than you did! And you’re his father! Future me only knew Damien for five minutes!”
Konrad: *Continues grumbling*

“I get tutors? I’ve never had a tutor before, so what do tutors even do what do they do tutor you? Is tutoring a thing that people do? Is that like school because I’ve never actually been to school, you know so I don’t know how I’m gonna do actually-”

Guilliman looked up at the poor boy. “His room is two floors down from Aegidius’, the serfs there will know. They are also going to send a tailor to it immediately so the child can get some clothes.”

Guilliman then spotted some bone poking through Damien’s skin that was peaking from beyond the massive soft towel.

“And for Terra’s sake, feed the poor boy.”

He then turned and sat down behind his desk, going back to his paperwork as if they weren’t there at all.

“Am I actually getting real food now? Cause right before the Night Haunter picked me up, I was actually eating scraps out of the bin in the kitchens.”

The very expensive heirloom fountain pen snapped in half in Guillimans hands as he looked up startled at Damien and then glared at Konrad. His eye twitching in the way it did when he learned that something threatened Aegidius.

Guilliman: “OH COME ON! NOT ANOTHER ONE!”
Vulkan: “Do you care more for a pen than a child who was eating trash!?”
Guilliman: “I CARE FOR BOTH! BUT ONE WAS USED BY MY FATHER VULKAN!”
Rogal: “Father could not have used-”
Guilliman: “MY ADOPTIVE FATHER! IT’S ONE OF THE FEW THINGS HE ACTUALLY LEFT ME!”
Vulkan: “I… withdraw my accusations.”

And this was his nephew… not that far off he supposed.

Roboute stared at Konrad, the angry look not leaving his face… until… it was replaced by a grin.

Konrad stared back, “I didn’t know he existed until an hour ago, you know.”

“Please, nephew.” He said looking at Damien with a genuine smile. “He’s not the Night Haunter. He’s ‘father’. Remember that. Only proper.” Causing Damien to squeal in joy in Konrad’s arms. Damien just thought that this was the best day ever. It was a great idea to break into the Fortress of Hera!

Konrad meanwhile just instantly wanted to punch Roboute in his practical face and then disappear.

The holoprojector stopped.

Konrad’s head slowly turned. The sound of stone grinding on stone audible in the air.

“I’m going to kill you Guilliman.”

Guilliman turned towards Konrad, “Why? I understand that you may be slightly uncomfortable, but-”

“Slightly uncomfortable!?” Konrad roared as he stood from his throne, practically shaking in rage. “I’m just slightly uncomfortable!? I just fucking sat here while all of you were having a grand fucking time just poking fun at my expense and wouldn’t leave well enough alone! All because Father,” He practically spat the word out, “decided he wanted to pick on me!”

The Emperor raised his hands in defeat with a grin. “I WARNED YOU SONNY. DON’T SCREW WITH ME. BESIDES, WOULD HAVE HAPPENED SOONER OR LATER.”

Konrad whirled on the Emperor, snarling at the golden man, “This. This is why I can’t fucking stand you! I’m actually angry and humiliated that you decided to show this off, and you have the gall to sit there and act like nothing is wrong! Like I’m overreacting!”

“Because yer’ are!” Cut in Leman. “We’re all fathers in here… well probably. Point is, we all have to deal with it! Yer clearly loyal too! I fail to see the issue.”

“Because I’m embarrassed!” Konrad threw his hands into the air with a scoff, “I made this clear from the beginning. No one cared.”

“Konrad, this all started because all of you wanted to embarrass and poke fun at me!” Guilliman spoke up, giving Konrad a look. “Need I also remind you that everyone has been getting embarrassed this entire bonding experience, you’ve had the time of your life poking fun at everyone else’s expense. Not so good that it’s happening to you?”

Konrad let out a low growl and activated his thunder claws and raised one, intent on causing harm.

He didn’t even begin to strike when it was grabbed by a powerful gauntleted hand.

He whirled on who dared do so, only to look at the stern face of Horus.

“Brother.” He commanded. “Don’t you dare.”

Konrad growled again as he desperately attempted to free his caught arm.

“SON.” The Emperor stood and walked over to the struggling Night Haunter. “YOU MUST CONTROL YOURSELF. WE HAVE ALL SUFFERED HUMILIATION AND EYE OPENING EXPERIENCES WITH THESE VIDS.”

Konrad barked at his father's face, spitting Nostraman curse words. “Rich coming from you! You’re the one who loves it when others get the attention, but whenever its on you, suddenly is wrong!”

“NEED I REMIND YOU KONRAD OF JUST HOW COURTEOUS I HAVE BEEN? AND REMIND YOU FURTHER THAT IN THE FUTURE, YOU DIED A TRAITOR'S DEATH. ONE THAT YOU SENTENCED YOURSELF TO.”

“Do you THINK I need reminding about that!?”

“YOU DO. BECAUSE YOU ARE QUITE CLEARLY ALIVE.. HELPING IMPERIAL REFUGEES AND FIGHTING FOR MANKIND ONCE MORE.”

Konrad deflated, knowing his father was right. In the future vids, he’s dead, but when they looked at the darkest one, suddenly he’s alive. Alive, well and helping others. And he had no idea what happened to make him like that, no way of knowing how or why he decided to forgive himself.

And that frightened him more than any idea of fatherhood ever could...

 

[DuskDawnAndFate]

“Ok, so now that father has thoroughly attempted to humiliate Konrad, anyone want to get back to the main chapters?” Horus spoke up, still shaking his head at his father's antics. Honestly, at this point, they needed to have a sit down and talk more about how much they all needed to schedule some family therapy.

“I agree, we shouldn’t just stop and make fun of our brothers. Even in small jest.” Roboute agreed, most definitely not wanting to get back to his boy. “Do we happen to have the next chapter on hand? Or was it lost when everyone was rummaging through the piles- Which should be stacks and all of you know it!”

“Calm your blueberry colored man tits, brother,” Leman spoke up, looking like he was more reclining into his throne than sitting anymore. He had been like that ever since he saw that he had one single daughter, exactly one single daughter, in the future and she was a damn dog! Not even a wolf, acting like a damned DOG!

“Fine, fine. I will sort them during the next break myself along with Magnus.” Roboute answered, making Magnus sputter at him.

“Wait, why me?”

“Because it is secretly annoying you to your core as well.”

Magnus shrugged, not willing to fight back on something that was annoying him as well. “Fair point.”

“Alright, the vid should be here somewhere.” Horus began rummaging through the pile. Then, Horus paused and had a bit of an epiphany, “wait, why don’t we just get the Twins to find it? They always seem to find things inexplicably easily and just seem to do the impossible.”

“Normally I would agree with you brother but,” Sanguinius held up the vid. “I have been hanging on to it, waiting for us to get back to the main storyline.”

Lorgar snickered from the side, “You’ve been holding onto it because you can’t stand the idea of having us stop on a cliffhanger.” This made Sanguinius huff in indignation, not appreciating how his whole ‘unable to stand cliffhangers or interrupted viewings’ schtick was getting ahead of him.

“Just like you can’t stop thinking of religion as so great, only to have the one founded upon your very teachings shoved in every single ugly way down your throat.” Sanguinius rebuffed, one of his eyes twitching un-naturally.

Jaghatai let out a low whistle, “It’s like all of you have finally started to learn the way of Chogorian Verbal Lashing.”

“Honestly, I give little to no shits at the moment, let's just play the vid. Magos, catch.” Sanguinius threw the vid at Magos Lehm, who managed to catch it effortlessly in one of his mechadendrites.

Magos Lehm quickly began his work of inserting the vid and setting up the holoprojector, it seemed that every time a vid was played, everyone in this room got either more friendly with each other or grew in some way. Which was at first odd for the Magos, being so close to the Omnissiah. But perhaps it wasn’t so bad, it was actually kind of nice...

204.M42

The vid opened up to reveal a close up of Aegidius’ face. His eyes were closed and he appeared to be far more relaxed than usual. And his arms were wrapped around the pillow that his head was lying on.

Except, it wasn’t a pillow.

“I missed you mom…” Came a tiny whisper from the child even as a hand, far too slender, and moving with far too much grace to be human or even transhuman, reached down and brushed some idle blonde curls away from Aegidius face. “What took you so long?” Aegidius groaned next, squeezing himself even tighter into his mother's lap.

“I missed you most, my sweet boy.” She cooed at her son, hand scratching the top of his head and through his hair as she began to hum a song to him, a song that made no sense to any other except the two of them. She smiled when his ears pricked up and he began to hum with her. “Never forget that.”

Mortarion: “Oh for fuck's sake, it's the witch.”
Konrad: “Can we burn her, father?”
Emperor: “SEEING AS HOW ROBOUTE WANTS AEGIDIUS TO EXIST, THEN NO.”
Roboute: “I have claimed no such thing!”
Emperor: “SO THAT’S A-”
Roboute: “-But I will!”
Vulkan: “Keep that to yourself.”
Roboute: “I thought you were going to support me?”
Vulkan: “Not if you scream it out loud.”
Roboute: “But I’m talking normally…?”
Mortarion: “Shut your mouth, witch lover. Too fucking loud.”
Magnus: “Oh come on! You can’t censor our brother just because his future self has gone down the path of-”
Mortarion: “Shut your mouth, you witch.”
Emperor: *Surprising chuckle* “LOW BLOW, BOYS. PLAY FAIR.”
Lehm: “Wow, okay. Not really then…”

The Eldar woman with her long platinum hair in a top knot, over artificed armor and wych suit with overskirt looked almost comical next to the boy. But the maternal look on her face as she looked down at him was genuine. The Herald of Ynnead was clearly softened and glad to be near her son.

However, she didn’t like how tense his soul felt when he was so close to her like this. Were the damned Craftworlders right?

Maybe she shouldn’t have threatened them and was a bit too… thorough with her warnings.

Magnus: “Oof… Yeah, I can see that.”
Sanguinius: “See what?”
Magnus: “Aeldari women are notoriously protective and downright homicidal against anyone who gets close to their children besides their fathers.”
Corvus: “And how do you know that?”
Magnus: “I read.”
Corvus: “No, you do not get to use that one again!”
Magnus: “Use what, brother?”
Corvus: “You say you read a lot, and while that may be a fair assumption and explanation for you usually, you seem to know a lot about Aeldari customs and mannerisms. Including your knowledge and practice of their language. What are you hiding, you damned witch!?”
Roboute: “You do know I also speak Aeldari and am highly familiar with their culture, right Corvus?”
Corvus: “Yes, that may be true, but he is being too precise for my liking. So I ask again, what are you hiding?”
Magnus: “...let’s get back to it, shall we?”
Corvus: “ANSWER ME!”
Magnus: “No.”
Corvus: “You can’t just say no and then get to act like it’s done with!”
Magnus: “Rogal does that very thing all the time and no one questions it.”
Rogal: “This, is true.”
Konrad: “Give me an hour alone with him and I’ll make him squeal.”
Emperor: “OKAY, NO TORTURING OF YOUR BROTHERS, KONNY BOY! WE ALL AGREED TO THIS!”

Their fault really. Everyone knew not to get between an Eldar wych and her child.

Still, his soul felt oddly strained more than usual, he was even tired and close to falling asleep. She was having to weave through their tenuous mind link with tender care, soothing the boy with her presence and alleviate some of his strain. When none of his strain lifted, she once more began to murmur her song to him, causing every single muscle in Aegidius’ tiny body to relax as he let out a tiny breath of contentment. The song only they knew, they composed together since she first knew her boy, a song that would always comfort him.

When he heard her song, the boy relaxed as he responded softly. He had been fighting sleep, but once their song was heard his eyes couldn't stay open and he soon was asleep, curled up next to his mother.

She ran a hand through his curling locks, glad she was able to bring him peace in this moment. When she really looked at him and recalled how strained his soul was, it was hard to tell how young he still was. Far too young for what he was forced to endure and learn, even if he was over half his father’s son.

That was another thing. By human standards she guessed her husband to be a good father. A strict yet gentle one who knew how to properly raise a child. He was doing a fine job for human standards. By Eldar standards… Well, she would be considered a terrible mother, much less him as well. For one thing she was supposed to be by her son’s side until he was at least a full Eldar cycle old. But well, he grew at the rate of a human and… She admitted that duty came first and she missed out on what was his most critical years. At least she was able to convince everyone to allow her at least the first two years with him, which was barely a sixth of a cycle…

Emperor: “I SWEAR, ELDAR GROWTH CYCLES ARE FUCKING WEIRD. I STILL DON’T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING IN CYCLES OF TWELVES.”
Vulkan: “Um… why are they like that father?”
Emperor: “I REALLY DON’T KNOW. I REALLY DON’T. ELDAR ARE FUCKING CONFUSING, CAUSE ONE MOMENT IT’S: ‘I HATE MY KIDS I WISH THEY WOULD GROW UP AND NOT BOTHER ME’ TO ‘FUCKING TOUCH MY KIDS AND I’LL CUT YOU WITH YOUR OWN SPINE’. FUCKING CRAZY. WHY CAN’T THEY STAY CONSISTENT?”
Rogal: “Father.”
Emperor: “DAMMIT NOT AGAIN- WHAT IS IT ROGAL?”
Rogal: “Why are you complaining about Eldar breeding, growth and child rearing styles? It is redundant to complain about the Eldar and their already confusing ways of life. You are being… redundant.”
Emperor: “I SWEAR ROGAL, I WILL THROW YOU OUT THE AIRLOCK. THINK ABOUT IT, IF THEY DIDN’T RAISE THEIR KIDS IN SUCH A SHITTY WAY, MAYBE, JUST MAYBE, THEY WOULDN’T BE A BUNCH OF STUCK UP, KNIFE EARED, ASSHOLES.”
Rogal: “You make a very good point, father. Forgive me.”
Magnus: “Much like how you shouldn’t have been the galaxy’s shitiest father?”
Emperor: “QUIET MAGNY MAGIC. HORUS TURNED OUT JUST FINE.”
Angron: *Angry groaning noises*
Emperor: “I SAID HORUS!”

Speaking of time spent with close ones... she hadn’t spoken to her husband since practically Aegidius’ birth. Theirs was a marriage of convenience, which is what she told herself. And they knew that they wouldn’t see each other often. But she felt the bond to him waver and strengthen nonetheless. She was tied to him until one of them would perish and their soul would be gone from this world.

Roboute: “Marriage of convenience. Right. I swear, I thought Eldar didn’t do that type of thing…”

Aegidius softened yet again in her lap, his breathing becoming rhythmic even as his heartbeat slowed and he drifted off into a gentle, dreamless sleep.

It was the least she could do for him. An Aeldari child should never have been separated from his mother so early. If he was a true Eldar he would still be learning to speak, still dependant on his mother and father for every bit of guidance.

As it was… he was strong.

Oh, he was clumsy on the exterior, small, frail and sensitive. But she knew of his true nature.

He had the exterior and soul strength of an Eldar. A powerful Eldar. But his mind and literal entrails were truly his father’s. There was no mistaking that mind, that logistical and logical thinking along with what was essentially photographic memory and his learning speed was unparalleled.

Magnus: “Ok… that does complicate things.”
Roboute: “What do you mean?”
Magnus: “Well in theory-”

In theory, Aegidius should have been the perfect half-breed. Combining both greats of each species while neglecting the worst. Every single healer and Apothecary had even stated it as such.

Magnus: “... that, essentially.”

And yet… his soul felt strained. The Astronomicon embedded within him took some power away of course, though no one was sure how it worked…

She felt as if the soul that was her son wasn’t just him. She knew him, she knew it. She carried him for almost two standard Terran years! She felt and guided his budding soul since day one. And ever since his birth, it felt… wrong. Her precious son’s soul felt like it was carrying a large tumor that grew only larger and stronger with each year.

And she worried about exactly what it was doing to him.

No one knew how or even why or how the Astronomicon was reborn inside of her son. The greatest farseers and librarians had tried weaving their way into Aegidius’ mind and all had failed.

Even herself. His mother. The one being in all of Eldar society which usually had full access to their child’s mind while it was still developing.

It was almost as if Aegidius’ mind was protected. Protected by something so well fortified that it was neigh unbreachable when it should have been open to her.

Magnus: *Whistles* “Something powerful enough to overrule the bond between an Aeldari mother and her child… now that is… very rare.”
Jaghatai: “How rare, to be precise?”
Magnus: “So rare, that it is touted as fact that no one can come between the bond of the mother and child.”
Ferrus: “So what could be strong enough to do that, then?”
Magnus: “From what I know, someone with so much power that they could essentially-”

Almost as if something had shared the space of his soul-

Magnus: “Well… it is a possibility.”
Sanguinius: “Sharing space with another soul?”
Magnus: “Yes but… it would be the very essence of the word terrible… no body that we know of was meant to house two souls. Not even us, in order for the person to even survive he would need to be born with it. Which is technically… impossible. Especially since his mother would have been watching over and guiding his budding soul through the whole process as he would be formed. If anyone or anything tried to latch on and grow with his soul, she would have purged it immediately. That is the part that makes me wonder if it would be possible...”
Emperor: “UNLESS OF COURSE, THAT SOMETHING MASQUERADES ITSELF AND LEECHES ON SO EARLY THAT IT WAS ALWAYS THERE. SO NOTHING WAS OFF IN THE FIRST PLACE. THAT IS MOST LIKELY HOW THE ASTRONOMICON BECAME EMBEDDED WITHIN HIM. THOUGH I DO NOT KNOW HOW FUTURE ME COULD HAVE DONE IT.”
Magnus: “Normally I’d agree, Father, but there is the part where the Aeldari mother guides and watches over the soul from the very moment of conception to birth. She would know that soul from all the ins, outs and beyond.”
Emperor: “THERE IS ONE PART YOU MISS, HOWEVER. IF IT BECOMES INTEGRATED. SHE CAN’T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. HENCE-” *Points at screen* “-LIVING ASTRONOMICON. IT IS PROBABLY THAT ‘TUMOR’ THAT SHE FEELS.”
Fulgrim: “But what about birth?”
Emperor: “PARDON?”
Fulgrim: “She said, ever since his birth. You two keep talking about it being there when she said ever since birth.”
Emperor: “THE ASTRONOMICON COULDN’T HAVE LATCHED ITSELF ONTO HIM WHEN HE WAS BORN. HE WOULD DIE. HIS SOUL WOULD HAVE BEEN OVERWHELMED AND SIMPLY WOULD HAVE BEEN BLOWN OUT OF EXISTENCE. OTHER THINGS… PERHAPS. BUT IT WOULD BE PAINFUL. PAINFUL TO THE POINT WHERE I DOUBT THE CHILD WOULD EVEN SURVIVE. AND IF HE WOULD. IT WOULD NOT BE A COMFORTABLE EXISTENCE LIKE THE ONE AEGIDIUS HAS. AS MAGNUS SAID, THE OTHER SOUL WOULD TEAR HIM APART, UNLESS IT SPECIFICALLY CRAFTED… MAYBE.”

A gentle knocking on the door awoke Yvraine from her thoughts even as it opened and in walked Cato Sicarius, the Marine that her husband had decreed as Aegidius’ caretaker. Her Aeldari hearing picked up on the faraway arguments between the Custodes and the Craftworld Farseers. Again. She nodded to the Marine in greeting as she continued to run her fingers through her son’s hair.

“Captain. I assume you bring news while you interrupt my time with my son?” She jested lightly, not even looking at him as her eyes stayed glued to her precious boy.

“Indeed. Nothing urgent of course.” He answered with ease. He had learned that her barbs meant nothing, Eldar women apparently were just protective of their children. “Merely to update you on everything your son has done during your time away.”

She hummed, nodding as she held her son close to her.

“Physically, he has grown significantly since you last saw him. As you can see he has grown over six inches and has gained the appropriate amount of weight needed for his height.” She nodded, a hand going to gently pinch his chubby cheek. “Mentally, he has grown exponentially. He has blown through his studies and we have gathered that private tutoring will take up most of his studies since public schooling is now beneath his needs and his war studies will proceed at a much more accelerated rate. He still has not met his social quotas, but that is no longer a problem.”

“How so?”

“He has recently gained a cousin and friend, Young Lord Damien Curze. They have been playing and studying together when possible.”

Roboute: *Feels a grin growing on his face*
Konrad: *Feels a scowl growing on his face*

She smirked, shaking her head. “And here I thought that man would never have a child. How funny.” Her eyebrows furrowed as she continued to gently glide her fingers through Aegidius’ hair, sending away a nightmare that was threatening to form in his sleep. “The boy isn’t anything like his father, is he?” She inquired, hoping he wasn’t going to be a bad influence on her son.

“Not at all. Damien is a sweet, kind boy and they compliment each other well. I recommend you ask Aegidius once he awakens.” Sicarius answered quickly, dispelling the notion. Even he could see that the interactions were good for his charge.

“Good. If that is true, then please allow more time for them to interact. It’s important Aegidius has a peer, compared to none.”

“Of course.” Sicarius nodded.

She smirked again, a laugh almost coming up. “So how much trouble did Aegidius get into while I was gone?”

“Not much this time. He continues to be impossibly clumsy and has broken around seventy two bones over the last time you were here. Scrapes and bruises have been daily, even with the Custodes and myself watching him.”

Roboute: “Seventy two!? Seventy two bones!? How?! How is that possible!?”
Jaghatai: “Drunk, angry little midgets.”
Roboute: “He isn’t on Chogoris, Jaghatai! He isn’t riding a horse! He’s being kept safe inside the fortress with the Custodes themselves guarding over him!”
Jaghatai: “Funny how you think children only break bones when outside on a horse. That shows you know almost nothing about the little angry midgets.”
Roboute: “And you do because?”
Jaghatai: “Do you have any idea how many children there are on Chogoris? Especially with how open my world is, how we have a culture of sharing and open homes? Do you have any idea how many times I am attacked by hordes of children? I am around them most of my time on Chogoris, you cannot escape them. So might as well learn about them.”
Angron: “I don’t give two shits about children. They run away from me anyway. But they do so from all of us. Transhuman dread and all that crap.”
Emperor: “EXACTLY. SO WHY DON’T THE ONES ON CHOGORIS FEAR YOU?”
Jaghatai: “I don’t know.”
Roboute: “Are we all beginning to take the ‘Rogal’ way out of things now as an excuse?”
Jaghatai: “...yes!”
Rogal: “I had no inclination that there was a way to get out of verbal corners by using the same words and actions that I do and claim it as a… style.”

She nodded along sadly at that true unplanned part which left the apothecaries and healers baffled even now. Physically, nothing was supposed to impair her son. In fact, according to his genes, he should be much, much more agile. Flowing in his walk and running pace better than an Eldar. Almost as good as a Primarch.

Yes, that was the rather harsh truth. The Emperor had made the Primarchs better than even the strongest farseers. To refer to them as Mon’keigh would be an insult to themselves. They were not only faster and stronger in every way. They flowed with such unmatched killing potential and grace that upon her husband’s awakening in his temple she was left stunned.

Emperor: *Leans back with a smug grin* “YES. I AM THAT GOOD.”

Roboute Guilliman, supposedly the less warlike of his brothers, had strode into the Daemons and Chaos Space Marines like a Wraithbone weaver to his craft. Cutting and slashing and destroying with such efficiency that she suspected her escort even became envious. She admitted that now that… That may have been the first time she found she had seen a human as an equal.

Roboute: “Wait… really?”
Ferrus: “Ah yes, that was when you punched a terminator through a marble column.”
Lorgar: “And got so mad you became Angron for a second.”
Roboute: “I… no, I think I got that mad when you, Lorgar, raided… nevermind. I’m too ha- more of… Pleased that she was impressed with me.”
Vulkan: “Why?”
Roboute: “I- I don’t know! It just feels nice…”

The sound of arguing on the other side of the door flared up for a second and yet again, she was reminded of why she had rushed back to Macragge with all due haste.

Aegidius’ powers had manifested. For the first actual time, his power was fully revealed. And it was terrifying.

The raw energy of the Astronomicon blasting out of his body and opening a warp tear all the while summoning the “angels”, the protectors of the Astronomicon’s light had been a sight never before truly seen. It showed just how much potential he had.

But the cost and method of attaining it was wrong. Oh so wrong…

A Farseer lied dead because of it. Because he pushed when he should have waited and been patient. Pushing to see the extent of her son’s power when he should have just been observing what was shown now.

Emperor: *Slowly turns to Magnus* “VERY FAMILIAR DESCRIPTION.”
Magnus: “...Yes, yes, it’s all my fault. Completely me. You had nothing to do with it. At all. It’s not like you didn’t tell me anything about why the Warp was dangerous, despite having plans to put me on the Golden Throne and make me your giant psychic beacon.”
Emperor: “YOU KNOW THAT YOU WOULD HAVE TRANSCENDED IF YOU WOULD HAVE DONE THAT AT THE PROPER TIME RIGHT? BUT THOSE PLANS WENT FLYING RIGHT OUT THE WINDOW WHEN A CERTAIN SOMEONE SACRIFICED HIS RIGHT EYE TO A TUMOR IN THE WARP.”
Magnus: “All because I was desperate and didn’t know there was a flying squid in the warp who has a lot of power and was the one who took me away from home.”
Emperor: “SONNY. DO YOU FORGET ABOUT THE FACT THAT I WAS THERE THE WHOLE TIME? AND YOUR ADOPTIVE FATHER?”
Magnus: “...okay fine. I was wrong. But at least admit you did some wrong too.”
Emperor: “I SUPPOSE I COULD HAVE BEEN MORE CAREFUL.”
Magnus: “Thank you!”
Emperor: “SHOULD HAVE PUT THE SISTERS OF SILENCE AROUND YOUR GESTATIONS CAPSULE.”
Magnus: “That… doesn’t make it… nevermind. That's as much of an apology as I’m ever going to get from you. I swear, no wonder you’re single.”
Emperor: “TECHNICALLY I’M… YEAH.”

She sighed again as she fixed the positioning of Aegidius’ head, making sure that he was lying with his cheeks on her thighs, face pointing away from her in order for him to be comfortable.

“Tell of the incident.” She spoke then, in a more serious tone, causing Sicarius to stiffen unnoticeably to non-Aeldari eyes.

“There isn’t much to tell, my Lady.” Sicarius spoke earnestly. “When I entered the room, I found Aegidius surrounded by a golden glow, the Astronomicon’s light ceasing its projection to the sky. Later, the navigator's report stated that it never truly ceased. Just redirected for that fraction of a second. All I did was take ahold of him and get him to safety.”

She listened, then deliberated. Her boy was powerful, and she had a feeling it must be from that tumor upon his soul. It wasn’t his, it was always there and suddenly the Astronomicon sprung to life as soon as it appeared? She just knew it had something to do with all of this, but she didn’t have the information to build up her theory. For now, she could only focus on the here and now. And the here and now was that her son is exhausted, he did something great and strong, and now he was the subject of contention between her people and her husband’s people. Again.

“What of the Custodes? His guardians. Do they still cling to him and keep the Craftworlders away?” She didn’t much care about the Custodes when they had first arrived. Believing the rumors of their strength and capabilities just that. Exaggerated rumors and Imperial propaganda.

She was pleasantly surprised when they said that they wanted to guard her son.

Emperor: “THEY VOLUNTEERED? THE SHIT?”
Horus: “What would cause the Custodes to volunteer to watch over him?”
Emperor: “I DON’T KNOW… MAYBE I ORDERED THEM BEFORE I DIED FOR SOME REASON?”
Horus: “I don’t know. I’m still trying to figure out half of what you and Magnus were saying about souls and everything…”

She was less than pleasantly surprised when her husband agreed practically immediately, questioning his choice and if truly they were the best guardians he could have?

The farseer with them at the time had quickly agreed and made his thoughts on the situation well known. Especially when he challenged the head of the Custodes to a duel to who would hold the honour of being the prince’s guardians.

The Custodes there had accepted on his Captain-General’s behalf. Citing that the Captain-General had expected this situation to develop.

So they had moved to the training arena.

And there, the Captain-General had arrived.

And her husband immediately began to… chuckle. Then even laugh!

She thought him gone mad. Something snapping in that brilliant mind of his.

But then she saw the Captain-General wipe out the farseer as if he wasn’t even there, doing so without even using a real weapon. Going so far as to use a training shock staff!

And then proceed to do so with an entire host of Aeldari warriors before he removed his helmet and declared himself Constantin Valdor returned. Come to serve his Emperor once more and his penance for failing to guard him so long ago, fulfilled.

Emperor: “HOLY SHIT. CONSTANTIN IS STILL ALIVE!”
Leman: “YES! CONSTANTIN! Crazy bastard is still alive!”
Lorgar: “But how did he know that Aegidius would be the new Emperor? Wasn’t he just born when he arrived?”
Emperor: “I’M NOT CLAIMING TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT MY FUTURE SELF ORDERED THEM TO DO ANYMORE.”

But the Emperor was dead. Obviously. Dead but not… gone.

His soul was somewhere, obviously. Otherwise humanity would long ago have perished to the seething tides of the immaterium. If only she knew or had an idea on what the soul of the Emperor was like, so she could aid in the search.

Lorgar: “Wait… you're not actually gone?”
Emperor: “I AM NOT THAT EASY TO KILL. YOU SHOULD KNOW THIS BY NOW.”
Magnus: “Your soul, or at least a fragment of it, is still out there obviously. Question is where?”
Emperor: “EVEN IF I KNEW, I HIGHLY DOUBT WE CAN FIND A WAY TO TELL THEM.”

“Yes, my Lady. They continue their vigilance around the young lord and protect him from all outside harm. Outside the harm he inflicts on himself.” Sicarius answered, pride shining through him. Not many, if any Marines could ever boast on working so closely with the Custodes, after all.

“Good. I don’t want a single hair on my son’s head to be harmed. If I could, I’d slaughter all who meant him harm myself… But I will settle for you and the Custodes to keep him safe.” It took more effort than she was prepared for to keep from baring her teeth at the idea of anyone hurting her precious offspring. “Anything else I must know about him? Or shall I ask him when he awakens?”

“Nothing else, at the moment.”

“Good. Then please, allow me time with my son.”

She listened as he left the chamber, leaving mother and son to sit together again. She was happy to have just a moment like this with her son. Worrying about him, caring for him, just having the moment with him. Knowing that every time she left him behind, she may not see him again.

Sometimes she worried that maybe he didn’t have as strong of a bond to her compared to what he should. Maybe if she had stayed behind and cared for him and stayed by his side, then maybe she would fix that. But if she did, then what of the Ynnari and their plans? They still had to figure out how to get the last Cronesword from the Palace of the Whore. Once they had that last Cronesword, then Ynnead would be summoned, he would finally be here to hopefully end the reign of She-Who-Thirsts... And there was still the full integration of the Aeldari into Human society and the countless gives and takes between both sides.

Or maybe she was worrying over nothing and he loved and cared for her as much as any Aeldari child would?

She just worried over him so much, ever since she first heard his cries and was separated from him for those two agonizing days. From birth to this very moment, she worried over him, and still would worry over him even after.

There was a huge difference between an infant crying because they were born and were experiencing life, and the cries of an infant who was in true, unyielding pain.

She nearly gagged at the memory, curling more towards her boy. The memory of his birth was a terrible one, one that should have been one of happiness, of rejoice to finally have her son in her arms. But it was a memory of her son in the worst pain she could imagine, with him crying and writhing and turning and… Gods, her baby suffered so much. Ever since he took his first breath, she couldn’t access his soul anymore, she couldn’t fully utilize their bond, their connection, it was like… Like someone was strangling him.

Strangling him until he nearly died and had been separated from her for two agonizing days. Separated from her while he screamed in agony, screaming until he suddenly stopped, stopped and nearly was burnt out from the trauma. She made a vow to him that day when her son was finally in her arms and she saw the extent of damage done to him, how his own body was nearly burnt out, how his nerves were almost completely fried away. She vowed to him she would protect her precious boy.

She would do anything to protect him. If it meant she had to kill her own people to keep him safe, if it meant she had to damn planets to their bloody ends if it meant she had to take on the whole galaxy and beyond, she would do it without a second thought. She wasn’t able to help and protect her baby all that time ago, it killed her inside to know that. She would always carry the guilt that there was nothing she could have done to help him. So she will help him now. Now and forever.

Emperor: “WAIT. WHAT?”
Magnus: “Ok… that is a tiny bit too far… I can stomach a lot, but... no...”
Roboute: “Too… too much detail…”
Magnus: “...Mortarion, you’re up.”
Mortarion: “Why me!?”
Magnus: “Cause you’re the Apothecary and apparently we look to you to figure out the biological side of everything. So do your thing.”
Mortarion: “Normally I would say, sure, but no. Because THAT wasn’t physical! Nothing causes that much trauma! No disease, no type of mental imparity, nothing that I know of. This is your area.”
Magnus: “My area!? Well… I suppose? The only thing I can think of that would nearly kill someone and nearly fry out their body like that would be…” *pauses and turns to the Emperor* “...Do you think he was soul bound?”
Emperor: “I MEAN… POSSIBLY. I’M NOT SURE… HE TECHNICALLY WOULDN’T HAVE SURVIVED AT ALL. AND IF HE DID, THERE WOULD BE SEVERE CONSEQUENCES LIKE GOING BLIND OR A SEVERE MUTATION.”
Magnus: “But he is half Aeldari and half Primarch, and apparently from what we saw earlier and deducted, the Astronomicon appeared after he was born. Going through a soul binding at birth, suddenly having the Astronomicon there, and now that I think about it, it would explain how he doesn’t really feel any physical pain… I just feel as if we are missing a crucial piece of information here!”
Sanguinius: “Then how about we talk less and watch more!?”
Magnus: “But there are multiple things we need to talk abo-”
Sanguinius: “DO IT AFTER THE VID I SWEAR!”

She loved her son. And she had a feeling her husband did just as much.

And then the door opened again and she looked up to see who would dare to interrupt on her private time with her son.

Only to see an unarmoured Roboute Guilliman, standing there in all of his tired splendor in his Ultramarian uniform.

It seemed, the second part of her questions would soon be answered.

...
204.M42 - The Warp, ???
...​

Sanguinius: “WHAT!? WHY ARE WE GOING HERE!?”

“By the Helwinters of Fenris, DAMN YE BACK TO WHATEVER HELL YE CRAWLED OUT OF!” Was the cry of fury that came from Leman Russ as he hacked a daemon apart with his sword, with another coming to fill the now empty space which died to a bolt shot from one of his sons. “How long until yer fix the fracking Gellar fields!?” He yelled into the vox link, all the while holding onto and keeping Freya out of harm’s way with one hand even as his other held onto the sword of Banelight.

Leman: “...am I in the thick of battle, lost in the warp again, while holding onto my daughter in one arm and fighting daemons with the other?”
Rogal: “Yes.”

“Almost my lord! Just need to reroute power!”

“Well hurry it up!” He demanded, even as his sword cleaved through another Daemon, sending it back screaming into the warp.

By the snows of Fenris, how did this go so horribly wrong?! He was just trying to travel from Fenris to Macragge, maybe show Freya a bit more about being a good leader when it all went wrong!

They were en route to Macragge when something happened to the Astronomicon! The damn thing flickered, blinding the navigator just long enough that he managed to guide them off course! The damn Navigator was screeching about “angels” and while panicking, they were now stuck in the middle of the fracking WARP and fighting for their lives with their Gellar field down! The fracking Navigator overloaded it in his bout of mania!

Magnus: “Oh… so that’s what it caused…”
Ferrus: “Well, with him being the Astronomicon, of course it would affect other people.”
Leman: “I can’t believe I’m lost in the warp again!”
Emperor: “YES OF COURSE. BUT NOT TO THIS LEVEL. IT WAS MERELY A FLICKER. THE NAVIGATOR MUST HAVE BEEN UN-EXPERIENCED.”
Leman: “I swear! I spend more time in the warp than the nerd does!”
Magnus: “Father is probably right on this one, the Navigator must have just gotten confused and steered the ship out of the warp current.”
Leman: “Frak all of you.”
Emperor: “HMM? DID YOU SAY SOMETHING, LEMAN?”
Leman: “FRAK YOU TOO!”

In the arm of Leman, Freya held onto her da with everything her little body had. She couldn’t even scream as she looked at the monsters that appeared in their ship, only bury her face into her da’s armor and hope it would all be over. She hated how she was so small, so weak, so useless! She was too much of a baby to help! She was too much of a baby that she ended up holding her Da’ back...

It was damn near impossible to get a good look at what was even happening on the bridge, it was a mess of Wolves, Daemons, blood, weapons, and screams of either death, anger or fear from the rest of the crew. But worst of all, he was fighting with a handicap. He had to keep Freya in his arm, if he left her anywhere she would be vulnerable! And if he moved too quickly or wasn’t careful enough she could get hit. A single hit and she’d be gone-

Then he felt as Freya slipped from his grasp.

Reeling around, he spotted the feathered, bird looking Daemon with an outstretched hand, muttering incantations in some language and using what looked to be Telekinesis to draw Freya to him. The little girl fought against it, but was unable to break the hold and only cried out to her Da’ with a howl of her own.

Leman: “Freya!”
Horus: “Oh shit…”

He used his other hand to reach for his bolter. But by the time he had it aimed at the daemon, it would have been far too late. Leman’s hearts skipped a beat...

Suddenly, over a ton of fur, razor sharp claws and fanged jaws slammed into the Daemon. Tearing it limb from limb in a matter of seconds before running over to Freya and making her stay behind it.

“Good job Freki!” Leman praised the Blackmaned Wolf, even as he slashed through yet another daemon spawn. How much more fracking time before the fields were back up!?

Leman: “OH THANK THE ALLFATHER FREKI IS STILL ALIVE THAT BASTARD OF A WOLF!”
Emperor: “NO PROBLEM SONNY.”
Leman: “YOU KNOW WHAT I MEANT!”
Konrad: “Just wait.”

Then more of the neverborn spawned, and rushed directly for Freya.

They didn’t get far. The ancient Wolf pounced with unnatural speed and strength. Tearing off limbs as easily as if they were paper, biting through flesh as easily as softened foods.

But he wasn’t fast enough…

“Freki!” Freya cried out, her voice full of desperation as a daemon's claws raked against Freki’s rear thigh, causing the creature to let out a yelp before the daemon was swiftly demolished with bolter fire. She quickly covered her ears from the deafening sound of the roaring guns, eyes screwed shut, but she peeked back at Freki, hoping the old wolf wasn’t...

Leman: “DAMMIT ALL KONRAD!”
Konrad: “You’re welcome.”
Leman: “That wolf is my brother Konrad! I swear, if something-”

“Gellar field online!” A cry suddenly came from the helm even as the neverborn were dragged screaming back to whence they came with the fury of the Space wolves chasing them back out until not a single one of the filth were on their ship any longer.

“Thank Fenris! You’re alright lass!” Russ felt his muscles relax as he ran over and checked his daughter for any injuries. He hugged her to him, truly grateful that she had managed to escape without even a scratch.

Freya hugged her da as hard as she could, her heart pounding from the fear of battle, the frustration, and simple sensory overload. Then she remembered and quietly spoke up, “Da’, Frekis’ hurt...” She wanted to squeeze herself out of his grip and run to the now barely moving wolf, but she was afraid of letting her father go after everything that happened.

It was lying down, looking exhausted and panting with all its might.

“Rune Priest!” Russ demanded, and not even a second later, a Rune Priest hurried to the front and was kneeling by the black maned wolf’s side. Freya was lowered to the ground and the little girl was able to still hold onto her da, but now could comfort Freki as well as she could.

“What’s wron’ with ‘im?” Freya demanded, going to the wolves head, as big as her entire body, and petting the wolves whimpering head and nose. Her tiny hands unable to do much to help the old companion.

The Rune Priests Narthecium scanned the wound, before eliciting a loud jarring beep. “Poison.” The Rune Priest swore, beginning to take some amulets and bones hanging off of his armour, applying them to the wound while uttering a chant.

Leman: “Oh no… no no no…”

“Can’t yer bandage it? Or draw out the poison?” Leman asked with escalating worry. Freki was with him for his entire life. It was a miracle that he was so drawn to Freya even though they shared the same blood. But if he needed to let the old wolf go…

“No Lord Russ.” The Rune priest spoke, even as he reached for some foul smelling oils that would make even the hardiest of the Rout retch. “It isn’t a physical wound.”

“Can yer save him?”

The Rune Priest poked about the wound for a bit, causing the wolf to growl in pain before being comforted by his tiny master. “Perhaps… we need to get him to Macragge as soon as possible. The Librarians there can help me.”

Leman: *Lets out a deep breath* “Thank Fenris…”
Fulgrim: “I wonder if this trip will scar Freya…”

Leman turned to the helm. “Get the damn navigator to get us underway as soon as bloody possible and get us to Macragge!”

A chorus of ayes was his answer. He didn’t much care for them at the moment however as his attention once again turned back to his oldest companion who’s massive head was being cradled by his daughter.

Why did everything have to go to utter shite whenever he needed to travel?! For helvete's sake…

…
Macragge, Fortress of Hera
...​

Aegidius at the moment began to squirm in his mother’s lap. The headache he was suffering from and the unknown pain made him uncomfortable. He couldn’t stop seeing ships… ships stuck in the tides of the warp in his mind, despite being given a dreamless sleep...

Yvraine quickly soothed him, angry that her son kept having moments like this where he was hurt or scared or suffering or-

She swore, she was going to find out how to give her son peace.

“Is he alright?” She heard her husband ask, he was closer now. His approach un-noticed since she was so busy worrying over their son.

“I am merely soothing him. He has been having a terrible headache and I am giving him the peaceful rest he needs and deserves.” She paused, wondering if telling him everything was the right thing to do… According to their human ceremony, she was supposed to be truthful to him so… “His soul has been… strained.”

Magnus: “Yeah… I wonder why…”

He quickly kneeled down beside her, she had been sitting on a set of cushions on the floor with their son. Cushions were so easy, she didn’t understand why everyone had to have a chair for everything, human customs she supposed… He checked over their son, worry evident on his face. “How bad? Is he in pain? Has anything happened to him?”

“No. No, he’s fine now. I calmed him down.” She relaxed, letting him come closer. If it had been anyone else other than him, she would have bared her teeth and growled at them to get back. Well, there were others on a short list who were allowed close to him, but that was beside the point. “He’s asleep.”

The Primarch appeared to relax slightly at that. “Good.”

She glanced at him, looking him over. “I assume your armor is being repaired?”

He slowly nodded. “First opportunity I got to finally shed it in… years. I haven’t had it off since Aegidius was born.”

“I do recall a few times it was off before he was born, you know. How else would he be here?” She snorted at him, cracking a smile at him.

Roboute: *Chokes on the cup of water that he is drinking*
Vulkan: “Oh no.”
Jaghatai: “Father, please skip.”
Emperor: “YEAH, NO. I’M NOT WATCHING YOU TWO FLIRTING WITH EACH OTHER. MAGOS!”
Lehm: “Of course, Omnissiah.”

The projector didn’t stop or skip.

Emperor: “VERY FUNNY, MAGOS. NOW PLEASE, SKIP.”
Lehm: *Presses the rune a few times, but nothing is happening* “O-Omnissiah… I am scared.”
Emperor: “LEHM, PLEASE SKIP-”

“That is- not my point!” He spoke in a slightly louder tone, before mellowing down. “I am sorry… the stress is getting to me these days. I recognized it as a jest, I merely…” He waved a hand, knowing the emotions he was feeling unexplainable to one of her kind.

“Forgive me, I tried to lighten the mood.” Her smile didn’t drop but did lessen as she looked him over again. “You are radiating stress, which is to be expected. I assume you came here to see him as well?”

Emperor: “OH WAIT, NO, CRISIS AVERTED. NO FLIRTING.”
Roboute: “Usually I would say you’re being childish, but… I don’t want my private life being shown to everyone here…”

He looked down at their son, sleeping so peacefully in his mother's lap and allowed a small grin to appear on his tired face. “I have indeed.” He ran his much coarser fingers through his son's curled hair, causing Aegidius to shift closer to them subconsciously. “I do not spend nearly enough time with him these days… I am a terrible father.”

She nodded, that tender look on her face returning as she gently scratched behind Aegidius’ ear. “Neither do I. Trust me, you are not a terrible father. If anything, by Aeldari standards… I am a terrible mother. I have often wondered if my absence hurts him more than he shows. Sometimes I wonder if he has bonded to me enough… Since I cannot peer into his soul…”

“Do not speak such nonsense, Yvraine.” Guilliman chided gently. “You are as good of a mother as you can be. He is obviously utterly taken with you… and me.” He sighed. “And one day I am going to have to take him to war… this boy of ours who I can remember learning how to walk and talk as if it were merely yesterday.”

Roboute: *Groans uncomfortably at that realization*
Magnus: *Wants to comfort him but stays silent, since now is not the time*
Fulgrim: Wants to be there, but is worrying about his own problems*
Jaghatai: *Wondering why he is so concerned, it wasn’t that bad once it happened*
Lion: *Wondering why the fuck he is not training the kid more than he is now*

“Time is a terrible mistress, isn’t she? He’s still so young, if he were full Aeldari, he’d still be learning all about that, he’d still be having trouble with speaking, with walking. Everything does feel as if it is passing too quickly.” She smoothed some of his hair from his face, “How long until he is taken? I still have trouble figuring out how humans age.”

Guilliman took a deep breath before letting out an even deeper sigh. “If the circumstances will allow it… no sooner than fifteen… otherwise… a few years.”

“Fifteen!?” She stopped herself from shrieking at that, doing the math in her mind, she didn’t like the numbers she came up with. “He will barely be older than two cycles! He’d still be… I mean… I don’t…” She trailed off, letting out a growl of frustration. She hated how complicated this gets.

“Time is a terrible mistress.” Her husband spoke, echoing her words from before. “The one advantage to him being part Primarch is that by the age of fifteen if the Apothecaries are correct, his genes will finish driving him to an equivalent of twenty five standard Terran years of age. Along with the Astartes organs that he already has inside of him, they will fully mature at that age.”

“He shouldn’t have to go through all of that. Then again, he shouldn’t have to live in a time like this where we can barely be with him, aren’t there to guide him and can barely feed him.” She let out a long suffering sigh. “If only I could have found the last one, then maybe our enemies would be lessened. But it’s somewhere I can’t get to by myself… I’m sorry.”

“Do not be. It was an inevitability. Father always was going to die at some point or another. Of course, it happened exactly at the worst time possible. Old bastard almost took his Empire to an early grave.” Guilliman scoffed, a frown now appearing on his face, before softening yet again as he looked at Aegidius. “And to think I promised myself that I would be a better father than that bitter, spiteful, ungrateful creator of an Emperor.”

Emperor: *Sputters but then realizes they already went over this once*

“You are. From everything you have talked about and what little I do know, you definitely are better than him. For one thing, you actually remember our son’s name.” She chuckled slightly, enjoying her own jest. “There is nothing wrong with feeling some anger towards our situation.”

“Anger?” Guilliman asked with a dangerous edge surrounding his harmonious voice. “I am not angry at my father, Yvraine. I am furious. And if I ever get my hands on him or have a chance to talk to him ever again, I am going to give him a piece of my mind.”

She nodded, “Forgive me. I’m not trying to lessen your feelings on him. Merely trying to…” She searched for the right word, her ears rotating just slightly as she thought. “... empathize.” She nodded again, “Yes, empathize.”

He nodded back in appreciation. “I suppose you don’t have much to compare it with… so thank you. I appreciate the notion.” He smiled slightly. “You know, all this time we spend separate from one another makes me forget that I do genuinely enjoy your company.”

Jaghatai: “Smooth.”
Emperor: “MAGOS… PRESS THE SKIP RUNE. PLEASE.”
Lehm: “I AM TRYING OMNISSIAH BUT THE MACHINE SPIRIT REFUSES TO LISTEN!”
Ferrus: “Let me try and talk to it! Anything to not watch this!”
Roboute: *Sliding down his throne slightly, trying to hide his face*

She went a little red in the cheeks, ears rotating to capture as much of his voice as possible. She doubted he knew the little ticks she showed. “That’s agreeable. And here I thought you’d have war be your mistress when away from me.” She had no idea why she just felt the need to jest when near him, it made little to no sense. But here she went, another just slipping out. She stiffened when she felt Aegidius snuggle her, suddenly aware that she has their son in her lap.

“I never liked war.” Her husband was quick to respond. “One day, even during the Great Crusade itself, I had hoped that it would be all over so that I could finally retire and govern Ultramar. To see it truly prosper. Maybe even truly settle, get married, have a family…” He let out a mirthless chuckle at the irony of it all. “It appears that I traded. The war only needs me more.” He reached out with a coarse hand, flowing gracefully before trailing it over his wife’s cheek all the while looking in between her and their peacefully sleeping son. “But… I govern Ultramar, and I have a wonderful son and a beautiful wife. Perhaps fate has a cruel sense of humour.”

Ferrus: “Oh… it’s… IT’S REFUSING TO SKIP!?”
Emperor: “WHAT!?”
Jaghatai: “Again brother… surprisingly smooth.”
Roboute: “Thank you, Jaghatai… I really don’t want this to be shown, though…”
Lehm: “YES OMNISSIAH! IT’S REFUSING TO SKIP!”
Emperor: "FERRUS PLEASE YOU'RE OUR LAST HOPE!"
Ferrus: "I will try, Father!"

She wanted to retort but fell silent when she felt his hand on her cheek. She didn’t want to comment on how her soul and heart pounded when he got closer, and how it settled into a calm state when contact was made. Maybe her mother had been right, everything did change when you have made a vow of eternal partnership with someone… She had to calm herself, before speaking, not focus on how she quite liked feeling his hand on her flesh. Could he feel how hot she felt? “If it is cruel, then perhaps it can be forgiving.” She swallowed, knowing it was a coincidence that she leaned a bit closer to his touch. “Ever since I was young, I didn’t think I’d ever find an eternal partner, or settle down. I saw it as something that would drain away my independence. Yet here I am, proven wrong. I have an amazing son who I love with all my heart, and a husband who I...” She trailed off, her face getting a bit too hot. How did she describe these feelings without a full psychic link and the limits of Imperial High Gothic?

Her husband smiled wearily. “I am not going to supplement the word, though there is one that might describe how you feel.” He let out a chuckle. “Though, there is an action which too exists in the culture of the Aeldari and requires no words to be spoken.”

She looked down, back to their sleeping son. “He is right there.” She supplied, suddenly feeling a little giddy when his voice got like that.

Emperor: “YES! HE IS RIGHT THERE! DON’T DO IT!”

“Oh, I am not thinking of that type of intimacy.” He supplied, leaning in slightly closer.

Ferrus: “Oh thank the Machine Spirit for Roboute’s impotence with women…”
Roboute: "Excuse you!"

“Excuse me for not… immediately knowing… what…” She trailed off, even more, her senses going slightly haywire as she felt his breath getting closer to her. She didn’t enjoy the idea of kissing, but… Well… It wasn’t so bad with him… She needed more practice to have a better idea on it and to have a better judgement of- oh… screw it!

The Family collectively: “NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!”
Roboute: "ALL OF YOU ARE CHILDREN!"
Magnus: "Petty children."

She closed the distance between them, feeling his lips come into contact with her own. She felt that shiver ran through her body as that bolt of pleasure ran through her, her senses being overwhelmed with him. They felt rough, yet soft, as if he was waiting for the life giving water after crossing through a desert planet.

He certainly reciprocated and acted like it though. He held her close to him, drinking in the touch and feeling of having her with him. She was impossibly soft to the touch, unlike anything he had ever felt in his life before meeting her. The two of them molded perfectly, lips moving together in a type of dance that could easily become more soft, more intense or even erotic if they so wished.

It felt as if she was drowning, drowning in the feeling of him and her and-

Shit, she had Aegidius on her lap!

But this felt so good… maybe they could leave him sleeping-

The door to Aegidius’ room was suddenly flung open, two guardsmen quickly rushing in, followed by Cato Sicarius and multiple Custodes.

