Decimus: Raiders of the Lost Primarch
The sun had barely risen, but already the pounding of hammers, whir of drills, and whine of cement mixers filled the corridors of the Phalanx as the Imperial Fists busied themselves with the typical duties of their chapter: building deployable fortifications. All marines wore hard hats on top of their helmets, as well as Safety Orange vests over their armor. They were just getting started on the daily citadel raising, when Chapter Master Vorn Hagen noted that work in one sector was slowing to a halt.
Setting aside his master plan, he hopped in his golf cart and drove slowly and carefully along the designated path for vehicles to where the work stoppage had occurred.
"What seems to be the hold up, brothers?" Hargen asked, stepping out of the cart. One of the Fists pointed, and Hagen looked up to behold a wonder. It was a miniature fortress, able to provide firing positions for an entire squad. The sightlines were immaculate, the sloping of the armor such that it would deflect all but the most direct and devastating fire. It was also adorned with ornate iconography of the Imperial Fists, but none of the decorations reduced the efficiency of the fortification. Instead, it merely strengthened it.
"Emperor be praised, it's perfect," Hagen breathend, falling to his knees.
At the summit of the fort, a figure in centurion armor appeared. Slowly, they removed their helmet, revealing a stern face and a glorious mustache. "I am Rogal Dorn. I built this."
The Imperial Fists regarded the fortress, then their chapter master. Hargen bowed his head. "We are in awe of your skills and return, primarch."
"Good. I shall require your aid in raiding a necron tomb world. It will require a great many fortifications."
The Imperial Fists sprang to their feet, and quickly went about the task of readying a siege against the Necrons. Dorn nodded. "Also, I do not want my hand or magic pain glove back. Their services are no longer required."
And that was that.
Sometime later, the Phalanx appeared in the Solemance system and Hestia collapsed to the floor of the bridge, panting.
"That...that was too big. Next time...next time we need a smaller ship."
"Hestia! Are you OK?!" her consort Bell gasped, kneeling at the goddesses side and helping her sit up.
"'M ok. Just...just tired. Gonna need a minute. Or ten. Or...a...nap...zzzzz."
Dorn looked down at the now snoring goddess as her lover carefully picked her up in his arms. The white haired man looked to be a youth of no more than twenty five or so, but in reality he had to be far older from what Dorn had gleaned in conversation.
"The goddess needs somewhere to rest, and probably some food and offerings as well. I don't know how long it will take for prayers to reach her here and restore her, as she doesn't have any followers in this realm," Bell told the Imperial Fists.
"Prayers would help her recover faster?" Dorn demanded. When Bell nodded, Dorn turned to Hagen. "Tell the brothers to offer prayers and thanksgiving to the goddess Hestia. Burn some incense as well. Logar did that, and he knew much of gods."
"Er, she likes scented candles too," Bell suggested as he smoothed a bit of dark hair away from the passed out goddess's face. "And, um, offerings of food and drink. Especially chocolate, wine, and fast food. I always have to get extra fries because otherwise she eats all of mine."
"Then we shall pray to her," Dorn stated, and Bell nodded his thanks before carrying Hestia to a resting area as directed by a servitor.
"My Primarch, you would have us pray to this goddess? We have kept the Imperial Truth all these long years. Though we venerate the Immortal Emperor, we remember they are but human," Hagen said quietly.
"Yes. The Emperor is flawed. These goddesses are also flawed," Dorn agreed as he slowly knelt and bowed his head. "But they are still excellent materials from which to build our new foundation. Pray to her, for she has brought us here to rescue my brother from the necrons."
"I...yes, my Primarch. I shall instruct the brothers to pray, and shall see to it that offerings are brought to the goddess," Hagen agreed, but as he turned, Dorn looked up.
"Wait. I see you do not understand." Dorn stood again, and nodded. "I will build trust here, between myself and my sons. Gather them where they might hear my words."
A short time later, the Imperial Fists assembled in battle regalia as Dorn stood atop his pristine fortification in the main hold.
"My sons. You have done well," Dorn declared as he looked out over the majority of his chapter. "You have been the mortar that has held the Imperium together. You have weathered many storms, and stood strong and mighty, as this fortification does."
The Imperial Fists stood a bit straighter, their sense of pride radiating from them.
"But though the mortar has held, the brick and foundation of the Imperium have rotted away. Soon, it shall crumble and collapse, and become nothing but rubble," Dorn said, shaking his head. "So. What do you do when a building has fallen into disrepair?"
"Why, you remove the rotten parts, and rebuild it, Primarch," Captain Lysander replied, speaking for the rest of the chapter.
"Indeed. But do you use the same materials you used before?" Dorn demanded. "And build in the same way?"
"Well, no. They were flawed, inferior. You must select new materials and use a new plan," Hagefn replied.
