This next chapter is based in the early days, before the Great Cruscade, that reunited the Emperor with his long lost sons, in the time when the Primarchs were living their lives on various planets across the galaxy, unaware of their true heritage.
Their feet found solid ground. They stood on a rocky outcrop in the middle of a river of molten magma.
"You travel like this all the time?" asked Jayne "Rather efficient."
Knowing she would die of dehydration or heat stroke if they just stood there, Jenny began walking. Jayne led the way, her eyes seemed more able to see through the smog than Jenny could.
"It is," Jenny replied calmly, wiping some of the sweat from her brow "Where did you take us?"
"Nocturne," said Jayne "Birth place of the Salamander chapter of Space Marines, pre-imperial expansion, so they won't really see us as xenos."
"I'm game," Jenny shrugged "Why did you want to come here?"
"My kin are dismissive of humans, they think that all they're doing is feeding the chaos gods with their antics."
"Who are the chaos gods?" asked Jenny "I've never heard of them."
"You're lucky," said Jayne "With the level of psychic power I've seen from you, I'm surprised you haven't fallen to chaos already."
"I'm sorry, I don't understand," said Jenny "I don't have psychic powers."
"What was with the golden light, then?" asked Jayne "If that's not psychic power, I don't know what is."
"It's called regeneration," said Jenny, and for the first time, she seemed vulnerable "Something I hear my species can do to cheat death, but I've never met another member of my species other than my dad, he told me they had all died in a war a long time ago. I don't think this is even my universe anymore. I don't even think my species exists here at all."
"At least your species died with honour," said Jayne "The vast majority of mine fell victim to their own psyche."
Before Jenny could respond, Jayne gestured to a cliff with an overhang that they sheltered under.
"The town is over that ridge," said Jayne, pointing "We could scale it, but if you can, I'd prefer if we could teleport to the top, you don't seem as suited for this environment."
"We can do that," said Jenny, grabbing Jayne's arm and pressing a few buttons, she teleported to the top of the ridge. As soon as they appeared, a number of primitives with jagged, stone spears came over, pointing them at the two of them.
"We mean no harm," said Jenny, calmly "We are travellers, merely looking for a place to rest up and resupply for a few days."
"These people have been through hell," said Jayne "They see only enemies, even where there are those who would help them."
Someone else came up to the leader of the men with spears. At his sides, two smith hammers hung. Jenny had been to enough times to know that this man was a blacksmith, one of great authority in the city, for he only needed to speak a few words, for the men to lower their spears, and return to their homes.
"Hello, travellers," said the blacksmith "While my fellows have been less than hospitable, I hope this does not reflect badly on me, my name is Vulkan, and I can offer room and board for you within my abode."
"Why do the people fear us?" asked Jenny
"We have been raided many times by strange creatures in white war paint, they take prisoners, and those that are shot die painfully over several days, some form of infection," said Vulkan "We hide, and hope they do not find us."
Vulkan walked into the forge, which was only slightly cooler than the temperature outside.
"I thank you for your hospitality, my good sir," said Jenny "And if I can help in any way in the forge while we're here, I'd be happy to lend my services."
"I thank you," said Vulkan "I usually work alone, my skills are unmatched in the forge, and many are jealous of the work I do, the sons of smiths apprentice with their fathers, I suspect they are forbidden from apprenticing with me, but I'm content with that. I thank you again for your kind offer."
"I shall be happy to learn from a smith-master, then," said Jenny, bowing her head.
"For now, it is late," said Vulkan "I will go and make sleeping arrangements for the two of you."
As Vulkan walked into his small house, Jayne stopped Jenny.
"You're really not from around here, are you?" said Jayne, looking Jenny right in the eyes "I didn't expect to run into Primarch Vulkan himself. This could be dangerous. If Vulkan dies before his reunion with the Emperor, the whole of history could be changed."
"Don't worry," said Jenny "I've been doing this for a long time, as long as we don't do anything stupid, we should be ok."
Jenny walked into the forge. The room was surprisingly cool for such a hot exterior temperature, a blue fire burned in the grate, which seemed to emanate cold instead of heat. Vulkan was just finishing setting up a small sleeping area in the corner.
"It's not much," said Vulkan "I can find you better lodgings in the morning, that door will hold against the aliens if they come tonight."
"We would help you defend your home if you would have us," said Jenny "You have been kind to us, and we would be happy to return the favour."
"I appreciate your offer," said Vulkan "But our objective will be to get as many people hidden away as possible, these aliens are trained and equipped for war, they are faster than any humn and they fly on strange, floating airships that have weapons I've never seen before."
"I've faced worse," said Jenny "I've faced metal-coated cybermen armed with nothing but a pistol. I've tangled with massive, green, bug-eyed monsters with poisonous claws and breath. I've fought for my life in an arena against elite fighters, and come out on top. All it takes is a single person to inspire an entire army to feats of heroism."
"And you believe I could inspire them?" said Vulkan. He sounded surprised "I'm just a simple blacksmith. What could I do to inspire people?"
"You said it yourself," said Jenny "You're the best blacksmith in this town. People listen to you, you're influential. From what you've said, these attacks have been happening for a while, it's apparent from how wary your people are of outsiders. They won't need much convincing to fight with you."
"We've been around," said Jayne "I might be able to identify what's attacking you, and give you tactical advice on the best way to deal with them."
"OK," said Vulkan "We will fight tonight."