Emperor: “I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD EVER SAY THIS IN MY ENTIRE LIFE BUT… THANK FUCK FOR CATO SICARIUS!”
Angron: "Thank you Cunto Shitarius."

“My lord, I apologise for the disturbance, but these guardsmen-” Began Sicarius, only to wheel to an absolute and sudden stop along with the rest of the people when they saw their Primarch and his wife sucking face over their comatose son.

The two pulled away just a small amount, almost able to fall back in with a single gesture. They did look over Roboute’s shoulder, spying the people who barged in. Maybe if they send them away, and find a way to get Aegidius to stay asleep, they could-

“Roboute Guilliman.” Spoke a frighteningly familiar voice at a time he wanted the least to hear it. The Primarch took a deep breath and turned around to face the man that, of course, would ruin everything.

Roboute: “Wait a second… that can’t be…”

“Eldrad Ulthran.”

Roboute: “Oh shit… it is…”

…
Shrine World Laphis, Guardsmen outpost
...​

Sanguinius: "Ah, and here we see how Eldrad came into all of this."

“Hey, Lucius!” The guardsman from outside the checkpoint yelled at his friend. “Rations are here!”

Lucius, who was lying down on his bunk in the two man outpost in the remote wastes of the Shrine world of Laphis. Guarding a completely unused webway portal.

Lucius liked it here, and his buddy did too. They both requested for a transfer immediately after seeing the… incident of a boy climbing the wall in the dead of the night, they took the most remote, safest and most boring post they could find listed.

No one wanted it for that very reason. No action. No chances of promotion. Low pay. An absolute dead end for anything even resembling a military career.

Angron: “Pussies.”
Corvus: “Now hold on. Maybe they have an alternative reason as to why they joined up.”

However, Titus and Lucius joined up simply because they were promised food, clothing, and shelter above their heads. Both having grown up orphans on the streets of Macragge Magnas Civitas.

Corvus: “See?”
Angron: "Still call them pussies."

And they got all of that here.

With no family to support, and no friends aside from each other. It was perfect.

“What did they send?” Lucius asked, now walking out of the tiny building.

“Oh well, let's see here,” Titus spoke even as he slammed the container down and pried off the lid. “Ohoho… ration bars like always and… oh, holy Emperor- recaff!”

Perking up, Lucius spied the ration, smiling at the most holiest and loved of all rations. Recaff. The blood and spirit of any guardsman. “Oh fucking amazing.” Lucius laughed as he grabbed a packet and went inside to hastily set some water to boil. Life was good.

“Make it strong! I got the bars.” Titus added on as he joined Lucius in the tiny building, sitting down on his bunk and opening two gray looking bars of tasteless nutrients.

“Oh yeah, don’t worry. Three packets.”

Sangunius: “I don't see Eldrad here, just Guardsmen! Why are we watching this again? Why didn’t we stay at the Fortress of Hera!? All the important stuff is there!”
Emperor: “CALM DOWN SANGUINIUS. I’M SURE THAT WE WILL FIND OUT SOON… I’M JUST HAPPY WE MOVED AWAY FROM THAT GOD AWFUL SCENE WITH-”
Roboute: “It’s not like I had a choice in that too you know!”
Emperor: "YOU WERE INTO IT, HUSH."

“Fuck. Never thought I would be happy about joining up with the guard. A month of training hell. All worth it.” Titus rubbed his hands together even as Lucius brought over the recaff in two separate metal cups and they both dunked the ration bars in the recaff. Knowing that they were way too hard to just eat.

Roboute: “A month? A MONTH… HOW!? I? How did the standards drop this low…”
Horus: “I think that is something we are better off not pondering about, lest we want to keep our sanity.”
Lion: "That could account for a lot that happens in these vids, you know."

“These better than the last ones?” Lucius asked, knowing that the previous ones needed to be soaked for an entire hour before they could even bite off a piece.

“Quartermaster said that they are martian stock. Though the dating on it doesn’t give me hope.” Titus answered with a slight shudder.

“Really? How bad?”

“Thirty first millennium bad. Really scraping the bottom.”

Lucius stared at them, looking from different angles as he tried to figure out if they were safe or not. “They are still edible? Hard to believe that…”

“Well, unless your dainty ass wants to go forage, the Quartermaster said that they won’t kill us.”

Family: *Slowly turn to Morty*
Mortarion: “... how the fuck am I supposed to know? I’m not the ration expert!”
Perturabo: "Yeah, but how would a person's-"
Mortarion: "IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING TO NOT EAT EXPIRED RATIONS, THAT'S COMMON SENSE!"
Emperor: "AH YES, THE ELUSIVE SUPERPOWER OF COMMON SENSE. AMAZING."

Okay fine, he had a point. And foraging wasn’t the best job in the galaxy. Why did Titus have to be the voice of reason, it was usually him.

“Ah well, chin up,” Titus spoke up. “We still got the recaff.”

“That we do!” The two clanged their cups together in celebration. It was the little things that made the best memories after all.

They brought the cups of steaming, delicious recaff to their lips. The scent tingling in their noses as they tipped and tasted-

BANG!

...and now their cups fell out of their hands, the recaff spilling around their feet. They both wondered how their luck could possibly have caused something else that was completely weird and crazy to happen around them again.

“What the fuck was that noise?” Titus groaned, looking after his spilled recaff.

“Me, I’m afraid.” A voice as soft and smooth as silk spoke from the entrance of their outpost and the two turned to see an Eldar, dressed in black and white wraithbone armour and wielding a staff.

Emperor: “SEE SANGUINIUS? OUR PATIENCE WAS REWARDED!”
Horus: “In all fairness, it was only after seeing the height of just how far the Imperium’s standards have fallen.”
Lorgar: "Only place we can go now is up."

The two Guardsmen glanced to each other, then back to the Eldar, then back to them, going back and forth so much they began to get dizzy until they had to grab each other to steady each other. They may have spun in place, but only they and the Eldar knew that if it was even true. Once steadied, they wrapped an arm around each other and turned away, whispering to each other.

“Lucius! Is that one of those Crafting Eldar!?” Titus quickly spoke to his friend who poked his head out from their little huddle to look back at the Eldar, who was waiting for their shenaniganry to end.

Magnus: “Did-did he just say ‘crafting’ Eldar? The fuck…”
Jaghatai: “To be fair to the guardsman, they most likely didn’t receive the best education.”
Roboute: “One fucking month…”

“Uhhh… I think so. Did you mean that as a singular or plural, though?” Lucius dived back into their huddle.

“Wait what? Are you sure? Are there more!?”

Lucius poked his head from the huddle again, the Eldar waving at them lightly. Behind him seemed to be a small group of them behind him. He dived back into the huddle, “Yeah, I think that’s plural.”

“Oh my Emperor!” Titus panicked a bit, he was trying to figure out if it was the crafting Eldar or the spiky Eldar they weren’t or were friends with. “Is… Is that a Crafting Eldar?”

“There is no such thing as a Crafting Eldar, humans, just Craftworlders and Bone Singers if you want to be specific.” The Eldar spoke up, unsure if he should be amused with their antics.

Lucius ignored the Eldar and looked him over a few times before going back to Titus, “Yes.”

“Oh my Emperor!” Titus cried out, holding onto Lucius and freaking out, “I thought this was supposed to be a worry free, no work involved, nothing weird happens post!?”

The Eldar sighed, these two idiots weren’t even listening or caring he was there, were they?

Emperor: “... I HAVE NO WORDS.”
Leman: *Is beginning to see the funny side*
Roboute: "I just hope we don't see them again."
"Seeing as how,"
"This is the second time,"
"We have seen them."
Horus: "What do you mean?"
"They were watching,"
"The fortress wall,"
"When Damien,"
"Climbed it."
Horus: "Oh. Oh, they might come back then…"
Roboute: "What!?"
“The vid.”
“Pointed that out.”
“But you.”
“Weren’t paying attention.”
Roboute: "I hate you both."

“Well fuck, we’re in the guard now man, we gotta do something!”

“Shit well… technically that gate is supposed to be inactive.”

“We gotta bring this to the higher ups.”

“Yeah we do. Call it in.”

Horus: “Oh shit, they are actually getting it together.”

“I think they finally may have got it together.” A bone singer leaned into the farseer and whispered, causing the farseer to slowly nod.

Lucius turned around, grabbed his lasgun and spoke. “Hi. I’m Lucius and… Welcome to Imperium Secundus. How can I help you?” Oh for fuck's sake, he panicked and said something a common orator would say to another on a vox call!

One of the Bone singers outright lost it, unable to be around these humans for much longer. The sounds coming from inside the helmet were either muffled laughter or the snapping of patience. The farseer appeared to be less inflicted.

Horus: *Facepalms* “Ughhhh…”
Leman: *Actually cracking up*

“I am Eldrad Ulthean. Farseer of Craftworld Ulthwe.” The farseer spoke. “I have come to talk to Roboute Guilliman, my old friend and trusted acquaintance. Now, please, stop pointing the lasguns at us before I chop off your arms. We mean you no harm.”

“Sorry, sir, bit of a habit.” Titus spoke up, putting his lasgun away. But he did wonder if it was true. Not many people could say they’re friends with Guilli- WAIT HOLD ON! “Hold on, are you sure you’re not lying or-?”

Lucius smacked Titus’ head, “what are you doing!? Don’t make them angry! Speak appropriately and with tact. You need to show that you aren’t a complete pushover.” Lucius cleared his throat before turning to Eldrad yet again. “You wouldn’t happen to mean the Lord Regent would you?”

Horus: “At least they have a modicum of respect and decorum…”

“I would. Though his title and position was Lord Commander last we met. However, he was always the ruler of this realm.”

“Of course, of course, we shall immediately-” Lucius stopped mid sentence. Realizing that the Farseer DID, in fact, refer to THAT Roboute Guilliman. He slowly turned to Titus. “We need to go to headquarters…”

Horus: “No way… no way did they FINALLY get it…”
Roboute: “I think it’s annoying you more than it is me at this point.”

The Bone singer leaned towards Eldrad once again. “By Isha’s beauty… I think they somehow figured it out.”

…​

Lucius let out a deep groan and felt himself sag against the wall even as Titus did the same on the opposite end of the door they were guarding.

They had successfully managed to convince headquarters to send the necessary transport after reporting that in fact, yes, the webway portal had activated, yes, the Eldar were there, and yes, the rations were completely fine and couldn’t cause a hallucinogenic effect. Despite how old they were.

Now they were forced to guard the door while the lieutenant of the garrison talked to the Eldar and supposedly arranged transport back to Macragge for them.

Lucius and Titus meanwhile were simply eager to get back to their remote outpost and brew up another pot of recaff. But no! They had to guard the door, because there weren’t thousands of other guardsman manning the base-

The door suddenly opened and out walked the Lieutenant along with the party of Eldar.

“Ah, guardsman Titus and Lucius.” The two guardsmen in question glanced at each other, dopey looks on their faces, “You two are hereby relegated to escort duty of the Eldar party back to Macragge. You are to see to their safe arrival, and then report the news directly to Lord Guilliman should he wish it as such. Afterwords report to the guard headquarters of Macragge for retasking. Congratulations guardsman, there might be awards for your efforts.”

Titus began to let out a small cry, shoulders shaking as he doubled over crying into his hands. Lucius patted his back, tempted to cry as well.

The Lieutenant sniffed happily, “Always happy to see that there are guardsmen out there who take their duties to heart like you two!”

Corvus: “Oh no…”
Konrad: “What?”
Corvus: “Something tells me that the commander is going to misinterpret most of their actions…”
Leman: "I FUCKING HOPE SO!"

Titus began to cry harder at that. So hard in fact that the lieutenant came over and put a hand on his shoulders. “Your patriotism is inspiring guardsman Titus. And a model of behavior to others. I shall personally send word of your accomplishments ahead to Macragge headquarters.”

“No…” Lucius groaned out between his own sobs now coming up. There goes his hopes of him and Titus having a peaceful service.

“And humble as well.” The lieutenant nodded in approval even as a Valkyrie powered up in the distance.

Corvus: “... or all of them.”
Leman: *Rolling on the floor laughing at the unfortunate fates of the two guardsmen*
Angron: "THAT'S WHAT YOU GET IF YOU RUN FROM THE FRONT LINES ASSHOLES!"

…
Macragge, The Fortress of Hera
...​

Guilliman stood then, raising himself fully to his considerable height and towering over everyone in the room. In the eyes of the Eldar, they did not miss his stance and how he stood as a wall for his family.

“I assume you have come here for a reason?” He asked then.

Eldrad reached up and removed his helmet, showing his surprisingly tired looking face. “I reluctantly have come to evoke the Treaty of Eden and… ask for asylum in your realm.”

Roboute: "Treaty of Eden? Is that what it's called?"
Emperor: "REALLY. REALLY. REALLY GOING FOR THE FULL SYMBOLISM, AREN'T THEY? GARDEN OF EDEN MY ASS. GOING SO FAR AS, JUST… UGH."
Roboute: “What? Who? What are you talking about!? Eden is the name of a moon in Ultramar. The treaty was most likely signed there because it is on the outskirts.”
Rogal: “Father. Are you already going senile in your old age?”
Emperor: "FUCK THE UP SHUT ROGAL!"
Rogal: "That made no sense-"
Emperor: "PERTURABO!"
Perturabo: *Smacks Rogal*

Guilliman nodded at this, turning back to his family behind him. Spying on his sleeping son and his wife who was fanning herself, he made the decision to move this meeting. “Follow me, then. I assume you are quite aware of how angry Eldar mothers get when anyone interrupts their child’s sleep.”

Eldrad looked by Guilliman then and spotted the Prophet of Ynnead along with their surrogate offspring. He did have to have a moment of pause, as he noticed how the child’s soul shone beyond brightly. “Indeed.” He said, nonchalantly. “Let us move to a place more adequate for our negotiations.”

He led them from the chamber, Roboute did sneak a glance back at Yvraine and Aegidius, watching how serene they looked. Almost as if tempting him to go back and forget negotiations. He turned away and continued on, leading the Eldar entourage and… Apparently a pair of guardsmen as well?

Horus: “Oh fuck, they came along!?”
Leman: *Full on chuckling again* “I fookin’ love these two.”

As they walked the halls, he saw how the other members of the entourage studied their surroundings. Many appeared to scoff or dismiss the things going on around them, no doubt they were criticizing the culture and architecture… again, like all craftworlders before them. Why couldn’t they be more like their exodite cousins? Accepting and simply grateful to be alive and have shelter?

After walking down the hall, they arrived in the dining hall in which all present Primechildren took their meals. It was lavish and big enough to host the craftworlders without offending or demeaning them.

“Please.” Guilliman pointed to the chairs surrounding the tables even as he sat at the head on a massive throne sized chair himself.

The Eldar delegation did so, however, the two Guardsman came by after arguing about who would report to him apparently. The one with the blonde hair stepped forwards before saluting. “Lord Regent, we have been ordered to report to you under the command of Lieutenant Dorax of the Shrine World, Laphis. Main garrison.”

Roboute turned un-interestingly at them. “Indeed. And what about?”

“About how the Eldar delegation came through the webway gate, sir-my lord.” The blonde one continued to speak even as Guilliman sighed and looked back at said delegation. He was about to dismiss the two even as an aid came and whispered into his ear about the two Guardsman's lieutenant sending a hymnal of how patriotic and dutiful the two apparently were.

Horus and Roboute: *Facepalm*

“Sir, news, the Shrine World took a hit from a trail of Daemons following the Eldar host. It has been dealt with by a nearby Squad of Ultramarines. However, the garrison there has been hit heavily, particularly the NCO’s and below, and is being rotated back here to Macragge in order to refit and refill its ranks.”

Guilliman nodded along, before glancing at the two guardsmen who were still standing at attention. Though he did not know it, but the two were torn between sighing in relief at leaving the warzone before it got worse, and the idea that they were about to be given a worse assignment.

“A lack of NCO’s you say?”

“Yes my lord.”

Horus: “Brother… no…”
Roboute: “It’s the future me Horus! I can’t do anything!”
Leman: *Full on laughing yet again*

“Indeed.” Guilliman spoke, turning his full attention to the two Guardsman. “Your exploits and patriotism is commendable. And I have just received word of an opening in the regiment that you serve.” He turned to his aid. “These two will replace the vital missing cogs, I hereby raise both of you to the ranks of Sergeant. You are to stay stationed here on Macragge as your regiment rotates back in for refit and I expect you to fulfill your new duties of training the recruits well. Dismissed.”

Leman: “A-a promotion!? Hahaha!”

Titus and Lucius both began to curse their luck, but then thought… well… They weren’t leaving Macragge, just training people. It wasn’t so bad. Maybe they could live a life in the rear and not see battle anymore! But what if… What if the prince caused another daemonic incursion? They saluted at the Lord Regent and left to escape into their new fate. Maybe they could enjoy some time in peace and quiet…

The Bone Singer leaned towards her fellow Guardian, quietly speaking up to him, “Should we tell him that they are a couple of cowards?”

The Guardian shook his head just barely, not wanting to correct the man who was literally holding their fate in his hands.

Guilliman turned back to the, now seated, delegation.

“You have invoked the Treaty of Eden, thus, you are privy to it with full rights pertaining to your situation. But must first be aware of its statues and agreed upon rules.”

Eldrad simply nodded and waved a hand for Guilliman to continue.

“As agreed upon in the treaty. You are being granted Asylum immediately in the area of Imperium Secundus without question. With the granting of that asylum, you also agree upon the following of Ultramar law to its fullest effect and are expected to assimilate into society.” He looked at every single Eldar at the table. “Do you agree thus far?”

Emperor: *Nodding approvingly* “GOOD TERMS, SO FAR.”

Eldrad was ready for this and agreed, his entourage all had varying degrees of acceptance, while a couple stubbornly stayed quiet. They were all aware of how much the Treaty favoured the Imperium, even if they were the ones to help Humanity during their worst moment. Some were still of the opinion that it was one Eldar woman who agreed to this and them following the Treaty was akin to bending over for the mon’keigh.

But what could they have done? In the end, the Eldar were the ones more desperate for their assistance, especially after the silent year. And in reality, it was as fair as it could be…

“So be it. Continuing onward, Farseer Eldrad will be granted quarters here in the Fortress of Hera as pertains to his rank of Farseer and being apart of the Seer council aboard Craftworld Ulthwe. The rest shall be handed positions either elsewhere or given task and jobs in the Aeldari sections of Macragge Magnas Civitas.” Roboute waved over a serf who activated a hololith embedded into the table that projected a map of said city that had been updated every month or so. “You are free to venture between the two sides, as many of your brethren have so far.”

They studied the hololith, noting how disorganized and dare they even call it, haphazardly made the living blocks were. Some were doubting if this was for the best or not, others wondered if taking their chances out in the wilds was better. The few who didn’t have their helmets on envied the ones who did, since their distress was starting to creep onto their sharp features.

Rogal: “The design irks my soul.”
Perturabo: “And mine.”
*At this, the back door opened, and in came a Custodes for the Emperor, but he took one look at the screen and nearly screeched. He thought it was the ugliest design he had ever seen and as a master war mason, it insulted his very soul! He promptly turned straight around, waving his hands and shaking his head violently all the while turning his flamer on to find some poor combat servitors to incinerate*
Emperor: *Winces* “HE REALLY DIDN’T NEED TO SEE THAT…”

“Only marginally better than the webway. But it will do.” Eldrad spoke.

“Good.” Guilliman confirmed. “Then there is only the matter of your position in all of this Farseer.”

Eldrad straightened, knowing it was time for the real negotiations. “Continue, please.”

“As it so happens. We are currently lacking a position for the Prince’s tutor on his studies of the Warp and his psychic prowess from the Aeldari’s side.”

Jaghatai: “You are far too smooth for your own good in this chapter, brother.”
Roboute: “I… try?”

So. A glorified babysitter for the surrogate spawn of the Prophet and the Lord Regent. How far he has fallen, to having to teach a child how to use their powers. But he did recall how the child shone, recalling more of how the seers prophesied that He-Who-Shines-Brightest would emerge during the darkest of times between humanity and Aeldari. He sat back, fingertips creating a web on his lap, “Ah, so I am to become a tutor to a small child on the mysteries of the warp? Shall I send you my resume in my extensive years on the Path of the Educator? References as well?”

Guilliman leaned back into his throne. “It would be very helpful. Of course, as his father, I am relegated to inform you that the Prince is the living embodiment and host of the Astronomicon.” He spoke with a smile.

Emperor: “AH, REMINDS ME OF WHEN ELDRAD WAS FRIENDS WITH ME AND EVERYONE ELSE. ALWAYS MADE SURE TO GET A PICT OF HIM IN THOSE AWFUL SWEATERS. BUT IT IS GOOD TO SEE HIM ACTUALLY JOKING WITH ROBOUTE THERE.” *thinks* Maybe I should… Or no…? Maybe?
Sanguinius: “Sweaters…?”
Fulgrim: “What…?”

Eldrad nodded dramatically, “I see. That is why he shines as brightly as a giant lit beacon used to guide ships through the great sea of the Warp. Never would have guessed.”

“I suppose you never would have guessed that he has the power, when pushed to a breaking point, to re-route the Astronomicon and make it a physical projection outside of his body, causing massive warp tears and anything it hits to be killed immediately, its soul being vaporized.” Roboute thought for a second before clicking his tongue as if he forgot something barely worth mentioning, “That being his last tutor.”

Emperor: “WELL… I DID MAKE THE THING POWERFUL.”

“So the Astronomicon that you use to guide ships through the warp is stuck on the soul of a child who looks to be only barely out of his first cycle, that when he gets to a point, projects it in the materium causing warp tears and the vaporization of those who meet his ire?” Eldrad summarized as his entourage behind him shared horrified glances, now suddenly realizing how much danger they were in.

“Indeed. He is also extremely clumsy and when his emotions get pushed to a certain edge, has the ability to summon daemons by accident.”

At this point, many of the Eldar were wondering if it was too late to run for the wild space and try their luck in Tau space. They heard it was practically free real estate there what with all the dead Tau and all the free worlds ripe for picking. That is of course if one ignored the massive presence of the Plague Marines, Orks and sleeping Tyranids. All the while, Eldrad felt a large grin grow on his face, this was a very interesting development. One he was beyond glad to be a part of. “After raising three full Aeldari children to adulthood, I don’t see much wrong here. Sounds wonderful! When do I start?”

Emperor: *Whispers* “IT’S FREE REAL ESTATE.”
Mortarion: “Ah… the Tau got munched. Good.”
Lion: “Yes, the fish men. None of us even cared about them, so nothing of value was lost. Not like they were important or anything.”
Horus: “Well, there was that one… Faring? Fairing?”
Magnus: “Commander Farsight?”
Horus: “Yeah! That guy! Wonder if he made it.”
Lion: “I doubt it.”

The Eldar delegation felt their jaws drop, was he insane!?

“Right away, so you can finally be of some use.” Guilliman said, not being able to take it anymore as he finally began to laugh. Eldrad began to laugh as well, the two of them full on enjoying the reunion.

“I admit, I was surprised, but it is elating to be on good terms with your family again.”

“Same to you, old friend.” Guilliman nodded as they all stood.

“To a brighter future then.” Eldrad spoke, reaching out and shaking the Lord Regents hand.

“To a brighter future.” Guilliman echoed as the vid shut off.

The vid clicked empty, the feed dying away as Lehm began the cleaning rituals. He also did take time to run some diagnostics, wondering if the machine spirit was displeased, or if there was something wrong with the projector. It was definitely not made for playing interdimensional vids of the future, and it played a lot of them over these past seven weeks...

“WOW. DID THAT ONE DRAG ON FOREVER.” The Emperor groaned, rubbing at his face exasperatedly. He was so done with everything so far.

“What are you talking about?” Magnus intervened. “It was like an hour at most.”

“THE VID YEAH, US TALKING… MUCH LONGER.”

“No… not really…?” Magnus supplied, eye squinting at his father as he tried to understand what made him antsy and angry this time. But well, to be fair, there was Roboute sucking face, infant torture, and extremely incompetent guardsman with Aeldari arrogance. And Eldrad. Perhaps there was only so much their father could take in one day.

"Father," Horus spoke up, "A Custodes came in earlier, but ran off not long after he came in. Do you think he had anything important to say to you?"

The Emperor waved it off, not getting up from his throne. He was comfy. "DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT, HORUS. IF IT WAS URGENT, THEY WOULD HAVE SPOKEN UP ANYWAY AND TOLD ME." He shrugged, "WHAT PART DID HE RUN FROM, EXACTLY?"

Rogal was the one to answer, "It was the part where future Roboute showed the Aeldari entourage the hololith of Macragge Magnas Civitas. My normal calm was interrupted by the terrible planning and lack of foresight in the planning of the city. He ran out at this part, due to his nature as a master warmason like myself and Perturabo."

Perturabo blinked and eyed Rogal shrewdly, "You actually complimenting me?"

"Yes." Rogal intoned, "He hated it as much as we did and retreated to most likely take his rage out on some combat servitors."

The Emperor nodded, of course Rogal would be the one to know. "I SEE. I WILL CHECK ON HIM LATER THEN. ON THAT NOTE, ROBOUTE, MAGNUS. GET TO WORK!"

The two aforementioned Primarchs glanced at each other before towards their father. "Yes?"

"YOU TWO COMPLAINED THE MOST ABOUT THE PILES BEING DISORGANIZED. SO, HOP TO IT! YOU TWO CAN PICK THE NEXT ONE WE WATCH! AND MAKE IT SNAPPY, PRECIOUS HAWK BOY CAN'T STAND NOT GETTING HIS BINGING CONTENT."

Sanguinius blushed at this as Roboute and Magnus let out long suffering sighs and went to work. Sanguinius definitely did not have a problem with wanting to see the next piece of content. At all. He just... hated cliffhangers. That's all.

He doesn't have a problem.

 

[DuskDawnAndFate]

“You know,” Magnus started after a minute or so on the floor with Roboute, organizing the piles, “Any of you could get up and help?”

“If ah get down on the fookin floor, ah’m not gettin back up.” Leman shot back to Magnus who let out an exaggerated sigh, of course, the canid wouldn’t want to be productive.

“Oh, of course. Dogs really do enjoy being on the floor, you know.” Magnus snickered as Leman let out an ‘Oi!’ and how he wasn’t a canid, which was promptly ignored by the nerd himself.

“Will you two stop? It’s already bad enough that we have even more vids appearing and we have to organize them.” Roboute rolled his eyes, “and apparently it’s up to us because we complained about it.” He was already going through multiple stacks, in order of timeline, child and which ones have been watched, skipped and so on. He was already building up a personal pile of vids about Aegidius that he was eager to watch by himself since they were in the earlier years and he was positive no one would want to watch baby vids.

“RIGHT YOU ARE, BOBBY BOY.” The Emperor spoke up, enjoying a nice drink he got sent up from the bars. He always did love his Rum and Coke. Well, kinda. Never will get the exact taste and recreation of it, but well, it was good enough now with regular soda. “HOW IS THAT GOING, BY THE WAY? FABULOUS HAWKBOY NEEDS HIS CONTENT AND EVERYONE IS JUST WAITING ON YOU TWO.”

Magnus let out another exaggerated sigh, “Well, Father, we are manually sorting through them because you are too lazy to do it yourself. So until anyone else wants to help, we will sit here and take our sweet time.” He then thought about it, tapping his chin with a vid in a theatrical way, “I think this may just end up taking up so much time, it could take us days to file them all…”

“You may be right, brother.” Roboute spoke up, scowling at the Emperor, who frowned at their antics. “Taking care of the logistical network of the Great Crusade has most likely burned out all of my expertise. I believe sorting through about two hundredish vids from a transdimensional chest from the future has finally broken my spirit.”

There were some snickers from the rest of the brothers, their sense of humor has definitely been freed over the course of seven weeks. Their father also snickered at that, “WELL, IF YOUR SPIRIT IS BROKEN BY JUST SORTING SOME VIDS, I WONDER HOW WELL YOU HAVE BEEN CARING FOR THE CRUSADE.”

“Absolutely horribly.” Roboute joked. “Why do you think it all hasn’t come crashing to the ground with all of us here?”

Sanguinius watched this and wondered how he could help, but also was eager to get more content. He liked watching the vids and was always eager for the next one to be played. No, he didn’t have a problem, he just loved spending time with his brothers and father and eating snacks and watching vids and not working. Baal didn’t need much maintenance after all and at this point, the Legion essentially managed itself especially since they were all more or less on garrison duty anyway. “Have you found one to play yet?”

“Which one?” Lorgar asked. “There are so many of them.”

“Well.” Roboute piped up. “This one did stand out.” He pulled out a completely black holotape that had the words ‘I hate you, you good for nothing, shit for all, worthless gladiator. I hope this shit helps you get your crap together and stop decimating my brothers and blaming it on the nails. Asshole.’ in red letters all over the holotape. The ‘asshole’ part was bolded and underlined so many times, that there was visible wear into the plastek housing of the tape. It looked like they carved that word in as deep as they could into the plastek without harming the vid.

The entire family slowed turned to Angron, expecting him to be mad with rage, only to find him… remorseful?

“He did not fucking live.” He stated, sounding as if he wanted to convince himself more than anything. “Whoever sent that, isn’t him.”

“Well I have to be honest here, brother.” Lorgar piped up once more. “You don’t exactly have the best relationship with your legion. You have to stop decimating them.”

Angron grumbled and merely looked away, appearing to still be lost in thought. He really didn’t want to revisit old memories and lost chances.

“Lorgar is correct brother,” Horus added in. “They love you as their own father and have done nothing other than attempting to appease you. You must stop this foolishness.”

Angron whirled around on the Warmaster. “I wouldn’t do it in the first fucking place if I didn’t want to command them! It’s not like I was given a choice in the first place! A slave to the fucking last!”

Mortarion in the back raised a mug to this, enjoying some of Leman’s foul ale. He knew he needed a drink for this one so he was prepared. “Neither did I!”

“I will give you that.” Horus nodded. “But it is still not their fault-”

“WELL, TECHNICALLY. IT IS.”

“Wait, what?” Horus asked in surprise.

“I DID GO AND ASK ANGRON TO JOIN THE GREAT CRUSADE. BUT I DIDN’T ACTUALLY TELEPORT HIM UP. THAT WAS HIS SONS, THE WARHOUNDS. THEY GOT SLIGHTLY OVERZEALOUS AND IMPATIENT. I WAS ACTUALLY PLANNING ON TAKING OVER NUCERIA SO THEY COULD FINALLY HAVE A HOMEWORLD SINCE ANGRON WAS QUITE CLEARLY IN THE PROCESS OF DOING SO HIMSELF.”

“Wait, so why didn’t you do it after?” Lorgar asked, as equally surprised as Horus.

“WELL FIRST OF ALL: ANGRON SLAUGHTERED ALL THE LEGIONARIES RESPONSIBLE BEFORE DECIDING HIMSELF TO SIMPLY JOIN THE CRUSADE AND MOVE ON.”

Roboute from the floor sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose as Magnus shook his head, it was a bad idea to bring up that vid. They were just going to sort these and hope everyone would just ignore the vid.

“Don’t pin this one on Angron father!” Lorgar stood up for his brother. “You should have helped him make the choice, the nails clearly make him-”

“There was nothing left for me on Nuceria. There IS nothing left for me on Nuceria.” Angron ground out between clenched teeth. Painful memories coursing through his brain, making the nails bite even harder.

The family went silent for a second even as Roboute turned the vids over in his hands. “Clearly… there is.” He elaborated on his thoughts, showing the holovid.

“She’s not ALIVE!” Angron suddenly roared, grabbing his head a second later as the nails bit back with the power a thunder hammer.

“Who brother?” Lorgar asked tenderly beside his brother’s throne, putting a caring hand on Angron’s shoulder.

“It doesn’t fucking matter because SHE’S DEAD!” He bellowed even as he leant back on the throne, teeth clenched and eyes closed, not wanting to remember anything about that part of his life. “And him with her. The kid died with her. The baby died with her… THEY’RE DEAD!” He screamed again, struggling with both physical and psychological pain at relieving the memories as old scars he thought long accepted or forgotten came surging back and revealing on just how tender and sore they still were.

The family stared in silent shock. Never before had they seen Angron like this. So utterly… broken and dismayed. What could have-

“Angron had a significant other who he sired a child with. Both of whom perished in his rebellion. Most likely sometime before father came along.” Rogal spoke up, for once being helpful with his ‘obvious’ assumptions.

“Brother.” Lorgar whispered. “Is this true?”

His only answer was Angron slamming his head a few times into the headrest of his throne. So hard in fact that the metal had bent with a very visible indent. “YES!” He groaned out before leaning forward and leaning into his arms, desperately fighting back the bite of the nails as it only got harder. “There is nothing for me. Nothing.”

To the family… this was not Angron. This wasn’t the raging berserker of a gladiator they all knew… Watching him show so much regret and despair deeply disturbed them.

“I think we should watch it.” Sanguinius spoke. “At the very least it might bring Angron some closure in his life-”

“Closure?” Angron ground out, anger seeping in, “Closure? I don’t need closure! I just wanted to get away from that fucking planet and everything they did to me, to my family, to my people! None of you know how horrible it was there! None of you! Do you think I’m bad enough with the nails? I’m nothing compared to what the fucking High-Riders saw as ‘normal’!” He spat that last word, the foul taste in his mouth making him relive every single incident he had to live through on that planet.

“ANGRON, I UNDERSTAND YOU WENT THROUGH A HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE ON THERE, BUT THE PAST IS THE PAST-” The Emperor attempted to defuse the situation but was interrupted by Angron’s snarling, seething voice.

“Horrible experience!? I went through a ‘HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE’!? If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t be in this fucked up place! I should have died on Nuceria! I should have died fighting against those slaving assholes! The fucking High-Riders deserved to have me tear them to pieces! After what they did to me, did to her, did to everyone!” He turned to Magos Lehm, “play the fucking vid!”

“Angron, hold on, please consider that watching this while you are angry isn’t such a good idea…” Lorgar tried to reason.

“No.” He turned back to the Emperor, “I want you to sit there and watch it. Look at everything Nuceria has done. I want you to see how fucking far they went. It wasn’t a ‘horrible experience’ it was pure humiliation! If this vid shows off what I think it’s going to show, then you are going to sit there and watch… every… single… detail…” If looks could kill, the Emperor would have been interred on the golden throne by now. “Play it.”

The Magos slowly turned to the Emperor who had an inquisitive look on his face. Fine, if Angron wanted him to watch it, then he’ll do it.

“SO BE IT. PLAY THE VID.”

Roboute and Magnus returned to their thrones, both exchanging a look of, ‘this is going to be a disaster’. The rest of the brothers also joined in on this look, they knew Nuceria was bad, but how bad did it get? Some really didn’t want an answer to that question.

...​

I’m sorry I’m so useless. I’m worth nothing, and I am nothing. I am only good at two things.

Being a pleasure slave, and being able to always smile.

I don’t have a name, only a title.

Sleeve.

But you gave me a new purpose. I felt like I had awoken from a long sleep I didn’t know I was in, that the nightmare of captivity and suffering I lived in was behind me.

Because of you, I was able to be strong.

Because of you, I now had a name.

Because of you, I was able to learn.

Because of you, I saved lives.

Because of you, I lived a wonderful life.

Because of you, I finally knew what love was.

Angron: *Has a faraway look on his face* “...I’m sorry.” *Winces and looks away as the nails bite*

…
914.M30 - Nuceria, The Slave Markets
...​

Keep your head down, don’t look at anyone unless spoken to. If spoken to, have a smile on your face, no matter what. You are there to pleasure and serve, you have no other reason for living. That is your life.

She remembered what the matron told her, the matron of the pleasure slaves of Desh’ea. The matron taught her how to be a good pleasure slave, how you must always be docile, always be willing, always ready to be used. Be good, and they most likely wouldn’t hurt you.

The footage was of Nuceria, Desh’ea to be exact, with it’s white and blue masonry styled buildings and winding streets with a mixture of finely dressed nobility and lesser nobility, and the violent difference between them and the common citizenry. Most regular people wore less than stellar robes, not even counting the people who obviously were slaves, anyone could tell from the collars and shackles they wore, and how some were as nude as the day they were born. From the mid to high vantage of the footage, it was obviously a flying type of security footage of the city.

Angron: “...The Maggot’s Eyes…”
Ferrus: “...w-what’s the Maggot’s Eyes?”
Angron: “Security. Kept the slaves in line. Let the fucking High-Riders watch everything so they don’t have to leave their precious fucking homes...”

She winced slightly as she walked behind her master, a collar around her neck and a loincloth was all she wore in the hot sun of Nuceria. On her side was a huge bruise that was dark and ugly on her skin, it hurt to move that area, and made her want to curl up and sleep. Her collar was attached to a leash held onto her master, he was holding onto two leashes with two girls following him. Both girls wore the same thing, with only differences in their face, skin, hair and other superficial traits. But they both had the same look on their faces.

Completely empty eyes with not a shred of hope in them, eternally downcast as they followed after their master.

The wind blew and danced around her skin, making her shiver from being so exposed in a highly crowded area. The long loincloth barely hid anything, and the wind only helped show the bare skin underneath. She could feel the eyes of the people all over her exposed body. She long ago lost any sense of shame, how could you feel something if it was your life? If you knew nothing else? If you thought that it was the norm?

She was just glad to be here in the slave markets. Here, she was free from any groping hands. If anyone touched them, they were liable to lose their life, or worse, become a punishment slave or merely be harvested for anything of value. That was the only mercy she had as a pleasure slave to the young lord Thal’kr.

She couldn’t imagine what it was like to be a lower pleasure slave, living in the city or in the pits. What it must be like to have the pleasure pins shoved into your head, making you into a mindless sex-crazed hussy who couldn’t live if they weren’t being used, meant to forever be bred by other slaves and gladiators until they withered away or died after too many births. She was glad to be beaten, hurt, used and passed around in the Thal’kr Estate if it meant she never had to have the pins. At least that way she could think about something other than giving pleasure to other people.

Roboute: “This is… disgusting.”
Angron: “Take a good fucking look. Nuceria was always about degrading, humiliating and destroying innocent people. Like what you see!?”
Roboute: “What? No! Why would I? This looks like some sick and perverted fantasy of a society! I would never endorse something like this brother!”
Angron: *Pauses, then looks away*

She felt her master stop, they were in the middle of the markets now, there was a chorus of voices around her, all were bidding for the newest stock on the stage, being shown off and given a slave objective. Pleasure, Punishment, Gladiator or Cattle. Always one of the four.

Men, women, children, no one was free from the status of slave. Each stock would have a collar and shackles on, completely nude so the seller may show off how fit, how beautiful or how easily they could be hurt. Multiples at a time, all on stage with countless cages filled with the dead-eyed stock who had given up hope, those that screamed to the sky and demanding ‘why’ and even some that plead for freedom. Some would even beg for favors, bartering their family members if it meant they could escape. It wasn’t uncommon for a mother to offer her child if it meant she didn’t have to be sold. And all of this was drowned out by the auctioneer, who frequently joked as sold the stock, all to the laughing, bidding audience.

Vulkan: *Eye twitching in a very violent manner as it takes every bit of his will to control himself*
Horus: “I would usually keep this to myself, but this is rapidly making me lose any tolerance I might have had for these people.”
Angron: “This is normal for Nuceria. Normal…” *spits to the side* “Fucking bottom-feeding maggots…”
Konrad: “It makes me want to flay every single one of those slaving bastards alive.”
Angron: “I wanted to kill all of them! But you all saw how that went! And the planet is still being protected by the law of Imperial Compliance… so I just avoid it. I don’t want anything to do with that place.”

Her master was bidding, but she was not meant to listen, they were never meant to listen. Merely pay attention to if they were summoned. They simply kept their heads down and stayed silent behind him, they had no say in any of this. It was not their business.

Breeder, beside her, was standing still, she never said a word, not that they were expected to. They often were next to each other, being the favored two of the young lord. Yet they never said a word to each other in the years they knew each other.

She ignored Breeder, thinking back on the lessons that Matron had taught them, even if she knew them by heart, she would often think back on them. Anything to distract her from the reality of her life. She wanted to be a good slave. One that didn’t get kicked, or have iho-sticks burned into her skin, or have her hair pulled until it ripped out by the roots, or have them stab her until they had enough. She would be better, so they wouldn’t do it anymore.

Hands folded together, right in front of you, but not like you are trying to shield yourself. You must look pleasing and presentable, docile and feminine. Do not cover your chest, it is there to be seen and enjoyed, fondled and used. You are not human, you are whatever they call you. And you are called Sleeve.

Matron was always right, even when she got old and was only useful for bookkeeping and training all of the young girls and boys to be turned into pleasure slaves. Matron taught them what their life was going to be like, better to be a pleasure slave than a cattle slave, a gladiator slave or a punishment slave. It was better to be a good pleasure slave than a dead slave. Matron was always right.

Mortarion: “I would take death over slavery.”
Angron: “Death or freedom…”
Mortarion: “After going through hell. There is barely a difference between the two.”

“Come along, Sleeve, Breeder.” The young lord called to them, the sounds of the markets bleeding back into her mind. She had been so deep in her mind, that so much time had passed that the markets were noticeably thinner. The auctions must have been over for the day. The cages were completely empty of all stock after all. She hoped it would have been longer, so it would have been a long time of not being used. To give her bruise time to heal-

A tug and they followed him dutifully, the eyes following her journey. She barely stopped herself from wincing as she irritated the bruise. It didn’t use to hurt this bad but Master was angry last night and swung a bit too hard and cracked a rib.

Lion: “Hitting a woman that can’t even fight back. What kind of pathetic excuse of noble filth is that?”
Angron: “A High-Rider. Trust me, they saw all of them as less than dirt. A slave is nothing to them.”
Jaghatai: “By the laws of Chogoris. I cannot kill them directly.”
Lorgar: “That’s-”
Jaghatai: “So I would conveniently let them fall into a cauldron of boiling oil and let them cook until their skin slips off of their worthless corpses.”
Emperor: “I KNEW I DIDN’T MISPLACE THE GENGHIS DNA…”

He took them deeper into the city, his clean and crisp dress robe flowing elegantly behind him as they walked the paved roads, being careful to avoid any and all filth littering them, hoping to keep herself clean for her Master. The last time she had accidentally trodden through a decomposing body that was left there as a warning for errant slaves.

Oh, Master did not like that one bit… she was sent to have a bath in ice-cold water and scrubbed so hard every single bit of her skin felt as if it was burning... The sky was darkening, shouldn’t they be getting back to the estate? She didn’t mind not being there, out here, she just had to walk and stand. She wasn’t being told she was useless and having all of the things that her Master would do to her when they got back described in vivid detail, so it was a good walk.

Magnus: “Wait, I just remembered. Wasn’t Corvus-” *Turns around to look at his brother only to see a seething shadow like mass emitting pure and utter hatred through the warp. “... yeah, fair enough…”
Corvus: “...they broke them so far that they enjoy being treated like dogs…”

Outside was better. She hoped she could get a walk in every now and then if it meant that.

She smelled the scent of blood in the air, her head just barely raising to see her surroundings.

This was the arena of Desh’ea, where the blood games were held.

Why were they here?

Did the young lord buy more gladiator slaves? Did he have business here? She hated coming here, she hated watching the gladiator fights, they could barely be called that since it was more about them surviving against whatever was thrown in. Even then, she barely ever watched a full fight, since she was too busy being used.

The young lord loved the fights, he always loved watching the blood fly. He even made her watch without being used at times… so he could play the victor later on. The only difference was that the swords, maces, and daggers were swapped out for whips, switches, and shockers.

Leman: “I would like to set these so-called ‘lords’ loose on Fenris. Then hunt them down. One by one. And break every. single. Bone. in their worthless bodies.”
Magnus: “Brother… for once we agree.”
Fulgrim: “I do believe I have not felt such disgust in… ever.”

She felt a phantom pang on her head, all of them where she lost patches of hair from when he would get frustrated with her. But with how dark it was, there shouldn’t be any survival matches going on. So why was she here with the young lord?

They entered into the arena, but they went downwards, not upwards to the stands. The smell that hit her nose made her stiffen as she followed the young lord. The smell of sweat, blood, feces, urine and rotting bodies. It made her skin crawl, it made her want to turn around and run away. She wanted to go back to the estate!

But the young lord was going there, and he would do horrible, terrible things if she didn’t do what he wanted. Only the worst punishments were reserved for runaways… So she would step down into hell itself after him.

She just desperately hoped it wasn’t what she thought it was going to be.

Please… Whatever is out there…

Please don’t let her die down here.

Please, send an angel for her.

Sanguinius: “Alright, Angron, you made your point to Father. Can turn this off now?”
Angron: “No. I want him to watch all of it.”
Lorgar: “Brother… are you sure it is because of father?”
Angron: *Looks away* “Yes…”
Lorgar: *Thinks otherwise but says nothing*
Emperor: “DON’T WORRY. I’LL WATCH ALL OF IT. SO YOU CAN FINALLY SEE THAT I’M TRYING TO FIX THINGS, ANGRON.”

…​

“Lord Thal’kr! Such a pleasure to see you here!” A fat, sweating, man in robes greeted the young lord, but didn’t dare to offer his hand to him. The fat, bald, sweaty man instead clasped his hands together, rubbing his palms, still attempting to look presentable, despite being down in the pits with it’s acrid and stale air and heated yet still cold stillness. He was so delighted to have the young lord here! He was such a wonderful, high paying patron to the arenas! And he often brought the best slaves from the markets directly to him!

Angron: “It’s him… fucking him…”
Lorgar: “Who?”
Angron: “The piece of fucking shit who ‘bought’ me. Both of them.”

“Ah, Killian. So nice to be face to face with you. I must say, the show you put on with your gladiators was quite the spectacle.” The young lord grinned widely at his… benefactor. The shows were always a great thing to watch. And quite pleasing even… arousing. “You have been putting my money and my slaves to good use?”

“But of course, Lord Thal’kr! I train them thoroughly! I am ever your patron and your benefactor! Always happy to live my life to serve to you your entertainment!”

She could feel the oil coming off of this large tub of a man, his voice silky smooth as he buttered up the young lord so obviously and badly that even she and Breeder could feel it. She could hear and feel the pure animosity of the slaves around her, the ones barely conscious directed their hate at this fat man who cooed at the young lord. And if they weren’t looking at him with sheer abhorrence, then they were looking at them with pure unfiltered lust. Many of them most likely haven't seen a woman… well ever. Much less got to hold or copulate with-

Please, please don’t let what she thinks is going to happen, happen!

Please, send an angel to save her!

Fulgrim: “I believe I am going to vomit from the sheer sight of even thinking about this.”
Sanguinius: “I’m close to that as well.”

“Indeed you are. Indeed you are. And I am here to reward you for your efforts.” The lord Thal’kr spoke silkily, pulling the leashes forward and making the two women behind him step forward. “For all of your hard work, I am allowing you full use of two of my favored pleasure slaves. As a reward for everything you have done so far.”

She felt her heart drop, she couldn’t count how many men and even women that were practically licking their chops at them both. And that wasn’t even counting the look they were getting from Killian. He was practically manic with his want for them.

Please, god! Please no!

A tug. She didn’t want to. She wanted to run. To turn and run as fast as her legs could carry her… but her body moved by itself. She walked, and the lord Thal’kr made them stop in front of Killian, but by his side still.

A hand came up to their chins, making them look up at the fat, sweaty and oily man who had so many rolls of fat on his body, he looked like he was practically melting. “On my left, is Breeder. She is about twenty-two now, obedient and very quiet. Never makes a peep. She actually has a problem, never bleeds every month and can’t carry, but means you don’t have to be careful either. Use her all you want, never have to deal with unwanted consequences. And clean too. Not a single scar on her face, or body. Keep it like that if you can.” His right hand, made her look up at the man. She remembered her lessons and plastered a smile on her face. “On my right, is Sleeve. Not very bright, dumber than a mule in fact, but always smiles and is the most resilient pleasure slave I have. Not very common to have a perfect pleasure and punishment slave all in one. Doesn’t make a peep, no matter how hard I go at her. She’s younger, about seventeen now, had her for a good number of years now. She can take whatever you throw at her and still keep smiling. But isn’t the prettiest to look at, need to get her to the sculptors one day, she has been used quite a lot.” Her master ran a hand across her shoulder, his hand sliding into the cloth that covered her chest and caressing with a falsely gentle hand. “All I ask for her is that she doesn’t die. But anywhere up to that point is fine.”

Corvus: *Absolutely seething* “Punishment… slave…” *Sounds of metal bending*
Angron: “A slave meant to be beaten. Hurt. Tortured. Typically people who were made into slaves because they did something the fucking slavers didn’t like.”
Corvus: “I suspected as much.”
Ferrus: “They just… talk about people like this? All the time?”
Fulgrim: “It seems like it…” *Looks away* “He’s describing them like they’re a couple of prized canids for a show! What next? Will he start quoting their pedigrees!?”
Roboute: “Like cattle for slaughter. As if they didn’t have a soul.” *Really deep breath*

She wanted to scream, she wanted to beg. She wanted to run away.

But she had nowhere to go.

She was weak...

Someone… please save her…

The lord let go, moving to unclip their leashes with an audible noise. He held his hands behind his back and he stepped back. “Please do remember, I want them back in one piece. If I find out you let any of them die on your watch…” He let the unspoken threat hang in the air, one that Killian understood crystal clear. They were slaves, his property. And while they were meant for the most sadistic of enjoyments… they were for his enjoyment.

“Of course, my lord. Of course. I promise you that your…” The fat man ran his pair of hungry eyes across the pleasure slaves. “- wonderful stock, will be returned to you in the same condition they came in.” Killian cooed to his lord, salivating at the two beauties he had under his control. Gladiator women were never good enough, especially when they were given the nails, then they were nigh untouchable. Not to mention that they died far too quickly to train in anything even resembling the art of pleasure.

The young lord Thal’kr swiftly turned and left without much else to say other than, “You have until tomorrow's games. I shall collect them then.” He was quick to leave the pits, the caverns used as the slave quarters for the gladiators. Disgusting place.

As soon as the young lord Thal’kr left them with Killian, he immediately grabbed for Breeder, who made not a single sound. She accepted what was going to happen, giving Sleeve a look that made her shiver. A look of… smug pride…

Oh gods, Sleeve, she… She was…

“You will be my companion tonight, Breeder. Such a fine specimen…” He licked his chops, his jowls jiggling with the motion. He was so excited! A finely made and used pleasure slave all to himself! Oh, he’d love to have two, but the other one… Ugh, he hated scars. Far too much of a reminder of the whip. It was then that Breeder smirked and came close to Killian’s ear and said something to him that made him grin at the suggestion.

Lion: “I believe we might have some business to conduct after this.”
Konrad: “I agree.”
Emperor: “NOT NOW BOYS. NOT NOW. BUT SOON.”

He could be generous too, you know.

“Guards, open the pits and throw in Sleeve. The Gladiators that aren’t fully sedated yet can have fun too. After all…” He grinned at her, her smile never leaving her face even though her eyes were shining with pure horror. “They deserve a gift too. They are the ones who pleased the Lord Thal’kr with their performances. Simply make sure they don’t… use her too much.”

Please, gods, no!

She could do nothing as a guard seemed to appear out of nowhere and grabbed one of her arms, leading her to the opened gate that led into the deeper pits. She could hear the sounds of the ones not fully sedated yet, they were hungry, salivating, like starving hounds where a steak was thrown in for them to fight over. Growling like the monsters that they were.

Still, she kept her smile on her face, though she desperately wanted to cry and run instead. Of course, of course, a slave would want to experience what it was like to dominate another slave...

Help me… Help me… Please… Anyone…

She was thrown forward, the gate hadn’t even closed before they were upon her, like a pack of starving animals ready to tear apart their kill. She couldn’t scream, only let her mind empty as she tried to disassociate with what was going to happen.