"Very good. These goddesses are our new materials," Dorn declared. "Hestia is odd. Strange. But, she is powerful. She brought the Phalanx across half the galaxy in a bare moment, without traversing the warp. And her comrades healed the Empress, and my brother, Roboute Guiliman. Most importantly, they offer hope. They would bring back Sanguinius, and Fulgrim, and perhaps others. This is a new foundation to build the Imperium on."
"Are you saying these goddesses are good?" Lysander asked, his brow furrowing. "We have spent many long years fighting the Great Enemy, keeping to the Imperial Truth. Would you have us throw it away?"
"No. The Imperial Truth was correct: There were no gods worthy of worship. But are goddesses who heal the sick, bring hope to the hopeless, and give freely of themselves to help others not worthy of worship?" Dorn asked. The Fists considered this, then their Primarch knelt.
"Let us pray to Hestia, Goddess of the Family and Hearth, for the safe return of my brother. Let us pray to Madoka for the hope that Fulgrim can be saved. Let us pray to Aqua and Ristarte that the sickness of Chaos will be healed from him. And then let us be men, who go forth and act, instead of waiting for goddesses to do what we can ourselves. They may aid us, but victory is ours to build ourselves."
And so, the Imperial Fists knelt and prayed, and in her sick bay, as her husband held her hand and whispered to her, Hestia stirred as the offerings of her new faithful renewed her strength. She opened her eyes, and they were wet with tears.
"What is it, my goddess?" Bell asked, reaching out to wipe away her sorrows. Instead, she took his hand and smiled.
"They've found hope again, Bell. And...and they pray for their family, for their lost brother. How can I not go to help them?" Hestia asked.
"Hestia...you know you're not as strong as the others in a fight. You should let me handle this," Bell said quietly.
"No. I have to see for myself. If these necrons are simple monsters, then they have to be destroyed. Besides, you'll be with me. Do I ever need to fear anything when you're at my side, Bell?" Hestia asked, and drew her husband to her, taking comfort in his strength.
Some hours later, Hestia was restored, and the Imperial Fists began their descent upon the planet. Strangely, the necrons had done nothing since they had arrived. Hestia took a deep breath, and joined hands with the strike team. The other Fists would take Thunderhawks or teleporters down to the surface, but a special group would make straight for where they believed the entrance of the tomb lay to retrieve Fulgrim before the battle became too intense. With her and Bell were Dorn, Hagen, Lysander, and a dozen terminators of the third company.
"Right, here we go," Hestia said, closing her eyes. A moment later, they appeared down on the planet, inside of a massive underground complex. No sooner than they appeared, then large green spotlights skewered the group, blinding them. Bell moved to protect Hestia, while the Imperial Fists formed a circle around him and the goddess.
"Ah ha! The guests have arrived," a vaguely electronic voice boomed. "Roll call, please."
"Rogal Dorn, sans one hand, check!" a squeakier robotic voice warbled, and more chorused after it.
"Captain Lysander, check!"
"Chapter Master Vorn Hagen, check!"
"Wait, shouldn't that be Gregor Dessian?" the deeper voice demanded.
"No, Thirteenth Black Crusade was canceled, sorry boss!"
"Ah, I see. Well, if they're all here…" The spotlights moved, and Hestia had to blink as even the space marines optical filters readjusted. What they beheld was a necron overlord, dressed in a sparkling black and green tuxedo, with a yellow straw boater hat with a green band, carrying a black cane tipped with a glowing green gem. Sudden music struck up, and behind the overlord, a swing band of necrons dressed in back and green tuxedos began to play a bright and happy tune, as neon lights lit up around the room, revealing a stage and glowing showcases.
"Lady and gentlemen! Welcome to Solemence! We thank you for submitting yourselves to me, Trazyn the Infinite to add to my expansive collection! You'll be joining pieces such as Warboss Grimgutz, seen here in exquisite detail!"
The display case for said ork light up, showing a truly massive ork frozen in time, choppa lifted to hack at some hapless Imperial Guardsmen. Only his eyes moved, but they were confused and panicked.
"We've also got a gen-u-ine regiment of Catachans Guardsmen, complete here in relief with barking toad! You wouldn't believe how many warriors I went through to get that!"
Another case, with screaming Catachans as they fled from the eponymous toad. Hestia snarled in rage, and Trayzn chuckled.
"Oh don't worry, they're quite alive! You might pity them, but they did try to invade with the pesky inquisitor! Ah, speaking of which, behold! In the flesh, Inquisitor Greyfax herself! Break in case of heresy!"
The Inquisitor in question was posed inside of what seemed to be a life sized box for a doll, an angry snarl on her face. Included were several options for weapons and dress, as though she were some sort of toy.
