Darkness and undarkness have enveloped me for more time then I can reacall. Images no mind can comprehend. Drifting in some endless nightmare. Formless in the eternity of chaos, all one has is brief glimpses of sanity. Never knowing what or when, only feeling, remembering that once I was whole. From nothing a scream rang out. Not one of alien sounds, but one of a human. It drew my attention to find a glorious fireball tearing across the mad realm. I had not seen anything so wondrous in a life time.
Suddenly visions of flaming pits and metal on metal ran through my mind in a spiral of pleasure. Memories of creation and accomplishments sprung to life in what I thought was only madness. I began to remember, to find the sanity deep within that I was unaware I had lost in the first place. Following this fireball of reality, I found myself being drawn curiously towards it. As I drew near, I could make out a grand Battleship of finely crafted design. Very different from any standard imperial ship, but definitely Astartes. I was drawn to the command quarters by what I can only explain as an intense gray beacon. The closer I got the more clear my thoughts became. Then without warning everything fell into darkness.
My mind is awash with horrible visions and grotesque feelings. Not feeling whole, but I no longer felt lost. Slowly my mind came to the realization that I can feel. Physically touching something cold and hard. I have not had this sort of interaction with anything with real mass in what feels like forever. A sudden yearning for the heat and smell of a Forge. To feel again the metals of my craft.
+Lord, preparing to make transition into real space in 5, 4, 3,...+
Snapping back from my desires, I attempt to open my eyes. Twitching and struggling my eyelids peel back for what feels like the first time. It takes a few seconds for the light sensitivity to dull down. A figure in a robe of bronze edged in gray stood a few feet away. If it were not for his intense glare I may have taken him for a statue.
"Rise son of the Emperor. There is nothing to fear here. Stand up and reacquaint yourself with reality. You have been lost for a very long time."
His words slightly confound me. Something in the underlying meaning is off, but the mental fog persisted. I shook it off and attempted to stand. Gelatinous limbs made it difficult yet I accomplish getting up on the first try. Moving and stretching my limbs for what feels like the first time. After a few moments I recall I'm not alone, and turn towards him. I found the stranger to be of a similar height and we both take a moment to study each other. He had tan skin and slight almond shaped eyes, a thick Mohawk of shiny black hair. His gray and gold eyes stared back at me with wonder and determination.
I finally found my voice and asked, " Who am I? Were am I?"
"You are the Primarch of the 18th legion, Vulkan I believe. Where you are is a bit more difficult to explain, but I'll gladly give you all the information within my grasp." he said as he strode away from me to a command station in the middle of the room.
"Currently we are on the edge of the Segmentum Ultima, but it is more a matter of when you are. The date is 785.M65 and most of what you will recall is gone. Lost in various manners to various races and daemons. Humanity is all but extinct. In fact as far as I know, my ship is the last reservoir of righteous Astartes blood. I unfortunately dont have all the knowledge of how the Imperium fell, but it wasn't in a grand manner. More of a slow decay."
My mind spun through what I could remember, all lost. "My legion? My sons? What of them?"
The man slowly turned towards a window into the void. "The good news is there are a small number that survived and are onboard. Nocturne and all salamander installations have been eradicated by a new and vicious race named the Animas."
How could this be? Everything?
"My father? The Emporer? Has he been destroyed aswell?"
"He has, slain by Ahriman of the thousand sons. Although they and 99% of the Chaos hordes are also gone. It became clear after our father's death that the Chaos gods imploded, for lack of a better term."
I shook my head in disbelief, this should have not come to pass. All we fought and strove to create, for nothing. It was almost as if he read my mind for he interrupted my internal process.
"All is not lost though. I have acquired many right minded individuals and heros of the Imperium. I have even found a couple of our brothers."
"Our... Brothers?"
"Yes, Corax and a still sleeping El'Jonson. The Khan is still being pursued in the webway by Corvus and few Knights. There are a few others, but before I reveal them to you, you must understand that the universe has changed. Loyalties and oaths long betrayed have been forgotten. New bonds forged out of necessity and willingness to pursue common goals."
"What are you saying, you are involved with traitors?"
"Well yes to a point, although again you must let go of the notion of traitors. You must see it as a contingent of humanity. We are all that is left. Although probability states there are human inhabited worlds still out there, but none with any sort of advanced technology. We must be the pioneers of a new age of enlightenment. We must build a new foundation for humanity to proliferate."
Shaking my head in mild disbelief and resignation. "Although I feel scattered, I will hear you out."
" Alpharuis and Omegon are currently seeking out specific artefacts for us. Then there is one other that I was able to cull, like you, from whats left of the Warp."
Now truly curious and slightly perturbed I decided to find a seat.
"He fought to free himself from the Warp taint and I helped him gather a physical form. Magnus returned a very different and apprehensive individual. Not the arrogant and bold power he was."
Shock changed my features from such adverse news. All this information was at once disturbing and disheartening. "I will need some time to come to terms with all of... this."
The entry doors opened shortly after and an Astartes clothed in a simple bronze robe.
"This is my grand Turcopolier, Zaffron. He will take you to your quarters. One more bit of information, for I almost forgot to introduce myself. I am Villamor Prophanti Primarch of what was once the 11th Legion. Your banished and forgotten brother. Now go contemplate what you have heard and rest. I will find you next when I have time. Nice to finally meet you."