Sanguinius: “I believe we should skip this. It serves no purpose-”

She was weak.

She would always be weak...

She could feel their hands on her, the voices, the sounds, the crowd of faces as haggard and dirty as any would be if they lived down here. It was like looking at hell itself, and it had no sympathy for anyone too weak to fight back.

“What are all of you doing!? Stop!”

Sanguinius: “-wait! That voice!”
Lorgar: “Brother. That doesn’t sound like you… not fully.”
Angron: *Doesn’t look at Lorgar* “...here it comes…”

The voice was as strong and commanding as the bell which announced the beginning of a new fight.

Immediately she was let go, the slaves backing away from her. She blinked a few times, looking around her and realizing she wasn’t being touched. Who…?

And that was the first time she met him.

…​

All he had ever known was the pits, the slave quarters. For nearly nine years, he had only known the cramped and terrible place under the arena.

For all his life, he had only known the dark, of fighting, of sedatives being injected into his body as they desperately attempted to control him. Pumping him so full of drugs that it nearly overwhelmed even his superior body and mind.

Mortarion: “They had that many sedatives on hand?”
Angron: “All day unless it was to throw me into the arena. Hard to move most of the time.”
Horus: “Couldn’t you have escaped?”
Angron: “And go where? Back then, I thought it was fucking impossible to escape.”
Ferrus: “They did have Dark Age technology… so it’s not out of the realm of possibility that they could have kept you there for all that time…”

He had lost so many brothers in arms, lost so many fellow slaves to the brutal survival games of the arena. Every single one was still like a blow to his hearts. And yet, he still lived in these pits, seeing the worst parts of humanity flaunt itself before his eyes.

Thus, when a young, beautiful looking slave girl was thrown into his cage to pleasure his friends, he was disgusted. A smile plastered on her face even as her entire being radiated fear and hysteria.

They fell upon her. As if they were animals! Vermin! Barely better than the High-Riders!

So he demanded that they stop, and they all obeyed. Not out of shock. But because of fear and the respect they had for their comrade. They all knew he could kill any and all of them as easily as snapping a twig in half.

“Ah, I see.” One of the Gladiators purred. “Angron wants her to himself first of all.” The giant man pushed the girl forward towards Angron. Despite it all, and the only thing left for modesty being her arms covering her chest, she continued smiling even as she shook like a new slave about to partake in their first blood game.

He looked up at all of his fellow Gladiators and gave them all a look of pure disgust. “What is wrong with all of you? Do you honestly wish to rape this girl? That would make all of you just as bad as the High-Riding bastards that claim ownership over us. Are you all really so desperate for any type of power, that you take it out on someone else!? We are not the rabid dogs that they so desperately try to make us out to be! We already must debase ourselves in the arena day after day, now you want to further throw your humanity away!? Are we not siblings in camaraderie, to endure the suffering we live through daily together? Act like it!”

Corvus: “Good words brother.”
Lorgar: “That’s what you were like? Before the nails?”
Angron: “Hn… Yes…”

Some sneered and hissed at him. Others looked away in shame.

“You speak well Angron.” His adoptive father praised him from his position in the corner of the cell, sitting on hay and attempting to get some rest. “She is a slave. Like us. We cannot give the Masters the pleasure of showing how debased we are.” He lectured sternly towards the other Gladiators even as they slowly began dispersing to their own ‘beds’.

Angron: “Oenomaus… I’m sorry… so sorry…” *Winces and closes his eyes*
Lorgar: “Wait. That isn’t...?”
Angron: “Father… father…”

With that, Angron turned and walked over to his own spot. By far the biggest of them all since he had outgrown every other gladiator long ago.

He sat down on it with a grunt. Attempting to relax on the biting hay and cold of the stones that was managing to come through.

Then he looked towards the Slave that had been thrown in with them. Hair that reminded him of pure untainted sand, and eyes that reminded him vaguely of an ocean. Whatever an ocean was. Skin like soft light peaches and the dusting of freckles over the skin that wasn’t covered with scars. Her hair had places where it looked like chunks were ripped out and it was in the process of growing back or was covered with longer parts, no single strand going past her chin.

She was standing completely still. That fake smile still plastered on her face. Not having moved an inch. As if she was waiting for the other scabbard to drop.

Sanguinius: “Does she really expect that someone who saved her would take advantage?”
Angron: “Happened before. There are few if any good people on Nuceria. I don’t blame her...”

He saw how some of the others looked at her. He knew they couldn’t control themselves. Especially the ones with the nails…

“You there. Girl.” He spoke up, looking towards the slave. “Come here.”

In her own mind, she knew it finally dropped. Instead of a multitude of slaves ravishing and devouring her, she would be left with the biggest, toughest and strongest out of them all. She quickly made her way to him but stood only a few feet away from him. She was confused about whether the teachings applied here since it was slaves here too, does she uncover herself and wait for the orders? But wasn’t the Master the only one who could give orders? The Master and his guests? What was she supposed to do, she didn’t have the words and teachings of the Matron to tell her what she should do here!

Well… getting rid of her clothes always brought a smile to their faces…

She quickly untied the loincloth and let it drop to the floor. Exposing herself fully before him.

*Many of the family respectfully look away, horribly uncomfortable and disgusted that someone would break a person down like this*

Only for him to do… nothing!? Oh no… no-no-no-no! She must have done something wrong! What now!? Would he punish her!? Hit her? Send her off to become-

Suddenly, a rough, coarse blanket was thrown over her.

“Please.” The gruff voice spoke in a surprisingly gentle manner. “You’re lovely, but I don’t want you.”

Those words… She never felt such a cascading sense of relief fall over her like this before. She’s never had someone just say no and… leave her be. The relief was too much and she nearly collapsed to the ground but settled for just falling to her knees and onto her rump. The smile fell, as her face started to show true confusion, bewilderment, and relief all at once. “W...What?”

Fulgrim: “Poor girl. She never had a true choice before has she?”
Corvus: “No.”
Angron: “She never did until then.”

He looked at her even as she subconsciously drew the blanket tighter around her shoulders. For the first time in a very long time, her training was forgotten.

“I don’t want to use you. If it makes any difference I can tell the slaving bastards that come and get you that you did a good job.” He leaned against the wall now. His eyes closing. “You can stay here. The others won’t do anything to you then.”

She looked around bewildered. It wouldn’t be the first time she knelt for a long time… and it was better than getting used she guessed.

For a minute they simply lapsed into silence.

Then his eyes opened and he perched an inquisitive eyebrow. “I didn’t mean kneel. You can lie down and get some sleep.”

“I’m sorry!” She instantly apologized, hoping she didn’t make him mad. Don’t make him mad, that’s a rule she could follow! “I’m sorry, I don’t… I don’t know what to do- I’m sorry, I shouldn’t be talking- I’m sorry for breathing towards you- I’m sorry-”

“Woah!” He raised his hands in a defensive gesture. “Calm down! No one’s going to do anything to you here! We aren’t the High-Riders. Speak your mind if you need to and get some rest you…” He looked her up and down, seeing her many scars and yet well-maintained body and beautiful skin that shone through the blanket. “-clearly need it.”

Speak her mind? What? What does that… What did that mean? “R-Rest? I-I’m sorry, I… Speak… Mind? What? I…” She babbled, lost on everything he was speaking about. Weren’t gladiators just… brutes?

Oenomaus chose this time to intervene. “Angron, she’s a pleasure slave. Most likely since birth, she doesn’t know the meaning of free will.”

She nodded, birth. Yes. That made sense. “Yes. Yes, Sleeve has been a slave all her life. Sleeve does her best. Sleeve is a good pleasure slave…” She gripped the blanket tighter, hoping she wasn’t going to make the large man angry.

Silence was all that greeted her.

“If Sleeve had displeased you, please, don’t be afraid to hit. Sleeve is a good punishment slave.” She offered, as soon as people knew she was a punishment slave too, then they usually…

Roboute: “... I think I am going to vomit.”
Vulkan: *Physically holding himself back* “Angron, I wish to visit Nuceria now.”
Rogal: “This is… repulsive.”
Konrad: “I’m going to kill them. I will plan out all of their deaths, just give me the word. I will spare none of them.”

More silence before angry muttering interrupted it.

Oh no… she had made him angry…

“Fucking High-Riders.” The massive gladiator muttered in front of her. “Look I… I don’t want to use you. You’re free to rest or just talk or…” He threw his hands up in frustration. “No one is going to hurt you. Alright?”

That was… weird. “I don’t understand.”

“You don’t have to do anything you do not wish to girl.” Oenomaus spoke up from his corner. “You’re not a slave. Not while in here at least.”

That was an option? “Not… Not a slave… But… But Sleeve has always been a slave… Aren’t… Aren’t we all? Aren’t you? This… This doesn’t make sense… Sleeve wants to go back… Sleeve wants to go back to Master…”

The Gladiator spat all of sudden, pure disgust evident on his face. “You want to go back to him? The one that uses you as if you were property? The one that abuses you and beats you? How could you be that weak?” He looked at her then the disgust gone and replaced entirely by pity.

She shook her head, “But… No. Sleeve doesn’t hate Master. He… He keeps Sleeve safe. Sleeve accepts the hurt. Sleeve takes it because… Because that’s what she is supposed to do… Sleeve isn’t on the streets, Sleeve is warm and happy. Happy…”

“Happy to get beaten up, abused and taken advantage of?” Angron asked. “That isn’t happiness. That is slavery. At least on the street you would be free.” He looked up at the ceiling, a wishful expression on his face.

She covered her ears, trying to block out his words. Stop it. “Stop it.”

He looked at her again. “That is what moves you? The fact that you are reminded that you are a slave?” The pity was gone now. Replaced only by anger. “You have a choice to not debase yourself and you want to go back!?”

Emperor: “YOU CAN’T JUST YELL AT PEOPLE AND EXPECT THEM TO UNDERSTAND.”
Angron: “Fuck you.”
Emperor: “MERELY TRYING TO BE HELPFUL.”

She hummed, trying to block it out. “H-How would you know!? How would you know about… About being free, about… About everything… How do you know!?” She shot back, for the first time in her life speaking up. It… It felt good.

His eyes went blank. “There is a time when… I talked to someone. Someone made of gold… he made so many promises.” He snapped out of it, a snarl present on his face. “THAT! Is how I know what freedom is! That is how I know that this isn’t natural. And that is why, first chance I get, I am breaking every single slave owning bastard’s back.”

She shook her head, “No. No one ever has… You’ll die… You’ll die.”

He huffed even as he leaned back on the wall. His eyes closing and his face going neutral once more. “At least I would die by my own choice… and free.”

She stopped, looking back up at him with apprehension etched on her face. “You would die… to be free?”

“In a heartbeat.”

She knelt there. In complete and utter shock, the concept of freedom being utterly foreign to her. Death for freedom? Was it really worth paying such a price? But… no pain, no more obeying commands… it did sound nic-

“SLEEP! ALL OF YOU MAGGOTS GO TO SLEEP!” A guard shouted from outside of the cage even as the lights went out. No sense in keeping the lights on if they weren’t gonna fuck the girl.

In the darkness, she couldn’t see. And the reality of the cold temperatures finally began to sink in even as she began to slightly shiver.

Then she felt a hand on her shoulders… Oh god, someone was touching her, someone was touching her, someone was going to-

“You’re going to catch hypothermia if you don’t squeeze against the hay and wall with no clothes on.” Angron lectured her even as she was steered to his ‘bed’ and gently guided on how to lay down as he made space. He could tell she was radiating pure fear and hysteria, probably thinking he’d take advantage, so he had to coax her to relax. “Stay like that, you’ll be fine.”

Lorgar: “Brother, I noticed it earlier, but seeing it now… Were you an empath? Because it’s looking like you were…”
Magnus: “That could be your own psychic potential manifesting since all of us do have our own powers.”
Emperor: “HE IS. IT IS MOSTLY NEGATED BY THE NAILS.”
Sanguinius: “It was nice of you to keep her warm, though.”
Angron: “Shut up.”

She laid there, unsure if it was a trick or… He… He said he didn’t want to. He said it and… And… Maybe she could...maybe… trust him? She didn’t even know his name, or who he was, or what… He was so big and huge and everything! Was he some kind of monster!? But… But he was so warm… “Warm…” She snuggled up to him, despite him yelling at her, she still wanted to be warm.

He grunted but… that was that. It did feel nice to have someone curl up next to him though...

What? What was… what was this feeling?

She felt warm but… something more… Like she knew that if she were to close her eyes, that she wouldn’t be hurt. Or used. Or anything. That everything could actually be alright. She wondered what that word was, as she fell asleep against the big, warm man.

Oenomaus nearby spied Angron from the corner of his eye, watching how his adoptive son was all snuggled up to a beautiful pleasure slave. He shook his head and chuckled at the sight, giving Angron a little grin. In all his years as a gladiator slave, he had only seen this type of thing a handful of times. All ended in tragedy, of course, but this time… It was nice to see Angron all flustered at having this woman he was just yelling at snuggling up to him like nothing was wrong and he looked like he was just told he could sit out the next blood game.

Lorgar: “I realize that I am slow but… that is her isn’t it?”
Angron: “...yes.”
Lorgar: “I refuse to say that horrible, disgusting term they gave her, so what was her name?”
Angron: “She had two… the one as a slave and the other when she became free… Falaere… free…” *The nails bite as he lapses into ancient memories once more* “...fucking… nails…”

…​

Shouting awakened them, and it wasn’t a guard…

“You fool Killian! Throwing them in with the gladiators!?” Came the sound of Sleeve’s master as she quickly got up, fixed her loincloth and posture even as the gladiator beside her continued to lay there, but she knew he was awake.

“I-I am so sorry my lord! I- I did not know-”

Corvus: “Oh what!? He didn’t know throwing a helpless woman into a pit of starving slaves could kill her!?”
Angron: “Bottom feeding, brown-nosing asshole was never known for his wits.”

“Who knows what these barbaric animals did!? I need her! I told you to make sure she stays in one piece!” Her Master’s shouting and hurried footsteps got louder as he apparently got closer to the cage.

Sleeve had already shed the blanket, her loincloth back on, and stood ready for her Master to find her. As she awoke and “dressed”, she couldn’t help but notice that instead of the teachings of the Matron running through her mind it was the words of the gladiator. Odd.

Roboute: “...the words of a Primarch does have a lasting impact on baselines…”
Angron: “Yeah. I know.”
Roboute: “Also helps that it was said to her by someone who treated her like a human being.”
Angron: “Fuck off, brother.”

Finally, her Master appeared in front of the cage and let out a sigh as he saw her standing there. Then his eyes went down to the massive gladiator by her feet and he smirked. “She survived that animal? I cannot believe he would let anyone live.”

She knew he was big, but what was… Oh. Oh! She remembered now! That gladiator was… Was Angron Thal’kr, the favored gladiator of House Thal’kr! She knew that she knew it but- but… How could she have forgotten…? Oh, she really was so stupid…

Sanguinius: “Darling, no… She’s not stupid, she just went through something traumatic and was sure she was going to die. I don’t blame her for not noticing you were someone… Apologies, that started to come out wrong.”
Angron: “Whatever. I didn’t blame her then, I don’t blame her now.”

“Perhaps she’s tougher than I thought.” Her Master mused aloud with a chuckle even as Killian nervously smiled beside him and ordered the guards to open the gate, causing Sleeve to walk over and slip out.

She saw and watched as the guards equipped with tranquilizers shot at Angron, making sure to sedate him as the gate opened. She shuddered at the idea that he had to be sedated if the gate was opened.

As soon as she reached her Master, he reached up and re-attached the chain to her collar before looking her over.

“Is there an issue?” A much older and sterner voice came from down the hallway causing even her Master to stiffen with fear.

A man came around the corner. Well-groomed blonde hair and expensive clothes adorning a stoic face. Oh no… it was the Lord Thal’kr. Master of his house…

“Nothing, Father.” Her Master quickly responded. “No issues, merely making sure Sleeve here wasn’t hurt by the gladiators which Killian so foolishly threw her in with, despite my orders expressly saying to make sure she isn’t to be damaged beyond repair.”

Killian began to somehow sweat even more now even as he lightly began to tremble.

The Lord lifted an eyebrow even as he looked uninterestedly at Killian. “Did he now?” He then looked at her, his eyes roaming her body. The same way he did when she was forced to be beaten by another slave for his amusement. “Ah, yes. Your favorite toy. Lost almost because of disobedience.” He barely looked towards Killian, almost as if he was looking down at an unpleasant rat. “Fortunately for you, Killian.” The Lord spoke. “I am a forgiving man.” He did the slightest of motions then while looking at his son and her Master immediately gave her a tug even as they walked out of the pits.

Lorgar: “Is that the one we need to kill? Because I will.”
Angron: *Grins and chuckles darkly* “...don’t worry about him.”

There they were joined by Breeder, who gave a look of pure shock towards Sleeve for just a second as they walked the streets back to the estate.

Konrad: “Set it all up, hoping she would die. Despicable.”
Angron: “That was her biggest and only mistake.”

For once, it felt as if the entire walk passed by in a blur for her. They soon made it there and the two slaves were deposited in their quarters to wait for when they would be called next.

As their Master’s favorites, they had the distinct pleasure of being one door away from their Master’s bedroom. So that they could be called at any time.

It also meant that the two shared the room.

“How are you not dead?” Breeder asked, speaking up with a much more confident tone compared to hers. Her Master liked to talk to her sometimes, so she needed to know how to speak properly but… this was the first time Breeder had ever spoken to her, which rooted Sleeve to the ground.

“I’m sorry?” Sleeve asked back in utter shock.

“You were thrown in with those beasts and came out alive. How was that possible?”

“Uh-” She began, not knowing which words to use. How did one speak to another slave? Maybe… Maybe she just talks to Breeder like she did with Angron? What did he, no, the other one say…?

“You’re not a slave. Not while in here at least.”

“Um… they didn’t use me.”

Breeder recoiled in shock. “Didn’t use you? Didn’t use you!? You mean you got a good night's sleep while I sucked off that fat bastard!?”

Sleeve waved her hands before her, holding them up defensively. “Well- I almost was! Then… Then he… He saved me and… And he yelled at me but then I was able to sleep- I didn’t mean to- I’m sorry-”

Breeder quickly dashed closer to her and grabbed a handful of her hair. “Do you have any fucking idea how disgusting that cunt was!?” She leaned in closer to her face. “Reeked like corpse and fucked just like one as well.”

“I-I-I-I’m sorry!” Sleeve cried out even as she tugged her hair harder before pushing her away.

“I have been trying to get rid of your ass for a year, you stupid bitch!” Breeder then shouted at her. “Master doesn’t need you!”

Corvus: “Even on Deliverance, we were all slaves! There was no point in turning on each other! We had to depend on each other to survive under the bastards that ruled over us!”
Angron: “That isn’t how it always fucking works, bird boy! Slaves turn on each other all the time on Nuceria! It’s either live as a slave or live as a slaver! No holds barred, winner takes all! Sorry, not every slave world works like fucking Deliverance!”
Corvus: “They die. After this, they all die. I will not sit back and let them take another breath after pushing innocent people to the point that they eat themselves rather than band together…”
Emperor: “BOYS! I SAID LATER!”

“But-but-but-”

Seeing that Sleeve apparently wasn’t getting the message. Breeder once again grabbed her and shoved her against the wall. Her head thunking heavily against the hard stone, causing Sleeve’s sight to blur all of a sudden.

Then she pulled her back and did it again and again. A resounding crack sounding around the room even as Sleeves’ world spun as the pain rattled across her body and she fell to the floor. Double and even triple vision swirling about as the edges of her vision danced with black spots.

Mortarion: “If she isn’t seen by a medical professional in time, she will die. And since there is more to be seen, she will live. Any other regular baseline who goes through that trauma to the head would be severely concussed with a high chance of death.”
Angron: “She’s stronger than that.”

“Finally… Master will be all mine…” She heard Breeder say in a greedy voice even as the door slammed open and the armour of the guards was heard, followed soon thereafter by the sound of a shocker going off and Breeder screaming.

Then everything faded to black.

...​

The last time she dreamed she was a young girl who wasn't fully aware of her new life yet. She usually had a dreamless sleep or a type of lucid dream that made her relive the days she had gone through.

Her old dreams had been her escaping the slave quarters and going back to her mother, of fantastical ideas and schemes to leave and go back to the street. She could barely remember it all, the time she barely spent in that tiny home with the single red lantern her mother would light every night.

Roboute: “Rampant, widely accepted slavery, blatant prostitution, torture, child trafficking, and blood games, all for the amusement of a select few individuals and citizens who happen to have enough money!?”
Angron: “That is Nuceria. Don’t forget the organ harvesting, the living furniture, the dark technology, the butcher's nails, the pleasure pins, the scramblers, the cancer growths, and don’t forget the rape, the torture, the kidnapping and all of the sick fucking games and auctions always going on.”
Fulgrim: “I can’t watch anymore! Angron, please! Turn this off! You have proven your point! Nuceria is a terrible place and needs to be wiped from memory!”
Angron: “No.”
Sanguinius: "WHY!?”
Angron: “Because of him!” *Points to the Emperor who blankly stares at Angron* “He has always pushed aside everything I went through on Nuceria! Forcing the mantle of Primarch and Legion onto me! Forcing me to continue being a slave! I wanted to die! But he wouldn’t let me! All of you see me like a rabid dog, and I am! Now sit down and watch everything that happened-”

She barely remembered her, just that she sold her to the Thal'kr representatives when she was barely three.

She never saw her again, and her life of hell began. All for only a handful of silver.

But now, for the first time in so long, she dreamed.

Waking up in a soft bed, as nice as the Master's bed, next to a large warmth. A warmth that made her feel as if there wasn't anything that could hurt her as long as he was there-

Oh.

She turned, saw and felt how his massive arms were wrapped around her, using his massive bicep as a pillow while the other was thrown over her and keeping her close to him. The same gladiator, Angron, there beside her.

Angron: “...what?” *Turns to the holoprojector* “...you dreamt of me? Even then…?” *Winces, clutching his head* “-shut up, shut up-”
Vulkan: “Why wouldn’t she? You were the first person to ever be kind to her. Of course she’d dream of you.”
Horus: “Angron, just say the word- Just say the word and we can shut this off and just finish off Nuceria…” *Trails off when he sees Angron isn’t even listening* “-Angron?”
Angron: *Silently watching the holoprojector*

He cracked open one of his golden eyes, a smirk on his face as he buried his face in her hair, holding her close and squeezing her tightly to him. She could feel the sprouting stubble on his chin rubbing against one of the spots on her head where the hair wasn’t fully grown back yet. “Morning.”

“Good morning,” she answered him, sounding much more confident and… at peace around him? She has never felt at peace, only heard about it in passing from the ladies of the house. But that was how it felt to just lie in bed, held tightly in the arms of someone who wasn’t hurting her, and actually wanted her to be there. “How long was I asleep?”

“Not too long. Go back to sleep, rest as much as you want.” He gently coaxed her back down, pulling the covers over them better. His arm that was over her now had his hand idly resting over her shoulder, the large hand practically covering her entire shoulder and back easily.

“But, don’t I have to work?” She asked while nuzzling into him and enjoying the peace.

“No. Never again.”

He sounded so sure as if there was no doubt about it. That she could just rest and lie there next to him. Actually wanting to lie next to someone, knowing he wasn’t going to do anything to her, knowing she was… What was that word again?

She answered him by closing her eyes again, breathing in the clean scent and not thinking about the Master, the slaves, Nuceria, her work, their lives, nothing. Just peace. Peace and…

“Can I hold your hand?” She asked, looking up at the overly large man. He laughed at her as if that was a ridiculous request. She was embarrassed, but before she could retract her statement, he moved his hand from her shoulder and held her own two that were bunched up between them, right in front of her thundering heart.

Feeling him hold her so gently, protecting her…

She never wanted to wake up.

It would be so easy to let go and just dream forever. Dream this sweet image forever, never have to wake up to the reality of her life, have to be used, beaten, fucked, humiliated, anything! Just… Just rest.

Just rest and stop trying to wake up.

No one trying to kill her, no one telling her she’s nothing, no one branding her, cutting her, hitting her, shocking her, pulling her, groping her, raping her, kicking her, choking her, nothing.

Just a sweet dream.

She had met an angel, and she never wanted to go back.

Angron: *Still silent* Just dream. Dream and never wake up… Was that all it took to see her?
Lorgar: “Angron?”
Emperor: “YOU’RE FREAKING EVERYONE OUT… YOU THERE?”
Angron: “...shut it off…” *Bows head, not able to stand looking at the holoprojector anymore* “...just shut it off…”
Emperor: “FINALLY. MAGOS, SHUT IT OFF.”
Lehm: *Attempts to shut it off, but none of the runes are working and the vid keeps playing* “Omnissiah it’s doing it again!”
Emperor: “HOW!? SHUT IT OFF! NO ONE WANTS TO KEEP WATCHING!”
Lehm: “It’s refusing to shut off!”
Ferrus: “Oh no.”
Magnus: “I have a really bad feeling about this…”

…​

Then she felt as her eyes opened…

Everything was still slightly blurry. Out of focus as the triple images danced in her vision, before all coming together into one unstable and shaky vision. And as always… pain.

Emperor: “LET ME SEE THAT THING-”
Ferrus: “I as well!”
Fulgrim: “Please hurry I don’t know if I want to listen to a second more! I just know it’s going to get worse!”
Emperor: “WAIT HOLD ON- NOTHING IS WRONG WITH IT! IT’S JUST REFUSING TO SWITCH OFF!”
Ferrus: “Well, let’s just unplug it-”
Lehm: “UNPLUG IT WHILE IT IS IN USE!? Omnissiah, please! Don’t do something that rash!”
Emperor: “I AM TEMPTED TO DO THAT, LEHM!”
Angron: “Just fucking do something…”

She felt herself let out a slight groan as she attempted to shift her head.

Immediately, a woman was above her, looking down at her. The robes of a healer adorning her body, yet she looked as identical to her as if she was looking into a mirror.

“Good, you’re awake.” The Healer spoke, retreating to retrieve something apparently as a few seconds later, she felt the sharp prick of a hypodermic in her arm and the world coming into focus a lot quicker.

Medical stims, she knew that one. Those have been used on plenty of pleasure slaves to keep them up for work. Everything became clearer as her vision became crystal clear and her senses came fully awake, which meant she was acutely aware of how much her body was in pain, leading to her holding back groans and instead smile and glance around the room, ignoring the bloodstain on the wall.

“Don’t try to move. You went through a serious concussion. I was just barely able to control the swelling.” The Healer ordered nonchalantly as she returned to her bag and continued to rummage through it, the sound of light and heavy tools clinking together was vividly clear through her ears.

Sanguinius: “Is it fixed yet?”
Emperor: “NO. IT’S REFUSING TO SHUT OFF! FUCK IT- MIGHT AS WELL SIT BACK AND SEE WHERE THIS GOES.”
Fulgrim: “Father, I really don’t want to.”
Ferrus: “I would rather do anything else.”
Roboute: “I severely regret picking this up…”
Magnus: “I’m so uncomfortable…”
Leman: “I don’t have enough ale for this!”
Lorgar: “Seeing Angron like this has already deeply disturbed me!”
Vulkan: “Watching this just makes my hearts hurt…”
Konrad: “All of you are a bunch of weak willed pansies! Nostramo wasn’t as bad as Nuceria, but it was pretty fracking close!”
Mortarion: “Barbarus was a radioactive hellscape. I can keep trudging on, if the rest of you are going to be so weak willed.”
Lion: “We’ve already delved deeply into the future and now past lives of our brothers, might as well keep going. We cannot leave a job half finished, how else will we know exactly who else to kill on Nuceria later?”
Jaghatai: “We must push on, if the projector isn’t turning off, then might as well brave through whatever else is on the vid.”
Rogal: “Yes.”
Perturabo: “Might as well.”
Corvus: “It would be a disservice to this woman, who already went through hell already. The least we can do is watch it till the end. Does she not deserve our attention, for not being able to save her, as Angron has said? Have some respect for the dead, because at some point she will be free.”
Horus: “Angron? Will you be alright-”
Angron: “No. But keep watching… I don’t care…”
Sanguinius: “...then push on, we go…”
Emperor: “THIS IS GOING TO END REALLY FUCKING HORRIBLY…”

She still looked around, knowing that if she didn’t do something, the medical stims would make her want to do anything else. Ceiling? Walls? Bed? Yes, she was still in the shared quarters with Bree-

Oh. Oh yes, that’s right. Breeder tried to kill her.

...she could see why. She wasn’t important enough, it was fine if she died. Why didn’t she? She wanted to dream more, to sleep more. She wasn’t in pain and wasn’t having to work or anything. Why wasn’t she dead?

She would have been better off dead.

Angron: “No you wouldn’t…”

“You will need at least twelve full hours before working again, I recommend the full thirty-one, so you get a full day’s rest, but I’m not sure if your Master will see it that way.” The healer continued on, a matter of factly speaking, almost sounding bored. Of course, she would sound bored, no one should have to deal with her, she was just a meaningless slave. She felt sorry that this healer was wasting her time on her.

A few seconds later she felt another sting as yet another needle was shoved into her arm.

“For the shock.” The Healer explained before returning and beginning to mix up a cocktail. Mixing together some unknown powders and plants and… oh, it turned pink.

She knew that one, every Slave knew that one. You could be halfway dead for all you cared but that drug would keep you going until you literally dropped dead.

Mortarion: “A type of stimulant that would keep the body going? Suppressing the needs and forcing the person to keep going until it burned out of the system, or the body burned out?”
Angron: “Yeah. Take a wild guess what it was used for.”
Mortarion: “I don’t need to.”

The Healer poured some into a tiny glass before putting it down on the little table next to her bed.

“Your Master ordered that one after you rest. In order to make sure you perform well.”

Yes. Yes, work. Work was what she did, work is all she does. She does not matter. Rest for a while, then drink and work. Work until she dies.

“You’re not a slave. Not while in here at least.”

...why did she remember those words? Some slaves have talked about being free before, but they never have the chance to ever get too far. They either died or became punishment slaves. Or made into an example…

Freedom wasn’t possible. She’s just going to die working and working until she can’t work anymore. What could freedom give her? Where would she even go?

“At least I would die by my own choice… and free.”

...What if he had a point? He spoke with such conviction, so much strength behind his words, confidence, and trust in his own words made her want to trust in them too. No one else that she has heard speak of freedom has stuck with her like he had.

What kind of power did he have to make her want to believe in him? To want to believe in his convictions? What kind of man was he to practically ooze strength in his words alone?

Sanguinius: “Any person can talk to another, doesn’t mean they will stay in their minds… But a Primarch and his people? That would be enough to possibly rethink everything. Isn’t that right, Father?”
Emperor: “EXACTLY. I MADE ALL OF YOU TO HAVE THE CHARISMA AND ORATOR SKILLS NEEDED TO INFLUENCE AND INSPIRE ANYONE WHO WOULD LISTEN TO YOU. ANGRON INSPIRING HER ISN’T OUTSIDE OF THE REALM OF POSSIBILITY, ESPECIALLY WITH HIM BEING KIND TO HER.”
Angron: “I didn’t tell her that for my own benefit! I just… I…” *goes quiet* “...it doesn’t matter…”

She could see the healer was turned away now, putting her tools away one by one and carefully packing her healers bag.

It felt like everything was slower now, the movements becoming more and more sluggish as she kept thinking about what he said. How much he yelled at her, then still had the decency to not hit her and hold her.

He looked at her again. “That is what moves you? The fact that you are reminded that you are a slave?” The pity was gone now. Replaced only by anger. “You have a choice to not debase yourself and you want to go back!?”

Now that she thought about how angry he was when she babbled about wanting to go back, she was thinking about why she wanted to go back. Isn’t that what she had accepted? Why is he the one to snap her thoughts and make her think of…

Think of…

She glanced at the floor, near her bed on the floor was a heavier instrument. Type of hammer or something… She barely knew what even a couple of these were called or how to use them.

She couldn’t-

“You have a choice to not debase yourself and you want to go back!?”

Corvus: “Come on! You can do it! Break the chains! Set yourself free!”
Konrad: “I’ve never seen the little Raven get so worked up before-”
Corvus: “Shut up, Konrad! I will always support anyone who would free themselves, I will always destroy a society that employs such deplorable acts!”
Angron: *huffs* “...good.”

She could just ignore it and work-

“You want to go back!?”

...no she doesn’t.

Carefully, she leaned down and grabbed onto the thing, it was kind of heavy in her hands. She just… She just needed to hit her. Just one good hit… But… But does she deserve to do something like this? Can she do something like this? Is she as bad as Breeder is?

Fulgrim: “No! No, you are not! She tried to kill you because she just wanted to have that man to herself! You are trying to free yourself- But it’s also killing someone who had nothing to do with any of this.”
Horus: “Is it better? I mean, she is trying to free herself, but like you said she’s about to kill someone else that had nothing to do with this… Is it moral?”
Lorgar: “Do you really want to get in on that conversation? Don’t we commit immoral acts for the Imperium daily?”
Sanguinius: “Yes, we do, but it’s for a reason that’s greater than what we are. We order the deaths of planets and people so we can continue the Imperium. We do our best to have them join the Imperium, to be Imperial Citizens, but when push comes to shove, we do what is necessary. But she is doing what she can to escape, but at the same time is doing something that counts against her. It is both moral and immoral.”

“THAT! Is how I know what freedom is! That is how I know that this isn’t natural. And that is why, first chance I get, I am breaking every single slave owning bastard’s back.”

It all happened in an instant. Just a second, she remembered his words, his convictions and the next, she was staring at the body of the healer who she just struck with all of her might. Right there on the back of her head. She was silent and shook in place as she just realized what she did to that woman.

Konrad: “She took her chance. Even I can’t blame her for it.”

Oh god, she just...

She just…

She was half off, half lying on the bed, shaking her trying to see if she was still alive, awake or something! She heard the woman groan, making Sleeve panic. She thought about hitting her again, but how would she know where to hit? Maybe it would be easier if she hit the same spot again? But how would she-

Her mind raced. What now!? What now!? She didn’t think she could go through with it.

Somehow managing to get out of bed, she almost by pure instinct drank the tiny glass of pink liquid, feeling as it went down her throat and energized her almost immediately.

Another groan came from the healer, who was still collapsed on the ground. She grabbed the hood of the woman and pulled it away, showing the angry spot she hit the first time. Maybe just one more time, and she could just end it.

She raised the tool…

And brought it down on the same spot where she hit before.

There was a crack.

Then the Healer laid there. Not another word spoken.

She… she killed her…

Mortarion: “Direct hit to the Parietal lobe. Most likely dead or severely paralyzed. Unless they have Imperium grade Apothecaries, she is as good as dead.”
Angron: “Nuceria has the healers to save people, but use it to make more slaves and make them little more than flesh golems. If she is alive, I doubt they will help her out of the goodness of their hearts…”
Fulgrim: “What else is this planet capable of!?”

But she couldn’t stop now. Not now! When she had gotten so far!

Wait! Wait-wait-

Rushing down to the healer’s side, she turned her around revealing her look-alike’s face. It was almost as if she was looking at her own corpse, would she have looked like that if she died? Not wanting to dwell on that, she immediately began to strip off both of their clothes, going almost manic with worry while doing so.

Who knew when a guard or even Master himself would walk in?

Master?

No. Not anymore she supposed. She would be free. Or die. Just like he said.

She adorned the healer’s robes. Then thinking further, dragged the healer’s body to the bed in the same position as she was in before.

Corvus: “Smart girl.”
Sanguinius: “She just needs to work on her confidence.”

She just managed to do so and pull up the cowl of her robes as the door opened.

“Any luck Healer?” Came the silky smooth voice of her former Master.

Sleeve took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Attempting to steady herself.

What did healers do to bodies when they died? Think, think, think! She has to know if she doesn’t- What if he comes closer and looks at the body!? He would know that wasn’t her! He would know what she did and everything would be worse for her!

She panicked, pulled the sheet and covered the body, maybe if he didn’t see the body, he wouldn’t suspect anything?

Mortarion: “By panicking and trying to hide the body, she makes the universal sign of passing. That must either be pure dumb luck or something. With how much she’s panicking, that shouldn’t work-”

She must have done something right, since he sighed quite heavily behind her from the door. She guessed the sheet was a good idea?

“A shame.” He spoke in a regretful tone. “What was wrong?”

Mortarion: “Wow… it actually worked.”

Oh-oh no! Think! Think! The Healer said-

“It…” She stopped and cleared her throat, she couldn’t sound hesitant or like herself, if she did, he would know. The healer sounded different from her, she sounded more confident! Sound confident! She just- Oh! YES! She remembered what the healer said! Maybe she could use that? “The swelling from where she was hit against… the wall was too… severe. Concussion, I got here too late. I’m sorry.”

Mortarion: “... fair enough of a diagnosis to be fair.”

She turned around, hoping against all odds that her face didn’t appear scared or as full of fear as she felt like.

“I tried my best.” She continued on, remembering how the Healers liked to protect their reputation. “Used a lot of stims.” She nodded towards the still arrayed needles of the bag and leftover tools from mixing the pink colored drug from earlier.

“A pity. She was one of my favoured slaves. It seems both of them will now be lost.” The Master sighed again, turning to the door and leaving the slave quarter. “I shall send some guards to dispose of the body. No use anymore. You will receive reduced pay from my captain. Begone.” He left her there as a couple of guards came in and fully wrapped the covered body and began work to remove her.

Lorgar: “I am beginning to think that all of the luck that had abandoned this woman in the early parts of her life is deciding to apologize to her by making up for it in a matter of minutes.”

Meanwhile, Sleeve nearly collapsed from relief at how she just survived that. She had never felt so stressed and panicked before in her life! And now- Now- now- it’s all over?

She was free?

And getting paid!?

What even was pay!?

Corvus: “Honestly… poor girl.”
Angron: “That’s how she freed herself.” *Small sigh*

...
Two weeks later
...​

“Thank you for coming.” She bowed her head slightly even as the Lord left the tiny apothecarium, his slave in tow.

In the coming days since her assuming the role of a Healer, she had found out that her name was Falaere… she quite liked that. Named after a Nucerian saint who was rebirthed and reinvented herself, kinda suiting… Even more, Falaere had owned a tiny apothecarium and even had a couple of employees.

What’s more, Falaere had been fairly new and was just released from the Healers guild.

Learning to read and speak properly had been difficult. She needed to stay up most nights with little to no sleep some days, cramming as much information as possible. But now she was able to do basic numbers and read enough to operate the Apothecarium in about two weeks. She still felt as if she was doing everything wrong, she could barely read the textbooks Falaere- SHE. She kept from the guild. At least there were lots of pictures she could follow.

Life… wasn’t bad.

Lorgar: “I enforce my statement on luck.”
Corvus: *Slowly beginning to smile* “At the very least her fortunes have turned for the better.”
Roboute: “I do think it’s admirable for her to work on her skills, even sacrificing sleep to improve. She really is more intelligent than she gives herself credit for.”
Angron: “She was… she was…” *The nails bite as he refuses to even wince at the pain*

And not just for her. She tried as hard as she could to help the Slaves that came into the shop along with the poorest of people.

She might not have been experienced in medicine much herself. But over her relatively short life, she had seen and sustained so many injuries she knew how to fix most. Especially since most used to be done to her…

It helped that the books had illustrations on how and what to do, mostly step by step. And the notebooks of notes from the guild were found after she dug through Falaere’s- her bedroom. And what to mix and match to get the drugs right. Those had taken the longest. And had some really close calls. As it turns out if you added even a gram too much of something it could blow up in your face… literally.

Perturabo: “Yeah. It does. I think most of us learned that the hard way when mixing chemicals.”
Emperor: “YOU THINK THAT IS BAD? FOR A REALLY LONG TIME PEOPLE DIDN’T EVEN KNOW WHAT RADIOACTIVITY WAS. RESEARCHERS CARRIED LIVE URANIUM AND OTHER RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS AROUND IN THEIR POCKETS OR AS PART OF NECKLACES.”
Perturabo: “I swear, how the fuck did humanity survive this long…”
Rogal: “Perseverance. And stubbornness. Our Father is a prime example of this.”
Emperor: “...DID YOU JUST MAKE A JAB AT ME, ROGAL?”
Rogal: “I have made a verbal jab at you as you are the embodiment of humanity, Father, and as a result, you embody even the most foolhardy parts of humanity as well. That. Is the joke.”
Emperor: “I… WON’T GET INTO THIS.”

She still felt as if everything she was doing was wrong and she was too useless to help people and everything she is doing was completely meaningless and no matter what she did all of it was going to come crashing down! But from what she did know of her time here, was that she was actually pretty good at remembering pictures and remembering all of her first-hand experiences. So she wasn’t a total failure!

It was still odd to wake up in her own bed, wearing so many clothes and actually making money. She kept thinking she was going to wake up back in the slave quarters and this was all one giant dream.

Or maybe the gladiator, Angron, wasn’t real, and she died being fucked mercilessly in the slave pits. That maybe she was in heaven.

No. No, heaven wouldn’t have slaves, would it? So maybe she was alive. Alive and living a dream. A dream that cost the life of someone who just… happened to look like her.

“Hello? Miss?”

“SQUEE!” She jumped slightly as she realized she was just standing at her counter staring off into space. Apparently, there was someone there to see her? “Ah- yes! Yes, hello! Welcome to my apothecarium! How can I help you?”

Roboute: “...did she just… squeak?”
Fulgrim: “Like a mouse. Or a canid’s toy…”
Angron: “...she squeaked a lot.”
Roboute: “I had no idea people could squeak like that…”
Emperor: “YOU HAVE NOT BEEN AROUND ENOUGH WOMEN.”
Magnus: “And you have?”
Emperor: “I AM A LITTLE OVER FORTY THOUSAND YEARS OLD SONNY.”
Magnus: “Roight… And you being single now is just all of that experience biting you back, isn’t it?”
Emperor: “WELL TECHNICALLY I’M… YEAH, I’M SINGLE.”

The young man, looked to be a cattle slave. Well kept too, since he only had the collar on and the brands, but nicer looking tunic and sandals. Carried a bag with him that had a strap across his chest and over his shoulder. He shook his head slightly and leaned closer to her, like he had been exasperatedly waiting for her to notice him at some point for a while now. “Do I need to repeat myself?”

“Uh…” She tried to figure out what he wanted, but couldn’t remember anything. She needed to stop spacing out like that… “I’m sorry.” She just did the same thing she always did, she smiled and apologized.

He sighed, as if done with her shenanigans. “I said I’m here from my master with a request for your services. He deals with lots of high profile gladiators and needs you to come by and patch them up.”

“Yes! Yes, I can do that!” She squawked out a bit too loudly, nervous about accepting a big job like this.

The Slave blinked owlishly. Obviously surprised that anyone would want to go even near the bloodthirsty beasts. “So, in terms of price-”

“You can explain them to me.” Bast, her assistant walked up, giving Falaere a little grin. He was a former slave himself apparently.

Bast was a complete godsend! He was at first suspicious of her, but since she made sure to pay him- she knew what pay was now!- he helped her and continued on. Seemingly fine to keep working for her. Thank you Bast for being so good! She would give him an extra prayer tonight!

“Fine, my Master has already agreed to pay top coin for these gladiators. They’re fan favorites and many houses are fond of them as well, so we are willing to pay a thousand silver for each of the lower ranked ones on the list, and everyone from Johaven to Oenomaus will be five hundred gold. Angron will be up to two thousand gold if you can even help him.”

Lorgar: “Ah… so this is how she came to you again.”
Angron: “All because little shit lord wanted to have his precious stock all healed up and taken care of for the next blood game.”
Lorgar: “Well, it sounds like he signed his own death there.”
Angron: *Chuckles* “Yes he fucking did…”

Angron? She stopped and remembered the words of the gladiator who gave her the courage to escape. To kill… But to also help… She had to go now! “We accept!” She quickly agreed while Bast gave her a look.

“Without haggling, my Lady?” Bast questioned, but she waved it off.

“We should be fine!” She quickly answered, excited at the idea of seeing Angron again! Besides, those were big numbers, so that should be good right?

“Are you sure, my Lady? These are beasts. Bred for war-”

She waved a hand at him. “I can deal with them! Don’t worry about it!”

Both the Slave and Bast looked at her as if she had gone completely off her knocker. But well… Bast knew his Mistress. Once she made up her mind…

…​

The streets were busy. The last of the Blood Games had just been played and the people were leaving the arena of Desh'ea en masse. She and Bast were weaving through the crowds, heading to the opening of the pits with their letter of invitation and passage. When she showed it to the guards, they let her and Bast in and the smell of the pits hit her like a physical wave.

This was a bad idea, why did she think this was a good decision? She could barely handle the smell of this place oh god she made a bad choice she was so stupid! She just dragged herself and Bast down into the pits to see Angron and take this job just so she could see him again this was such a terrible idea why did she agree oh she was so stupid, stupid, stupid!

Emperor: “SHE REALLY FREAKS OUT OVER EVERYTHING.”
Leman: “Isn’t she goin’ down into the same place where she almos’ died?”
Emperor: “VALID POINT.”

“My Lady?” Bast asked, snapping her out of her reverie. She looked back to him, a smile still plastered on her face, showing how nervous she was at this moment. “Are you alright? Should we cancel?”

“No!” She squeaked out, “No, it’s fine, I’m fine! Let’s go, shall we?”

“If you are sure my Lady.” Bast gave her a wry smile even as they showed their permission slips to the guard at the entrance to the caverns.

They escorted them down to the hall and pointed towards which cage was their destination. It was filled to the brim with injured slaves but looking a bit neater and less populated than the other cages.

Then they stayed by the pit entrance, not going any deeper within.

“Wait? You aren’t coming with us?” Bast demanded, reeling on one of the guards.

“Not our business. We aren’t getting paid nearly enough to risk our asses for a couple of healers.”

Roboute: “Glad to see that lazy workers aren’t unique to-”
Horus: “Roboute, let it go. Ever since you saw that one vid of workers in the 41st Millennium and how lazy they were, and even the two guardsmen in that last vid, you have been complaining about lazy workers. Let it go.”
Emperor: “LET IT GO.”
Roboute: “But it is inefficient-”
Emperor: “CAN’T HOLD IT BACK ANYMORE, CAN YOU?”
Roboute: “Yeah! And it’s your fault! You’re the one who made my mind like this!”
Jaghatai: “Ouch. Backfire.”
Angron: “If I hear one more fucking word about efficient workers while watching about fucking Nuceria I will personally turn him into corpse rations for the army!”
Roboute: “I’m sorry… I’m sorry… in my defense, it’s akin to the nails biting into me.”
Magnus: “I will defend Roboute on this one. It's merely in our nature. Not like it was our choice.”
Angron: *Huff*

“You-” Bast began to retaliate but Falaere held up a hand, the other still clutching her Healer’s bag.

“It will be fine. They won’t hurt us.” She assured Bast who once more looked at her incredulously. She gave him a reassuring smile, “I promise.”

Bast searched her face, then sighed uneasily as he agreed. It was his job to follow where she led, so… So he would follow her no matter what. He just hoped she just wasn’t optimistic for no reason...

“Right! So, let’s get to business!” Nodding to him, she turned back to the cages and prepared to get to work. Though she was panicking on the inside of course. What if everything didn’t go well!? What if she was just being optimistic for no reason, oh she was going to get Bast killed, this was a terrible idea she knew being optimistic was a bad idea she should have stayed as a pessimist at least then life would be easier-

Oh. Oh, she was already at the cage door. She spaced out. Again.

A guard came by and unlocked the door, shoving the two healers inside before quickly locking it behind them.

Suddenly, all the groaning, talking and snarling stopped as Falaere and Bast felt every single pair of eyes in the cage turn towards them.

“Uhhh…” Falaere began, her nerves freaking out. “I’m a Healer... along with my assistant here… Yes.”

Jaghatai: “Lovely.”

A few grunts were heard at that, but otherwise, the silence was still the main noise of the cage.

“Is uh… anyone hurt?” She asked, her voice going higher pitched as she felt herself begin to panic again.

“I am not.” A familiar, older voice spoke. “But Angron is.” A Gladiator in the corner nodded towards the massive man who was sitting on the ground, leaning against the wall.

“I am not.” The gruff voice spoke up. “I will heal.”

Rogal: “A Primarch’s healing factor most likely can heal any nonmortal injury by essentially himself. Even some mortal ones.”
Perturabo: “Well… it’s not exactly obvious… maybe?”

“You broke your hands boy.” The older man lectured. “Let the healer have a look.”

Yes! It was him! If she helped him first, then maybe he could intimidate the others and everything will be alright! Yes! Flawless plan! “Bast, go and help the elder one, I’ll handle the big guy.”

Bast glanced from Angron to Falaere, then back and forth, “Are you sure about that? That’s… that’s Angron. The king of the arena-”

Falaere nodded, “Of course! I am a healer! And I know how to deal with big guys!” She instantly felt like dropping to the floor and crying, that came out so wrong in her own mind. Damn her for babbling out words! Just smile the pain away!

Lorgar: “I uh…”
Fulgrim: *covers face* “Sweetie, no…”
*uncomfortable coughing*

It took Bast every little bit of his self-control in order not to slap his own face.

“If you say so, Mistress…” He trailed off even as she slowly walked over to the other side of the cage.

Which left her to approach Angron, who wasn’t looking at her. She took a deep breath and placed her Healer’s bag down, beginning to set her diagnosis. “So, I hear you broke your hands?” Oh, that sounded so stupid.

Rogal: *Facepalm*
Angron: “Her wits… weren’t the best…”

The Gladiator groaned, “If that isn’t a stupid question…” He muttered before he looked up at her face, seeing that dumb wide grin. His eidetic memory quickly pieced together everything he saw and soon he blinked a few times as he fully regarded her now. It was her!

“Sorry… I’m still new at being a healer…” Falaere answered, beginning her full body examination. “Just a bit nervous…” It took her a few tries to get close enough to check him out, lifting an arm and moving him about slowly as she tried to find any other places he may be hurt. Usually, she would ask what happened, but from what she remembered of the few times she saw one of the blood games, it was a terrible thing to remember. She wouldn’t want to remember it either...

She felt up the massive hand that was as broad as her chest. Capable of killing with a single slap.

Feeling and tried to find a crack or see if the Gladiator would wince or make any indication of pain. She found neither.

“I… I don’t think it’s broken…” She spoke slowly, utterly perplexed at how this was possible. “I can get you a salve to make sure the bone heals nicely the rest of the way…” She muttered, reaching into her bag and applying the white, fatty cream even as it was instantly sucked into the Gladiator’s skin as she massaged his hands. Odd, but well, he was just a really big man. So not too odd, she supposed.

“I… think that’s it?” She asked herself more than him and began to step back, only to be gently pulled back and forced to look into his golden eyes.

Mortarion: “Well… not a bad job? And… Did she really just call Angron a really big man?”
Rogal: “I believe that is the definition of an understatement.”
Angron: “She was the only person to see me as just a man, you know. It’s refreshing.”
Fulgrim: “Yes… I can see that.”

He studied her, intently looking her over.

Then, the tiniest smile appeared on his face as he pulled in her hand and kissed her knuckles before covering them with his other hand.

“Thank you.” He spoke gently even as he released her and leaned back against the wall.

She felt hot in her face, the feeling of his lips on her hand made her want to bury herself into the ground and squeal like a young girl. Or maybe just jump off a building. Or into a sword. Kind of a mixture there. She had never felt so excited and happy to have someone… do that to her! It was amazing! She would never forget that feeling in her life!

Jaghatai: “Never took you for a flirt brother.”
Angron: “What? I just kissed her hand!”
Fulgrim: “Such a gentleman!”
Angron: “What!?”
Sanguinius: “No wonder she fell for you.”
Angron: “I… I… I think I know how the blueberry feels now…”
Roboute: *Slaps thighs* “Thank you!”