"So, thank you, thank you, for volunteering to join my museum pieces!" Trayzen said, twirling his cane as he strode around the stage. "You are, of course, entitled to offer me a better bargain, but frankly I can't think of anything better than adding another primarch, a chapter master and...whatever the two of you are. Treasure hunters, mayhaps? Do tell, I want to get your catalogue entry correct."
"You...you treat people like museum pieces!?" Hestia snarled, shoving aside a terminator and glaring up at Trazyn.
"Well, they do volunteer. Besides, they're far safer here than out there," Trayzen said, waving a hand dismissively towards the outside world.
"We are not here to join your collection," Dorn growled. "We are here for my brother."
"Oh, my piece de resistance? I am afraid dearest Fulgrim is not for sale!" Trayzn laughed, a distorted, basso sound. "He's in mint condition! If he left, he'd surely be killed by either the Imperium or those nasty chaos gods. No, no, far better for him to say here, where it's safe, and he can be preserved for all time. Besides, I traded something dear for him. Can't simply let him-"
Trazyn cut off as Hestia shed her mortal coil, growing in size until she towered over even Dorn in his Centurion, taking on the form of the alabaster titan with fiery eyes once more. THESE ARE NOT TOYS, UNDEAD. THEY ARE HUMANS. I DEMAND YOU RELEASE THEM AT ONCE, OR I SHALL REND THIS WORLD ASUNDER ONCE MORE.
"Oh dear," Trayzen said, blinking slightly. "I didn't realize you were a c'tan. Or perhaps a daemon pri-"
Trayzen didn't get to finish that sentence, as Hestia opened her mouth and spewed forth a stream of liquid, burning oil. One of the things people tend to forget about the goddess of the hearth is that hearths involve fire, making her a fire goddess.
I AM NO DEMON, NOR AM I ONE OF YOUR FRAGMENTED ABOMINATIONS. I AM HESTIA, GODDESS OF THE HEARTH, AND YOU WILL RELEASE YOUR PRISONERS, COLLECTOR.
The terminators strode forward, firing storm canons at the still playing band, who dropped their instruments, picking up gause rifles and returning fire. Just as everything looked to descend into chaos and fighting, a green glow erupted from where Trayzn was still bathed in flames. Hestia staggered back, her attack ending, while the Imperial Fists were caught in a stasis field of some sort.
"Well, wasn't expecting that," Trayzen muttered, looking up as Hestia righted herself. Bell appeared to be slowed by the field, but still struggled forward, a black knife in one hand, a glowing ball of flame in the other. "Not a c'tan, and not a demon. My my my, you ARE a unique piece. Certain you don't want to join my collection? You're quite the collectible."
I WILL DESTROY YOU AND THIS PLANET BEFORE I ALLOW YOU TO ENSLAVE ANOTHER OF MY CHILDREN, Hestia rumbled, and raised a hand. A glowing warm light bathed the room, and Dorn and the Fists staggered free, and proceeded to mow down the surprised necron servitors. Bell sprinted forward, dashing for Trayzn.
"Wait, wait. You want Fulgrim, do you? Well. You must offer me something," Trayzn barked, firing a beam from his staff at Bell, who was forced to dodge back and to the side. "I gave a very valuable part of my collection for him, and my Cube hasn't been the same since! I have to use a white bordered Black Lotus! Do you have any idea how much that stands out?!"
I THINK I CAN SIMPLY TAKE WHAT I WANT, UNDEAD, Hestia snarled. I FIND YOU TO BE NOTHING BUT ANOTHER MONSTER THAT NEEDS SLAYING.
"Monster? Monster?! I am Trazyn the Infinite! I am no monster! I am a scholar, and a gentleman, madam! And I am not the one who invades people's homes and attacks their servants, seeking to steal prized possessions! That would be you, self proclaimed goddess!"
HOLD, Hestia rumbled, and the Imperial Fists paused in their relentless advance towards Trayzn. Hestia slowly strunk, resuming the form of a small well endowed woman. "Ok. I suppose we should introduce ourselves. I'm Hestia, this is my husband, Bell."
"Er, hello," Bell said, waving nervously as he hovered protectively near his goddess.
"This is Dorn, and his sons. We are here for his brother, Fulgrim, who you have imprisoned."
"Ah, well, I am Trayzn. I don't know if you are quite guests, but at least you appear to be able to find your manners when pressed," the overlord sniffed, picking off bits of charred tuxedo from his body and removing the smoldering remains of his hat. "But I do not imprison Fulgrim. I take care of him. After all, it would not do to have another puppet of chaos running about, mucking up the galaxy. So he stays here, where it is safe."
"He stays against his will, does he not?" Hestia demanded.
Trayzn sighed. "From a certain point of view. I never asked, and he was already in chains when I took him. If anything, he's far more comfortable now. Though he sleeps, as do most of my collection, until time of need. For now, he is a preservation of a primarch in his pristine state, instead of a blight upon the galaxy."