She… She didn’t want to be away from him… Just- Just a few more moments! “Actually, wait, hold on…” She grabbed his head and turned him from side to side, “I swear, I think there’s something wrong with your neck… How does your head feel?”

This was so surreal, he thought. To have this girl here, the same girl he saved from being devoured and- the same girl who couldn’t understand what free will was. The same slave that babbled about going back to her abusive Master and be used as a beating toy for his own pleasure, was in front of him. Happy, healthy and a healer. How did she do it?

Slaves don’t just escape and have normal lives. But she did it. Just a couple of weeks after he yelled at her, maybe convinced her. Was he the reason why she was able to escape? Did he inspire her to fight back? Did he inspire freedom into her?

If a nearly broken pleasure slave was able to be so inspired by his words alone, by a kind act, and escape and be free… What about him? The rest of his brothers and sisters of the pits? If she could do it, why couldn’t they?

He needed a plan, a plan and to convince guards and others to follow him. Had he been holding himself back? There had been a small voice in the back of his mind that perhaps freedom was a fool’s dream, that he would forever be stuck in the pits fighting for his life and being pumped with untold amounts of sedatives. But now, even he was inspired to fight harder for freedom! He just needed a plan of action…

But for now, he just enjoyed having her soft hands run along his face, savouring the moment of just having someone give him attention. She really was stronger than most, and even he would have given her credit for. Combined with her looks, her ability to smile through it all, he began to see her in a new light.

Lorgar: “So this is how it started?”
Angron: “I inspired her, she inspired me.”
Sanguinius: “The beginning of both, huh?”
Angron: “Both?”
Sanguinius: “Obviously your own love for her, too.”
Angron: *Grumbles*

…
Three months later
...​

Coming back to the slave markets made her want to retch. All of these people, begging to be saved, knowing she couldn’t buy them all. Knowing she couldn’t help everyone, knowing that many were going to live lives that had been as bad or worse than what she knew of.

But she had to come here, she had a job to do.

Roboute: “Wait? Why are we back at this horrid place?”
Angron: “We had a plan. A really fucking good one.” *Sadistic grin*

“Do you see any good candidates, Bast?” She asked him, looking through the overcrowded cages. She had to look away from the cages filled with children, as horrible as it sounded, they weren’t going to be… use… useful- God, she felt sick!

“Ah, young Healer. What a coincidence.” A silky smooth, far too familiar voice came from her side, causing Falaere to brace herself. She had gotten far better at confronting her past. “Lord Thal’kr.” She turned and bowed her head in respect, keeping her hood covering as much of her face as possible to keep her identity from him. Even after all this time, she still feared the idea of him finding out… and ruining everything she worked for.

“In the market for some Slaves I see?” He asked, his voice full of false good intent.

“I… am…” She answered hesitantly.

“Some for harvesting perhaps?” He asked even as he turned to survey the stock himself. “I know you healers are always after good organs and some such. Personally. I require a new pleasure and punishment slave. Sadly, none have thus far been able to replace the one I lost.” He paused then shook his head with a tiny scoff and laugh, “Apologies, the one you lost.”

Corvus: “Is this rotting carcass of a terrible example for human decency dead yet?”
Angron: “No. And I have dibs on him. After everything his family has done to me, to her, to everyone, I want to kill him with my own two hands. I know he is weak and spineless enough to get rejuvenation treatments… So I know he’s alive.”

“I… I do require some for harvesting…” She continued in her slowly spoken voice.

“Then may I give you an offer myself?” He asked, a smile playing about the young Master’s face even as he pointed towards a cage on the stage where a fat, sweating man… Killian!?

Konrad: “Oh, how the tables have turned.”
Angron: “Nuceria is like that to all. Sometimes it just turns out good.”

“The man disrespected and disobeyed me. However, he lived a fairly relaxed life. Surely, his organs would be fitting for many patients no?”

She wasn’t a hateful person. She didn’t feel much of anything in her life, but looking at him… Looking at that man… She knew what hate was. He regularly hurt so many, all to suck up to the young Master… He regularly hurt the gladiators and used them as bargaining chips! Like prized canids!

But most of all, he hurt Angron.

“With how simple and relaxed his life was, I’m sure he must have very healthy organs…” She idly wondered aloud, knowingly speaking loud enough for the young Master to hear her. She had a long list of people who needed transplants… “But well… he is fat. I would need to starve him down and make sure he was in better condition. Fat organs are no good. Especially for your gladiators, young Lord.” She found that the more truth she mixed into her words, the more she forgot who she was speaking to and of. The easier the lies would come. “Indeed, not many healers would wager so much as ten silvers for him.”

Mortarion: “Wow… wasn’t sure if she had it in her.”
Horus: “Well, she did kill that healer, so…”

She felt sick talking about people like this, knowingly hurting and even harvesting was something that kept her up at night. But… But it was Killian… Was it alright to not feel bad about doing this to him? Was she just like… Just like every other Nucerian?

“Truly? Ah, a shame that.” The Lord clucked his tongue. “What is it you would propose for me to do with him then?”

“Starve him, or work him until he sweats all of his fat off. If you sell now, you won’t get a good price for him. Many would try to undercut you. But if you sell him to me, I will pay you the extra to cover your base, and I can have a new cattle slave until he’s ready for picking. In exchange, you keep sending my apothecarium to care for your gladiators. A favor for a favor?” She spoke quickly, worried that she was able to throw out the suggestion so easily. Maybe she was as horrible as everyone else.

“Hmm.” The Lord nodded, seemingly pleased at the prospect. “Deal.” He spoke a second later, reaching out with his hand and shaking Falaere’s. He paused, feeling how soft her hands were. Weren't healer hands supposed to be hard and calloused?

Falaere started to panic, did he see up her sleeve? She hasn't had the time to see the sculptor yet, she needed to find one that wouldn't ask questions! She still had the slave brands on her body, all the scars- what if he noticed!?

No, he wouldn't! She bound her sleeves tightly, so they wouldn't flutter. Unless they came loose, he wouldn't see under them. Stop panicking, stop panicking! You are fine! Everything is fine!

She pulled away after a shake or two, "Thank you, Young Lord. Who shall I speak to, to finalize this transaction?" Be professional. Hopefully.

"Speak with my cattle slave, he does my book keeping and stock exchanges. I will make sure that no one else bids." Young Lord Thal'kr waved off the discrepancy, so what if she had soft hands? He was too busy getting rid of Killian and his idiocy. Costing him two good slaves that he still hadn't been able to replace!

She bowed her head slightly as the young Lord walked off to get a better view of the pleasure slave auctions.

As soon as he turned his back and slipped into the crowd, Falaere felt as she released a massive sigh of relief, no matter how much time passed, she doubted she would ever feel comfortable or even slightly okay with being around… him… Constantly keeping herself from screaming and crying, and not remembering everything that he did and-

“Mistress?” She felt Bast ask from behind her. “Were you that worried over a simple deal?”

She stiffened, turning her head to Bast as her nerves returned once more. “I uh- no! Of course not! Merely trying not to offend the young lord!”

Bast looked at her with some suspicion before slowly nodding. “The Thal’kr family are quite cruel.” He muttered more to himself than to her even as he scribbled something down. “I was able to begin bidding for Killian.”

“Ah. Really? What was the starting bid?”

“One silver.”

“Really?”

“Turns out, no one wants a fat bastard who used to run the pits.” Bast shrugged slightly. “That or because they can tell he’d be useless and stink up the place. Probably both.” He leaned in slightly closer to her. “The deal you made with the young lord most likely helped as well.”

“Do I hear two silvers?” The seller announced loudly for Killian even as no one in the crowd bothered making a motion in order to bid.

Kilian for his part appeared to be utterly horrified. Sweating even more than usual and seemingly denying that this was happening to him. No one spoke up. Damn the pride! Killian couldn’t just let himself be sold to someone who’d harvest him!

“Come on! I’d be a good sell! I promise I’d do my best no matter what! I’ll shine your shoes! I’ll be your chair! I’ll do anything! Please!”

Laughter suddenly boomed from some members of the crowd even as the seller displayed a pleased grin. “A jester as well! Do I hear two silvers?”

Konrad: “You know? Seeing all of that injustice earlier… it is nice seeing some of it finally be paid back.”
Leman: “It’s the best.”
Angron: “Heh, it was one of the many things she made better on that shithole of a planet.”

No one bothered as the seller looked around.

“Sold! To…” He looked out and found Bast, motioning for him to come forward to the platform even as Killian was dragged away in chains and Bast along with Falaere stepped forward.

“Ooooo… Sold to a healer. Tough luck with that one. May not see him again! So look out for some deals on organ transplants in the near future, my friends! Listen for the squealing of a pig!”

Corvus: “Normally I would feel guilty for laughing at such a crude joke… but this time.” *Chuckles darkly*

More chuckles were heard from the crowd even as Killian was brought down the stage and his shackles were attached around a wooden pole as the seller's apprentices came around.

“Your brand and designation for the slave please, my lady.” One of the apprentices politely asked even as he slightly bowed his head and extended his arm.

Bast moved forward and deposited said brand in his hand even as Falaere looked over to Killian.

He was looking directly back at her. Eye to eye. Pleading with every fibre of his being even as what was left of his clothes were stripped off of him by another assistant wielding a knife.

“Cattle Slave.” She ground out, all of her hatred for him coming out as she took the brand and waited for it to heat, and with more malicious glee than she thought was possible for her. She ignored how the assistant wrote down her designation, admittedly having… not fun, but she was enjoying herself branding this pig.

God, she was just like any other Nucerian, wasn’t she?

Angron: “No… you weren’t.”

But everyone thought this the norm. Owning slaves and torturing them like this. To their eyes, after all, they weren’t human anymore.

The assistant rotated the brand around slowly in the furnace until he retrieved it a minute later, now glowing bright red from the heat.

Well… they would have to deal with it later, she supposed. But at least for once, the person getting the brand would deserve it.

And she didn’t flinch when she branded him, didn’t turn away when the stench of burning flesh hit her senses, she stayed strong. A terrible, angry wound of his designation directly on his flesh. Forever branded that he was cattle, that he was meant to serve in any way he could.

And she would make sure he would. Throw her into a pit of sex-starved slaves? Gleefully torture Angron? She will make him useful whether he liked it or not.

Konrad: “Justice!”
Emperor: “DEATH TO THE NUCERIANS.”
Angron: “Wait… you’re baying for-”
Emperor: “LONG DEAD REFERENCE SONNY HOWARD. BUT YEAH, I WANT TO KILL THEM.”
Leman: “HA!”
Angron: “Wait! You forbid-”
Emperor: “THE RULES OF IMPERIAL COMPLIANCE FORBID IT. BUT THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS.”
Angron: “Oh really… like what!?”
Emperor: “LIKE BREAKING MULTIPLE IMPERIAL EDICTS. AND KILLING AN IMPERIAL OF EXCEPTIONAL STANDING.”
Angron: *Suddenly no longer caring about his father’s change of mind as rage slowly seeps into his mind once more and he takes a very deep breath* “Finally.” *Cracks knuckles*

…
The Pits
…​

“Keep up, cattle,” Bast ordered for her, he kept their new slave on a leash as he carried their bags. Why his Mistress wanted this fat sack of shit, he would never know.

This left her to carry their permission slips, showing them to the guards and allowing them access into the Pits yet again. She was glad that Bast did such a great job as a healer, he was the reason why they were called on by Lord Thal’kr to care for his gladiators so much. She just helped. But then again, maybe it was their lower prices that attracted the young Lord, they did a great job at a fraction of the price… Or maybe she was just bad at numbers and forget to add a zero here and there…

Magnus: “Just like Le-”
Leman: “Numbers hard.”
Magnus: “Wha- what?”
Leman: “Ha! Knocked you off course!”
Magnus: “Fuc- ugh…”

Either way, she didn’t care. She got to see Angron!

Going down into the pits and getting that same sense of rot and blood didn’t matter to her. She gets to talk to him, to be near him! Oh… What if he… What if he kissed her hand again? He had done that almost every single time she saw him…

Sanguinius: “Every time, hmmm? Such a casanova…”
Angron: “Shut the fuck up bird brain.”
Fulgrim: “Again… Such a gentleman…”
Lorgar: “It is sweet, though…”

She felt like a little girl again, getting excited about something so little like this. Well, the short time she actually experienced that allowed her to be excited about something. For the first time in her life, she was actually looking forward to the next time she is touched. She still jumped and skittered when Bast just touched her arm to get her attention, but with Angron… It was so different…

What would it be like if it was… on her… l-lips…? Her face went red and she had to swat those ideas away. She couldn’t be thinking like that! She could barely be around other people, skittered with Bast, nearly breaking into tears being around Lord Thal’kr, why did she feel so comfortable with Angron?

Finally coming down to the bottom of the Pits, she was greeted by the same guards that had always worked here. The ones who have shot Angron and worked for Killian and thrown her into the Pits. Always the same ones.

What they have planned, it wouldn’t do to have them here. Or at least to look the other way…

“We’re here for healing. I’m sure you men are tired and ready for a break?” She asked them, putting on a confident smile towards them.

“We’re not going on break.” They answered, but elbowed each other, “We need food, drink, and something to help us along the way.”

A small bag of silver from her pockets to their hands, after unlocking the cages the guards were gone, but not before they spoke to her quietly, “We find any of them missing, no matter how much money you give us, the master will kill us. Got it?”

She promised no slave was going to be missing from their “watch”. Those few guards were to care for the entire floor, confident in knowing the gladiators were in cages and weren’t able to get out. So, of course, minimal guards were needed for keeping sedated and emaciated slaves in their cages. At least they had silver to get drinks, food and maybe even allow a few to roam the night streets. They made sure to lock the Pits closed while they were gone. Just in case.

“Mistress?” Bast asked, not sure why she was bribing the guards and why she insisted they brought Killian with them to the Pits. He had an idea but wasn’t sure if it was true or if she was crazy enough to possibly do it...

“Trust me, Bast.” She answered him, smiling at him comfortingly and quickly making her way to the cages and letting herself in, not sure if Angron could see how excited she was.

He could feel how excited she was to see him, it was radiating off of her so brightly he felt it reflect off of him as well.

“Angron.” She whispered even as she came close and hugged him. It had become a ritual that took weeks to build up the courage to even start. But it came naturally as she slowly opened up to him about her past and vice versa.

He consoled her over her killing the healer and she fed him news of what the world outside of the arena was like.

And then they had begun to plan.

They would get out of here. All of them. They would topple the High-Riders and free the slaves. Angron felt it as deeply and strongly within him, it was like his very blood was calling out to his destiny.

“Falaere.” He whispered back in his gruff voice even as the two separated, but were still within arm’s length of each other. Whispering was for the best, just because the guards were bribed to go elsewhere or turn their heads, didn’t mean anyone else couldn’t hear them.

“I found a way to scout the pits and arena.” She then whispered to him even as Angron’s eyes went wide with surprise.

Horus: “Oh… that is why she bought that useless pile of blubber.”
Angron: “How else did you think I escaped? Needed to know the ins and outs.”

“How?” He asked. “You cannot bribe the guards. They aren’t to be trusted.” And they were too stupid, he thought bitterly. Being stopped by half-wit guards who held the power over you and kept freedom from you was beyond agonizing.

“It’s not the guards.” She whispered before waving Bast over. Bast hesitated, everything falling into place as he realized what was going on. “Bast?” She asked, worried about what was going through his mind.

“Are you sure?” He asked her back, looking back at Killian then back at her. A lot of questions in his eyes and in his stance, worrying her over the idea about Bast possibly wanting to possibly go against her and them…

“Yes.” She answered, “If you want no part in this, you can ignore it, I’ll do everything I can to make sure you aren’t implicated-”

“No. It’s okay.” He cut her off, sighing as he led Killian into the cage. His Mistress was always weird, so of course, she would get it into her head that she was going to help a slave rebellion. And if he let her go off and do it by herself, she would get hurt. In the end, as her apprentice, it was his duty to make sure she didn’t get herself killed. “Come, Cattle.”

Lion: *Approving nod* “I can appreciate that loyalty.”
Angron: *Looks away* “He was a good kid…”

Falaere breathed a sigh of relief, then stiffened as she felt the anger, bemusement, and surprise that was coming off of Angron.

The other gladiators began stirring, smelling the familiar stench and sneering at the sight of the fat man. If the air itself could carry pure hatred, right now, it would reek with it.

“What is he doing here?” Angron asked with so much resentment that Falaere felt a chill go down her spine.

She took a deep breath, not sure how he would take her buying someone… “I bought him. He was for sale and I thought… He would help…” She started to trail off, what if he was disgusted with her? What if he found out how much she enjoyed branding him? Oh god, she deserves to be thrown from the tallest point in the Thal’kr estate-

Suddenly, a chuckle interrupted them. Coming from the old man that Falaere had learned was Angron’s adopted father, Oenomaus.

“The girl is quick on her wits.” He praised. “You are indeed correct, he could be useful. But will he tell us what he knows willingly?”

“I sure as fuck hope he doesn’t.” Another gladiator sneered from a different part of the cage.

Konrad: “Oh… I do too.”

Before she could stop herself, the words came tumbling out, “If he doesn’t then I’ll harvest him starting from nonessential organs all the way until I reach his heart.” She quickly covered her mouth, not believing she could speak so hatefully and so… horribly about someone… monster, monster, she such a monster, how could she think of doing something like that to a person- no! No, he’s… He hurt people- so it’s not as bad? But it’s a person...

Killian began to babble behind her and plead even as Angron made eye contact with her. For a horrible split second, she expected him to judge her, but instead, he gave her a sadistic grin. “Will you go slowly?”

“...after everything he did, he doesn’t deserve a quick harvest.”

“Please my lady!” Killian cried out behind her. “I will speak! I will speak!”

She then turned to Killian, a sweet smile on her face that was anything but. “Then please, speak nicely to Angron here. If you promise to tell us everything, I’ll make sure you won’t be harvested.” She paused, then added, “But if I believe you are holding anything back, that will be an organ I take from you. Alright?”

She had never seen a pig cry before.

But oh, did the pig squeal. He squealed and guttered out as if he was being burned alive. He gave up every corridor. Every entrance. Every defensive measure. Every single detail of the layout. Everything.

Roboute: “Normally I would be against this cruelty, however in this case…”

And all the while, Angron sucked it all up. His advanced mind remembering every minuscule detail to the letter.

It took Killian nearly thirty minutes. But oh, he got out everything. Enough even for the other gladiators inside of the cage to begin and be hopeful that they just might just make it out alive.

“That-that’s all I know! I swear it!” He sputtered as he fell to his feet. His rings of fat splaying around on the cold stone floor.

“I believe you.” Falaere slowly spoke, trying to remember all of the information. There was so much to remember, she wondered if Angron would be able to remember it all. He was just a man, wasn’t he?

“Mistress.” Bast stepped forward and leaned into her ear. “If you do go through with this… Killian is… a leak.”

Konrad: “The kid makes a fair point.”
Angron: “Oh he did… he made a very good point.”
Corvus: “I like where this is going.”

She looked at him in shock. She honestly shouldn’t be surprised but… well… Bast was Nucerian…

“What do you suggest?” She asked him openly, only to see him wave his head over in the direction of the gate even as he released the chain that held Killian.

Ah...

“Yes, you are right. I did promise not to harvest him…” She began, seeing Bast’s point.

“But you said nothing about not leaving him here. Not our fault if there is an accident.” Bast shrugged, Killian nearby pleading for his life frantically at this point even as some of the gladiators began to stand. Grunting with pleasure at the prospect of killing their former caretaker. All of them had a grudge over the fat man, and all of them were practically salivating at the idea of getting back at him.

“My lady please!” Killian pleaded for his life even as Falaere looked down at the pig. Didn’t she plead? She never wanted to be thrown to the wolves, you know. She grabbed Killian, a smile on her face as always. This made Killian relax just slightly at her, hoping she wouldn’t-

“You know, this reminds me of something, something that made all of this possible. The Gladiators that aren’t fully sedated yet can have fun too. After all…” Echoing these words, made Killian go quiet, as he truly looked at her now. The same pleasure slave he threw into the Pits. He knew then what was coming, and there was nothing he could do to stop it. “They deserve a gift too. They are the ones who pleased the Lord Thal’kr with their performances. But unlike him, I’m fine with them having too much fun.” It was then that she threw him off of her, leaving him on the ground as gladiators came closer and began to surround him.

Horus: “Oh… delicious irony.”
Angron: “She was so beautiful in this moment. I have never been that attracted to anything in my life at that point.”
Emperor: “THAT IS BOTH EXTREMELY DISCONCERTING AND LOVELY AT THE SAME TIME.”

It was here that she quickly walked out with Bast, waving over at Angron who smiled pleasantly at her before beginning to stand himself.

They had just gotten around the corner when they heard the screams and the guards rushed to her. “What’s going on!?” They demanded, hoping they wouldn’t have to do work.

“Oh, nothing really. Just left my cattle in there.” She shrugged her shoulders. “They needed to unwind. Not good for the state of their mental health.”

She saw the guards relax slightly even as the screams reached their zenith. Going quiet seconds later with an unhealthy sounding gurgle. “Oh, fine. Thought we had to work for a second.”

Roboute: *Grumbling* “Lazy… damned… guards…”

...​

“I’m glad I was able to help you…” She admitted to him, able to sit in a slightly more private alcove, where they all could sit together and not have to deal with having to look at Killian’s dead body. Her, Bast, Angron and Oenomaus.

“I am thankful you were able to get this for me. I don’t know how to repay you for it.” Angron responded, both of them sitting closer together than usual.

Nearby, both Bast and Oenomaus watched their interaction. The elder rubbing at his temple as he watched his adopted son flounder about with his own attraction. He leaned closer to Bast, “Do you think they see the sparks flying or…?”

Bast was quiet, not looking at the two. He didn’t really know why she was so attached to the giant. “I dunno. I’m only here to make sure she doesn’t die.”

The elder fully looked to Bast, then back at the two love birds. “This is our only chance at freedom. Don’t mess it up. For any reason.”

Bast nodded, knowing that he was going to have to be silent about it no matter what he felt or did. He was in it now. Whether he liked it or not.

Falaere, meanwhile, was flustered. She was sitting so close to him, and he was thanking her and she didn’t know what she wanted from him! She really didn’t want anything from him, just knowing she was helping him was good enough for her! Even if she wanted him to keep kissing her hands or maybe even her lips- no! No, don’t say that that would be so awkward and horrible and embarrassing- “You could kiss me for it.”

Emperor: “MAGOS… DOES THE SKIP FUNCTION WORK?”
Lehm: *Clicks rune* “No Omnissiah…”
Emperor: “AH… FIGURES.”
Angron: “I don’t want to see this either! It’s beyond painful to watch this, even remember!”

NO! NO WHAT DID SHE JUST DO!? OH NO NO NO SHE JUST SAID THAT OUT LOUD! WHAT IS WRONG WITH HER!? She freaked out internally, not really paying attention to Bast choking on his own breath and sputtering nearby, or Oenomaus burying his face in his hands and holding back laughter at the absurdity of the situation. She couldn’t even tell what Angron was thinking, she was freaking out on what she just said out loud-

“Sure.”

Jaghatai: “Slick as a running river brother.”
Angron: “Shut. Up.”

Wait what.

“It’s a simple request, not too difficult.” He shrugged, keeping a cool look on him. But on the inside, he was wondering what the fuck was he doing!? Sure, he kissed her hands and held her a lot, but what the fuck was this about!? He liked her, a lot actually, but he had no experience in this! This was new territory for him- wasn’t she a pleasure slave!? What if he did it wrong and made her freak out- shit shit shit shit- “Uh…” He was practically lost for words at the moment. “So. How do we?” He motioned with his hands as if she wasn’t sitting on his lap already. Well, no, she was next to him, but she could easily- I mean-

Fulgrim: “Simple request? My… I never took for a flirt brother.”
Magnus: “It’s… quite comical to see you internally freaking out over it as well. Dare I say, cu-”
Angron: “Don’t you dare.”

“Well, I uh… never kissed before… Well, I kissed! Just not someone on the lips and-” She babbled and tried to figure this out too. She really didn’t want to look back on her past, but well- maybe something could help!? NO! MOST OF THAT WAS SEX OR FOREPLAY! SHE DIDN’T THINK SHE COULD EVER HANDLE THAT! Wasn’t it just- just- you know, lips on lips and- THIS WAS SO DIFFICULT!

Nearby she could hear his adoptive father groaning into his hands, wanting to help and give direction, but knowing that this was too awkward to help out in. There were just some things that some people needed to learn for themselves. It didn’t mean he couldn’t be severely awkward and pained just listening to this.

“You’re the one who asked in the first place!” Angron shot back, the situation too awkward for him. But he kinda really wanted to…

“Well, it just came out and- maybe we just press them together and try it out-”

Horus: “Damn. Even my first wasn’t this awkward.”
Emperor: “I’M SORRY BUT WHAT-”
Horus: “Nothing. Just a servant girl.”
Emperor: “... I DOUBT IT BUT OK.”

“I am willing to do that if you will stop making this awkward!”

“I am not making this awkward you just keep talking-”

“You’re the one starting it!”

“Well-fine!” She grabbed both of his cheeks, they felt so rough in her hands, dark stubble rubbing against her palms, how long was his hair brown? He was always shaven, so she never really paid attention. It felt incredibly weird since she never actually got to be so close to someone like this before. And before she could change her mind, dived in.

All the arguing and the awkwardness were worth it, this was the best feeling she ever felt in her life! It felt soft, and warm and gentle and right- She loved it and didn’t want it to end!

Angron thought that kissing was the best fucking thing in the world.

They both loved it. Clearly. Not thinking the least bit about how horrible and awkward it looked to Oenomaus and Bast who were looking away from the two. Oenomaus because he couldn’t handle watching his boy kissing and hoped it would end soon. And Bast, who felt as if he was dying on the inside.

Emperor: “UHHHH- I HAVE SEEN SOME SLOPPY KISSES IN MY TIME BUT…”
Angron: “DON’T!”
Fulgrim: “It looks like two Canids going at one another.”
Horus: “You two definitely look like this is your first ever kiss.”
Roboute: “I mean… this is pretty bad.”

When they finally pulled away, they both had to stop themselves from bursting into laughter at how absurd the entire situation was. Bast was just thankful they stopped.

Until they kissed again. At that point, Bast got up and left the alcove, proclaiming that looking at a dead body was a much more viable use of his time. Oenomaus quickly followed, not wanting to watch these two literally suck face.

It wasn’t as if the two could even see or hear anything going on around them in the first place.

Horus: “It had… good intent at least?”
Angron: *Burying face in hands while the nails aren’t biting for once*

...
915.M30 - Nuceria, Desh’ea
...​

“How does that feel?” She asked the child who was on her examination table, from the clothes she wore, she was a common citizen, the same as her mother nearby.

The child flexed her fingers, looking down at the splint on her arm that kept it immobile. She looked at up Falaere, “Not moving?”

Falaere nodded, pointing out how the splint worked. “Correct! Your arm can’t move since you broke it. You need to keep that on a bit longer before you start feeling better. We would put a cast on, but we just don’t have the supplies for it. So this is the next best thing!” She smiled softly at the child, who looked back down at her splint.

“Thank you so much, the other apothecariums didn’t want our money…” The mother trailed off, bowing towards Falaere, “Thank you for your generosity!”

Waving her hands, an embarrassed blush on her face, “Please! It’s fine! Money is money, and to make up for the lack of cast, it was free of charge for me to reapply the splints! What’s most important is your health, after all!” Falaere waved it off, it was just common courtesy?

The mother, however, didn’t take it as common courtesy, “I am forever in your debt…” The underlying additional hung in the air, which Falaere was quick to cut off.

“No, it is to help. I’m not going to take advantage of anyone.”

Soon enough, she was able to send them off, waving them off and telling them to come again. But she paused and watched as the mother and daughter walked off hand in hand, watching how the mother was so gentle with her child, how the child looked at her mother.

How would she look with her own child?

She had been feeling quite sick for a while now, dreaming of a sweet little boy with golden eyes. She just had a feeling that she was carrying. She had been able to hold hands, and even kiss Angron and go further, but… She didn’t know if she would be ready to take that leap with him. After all her life, just thinking about it was… difficult. Sure, it was different to experience… passion… And their kisses having edged closer to something deeper, even going… well… all the way once before…

It had taken a VERY long time to get to that point, however. Even to the point where they had talked about kid-

Just being by Angron’s side it would be enough to keep her happy. She loved him, and having a baby with him was...

Oh, but thinking it and telling him were two very different things. She hadn’t told him and didn’t know how to tell him, or even if she should tell him. On Nuceria, life was… painful and unstable. No environment any sane mother would want to bring a child into… She even doubted she would be a good mother since she never had one...

But it was okay! Because now… Instead of just drifting on in life, she had a job, freedom, and most importantly she had someone she cared about… She wouldn’t dare ask for anything more.

As she was cleaning up and straightening out the shelves, Bast returned from the markets. She turned to greet him but stopped when she saw the look on his face.

He looked as if the worst happened and had to break the news to her. “M-Mistress…” He stopped and swallowed, not sure how to tell her what happened. “A-Angron…”

“What happened to him?” She demanded, fully turned to Bast now, “Tell me! What happened!?”

“Angron is going to be nailed.”

Lorgar: “WAIT! Then that one time turned out to be…”
Angron: “Yeah… yeah…”

It felt as if everything was falling apart, her breath stopped, eyes wide, hands loose and empty. She kept thinking that Bast was wrong, that Angron was fine, nothing was wrong, they were still planning and- and-...

And…

She started to move, going for the door, first instinct to run to the Pits and demand them to stop, to spare him. But she was barely able to make it across the room, Bast wrapping his arms around her torso and keeping her in the Apothecarium. She started to scream at him, hands pounding on him, “Let me go!”

“Mistress NO!” He tightened his grip on her, keeping her in the Apothecarium was his number one priority. If he let her run out to Angron now, then anything could happen! She didn’t have the power to stop it, not an order from the Lords. She would get herself killed telling them to stop. “Mistress please! You need to stay! You’ll get yourself killed!”

“I DON’T CARE!” She demanded, tears falling from her eyes as she struggled to get out of Bast’s arms. Dammit! Why did Bast have to be so much stronger than her, despite being shorter than her!? “Bast they’re going to nail him! I have to do something! I have to do something!”

“There is nothing you can do, Mistress!” Bast countered, pulling her to the back of the Apothecarium, which made her thrash in his arms even more. “Please! If you go there, what are you going to do!? You don’t have the money to stand up to Lord Thal’kr’s order! You don’t have anything to offer him-”

“Yes I do!”

“What!?” Bast was bewildered, what did she mean-

“If it will save Angron, I don’t mind being a pleasure slave again! If I tell Lord Thal’kr who I am, I can save Angron! I just need to tell him! I just need to tell him!” She babbled out, desperate to get out and run to Lord Thal’kr, if she offered herself, if she took the abuse, if she just went back, she could help Angron!

Angron: “NO! How could you think about doing that!? Don’t do this to yourself… please…”

“A-Again!?” Bast had no idea what she was saying, why she would and what the hell she was even doing anymore! “What do you mean-”

“I-” She stopped, the adrenaline in her body cooling and making her sluggish as she accepted that it was out now. It was out and… She had to be honest. “My name isn’t Falaere, Bast… I’m not Falaere- Falaere is dead!” She shook as the life she built over the year came crashing down, all of her fears, her lies were being exposed. “I was one of Lord Thal’kr’s pleasure slaves, Sleeve… I am Sleeve… I killed the healer who was helping me because she looked like me… I killed her because I wanted to be free…” She hiccuped, not feeling the ability to fight back anymore, her past life like a leech that was sucking up all of the healthy blood she made over the year. “I killed her, took her place, stole my freedom… I never went to the guilds, I never went to school, I don’t actually own this Apothecarium- I am an escaped slave who did horrible things to be free! I lied to everyone, to you, to Lord Thal’kr, I lied and killed and cheated!”

He couldn’t believe what he was hearing, everything she was claiming couldn’t be true! But… But with unconfident she was, how much she stayed up to study, how much she praised his work, how much she insisted he was the one who deserved the praise… How much she paid him, how much she felt as if she was never good enough, how much she covered her body at all times, how uncomfortable she was around him, around Lord Thal’kr- Oh god… Oh god, she was telling the truth… “You… You were a pleasure slave… You killed my Mistress-”

“I’m sorry… I’m sorry Bast… I just couldn’t handle another day- I couldn’t handle another day of the beatings, the burning, the stabbing, the raping, the humiliation! I couldn’t handle it! But now if I have the choice to choose between saving Angron and being free, I’d rather he be saved!” She sobbed, collapsing to the ground as Bast held her there, keeping her from running off to hell. “Please Bast, I need to go… I need to save him… I can’t sit here and do nothing… Please…”

“What?” Bast unbelieving that she would do this. No wait, she would. She would jump straight into the bowels of hell for someone else. Of course, she would… “No. No, I won’t allow it. What do you think is going to happen?”

“If I offer myself to Lord Thal’kr, he would stop it-”

“No! He won’t! Angron personally insulted him! He refused to fight! If you offer yourself to him in exchange for Angron to be nail-free, do you honestly think he’ll keep his side of the bargain!?”

Mortarion: “The boy is correct. Once that filth knows your weakness, he will exploit it mercilessly until your dying day. Never tell your enemy your weakness.”

“He-”

“He won’t! As soon as he knows that you are desperate for Angron to be nail-free, he’ll have more incentive to do it! As soon as he knows who you are, he will stop at nothing to have you back! If he finds out you care for Angron, you will seal it done and still give up your freedom! No matter what you do, you can’t win!” Bast practically yelled at her, holding her close and burying his face in her back. He hated the idea that she used to be a slave to Lord Thal’kr, he hated that he didn’t see the possibility of her being an escaped slave, he hated that he was fine with her killing his Mistress! He hated that he was holding her for the first time, and it was to stop her from sacrificing her freedom to save a man she loved.

If only she hadn’t have met Angron…

Konrad: “Ironic, because if she didn’t, he wouldn’t have known her.”

…
Hours later
…​

It took Bast hours to calm her down enough to convince her that she couldn’t do anything, all the while struggling with his conscience. And well… even though he had met his mistress a mere month before she was replaced… he had mixed feelings.

His new mistress, she had challenged every single part of his mind that though slavery and indentured servitude were normal. She had even given him the freedom of choice to part from her.

Thus, he had to respect her. He knew what they did to the pleasure and punishment slaves. Especially the cruel Thal’kr family. Those people… even him, a trueborn Nucerian, bred and raised on the norms of slavery, found that type of servitude appalling.

And that was why he went along with it as they prepared for the slave rebellion.

For almost a year now they had been setting up networks of underground operation to free more and more slaves and get them out in order to prepare for the rebellion. They had even gotten some gladiators to convincingly have their deaths faked in the arena and managed to drag them off, though those were few and far between and cost an absolute fortune each.

Roboute: “That is some organization… why didn’t it work?”
Angron: “There were too many of them. Too much tech on their side as well. They gunned us down.” *Grins* “But it wasn’t a bad death. We took a lot of them with us.” *Suddenly goes somber* “...then I lost my will to live.”

The network had expanded at this point beyond their wildest proportions, his mistress quickly finding out that she wasn’t the only one trying to free the slaves and thought the society unethical, to say the least.

And well… Bast couldn’t blame her. Even less so now that he knew her history.

But Angron was unsavable.

And quite quickly, that measure of fear, shame, and worry in his mistress turned into pure, unadulterated, fury.

She didn’t like it, but she had a cruel side when she needed or wanted to have one. Killian being the best example.

And that is how they found themselves going to the arena yet again in the middle of the night, citing to the guards that they had come for a medical emergency. They were let in practically immediately with almost no questions asked. When they reached the bottom, they understood why.

Angron had been split away from all the other gladiators upon the threat of almost killing them. He had slaughtered all of the chirurgeons who had operated on him. All fifty. The entire stock that the arena had held.

To say that Bast was apprehensive about letting his mistress enter Angron’s personal cage was an understatement. He wanted to beg her to stay back, that once a gladiator had the nails, then there was no hope for them. Everyone knew that when the nails were in, you barely have a year or two left before… He knew that he would be little more than a wild animal, he would tear her apart, he’d kill her and-

“Angron?” She whispered, practically terrified of possibly speaking too loudly and making him angry. She hadn’t been this scared of him before, even when she was thrown into the Pits and thought he would take advantage of her. No, she was more terrified of him now than she ever would have been. “Angron…?”

A loud groan was the only answer, even as she fumbled with the keys and let herself in, overriding the part of her mind warning her about the danger.

Lorgar: “Brother?”
Angron: “I wouldn’t hurt her… even then… That was the first time I couldn’t feel the emotions of everyone… It was… Isolating...”
Konrad: “Only going to get worse.”
Angron: “I know, you don’t have to bring it up, asshole.”
Magnus: “Would you ever want that back?”
Angron: “Doesn’t matter. The nails aren’t going anywhere, not until I die. Nothing matters.”

“Mistress, NO!” Bast attempted to reach for her, but his hand was unable to pull her back as she slid into the cage.

She took a deep breath and forced herself to walk into the cage, focusing on him and not on the body parts that were still littered in his cage. Almost like she was approaching a wild animal that would tear her apart and gleefully drink her blood. “Angron…” She whispered again, afraid to possibly reach out to him. Would he hurt her? Would he kill her? “Angron, I’m here…”

A loud roar startled her, making her skin shiver as he leapt up and grabbed her.

She closed her eyes, prepared for death. If this is how it would go… so be it…

Instead of tearing her apart, however… she felt as he slowed.

“Falaere?” He ground out, the noise toothy and filled with rage, almost as if he was reigning in something strong and nearly uncontrollable. Like a constant war inside of himself.

She reached up and cupped his cheeks, nodding, “I’m here. I’m here, Angron.” He wouldn’t hurt her, would he?

Lorgar: “She… didn’t fear you? Even then?”
Sanguinius: “No, she did. But I believe she was so worried over Angron, she pushed aside her fear for him.”
Angron: “The only good part about these fucking things is them blocking this crap out... I didn’t want to feel her fearing me…”

He pushed her away. “Get out!” He groaned. “Get out!”

“Angron?” She asked carefully stepping back towards him.

“GET OUT!” He yelled. “BEFORE I KILL YOU! I CAN’T CONTROL MYSELF! GET OUT!”

The order he gave her was like a physical weight, manifesting itself and pushing her back like his words had a power that could control others. But she shook it off, taking another step towards him, “No. I won’t leave you alone! I won’t sit back and let you suffer alone!”

He grabbed her again in his massive hands, she felt as they shook as if they had tremors.

She tried to look up at him, at his glowing, golden irises. “You won’t.” She whispered even as she reached up and cupped his cheek. “But… if you do…” She stood on her toes, reaching up and giving him a kiss which he didn’t reciprocate. “It’s okay. Knowing you has been the best thing that had happened in my life. If I die, I’ll die knowing I spent it with you. I love you too much to leave you behind.”

He groaned again, feeling the pain. Not physical but psychological. “I… killed him.” He ground out. “They made me… kill Oenomaus…” He confessed, thumping down onto the ground as he released her. “I killed him…” He ground out again, feeling tears come to his eyes. “He was my father, and I slaughtered him!”

Lorgar: “What!?”
Angron: “They… made me… I couldn’t control myself… I got those fucking nails because I wouldn’t kill him… They nailed me, then made my first kill him. They made me do it. Those bastards made me do it!”
Emperor: *Slowly beginning to actually get furious*
Roboute: “That- that… there are no words…”

Her heart broke for him, knowing those things made him do it. Knowing that the lords-... No. No, the High-Riders did this to him. They did this and now Angron was… She hugged him, holding him as tightly as she could. The pain he felt was palpable in the air, it was strongest where she stood as if he was projecting his pain for all to feel. And now… Now…

Oh god, Angron was going to die… He would only have a year, two? Three at most? Everything they had been planning, everything they hoped for, everything they wanted to reach for… All of it was going to be lost. “I’m here. I’m here for you, I’m right here.”

They only had so much time left. They only had so much time before everyone would be for nothing. She wouldn’t stand for Angron to rot here in the Pits after being forced to kill Oenomaus! He needed his freedom now! Now, before it was too late… “I’m here, and I won’t go anywhere. I promise you.”

“I might kill you…” He warned, slowly hugging her back even as the Nails bit harder, demanding more blood and skulls.

“Well… don’t kill your son.”

Lorgar: “Oh… I was right…”
Angron: “You were…”

“What?” He asked, half thinking that he had misheard her even as she took one of his massive hands and slowly reached down with it until it was on her stomach.

“He’s growing really quickly…” She muttered slowly even as she looked him back into his eyes. “I… I found out this morning… You’re going to be a father Angron.” She reached up and cupped his cheeks, even as tears fell from her eyes in both happiness and fear. Would he even be able to hold him? To meet him? “I’m having your baby.”

Damn them. Damn them all. Damn ALL of them! He refused to fight, he refused to kill just once, and then- then they just shove these nails into his mind! They mutilated him, made him kill Oenomaus and now-

Now he was still stuck in the Pits, about to be a father and he’s still just a slave. A slave with nails and a timer. What would happen if… If their son was just like him…?

What if they took him?

He held her protectively, a deep, dark growl coming from him as the nails bit harder. No. No, they wouldn’t. He won’t let them. They wouldn’t get their damned, dirty fucking claws on him! He will make sure of it! He will have his freedom now!

“Falaere…” He ground out. “Give the signal… we need to get out… now.”

She nodded, tonight was the night, huh? She was terrified, she had never been a part of a rebellion before. She didn’t know what she was going to do, how she was going to help in the coming times… But as long as she kept doing her best, and was by his side, then she would be able to do anything.

Absolutely anything.

“I’ll be here. To the end.”

He grabbed her hand, as gently as he possibly could even as they held each other for a few minutes before she slipped out.

They had work to do.

Corvus: “Finally.”
Angron “It ends badly…”
Leman: “It ends with a fight. A damn good one too.”
Lion: “With conviction in your heart and a fight for a good cause.”
Roboute: “Giving your life in a just war is nothing to be ashamed off.”
Angron: “... stop it. All of you.”

“Bast. Pack as much of our supplies as we can carry. It happens tonight.” She ordered him, looking stoic, controlled and not like the nervous mess she currently was. He silently watched her as she left the cage, not a scratch on her.

This was it. The point of no return. If he followed her here, if he went along with her and into this, there would be no turning back. Leave behind the constant and stable life they lived, but forever watch as society kept debasing themselves with slavery… or take a chance and rebel for the chance to lead a better life. But also a chance at losing it all… A gamble that could reach for heaven or hell. He knew what his answer was, even before thinking about it.

Wherever she goes, he goes. “Right away, Mistress.”

...​

“Move it, slave!” The guard commanded even as he whipped one that was busy mining precious ore in the depths of the cold mines.

Corvus: “Wait… I recognize that sound…”

The cries of pain and reverberating noises of clinking pickaxes were heard all over.

Corvus: “Ah… not limited to only the surface.”

And like the bearer of the word of god itself, a miner from a different section descended and whispered into one's ear.

The second miner nodded before whispering it onward.

And like a chain, it traveled until everyone heard.

“Get a move on maggots!” The guard shouted even as he raised his whip, only for it to be stopped by a hand.

“What!? Who dare-” He whirled around to punch the slave who would dare to stop his hand.

Only to find a pickaxe suddenly embedded into his head.

The miner who had swung it, unceremoniously pulled it back out even as he leant down and picked up the guard’s keys.

“Today.” The Miner began to proclaim even as all around the mine many of the guards began to be killed in similar gruesome methods. “We are FREE!”

And a roar was heard all across the mines. A roar of pure and utter loathing even as all across Nuceria… a revolution began to happen.

Corvus: “Finally.”

Pleasure slaves cut the throats of their sleeping masters.

Fulgrim: “Good.”

Cattle freed itself and burned down the homes of their owners.

Leman: “Revenge.”

In one measly hour. The entirety of Nuceria was burning.

…​

“What’s happening!?” A guard demanded even as they descended into the pits of the arena, rushing to secure the gladiators.

“Slave revolt!” The head guard responded even as he fiddled with the keys and opened the gate leading deeper into the pits.

“What? How is that even possible?” An appalled, younger guard asked in shock.

“It’s happened before.” The older one explained. “But I don’t think it was ever this bad… or organized. We gotta lock them up in chains and make sure they are tranquelizeAHHHH!” His own scream cut him off as a shiv was plunged into his back and the group of guards turned to see a few gladiators standing there. No weapons other than a few shivs and their bare hands.

“Stand back!” A guard warned even as a sadistic grin graced all of the gladiators faces.

“Fine.” They spat and made way even as a pair of golden glowing irises emerged from the darkness, revealing Angron. Bloody and with a permanent monstrous face.

The guards didn’t even have time to scream.

Vulkan: “Good.”

…​

“Bast, how much of the ointment did you pack?”

“All of the red tags and green tags. I also made room for as many bandages as possible, but we may have to wear some under our clothes to fit in more medicine.”

“Good, I’m bringing as much of the antibiotics as we can carry. Antivirals as well, just in case. I’m trying to fit in the herbs, but I’m running out of room-”

“Give them to me, I can swap out the extra food supplies for them.”

They both paused as they heard an explosion deep into the city, the Apothecarium practically shaking from it. They looked at each other before they came to the same conclusion. Time was up.

“We need to go.” Bast broke the silence. She agreed, the two of them working hard to force their Apothecary bags to close. If the violence was this close to the inner city, then their window to escape was rapidly closing.

“The mountain path should still be clear. They will be waiting for us there.” Bast reaffirmed as they shouldered their bags and practically sprinted out of the back door, weaving through the city and desperately avoiding the guards that were running.

But there was one issue. All the guards were running in the same direction.

What could require that many?

Falaere pushed it out of her mind as they ran as fast as they could.

But only more and more guards were running in that direction.

Wait… that was the direction of the arena… Angron!

“Bast! It has to be Angron!” She said, voicing her thoughts aloud even as he groaned but turned and they ran practically with the guards.

They scurried through some alleyways before coming to the massive, open, market. It was the main slave market of Desh’ea.

And in the middle of it. Standing atop a pile of corpses. Was Angron.

He was waving around two massive axes. Slaughtering anyone and anything that attempted to get near. Anyone that shot something at him found it either ineffective or simply missing entirely.

All around him fought his friends. All with sadistic grins on their faces, displayed proudly as they slaughtered the guards as easily as if they were completely unarmed.

Oh… they had been waiting for this.

But well… in the light of the burning city behind him, the piles of corpses and being painted red by all of the blood of his slaughtered enemies, the shadow that fell behind him looked almost as if he had wings.

Wings… wings like an angel.

A Red Angel.

Angron: “I fucking hate that monicker.”
Sanguinius: “Why? It is fitting. Especially after seeing this scene.”
Angron: “Because I’m my own fucking man is why!”
Sanguinius: *Points at screen* “Indeed you are. Red Angel.”
Angron: *Grumbles seeing his point*

Maybe someone had heard her prayers after all…

Soon, the guards stopped coming and she and Bast took this chance to get closer to Angron. Falaere having to stop herself from shivering in fear from seeing how… monstrous he now looked.

But when he saw her, when he looked into her eyes... Despite being drenched in blood, despite killing all of those people, despite having the nails hammered into his head she knew. Falaere knew, from merely how he was looking at her he wouldn’t hurt a single hair on her head.

Then his head turned around to look at all of the gathered slaves. Gladiator, pleasure, cattle, everyone had come.

He grinned even as he raised one of his axes into the air.

“FREEDOM!” He bellowed even as his cry was echoed by all of the present slaves.

“Freedom!” They cried alongside him, their voices becoming one as they howled their allegiance to the Red Angel. “Freedom! Freedom!”

A cacophony of voices, all screaming to the heavens, primal sounds coming from deep in their souls, the need for freedom. All looking to Angron, who relished their camaraderie.

Then slowly… Angron pointed an axe for the rich district and let out an earth shattering rumble of a shout. “DEATH!”

Konrad: “Oh.. they shall.”
Emperor: “SOON.”

...​

“You filthy dogs!” A metallic, buzzing sound came out, as tiny machines came out, swarming near the rebels, but just out of reach. The Maggot’s Eyes. “You think you have won!?”

Each of the countless little eyes, the same ones that were used to watch the people, the arena from a safe distance away. Everyone had seen these damned machines before. Each of them were screeching death to the rebels, all of them belonging to some lord, or some other high rider. All of them were taunting the rebels, with the loudest voice at the front.

“What do you hope to accomplish!? A quicker death!? Do you really believe that you will last against us? Against our armies? Against our might!?” The robotic voice of Lord Thal’kr recognizable in the swarm as they looked down at the collected rebels. “You will never win against us, you’re just expediting the process.”

“Death! Death! Death!”

The slaves below were more than happy to show off how much they hated the High-Riders, glad to have an audience to show off their hatred towards.

Lord Thal’kr was already low on patience, where did these maggots get the idea of freedom from? He made sure that Angron wouldn’t be able to think- he had the nails, dammit! How did he get out!?

“My Lord!” A guard came running before quickly kneeling. “The mines! All the miners have revolted!”

The miners? What about the damn miner- oh. Oh no. Oh no.

“My Lord-my lord!” Another guard ran in, this one injured and completely breathless. “The arena burns! It’s completely destroyed! The gladiators-” The guard gasped for breath. “-they all got out!”

Shit. Shit! “The Arena!?” No, no no! With all of the gladiators out, then the situation was far worse than he would have thought… He couldn’t do this alone.

Perturabo: “That’s what happens when you design your entire city around an arena and base your fucking culture on slavery.”
Lorgar: “And strip them of any and all things to lose.”
Mortarion: “Then push them to the brink of breaking.”
Corvus: “And it only took a spark.”

Thinking quickly, the young Lord walked over to his father’s chambers. His father would not be happy about being awakened, especially because of a rebellion.

“Father.” He began as he opened the door. “Sorry to disturb-” He opened to door to see his father strung up like an effigy on his own bed. His guts on the floor and a pained look on his face even as the window behind the bed was smashed and in massive blood writing on the wall was written: “If we die, we die free.”

Horus: “Oh… so that’s what you meant… good.”

He was silent as he read the wall, then a nearly uncontrollable fury burned deep inside of him. Fine. If they wanted to die? They were going to die. He was going to make all of them rue the day they even thought of an uprising against him, against Nuceria. As the new Lord Thal’kr, as the highest lord amongst his peers, he would lead them all.

He would lead them all to slaughter the errant pigs who dared think of themselves as people.

“I will give them death.”

Emperor: “AND I TO YOU.”
Angron: “Not if I get him first.”
Emperor: “I’LL RACE YOU.”
Angron: *Sad grin* “We’ll talk later old man…” *Goes completely morose* “...That’s it. That’s the end. We escape, we rebel for a while, but then… Then she dies…”
Lorgar: “How did she die?”
Angron: “Sickness. I wasn’t there, she passed while I was gone. She couldn’t move, was too pale, too heavy. It killed her, sucked away all of her life and she had no time to rest.”
Mortarion: “That isn’t how… I doubt the pregnancy itself would do it. The birth might have…”
Angron: “All I know is that I left to fend off some of those bastards, then the next thing I know… I know… She’s gone. I didn’t want to look at her body, so I gathered up all of our forces and went on one final charge. I lost the only reason I had for living, and we had no more chances. We would go out in glory...”
Emperor: “WELL, IF YOU WANT TO FINISH THE JOB, MIGHT AS WELL GO NOW. LOOKS LIKE THE VID IS OVER ANYWAY-”
Lehm: “No, Omnissiah, there is more.”
Angron: “No, there shouldn’t. She is dead.”
Lehm: “Technology does not lie. There is more.”
Angron: "The only thing I can think of that it could show is her dead body. Fucking- No, I do not want to see that!"

...
Months later
…​

“Where-where is he!?” Falaere cried out in their little hideout even as the battle raged outside. She looked close to death, from how pale she was, to the gauntness of her face and to how strained she looked in a cold sweat. Lying on her back, looking absolutely massive from her pregnancy, as if her body had gained a large tumor the size of a young child that was keeping her pinned to the ground. From the angle, it must have been some recording device on the ground, hidden from sight.

Angron: "F-Falaere?"
Mortarion: "Yeah okay, now I can see why you would think she died of sickness. She looks like the pregnancy is sucking away her very life."
Angron: "SHUT UP!"

“Gone Mistress!” Bast confessed even as he took a wet rag and patted Falere’s forehead with it. The baby had grown incredibly quickly over the course of the rebellion and she had lost her water hours ago.

And that was when Angron disappeared. Not died, not murdered or fallen or back or anything. Disappeared.

A gladiator ran in, heavily bloodied and carrying the remnants of battle before looking her over. He looked both relieved and slightly horrified as he put everything together and what happened, “Oh, thank the fucking stars, you’re alive!”

She looked up at him along with Bast in shock. “What? No, I'm not dead!” She demanded even as another contraction took her by storm, wracking through her entire body and felt as if someone was stabbing her and twisting the knife throughout her entire body. But what was the worst, was how she could feel the mass of her baby squirming inside of her, every movement as if he was fighting against the friction of a dry bag against wet skin, pulling on the organ and sending sharp pains.

“We thought you dead! Angron got so angry he simply charged with what was left of us!”

Angron: “WHAT!? SHE WAS ALIVE WHEN I CHARGED!?”
Lorgar: “Oh…”
Leman: “Shite…”
Angron: “NO! No she was... She was... Her and the baby... I...” *breathing quickens*

Falaere felt her eyes widen. No. No. No-no-no-no! Why would he charge like that!? They had a plan! They just needed to get to the mountains, get somewhere safe, somewhere defensible and just- What was he thinking!?

“What happened to him?” Bast demanded beside her, quickly covering Falaere when a nearby wall was shot through and sent dust over them. She was already in a terribly delicate situation, no need to suffocate her too!

“We don’t know! He disappeared in a flash of literal light! Gone in the blink of an eye!”

Falaere’s breathing increased. This was not happening! Where did Angron go!? He promised her- He promised they were going to be free! That they were going to get away from everyone- he promised her! Did he leave? Or was he taken!? Please no, please... She can't run or escape, she can't go on without him! She doesn't know how to care for their child by herself... He promised her...

“What’s left of the High-Riders army is coming.” The gladiator warned. “We have to go. We can hide in the mountain village, they will never find us. With Angron gone not only do we not stand a chance, but they will also stop.”

Angron: “NO! I ran off on false information- I abandoned her! Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck”
Lorgar: "Angron calm down-"

“I can’t!” Falaere cried out in desperation, maybe if tey just wait, maybe he will come back!? “We are so close-”

“We have no more men!” The gladiator re-affirmed harshly, shirking back when she winced at his tone, before he rubs at his face, not trying to distress her even further. “They are all gone! It’s just us! Our troops are nearly depleted!”

It all went silent for a moment as Falaere said a silent prayer for the fallen, oh god... was this all for nothing? “Did-did they die well?”

The gladiator reluctantly nodded. “They will remember us for this. But we need to go!”

Falaere attempted to stand, only for another contraction to hit her, never in her life had she experienced such pain as this, and she was a punishment slave. Not to mention the severe weight of it all was keeping her on the ground, she could feel the weight of her son crushing her bones, making them creak in a threat of breaking. The baby wasn’t coming out, and she didn't know what to do!

She couldn't get up, she couldn't move, she wouldn't even be able to run! If the enemy was as close as they said... then... Oh god... She had to make a choice... If... If Angron is gone... She doesn't have a reason to live, except for their son... But if she can't move and they capture them... Her baby... her friends... She just knew what had to be done, accepting her fate if it meant her baby and her friends could go and be free.

“Bast!” She yelled up at her friend, hand in hand and squeezing his own with as much strength as she could, to convey the severity of her request. “You-you have to promise me!”

“What? Mistress?” Bast asked her confused, before his mind was connecting what she was going to ask of him. No, no no...

“Bast, I can’t move! I can’t move and he’s not coming out! Promise me! Promise me you’ll take care of him!”

Angron: “NO! NO NO NO!”

“What!? What are you on about mistress-” He didn't want to hear her ask him the impossible, maybe he was wrong. Before he could beg further, a scream cut him off, the enemy was already close enough for melee range. If it was just the first wave and not the whole army, then maybe-

“Bast! I can’t move! He’s too large! My body can’t handle it, he’ll be there inside of me too long and he’ll- Ragio- Angron’s son! My son! He will die!” She held Bast's hand, looking up at her friend, hoping he wouldn't fight her on this. Her life was worth nothing, but her son... Her son deserved a chance!

“You’re not proposing-”

“Cut him out!”

“You’ll die!”

Angron: “NO! NO! YOU DIED BEFORE I LEFT! THE CHILD DIED! IT'S NOT TRUE IT'S NOT TRUE” *shakes his head and denies the vision, hoping this was a joke, a horrible, fucking joke that was only trying to fuck him up further*

“We both will! Cut him out and save him!” She breathed as she grabbed onto his shirt. “Take him to the village… raise him… don’t let him be a slave. Please. Please, Bast.”

Outside, Bast could hear the raging battle outside, the sounds of an approaching army. Even if he took his time to make sure she survived, they would be found and killed. Or taken as slaves. Then everything would have been for nothing. But if he did it quickly and only saved the baby… Oh god, he didn’t want to do this… But when she looked at him like that, when she asked him to do the impossible, to knowingly kill her to save him… God…

“I promise.” Bast nodded, already planning out how to get this done as fast as possible. He looked to the gladiator beside him, “give me updates, I need time.”

“Gotcha.” The gladiator peeked out to ascertain the battle, and watch for the approaching army. “We got minutes, so do it!”

Bast pulled out his sharpest knife, glancing at Falaere one more time as she nodded, giving him a smile. “It’s okay, Bast. Please… I want my son to grow up free.”

Angron: *Stands and lunges for the holoprojector* “NO!”
Lorgar: “Brother! NO!” *Barely grabs onto him along with Leman and Horus*
Leman: "Calm down ye mad fookin' lad!"
Horus: "Brother, please! I know this is beyond distressing, but please calm down-"
Angron: "IT'S NOT TRUE IT'S NOT TRUE IT'S NOT TRUE IT'S NOT TRUE"

Then he made the first cut, having to listen to the woman he loved cry out, hold back screams as he cut into her flesh. No time to dull the pain, no time to care about her safety, just cut, dig, cut, dig. Keep going, cut through the layers, cut open the uterus, don’t harm the baby. She made him promise, to take and raise her son. Save the kid... Save the kid, kill the woman he loved...

God, it was like looking into a nightmare! The boy was huge! He could see the outline of him inside of her, squirming as if trying to find a way out of her. No wonder she had been in so much pain all this time! How massive was he?! If he wasn’t so big, then maybe she would have had a normal pregnancy and then she could have run! But no! He had to be born like his fucking father in a blaze of damned glory! He had to be little more than a parasite sucking away the life of a woman who deserved to live in peace! Live free, but was dying on the floor of a battlefield!

No! No, it wasn’t the kid’s fault! It’s not his fault. God, he's blaming a child for something it didn't have a choice in! None of this was fucking right! Angron wasn't supposed to disappear! Falaere wasn't supposed to die! He wasn't supposed to be killing her! Just… Just cut it open, pull him out. Cut her open and pull Ragio out.

The final cuts and he was ripping her open, hearing the squalling of the baby, taking its first breaths while covered in gore. Ha… Just like his father. The sound of Falaere’s pain had become white noise, joining what was left of the noise of battle as he focused on pulling the boy out, cutting the cord and wiping away the fluids so he could breathe better. He was massive… Practically the size of a toddler of two, maybe three years old? Just as if not a bit heavier than a normal child. Of fucking course, he was just like his fucking father...

“Let me… let me…” Falaere gestured with weak arms as Bast reluctantly handed her Ragio, quickly covering her up. She wouldn’t live long, losing far too much blood she was shaking from it and the last pangs of pain as he was watching her life slipping away from her…

“My son…” She muttered before pressing her lips to the babe’s forehead. Ragio did not cry now, instead looking back at his mother with apparent awe, as if he knew who she was. She loved how much he looked like his father, with the same golden eyes, brown hair… She was happy to see he had her freckles, though. She lamented the fact that this was going to be the only time she was going to hold and see her boy. She wanted to live, to see him grow up, to tell him of his father, to wait for him to come back, to teach him everything she knew, to watch him grow up into a strong, kind, charismatic and free man.

“Ragio…” She whispered. “Your father would be so proud…”

Angron: “No… no… nooo…”

An explosion was heard nearby. “We need to go!” The Gladiator demanded.

Falaere immediately held out Ragio who Bast took as gently as he could, more determined than ever to uphold his vow. He wouldn't hold it against the boy, he would do everything he could to uphold his vow. He promised her that no matter where she went, he would follow.

“Bast…” Falaere murmured as he ran to the door and turned to look back at his friend.

“Don’t mourn me… for I died free…” She trailed off, breathing her last even as her head swayed to the side, a gentle smile on her face. Dead.

Angron: *Falls to his knees, eyes glued to the holoprojector* "F-Falaere..."

Bast held Ragio close to him, wrapping the boy in his mother’s cloak. He would protect him, he would let him grow up free…

He wouldn’t let her sacrifice be in vain.

And that was where the vid finally ended, on the vision of Falaere lying on the ground, alone and dead.

“Falaere…” Angron bit. Tears beginning to flow down his cheeks even as the nails bit so hard that his cry instantly turned into a pure roar of utter rage that shook the entire ship.

“Angron!” Lorgar stepped up once more, holding back an arm even as Horus and Leman grabbed onto him again, barely able to push him to the floor.

“ANGRON.” His father demanded of him, appearing in front of him. “YOU HAVE A SON.”

He wanted to kill them. He wanted to go back and kill every single Nucerian, every single High-Rider, their wives, their children, all of them. He wanted them to scream and beg and wish they never were born-

“Brother.” Lorgar spoke besides him. “Ragio! You have a son! Raised free! We can still rescue him.”

“WE ARE DOING MORE THAN THAT.”

Konrad now stood and loomed in the middle of the room. “I have knives to sharpen.” He said even as he walked out, Corvus not far behind.

Angron continued his thrashing, but the nails were slowly beginning to release their hold.

“WE SHALL MAKE THIS RIGHT. I HAVE ERRED. IT IS TIME I HAVE CORRECTED THIS MISTAKE.”

“Leman.” Magnus spoke even as he passed by his brother who was slowly releasing the hold he had on Angron.

“Aye, brother?”

“Just this once. Will you fight besides me?”

“Aye. Just this once.”

“I shall join you two.” Came a deceptively gentle voice as Sanguinius walked to join his two brothers. A vampiric look on the normally angelic face.

Angron slowly began to look into his father's eyes. And found himself… surprised?

Gone was the eternal calm glow projected in those brown irises. Forgotten was the aura of peace and calm that he had so irritatingly radiated. Vanished, had the normal sized man. What replaced it were gold glowing eyes. Filled with fury even as the Emperor’s very being radiated anger and fury and he had grown to the size of a Primarch.

“I DECLARE NUCERIA EXCOMMUNICATE DELICTUM.” The Emperor now reached down with a hand to his son. “I HAVE DONE MANY WRONGS WITH YOUR LIFE. HELP ME CORRECT THIS ONE, AS MY TRUE SON.”

Angron stared at the hand, very tempted to simply spit on it even as Vulkan stood, hefting a massive thunder hammer and Jaghatai stalked off along with Mortarion.

The Lion also came by with Guilliman. Both looking over their wargear.

Then Angron decided. Falaere had believed in him, believed in him not hurting her. In raising a child… their child…

If it meant tolerating his father…

He reached out and grabbed the Emperor’s hand. Allowing himself to be pulled to his feet.

The Emperor then turned to all of his present sons.

“NOW… LET US BURN NUCERIA.”

 

[DuskDawnAndFate]

His hands were still red. Looking down at them, he saw they were still red. Stained with parts of the bastard’s brain still clinging onto the larger digits. Long after the body was dragged off, he remained. There, in the middle of the slave market, unmoving with his eyes locked onto his hands.

Even as the sounds of the surrounding trial bled away, he could imagine hearing the sounds of the slave market coming back alive around him. He could imagine everything around him blooming with unheard sounds and unseen images of the world he used to know. Around him, he knew deep down that the planet would be heavily censored, or people would die and he would continue to stand there.

His hands are still red...

Even as the blood dripped down his hands and fell to the ground below, he kept watching them. It had all been over with just one motion, one action, and now? Having long dropped to his knees, he was still kneeling here with his hands red and waiting for it. Waiting for that moment, that one thing to spring up and suddenly make all of this alright.

The monster was dead, gone forever, he killed him himself. He crushed his head with his own two hands, killing not just the body, but the soul as well. With a mere sentence, he killed him twice over- that should fix it. That should have fixed all of it.

He was watching his hands, unblinking and silent. Another drop or two down onto the ever-hungry dry floor, but nothing else. Where was it? Where was the rush of euphoria? The long-awaited feeling of catharsis. The well-earned respite...

He killed the monster that ruined his life, that kept him shackled under the earth, hurt the woman he loved, manipulated him, manipulated everyone- he was dead... What more? What more was he supposed to do?

Why did he not feel better? Why was his final victory, his well-earned glory denied to him!?

His first motion in hours was him closing his hands into fists and watching the last of the blood of the bastard drip down to the ground. Swirling around him was a mixture of the sounds of a lively market, the jeering of an auctioneer and the sounds of power armored steps. All of it coming together with but real and unreal images as Angron attempted to comprehend why everything wasn’t better.

A couple of drops fell onto his clenched hands, washing away the blood that still stained his clenched fists. A few more fell as his vision blurred. Only the single word of “Why” was screaming in his mind as he silently stood there, watching his tears wash away the gore on his fists.

“Why?” He ground out, just watching. It was done. He had gotten his revenge. Fulfilled his duty. Finished what was started eighty-five years ago. What more did he have to do!?

He heard power armoured footsteps, coming closer to him.

He cared not for who it was, or the fact that this was his greatest moment of weakness in almost a century. That right now, he was not the Red Angel, that he wasn’t the king of all Nucerian Gladiators. Nor even a Primarch…

He was simply Angron.

A hand clasped his shoulder. Gentle and caring despite two layers of ceramite separating him from any actual skin.

“Brother.” A voice called out to him even as the sounds of the lively market faded away to be replaced by the sound of howling winds and the images of people all around him replaced by nothing but emptiness.

“It’s alright now, Angron.” The voice behind him spoke in a soothing tone. “He is dead.”

Slowly, his head rose to see that his former master's body was gone. Disposed of who knew where. He looked down again at the sand and gore still clinging to his fists. A common sight since his very first memories. Since even before the nails. Since-

Water.

A stream of water poured down from behind him onto his hands, cleaning them and washing away the muck.

It felt… elating. It was like liquid forgiveness. As if someone had washed away the bad thoughts despite the constant biting of the butcher's nails. It wasn’t enough to stop the question of “Why”...

“Come brother.” Two arms beneath his own raised him to his feet. “Let us be gone from this place.”

Slowly he turned to see Lorgar. Standing there with a calm face.

Not having neither the will nor the energy to resist, he allowed himself to be steered away. Walking as his brother kept a hand on his armoured shoulder. The planet was too much for him, too many terrible memories. And he didn’t feel happy about any of it, only nothingness.

The stars called to him yet again. And somewhere up there, in the cold vacuum of space, were his sons. Loyal and determined.

And to top it all of… he had him.

A permanent reminder from her, a piece of her that would always be with him.

And deep down, despite the bite of the nails, despite not knowing what to do he knew he had to watch over his one and only true son. She would have hated him otherwise...

…​

Horus Lupercal was standing atop the cliff which overlooked the city that they had finished taking mere hours ago. He breathed in the fresh, cold, morning air. The sun had just risen and revealed the full effect of the devastation that elements of three legions with their individual Primarchs commanding them had.

They had slaughtered them. Swept away easier than beginner level training servitors.

“Quite the sight.” A deep voice spoke behind him and Horus turned to see Lion walking to him. His own armour recently washed off the blood from the assault that unlike Horus, he had partaken in.

“Indeed.” Horus breathed. “Did you so happen to see Mortarion?”

“I am here.” A voice filtered by a vox and corrupted by unhealthy lungs came from the left, causing both brothers to look and see as Mortarion himself approached. “No challenge in this.” He began. “Didn’t even suffer any casualties. Had to clear them out one by one, however.” He stated as he joined the two.

“There was no honour in this… battle, I agree.” The Lion nodded regally. “However, there was a certain amount of satisfaction.” His gaze then fell upon the lines of future Dark Angels. As of now still mere boys marching to the landing grounds in the distance. “And worthy recruits.”

“Their skin is thick and their minds reinforced by countless horrors.” Mortarion nodded as well. “Fine recruits, ones whose past shall keep them going long.”

Horus nodded along with this, “This does not make the situation any better than before. My mind wanders back to the how and why we’re here, all because of the vids. If we had not watched them, for how much longer would this have persisted? How long would this world know relative peace under our flag while continuing their debaucherous ways?”

The Lion sighed, shrugging slightly. “For quite a time, they would eventually have been attacked with wanton abandon by Angron and the World Eaters in due time. All during the heresy, of course.” Lion eyed Horus who stiffened at the mention.

“Do not even jest about that.” Horus sighed, not bothering to continue with that thought. “Their due would come, we can rest assured of that, the only question would be the eventual cost.”

“True.” The Lion conceded before taking a breath. “The Governor is dead. Said to have breathed his last under Konrad’s tender ministrations upon dawn.”

Horus continued looking forward. “I heard.”

“What now?” Mortarion rumbled. “Gather the people and prepare them for re-settling on another planet?”

The Warmaster turned to his brother. “Exactly that. Although should these people feel like it, they may join the Imperial Army. Perhaps even become servants. I can imagine not many of them have families they can return to, so why not have the possibility of seeing the galaxy? There are always spots for capable hands aboard the ships or in other spots in the fleet or crusade.”

The Lion chuckled. “I see that one of your own has already gotten himself a servant.” He pointed at the distance.

Horus could see with his superior sight that one of his men, Tarik in particular, was carrying a child with him in his arms. Even with his helmet on, Horus could see his son was careful and gentle in his manner. The boy was asleep in his arms, legs dangling past the arm that held him close. A welcome sight if he was being honest. There was an artistic and poetic beauty of a marine of over a hundred years of battles carrying a child from the ruins of a destroyed society, promising the stars above for them.

“Aye, so he has.” Horus chuckled in return. “He always was the soft one. Appears particularly attached…”

“Indeed.” Mortarion piped up. “Why is the child not with the others?”

“I can sense trouble already.” Horus sighed, going to gently rub his temples even as a serf came running from behind before quickly kneeling.

“My lord.” The serf bowed his head. “The Emperor has sent word of his coming.”

Horus turned and dismissed the serf with a wave of his hand, sending him away even as his brothers came to his side and they all began walking back to the forward command post.

“Father is coming. And without Angron or Lorgar.” The Lion pointed out.

“Indeed,” Horus mumbled. “I believe it is time to gather-” They all stopped upon seeing what lay in front of them. Or rather, far far ahead of them.

“By the throne…” Horus grumbled. “I forgot about them.”

This caused the Lion to smile and Mortarion to let out huff. “For what it’s worth brother. I sympathize.” Mortarion claimed causing Horus to mutter something under his breath, causing Mortarion to smile beneath his respirator.

“They will understand… hopefully.” He marched off, leaving his two brothers behind.

Well. Understand as well as someone with as much pride as Princeps Turnet could…

...​

Leman Russ sat on a container of heavy ammunition, wiping away the blood on the handle of his massive sword all the while taking a swig of ale now and then as Sanguinius strode up to him, his wings folded behind him and a slight smile upon his angelic face.

“Three hundred-fifty seven.” The Angel confidently stated, causing Leman’s eyebrows to raise even as he nodded.

“Impressive,” Leman admitted. “Not bad. Not a bad amount of heads for a pretty boy like yer’ self.” He then smirked up at his brother, before quickly taking another gulp of his ale, causing his smirk to turn to a full-on toothy smile. “I myself am sittin’ pretty on three hundred-sixty two.”

Sanguinius rolled his eyes, causing his brother to let out a laugh even as they heard the distant sound of jetbikes rolling across the plains near the almost empty forward command post. The trains of the last refugees had finally left, leaving a nice empty space for the White Scars and Jaghatai to ride in un-obscured. Kicking up dust as they came to a stop in front of the two Primarchs and their own escorts.

Jaghatai turned off then swung off of his jetbike. Bigger than the already formidable sized basic model one and leaned back into the rest.

“Father has summoned us to the gathering site.” He stated bluntly.

“Good.” Leman barked. “Time to finally get off of this bloody rock.”

“What of the citizenry?” Sanguinius asked.

“They will be taken care of. Our Roboute is already working through the logistical side of moving that many people at once. I heard him cursing.” Jaghatai assured Sanguinius even as Leman stood up, drinking the rest of his ale even as he looked at the Khan with a small grin forming on his face.

“Say, brother. Did yer’ so happen’ to count how many yer’ managed to kill?”

The Khan looked at Leman with an uninterested look, appearing bored as he did so. “I stopped counting after one thousand.”

This caused Leman to choke on the last of his ale even as Sanguinius began to chuckle.

“I know it is a rather low number. But there were only so many on the plains. Besides, they were too easy to kill, easier than hunting rabbits back on Chogoris. I am positive even my youngest children could kill them with rusted spoons and still have time to bring back dinner.” Jaghatai shrugged, ignoring the looks on his brothers’ faces.

Sanguinius looked over Jaghatai, “Wait, you have children? How long has this been the case?”

“Around sixty years now.”

Leman let out a bark of a laugh, “oh hells, ye actually aren’t pullin’ ahre leg? How many of the brats do ye have?”

Another shrug, “Not really. After hearing about Angron and Ragio, I began to wonder what was the point of hiding them? Last I checked, I stopped counting how many I have and how many could potentially be my children.”

Sanguinius rubbed at his face, letting out a sigh. “Jaghatai, honestly… How many are you sure are yours? Father will want to know of this immediately, you do know this?”

Lounging on his jet bike, the Khan did not look very moved at all. “I am positive my firstborn are mine. I am unsure of the rest and have little reason to see if they are. I still will be nice to them, but there will be little else I will do for them.”

“What do you mean you are unsure?”

Jaghatai shrugged. “My firstborn aren’t baseline. They are better, faster and much more deadly than a regular baseline could ever be. The others… they appear normal. Many of my wives are the wives of former chieftains that I took out of my respect for them. Many of my children are most likely simple baselines because they belong to my wives’ former husbands. I am not like Magnus and his roaming brood of xeno wives.”

Leman spat out his ale, now throwing away the tankard, tired of choking on the alcoholic liquid before looking over Jaghatai with a horrified and disgusted look on his face. “Come again!?”

“What?” Jaghatai looked at Leman with a raised eyebrow. “I said that my firstborn-”

“Ney! That part, about the nerd’s brood of wives! What the wolfin' hell was that?”

Jaghatai cocked his head. “Are you going senile in your old wolf years brother?”

“Brother.” Sanguinius spoke up with a stern look on his angelic features, “I heard it too. Do not play around and please answer the question.”

“I am sure you did brother.” Jaghatai smiled, before quickly getting back onto his bike in full. “And I am certain that not even father knows about it.” He then waved at the two as the jetbike started up again with a massive whine of its engines. “See you two at the gathering point.” He then revved the throttle, going flying along with his escort, leaving his two gaping brothers in quite literally his dust.

Leman let out a growl as he wiped the dust from his face and growing beard, “ah’m shocked ah actually thought he’d answer. Well, this means ah get to punch Magnus.”

“Leman no. You cannot go and punch Magnus because he has a brood of wives, that will just make Father question you about punching Magnus.” Sanguinius wiped the dust from his face, pulling strands of his hair from his mouth with a grimace. “Which means you knew about something and didn’t tell Father. Do you really want to do that?”

“Argh… no.” Leman looked back to where Jaghatai was a second ago, “...bloody Khan tricked us.”

“Yes, yes he did.”

“Well, there’s only one thing ah can do at this moment.” Leman then activated his implant. “Damned if ah do, damned if ah don’t so might as well.” A second passed then Leman broke into a huge grin as he connected with his Father. “Father! Ah have great news I just heard!”

Sanguinius immediately slapped a hand over his face, knowing that Leman had just fallen for Jaghatai’s trick in full and attempting to stop it before it happened. He was too late. Now they were going to have to deal with this… fantastic.

“WHAT IS IT LEMAN?” He could hear the sound of their Father’s voice from the open channel- really?

“Leman did you open the emergency channel just to tell Father this?” Sanguinius quickly donned his own helmet and opened his own link to listen in. “This channel is used for emergencies, Leman!”

“Yes, it is.” The voice of Roboute Guilliman cut into the conversation. His disappointment was palpable through the vox link. “So it better be good.”

“Or else I’m coming over and beating you until you resemble a cripple canid than a Primarch!” Horus cut in as well, the grumblings of Mortarion and Lion behind him.

“Oi! It is-... Okay, it’s not an emergency I just had something to tell Father and got a bit excited-”

“I am already packing Worldbreaker.” Horus jested, even as a sigh escaped the Warmaster. He himself knowing what to expect of his brother's antics.

“Leman do you not know how to read or listen?” Magnus cut into the now overcrowded vox call, “I’m quite sure that having an open emergency only vox channel that is connected to every single person in high-command means that you only use it for life-threatening events! Or worse!”

“OI! I don’ have to take lip from a xeno fuckin’ book lovin’ nerd! I know about them!”

“What is going on in this channel? I can hear it being broadcasted even though my helmet was off.” Corvus cut in, his voice quite clearly annoyed.

“MY SONS. CALM DOWN THIS INSTANT. LEMAN, I AM SURE THAT WHATEVER IT IS YOU HAVE CAN WAIT THE SMALL AMOUNT OF TIME IT WILL TAKE YOU TO GET TO THE GATHERING AREA WHERE WE CAN SPEAK CLEARLY AND IN PERSON.”

“But xeno wives-!”

“I CARE NOT LEMAN. YOU HAVE BREACHED EVERY SINGLE PROTOCOL, IT CAN WAIT AND IF YOU DO NOT STOP THIS INSTANT I WILL HAVE YOU DISCIPLINED. YOU ARE ALREADY MAKING YOUR BROTHERS TASKS HARDER, NO NEED TO FURTHER THEIR BURDENS.”

A click showed that the Emperor had finished broadcasting and had turned off the channel, and the only thing that Leman now heard was the tapping of Sanguinius’ armoured foot.

“Idiot.”

“...maybe ah got ah little too excited.”

Sanguinius muttered something under his breath even as he walked off, shaking his head at his brother's mischief. Fallen for the bait like an over-eager wolf indeed...

…​

The Emperor sighed as he clicked off of the vox. Slowly looking back at his twin sons. “CONTINUE.” He waved his hand even as the two smiled wider.

“As we were saying Father.” One of the two began. “It was quite simple. We snuck in, killed them all and simply took it.” The other then extended an arm and in it, he held a full and intact STC.

The Emperor smiled gently, knowing that he would never get a straight answer from either. It was his fault, he had made them like that on purpose after all. Perhaps she could get them to speak differently but well… it didn’t matter, at least for now, it was all paying off.

Carefully he took the STC into his hands, looking it over with a precise gaze. It was undamaged luckily, as intact as the day it was made more or less in fact. He thumbed over a rune embedded onto the side and a hololithic display was suddenly visible to all three present demi-gods.

“GOOD.” The Emperor spoke even as his eyes ran over the complex looking series of neural connectors and stimulators. He always did wonder what kind of STC he would find in the galaxy that was still intact. Perhaps an STC of something useful, like a medical breakthrough, or perhaps something more practical like a new craft. But alas, the first time he found such a nearly complete STC, it would be something as terrible and horrible as this. All of the potential of humanity, and this is what survived.

It would still be difficult. Even with this to guide his hands. There was still countless research to do. So many possibilities to rule out, so many things still needed before he could even begin… He would need dedicated experts to study this abomination, learn the ins outs and all effects before even touching the next step. He would also need to get Arkhan Land of course… Though now his mind did go back to a very particular student of medicine… If he were to guide him in just the right way, then perhaps Ragio could be invaluable to this project…

Later, perhaps. The boy's mind was malleable, yet potent. He needed time.

“Father?” He heard the voice of Horus coming from behind him even as he quickly gave the STC back to Alpharius with a look to hide it before turning around, greeting his son with a nod and walking to his side.

He needed to keep it secret for now. Everything couldn’t come out of what he was planning, else everything he had done thus far could be in danger of failing completely.

He contemplated on what to do as he walked with Horus to the set up pre-fabricated building at the main command post, ignoring the many sets of working hands around him as the planet was prepared to be evacuated.

Instead he walked into the building, revealing a sparse interior with functioning chairs that were more akin to thrones, all-around a simple plasteel table.

He took his seat at the head as was appropriate and waved off Constantin, the Custodes presence more than overkill. He did not need him for a simple sit down with his sons and to plan their next move. Horus meanwhile, took a seat to his right and not long after all of the other Primarchs began to arrive, each taking their own seat. Roboute, Dorn, and Perturabo arriving together from orbit.

It did not escape the Emperor’s attention that Leman was too busy glaring at Magnus, who glared back. And here he thought that the seven weeks of therapy had made them less eager to kill each other. Looking at Corvus and Konrad, they made the air between them more akin to an ice storm on Fenris than space between them. Now, they could stand being next to each other and even work together, as brothers…

How he wished that he had done something about it sooner but well… what was done was done.

“MY SONS.” He began to speak. “IT IS OVER. NUCERIA IS OURS.”

There were two who were absent from this gathering, Lorgar, and Angron. The Emperor knew having Angron with them on Nuceria was a less than ideal situation, therefore, he was happy to have Angron destress away from them, especially after hearing about what happened at the end of the trial.

The rest of the Primarchs who were yet unnamed made their appearance, sat together and awaited the Emperor’s word.

“NOW ALL THAT IS LEFT TO DO IS TO RE-DISTRIBUTE THE POPULACE AND TALK OF OUR OTHER GOALS.”

Horus cleared his throat. “By talking of other goals, you mean returning to the crusade?”

“NO.” The Emperor spoke to the absolute and utter shock of the other Primarchs. Some swore they could hear the fragile sanity of many legionnaires threaten to break at the mere idea of another few weeks of nothing.

“No?” Roboute asked in bemusement.

“NO. THERE ARE OTHER GOALS NOW THAT TAKE PRECEDENT. OTHER… FACTORS TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT.”

Roboute sighed, but went with it. “Then of resettling the populace. As discussed they shall be spread across the Imperium organizations such as the Army or serving elsewhere in the fleet.” He cleared his throat even as he activated a portable hololith. “The mass bulk of them, however, shall be granted the colonization of planet 4673 on the northern edges of Segmentum Ultima, near the borders of Sol. Hospitable, relatively warm climate with mild winters. Only issue being that the forests are quite full of predators and beasts of the… manhunting variety.”

Jaghatai chuckled. “A fine hunt they made. Half an eagle of Chogoris and the other half a fierce predator with clawed paws. Agile enough to jump. Killed all the previous colonists.”

“Most likely because we were not aware of their true capabilities.” Roboute clarified. “Behind some walls and with some light weaponry, the citizens will be completely safe. I also calculate that the presence of some threat would be good for them in the long run, a planet of peace will do little for the growth of what will soon be a proud people.”

“And the World Eaters will finally have a homeworld,” Magnus added in, thinking about the possibilities.

“One not of mere barbarity and cruelty. But of honour. I expect it will be much like Caliban.” The Lion added in.

The Emperor smiled. Hopefully, this would begin the process of changing the XII legion into less… bloodthirsty marines. The days of the crusade might be behind them sooner then he had thought. And if that were the case… he needed them to be able to adapt.

“WITH THAT, LION HAS GOTTEN US TO MY NEXT POINT. MAINLY THAT HE SHALL SEND ELEMENTS OF HIS OWN LEGION TO GUIDE AND MENTOR, NOT JUST THE SETTLERS OF THE PLANET BUT ALSO OF THE WORLD EATERS SENT THERE.”

The family looked at the Emperor, shock visible on their faces. The Emperor had not personally intervened in legion politics since-

“I KNOW WHAT IS ON YOUR MINDS MY SONS. BUT REST ASSURED, I DO THIS NOT OUT OF PUNISHMENTS, BUT OF GUIDANCE. THE XII MUST BE RESTRUCTURED. THEIR NATURE AND ACTIONS HAVE MANY TIMES PROVEN TO BE NOT JUST UNSTABLE, BUT OUTRIGHT UNCONTROLLABLE.”

His stern gaze looked all around the table, daring any of his sons to disagree with him even though most slowly nodded their heads.

“I MADE THEM MY ANGELS OF DEATH. THEY ARE NOT THUNDER WARRIORS, THEY ARE ASTARTES. MY SPACE MARINES AND THEY WILL ACT AS SUCH, OR THERE SHALL BE NO SPOT FOR THEM IN THIS IMPERIUM.”

The aftershock of those words stunned all the Primarchs into true stillness and silence. What was causing their Father to act this way?

“THE VIDS HAVE SHOWN ME THAT I HAVE ERRED BY NOT KEEPING A WATCHFUL EYE OVER SOME OF YOUR ACTIONS. WITHOUT THEM, WE WOULD ALL FALL TO INFIGHTING AND SLAUGHTER EACH OTHER WHERE WE STAND. THAT ENDS NOW. I WILL NOT HAVE YOU, NOR YOUR SONS ACTING LIKE MAD DOGS WHO HAVE ESCAPED THEIR LEASH.”

The Emperor breathed, letting the words sink in.

“YOU ARE ALL OF MY BLOOD. AND BY CONTRAST, SO ARE YOUR SONS. EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE BORN ONLY OF YOUR GENE-SEED, THEY ARE YOURS AS IF THEY WERE YOUR OWN TRUE FLESH AND BLOOD. YOU ARE THE GREATEST OF MANKIND. THE SHINING BEACONS OF ITS VERY GOALS AND EDICTS. BUT ABOVE ALL ELSE… YOU ARE STILL HUMAN.”

If the Primarchs were shocked earlier, now they felt as if they had gotten a slap to the face.

“SOME OF YOU HAVE LET YOUR EGO’S CLOUD YOUR MIND. OTHERS HAVE KEPT SECRETS YOU SHOULDN’T HAVE. STILL, OTHERS WENT AGAINST MY ORDERS WHEN I SPECIFICALLY ORDERED YOU NOT TO. AND WHILE I TAKE PART OF MY BLAME, I ALSO DO NOT FULLY HOIST IT UPON YOU. FOR YOU ARE STILL HUMAN. AND YOU SHALL NEVER FORGET THAT.”

Horus looked away, he knew it was his duty to look out for his brothers all the while there was his own secret he had been hiding… Magnus, Fulgrim, and Jaghatai all had to come to terms with their own secrets, and if it was possible to, just get it out and over with. The Lion stayed silent, his conscience in doubt, but his mind holding firm.

“ANY QUESTIONS?”

Silence was the Emperor’s only answer. The Primarchs were all deep in their own thoughts, each thinking of their own duties and mistakes. All-knowing that there were ways they could improve.

“THEN YOU ARE DISMISSED. I SHALL SEE YOU ABOARD THE BUCEPHALUS AT THE AGREED UPON TIME.”

For as long as he could remember, Magnus had always had a strong relationship with his father. Back when he was still just a budding soul in the labs of Luna, trying to communicate with the other two psyker brothers there and even staying in contact with the Emperor after he was thrown through the warp. He had always had a strong bond with his Father, so…

He couldn’t take it anymore. He had to speak to him and admit his secret. Perhaps if he offered himself up first, then that meant Fulgrim and Jaghatai could more easily be accepted as well? It was a risk he was willing to take.

As the family began to filter out from the command post, Magnus quickly signaled his Father and linked with him.

“Father.”

“YES, WHAT IS IT, MAGNUS?”

He paused, taking a deep breath and just figuring that saying it would be best. Like an old bandage, just rip it off at once. “I admit it. I have been keeping something from you and I want to…”

“ADMIT THAT YOU HAVE A FAMILY?”

Magnus sputtered, then growled to himself. Of course, Leman. Leman did call him a xeno fucker on the emergency channel, so perhaps. “Yes, I have a family and I am married-”

“THAT YOU HAVE MULTIPLE WIVES?”

“Okay yes, multiple wives! It wasn’t my choice, they just kept giving them to me and they wouldn’t take no for an answer-”

“THAT YOU HAVE HALF-BREED CHILDREN?”

“Yes, they are half-breeds. Ten with seven girls and three boys. I admit that I may have gotten a little carried away with my experiments and to… prove that it is possible to live in peace with the Eldar. I know that many of my brothers would think otherwise, and after watching these vids for all this time, I believe that they may have a better chance to have… softened up to the idea…”

“I ADMIT. IF DID NOT KNOW THIS WEEKS AGO I MIGHT DISAGREE, STILL DO IN FACT WITH SOME TECHNICALITIES. HOWEVER, YOU FORGET ONCE CRUCIAL DETAIL.”

“And what is that?”

“I AM YOUR FATHER. I AM NOT BLIND TO YOUR PLIGHT. MERELY WORRIED THAT YOU THINK THAT I DO NOT CARE.”

Magnus paused, slightly embarrassed at the accusation. But well… “I admit it. I did start to think you didn’t care. But after all this time together, I just feel that I can trust you with this. I only want what is best for them and-”

“DO NOT WORRY OF THEM. I SHALL MAKE SURE CALDERA IS SAFE UNDER MY PERSONAL JURISDICTION. NOTHING SHALL HARM THEM. THEY ARE YOUR FAMILY, AND BY CONSEQUENCE, MINE AS WELL. DO NOT THINK ME AS A PURE PRAGMATIST MAGNUS, MY HUMANITY YET REMAINS.”

Deep down, Magnus knew there must be a lie in there somewhere. But at the moment, he was more concerned that his Father had managed to narrow this down to a single planet. Sometimes his Father’s powers still managed to… terrify him. “How did you narrow it down so quickly?”

He could see his Father smirk in good nature. “SOME THINGS ARE BEST KEPT SECRET. AND YOUR MIND MIGHT NOT BE AS TIGHTLY GUARDED AS YOU THINK.”

“No, wait, hold on, really. How did you figure this out?”

“I SIMPLY HAD THE CUSTODES LOOK INTO THE GUIDANCE COGITATORS OF YOUR GLORIANA.”

Magnus was glad he was sitting down since he didn’t have to embarrass himself by falling to a throne and slamming his face into the table. How did he forget to clear the history of his Gloriana’s database!?

“THERE, THERE SON. WE ALL ONCE MAY HAVE MADE THE MISTAKE OF NOT PROPERLY COVERING OUR TRACKS. YOU MAY WISH TO ASK MALCADOR THE NEXT TIME YOU SEE HIM ABOUT THAT, BUT NOW, WE ARRIVE AT A DILEMMA.”

Magnus sighed, “And that is?”

“HOW WILL YOU TELL THIS TO YOUR BROTHERS? LEMAN ALREADY KNOWS ESSENTIALLY, AND THUS, IT WILL NOT STAY SECRET FOR LONG.”

Ah. That was a tricky question… However… “Father, I know Leman knows, that’s why he decided to go off on the emergency channel and annoy everyone. I know that Leman is practically bursting to shout it to everyone, and the longer I take to explain, the worse it will be. How about this? I do it the same way Roboute did…. Essentially. I find a vid and we watch it and I explain as it goes, and so on.”

“A FAIR POINT. AND AN ACCEPTABLE ONE. THOUGH YOU MUST PROMISE ME TWO THINGS SOMETHING.”

“That being?”

“DO NOT THINK THE VID REALITY. IT IS EASY TO FORGET THAT WHAT OCCURS ON IT IS NOW A SEPARATE TIMELINE FROM OUR OWN. JUST AS ROBOUTE HAS ‘FORGIVEN’ LORGAR FOR BURNING DOWN HALF OF ULTRAMAR. AND I HAVE ‘FORGIVEN’ HORUS FOR HIS HERESY AND SO ON AND SO FORTH, YOU MUST BE CAPABLE OF DOING THE SAME.

“Understood Father. I know I can be better than that, especially since I have found a vid that is actually closer to our time and would show them at a fairly accurate age.”

“DO NOT TEMPT FATE SON. IT IS A CRUEL MISTRESS, AND ONE WHICH QUICKLY STABS YOU IN THE BACK. NONE SAW HORUS’ FALL COMING BEFORE THE VIDS.”

“That is true…. However you spoke of two things, what was the other?”

“I GET TO MEET MY GRANDCHILDREN.”

“...roight. Yes, you can meet them. You can be the first to meet my eldest, especially since he’s rebelling against me right now. He is incredibly like-”

As the Emperor smiled, continuing to listen, the two walked off towards the transports which would lead them back to the Bucephalus. Everyone around them thinking that perhaps the rumours of the Emperor being a bad father being just slightly exaggerated.

…
000.M31 - The Bucephalus, Above Nuceria
...​

Too bad they weren’t able to watch a vid, since practically everyone had been so wound up for the burning of Nuceria that now that it was done, everyone was exhausted. No one had the energy nor the want to sit around and watch a vid, so the Primarchs decided to rest for a day and reconvene the next morning. Especially since everyone wanted to give Angron time to destress and figure out what was next on their plan.

Burning Nuceria clearly wasn’t a part of the original plan, nor the future that had been set rather abruptly in front of them. Currently, they were now on a completely new path and that required time to figure out their new strategy and what was next for them all. Not to mention the disgust that most still felt from what they saw on Nuceria, a short break would be in order, if nothing else, they would all benefit from some sleep.

That was exactly what they did, reconvening on the Bucephalus early the next morning after rest, food and a re-energization for vid viewing. The Emperor counted his sons and realized that Angron and Lorgar were missing from the collected Primarchs. He did not mind. Angron needed time away from everyone and Lorgar was still the only one he would let near him… If it meant good results in the long run, He would give his son all the time he needed.

Nearby, the collected brothers were all returning to the viewing room in much more relaxed and casual clothing. After all, it was fine to be more casual when surrounded by legions of space marines over a soon to be dead planet with the Custodes and the Emperor himself within arms reach. The only one dead set on not relaxing a single bit was Konrad, who was still in full armour.

Corvus gave Konrad a once over, “really? Do you have to sit there in full armour like a giant aggravated bat?”

“Yes.” Konrad sneered, ignoring the little Raven. “If all of you want to sit around in your skivvies, so be it. I’m keeping my armour on.”

Nearby, Leman was already on his third tankard of ale and in a bad mood. He had tried to get into contact with anyone and spread his discovery, but all had shut him out and told him to go to bed. Roboute had quite colorfully told him in twelve different ways to go and frak himself since he did not know how difficult it was to organize the logistics of planning an invasion with eighteen legion assets in the mix along with the pride of a Titan Legio coming along and wrecking all of it, the Custodes, getting them to work together, then evacuating the planet and resettling an entire planet’s worth of people and keeping them all fed and watered.

Leman thought he was just being a right arse. Even worse, Roboute was now sitting as far away from him as possible! That was just plain rude.

It definitely did not have anything to do with the fact that Roboute was still in the middle of drinking his morning recaff along with eating a light breakfast and wanting to do so as far away as possible from his furry brother. Nor, did it have to do with Roboute having his head buried in his dataslate and trying to get work done while waiting for whatever vid was going to be played.

Leman felt Sanguinius lean against him, “I see you’re still annoying everyone? Can’t you please give it a rest?”

“Wot tae hell ahm ah doin’ wrong!?” Leman shouted Sanguinius back, angry that no one was taking him seriously!

Sanguinius sat back with a frown on his perfect face, staring Leman down with half-lidded eyes. He loved his furry, cheering ball of a brother, but sometimes he just did things that made him want to throw him from a Gloriana and to enter Terra’s atmosphere with just a loin cloth for protection against the elements.

Before anything else could be said, Magnus stood and cleared his throat to get his family’s attention. Standing before them in his white and red toga, he took a deep breath and prepared himself for what was going to happen. “Brothers. Father. I’m pleased to see that everyone has had time to recover from… Nuceria.” He held back a shiver, and continued, “After father’s words down on that planet, I came to the realization that it was in both my best interest and the interest of the other party as well.”

Nearby, Jaghatai nodded and urged him on. He knew that this was it, and that the secret was going to be out. He only wondered how badly certain members were going to take it. Fulgrim, nearby, glanced from Magnus to the Emperor. The questioning look on his face conveying more than just doubt, but a myriad of other emotions at that. Magnus nodded to the both of them, before continuing on again.

“After watching these vids of the future and the development of the children of the future, spurred on by Father’s words, I thought it was wise to tell-”

“Yer have a xeno family you fuckin’ xenophile!” Leman cut in, taking a deep swig of ale.

The Khan rolled his eyes. “And here we see that Leman has trouble keeping something other than his head in his trousers.”

“Oi! Yer were the one ta-”

“THANK YOU LEMAN, for that very astute and needed addition to my speech!” Magnus practically growled at the Wolf King, already seeing that a good amount of brothers were already getting ready to denounce everything right there. In his anger, Magnus puffed up slightly, before grinding out the rest of his speech, “as I was saying- Yes. I admit it… I have a family of my own and they happen to be with… the Aeldari-”

Suddenly, Magnus ducked as a throwing knife missed his head by mere millimeters. He whirled around to see Corvus idly flipping a knife through his fingers.

“Hey! What’s the big idea Corvus!?”

Corvus shrugged. “Had to try, but it's not me you should dodge.”

“Then wha-” His psychic sense screamed at him as an energy blast went past him, searing the adamantine wall and exploding harmlessly. Magnus quickly looked to see a scowling Mortarion, holding out Lantern, glaring into his brother's soul.

“Alright…” He then slowly breathed. “Are you all done!?” He looked around the room full of mostly unhappy brothers. “I’d rather not have a reenactment of the Theatre of Pompey after all. I admit that I expected this and might deserve some anger but-”

“They are done.” Roboute of all people piped up. “Hypocrisy is unbecoming of them- Vulkan are you alright?”

Nearby Vulkan was holding onto his throne with such strength that he had bent the adamantine hand rests, squeezing the metal as if it was molding clay. “I am fine, brothers.” He said in his typical, happy voice. “I shall accept this, if it makes Magnus happy, then I am happy.” The hand rests of the throne then snapped clean off.

Ferrus looked Vulkan over, he was less than thrilled at this news, in fact, he was disgusted but… Vulkan did have the right idea.

Magnus sighed, “I had hoped we could get through this together and with a lack of physical attacks… But I suppose I thought a bit too highly of you all. Nonetheless, today’s vid is about that. I am hoping that watching this together we can get over some of this anger and perhaps all of you can come to accept them. Hate me all you like, but please… My children have done nothing wrong, and I am hoping all of you will give them a chance.”

Silence was his only answer, with perhaps some muttering. If the Emperor himself had cleared it… then it’s not as if they had a choice to begin with. Everyone turned to the Emperor, who sat back in his throne.

“AND THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT WE’RE GOING TO DO. MAGNUS, PLEASE HAND THE MAGOS THE VID YOU HAVE PREPARED SO THAT WE CAN START THIS OFF.”

Magnus nodded, retrieving the vid he hid in his toga and allowing the Magos to set up the vid, took his seat between Perturabo and Jaghatai since anywhere else was too volatile to sit safely. He hoped that their anger and hatred would just… Not fully disappear, but at least be made much more manageable.

…
002.M31 - Caldera
…​

Magnus: “Wait, hold on. It’s supposed to be on Caldera, but that’s the wrong year. It’s supposed to be 999.M30, not 002…”
Leman: “Wow, yer got the vid wrong. Amazin.”
Magnus: “Shut up Leman, I’m sure that’s just wrong. I saw this vid, I saw them all, I swear it was right....” *glances to the Emperor, who is just staring at him* “what?”
Emperor: “REMEMBER. YOU PROMISED.”
Magnus: “Fffff… fine.”

The vid opened onto a dusty room, the tools that laid about, the sterile walls and floor marking it as an Apothecarium. However, the way things were thrown about in a disheveled mess all with a fine coating of dust covering everything, almost as if untouched for all this time.

And as the power shut off in the Apothecarium, it was only powered by fusion batteries and solar cells. Red light engulfed the room even as the feed got closer and closer to one of the stasis pods on the wall, the rune blinking in green showing it to be in use.

Magnus: “What in the WARP is going on!? I watched this vid myself twice now, this was not a part of it at all- Father! Please tell me you have some idea on what is going on!?”
Emperor: “...NO IDEA. MAYBE YOU DID SOMETHING.”
Magnus: “Wha- how!? I held this vid since-”
Horus: *Clears throat loudly* “Perhaps you two have forgotten about the fact that this is an alternate timeline. One where we can’t possibly hope to foresee everything?”
Magnus: “Normally you would have a point, but this is different. I watched this vid twice, and nothing like this happened!”
“Are you seriously-”
“Trying to understand-”
“A vid from-”
“The transdimensional reality box?”
Magnus: “Look I- uhh, what the absolute fuck?”
Emperor: “WHAT?”
Magnus: “I don’t remember that symbol on the vid.”
*The family look at the vid inside the holoprojector which now had a four armed cross imprinted upon it. And the cross’ arms were all centered by-*
Roboute: “A human skull, do we know of any future chapter of marines or Imperial Adepta which uses that symbol?”
Lion: “No. I do believe we do not.”
Roboute: “Then what is it, and how did it get there?”
Magnus: “I… how!? I don’t understand! I held that vid in my hands.”
Emperor: “BOYS. IT IS QUITE CLEARLY OUT OF OUR HANDS. AND THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY WE CAN FIND OUT.” *The Emperor gestured to the screen*
Magnus: “Right… Magos, unpause please.”

…
023.M31 - Caldera
…​

Ashes from the ground above began to seep in through the cracks left in the duracrete by decay and started to coat the Apothecarium.

Magnus: “Wha-what!?”

…
001.M35 - Caldera
…​

Some type of animal skittered across the floor even as more and more decay started taking place.

Magnus: “Now it skipped entire millennia!? What is going on!? What’s happening!?”
Emperor: “CALM DOWN MAGNUS.”
Magnus: "Yes- Yes I know! I know I'm supposed to be calm, but this has to do with them- This is wrong! The vid changed and you're just telling me to calm down!?"
Emperor: "THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I AM TELLING YOU. CALM DOWN."
Magnus: *scoffs*

…
190.M42 - Caldera
…​

Magnus: “Wait… M42.” *Magnus stood out of his throne* “M… 42…”
Horus: “I… don’t like where this is going.”
Sanguinius: “Neither do I, the vids have never skipped this much.”

The feed suddenly shifted to that of multiple Space Marines in red, white and black livery walking through what appeared to now be Caldera. Or rather, what was left of it.

Magnus: “WHAT THE FUCK-!?”
Emperor: “MAGNUS YOU PROMISED-”
Magnus: “I promised to not confuse reality and the future, I know! But this is beyond that! What happened to my planet!?”
Rogal: “Isn’t Prospero your planet-”
Magnus: “Caldera is as well! I carefully cultivated that planet with all of my available resources, rebuilt their society and have been carefully raising them back up through my years of work! And it was fucking destroyed and I don’t even know how!?”
Emperor: “WELL…” *Pauses, then realizes what happened* “...WE CAN STOP IF YOU WANT.”
Magnus: “What? No! I want to know what happened to my planet and we are going to sit here and watch!”
Horus: “Do we not get a say in this or…?”
Magnus: “Fine. Leave. I suppose it was too much to ask for any of you to show any kind of interest or compassion for me after all these weeks, so go ahead and leave if you do not wish to sit here.”
Sanguinius: “...no need to guilt trip us.”
Lion: “Attempt to.”
Sanguinius: “Pardon?”
Lion: “Attempt to guilt trip us. If Magnus has given the go ahead, I’m leaving.”
Emperor: “LION, SIT DOWN. JUST CONTINUE THE VID. PLEASE.”
Corvus: “...like I always say. An atrocity upon family values.”

“Squad one spread left, Alpha pattern.” A command came over the vox even as a squad of Space Marines moved off. “All unassigned units. Forward.” The Marines continued their steady pace of advancing, their Bolters pointed forward as the Astartes constantly scanned for hostiles.

They continued moving in his pattern with minimal chatter until they all suddenly stopped. “Map information indicates target reached commander.” One of the Marines voxed even as what appeared to be a Techmarine stepped forward and knelt on the ground before extending multiple probes and a sensor array.

For a few seconds, the sound of tinkering machinery filled the air before the Techmarine’s vox channel opened. “The information was correct. There is a hidden underground structure… with power still flowing through its veins.”

One of the Marines heads whipped around. “Power? After so much time?”

“Yes.” The Techmarine murmured. “It is weak and slow… but it is present. It has been for… 10,191 years.”

All the Marines immediately began talking and looking at each other in complete and utter shock before who was apparently the commander shut them up and opened a vox link into orbit. “Chapter Master Angelos… there is something here you might want to witness.”

Magnus: “Angelos? Those are his Blood Ravens! He must have come out on top after his fight.”
Roboute: “That doesn’t answer your own question however, what are they doing on your planet?”
Magnus: “I honestly don’t care, I want to figure out what happened to my family!”

…​

What appeared to be mere moments later, an Overlord gunship dropped into the atmosphere and landed before the Marines who all knelt as the gunships ramp deployed.

Out walked Chapter Master Gabriel Angelos. Wearing Artificer Mk.IV Power Armour. Upon his ascension to becoming Master of the Chapter he had been granted Terminator armour privileges but had decided to instead opt for more… sleeker armour. To say that moving in Tactical dreadnought armour was difficult in a combat environment was an understatement. He didn’t even dare think about dodging shots or Emperor forbid, leaping!

Horus: “...backflipping terminators.”
Emperor: “CS GOTO DOESN’T EXIST, IT’S OKAY.”
Horus: “Who?”
Emperor: “EXACTLY.”

Thank the Emperor that the Apothecaries were able to heal him sufficiently enough in order for him to not have to undergo entombment into a Dreadnought.

As he stepped onto the ashen grounds of Caldera he had all of his brothers rise with a motion from his fingers even as the commander of the force from before approached him. “Chapter Master.” He greeted with all due respect, bowing his head low.

“Sergeant Charon.” Angelos rumbled. “Tell me, what is so important that it requires my personal attendance?”

Charon immediately moved to the side and pointed at a section where the ashes were being removed by the other Blood Ravens. “There sir. An entire underground facility. Warded off and untouched for over ten millennia. According to the techmarine, the signals and marking indicate Great Crusade era Astartes technology.”

Angelos’ eyebrows flew into his hairline at that moment. “Truly? Any markings of what chapt- legion it belonged to?”

Charon slowly swayed his head from side to side. “Not yet Chapter Master, however-”

“I would hold on that, Sergeant Charon.” Another Space Marine Sergeant spoke as he stepped next to the two.

Angelos looked at the Marine who was carrying something underneath his arm, curiosity hidden behind his mask of professionalism.

“Sergeant Phlegyas.” Angelos greeted, causing the Marine, in turn, to bow his head in respect to his Chapter Master. “You found something?”

“Indeed.” The Sergeant responded before throwing down a metal plate.

“What is that?” Charon asked, stepping next to the metal plate and beginning to scrape away the ash which now coated it.

“A relic from a bygone era,” Phlegyas rumbled, his voice thick from the vox-corruption of his helmet. “Of traitors.”

Immediately, Charon halted his hand and slowly looked towards his Chapter Master who, after a moment, slowly nodded. Then, Charon wiped away the rest of the ash, revealing the emblazoned sigil of the Thousand Sons Legion.

Magnus: “FUCK! FUCK-FUCK-FUCK!”
Leman: “Nerd! Sit down ah caen’t see!”
Magnus: “FUCK YOU TOO LEMAN!”
Leman: “Wot!? Wot tae bloody ‘ell did ah do!?”

Charon immediately jumped away, feeling as if he had been stung. “Heresy!” He whispered out between clenched teeth.

“Traitors…” Phlegyas slowly spoke as he attempted to get a better look at the ancient device.

“Peace!” Angelos’ voice immediately thundered. “It is merely a piece of worthless metal.” He commanded. “No indication of traitors being here just yet.”

“Nor should they be, Chapter Master.” The Techmarine from before came by and reported. “I detect no life-signs in the bunker.”

Charon appeared to sag in relief even as Phlegyas looked to be slightly disappointed and spoke up, “Sorry to disappoint, kinsman, but no killing traitors or heretics today.”

Charon’s head whipped around to look at his brother, “Sorry to disappoint? Do you wish to meet a few dozen Rubric Marines again? Don’t you remember the last time?”

Phlegyas’ head tilted to the side as he looked at his brother. “No. Would you be so kind as to remind me.”

Charon sighed, knowing that his twin was toying with him but decided to respond anyway by raising his right hand. “It gave me this.” He flexed the prosthetic hand, causing its servos to whine in protest.

“Ah yes.” Phlegyas rumbled. “You made Techmarine Gerris so happy with sacrificing your arm.”

“Don’t remind me.” Charon sighed yet again, remembering the sight of the far too happy Techmarine.

“While your banter is as amusing as ever,” Angelos spoke up, causing the two Marines to go stiff. “I believe that we have an ancient facility to explore.”

“Of course, Chapter Master.” The two nodded, throwing the playful banter away and ready to continue with the job ahead. There was an untouched facility that is over ten thousand years old below them to be explored. Perhaps some relics and gifts to the Chapter would be in order as well?

Emperor: “RELICS AND GIFTS. OF COURSE. OF COURSE THEY ARE STILL STEALING THINGS.”
Magnus: “Just… Fine, I’m not even going to fight that one.”

An hour later, they finally managed to cut through the extremely thick doors and pry them away, revealing the stairs leading down into the bunker and quickly formed two squads and began to tactically enter the facility, bolters and pistols pointed down the tunnel.

After a minute or so of steadily advancing and encountering no opposition, they finally reached the main floor.

“An Apothecarium.” Charon deducted from all the surrounding equipment, most of which were subject to heavy rust and general decay. The most surprising part of it all was the growth of underground plants that survived for who knew how long here, crawling all over the equipment and walls. The air was also slightly humid, which perplexed the teams.

The Chapter Master himself carefully looked over everything, his stern gaze not sparring a single detail. His helmet donned for the rare occasion of being able to more easily see in the dark.

But there was one light, one tiny light that was still active after all this time.

“Straight ahead,” He spoke through his voxmitter, causing a squad to immediately form up in front of him and point their weapons towards the light source, only to be waved down immediately by the Techmarine escorting them. “Calm brothers,” He ordered, “Merely an active stasis pod.”

Horus: “That’s the second time that stasis pod was mentioned, it cannot be a coincidence.”
Magnus: “I… I think someone from my family is in there.”
Roboute: “It would make sense, seeming as so far these vids have focused on only our offspring.”

Charon thought this odd, the planet had been untouched for over ten millennia, yet the pod was still active. If the planet had been devastated so thoroughly, then shouldn’t everything be dead? The plants surviving, the active power feed, the pod… Everything he read about the planet, the combined might of the Iron Hands, the Death Guard and the Salamanders should have made sure everything was dead. Nothing was making sense…

Magnus: “W...what did he just say...? THE FUCK DID HE JUST SAY!?”
Rogal: “The planet’s current status in the vid appears to be the result of a combined arms assault of three legions-”
Magnus: “You three- You three killed them. You three killed them, killed them all. They’re… The pod was at 002… Then… Then it happens at...”
Mortarion: *Sighs* “For the supposed smartest of us, you sure can be idiotic.”
Vulkan: “I… I killed family?”
Ferrus: *Looking forward in silence with a calculating look*
Magnus: “There was the pod at the beginning. And the power going out, and the dust… By the warp… What the hell did I do to make you three do this!? This was supposed to happen very soon! You three were going to kill my family very soon and you’re sitting there-” *charging with pure warp energy*
Emperor: “MAGNUS.” *Magnus looked over to see his father looking at him, his stern look managing to send a shiver down his spine. “YOU PROMISED. REMEMBER.”
Magnus: “This was going to happen in a year or two! If three legions were moving together like this to destroy a single planet, that would have to be an order… What did you do.”
Horus: “I hate to be devil’s advocate, but in a year or two Lorgar would have undertaken his voyage and become corrupted by chaos itself.”
Roboute: “Let us not forget that it’s not uncommon for multiple legions to work together as part of an expeditionary fleet. Doubly so under Horus’ command, which this would no doubt at the time be.”
Magnus: “That doesn’t excuse that you three killed, or at the very least your legions killed them in the near future!”
Mortarion: “You are acting like a blubbering fool!” *Mortarion finally appeared to have lost his temper* “In that future, we burn Terra! Horus kills father, half of us fall to the warp cancer that is chaos, including you! This hasn’t happened!”
Magnus: “Oh you think you can take the high road right now, Mortarion!? You have spent these past seven weeks rubbing my face in all of my failures, tried to attack me earlier and have been itching for anything you possibly could to get any type of dig in at me! And just now, you don’t even deny that you would do something like this!”
Mortarion: “Yes! And I will gladly continue to do so, since apparently your high and mighty ego requires checking every now and then! And your smart attitude forgets that this hasn’t happened and never will! You come after me, always forgetting your own flaws! Mainly that unlike a certain someone here, my foster father was a barbaric psychic that made me who I am, your kind ruined that world in the first place!”
Magnus: “And here we go again! You have never let that go and have been using it to make life hell for anyone like me, my sons, or any psyker because you never will let go of your past! Out of everyone here, you are nothing more than a loathsome, hypocritical monster who can't get over your own daddy issues because you love wallowing in it so much! Let's not even get into how this is my flesh and blood family dying on screen!”
Mortarion: *Now stands* “And what will you do about it? Your failure in this future is evident. Not only did you break every one of the Emperor’s own edicts. Not only did you fall to chaos, like all of us, showing that in the end, but you were also wrong just like the rest of us! Now you show that you broke the foundation of the Imperium’s very own laws! My own faults have nothing to do with any of this, this is all your fault-”
Magnus: “Oh! My fault!? This is the reason on why I did most, if not all of my actions! Because of people like you who just want to be mad at the galaxy and take it out on everyone! Yes, I realize now that I did wrong! But you have barely done anything of the sort! Because of people like you, because of nearly everyone in this fucking family- I went to them because for as long as I could remember, I haven’t felt like I was even a part of this family-”
Emperor: “SILENCE!”
*The psychic echo made everyone stand still as fear seeped into their very souls*
Emperor: “I HAVE HEARD, ENOUGH. THIS PETTY SQUABBLING, THIS FIGHTING. IF EITHER OF YOU THOUGHT FURTHER THAN MERE PETTY AMBITION, THEN YOU WOULD BOTH REALIZE THAT THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT DROVE THIS WEDGE BETWEEN YOU ALL IN THE FIRST PLACE. NONE OF YOU ARE IN THE CORRECT STATE OF MIND. NONE. YOU ALL HAVE REASONS BEHIND YOUR ACTIONS, BUT THAT DOES NOT MAKE THEM RIGHT. AND YET AGAIN YOU HAVE PROVEN TO ME THAT YOU REQUIRE MY ATTENTION.” *The Emperor pointed at Mortarion* “YOU WILL STAND DOWN, AS YOU YOURSELF HAVE SAID, THIS NEVER HAPPENS. I WILL SEE TO YOU LATER MORTARION, THERE ARE ISSUES THAT HAVE NEED OF DISCUSSION BETWEEN THE TWO OF US. AND YOU, MAGNUS.” *The Emperor looked at Magnus, a cold look in his eyes* “YOU WILL KEEP YOUR WORD TO ME. I UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS DIFFICULT FOR YOU. THAT IT IS PAINFUL. BUT IT IS NONE OF THESE BROTHERS OF YOURS FAULT. NONE OF THEM EXIST HERE. AND I WILL NOT HAVE YOU ACTING LIKE A WAILING CHILD THROWING A TEMPER TANTRUM AT INNOCENT PEOPLE.” *The Emperor breathed once* “IF NEED BE, WE SHALL STOP WATCHING IMMEDIATELY. BUT IF WE DO GO ON, WE SHALL DO SO WITH NO BLOODSHED IN THIS ROOM. I AM SICK AND TIRED OF HOW DESPICABLE ALL OF YOU ACT. AND I WILL NOT SUFFER YOUR EGOS FOR IT ANYMORE.”
Magnus: *Slowly backs away and sits back down* “f...f-fine.” *Goes silent and slowly closes off all connections and begins to rub at his eyes*
*The Emperor silently says something to Mortarion*
*He is then knocked out of his stupor by a gentle nudge on his shoulder and looks up to see Leman*
Leman: “Oi, take this. It helps.” *One of Leman’s hands moves forward, revealing a tankard filled to the brim with ale* “Yer’ need one after that bollocking brother. No one needs to drink alone, skjol.” *Leman then clinked his brother's tankard with his own and took a healthy gulp*
Magnus: *Looks confused, but reluctantly takes a sip, not really having any will to say much else* “...thank you…”

While Charon tried to make sense with the situation, a more psychically attuned brother felt odd when looking towards the source. To the psychically gifted brother, it felt as if whatever was in it was akin to a sanctioned psyker or a warp anomaly. “I’m not sure that’s entirely it.”

“You detect something with your otherworldly look brother?” Gabriel asked, causing the Marine to nod.

“Yes Chapter Master… something powerful. We must continue with care. I would suggest hailing the Librarius, this is far far too ahead of any of my expertise.”

The Chapter Master immediately tuned his vox and called up to the fleet stationed in orbit even as he ordered the Marine with him to place a teleportarium beacon. If whatever was held here had the combination of being able to touch the warp freely while also being affiliated with the Thousand Sons… they had to proceed with the utmost care.

A couple of minutes later in a flash of lightning combined with an acrid scent gave way to the massive form of an Astartes Librarian appearing before all of them in the bunker.

“Chief Librarian Macario.” Angelos greeted the Librarian who also bowed his head.

“You have need of me, Chapter Master?” The Librarian simply intoned, feeling the psionic energies swirling here, almost inviting him to go and learn everything he could of their mysterious past, but duty came first.

“The stasis pod.” Angelos pointed out. “It is occupied by a being or item with significant reach into the warp, even though it is in stasis. Do you believe it safe for removal?”

The Librarian turned and marched over to the rusted pod before slowly leaning his hand against it.

Immediately his mind was assaulted by visions. Images of frolicking Aeldari and human children alike. Eldar and human buildings, lush forests and expansive lakes. And Thousand Sons Space Marines interacting with them… before they betrayed the Imperium and damned the Emperor. A world of peace, of compromise...

Mortarion: “I can’t imagine a planet with both xenos and witches alike actually working peacefully. But I suppose if you have a Primarch presiding over it…”
Magnus: “...”
Mortarion: “Nothing to say?”
Emperor: "DO NOT BAIT YOUR BROTHER."
Magnus: *Takes another sip of the ale* “...no.”

Then everything burned. Salamanders, Death Guard and Iron Hands came here during the Great Crusade, leaving nothing alive. This entire world was dead.

Magnus: *Slowly hangs head in shame and mourning, attempting to force his mind into realizing that this had not happened in this reality*

Except for this one it seemed, the one stocked in the stasis pod.

Deciding to unravel things further, he went back through her memories before diving in. He experienced how she lived, a life long past and a world that was long gone…

“Mandisa!”

Magnus: “Disa?”
Vulkan: “...is… is that one?”
Magnus: “Yes- yes. Mandisa is my eldest daughter, she’s… awkward around people, but she’s a good person deep down… I just can’t believe the shyest of all my children would…”

…
999.M30 - Caldera
...​

"Mandisa!"

A little girl with bright red skin, a darker shade of red for long wild hair that looked like a nest where birds would start families in and wearing a white Prosperan dress was sitting in a small clearing of flowers, surrounded by tall almost ethereal looking trees of unknown species. There were plenty of strands in the girl’s hair that stuck up or were wildly pointing out of her, making her look like she recently rolled down a hill. She was holding onto a few different blooms, a splash of color against the white she wore, from a deep blue to a bright yellow, a blushing pink and a pale purple. She looked up from where she sat, a single bright red eye was able to poke out from the opening of her hair in the direction of her mother.

Leman: “...you know, ah can see it.”
Magnus: “What?”
Leman: “Yer hair gets like tha’ whenever yer get tired or angry. Just like tha’!”
Magnus: “I-I assure you, my hair does not do that. Disa’s hair is a damned warp anomaly from how out of control that mop can be.”
Jaghatai: “Therefore, just like you.”
Magnus: “I- I’m not even going to fight it anymore.”

From how high the feed was compared to the people on screen, it must have been some type of flying drone. If it was either of Imperial make or something else, none could tell.

While the little girl was different shades of red, she looked like her mother in structure, sharing the same sharp features, though the little girl’s face was softer. Her mother had straight black hair that was pinned back from her face and kind looking sharp silver eyes, looking kindly upon her daughter as she knelt by the girl. The woman and girl shared one feature, and it was their long and pointed ears. And of course, her mother had a rounded belly in the later stages of pregnancy.

"Did you find any we can bring home?" The woman asked, smiling as her daughter nodded mutely. "They sure look pretty! I think they would look great on the family table."

Mandisa ducked her head, smiling at her mother's praise. She took a few breaths and began shakily, “D-do you… think dad… w-will like them…?” She spoke softly, uncertain and almost as if she had a hard time forming the words. She looked despondent, whispering to herself about being stupid.

Magnus: *In a quiet whisper while slowly beginning to smile* “I would love them-”
Jaghatai: *Slowly looks over*
Magnus: “Fuck. I’m becoming Roboute…”
Roboute: *Crosses arms* “Point proven.”
Corvus: “So what’s going on with her spee-”
Magnus: “Leave it alone. She just has issues and we are working on them.”
Corvus: *Raises hands* “Simply asking.”

Her mother, however, would have none of that. “Hush, Disa. You spoke very well, and I am proud of you.” The mother quickly kissed the top of her daughter’s head, earning a smile and soft giggles from her daughter. “And yes, your father will love them. Now come along, we need to get back home. I was able to find some more herbs for the feast. Your brothers and sisters are all so excited to see your father come home after all, same with your aunties.”

The two stood up, the mother brushing off any leaves and petals from her own Prosperan dress. The Aeldari woman wore Prosperan styled sandals, but strangely enough, her daughter was fine to be barefoot, despite being in the middle of a lush forest. She held out a basket that she carried, waiting for Mandisa to deposit them in.

“No. Carry.” Mandisa quickly held the flowers close to her chest, a stubborn look on her face. “I… c-can carry…”

Her mother sighed but supported her daughter. “Alright, be careful not to choke them. Isha’s gifts are not to be squandered.”

Emperor: *Can’t resist a sigh*
Horus: “Old friend of yours father?”
Emperor: “YOU HAVE NO IDEA.”
Konrad: “Eldar fetishist.”
Emperor: *Looks over* “CAPED CRUSADER.”
Leman: *Sputters into his ale while laughing, wrapping an arm around Magnus who is still quite sullen*
Magnus: *silent*
Leman: *is now feeling severely awkward*

“Okay…” The little girl answered, holding the flowers to her chest with one arm, while the other grabbed hold of her much taller, much more graceful mother. Her mother was careful to walk slowly, so her daughter wouldn’t be dragged by her, even if she was eager to get back home as well. She had to help with the preparations and, of course, not rile herself up too much, only months away from bringing her youngest into the world…

“Can you tell me about what you have been reading, Disa?” The mother began as they walked through the forest, passing by both strong tall trees, fallen trees, and followed a natural path that had seen many uses. While they walked, they could work on her eldest’s little… speech problem.

“Ah… I… I-I have been-been… reading… about… r-runes…” It took her a few tries, but she got it out. She wanted to speak more about it, but both couldn’t find the words and didn’t have the energy to speak up. She hated how she just barely started to speak only a year or so ago, despite being seven already… “They-they are kinda… ha-hard? But… like them.”

Mortarion: “The speech problem appears to be psychological in nature.”
Corvus: “And how do you guess that?”
Mortarion: “Aeldari, for how incredibly irritating it is, requires the speakers vocal cords to be in perfect sync with their mind in order to even form a basic words, the fact that she can string together a sentence but not speak without thinking about it for a long period beforehand points at either mental degradation or slow development. Again, hybrids are perplexing creatures.”
Magnus: “...she is highly shy in nature and tends to do things at her own pace. We are working on getting her to be more fluent in speaking, despite her… fluency with mind link speech.”
Mortarion: “As much as I loathe to say this, it may not be your or even her fault.”
Magnus: “...fine. What else?”
Mortarion: “It is simply, as we have seen so far, the effect of Primechildren genes. A Primarch, no matter how much father has planned for it, is not meant to breed, especially not with other species. It is most likely a birth defect due to the nature of her two sires.”
Emperor: “TWO TO TANGO, BOYS. TWO TO TANGO.”
Konrad: “I am going to pretend I did not just hear that.”
Magnus: *snorts* "Roight."
Sanguinius: *slowly sliding down, to escape the extremely tense air of the room*

Her mother nodded along, listening to her daughter speak. “I see. Did you get that from your auntie’s or your father’s library?” They passed by more trees, the foliage getting less dense as she heard nearby friends with their own children and friends. In fact, she could see a few Aeldari women through the intermingling thin and thick trunks, through the thick branches of leaves as they talked amongst themselves foraging. Well, they didn’t need to forage much anymore, ever since her husband came to their aid all those years ago, Caldera was much more peaceful than when it was under the ‘protection’ of Craftworld Ulthwe. She much preferred the laxer and even simpler protection of the Thousand Sons than the uptight, controlling and even snide Craftworlders who couldn’t even come to their aid.

Mandisa nodded, she loved thinking about what she was learning and reading, and was quick to start her explanations through the link she shared with her mother. ‘Oh! Yes, I found it in Papa’s library- he has a better collection than Auntie Jurizza- and I found it after going through some of the shelves he left open for us and- and-’

“Disa.” Her mother spoke up sternly, squeezing her daughter’s hand. “Speak, don’t think. I know you have a better time using our link, but you need to speak.”

Mortarion: “Hypothesis proven.”
Horus: “With how good you are at this, I surprised you aren’t more passionate about pediatrics.”
Mortarion: “I fracking hate children with a passion comparable to the hatred I feel for my foster father. Good enough for you?”
Roboute: *Sighs* “I wish you would look beyond that brother.”
Mortarion: “Easy enough for someone who was raised by a caring family in a perfect world. Just because the cyclops brings it up in an argument, now everyone wants to play therapist?”
Jaghatai: “This feels like a conversation you and I already had on Ullanor brother. I am sure the same applies to Roboute as it did to me.”
Ferrus: “...I grew on a planet by myself where I had to fend for myself until I was found by Father. Mortarion, you need to let it go already. It is annoying to keep hearing you complain about it when I don’t complain about my own upbringing.”
Mortarion: *Huffs* “And it shows. You are tempered, unlike some of our brothers here who stride about like peacocks.”
Ferrus: “I assume you’ll get over it, then?”
Mortarion: *Grunts but says nothing else*

Mandisa huffed, her cheeks puffing up as she looked down at the flowers. She hated speaking, it was easier and better to just… think. It was already bad enough all of her little siblings were either talking normally or on their way to speaking normally. Except her. She hated it. “It… Better.”

“I know, darling, but you need to speak properly. I know you can do it, you simply need to practice.” Her mother comforted her, a smile on her angular face. “So you found it in your father’s library?” She continued to prod, hoping to get her daughter to speak more. At this point they could hear the sound of children nearby, running through the thinning trees. They would be back in town soon, and she hoped Mandisa would be calm enough for them to get back home in one piece.

“Mhm. I’ve be-been reading. A lot…” Mandisa ended up mumbling out, ears perking up as she listened to where all of the other Aeldari and humans were. She hoped no one would come over and talk to them.

Perturabo: “Definitely yours.”
Rogal: *Smacks Perturabo*
Perturabo: “pfft- WHAT!?”
Leman: *Begins dickishly laughing*
Rogal: “You have been given the directive of smacking me in the face for every statement I make that points out the obvious to Father and the rest of our brothers. I thought it only fair for I to do the same to you, in the event that you somehow were to point out the obvious as well.”
Emperor: *Allows a small smile to grow on his face* “I SHALL ALLOW IT.”
Perturabo: “But- he- I always… fine.”

Of course, as luck would have it, someone did come over and talk to them.

One of the Aeldari women waved over her mother, before quickly making her way to them. “Avari! There you are! I wanted your opinion on something about the welcome back feast-”

Avari waved the woman off, “I’d love to stay and chat, but I need to head home. Mandisa and I were off gathering some last-minute things for my hus- life partner.”

“Mandisa?” The woman looked around, then back to Avari, “I don’t see her anywhere?”

“What? Don’t be absurd, she’s-” Avari looked down to where her daughter was only a second ago, then realized that she was now holding air instead of a tiny red hand. “Mandisa?” Then she realized why her legs felt weird, and she let out a breath as she looked back to her friend, “Nevermind, anyway, I must be going. I’m sure whatever it is that you wanted, it will be fine. The Thousand Sons aren’t very picky, you know.”

Horus: “I don’t believe any Space Marine’s palette can be described as ‘picky’.”
Lion: “Unless your name so happens to be Fulgrim.”
Fulgrim: “I beg your pardon?”
Lion: “I distinctly remember you frowning upon every single dish at the banquet I hosted in your name.” *Looks pointedly* “You make for a poor dinner guest brother.”
Fulgrim: “It’s not my fault that Calibanian cuisine has so little flavour and consists of tender roasted meat and pies while disregarding other vegetables and sides unless it happens to be a potato.”
Lion: “And what of the sweet subtleties and extravagant choices?”
Fulgrim: “I have seen better subtleties made by a legionnaire on a day off.”
Leman: “Hey Lion, brother, not that I want to bother yer but would yer mind me joinin’ in one day?”
Fulgrim: “Scratch that. I’m positive Rosalina could make something better than that, and she’s barely a toddler.”
Lion: *A small smile* “That is interesting. I would be willing to defend my words with steel. But I do believe you will be too preoccupied to accept the challenge.”
Fulgrim: “Oh, and why is tha-”
Emperor: “SON. WHO IS ROSALINA?”
Fulgrim: “Oh shit… Alright, since Magnus came out with it, might as well. Rosalina is my only daughter, my only child.” *LEERING LOOKS FROM THE MORE XENOPHOBIC OF THE FAMILY* “She is also completely human. And is… Currently on Chemos… And she is fine, I check in on her every month through hymnals.”
“We have dug through the chest.”
“We see no vid of her.”
“Until M42”
Fulgrim: “...oh no...”

The woman shook her head, sighing, “if anything, that’s their most annoying trait… well, I won’t keep you here.” She waved again and went back to where a small gaggle of women were gathered together, each with their own baskets.

Avari waited, then placed a hand on her hip as she let out a soft, “alright, come out, Disa.”

“Okay…” And soon, the small red girl was lifting her mother’s dress and timidly making her way out of her hiding spot.

Avari sighed, “Disa, you know it’s rude to run away from people. Your father, myself or even your aunts can’t always be there to protect you from talking to strangers. Neither your elder brother. What will you do when there is no one else to hide behind?”

Mandisa looked down to the ground, one of her feet toeing at the ground and kicking up some blades of grass and dirt. She didn’t think it would be possible to ever, ever not be around someone she could hide behind. It just… couldn’t happen. “...’m sorry…”

Avari sighed once more, but held a hand out to her daughter, “Come on! We need to get back home! Auntie Laenor is almost done with all of the food, and I know you love her cooking.” She said enticingly to the girl, who brightened up exponentially, making the grass around her bloom with small flowers in her excitement.

“Yes!” She then started to hurry home, her mother in tow for once. “H-hurry!”

“Alright, alright.”

…
Fortress of Enlightenment
...​

Emperor: “THE FORTRESS OF ENLIGHTENMENT!”
Magnus: “Hey! I-”
Leman: “THE FORTRESS OF PURE ENLIGHTENING LIGHT!”
Magnus: “Okay! You-”
Horus: “So enlightening, he manages to break every edict.”
Magnus: “Now that’s just-”
Rogal: “Brother. A fortress that is meant to enlighten someone makes a poor fortification.”
Magnus: “Rogal I-”
Rogal: “Therefore I am sad to say that you have failed in its construction as its very foundations are flawed to the core.”
Magnus: “Wha- Perturabo! Smack him! Please!”
Perturabo: “I would. If I didn’t think that that was one of the stupidest names you could have come up with.”
Magnus: “Even you!?”
Jaghatai: “Not stupid. Merely, arrogant, rash and completely self-centered who also thinks highly of himself.”
Magnus: “IS THIS EVEN ABOUT THE NAME ANYMORE!?”
Mortarion: “Totally. Though that has to be one hell of a shit fortress.”
Magnus: “EVEN YOU!?”
Mortarion: “You think I ever truly trusted you witch boy?”
Magnus: “Fair point- but don’t-”
Emperor: “BULLY YOU MORE THAN YOU ALREADY ARE, STOP IT BOYS, THAT’S ENOUGH.”
Magnus: *Smacks his throne* “Thank you!”
Emperor: “THOUGH THAT IS AN EXTREMELY STUPID, IF VERY APPROPRIATE NAME. I AM SENSING COPIOUS AMOUNTS OF PENT UP FRUSTRATION MAGNUS. YOU SERIOUSLY NEED TO ACQUIRE A BETTER TASTE IN NAMES.”
Magnus: “I wonder why I’m pent up with anger and frustration!?”

The footage changed suddenly, still in a floating and higher vantage point so that they could see more of the surroundings than the people they were following.

The secondary monastery of the Thousand Sons was a pure marvel to witness, the mixture of Human and Aeldari building techniques made the fortress have a much more sleek and clean look compared to the more gothic inspired architecture in the Imperium as a whole. The mixture of both ferrocrete, plasteel and wraith bone gave the fortress a much more unique aesthetic and seemed to still be in construction.

More walls and expansions for the fortress were currently being added, with what looked to be both bone singers and Thousand Sons serfs and even librarians adding onto the building effort. From their vantage point, they could see a female bone singer who was reluctantly sharing the process with the nearby librarian, who was looking as if he was learning the dearest of secret knowledge even as a dozen nearby epistolaries were taking notes in secret.

Perturabo and Rogal: *Slowly look over to Magnus*
Magnus: *Sighs* “No. I promised I wouldn’t spread that around. Those notes are very valuable and-”
Perturabo and Rogal: *Still staring*
Magnus: “-I’m not sharing them!”
Emperor: *Stares at Magnus*
Magnus: “I’m not sharing and that’s final!”
Emperor: "MAGNUS, YOU ARE A MEMBER OF THIS FAMILY-"
Magnus: "Don't. Don't even try that."
Perturabo and Rogal: *Both now feel the heavy, awkward air*

Strangely, with all of the construction still going on, the Thousand Sons heraldry was missing.

“Do you think it's starting to look like home?” Avari asked Mandisa, who shrugged. "I think it is. It's starting to look like your father actually lives here now." She chuckled before her ears pricked up, causing her to straighten up. "Hold on…" She paused as she listened carefully, blocking out the sounds of construction and focusing more on the inside of the fortress itself.

Mandisa attempted to listen as well but didn't have the same sensitivity her mother had. That and her ears still had a hard time pricking up on command. Her parents both said that they would eventually not be so floppy anymore in time...

She suddenly tensed and frowned, squeezing Mandisa's hand. "Tyrion!"

Emperor: “REALLY?”
Magnus: “What’s wrong with the name, Tyrion?”
Emperor: “I ONCE MORE STATE ABOUT YOUR ABILITY OF NAMING THINGS AS I DID BEFORE.”
Magnus: “Wha-what!?”
Emperor: “YOU HAVE NO IDEA THE AMOUNT OF REFERENCES YOU HAVE MADE WITH THAT NAME ALONE. NOW ALL THAT IS LEFT IS THAT HE HAS A BROTHER NAMED JAIME OR TECLIS.”
Magnus: “...” *Looks away*

Her mother began to March forward, worrying Mandisa. What did her big brother do this time? She quickly followed her mother, hoping that nothing bad was happening when their dad was so close to coming home…

She hoped that Tyrion wouldn't argue with their dad again…

As soon as they were inside and in the living quarters, did she realize that Tyrion was going to be the one to make her mother angry.

Tyrion, her older brother, was standing over a fallen reliquary that managed to be opened and was attempting to fix what he did. It looked like he knocked it over with a powerful psychic strike and charred most of the golden-colored parts of the armor that spewed out- she just realized that that was one of their father's armours...

Oooh… Tyrion was going to be in so much trouble… Mandisa was able to shake herself from her mother's grasp, stepping back to watch.

"Tyrion! What did you do!?" Her mother demanded, hands-on-hips and looking as if she was ready to bend him over her knee.

Tyrion, the same red skin, red hair and eyes like Mandisa, wearing a Prosperan tunic and looked so much like Magnus in this moment that if you ignored the ears and two eyes it was hard to tell the difference between them. He looked scandalized and pointed his hands to the fallen armour, "I didn't do it, Auntie! Teclis did!"

Emperor: “STILL GOT IT.”
Magnus: “I don’t see anything wrong with those names and- TYRION! Do you have to destroy things around the house all the time or are you just content with being a ball of issues and destruction!?”
Roboute: “You’re getting worse. An entire lecture this time.”
Magnus: “I am not lecturing the vid, I am merely expressing frustration that my son happens to do things like this all the time. I still shudder about what happened to Snuffles number 3.”
Horus: “Of course you are brother. And I am not the Warmaster.”
Magnus: “Silence.”
Vulkan: “It is Snuffles with you is it? I am glad to see our family share something.”
Magnus: I didn’t name the gyrinx, Disa did.”

Even Mandisa didn't believe him.

"Oh? So your baby brother was the one who knocked over, broke into a reliquary, and charred your father's armour?" She asked, raising a brow at this.

"Wha- Yes! Teclis is the one who did it! I was trying to fix it!" He insisted, bouncing in place as he got more worked up. He kept shoving his hands in the direction of the fallen armour, as if trying to enunciate his point. "I'm telling you! Teclis is using psychic powers-!"

Avari raised a hand, stopping Tyrion in his tracks. "Tyrion. Teclis isn't even half a cycle old. By human standards, he's just a toddler. Do you really expect me to believe that?"

"But it's true!" Tyrion scowled, "I'm telling the truth-"

"Oh, like how you told the truth about when you decided to use your father's books as a makeshift ramp?"

Magnus: “You did what young man!?”
Leman: “Good job.”
Magnus: “Do not. Encourage. Him.”

"Well, no-"

"Or how about the time you decided that it was a wonderful idea to paste your brother Korhil to the wall with handmade glue?"

Corvus: “Handmade? Child must have some appreciation of alchemy.”
Magnus: “Corvus, making glue isn’t that hard to do… I just want to know why I didn’t know he pasted his brother to the wall?”
Corvus: “Boys being boys? Making enough glue and making it powerful enough to make a child stick to the wall is however.”
Leman: “I like this kid!”
Vulkan: “So do I, a wonderful little delinquent he is!”
Magnus: “Oh yes. A wonderful delinquent. Like the time he called me a one eyed nerd and said my magic was stupid and that warriors are much cooler.”
Konrad: “Are you sure that Leman hasn’t been near your wives?”
Magnus: “Hush.”
Konrad: “So that is a no?”
Magnus: “I know for a fact that Leman has never met them. Since before this, he hated me.”
Leman: “...h-hey now, I never hated you…”

"He-he dared me to!"

“Or how about when you almost set the great forest on fire?”

“Look, I didn’t know I could summon fire like that- I was just playing with a can of promethium…”

Sanguinius: “Where did he get that!?”
Magnus: “Why were you playing with a can of promethium in the forest!?”
Vulkan: “From what I know, setting promethium on fire is a very hard thing to do, much less for a child.”
Magnus: “Why wasn’t I told about all of this? I always ask for full reports on what the children have been up to, so why am I now hearing about even more things Tyrion has done in the house!?”
Jaghatai: “There is an old saying on Chogoris. And while I am no Zadyin Arga, I recall the advice well enough, ‘There is nothing a woman will defend more from others wrath than her child.’”
Magnus: “I… I suppose, but I would have liked to know how badly my little hellion has been getting…”

“No more excuses!” Avari clapped her hands together with a sharp clap, causing both children to flinch at the harsh sound. “I will see about this getting cleaned up, Tyrion you are going to sit at the table and write lines until dinner. After, you are going to do the dishes and then straight to bed!”

Tyrion squawked at this, “but that’s not fair! I didn’t do it-!”

“March!” Mandisa’s mother pointed towards the dining hall, leaving Tyrion bewildered then despondent as he dragged himself away to the dining hall. He let out grumbles and whines about stupid brothers and how he hated writing lines.

Mandisa felt slightly bad for her big brother, then remembered what happened to her gyrinx kitten Snuffles number nine and the day he lost all of his fur to the putty incident. She never forgave him for that. Snuffles the ninth was on the ceiling for three days!

Magnus: “Nine!?”
Leman: “What is it with this bloody family and treatin’ pets poorly?”
Vulkan: “Little Noodles…”

That wasn’t too bad compared to when her little sister Ruby decided to try out an experiment and accidentally sent Snuffles number four to the stratosphere. They found him at least… stuck onto the side of a Thousand Sons Battle Barge. At least he didn’t suffer.

Perturabo: “How in the feth did a little girl send a fucking gyrinx into the stratosphere!?”
Magnus: “I… I don’t know… I don’t know how she did it, I didn’t even know Snuffles number 4 died like that!”

She shrugged, following her big brother to the dining area with her flowers, she had to get them into some water before they wilted.

Placing the newly vased flowers on the table, before gently pushing it to the middle, she could already see her brother writing his lines. His ears were folded back, reminding her of Snuffles number two when he got angry. She wondered when her ears would finally stop flopping and prick up like his and her mother and her aunts.

“This is so unfair!” Tyrion spoke up, glaring at her with a scowl on his face. “I didn’t do it!”

Not feeling confident speaking, she linked with him and was able to fully speak her mind. ‘Not my fault if you keep acting like an unhinged maniac. You put putty over Snuffles the ninth and had him on the ceiling for three days! Or when you hid my mom’s soul stone and we found it in a cookie jar! Or when you turned your mom’s hair blue?’ She shot back at him, pouting at him and reminding him of everything else he had done.

Leman: “Hold on, I got ta ask… Ah noticed it earlier, but everyone was focused on Snuffles the ninth. But yer kids just said they have two mums, so… What’s goin’ on there?”
Magnus: “Okay. I didn’t mean for it to happen, just that it did. I found the planet of Caldera and saved them from an Ork Waaagh, their Craftworld didn’t respond and they saw me as their saviour. They just so happened to like how I run things and decided to… defect is a strong word but…”
Leman: “Aye, aye, but get to the part where they have two mums.”
Magnus: “Okay fine. The Calderan Exodites really seemed to appreciate my culture and my way of working, so they… adopted it… And misunderstood something that Prosperans do… and well… you see… that’s how I got... six wives…”
Emperor: “SIX.”
Magnus: “Father, you have no room to lecture me right now-”
Emperor: “ONE IS MORE THAN ENOUGH. BELIEVE ME THERE SON.”
Magnus: “I-”
Jaghatai: “I agree with father.”
Magnus: “I- I didn’t want to be rude and send them away- They were really excited and-”
Horus: “Wanted their share at the piloting stick?”
Magnus: *Covers face*
Leman: *Laughing hard and loud, slapping his knee*

Tyrion scowled, “That was all jokes and for fun! I didn’t touch dad’s armour! Teclis did!”

‘Sure!’ She rolled her eyes. ‘And then he scarred the entire reliquary.’

Tyrion grumbled before quickly standing and yelling in her direction, a tear in his eye. “If you won’t believe me then go hide in your mom’s skirt and leave me alone!”

She defiantly looked at him. ‘You’re lying.’

“I’m- I’m not!” He shouted. “I’m not!”

‘Yes you are! You always are, just like you lied about Snuffles!’

“That wasn’t me!”

Jaghatai: “When a child denies something for so long, they are on the edge of breaking down, then you know they aren’t lying.”
Magnus: “I know that feeling. Now that I think about it, how many times have I done that to Tyrion…?” *Sighs and buries face in hands* “No wonder he hates me…”
Emperor: “ALL CHILDREN ‘HATE’ THEIR PARENT TO A CERTAIN DEGREE BUT TYPICALLY COME TO DISREGARD THAT AFTER THEY BECOME ADULTS. IT IS A PART OF RAISING A CHILD.”
Magnus: “He’s just so vitriolic… He only barely started doing this and it’s already enough to frustrate me.”
Roboute: “Children tend to test their parent’s limits. Or at least, so I have heard and read.”
Konrad: “I’m still shocked that the Father of the Millenium gave good advice.”

‘Sure…’

“I… I…” He stammered. “I… I hate you!”

Mandisa was shocked, then hardened her gaze, ‘well- well I hate you too!’

“What are you two doing now?” Spoke up a new voice, a female Aeldari with short brown hair and wearing a much more conservative dress entered the dining area. “Tyrion, do not use such language with your sister! And Mandisa, you know you aren’t supposed to mind link in the house!” She stepped between the two, cutting off their angered eye contact.

Tyrion sat back down, ducking his head and focusing on his page, “Yes mom…”

Mandisa scowled and looked away, “Y-yes auntie…”

Tyrion’s mother sighed, looking back to the kitchen area, “Avari! Your daughter is fighting with my son again.”

A loud sigh, “Do I need to come in and separate them?”

“No, you just sit down. I’ll separate them and hopefully, they won’t still be fighting when he comes back.”

Avari let out a relieved sigh, “Thank you, Lilina.” She was about to speak again when the sound of power armor began to get closer. The gathered family members craned to get a look on who it was coming in and what news they no doubtedly were carrying.

Mandisa hid behind one of the larger chairs, she knew her brothers and was trying to get used to being around them… but… but they were just so scary…

A marine of the Thousand Sons had entered the dining area, helmeted and unknown. He tilted his head to the children, where Mandisa squeaked out a hello and Tyrion sulked over his lines. The marine turned back to the mothers, “I have news about my Primarch.”

“What is it? Has he been delayed?” Avari asked, attempting to get up, but was pushed back down by Lilina.

“The Primarch was called to attend the crusade for Ullanor. Urgent matters with the growing Ork menace. He will not be able to arrive on Caldera anytime soon.”

“The Orkz?” Lilina questioned, straightening up looking more like a warrior. “What has happened?”

The two quickly began exchanging news, what had been happening on Ullanor and how multiple Primarchs and legions were needed for the fight against the ork empire. All the while, Mandisa followed their exchange, turning from side to side as she imagined the worst.

Fulgrim: “Leaving the ones we love behind is always the hardest thing to do.”
Magnus: “I remember this. I couldn’t go back and see them, I had to head straight to Ullanor, cancelled everything. I just thought that it was fine, I had come back before.”
Roboute: “Nikea would be soon after this. You would never make it back…”
Magnus: *Pauses, then looks up* “Nikea would lead me to having Custodes with me at all times… I would have been on thin ice at that point, anything would have set off Father at that point…”
Jaghatai: “You would never risk breaking more of Father’s edicts.”
Magnus: “And then seeing how Caldera is… attacked…”
Emperor: “IT SHALL NOT HAPPEN HERE. WE ALL KNOW HOW AND WHY NIKEA WENT AS IT DID.”
Mortarion: *Grumbling* “And I ended up paying for it along with Magnus.”
Horus: “And let us not forget that it was my corrupted future self that made it so Jaghatai could not attend and balance the argument. You are not at fault here brothers. Nor is Father. He had no choice but to enact the agreed upon laws.”
Magnus: *Rubbing his eyes* “I see the need for restraint now. I truly do… I simply wish I would have changed quicker… The worst realization is that if nothing had changed, the future says that I never would have been able to see them again.”
“Not.”
“Exactly.”

The Librarian withdrew before taking a deep breath and turning to all of his brothers, “It is a girl. Not Human nor Aeldari.” The scene before him reverted back to the dusty old Apothecarium many millennia later.

“Then what is she?” Angelos asked. “A null?”

“No Chapter Master.” The Librarian looked worried then. “A hybrid.”

Magnus: “One of the children lived!?”
Mortarion: “Appears so.”

Phlegyas immediately stepped up. “How is such a thing even possible? A union between two species resulting in this- this-”

“Heresy.” Charon finished for him. “Not only is it not possible. But to even suggest such a thing exists brings a foul taste to my mouth.”

Librarian Macario stood up straighter and pointed to the stasis pod, “Well look upon this with your eyes, brothers. Come and see the thing you claim to not be possible. I shall wait.”

Roboute: “I am beginning to take a liking to this librarian.”
Horus: “I like his sense of humor.”
Rogal: “I too, appreciate it.”
Konrad: “That has to be the most unsurprising thing I have heard during this entire crusade.”

The rest of the squad slowly moved up. Each taking their own curious look. After minutes worth of muttering and thinking of the situation, Gabriel took the front. “This requires much much further study. We must be sure if we are to rescue this… girl.”

“Chapter Master, you cannot possibly be thinking of saving this xeno?” Charon asked in outrage. “It is heresy.” His tirade was stopped by Phlegyas when he put an arm on his brother's shoulder.

“Kinsmen, be calm.” He soothed his brother's soul. “We live in extraordinary times. The Lord Commander himself has declared his alliance with the Aeldari, surely this can be taken as an omen.”

“I would agree with you both.” Macario interrupted. “If it were not for one simple thing.”

“That being, Chief-Librarian?” Angelos asked, his tone inquisitive.

“Her true heritage. She is the crossbreed of a transhuman and an Aeldari Exodite.”

Magnus: “...she is literally red.”
Sanguinius: “You have been a traitor for thousands of years in that future, brother.”
Magnus: Yes, but she is red.”
Rogal: *Stands up and walks over to Magnus*
Magnus: “NO!”
Emperor: “NO ROGAL, DOWN, CEASE!”
Rogal: *Stops and points* “So be it.” *Goes to sit back down even as Leman laughs and puts an arm across a horrified Magnus’ shoulders*
Perturabo: *Leans over* “You did that intentionally to help Magnus get his mind off of things didn’t you?”
Rogal: *Smacks Perturabo*
Perturabo: *Recoils and grows angry before slightly smiling* “Appreciated.”

More time passed in silence. Everyone could feel the tension as Phlegyas was barely able to hold back Charon. Finally, it was the Chapter Master that broke the silence. “Brother Techmarine. Do you judge the stasis pod capable of undergoing transport?”

“Chapter Master!” Charon immediately started up again. “You cannot be serious?”

“It is my command Serjeant!” Angelos’ voice thundered. “And I will not have it questioned.” He finished with a stern look at Charon’s way, causing the marine to immediately go quiet even as the Techmarine prodded about the stasis pod.

“If we apply a portable generator or a powerful enough energy cell.” The Techmarine rumbled. “We should be able to move the pod with relative ease.”

“Good.” Angelos spoke. “Then prepare for transport.”

…​

The world slowly came back into being.

Her eyes felt weak, her knees heavy, arms loose and limp. She felt as if her entire body had turned inside out as the hot, burning sensation came to life in every single nerve. Every bone, every muscle, every bit of skin burned as if she was bathing in fire.

Fire…

Magnus: *Heavy breathing*
Leman: *Patting his back* “It will be alrigh’ brother. She is alive.”
Magnus: *Drinking more ale*

She remembered the fire. The Space Marines in massive green armour.

She remembered as they walked through her village, killing any who came into their reach. Destroying the houses they hid in and killing all of the Eldar guardians that so bravely stood to the last.

She remembered her mother picking her up and running from their home, she left behind her baby sister, listening to the cries of the infant left for the flames. Her mother kept telling her she was sorry, she was so very sorry...

Escaping to that place, the place where she got the medicine… Her mother was telling her she was going to be okay. She would be safe, no one was going to get to her.

“I’ll protect you, Mandisa… No one is going to hurt you. I promise.”

Then she fell asleep, on that table. Her mother humming her song to her one last time, before it all stopped and turned into… this.

Vaguely she could hear herself coming back into consciousness as the black around her eyes bled away, revealing a harsh white light and her sensitive ears registering a dull hum before being shaken awake by an all too familiar voice.

“Stable.”

Mortarion: *Sighs* “Extensive cryostasis would have many unforeseen circumstances on a baseline or even transhuman. This is one of them… she will most likely be fine.”
Emperor: “THANK YOU, MORTY.”
Mortarion: *Hmm*
Emperor: “BUT STOP IT RIGHT THERE, PLEASE AND THANK YOU.”

The voice was deep and full of vox corruption. There was no doubt who it’s owner was… a Space Marine. Did- did they find her? Where was her mother!? Did they come to kill her!?

“Alleviated activity, she is panicking.”

Are they her father’s marines!? Or are they the bad ones!? Where is she- where is her mother!? Why can’t she feel her mother!? Where was everyone!?

“Calm her.”

“We cannot, any more stims driven into her system and I cannot guarantee an awakening without consequences Chapter Master.”

“Then open the pod. We will have to do this the old way it seems.”

She felt the as the pressurized air blew over her body and the much cooler air flooded into the pod that she was apparently in, causing her to shiver violently even as the burning finally went away. Her eyes blinking rapidly, trying to adjust her sight to her surroundings.

“It’s a child?” She heard a surprised voice speak out.

“But a hybrid. Just as librarian Macario claimed.” The voice… it was deeper, gruffer. No vox corruption tainted the speaker's proud gothic tones.

“She is still awakening.” The vox toned voice spoke yet again. “I advise caution Chapter Master. That amount of time in cryostasis may have many unforeseen consequences.”

She darted her gaze around, searching and searching. She let out a pathetic sound as her eyes filled with tears, “mama?” She called out weakly, looking around at the marines, all wearing armor and heraldry she knew nothing of. She covered her face, not wanting to look at the marines who were staring at her. “Mama… Mama…”

Fulgrim: “This is… really pulling on my heartstrings.”
Vulkan: “I am so so sorry brother-”
Magnus: “Just please- I know Vulkan. Enough.”

“Gothic?” The vox corrupted voice asked in surprise.

“It appears so. Calm child.” She could hear the voice clearer now, far clearer. “We will do you no harm.”

His presence… it felt… different but also… familiar. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it. It was strange, almost as if blood connected-

She shuddered violently as she felt something touch her arm, causing her to violently convulse in a desperate attempt to defend herself. Small hands attempting to push or scratch away the hand that attempted to touch her.

“Easy young one.” The voice warned again. “Nothing bad will happen to you.”

She shook her head, trying to shut out their voices. Where was her mama? Where was her papa? Where was everyone!? She opened her eyes again, darting her gaze for anyone, anything to help her. But when she looked at one of them, he looked- he looked just like-

“Papa!” She cried out to him, scrambling towards him and away from all of the marines who kept trying to talk to her. She didn’t want anyone, just him. He had the same face as her papa- he did! He did, so he must be- even if she can’t see very well and everything blurred together- she just knew it was him!

She latched onto him, feeling the coldness of his ceramite armour plating on her skin as she wrapped herself around him. Her weak muscles desperately clutching onto anything they could even as her mind extended subconsciously and wrapped itself around her father.

Magnus: “What!? What is she doing!?”
Fulgrim: “I know what she’s doing. She’s reaching out to someone she believes to be you. Rosie… has done the same to a few of my sons when I was not available.”
Magnus: “So she just is trying to find comfort?”
Fulgrim: “Essentially, yes.”
Magnus: “But wait, your sons-”

She opened her otherworldly gaze, expecting the comfort and warmth of her beloved papa.

Only to be met by the untold, utter horror of realizing that the person she was so desperately clinging on to with her life… was not her father.

No… No it wasn’t him! But he- he looked like him! Where was he!? She was shocked that no one she knew, no one she cared for was here. She had no idea where anyone was, not even her siblings- her aunties-

Where is everyone!? Why? Why is she alone? Why?

She attempted to let go and slide down, only to be caught by a pair of strong, armoured hands, who held her with such surprising gentleness that for a second, for just a second, she felt safe.

She forced herself to look up and squint through the burning light to see who was holding her.

The man’s face was scarred beyond belief and showed signs of advanced age. Hard features carved into it by no doubt countless battles and incredible deeds. He had four bolts lodged into the skin of his forehead. One of his eyes was cerulean blue, and the other glowed bright red with the artificial light of an augmetic.

Perturabo: “By the throne… he does look like Magnu- Don’t you fucking dare Rogal.”
Rogal: “So be it.”

This was most assuredly not her father. This… was a Space Marine.

She feebly attempted to push herself out of his grasp, but it did little of getting her out. Frustrated, she couldn’t stop the tears welling in her eyes and big to roll down her cheeks in big, fat droplets. She wanted her papa, she wanted her mama. She didn’t want to be here- she wants to go home!

She wailed at an ever increasing pitch and with more desperation with each sob. She didn’t even have the energy nor the will to fight with the one holding her.

“Give her here.” She vaguely heard a voice speak behind her then, and the arms turned her around even as a finger was pressed to her forehead.

“Calm.”

Magnus: “Ha… I’ve used that same technique before on the children… Ironic…”
Leman: *Hands Magnus another tankard of ale*

The word echoed around her head like a soothing chime, making her mind calm down extremely fast and her thoughts gather yet again as she forced herself to focus on the locus of energy.

A psyker had touched her mind.

Turning, she found her gaze had sharpened and her hearing had returned in full.

The Marine that stood there looked dour and serious as was typical of his brotherhood. But the deeper she looked the more… kindness she saw.

Experimentally reaching out, she touched every single mind in the room. Then further, the… hallways outside then… the level? Then… the ship!? They were on a ship!?

Her mind began to race again but the locus from the librarian forced her to remain calm even as she looked closer at the minds of the Marines surrounding her. She tentatively probed a bit deeper into their minds, finding she could mind link with them, unlike the Aeldari and humans she wasn’t related to… Just like the marines of her papa’s legion… Just like with her mama and her siblings...

Magnus: *Sips on ale gently even as an eyebrow raises and he begins to think*

Slowly, her lips, wet with tears, opened even as she sniffed back the effects of her earlier crying.

“Bro-brothers?”

Magnus: *Spits out the ale* “THEY’RE MY SONS!?”
Ferrus: “That makes sense. The Thousand Sons steal artifacts all the time.”
Magnus: “We do not steal, we repurpose- we have gone through this!”

The silence around her was deafening even as a positive sounding chime was heard.

“Chapter Master…” It was the voice filled with vox corruption. “We have a match. A perfect genetic match, including her sire.”

Corvus: “Well, there goes that secret.”
Jaghatai: “Lasted long.”

The man holding her quickly turned. “Who?”

“My lord… Primarch Magnus the Red is the hybrid's father.”

Here, the vid finally ended, leaving a blank screen for the family to watch.

Magnus slowly breathed in and out even as he rubbed at his temples with one hand, the other still firmly around the mostly finished cup of ale. He stood, leaving behind the ale and left the room without another word, rejecting anyone who attempted to speak to him, even the Emperor who attempted to mind link with him for just a moment.

The Emperor knew that Magnus was most likely still… furious with what happened earlier. He did nothing wrong, he merely stopped his sons from having a meltdown and stopped Magnus from lashing out with his temper tantrum. Though now, he was walking away and wouldn’t even let him mind link with him. Things were complicated now and would require… a solution as they went further down the line. Yet again, for what felt like the upteenth time, the Emperor thought to the ultimate and unthinkable solution…

Surprisingly enough, it was Horus who got up next and appeared to go after his brother.

...​

“Brother.” Magnus heard the distinct voice of Horus behind him as he stormed down the hallway leading away from the viewing room on the Bucephalus.

“Leave me, Horus.” He just… He just needed to leave, gather his thoughts, He needed time away from everyone.

“No.” He heard the much firmer voice now even as a hand grabbed his shoulder and turned him around. “We must speak, the time has come that you must become aware of something about our Father.”

Magnus paused, turning to Horus with a furious look in his lone eye. “Is that what it all comes down to? I want to try and connect with everyone, apparently, I fuck up again as usual and get to find out in the near almost future, my family was slaughtered and yet it all comes back to how Father feels? Spare me if I am less than pleased to hear how this is about Father.”

“That is not Father.”

Of all the answers Horus could have given him, that was the one Magnus had least expected.

“Wh-what?” He asked in confusion. “What do you mean that isn’t Father?”

“Physically, it is Him.” Horus admitted. “But psychologically, the way He acts.” Horus took a deep breath. “He hasn’t always been like that. There is a time, a time long before this, a time where Father was warm and sentimental and even… loving, in His own way.”

Magnus’ face hardened, and so too, did his resolve. “Long since past then.”

“Yes.” Horus sighed. “And in that, lies the issue.” The Warmaster now looked Magnus directly into his eye. “He has chosen to watch us all more closely, to not leave our side. I thought that it meant He would go to being his old self but the warmth… it isn’t only diminished, it has vanished. Entirely.”

“And why are you saying this? This isn’t an excuse for-”

“No. You misunderstood me, brother, I come to you with this knowledge because I know you have held a connection with Him since before any of us. I want you to think, please explore your memory and tell me, is there a time when He was truly different.”

Magnus paused and thought this through. He remembered clearly the time he spent with their Father. From when he first gained consciousness and was the only one who could speak to him, to when they were scattered and he was still able to contact their Father. He remembered the time on Terra and eventually Luna, when they were all just barely children. Him, Father, II and XI, the four of them talking and... Of course, there was a difference, he knew it. “Yes, I can think of plenty of times when He was different. When He cared.” He let out a humorless laugh, “why must you make me worry for Him when all I want to do is be angry with Him?”

“Because despite how furious you are with Him, there is still the underlying issue of what has happened to Father.” Horus paused, “Though please do understand, I am not trying to push aside your feelings or how you feel about what has happened in there.”

Another humorless laugh, “could have fooled me.”

Horus smiled. It was mirthless. “I only say so because I suspect that He has changed far more radically than should be possible. Even for Him.” Then he sighed. “Although there is but one person that can know for sure.”

Magnus nodded along, sighing himself.

“Malcador.”

...​

How absolutely fascinating!

Ragio was currently balancing a stack of books in one arm while he carried a smaller stack in the other. There was a grin on his face, genuine excitement at sitting down with a good book and learning everything he could about the Imperium! Not just the Imperium, but the ships, the armour, the medical discoveries-!

Everything!

He was so glad his Uncle Leman showed him the Thousand Sons Library, he was able to take so many books with him after his Uncle said that the legion allows people to borrow from them all the time.

Now he was back on the Conqueror, hopelessly trying to find his way to the quarters that were assigned to him at the topmost level. Out of pure spite he avoided asking any of his father's sons and or serfs. He would be damned if he would go to them for help with anything, he would rather spend hours walking around until he found the damn room.

He hated looking at the few who sported those… things. The nails were something truly abhorred, knowing what they did to a person. How could they think to put those things willingly into their heads!? Were they completely mad?

He had a feeling he should keep that thought to himself.

Some of the legion supposedly had quite extreme views, or so he had heard. He decided to try and keep away from politics for as long as he possibly could.

He walked down the hallway, spotting two massive, grand doors.

Well, they did tell him his quarters would be grand. So it was worth a shot perhaps?

He quickly walked the remaining length of the hall and the doors began to open by themselves even as he rebalanced all the books he held. Wouldn’t do to have these precious tomes fall and get damaged after all-

“Angron, you can’t just sit here and brood all day.”

“Yes, I can. Fuck off.”

Ragio paused, knowing he was walking in on something he really didn’t want to be a part of...

“You need to talk to him at some point. You can’t hide away in a dark room and avoid him.” Lorgar, his uncle, was berating his… sire.

“Yes, I can.”

Lorgar took a deep breath, “Angron. Please, if you don’t get up and talk to him, then I will go and find him for you!” He placed his fists on his hips, standing over Angron who growled at him. “I will. I’ll do it.”

Ragio slowly began backing up…

“No, you fucking won’t.” Angron looked at Lorgar directly now. “You wouldn’t fucking dare.”

He was almost to the door…

“Alright, the first step is getting the damn lights on,” Lorgar mumbled, walking over to a switch. “Honestly, sitting in a dark room like a child brother…” He then flipped on the switch, causing Ragio to freeze even as the two Primarchs slowly turned to him.

“Uhh…” Ragio mumbled out. “Fuck.”

Lorgar turned back to Angron. “Certainly your son.” He then witnessed more proof of the connection when both gave Lorgar a death glare. Complete with the wrinkled nose and the baring of teeth. “Most definitely your son.” He sighed in relief. “But I think my job is done here, I will leave you two to talk it out.” Then he strode for the door, walking by Ragio and patting him on his shoulder as he went by and the door closed shut behind him.

Ragio watched as his uncle went, an eye twitching in anger.

He turned his head to his brooding father. Then back at the door. He sighed once and made his way for the door.

It didn’t open by itself.

He looked over and saw the open door rune.

He pressed it.

It emitted a negative sounding ping.

“The fuck?” Ragio slowly muttered under his breath, already knowing he was going to be stuck here. But still, he pressed the rune again. And again. And again. He stood there pressing the rune so many times, he heard Angron let out an angered growl.

“Stop. Pushing. The. RUNE.”

The finger quickly turned to a fist as he suddenly smashed the entire control outlet by accident.

Breathing exercises. He reminded himself. Just breathe…

You know what? He was here to read. And he was damned if his father was going to stop him from doing just that.

He turned around and swiftly walked towards the absolutely massive red and bronze decorated bed. Avoiding the look that his father was giving him from the center of the room where he sat on a massive throne.

He sat himself down on the comfortable bed and spread out his books, carefully studying the titles before plucking one out, which for some reason had three massive belts wrapped around it, securing it shut tightly.

He felt, rather than saw that his father was staring at him and so looked up to see the two golden eyes of his sire staring at him in curiosity.

“I'm not a complete savage, I am going to study. If that’s alright with you.” Was the first thing out of Ragio’s mouth, which both pleased him and made him wonder if he had a death wish.

“Ha!” Angron let out a bark of laughter. “Just like the red one. Fine child, do what you want.” Angron then leant back and crossed his arms.

"I'm not a child." Ragio humphed and went back to his books even as Angron’s face took on a suspicious gaze.

“Where did you get those books?”

Ragio didn’t even look up, too busy with opening the dictionary he had picked up, “Dummies Guide for Speakers of Low Gothic to High Gothic 4th Edition” and frowning at the title. Did they really have to call it that? He sighed, “The Thousand Sons library. Uncle Leman took me there once…” He paused, thinking about what happened only days ago. “...he told me that I could take any books from there and start my studies… after calling me a nerd.”

“Sounds like…” Angron trailed off. “Magnus let you borrow a book?”

Ragio shrugged, “I don’t know. Leman said that everyone borrows books from them. No one was around to say otherwise.” He flipped over the book on how to truly translate gothic since he was still getting the hang of it. Apparently there were more books on this type of subject, a “Dummy” series. How could someone want to make more of these insulting books? And why would someone want to read about architecture for dumm- wait that sounded interesting actually… He then began to take off the belts of the other book he had chosen. It was completely in high gothic so he only understood a couple of words. Or well… one in the title to be exact. The Codex part. He couldn’t quite get the second one, Dae- dae- monica? Something like that. “Besides, isn’t he… ah the word is on the tip of my tongue… Prime something. Yes, he is a Prime something, and I’ve seen that no one really tells them no. So I don’t see the big deal.”

Angron slowly stood as he saw what the book that Ragio was unlatching looked lik- was the damn thing growling!?

“No,” Angron spoke. “They never let anyone borrow…” Muttering something under his breath he spoke again. “Where did you get that book?”

“Uhhhh…” He shrugged, “somewhere in the back? I don’t understand High Gothic, so I just loaded my arms with books and now I’m here.” Ragio was unlatching the last belt. Whoever did it, did it extremely tightly, it took a considerable amount of strength to unlatch them.

Angron got slowly closer and closer. “What did the section you took it from say… exactly…”

Thank whatever it is he’s supposed to praise for eidetic memory. “Periculum est ne utar?”

Angron’s eyes widened. “Ragio! That means Danger! Do NOT us-”

Suddenly, four - spider-like eyes popped up on the book as the last belt went flying away and the book opened by itself, sprouting a mouth as it began gnarling and snarling at him even as it lunged for his face. Its massive mouth opening and closing with vicious speed like an attack canid.

Ragio screamed at the thing and threw it as hard as he could across the room, listening to it impact the wall with an audible crunch. “Is it dead!?”

Father and son turned.

“I-I think I threw it over there? It fell behind the sofa…” Ragio spoke even as the two in unison slowly began to crouch down to see under it.

There it was, lying completely still and closed.

“I-” Ragio began. “I think I killed i-”

The book immediately began chomping yet again as it somehow lunged for them across the floor. The lack of any legs apparently not hindering the cursed thing in the slightest as it went for Angron before leaping up, dodging an angry punch and attaching itself to the Primarchs face where it began chomping further.

Angron began screaming and trying to tear the cursed thing from his face, calling it an abomination. Ragio took the moment to grab a splintered sofa leg from the leap and swung at the thing. Too bad Angron was able to rip it from his face before Ragio could strike it, and instead smacked his father in the face as hard as he could, sending the book flying to Ragio.

Said Primechild managed to catch it, one hand on each cover even as the thing was chomping, attempting to kill him.

He looked past it to see that the book itself did little to no damage to his father.

“Some help maybe!?” He then asked as the book almost bit his nose.

Angron looked at him and grinned.

“Stop grinning at me this thing is going to eat my face!” He held the thing back, watching as it snapped at him with all that snarling and gnarling and agh! “Oh for fucks-” Ragio swore with wide eyes even as the book missed by just a hair. “-shit fuck piss- dad! Help me!”

That did it, Angron reached over and grabbed the book before throwing it as hard as he could towards the door.

The door which had just opened.

“So you two.” Came Lorgar’s voice. “Did you manage to-” One of his hands reached out with inhuman speed and caught the book.

He sighed deeply. “I will take that as a no, considering you are already throwing things.” He looked down at the thing in his hand. “Is this book grow-”

It launched for him, barely missing his neck and instead of attaching itself to the back of Lorgar’s fine clothing. As the book chomped and ripped away Lorgar's clothes, said Primarch danced around, desperately attempting to get it off of his back.

“Help!” He finally said, looking at the two other people in the room, both of which were frozen in shock. “Help me dammit!” He yelled as he desperately swung again for the book who this time bit his finger, causing him to yelp in pain as the daemonic teeth's sting was far fiercer than the actual bite.

Then Angron laughed, a good hearty laugh as he fell back onto his bed.

And perhaps even more surprising, Ragio was unable to keep from laughing as well, the sound falling from him in cascades. Laughing just as much as his father as the absolute ridiculousness of the situation became known to both.

After a few more seconds of struggle and cloth eating, Lorgar finally managed to grab and throw the book out of the door and down the hallway, where it skittered somewhere, burying itself who knew where.

Angron and Ragio slowly stopped laughing.

Then they looked at Lorgar, who stood there, his fine clothing torn to absolute shreds with a frown on his face, and laughter took them again even as a few serfs marched down the hallway outside.

Only to have to run away as the book began chomping again from its hiding spot. Growling and snarling as it darted across the floor after the now runaway serfs, causing Ragio and Angron to laugh even harder as Lorgar’s frown slowly grew into a smirk.

It had taken literal days. And a set of incredibly expensive robes, but by the Emperor, he had made them take the first step. And that made it all worth it.

Though it felt more like almost two month- OW FUCK, HIS HEAD!

 

[DuskDawnAndFate]

As soon as Magnus left the viewing room, the tension of the family should have dissipated, yet it stayed. The family looked to each other after the end of that vid, some thinking about what had been said. Others, namely Leman, had been thinking over his own actions these past few weeks and even how he had behaved from before the seven weeks of vid watching and forced family bonding.

Perhaps he had been too hard on Magnus, or hadn’t apologized enough during their time before all of this. But he hadn’t meant to make him truly believe he hated him. He didn’t mean to make Magnus feel as if he wasn’t a part of the family, just that they disagreed and…he called him a witch… he called all of his work maleficarum, but in his defense, Magnus did research and do some questionable things with his power, and in the end it was all in good banter.

But he still didn’t mean to make him feel like he didn’t belong. That he wasn’t a part of the pack.

He saw as he in the future held genuine hatred for Magnus later on, how the council of Nikea was him, Corvus and Mortarion having a trial on Magnus instead of giving him a chance.

Prospero was a mistake from all sides. Neither the fault of Magnus nor Leman. Of course both had their fair share of the blame, but in the end of it all it was Magnus’ folly which was launched upon and exploited by a traitorous Horus, all amplified by panic, his own stubbornness, and Magnus’ depression over the situation.

They burned Prospero. All over a damned mistake. The Chaos Gods’ manipulation was masterful, and they were played like pieces on a regicide board.

He broke his own brothers back for helvete’s sake! Was Magnus truly at such a precipice at that point in his life that he would simply allow it to happen?

Only one thing was for sure, this family was like fire and water, and mixed just about as well.

“Ah, fook… Ah should never ‘ave been tha’ ‘ard on Magnus.” Leman spoke up and broke the silence of the room, yet the tension did not lift. “This is my fault.”

“I disagree,” Rogal said in his defense, “it is father’s.”

That stunned everyone in the room, who thought that the brick that was Rogal Dorn could blame his own father?

“PARDON?” The Emperor cut in. “HOW IS THIS-” The Emperor paused, thinking over everything that has, would have and is happening. In the span of seconds, he knew there was nothing he could say that wouldn’t make this his fault. He sighed and with a weary hand, rubbed his face, “NEVERMIND, IT IS.”

The emotion of surprise somehow managed to reach a new rise yet again, caused everyone in the room to immediately feel even more awkward. Well, their Father admitted it, and now Leman and Rogal are pointing it out. The entire family was fucked up from the beginning and even Rogal and the Emperor himself finally voiced what everyone was thinking.

Guilliman seized upon the moment, attempting to dispel the tension and awkwardness. “Should we just watch the next vid? It will help us take our minds off of this situation.”

Sanguinius sighed and rubbed his eyes. “While I appreciate the distraction, Roboute, we cannot just go and watch another vid and ignore the proverbial Grox in the room. This is all going to come back to blow up in our faces if we don’t address it.”

“Stay out of my area of prophecies pretty boy.” Konrad snorted. “But I agree, at one point or another we are all going to explode on each other… maybe even literally, or maybe someone might be thrown through a wall-”

“I wouldn’t take it that far,” Horus said as he walked back in looking beyond tired as he took his place at his Father’s right. “Magnus has decided to go and rest to contemplate on some things, but we will need to talk about this… situation eventually.”

“WE SHALL HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT IT IN DUE TIME.” The Emperor spoke in a lowered tone. “UNTIL THEN… I KNOW ROBOUTE HAS BEEN ITCHING TO GET BACK TO SEEING HOW AEGIDIUS HAS BEEN DOING.”

The tension in the room appeared to elevate at least slightly as Horus sat back down on his throne and Magos Lehm inserted the next holotape all the while Corvus could be heard whispering “An atrocity on family values.”

...
204.M42 - The Fortress of Hera, Macragge
…​

The sound of panting, yelling, and exertion filled the air of the training arena which the view opened upon. Along the edges and around the large training area, neophytes were in the middle of their own training regimes with serfs aiding them. In the middle, on a padded floor, two little boys in form-fitting training garb appeared to be fighting each other, both holding sparring swords, shortened to their appropriate age and then well balanced for its user. The light above the two boys bearing down on their forms, leaving their small shadows below them to follow their movements.

They kept going back and forth, prodding each other’s defense under the careful watch of two Custodes who stood to the side along with a Primaris marine and a young woman with silver, shoulder-length hair dressed finely and who appeared to be looking especially closely at one of the two boys, the one with the slightly disheveled black hair. She stood to the side, hands folded behind her back as she watched the two boys sparring, her own training coming to mind as she thought up exercises that could help her young charge.

The A: “Is that-
The B: -a Sister of Battle?”
Horus: “Why are you two the ones to always notice that?”
Perhaps A: “Do not make us-”
For sure B: “- spill your secret.”
Emperor: “WHAT SECRET?”
Horus: “Absolutely nothing that is important or worth your attention, right brothers?”
Konrad: *Slowly sneaking away*
Leman: “Nevermind that. Who’s the one that looks as if he’s playin’ dress up as a Night Lord?”
Emperor: “NOT SURE, BUT WE’LL FIND OUT SOON. SPEAKING OF NIGHT LORD, CORVUS.”
Corvus: “On it.” *Disappears and reappears with Konrad in tow*
Konrad: “...fuck.”

At least she would not have to teach the young lord what a bath is again or watch him treat every meal like it was going to be taken away from him. If only she could find a way to get him to focus on not just his studies, but combat as well… He was too nice to fight others...

Ferrus: *Chuckling* “I remember Fulgrim telling me about when he was civilizing Konrad. Didn’t you have to explain what a bath was to him?”
Fulgrim: “Oh yes, along with calming him down when-”
Konrad: “Do. Not. Speak. About. That.”
Fulgrim: “Konrad, as I told you before, it was fine that you cr-”
Konrad: “That. Did. Not. Happen. Shut. Up!”

Suddenly, Damien managed to find an opening in Aegidius’ defenses and struck. Too fast, his training sword went past the boy’s defense and bounced heavily off of his stomach, sending Aegidius flying to the floor.

“Oof. You alright Gidius?” Damien paused, looking over the fallen Aegidius who was lying on the floor, face down and groaning. “Cause uhh… You fell over.”

“Thank you, Damien, I forgot that happened,” Aegidius mumbled from the floor, gently hitting his head on the floor multiple times. The motion was hard to catch, only the slight bounce of his hair noticeable with each bob on the floor.

“Oh. How could you forget something like that I mean, it just happened and you are still laying on the floor right now, cause yeah I pointed it out but you are still lying there, so don’t you think you could get up? I mean-” Damien began to speak but was cut off by the sounds of two people groaning at this. Both Aegidius and what sounded like a Space Marine with his voice corrupted through a vox grill.

Konrad: “Please no, I can’t sit here and listen to him ramble on anymore! The first time was bad enough, the second time made me want to expedite my inevitable death. Skip him.”
Emperor: “LEAVE DAMIEN ALONE, HE IS PRECIOUS.”
Konrad: “He’s a precious little sore on my emaciated physique.”

“By the dark nights of Quirinius! When your prey is on the floor like that, you do not stop and ask them if they are alright!” Came the highly disappointed voice of the Marine who lectured Damien, the latter who ended up looking down with puffed cheeks and large dark eyes shining at the rebuff. “Don’t you dare attempt to get sweet on me, boy! Go and finish the duel!”

Konrad: *Leans back* “I like this person.”
Fulgrim: “Will you stop being mean to your son?”
Konrad: “Rogal, if you please?”
Rogal: “No.”
Konrad: “What he said.”
Fulgrim: *huffs* “One day, you’re going to learn to appreciate him. And I will be there to tell you that I’m proud of you. Until then, stop being so condescending!”

“But I don’t wannaaaaaaaa.” Damien shot back with a slight whine in his voice, arms crossed over his chest. “Gidius is already down! I guess that means I win? Cause he’s kinda in the middle of hating himself and smacking his head on the floor.”

Aegidius continued to smack his head on the floor, groaning more about how much he hates himself and this wasn’t fair and how he almost had him.

The Primaris from before let out a sound of frustration, “Boy! You are going to be a Marine! We do not leave our prey on the floor like that during a duel! Have some honour and finish him off! Before I go over there and finish it for you!”

Roboute: “What- This is a training duel! They’re children! At this point in their training, it should be all about form, step practicing, and basic skill tests! He’s acting just like those types of parents who get overly into their children’s sports games!”
Emperor: “UGH… I THOUGHT THOSE TYPES OF PEOPLE WERE FINALLY GONE.”
Rogal: “Father, a stereotype will not die simply because humanity teetered on the edge of extinction for a time.”
Perturabo: “I would hit you but uh, your right.”

Next to the Marine came the much more familiar voice of Pupponius, who sounded as if he was ready to throw said marine out of the airlock of a ship orbiting a star, “Captain Vlad, this is a sparring match between children, calm down. Aegidius is down, he loses, round ended.”

Vlad scowled, “Easy for you to say. I have to train that smiling little bat over there to stop being so damned nice- DAMIEN! Do not help him up and dust him off!” This spooked Damien who had been doing just that, ended up losing his grip on Aegidius and have said Prince fall back to the floor with an audible smack to his face on the ground.

Corvus: *Dramatic sigh* “In the grimdarkness of the forty-second millennium, there is still lack of decorum and good grace from Konrad’s sons.”
Konrad: “He’s right though.”
Roboute: “No, no he is not. This would be true on the battlefield when fighting against an enemy going for your life, but not between friends in a training duel. Especially between two children who obviously have affection for each other!”

A sigh was heard coming from the Custodes. “Allow him to.” Pupponius lectured, never moving from his post. “It is a training duel. They are here to learn how to fight. Valour has its time and place, it is a spar between friends. Not enemies.” Pupponius continued to lecture. “The child's trials will come later.”

“I hear and understand you, Custodes, but please do take into account it is my duty to make sure the little VIII learns how to not be so bright, cheery, soft and cuddly all the time. I had to explain to him that he should not be hugging people all the time and that asking for autographs is in no way going to be tolerated. This isn’t proper for our legion’s image.” Vlad sighed dramatically, rubbing his armoured hands onto his helmet and wishing he could be literally anywhere else right now. Like taking the little bat into the gravity room again and punching him in the face a few hundred times more with the obstacles.

Vulkan: “Punch him in the face with obstacles? But what is so wrong with being bright and cheery? I am bright and cheery!”
Corvus: “And that’s fine. But apparently, in Konrad’s legion, everyone has to be miserable at all times.”
Konrad: “I blame Nostramo, it needs another... snip one of these days.”
Emperor: “THAT’S NOT HEALTHY, KONRAD.”
Konrad: “Like how you made out Magnus’s genuine anger into a temper tantrum and made him leave the viewing room?”
Emperor: “THAT IS NOT THE SAME THING.”
Konrad: “Of course.”
Emperor: “I MERELY LECTURED HIM. YOU HAVING AN ISSUE WITH YOUR HOMEWORLD, THE VERY CORE OF YOUR LEGION IS A DIFFERENT MATTER ENTIRELY. ONE I HOPE YOU WILL SETTLE SOON.”
Konrad: “Soon.”

The two continued to bicker back and forth in the background even as Aegidius and Damien both decided to simply sit on the floor for a rest. Both boys watched the two transhumans argue back and forth, their heads turning from left to right, following who was talking and so on, so forth.

“You think Vlad is gonna make you do this for much longer?” Aegidius asked softly, rubbing at his cheeks where he face planted and finally beginning to get over the lingering ache. “Father promised I could attend the next war meeting.”

Damien made a face, a cross between a raspberry and a grimace, “If Palicia lets me, but she’s kinda grouchy right now. Her and Vlad have been arguing a lot and she isn’t in the best of moods. I heard Vlad say to her face that she must be suffering from her… I don’t know what it is, but she got mad when he called it a red rage and too tight of a chastity belt.”

Leman: *Spits out ale, laughing his head off*
Rogal: “It appears that the chastity belts were not the subject of a jest, but in fact, a fact.”
Horus: “It’s still funny.”
Roboute: “Please don’t turn this into something big, boys…”
Ferrus: “Oh no, they will.”
Jaghatai: “Children repeat the darndest of things. On Chogoris, they are known as the repeating hawks, many a husband have earned the ire of their wives over their children repeating words they shouldn’t have.”
Fulgrim: “...really? They repeat absolutely everything?”
Jaghatai: “Yes? Why do you ask?”
Fulgrim: *Rubs hands over face* “Oh no…”

Aegidius’ ears slowly lowered as he slapped a hand over his mouth and attempted to stop his laughter, failing absolutely miserably at that. He couldn’t stop the giggles from leaking out as he rocked back and forth, feet kicking slightly.

“What?” Damien asked only for Aegidius to continue laughing. “Whaaat?”

“D-Damien.” Aegidius managed to choke out between laughs. “Palicia isn’t married! So she's frustrated!”

Sanguinius: “Oh, the precious innocence of youth.”
Konrad: “How in the feth did he come from me!?”
Corvus: “I don’t know, but I hope he never loses that innocence.”
Sanguinius: “Precious baby boy…”
Roboute: “Yes, yes, Damien is precious but I want to know why Aegidius understands these jokes!”
Horus: “He reads?”
Roboute: “Only Magnus gets to use that joke.”
Horus: “Why…?”
Roboute: “He is not here at the moment and that’s my son and I say so- Oh frak. Now I’m sounding like Father.”

Damien got even more confused now, “frustrated? Frustrated about what? If she doesn’t like having a tight chastity belt, why doesn’t she just loosen it up? Or eat some food? Or why not just take it off?” Damien’s face scrunched up in thought, “Wait, what even is a chastity belt?”

“No no no!” Aegidius hastily corrected his friend. “She wants a baby!”

Damien made an oh’ing sound, the adults of the background barely registering in the minds of the young boys. “Wait… why and how? How do you even get a baby?”

Roboute: “Oh shit… not this! Not when I’m not there to give him the talk!”
Jaghatai: “This will not go well.”
Roboute: “It can’t get that bad, can it? It’s not as if Aegidius would know about that sort of thing yet… Unless he read about it…”
Horus: “Called it.”
Roboute: “Why would he read about something like that? He’s too young to know about that right now…”
Horus: “Human anatomy?”
Roboute: “I suppose, perhaps he was curious-”
Emperor: “ROBOUTE, CHILDREN LOOKUP EVERYTHING THEY WANT TO LOOK UP. MOST CHILDREN ONLY USE A DICTIONARY TO FLIP TO BAD WORDS AND SNICKER AT THEM. EVERY REGULAR CHILD WILL SNICKER AT SEX, BOOB, DAMN, FUCK, ALL BECAUSE THEY CAN AND THEY’RE LITTLE GREMLINS WHO WANT TO LAUGH AT FUNNY WORDS. DON’T BE SURPRISED IF YOUR SON HAS DONE THE SAME THING.”

Vlad and Pupponius stopped talking, both getting closer and their argument getting heated before they fell silent. Pupponius knew something like this would happen, just didn’t exactly know when. He was about to halt their discussion and leave it for another time, but was stopped by Vlad, who shook his head and spoke quietly. “No no, let them talk. Let’s see where this goes.”

“That sounds like a terrible idea.” Pupponius answered, already knowing that training was over and this was only going to get worse.

Guilliman: “Oh no.”

Aegidius sighed before puffing up with pride at his knowledge on the subject. “Well, you know, girls that age usually get married and then they love their husband really really hard and eventually get a baby to form inside of their stomachs!”

Guilliman: *Wipes sweaty forehead* “That could have gone way worse.”
Konrad: “Wait for it.”
Guilliman: “Oh fuck no-”

“Ewww!” Damien exclaimed with a disgusted face even as Palicia began to blush a nice colour of pink. “That sounds super gross! Why would anyone want to have a baby in their stomach? That’s where food goes!” Damien shuddered, then thought about it more, “But then… how does it get out?”

Guilliman: “OH NO.”
Horus: “The wonders of life.”
Alphamegon: “You know a lot about that-”
Omegalpha: “- don’t you brother?”
Horus: “At least I don’t butt in on the private affairs of others..”
Twin uno: “If you did-”
Twin duo: “- the count would be much smaller-”
The Twins: “- wouldn’t it?”
Jaghatai: “Good one. The flow and aggressiveness of a soaring falcon. Seven out of ten.”
Emperor: “ALL OF YOU ARE HOLDING SOMETHING BACK, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? I AM FOCUSING MORE ON HOW ALL OF YOU ARE FUCKING CHILDREN.”

Palicia looked over to Vlad, who was letting out chuckles at the boy’s antics. Of course, that bastard would just stand there and laugh while they are making fun of her- well the reproductive process in general! She opened her mouth to yell even as Aegidius spoke up. “Oh, that’s easy! They’re pooped out!”

Mortarion: “What book on anatomy did he read!? I want to travel ten millennia into the future and rip its author’s head off and then examine his brain to see if stupidity can be bred...” *Trails off into respirator masked grumbling*
Emperor: “STUPIDITY CAN BE BRED, I HAVE SEEN IT HAPPEN.”
Lion: “Wow. Roboute did not raise his child correctly. Amazing.”
Roboute: “Don’t you dare. Maybe he just misunderstood it!?”

“But aren’t babies big?” Damien asked, face scrunching up as he imagined Palicia doing that very thing. He shuddered as he thought about how painful that would be and then started worrying that she would want to do that. “What if it tears up Palicia and she dies!? I don’t want Palicia to die!” Damien then began to tear up at the thought. Sure, Palicia was really mean to him at first, but then she got super nice to him after she saw his stomach- but she was kinda his mom now. He doesn’t want to lose another mom...

“Damien! Calm down, she won’t die!” Aegidius spoke up, patting his cousin’s back, “I mean, girls are just different. Most can do it just fine and have lots of babies, it’s because they have special hips that allow themselves to split open and do it safely! That’s why Palicia has really wide hips and a big butt compared to the male serfs, you know-”

Leman: *Laughs even harder* “Oh for helvete’s sake, this is just good comedy.”
Guilliman: *Smashes head into hands, groaning loudly*
Mortarion: “He… he mistook her rear for her hips…”
Fulgrim: “N-no. He made a distinction between the two… Just extended the… Oh my…”
Emperor: “YUP. NORMAL CHILDREN.”
Konrad: “How do you even know what normal is?”
Emperor: “A MAGICAL THING CALLED EXPERIENCE.”
Horus: “I am so happy I was deep into puberty by the time you found me.”
Omego- oh wait it's Alpharius: “Like all-”
Alpharius: “- the current planetary gover-”
Horus: *Grabs his wolf pelt and smothers it onto both of the twins to shut them up, tightening it even as the Twins begins to struggle and their thrones are pulled closer together* “I believe one of the Twins said something, did you hear anything brothers?”
Konrad: “Not a damn thing.”
A and definitely O: *Kicking with their feet and struggling to get the pelt off, genuinely surprised for the first time in forever*
Horus: “Might have spilled some Mjod on it earlier as well, ah well.”
Ferrus: “I’m confused? Weren’t most of us found when we were adults? Is there something else?”
Emperor: “OH GREAT BOYS, NOW FERRUS IS CONFUSED. VULKAN.”
Vulkan: “On it!” *Hugs Ferrus to calm him down*

In the distance, other serfs and neophytes who were training immediately had to excuse themselves as they suffered a sudden serious case of seeing their sides being sent into orbit with the speed of a bolt shell. Nearby, Vlad had to do his best to not actually laugh and Pupponius was trying to keep a smile from his face, thankful for his helmet. Palicia sputtered and looked behind herself, hand smoothing her dress. It wasn’t big...

Damien calmed down, thinking about what Aegidius said. If she won’t die then, maybe he could give an idea? He’s great at thinking up ideas! “Oh, is that so? If Palicia wants a baby so badly, why doesn’t she just ask Vlad? They always talk together and some serfs say they have shells and sparks flying and-”

Konrad: “Ah fuck.”
Corvus: “Well that ought to derail the proverbial train quite quickly.”

This caused Vlad to immediately stop laughing and lift Damien up by his shoulders along with beginning to scold him vigorously even as Palicia turned a darker shade of red than blood itself. Vlad practically screaming at the boy about how he needs to get his nose out of the affairs of others and how dare he insinuate he’d ever want to get close to that fanatic and her order and everything she stood for. Palicia then began to scream at Vlad for screaming at Damien and at Damien as well for speaking inappropriately and how this was so far from being okay, he was grounded and so on.

Horus: *Rising laughter* “Oh, oh boy. These two are definitely going to end up sleeping with each other.”
Konrad: “Ugh…”
Leman: “How tha’ fook can’ yae tell?”
Horus: “Oh, they hate each other right now but I guarantee that at some point, they are going to fall into each other’s arms. Mark my words.”
Emperor: “SINCE WHEN DID YOU BECOME AN EXPERT ON THE TOPIC OF COURTSHIP?”
Horus: “Am I not a man? I can make observations. Is it not true that a Primarch is a master of many types of knowledge? Why should this one escape my expertise?”
Emperor: “FAIR ENOUGH. YOU AREN’T ROGAL.”
Rogal: “While I am fairly ignorant of the practice of courtship as I have never truly had a use for it, I am not ignorant of the idea of courtship.”
Emperor: “HOW SO?”
Rogal: “The ladies of the court are attracted to my enhanced physique and well-groomed mustache.”
Emperor: “GOOD POINT.”
Rogal: “I find them lacking, for they do not possess the fortified physique needed to properly couple. Although, I have remedied this by having a hare-”
Perturabo: “I think that no one wants to hear about the details.”

But that isn’t what caught Aegidius’ attention. What did was the sight of his Custodes caretaker, which he had known since he could remember, bent over, leaning on his Guardian Spear, and trying not to laugh his absolute golden plated ass off.

Never before had he seen one of the Custodes so much as crack an open smile. Now Puppy was full-on laughing while he sat there looking at the swirling mass of angered screaming, Damien looking confused and like a fowl who let the water slide off of him with little care, and now Puppy was losing his composure. Aegidius felt something deep inside of his mind shaking with both elated laughter and unending irony. He had no idea why but chose to just watch all of this.

Roboute: “Has… Has anyone ever seen a Custodes laugh?”
Lion: “The first time I ever saw them emote beyond the baseline pitch they are known for, was when they saw episode seven of Text-To-Speech. Beyond that, no.”
Mortarion: “That episode still haunts my vision, even after all these weeks…”
Emperor: “THEY ARE PERFECTLY CAPABLE OF EXPRESSING EMOTION AND EVEN RELAXING. THEY SIMPLY CHOOSE NOT TO DO SO OUTSIDE OF THE COMPANY OF THEIR OWN BROTHERS.”
Lion: “Completely like their creator then.”
Emperor: “I THOUGHT WE WERE OVER THIS. WHY ARE YOU GANGING UP ON ME AGAIN? I THOUGHT AFTER ALL THIS TIME TOGETHER YOU ALL HAD FINALLY GOTTEN IT OUT OF YOUR SYSTEM?”
Leman: “Tha’ was before yer went an’ made Magnus leave.”
Emperor: “I LECTURED HIM, RIGHTLY SO. HE WAS GETTING OUT OF CONTROL AND WAS FIGHTING WITH MORTARION. I PUT A STOP TO IT.”
Horus: “...well, yes. But then Mortarion kept egging him on and sure, you got ‘mad’ at him but not on the same level as with Magnus.”
Sanguinius: “Magnus made his mistakes, yes, but we aren’t angry about his past mistakes, we’re… I suppose some are feeling raw after such an intense moment that we are sensitive to his plight. Perhaps even guilty that we didn’t stick up for him as we should have...”
Konrad: “It’s about-”
Emperor: “WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT THIS.”

Slowly, he began to actually listen to the screams, this time from Palicia. “-one more fight and if Lord Aegidius wins, we are done here!”

Aegidius was fine with this, but felt his ears prick up in surprise and a little itch at the back of his mind. Why did his ears have to move on their own?

“But Palicia, Aegidius just falls over and lets me win, it’s not fun.” Damien would have shrugged, but was still currently being held up by Vlad, “I mean, it’s fun, but he is so clumsy, I’m sure he’d find a way to fall up a flight of stairs!”

Palicia immediately began to lecture her charge, “Do not talk of your cousin like that young Lord!” She frowned at him. “Observe deco-”

Aegidius spoke up, waving off her concern. “It’s okay, Palicia. I always fall over, and yeah… It’s true, I have fallen up stairs before. So it’s not really that bad if Damien speaks the truth.”

Rogal: “How does one fall up stairs? Falling means for an object to plummet downwards due to the effect of gravity over an object in question.”
Perturabo: “Shut up and let me tell you why you’re wrong. It’s possible to fall upstairs, as the object in question is still falling downwards due to the effect of gravity, but from their position of going up stairs, they end up going upwards. I can write down the mathematical equations along with the basic laws of physics behind this if you need it.”
Rogal: “No. That shall be enough.”
Roboute: “I don’t know if I should be surprised my son is a terrible clutz, or that Rogal and Perturabo are getting along this much.”
Sanguinius: “Why not both at this point?”
Konrad: “My head hurts already.”

Vlad chose this moment to intervene. “No harm is done then. Right, let’s get this done, both of you into position if you will.” He dropped Damien down unceremoniously, ignoring how Palicia was now screaming at him for manhandling the boy. Nothing he ever did with this woman would ever get her to not scream at him. “And you. Quiet hag, the spar is going to start. I swear, your screeching could put those damned Howling Banshees to shame.”

Corvus: “Definitely Konrad’s son.”
Ferrus: “And… are you absolutely sure that they’re going to be a thing?”
Horus: “I know it in my soul, trust me. People like that usually attract each other if they have to spend time together.” *Still choking the twins*
Fulgrim: “That… I can see that. I definitely can see that and… are the twins ok?”
Horus: “Oh the pelt isn’t that thick, they should still be able to breathe, though they have been incredibly still- *Pulls off pelt* “-what the fuck?”
Fulgrim: “What?”
Horus: *Stands aside, revealing empty sets of armour with missing helmets*
Konrad: “I’m not even surprised at this point.”

She glared at him and stood off to the side as Pupponius thought for a moment, then nodded to himself.

“Little Lord,” Pupponius spoke up, causing Aegidius to look at the Custodes inquisitively. “If you can win this round, I will personally see to it that you can join your father in the upcoming war room session as promised.”

Oh. Oh, he liked the sound of that! Aegidius smirked to himself, he would do his best to win this time, he even felt a prick of confidence in the back of his mind! He would win and this time, he’d get to spend time with his dad! Winning round, here he comes!

As the two got up, grabbed their swords and got into position, they both took a deep breath and lunged at each other. As they both sped towards each other, Aegidius felt almost as if time had stopped for him. An aura taking over his mind even as he felt as if every single one of his muscles began to be controlled by something.

In the blink of an eye, his hand moved and parried Damien’s sword with his own, flicking it away.

Guilliman: “WHAT!?”

Then with the pommel of his own weapon, he hit Damien on his hand, forcing his cousin to drop his sword from the pain of his hand being struck.

Guilliman: “THE FUCK!?”

In less than a second, Aegidius turned, thrusting his own sword underneath Damien’s chin and leaning it against his neck, gasping for air even as Damien froze.

From outside of the spar, Vlad and Pupponius were the only ones to fully see what happened and went silent. Palicia only saw them go from about to clash to Damien on the floor with Aegidius defeating him in the blink of an eye. Vlad tried to comprehend how the little halfling was able to defeat the other and was trying to figure it out. Palicia was in awe, the little lord holding himself the same way a veteran would have. His shadow from the light above looked so different now, larger and more akin to the shadow of a warrior such as Vlad or… a Custodes or...

*Silence*
Horus: “How the fuck did he do that.”
Roboute: “He… That wasn’t possible. He’s not coordinated and fast enough to pull that technique off.”
Horus: “Not just that, Roboute. I recognized that technique. That was the same disarming technique that Father taught me when I was on Terra only weeks after I was found. He said that only he and I knew it. How does your son know that?”
Roboute: “I don’t know. If what you said was true, then only you and Father could know and since I have not seen you here in these vids… Father?” *Turns to the Emperor, the rest of the family doing so as well*
Emperor: “...I KNOW NOTHING.”
Corvus: “I don’t know, but the child’s shadow has changed and… That looks a lot like a much larger person. Anything to add, Father?”
Emperor: “...I KNOW NOTHING.”
Roboute: “How in the fuck could you know nothing!?”

Pupponius, however, was stunned. The little boy before him, the boy whom he was charged to protect and watch over was… He saw that flicker between Aegidius and who he knew to be standing before him over the fallen form of Damien. How could it be? How could the Emperor-

Roboute: “See! Even the Custodes said that-”
Emperor: “HE HAS SAID NOTHING SO FAR.”

“Puppy!” Aegidius cried out, snapping Pupponius’s attention to the little boy who now had an excited grin on his face, hands squishing his cheeks in excitement. “Puppy! Did you see that? I did it! I won! I looked so cool!” He then started to twist in place excitedly, letting out little squeals, his shadow back to a much smaller form and following his twisting motions.

Emperor: “SEE?”
Roboute: “The words to describe how incredibly spiteful I am at the moment do not exist in the entirety of the High-Gothic lexicon.”
Corvus: “That also does nothing to address how his shadow got bigger…”

Damien, from the ground, started to gush, “oh my Night Haunter! Gidius that was so cool! We were about to hit and you went WOOOOSH and then I went AAAAAAA and then you hit me with a BAM and now you beat me and you looked so COOL!”

Konrad: “Oh for all the fucking spires on Nostramo, NOW he gushes!”
Fulgrim: “He’s just being a child, Konrad, calm down.”

“I know, right!? I never look cool!” Aegidius and Damien then began to do little dances where the former stood and the latter laying on the ground, both excited that something so cool just happened and they never did something like this before!

Aegidius helped young Damien off of the ground. As soon as the second boy was standing, he brushed himself off, already talking about how cool his cousin managed to be just a second ago. Vlad nearby was still trying to figure out how the feth did the half breed go and perform such a technique? All he knew was that he was going to have to up Damien’s training and work on his footwork, especially if the halfbreed was going to be such a tough opponent for the little bat. No way in hell is his little brother going to be shown up by the halfbreed clutz.

“So hey, do you think you could tell me how you did that? Cause that was really cool and I kinda wanted to learn how to do that too cause do you have any idea how useful that would be whenever I fight against Vlad? Let me tell you, Vlad is not an easy guy to fight since he never takes it easy on me and the last time I fought him he kinda kicked me so hard I made a dent in the training hall’s wall! I think it’s still there and- why do I smell dog?” Damien paused then looked around his cousin to see- “IS THAT THE WOLF KING!?”

Leman: “What!? Ah don’t smell like ah’ dog!”
Sanguinius: “Yes… you kind of do. Sorry to say brother.”
Leman: “Well if ah smell loike a fookin’ dog, then yer smellin’ loike a man bird. And Lion smells loike a damned cat.”
Lion: “-Pardon you?”
Rogal: “Sanguinius does not smell like a bird. He smells of expensive soaps and perfumes.”
Sanguinius: *Huffs* “Can’t a Primarch take care of himself?”
Fulgrim: “Yes he can!”

“Wait- Wolf King?” Aegidius turned as well to see that yes, that was definitely his Uncle Leman coming in and yes, Damien was right… He did smell like dog… no… like wolf blood. Wolf blood, daemon guts and some type of alcohol, all at once. Now that he looked again, he could see that no, Uncle Leman was definitely very angry, frustrated and holding a little girl who looked like him as well, who also smelled of wet dog and guts.

Horus: “Oh yes… that happened.”
Vulkan: “Poor Freki…”

They reeked of war like they had just come from a battle and had barely gotten out of it. Aegidius found himself getting nervous very quickly, he knew his Uncle had some very, very strong opinions. That… May or may not be about him…

“Uncle Leman.” Aegidius greeted with a forced smile, too stiff of a back and a false smile. “What brings you to… to Macragge?” He didn’t want to greet his Uncle, last time he did he had to deal with the large man using him as a tankard rest by accident and then loudly apologising.

Roboute: “You used him as a rest for your tankard!?”
Leman: “Ah’m sure future me didn’t mean to…”
Jaghatai: *Looking at the Emperor*
Emperor: “WHAT NOW?”
Jaghatai: “Simply waiting.”
Emperor: “FOR WHAT, PRAY TELL?”
Jaghatai: “Are you not going to lecture Roboute?”
Emperor: “AT THIS POINT, YOU ARE ACTING MORE OUT OF PETTINESS THEN ACTUAL REASON.”
Jaghatai: “Is it wrong for me to hold you to the same standard?”
Emperor: “NO.”

“Aegidius, ladd.” His uncle greeted back in a rumbling voice. “Yer’ wouldn’t know where yer’ Da’ is by chance would ye?”

“Um…” Aegidius muttered. “The-the war room I think, but what are you doing here? The landing pad is on the other side-”

“Oh aye so it is, needed to stop by the librarius as it so happened.”

“Librarius?” Aegidius’ eyes went wide, knowing his Uncle’s distaste for psykery. It must have been quite bad if he was willingly going to them… “What did you need from there?”

A quiet whine was heard from Leman’s shoulders as the tiny girl he carried turned around, revealing a face which had quite clearly been crying. “Freki…” She managed to whine out even as his uncle's massive hand reached up and gently stroked the girls back.

“Don’t worry Freya, the psykers said he’ll be fine.”

Damien was about to ask something, but Aegidius was quick to slap a hand over his cousin’s mouth, much to the former boy’s anger. “What happened?” Aegidius asked slowly.

“What happened?” Leman growled out, looking away. “The damn’ navigator managed to bump the ship out of it’s route and land in the bloody warp! Making' our Gellar field fail.”

Aegidius’ immediately began to feel anxious. “When-when was this?”

“Oh, the incident? Accounting for travel time… a couple of days ago I would say.”

Aegidius breathed a ragged breath even as he began muttering something, causing the Wolf King to look down at his nephew with an uneasy gaze. “What is it, son’?”

Shrinking back, the young boy’s ears dropped as he tried to look anywhere else but at his uncle. “I-I… it might… it was my fault.”

Roboute: “I- I… no… he’s being honest and standing for his actions. I feel proud, however...”
Horus: “The topic at hand is cause for concern?”
Jaghatai: “And you wish he would instead lie, as many other children would?”
Roboute: “Right now… Yes. He truly did not mean for it to happen, it was an accident. The consequences…”

Leman’s head visibly recoiled even as the little wolf held into his arms stopped crying. “How in all the Fenrisian hell’s can it be yer’ fault lad?”

“I-I may have gotten… pushed to the point that I… exploded…”

Leman now looked at him as if he had grown a second head. “Exploded? Are yer’ outta yer’ mind laddie?”

“Well not- actually exploded! Just-just- I might have made someone else explode? I told them to stop and- and- they wouldn’t and-” Aegidius tapped his head.

Then he saw the gears whirring behind his Uncle's eyes as he finally comprehended it. “Yer made the Astronomicon flicker.”

Aegidius slowly nodded his head all the while looking down at the ground, unable to look his Uncle into his eyes. “I- I didn’t mean to…” He muttered out pathetically. “The farseer just pushed and pushed me-”

Suddenly, a tiny voice interrupted him. A tiny voice that held barely restrained hurt and loathing all directed towards him. “Yer hurt Freki…”

Aegidius looked up. “What?”

The girl held in his Uncle’s arms turned around. “Yer why Freki got hurt!” She now screamed, causing Aegidius to take a step back even as everyone around them tensed up.

Leman: “Ah shite…”

“I’m-I’m sorry-” Aegidius began to apologize even as Freya began to show her teeth and- growl!?

“Yer damn will be! Yer hurt FREKI!” She jumped out of her father’s arms who attempted to reach for her, failing to do so even as she began to sprint far faster then she should have been able to towards her cousin.

Roboute: “LEMAN! Can’t you stop her!?”
Leman: “YER LECTURING THE VID!”
Roboute: “I AM NOT LECTURING THE VID, I’M LECTURING YOU! IT HELPS ME GET OFF STEAM OK!?”

Aegidius felt the calmness suddenly overcome him. The aura from before returning in full as his muscles tensed up in anticipation of the fight.

At the same time, Leman spotted as in the distance the present Custodes began to move at superhuman speed. Intent on getting between Freya and her victim.

But Leman knew the Custodes wouldn’t be fast enough. And neither would he himself. He could see as his daughter's canines sprouted out and her face became something far more akin to that of a snarling wolf.

Aegidius knew it too apparently. As the aura controlling him began to fight off desperately.

But in just that second. A connection was made to his mind. A connection that felt oddly familiar. A feeling of warmth and protectiveness. Of a friend. Of…

Emperor: “WAIT. THAT FEELS FAMILIAR.”
Horus: “I recognize it too, isn’t that-”

And in that second. The massive form of the Captain-General of the Adeptus Custodes. Clothed in the finest robes, slammed down on both of his feet in front of Aegidius. His landing quaking through the cushioned floor even as Freya leapt above the Captain-Generals shoulder for Aegidius. Her fangs aimed at her cousin's neck.

Roboute: “OH FUC-”

Only to be suddenly grabbed out of thin air by a massive hand. As if she were moving no faster than at a mere walking pace.

She began to struggle. But was then brought in front of a face she had never before seen. A face scarred by countless battles and fortified by the lifetime longer than that of a thousand baselines.

Two brown, strict, piercing eyes stared at her own. Unyielding in their intensity as she felt as if her very soul was being looked into.

She felt, and was, caught like an errant child by one of the most important men in the entirety of the Imperium's history. One of the three very founders.

And just like that. Behind her, she heard her father speak.

“Constantin Valdor? What in the bloody hell…”

Roboute: “I… father?”
Emperor: “YES?”
Roboute: “The next time you see Constantin… please give him my thanks.”

...
Earlier
...​

By his own design, Constantin Valdor had taken a rare moment of his time to simply observe from the viewing gallery of the training arena. Merely standing there weaponless and dressed in robes which clung well to his physique, showing him as a statesman despite every single perfectly gene-crafted muscle in his body saying otherwise.

It had been years now since his return. Almost a decade even. Barely even a blink in comparison to how long he held himself in exile. Biding his time, awaiting His summons.

Horus: “Oh shit, we’re getting some background info…”
Sanguinius: “F I N A L L Y.”

When he had originally departed he knew that it was a move shrouded in skepticism and fear for the others outside of his order. One that he himself had questioned.

But of course, he obeyed Him. He always would. His will was unquestionable, His might hindered, but still very much present. If the Emperor had a plan, it was not his place to question its workings. It was, after all, the only reason why this so-called Imperium Secundus was even still in existence.

It reminded him of days long since past, when his armour was still but beaten steel, his weapons unstable and the Imperium’s very future rested on a pendulum. Constantly threatened by everything from outside power to its own low numbers with falling into the abyss.

But unlike now… then they had Him.

The Emperor was ever present then. Even if He was not felt, seen or heard from, it was rest assured that He was planning. His grand vision leading the infant Imperium ever onward.

Now He was silenced utterly. His final orders were full of mystery and sowing confusion.

“Protect the boy, for he is my heir.”

Roboute: “Wait… so it’s because of you that they yet live and protect Aegidius?”
Emperor: “IT APPEARS SO.”
Sanguinius: “Good, that clears a lot of things up.”

The boy was obvious. It was none other then Aegidius Guilliman, at the time only but a budding soul and infant only barely halfway through his growth.

But Valdor still could not unravel the mystery of why the Emperor had ordered them to protect him. What made this one his heir? Was it all due to his genetics? Half human and half Aeldari, the mixture of a Primarch and Farseer?

The boy was weak, cursed by seemingly poor genetics and an un-optimal upbringing.

Guilliman: “I…”

Early surgery to strengthen his body or mind were impossible according to the genetors. Even the ones that he had brought along with his order here once the Emperor had given the final command, claimed the same result.

Even growth hormones and general drug treatments were out of the question. The boy's genome was too fickle, too unknown to safely tamper with, the lack of a spare was readily apparent as any tampering was put off. They had to wait. Wait for him to grow and become strong enough to survive or if a spare could be given.

Guilliman: “I…”
Horus: “Good to see that Constantin can still be about as blunt and subtle as a hammer.”
Rogal: “A ha-”
Perturabo: *Smacks*

However, despite all of that, there were signs. Signs as to what exactly the Emperor saw in the boy. Signs that the Emperor had ordered the boys protection not out of mere sentiment as Valdor had thought originally, but out of efficiency.

From when he traveled to Imperium Secundus, to the final death cry of the Emperor and the resulting darkness, he had been surrounded by the near suffocating void and hopelessness of the warp and realspace. The snuffing of the Astronomicon and the death of the Emperor heralded the beginning of the end of everything they fought for. Worlds had fallen, psykers babbled of the encroaching darkness, astropaths declared the end, countless ships lost in the storms left behind by the final death cry, Segmentum Solar consumed into the Eye of Despair. All was lost and it was only a matter of time until all of humanity would be swallowed up into the maw of the hungered enemy who reveled in their despair.

Then, just one year after the death cry of the Emperor, the failing of the Golden Throne and the destruction of Segmentum Solar, did it happen. A new beacon shone through the warp, a new Astronomicon had sprung to life and led him to the new Imperium Secundus. The boy was the living Astronomicon, and his presence burned so brightly in the warp that the Aeldari had even taken to calling him “He who shines brightest”.

A ridiculously simplistic idiom for something far far more complex.

Valdor knew how to look deeper, behind those childish blue eyes lay flecks of gold. Flecks of His might.

Mortarion: “I’m sorry but what- That is not good.”
Horus: “Certainly explains allot.”
Roboute: “Father… please explain.”
Emperor: “WELL… CONSIDERING THAT AEGIDIUS IS THE ASTRONOMICON, PERHAPS MY ESSENCE HAS LEAKED INTO HIS BODY?”
Roboute: “And that should not worry me because?”
Fulgrim: “Not to forget that he might have been soul-bound at birth, don’t forget that part.”
Emperor: “I STILL DOUBT IT. THE EFFECTS WOULD BE MUCH MORE OBVIOUS, SO FAR AEGIDIUS HAS NOT DISPLAYED ANYTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY.”
Horus: “For a Primarch-Aeldari hybrid that is. We don’t really know what is normal in the first place.”
Roboute: “Right. Good. Great. I will just stay worried.”

The latest incident with the Astronomicon and all the other incidents had merely been a further proving point. His master was ever planning. Constantin doubted heavily that something as simple as death would come in the way of hindering much of the Emperor’s plans.

Emperor: “...YEAH.”
*Rest of the family look and speak at the same time:* “Simple as death?”
Horus: “You scare me sometimes.”
Emperor: “TO BE FAIR, DEATH IS ONLY THE STATE OF A SOUL WITHOUT A BODY, SITTING ON THE TORTURE MACHINE THAT IS THAT THRONE FOR SO MANY MILLENNIA, I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IF THAT VERSION OF ME FIGURED OUT A WAY TO GET PAST IT.” *Thinks to himself* “Or find a way to implement that part of the plan…”

A door opened behind him, and the well known sounds of Custodes Power Armour whirring reached Constantin’s ears.

After being surrounded by them for so long. Having known them for what would be an eternity for a baseline. Valdor knew each of his own order by simply listening to how they moved. Even if said movement differentiated by such tiny margins that they would go unnoticed by most.

“Tribunate Samonas.” He greeted. “What brings you here?” His voice was like that of steel. Cold and demanding. Not much of his attitude had changed since he had left, then returned to assume his old position.

“Captain-General.” Samonas greeted in turn, his voice deepened by his vox. “Merely your presence.” He elaborated as he came to stand beside Constantin in armour highly decorated and artificered even for one of their order.

Constantin merely glanced at the Custodes. Samonas was old now. Almost as old as him in fact. Hence why he had appointed him as one of his advisors. “And what of my presence?” Constantin asked, his voice revealing no emotion.

“It is cold, Constantin.” Samonas spoke bluntly. “As it always was.”

“And that is an issue?” Constantin returned, now looking on as Damien and Aegidius went for yet another round.

*The entire family slowly look at the Emperor but say nothing*

Surprisingly, a sigh was his answer. “Yes.” Samonas joined him, leaning slightly on the railings. “It is no longer the 30th or even 31st millennium Constantin. The order has changed.”

“The only change has been that of its name Samonas.” Constantin lectured, his voice still calm and cold. “Nothing else has influenced it, nothing that matters.”

“I would argue otherwise.”

Constantin merely slightly nodded his head, giving Samonas the go ahead to make his argument.

“There have been other, more subtle, changes since you left Constantin. We are no longer merely His Companions.”

“Then what would you say we are?” Constantin prodded in semi-playful banter that had always been a tradition in the Custodes when amongst brothers.

“Brothers, Constantin.” Samonas breathed. “Like you, I remember a time before the ranks, before the splendor and artifice that now stalks us. And while some things have gone to the dogs per se.” They both looked at a distant governess. “Our order has not. We are there for each other now Constantin, truly.”

*Massive feelings of awkwardness*

“You speak as if we were not before.”

“We weren’t.” Samonas stated bluntly before reaching up and removing his helm with a hiss as the seal came loose. “We were always made to be there for Him. To be His companions.” The helmet came off fully, revealing a face criss-crossed with scars from countless weapons and covered in tough skin, made so by countless burns and the cold grace of time. Despite it all however, just like all of the order, Samonas’ face looked young. Destined to be such by his master crafted genes until death. “All that changed in the ten millennia of our vigil was that we became each other's companions.”

Now it was Valdor’s turn to sigh. “And emotional rocks for the emotions which came with that.”

“Yes.” Samonas spoke plainly. “Empathy, pity, anger and even fear at times.” Samonas listed off all those which once were anathema to him. “Still gone from you, but very much present in the rest.”

Valdor continued staring at the boys below as he answered. “The use of which I wonder why He condoned, seeming as we are still as effective.”

Horus: “... father?”
Emperor: “... JUST KEEP WATCHING.”

“He knew it to be useless then Constantin.” Samonas guessed. “Now is a different time. The niceties were worthless then. A barrier in the way of progress. Now…” They both looked at Aegidius who was helped up by his cousin, the two sharing a smile to each other. “...we are raising an Emperor.”

Emperor: “AND IT’S OFFICIAL. I’M DEAD AND BEING REPLACED.”
Corvus: “Not disconcerting at all.”
Sanguinius: “This sets an even darker tone to this whole thing…”

For a minute they sat in silence, taking shelter in it.

“You think it His will then?” Constantin asked, doubt beginning to slip into his tone.

“Yes.” Samonas answered instantly. “There can be no doubt. He is destined for great things. And just as He has nurtured us, given us purpose, and led us to victory… we must do so for Him.”

A rare and small smile graced Constantin’s lips now. “The cycle is now complete. The learner has become the master.” He quoted even as Samonas nodded along. “A favourite saying of His.”

Emperor: *Deep in thought*
Horus: *Chuckling, trying in vain to lighten the mood* “Some things never change, you always used to say that to me, remember father?”
Emperor: *Still deep in thought* “Was I wrong?”
Horus: “Father?”
Emperor: “OH. AH, YES, A CLASSIC.” *Goes back to thinking*

Samonas chuckled. “Indeed… I miss those times, of when things were of such a simpler nature.”

Constantin nodded. “Before He truly lost all He had of His humanity.”

Horus: “What?”
Mortarion: “What?”
Roboute: “The fuck!?”
Emperor: “OH… OH THAT EXPLAINS A LOT.”
Ferrus: “Father… how can one lose his humanity?”
Emperor: “IT IS A… COMPLEX THING TO EXPLAIN.”
Sanguinius: “You mean to tell us that you're losing your humanity as we speak?”
Emperor: “NO! THRONE NO. I AM STILL PERFECTLY HUMAN. PERFECTLY… HUMAN.”

Instantly, Samonas’ mood turned. “You think it true then? That by the end He had forsaken it entirely?”

Constantin breathed. “No. Not entirely.”

Emperor: “SEE?”
Jaghatai: “He said ‘not entirely’, there is a difference.”
*Descends into an argument even as Horus falls deeper into his mind* “Oh fuck… I think I may be right…”

Samonas carefully watched his Captain-Generals body language, seeing the smallest of moves. “You think it what stayed His hand with Horus?” He asked, as below, the two boys were taking a rest and watching an argument between a Primaris and their brother Pupponius.

Constantin slowly gripped the rails, attempting to hold back irrational anger. There was no point to it. “Yes… I truly do think so. The rest of it left Him after that. Any small bit He kept, He had to cast it aside if we were to survive.”

“You think His emotions a weakness in the end?” Samonas carefully prodded, causing Valdor to truly reflect on those words for a few moments.

“No.” He spoke as he remembered of the Emperor’s relationship with Horus and His earliest found ‘sons’. “He loved them I think. In any way He was capable of still. It shaped them, moulded them. Even if it was too late for some.”

Samonas nodded along before speaking. “A shame.” He paused. “With… ‘love’ then?”

Slowly, Constantin nodded. “Yes.” He straightened. “We shall make him an Emperor. Beloved by his people and feared by his enemies. One who is aware of his people's affections for him. We shall shape him as a warrior and statesmen. And if it means the longer path due to his emotions… then so be it.”

Samonas clapped an armoured hand on Constantin’s shoulder. “A fine choice. If a hard one.” He counseled even as the two spied Leman Russ walking in, holding his own bundle of joy. “One that I sense we shall not have to wait long to test.”

Roboute: “Father… are you-”
Emperor: “I AM FINE. WE SHALL SPEAK OF THIS LATER.”
Lion: “Like everything else.”

…
Now
…​

The Captain-General let out a breath even as the ferocious she-wolf in his right hand finally stopped struggling, the reality of the situation finally becoming clear to her instinctive mind.

“Lord Russ.” Constantin responded, his eyes still not moving away from the Primarch’s daughter as his unflinching gaze made her begin to squirm in his hand.

“Constantin.” He heard Leman answer back. “It bloody well is you.”

The Custodes did not grace him with an answer, instead choosing to look closer at the little wolf. She was fierce and strong for her age. But also stupid. Following her stronger instinctive genes no doubt.

“Could yer’ let go of my daughter?” He heard Leman tentatively ask.

He did so. Lowering her to the ground and letting her run back to her father, Aegidius completely forgot about as she clung to the greaves of her father's power armour as if her life had depended on it. She had learned a valuable lesson today.

“Ca-Captain-General?” A tiny voice alerted him to the presence of the prince as he quickly knelt and checked over the boy for any scars, avoiding the bright blue eyes that shone with the leftover adrenaline that coursed through his small body.

“You are fine my lord.” He quietly attempted to calm the boy, appearing to succeed partially as Aegidius’ body loosened, allowing some of the tension from before to escape.

Then he looked to Leman yet again.

“That was a foolish thing to do.” He admonished both father and daughter.

“Aye.” Leman confessed. “It was, and she is damn well sorry. Aren’t ya?” He asked, looking down at his daughter, who nodded quickly with wet eyes. “Don’t take it too hard on the girl Constantin.” Leman’s tone softened as he looked back at the Captain-General. “She has had a rough few days.”

Roboute: “Anyone else ever feel as if Constantin can stare into your very soul and judge you?”
Ferrus: “I know that feeling.”
Leman: “Feels like he’s judgin yer soul with tha’ stare…”
Corvus: “Oh good, so it’s not just me.”

Immediately, Pupponius stepped up and was about to speak, but was quickly waved down by Constantin who gave back a small smile. “Forgiven. After all, youth nowadays is quite unpredictable.”

Emperor: *Straightens up*
Horus: “Wait… Constantin can smile?”
Rogal: “He should still have the few muscles in his facial structure to smile, he simply does not use them very often. If ever.”

To everyone else in the room, those words, accompanied by that particular gesture meant just that. Forgiveness for the foolish actions of a child overwhelmed by her emotions.

To the Custodes. It changed everything.

Immediately, the other Custodes in the room besides Pupponius discreetly walked out to pass on the message. It was confirmation. The final stage of confirmation that they had been waiting for.

After all. The Captain-General had said that he would truly return to His side only when he was sure.

“Yer’ have my thanks,” Leman muttered, somewhat off-put by his apology being taken so easily and quickly by the Custodes.

Constantin nodded even as he put a hand on Aegidius’ shoulders, this having the effect of making the boy jump. “I do believe,” He said, sending a small smile down towards the prince. “Aegidius has an appointment in the war room, which so happens to be where Lord Guilliman is.” He looked Leman directly in the eye, showing the true meaning behind his words. “As it so happens, my presence is requested there as well.”

Roboute: “There is… deeper meaning behind this that eludes me.”
Sanguinius: “It’s making me agitated.”
Konrad: “...oh you bitch.”
Corvus: “What?”
Konrad: “Oh, you bitch.”
Corvus: “What?”
Konrad: “Just-Just… Just wait for it.” *Crosses arms and slides down into throne*

Leman appeared to finally catch on. “Indeed.” He rumbled. “Say Aegidius, lead us to your da’ eh?”

“Oh!” Aegidius perked up. “Are- are you sure I-”

A gentle pat on his back from Constantin made him look up at the massive Custodes. “Your uncle trusts you, my lord.” He spoke in an attempt to motivate the boy. “Lead the way, we shall follow behind.” Then he gestured towards the main door into the training hall, causing Aegidius to pause as he tried to figure out the unseen puzzle before him. Wasn’t it always just Pupponius who was next to him and led him around? So why…? He decided to figure it out later as he shrugged and timidly smiled before walking towards said door, waving at Damien who was now being held back by Vlad, an armoured hand over his mouth.

Suddenly, a tiny voice sounded. “Da’ what about me?” Freya asked her father down from the ground.

“Oh, I...” Leman paused as he looked around his gaze, finally landing on Palicia who had now come to Vlad and was looking over Damien. “Oi, you there! Woman serf!” He spoke, catching the beautiful, silver haired woman’s attention. “Take care of my brood over here for a wee bit eh?” He then pushed Freya in Palicia’s direction and immediately began walking over to the door with Valdor before any of the two girls could protest. “I’ll be back in a couple of hours.” He called back as Aegidius, Constantin and Leman walked through the door, it slamming shut as Pupponius, strangely enough, walked off in the opposite direction.

Corvus: “And I thought Konrad was supposed to be the bad parent.”
Leman: “Do ye really want me tah bring mah brood with me into a war meetin?”
Corvus: “You could have said farewell to your own daughter that just underwent an extremely traumatic event.”
Leman: *Grumbling*

Freya looked towards the door in shock. Her dad had just left her here all alone and away from him…

Had her jumping at her cousin made him so mad at her? It wasn’t her fault that she got mad that Aegidius got Freki hurt…

She felt as a gentle hand touched her shoulder and turned her around with a sigh, revealing a beautiful girl's face, surrounded by locks of silver hair. “Good to meet you.” The girl said, smiling. “Freya is it? I am Sister Palicia.”

Freya tilted her head and reached out with her hands, her sorrow momentarily forgotten as she began running her hands through the Governess’ hair. “Pretty…” She muttered even as Palicia grabbed her under her arms, before lifting her up and allowing her to lean on her shoulder even as she continued to play with her hair. Freya being reminded of her auntie Lenneth’s own streaks of white.

Roboute: “Reminds of Tarasha… need to send a hymnal to Macragge again as soon as I can.”
Horus: “Having a mother must be nice.”
Roboute: “Seneschal.”
Horus: “Yeah yeah, details and fancy titles.”
Konrad: “...she has balls of steel.”

“Come now, Damien.” She quickly ordered her other charge. “Time for a bath, you reek of sweat and need to get rid of that before we go to the library for your study session.”

Damien grumbled a yes, and followed the Sister reluctantly even as Palicia sniffed the air and held out Freya, a frown appearing on her face. “And you smell of wet dog and… blood…” She shook her head before putting Freya back to her body, allowing her to once more rest her head on her shoulder. “Looks like two baths today.”

Roboute: “A normal person in the forty-second millenium. Miracles do come true.”
Leman: “Oh boy.”
Roboute: “What do you mean- OH.”

Freya’s eyes widened as utter dread filled every inch of her tiny body and she screamed. “NO BATH!”

…
Fortress of Hera - Main War Room
…​

Roboute Guilliman, Ruler of the realm of Ultramar, Primarch of the Ultramarines, Lord Commander of the Imperium Secundus and in all but official title, the Imperial Regent, was in the middle of the war room, countless Marines, serfs and other menials scurrying about him as he busied himself with work.

Currently, his gaze was focused upon the massive hololithic projection in front of him, which displayed almost a hundred different numerical values and the supply lines which they belonged to. He absorbed and carefully categorized them all, each and every single one from the biggest value to the most minute of detail. Each was either slotted away for either further investigation at a later date, thrown away as pointless or worst of all, pulled to the front for his immediate attention.

It was tedious, monotonous work. Normally, he would welcome it. Numbers of a situation had always calmed him. It was strategy and tact, though no less important than the war itself, it was far more comforting.

That is, if the numbers he was playing with at the moment were not tied to countless lives.

Ammunition and Wargear supplies. Raw materials, promethium used as fuel, colony and black ships and that all too most important of all resources; men and food.

An army marched on its stomach and a populace grew on it. And the Imperium could not last without either. As had become the depressing constant over the last decade, there was never enough. If he had the men, he lacked the food, and if he had the food, he lacked the men…

Agri-worlds were on a pendulum, falling in and out of Imperial hands on a whim. At one moment he had an entire sector at maximum output and in the next a hymnal would come in signaling no more shipments available due to either pirate, ork or other xeno raids. Or worse...

Frustrating, at the very least, utterly devastating at worst.

Horus: “If the situation is that bad…”
Roboute: “Then I must be at my wits end. There is only so much I can do with limited manpower and A limited food supply.”
Leman: “Sometimes jus’ throwin’ Primarchs at ah problem doesn’ always work.”

He sighed and dismissed the hololith, it being replaced by the hololithic image of an aquilla as he decided that he had enough of that for today and reached for his mug of recaff. The representatives of various chapters and the guard would soon be here for the war meeting, best he mentally prepared himself as best he could...

The state of just how tired he was showed fully as his masterfully crafted fingers slipped by the mug and sent it falling to the ground where it shattered into pieces, sending splashes of the precious bitter liquid all across the ancient marble floor.

Roboute: “Oh…”
Vulkan: *Leans over and hugs*
Roboute: “Thank you brother…”

He sighed yet again as he reached up with his hands and rubbed his eyes as a serf scurried by and quickly cleaned up the mess, Guilliman thanking him and being grateful to be at least rid of his armour for a precious few moments.

Then he could see across the room as Sicarius stiffened at a vox comunique sent to his helmet, before quickly reaching for, and thumbing the rune that allowed the meter thick war room door to slowly slide open as he announced the newcomers.

“His highness the Prince, The Lord Primarch Leman Russ and the Captain-General of the Adeptus Custodes Constantin Valdor.”

Guilliman’s tired face immediately sharpened, that last name catching his attention far far more than the other two. His tired patrician features quickly replaced by the more serious, aging, Lord Commander as he looked towards the opening doorway, in disbelief over what Sicarius had just said.

But sure enough, there he was. Constantin Valdor, in all the splendor of an Imperial Politician. Of course, said politicians tended not to be almost as tall as a Primarch, nor have the personal touch of the Emperor himself on their genome.

What had caused the Custodes to finally come here? More demands? A change of his stance perhaps? Valdor and his order had been characteristically stubborn when it came to serving the Imperium, declaring and showing that they would only protect Aegidius. That being the fullest extent of their involvement in the Imperium Secundus. No more, no less.

Horus: “Still keeping their business limited to serving father, stubborn bastards to the last.”
Konrad: “Wonder where they got that from.”
Emperor: “SHUT UP POT.”

But speaking of his son...

“Hi dad!” Aegidius waved to his father before making a beeline to the Primarch. Past his father’s knee, but not yet tall enough to get higher than mid thigh, he wrapped his arms around his dad’s leg. “I won against Damien and- and- then Constantin dropped down from the balcony- and wow that was so cool- then there was Uncle Leman and-” The young prince was too excited to properly enunciate his words that well.

Roboute attempted and mostly succeeded in sending a smile towards his son’s direction even as he idly placed a hand on his head and rustled his hair. “Indeed? Wonderful work. Truly.”

He quickly looked back towards Constantin, who continued walking forward, now slightly ahead of Leman, who - when Guilliman looked at him, gave back a small grin.

Could it be?

At that moment, the Custodes had reached him and slightly inclined his head. “Lord Guilliman.”

“Captain-General.” Roboute greeted back formally even as the Custodes straightened.

“I have come to attend the war meeting.”

Guilliman couldn’t stop the smile that spread on his face. Not being able to shut down the optimistic part of his mind that whispered such lovely thoughts.

If Valdor had come for what he thought he did… then the Custodes would soon be on the front once more. There was much that needed to be done and their help would be a boon for the entirety of the Imperium. He did wonder what made them finally come forward, did it have to do with Aegidius?

Sanguinius: “Yeah. Come on. Tell us.”
Horus: “I think we should take a break after this…”
Sanguinius: “No.”

He reached out with a hand and clasped Valdor’s shoulders. “Fantastic news, you are most welcome.”

Another incline before Valdor regarded Aegidius who was slightly pouting at only getting a hair ruffle. “My Emperor, I believe you can speak to your father at a later time after the meeting?” He ignored the silence that permeated the room at this, watching as the little liege let go of his father.

Corvus: “Should we even bother getting excited over the third confirmation?”
Rogal: “No.”

“Fine…” Aegidius stepped to the side, quite miffed that he couldn’t have just a minute with his dad. And what was going on with everyone? Didn’t his dad say he was going to be the new Emperor when he got older? So why was everyone acting so weird? “Uhhh… I’ve never been a part of a real war meeting, except when I sneaked in to watch- don’t get mad dad I don’t do that anymore.”

Leman was the one to break the silence with a slightly uncomfortable chuckle, “...or tha’ time yer went an’ broke tha damn table and summoned a daemon?”

Aegidius blushed in embarrassment, “...m sorry…” With a thicker atmosphere appearing in the war room.

Surprisingly, it was yet again Valdor who broke this silence. “All you need to do is stand back and observe my Emperor. Your youth and inexperience puts you at a disadvantage as of yet, so I would personally not suggest that you contribute much to the meeting unless it is in the form of a question about a situation you are unsure of.”

The little liege nodded, then moved aside to the table before another predicament was suddenly before him. Quite literally. “Uhhh… I can’t see the top of the table.” Aegidius moved to his tip toes and was barely able to see over the edge of the war table, designed for the transhuman leaders of Imperium Secundus. Most definitely not made with the little liege in mind.

The air was filled with the chuckles from his father, waving off his son. “Do not worry. You will have a chair, just be patient.” He cleared his throat, “But as the Captain-General has spoken, you will be mostly watching.”

Soon enough, multiple serfs arrived, bearing refreshments and with servitors that carried the many seats necessary for the meeting, both groups arraying the table with said items before quickly leaving.

Aegidius made his way for his father, expecting to sit on his knee at the head of the table, just as he had done so at rare moments when he could take a meal with his father years ago, but no… his father merely looked at him and nudged his head right where an empty, but taller, throne was.

Aegidius slowly walked over and climbed up even as the Captain-General took a seat to the right of him and Sicarius stood behind him and his father. He straightened up, ears flapping excitedly as he would finally get to sit on his very own throne! He’d never had his own throne before, it was just like the rest of the generals and the captains! And even better, he was sitting at his dad’s right! He was kinda scared he was going to sit on his left or worse, lower down the table, but he’s at the right! This... was... amazing.

Horus: “Heh, I wish I could remember a time when such things excited me.”
Emperor: “I REMEMBER IT. YOU WERE JOINING AT MY SIDE FOR YOUR FIRST OFFICIAL WAR MEETING AS WELL. YOU WERE TRYING HARD TO HOLD BACK HOW EXCITED YOU WERE. GRANTED, YOU DIDN’T HAVE TO SIT ON A BOX OR HAVE A SPECIALLY MADE THRONE LIKE AEGIDIUS DOES, BUT IT WAS ALL THE SAME.”
Horus: *Gentle smile* “Thank you, Father.”

There was an itch at the back of his mind again, his vision going slightly blurry before he was able to blink it away and refocus. Odd. He didn’t bother thinking of it very much, instead focusing on what the war meeting was going to be about. There was an errant thought that flitted through his mind of Damien sitting with him but quickly squashed that idea down. Damien would spend the entire meeting talking and asking questions that nothing would have ever gotten done.

The serfs came around again, depositing files filled with plastek flimsies all marked with big red letters and data-slates that looked like the ones dad got and never let him read before. He nearly jumped in excitement as the same ones were put in front of him.

His excitement was short lived, however, as he had to blink away the blurriness yet again and for some reason reached out for a data slate and opened a doc. He could have sworn he never got a lesson on how to use one of these...

For some reason again he scurried past all of the cool picts of the Space Marines and guardsmen fighting alongside the Eldar and went to the boring numbers and reports.

He didn’t know why, but he read through all of them at a blistering speed, even faster than he normally would a book, even as Valdor and his father looked on, the former in quiet satisfaction and the latter in complete surprise.

Roboute: “Umm…”
Corvus: “That is… just plain weird. Aegidius usually isn’t this competent, no offense Roboute.”
Roboute: “Yeah… yeah… I simply, the numbers…”
Horus: “They are… quite depressing.”
Corvus: *Sighs* “I hoped to draw your attention away from them.”
Roboute: “I appreciate it, I really do but, I just have to ask… how is that Imperium still standing? Everything is stretched as thin as possible.”
Rogal: “Sheer force of will.”
Konrad: “As stupid as that sounds, I think Rogal’s right.”

The doors opened yet again as the others meant for the meeting filled in. Space Marine Captains, Guard Generals, a Prioress of the Adepta Sororitas, a Navigator and many many more…

They were followed by countless menials. Representatives and Adepts of the Munitorum or Ecclesiarchy, floating Servo-Skulls and Calligraphus servitors. All followed in their wake as they took their places at the massive table, some sending surprised looks towards Aegidius, who was still deep in the docs on the data slate even as he opened the folder with his other hand and sorted out the plastek flimsies.

After a few minutes of idle chatter, Guilliman stood and immediately, all of the attention was drawn to him as he began to speak.

“I call to order the war meeting of 452, year 204, millennia 42.” He droned on as the calligraphus servitors whirred to life fully and began to take notes, the scribbling of their quills on parchment becoming the background of the entire meeting.

“We start with inclusions.” He gestured towards the Captain-General and sat as Valdor stood.

“My lords. Ladies.” He greeted in a deep baritone voice. “I have come before you to declare the Adeptus Custodes deployable for frontline combat when not in service to the Prince.”

This news appeared to be important, and apparently made everyone in the room happier as Aegidius felt their tense auras slightly relax.

There were other things. Many, many minor things were addressed over the course of an hour and Aegidius patiently observed and listened, unsure of where this ability to focus and suck all of this boring information up like a dry sponge had come from. Usually, he would have been bored out of his mind or been swinging his legs or thinking up cool chapter names or busily staring at the Space Marines. But here he was, sitting still, quiet and absorbing more information than ever before.

Then they came to the main subject and his father took the floor yet again.

“We move onto defense and expansion.” A massive hololithic projection went up in the middle of the war table. “You are all aware that Lord Vulkan is planning on returning to Nocturne in order to defend it from the traitorous Thousand Sons on the way there.” His father cleared his throat. “I am sad to say that the time slot for his return has been moved up considerably, as we have received confirmed reports from the Salamanders, who are fighting a delaying action far from Nocturne, that the traitor Primarch Magnus the Red is at the head of this force.”

Roboute: “Supplies stretched to the absolute limit, borders too thin, too many mouths to feed, planets being lost and regained randomly with no consistency and to top it all off, we have the traitors making life hell for everyone else. What else can be thrown at them?”
Emperor: “KNOCK ON WOOD.”
Roboute: “What?”

As the room erupted in cries of outrage and calculated questions, Aegidius observed all of it. There was that itch again, his eyes focused on the hololith and errant thoughts springing up here and there with garbled mentions. Lines… Something about lines and holes...

“With Uncle Vulkan gone that means that… there is a considerable gap left in his place of his Space Marines, right?” Aegidius asked, surprising himself that he had asked such a good question. It made sense and with how everyone was staring at him, that must have meant he did good? He just simultaneously moved on to the next topic at hand all the while curbing the violent response. Though what surprised him the most was how… eloquent he spoke. He never spoke like that before! He’s getting to be so grown up… If only his mind stopped itching...

His father turned to him and gave him a grateful smile. “Indeed, one with a necessity to be filled.” Roboute did wonder when his son had finally gotten some orator skills… What worried him the most was that something was different with his son, something he couldn’t quite put his finger on. Was it the way his eyes shone from the hololith’s light?

Some of the prouder Space Marine Captains stood and called for the gap to be given to them. But all the while… Aegidius felt the stare from his right as if Valdor was telling him something without actually telling him something…

Turning he, sure enough, found the Custodes looking at him. Aegidius tilted his head slightly, causing Valdor to nod and stand.

“My order shall fill this gap.” He proclaimed.

Horus: “Did Aegidius just make a mental connection to Constantin?”
Roboute: *Looks to the Emperor* “Yes. Yes, he did.”

“On whose authority?” A guard General spoke up.

“Mine… um, as the centre of their order I uh… allow them to leave my service for now.” Aegidius spoke, in his trademark meek and shy voice but grew in confidence. All with as much respect and presence as an eight-year-old hybrid, combined with some psychic persuasion, could muster.

Reluctantly, the General stood down even as Guilliman looked to his son and saw what was different as he looked back up at him and gave a lopsided smile.

There. Behind those blue, glowing orbs of innocence there were his son's eyes, was something. Something whose very presence demanded the utmost respect and radiated absolute power.

The Astronomicon. It had to be it.

But the more Guilliman looked into it, the more… alive it looked. And more and more familiar-

“There is other news.” An Imperial navy Admiral spoke, derailing Guillimans train of thought as his son looked forward yet again. “Our external monitors and patrol fleets have taken into custody fleeing pirates.” Murmurs erupted along the table again, wondering where this could be going. “I would not bring such lowly worries before you, my lords and ladies, were they not connected to something far more important. Under interrogation, these pirates revealed that they were running from warriors of the Adeptus Astartes… loyal Space Marines.”

“Which chapter?” Guilliman immediately asked.

“From what they have described, we believe them to be elements of the Imperial Fists.”

Leman immediately looked to Guilliman who nodded in quiet contemplation. It was unknown what exactly happened to the Imperial Fists after Terra. Some claimed that they had gone on a final crusade into the Eye of Terror itself, others that they had returned to Inwit, others still whispered the return of the Praetorian himself…

Rogal: “I am, possibly, alive.”
Perturabo: “I don’t have the energy to smack you at the moment.”

“If I may...” The small voice of Aegidius was heard yet again, the young boy squeaking softly when all eyes went on him again. “I would uh… ask you kindly to continue to uh... look-? No, monitor the path these pirates had come from…” Aegidius could see from his side that his father was smiling, encouraging him. He was definitely doing good, which made him speak more confidently. “If you do that then we may find more allies... and I think that all of us agree that... guiding them… here to Imperium Secundus would give us some much needed warriors?” Aegidius was leaning forward onto the table, hands intertwined and head resting on them, elbows resting on the surface with a small smile on his face. An action that was done countless times by someone else.

Jaghatai: “...Father sits like that.”
Horus: “Father moves like that.”
Mortarion: “Father acts like that.”
Roboute: “Father talks like that…”

The Admiral inclined his head. “A… not inconsiderable course of action. It will be done so, my lord.”

Guilliman watched Aegidius closely then as he leaned back into his throne. Confident and somehow knowing that with the words he had just spoken he had gotten the navy in a position where they could not refuse. It was a masterful political move, absolutely no doubt in his mind. Denying the request would not just be denying the Prince and bring shame to the Navy, but also denying a valid military action. His boy was shaping up to be a great leader if this is what he could do on his first official war meeting.

Aegidius slowly looked at him then and snaked a tiny hand underneath the table, resting it gently over his fathers in attempted gratitude as Guilliman felt as if the most ancient of links was re-awakened within him. One so deep and set in stone that he was confident Aegidius himself was not aware of it. Instead of the link between him the father and Aegidius the son… It was different.

Because that right there, was not Aegidius.

Turned away from the hololith, the glow no longer masking the true colors, Roboute was able to finally see what had been different. As he looked into his son’s eyes he saw the true depth of them, replaced from the blue he had always known were irises of gold. He saw into his son’s very soul where the golden light emerged from and suddenly knew fully just why Valdor had come back into the fold.

He, was alive.

The holoprojector clicked empty, the screen dark and leaving the occupants even tenser than they were before the vid started.

“OH.” The Emperor spoke in obvious shock. “OH.”

“Oh? That’s all you have to say?” Roboute asked in disbelief. “You somehow cheated death.”

“THAT ISN’T EXACTLY WHAT IS WORRIES ME. THE ASTRONOMICON BY ITSELF SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO CONVEY ME TO THAT DEGREE OF POWER.”

Roboute ran a hand through his hair, trying to figure out what happened, how it happened and why his boy out of everyone else in the future. “Father, I need to know this. Be absolutely, completely honest with me. Do you have any plans or ideas that could possibly lead to this end? Because what I saw is you somehow cheated death, you’re somehow there with my son or in him or… something. Be honest, do you have anything to do with this?” Roboute’s voice shook just slightly, with restrained anger or bewilderment, it was unsure only that it shook with an extreme emotion there.

The Emperor continued to simply stare forward at the now black screen, not moving an inch as he appeared to mill it through. The rest of the family sat there with stiffness in their bodies, waiting for any answer.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he delivered his answer.

“I DON’T KNOW.”

An impact was heard, Roboute’s fist colliding with his armrest, “No! Answer me! The shadow, the eyes, the mannerisms, the Custodes bowing to him, calling him their Emperor, Constantin smiling at him, him being able to awaken a Custodes Dreadnought- you specifically said that only you could have done that! So answer me! Are you there with him!?” He paused, going over everything that had happened thus far. The conclusion was there standing in front of him, mocking him as he came to the full realization. “Answer me.”

The Emperor looked at his son then. Their eyes catching each other as the Emperor looked at him.

“I DON’T KNOW.”

The Emperor spoke with such truth, such depressing reality that it took aback not just Roboute, but also all of the other present Primarchs. When was it the last time their father truly did not know anything?

“THE ONLY HYPOTHESIS I CAN THINK OF IS THAT SOME OF MY ESSENCE, A SOUL IF YOU WILL, HAS LATCHED ONTO HIM THROUGH THE ASTRONOMICON. NOT SOUL BOUND, LEACHED. THE EFFECTS ARE FAR FAR TOO MINOR FOR A BINDING. I DO NOT KNOW HOW THE ALTERNATE ME DID THIS. I DO NOT KNOW WHY HE DID THIS. I DON’T EVEN KNOW IF WHAT I AM SAYING IS CORRECT.”

The Emperor sighed then, rubbing his face with his hands before standing along with all the other Primarchs. “LET US GO AND REST. I REQUIRE TIME TO THINK.”

Before anyone could say anything or add onto the conversation, the Emperor beat a hasty retreat, walking in massive strides towards somewhere else on the Bucephalus, leaving behind a room of stunned Primarchs.

Horus was the first to speak, “Father just walked away from a confrontation.”

Roboute turned away from the door which his father walked out of and looked towards Horus. “You have known him far longer than any of us, has he ever done that?”

Horus meanwhile kept staring out into the corridor, thinking of his words earlier to Magnus and if by some miracle, he was right. Around them, the rest of his brothers were in their own state of shock. Konrad's brooding was more pronounced, Corvus looked like he was caving in, Rogal, Perturabo and Jaghatai were deep in thought and the less he said about Leman, the better. The entire family was shocked, hurt, angry and wanting more answers that their Father just wasn't going to give. What happened with Magnus was bad enough with how badly they felt for not stepping in, but now it was worse. There was no vindication for a brother who might have been wrong, but was also wronged, it was only them wondering how else their family could go wrong next.

“No.” Horus had finally responded after awhile, “and that’s what scares me.”

 

[Sergio2592]

Okay so when is the new content and I have a bad feeling about Fulgrim daughter/son if the picture is a guideline

 

[GuestLurker]

I can't believe this became a thing

Click to shrink...

I'd say to be proud of it.

Okay so when is the new content and I have a bad feeling about Fulgrim daughter/son if the picture is a guideline

Click to shrink...

It will go differently that their original idea, Right, DuskDawnAndFate?

 

[Sergio2592]

I'd say to be proud of it.

Click to shrink...

Yeah now let's pray to the man emperor that this doesn't become the shitfest that is Warhammer high

 

[DuskDawnAndFate]

First!!!!!!


Now I want to see the child of the fabulous hawkboy

Click to shrink...

Yup, I can't wait to write about her~

Yay, now we can see the children from both present and future!!

Click to shrink...

Yup, We got a thread for it now. Feel free to give/add any ideas or theories cause damn I'll need the support of everyone if this will survive.

In the Voice of Rogal Dorn: Yey. I can likebombing this MARVEL again!
And this picture... is beautiful! My respect to it`s authors.
I hope we will read who are all this children soon.
Because I don`t recognize 3 of them and Sanguinius(?) daughter make me think about clones and build headcanons.

P.S. can i bring my story of Eleventh here as Omake?

Click to shrink...

Have fun, go ahead. In fact, all discussion on Primekids is welcome here.

Okay so when is the new content and I have a bad feeling about Fulgrim daughter/son if the picture is a guideline

Click to shrink...

New content will be posted when I have finished it.
And shush. It will not be as bad as before.

I'd say to be proud of it.

Click to shrink...

Perhaps~

And now, no more multiposting from me.

It will go differently that their original idea, Right, DuskDawnAndFate?

Click to shrink...

WE WILL NOT SPEAK OF THIS. IT BELONGS RIGHT NEXT TO MALAL.

Yeah now let's pray to the man emperor that this doesn't become the shitfest that is Warhammer high

Click to shrink...

I will do my best.

 

[GuestLurker]

WE WILL NOT SPEAK OF THIS. IT BELONGS RIGHT NEXT TO MALAL.

Click to shrink...

Good, you did learn.

 

[Lass McChurros]

Yup, We got a thread for it now. Feel free to give/add any ideas or theories cause damn I'll need the support of everyone if this will survive.

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Yyeeeeeessss primekiddies ideas ahoy!

Magnus' children could have the compassion for the prejudiced ones and desire to help them just like their father have. (and because they are also part of it, like their father!)

 

[DuskDawnAndFate]

Good, you did learn.

Click to shrink...

I'm not an idiot... Even though I was idiotic enough to be peer pressured into making that horrible thing.

Yyeeeeeessss primekiddies ideas ahoy!

Magnus' children could have the compassion for the prejudiced ones and desire to help them just like their father have. (and because they are also part of it, like their father!)

Click to shrink...

Making a special with those babies would be fun to do~

 

[Centergg]

Possibly heretical idea about female Astartes, based on my unfinished fic, inspired by Messages for Dad and Glory or Death. Sorry for bad English. I tried to add some reactions. If anyone have ideas about reactions. i can add them. For some reason this may happen when Perturabo tried to pick something.

Extracted from "The long path from Oblivion" by Second Captain of XI Lucie De Mourn, M47.

During M41, recently restored as dreadnaught, Eleventh Primarch visited the Forge world Graia and there among survivors of the recent Ork invasion he found brilliant candidate! And so, Primarch commenced experiment, trying again to create something seemingly insane, but potentially very efficient. He again fell to passion what in past lead to him being ostracized and forgotten. He again tried to create female Astartes.

Emperor muttered: STILL ALIVE? AND STILL OBSESSED WITH THAT INSANE IDEA?
Most of Primarchs in various degree of shock.

And this time result of expirement was described by him as “HUGE SUCCESS!”.

Collective “Wut.”

In 3 days of work Primarch created first truly female Astartes. Changes made to her was drastic. Initiate lost most of her memories and now looked as much smaller, younger and female version of her Primarch.

Collective “Huh.”

Her new genefather cannot stay there with her. And cannot take her with him, fearing to lose her in Secret War he waged against Hydra. And so he leaved her on Graia with great mission – to find a way to optimize the process of creating female Astartes and make it possible for mass production.

Vulkan: At least he seems to love his daughter. But… leaving her alone…

Ascension for Astartes awakened psyker potential in newly named Anna-Mari and using her new powers she hid her presence and actions on the Forge World for centuries. Slowly she gathered knowledge and resources, learned many skills and became accomplished techmarine and apothecary in her own right. All to reach the level on which with the help of her new allies amongst AdMechs of Graia she can begin to fulfill her great task – to perfect the Process. In the same time she was fighting heretics, Hydra and genesteelers on Graia and in nearby Systems, while remaining secret and secretly taking over the Forge World. All according to the order of her Gene-Father.

Horus: I can`t understand – is he loyal to Imperium or not?

Leman: He is traitor. What else can be said?

Roboute sighed: Situation... was not so simple. And seems never will be. He…

Emperor: WE NOT TALKING ABOUT IT.

Now, almost 4 thousands years later, when newly created XI Legion revealed itself, her work among among AdMechs often compared to work of magos Cawl. And potentially this technology can double amount of Space Marines.

Female Astartes may be not so strong and big as their brothers and on average not as good in melee, but on average they faster, faster healing, have more endurance and most of the time more patient and better in ranged fighting.

Astartes never really stops to grow. But female ones better fare against the ravages of time. And so now in M45, being approximately five thousands years old, Anne-Mari - the First Daughter of the Eleventh Primarch looks as youthful, graceful and feminine as in that day when she`s in the first time opened her eyes not as mortal but as Astartes. She just grew to be as tall, powerful and smart as Emperors own Holy Custodes.

Alpharius: Why we not…

Emperor: WE NOT TALKING ABOUT IT.

The rest of the Primarchs smiled or laughed remembering Throne Emprors rant on female Astartes and why girls are not allowed to be Astartes.

When the Emperor died and Eye of Despair opened in the skies, almost all worlds of Imperium suffered from daemonic incursions.

Everyone half sad, half horrified.
Corvus: Confirmation.

In that time Forge World Graia was visited by the 4th Chapter of Blood Raven – they resupplied on the friendly to them Forge World. They assisted the defenders of the Forge World, but even it wasn`t enough, when daemons was reinforced by the warband leaded by Lucius the Eternal.

Dorn: Dire situation.

In that time Eleventh Legion revealed its presence on the world. Almost eight-hundred strong Chapter, lead by the First Daughter herself, ambushed forces of the Third Legion.

Among those eight hundreds 763 was female astartes. More than 3 hundred of them was equipped with sniper rifles. Chapter also is heavy on the use of battle tanks.

The ambush was devastating. Forces of the heretics was squashed. Lucius The Eternal was defeated in one-on-one duel by the First Daughter herself, who bested him in melee and broke his daemonic sword. And his legs. And his hands. Lucius run into warp. The Forge World was saved.

Leman: Hmm, impressive.
Lion: And clever way to circumvent immortality of her opponent.

After the end of battle 4th Chapter of Blood Ravens and Eleventh Legions sealed alliance and together purged Forge World and protected it until warp storms started to dissipate, Northern Star appeared in skies and navigation starts to be possible again.

Perturabo: Efficient. In those circumstances.

During dark time of Storms, Forge World Graia and contingent of Adeptus Sororitas on the planet pledged their loyalty to the First Daughter.

Roboute: They forgot their oaths to the Imperium?
Konrad: Theu thought what Imperium are dead. And you do the same during Heresy.

When navigation started to be possible again Eleventh Primarch arrived to Graia and brought news of Roboute and Imperium surviving. Eleventh Primarch not just revealed himself in those dark times, he started New Unification and lead loyal forces of the Imperium what he can find to Macragge. After reinforcing and mobilizing Forge World, he declared it one of the rally points and gives new orders to his daughters.

Horus: Looks like he finally grew up and followed in your steps, father, by protecting and unifying Humanity in its darkest hour.
Lorgar smiled: Like father, like son.
EMPEROR: I AM NOT OBSESSED WITH STRANGE IDEAS LIKE GIRLS!
Alpharius whispered: Eldar booties.
EMPEROR *GROANS*

Anna-Mari with half of the legion forces (345 female space marines) with expeditionary forces of Mechanicus of Graia and with her loyal Sororitas and 4th Chapter of Blood Ravens must go the Ophelia System and bring news to the Sororitas order. All Sororitas from across the galaxy in that time received orders to return to Ophelia VII and Primarch feared what in the wake of Emperor` death Ecclesiarchy there will do something scary and foolish. Those Systems must be bringed in Compliance.

Lorgar groans: Sad, but understandable.

Daughters Crusade, as it was named, was succeful. Arriving of the expeditionary fleet, lead by the First Daughter was just in time to prevent Ecclesiarchy from starting needless purging of nearby systems. After meeting First Daughter in person, Adeptus Sororitas almost in their entirety pledged their loyalty to her and become forming powerbase for restoring Legion in full force with the help of arrived techpriests from Graia. Initiates are taken from members of Sororitas Orders and their recruits who are young enough for Process to be applied. The rest of Sororitas quickly join growing Legion as powerarmored auxillary forces and non-combat oriented supporters.

Ferrus Manus: Efficient. Better not leave their fanatical religious Orders unsupervised.
Lorgar groans.

While after arriving of the Daughters Expedition and fresh news about Guilliman, Ecclesiarchy started worship Primarchs and named Anne-Mari as new patron Saint of Sororitas Orders, there is still a great turmoil and teological disputes among members of Holy Church. It is not helped by the presence of AdMechs. Because people hear about death of the Emperor, can see Eye of Despair in the skies… and see what Marvels of Omnissiah still works. Cult of Machine receives ever greater support in Ophelian systems. This breeds unrest.

Another point of tension rise among Sororitas, because Legion recruit also male initiates.

And though Anne-Mari created enough gene-seed during her millennia long work for all potential initiates… Only time will show if she can be effective enough as leader to harness various fractions of Ophelian Systems and bring her Legion back in full force from 15000 years of Oblivion.

Vulkan: Good luck, niece!
Fulgrim: I kow your feelings, niece.

Small part of Eleveth Legion stayed on Graia and continue recruiting. Also now there is small squad of Blood Ravens constantly posted on the Forge World and also recruiting from this and nearby systems. Other forces of Blood Raven often visit Graia to resupply on the friendly Forge World and bring gifts to the daughters of Eleventh. Most of them various ranged weapons and battle tanks. Most notable gift – is strike cruiser given by captain Elius of the 4th Chapter. Heraldy on the cruiser suggest what it previously belonged to the Minotaurs Chapter, but neither Blood Ravens, no Minotaurs commented on that. Cruiser was repainted in the green and yellow – colors of Daughters forces in very small time by AdMechs of Graia.

Khan smiles: Looks like they know how to woo warrior-maiden!
Magnus blushing.
Sanguinius: I approve what your sons shamed those Minotaurs. I remember you, my sons - Lamenters.

It is seems what Eleventh shared secrets of the Process with Blood Ravens and they too started to recruit females and this is the source of the rumor about Red Daughter being among Blood Ravens.

Magnus: Mandisa?

 

[Barbatos Lupus Rex]

>Female Space Marines
>Possibly Heretical

>Possibly

>POSSIBLY

Internal Screaming of such Epic Proportions Vulkan Dies Again.

AT THE VERY LEAST CALL IT WHAT IT IS

Edit: THE GOD EMPEROR HIMSELF STATED THAT GIRLS ARE ICKY.