"My brother must be freed," Dorn snarled, pointing his centurion's weapon mounts at Trazyn. "You will do this, or we will attempt to kill you again."
"Well, I'm not going to simply hand him over to a group of thugs," Trayzn sniffed. "As I said, I gave something valuable and precious for my pet primarch."
"You said your Cube…" Hestia said, furrowing her eyebrow. "Eris has a Cube. You don't mean...do you have a Magic the Gathering cube?"
Trazyn clutched a hand to his chest. "Why! I didn't know I was in the presence of such an enlightened individual! Indeed! I have a full 360 card power cube, complete with black bordered originals! Well. Except for the gem of the collection. I had to trade my PSA 10 graded beta Black Lotus to Bile for Fulgrim. Well worth it, as I have a 9.5 gem mint unlimited lotus, but it's not the same."
Hestia nodded slowly. "What if I offered you an Alpha Lotus? It's only a BGS 9, but I'd trade it for Fulgrim."
"You have an Alpha Lotus?! I've been looking for one for practically forever, but they're impossible to find!" Trayzn gasped, and skipped off the stage to run up to Hesita. He found his way blocked by Lysander and Bell, but peered around him. "I'd over a great deal for that! Say, do you have any of the foil Battle for Zendikar Expeditions? I only have foils from Modern Masters and Khans, but I would DEARLY love to have the Expeditions."
"Um, let me check." Hestia pulled out her phone, and sent a few quick texts. Her phone buzzed a moment later, and she nodded. "Yup. All ten. Gem mint too. I'll trade them for any other human prisoners you have."
"Hmm, hmm, well, this is a predicament," Trazyn muttered, and turned around to pace back and forth, rubbing his jaw with metal fingers, making a grating sound. A moment later, he turned, rubbing his hands together with a grate noise. "I can't simply trade so many pieces from my collection. So, how about a wager? Your Magic the Gathering cards for my human collection, to be determined by a contest."
"What sort of contest?" Hestia asked suspiciously.
Trazyn snapped his fingers, and a moment later a pair of Immortals hurried out with a metallic case. Trayzn opened it, revealing meticulously sleeved cards. "We draft my cube. Winner take all. Oh, relax, I'll let you leave, minus a few trinkets, win or lose."
"This Cube. It involves...deck building?" Dorn demanded.
"Indeed my good sir! We draft the cube, build decks with the mana I have, all Guru Lands, in case you were wondering, and then compete, one deck against another!"
Dorn nodded. "I accept this deck building challenge."
"Wonderful, wonderful! Quickly, tables and chairs for my guests! Choose four among you to play against myself and three of my overseers, and we shall begin."
"Um, Dorn, are you sure about this?" Hestia hissed as necrons hurried out with folding tables and metal chairs, setting them up at the center of the chamber.
"Yes. I am very good at building," Dorn declared. "Lysander and Hagan shall play as well. Will you join us, goddess?"
"You should play, Hestia. I'm not very good at drafting," Bell said, rubbing the back of his head nervously. "But, um, you sure? Eris is gonna be mad if we lose her cards…"
"She'll understand," Hestia declared, snapping her fingers and summoning for Eris's own prized power cube and removing the cards. "And if she doesn't, she can't be mad at me forever."
"I don't know about that," Bell muttered, but didn't protest further.
"Please, come sit! Let us play!" Trazyn invited, and Hestia and the four space marines went to the table, the chairs creaking dangerously as the massive warriors heaved their bulk into them, but they held fast.
Bell and the Terminators stood around, Bell nervously, the Terminators stoically, as the draft began. Each of them opened up a pack of randomized cards from Trazyn's collection, then chose one before passing it to the person next to them. It was a deep, complex challenge, but skilled players would be able to easily tell what their opponent was picking, and choose their cards accordingly. They were about five cards in when Trazyn realized that Hestia had absolutely no idea how to read Trazyn's color signals, nor how to properly draft an archetype. Instead, Hesetia looked on the verge of panic, sweat trickling down her brow.
"I never know how to do this!" she muttered. "How are you supposed to follow BREAD when they're ALL Bombs, Removal, or Evasive!?"
"Well, first of all, you never pass a moxen if you can help it," Trazyn chuckled. "What did you take out of pack one?"
"Um, a Baneslayer Angel. I like that one," Hestia admitted, prompting the space marines to glare at her.
"No table talk. It is unsportsmanlike," Lysander ordered. "Stop harassing the goddess, xenos, or we shall crush you and take Fulgrim regardless."
"Fine, fine," Trazyn agreed. "But someone really should offer her a few tips. She has no idea what she's doing."
"That's not true!" Hestia huffed. "I've drafted loads of times! I've even drafted Eris's cube!"
"Mhmm. And, pray tell, how often do you win?"
Hestia wilted slightly. "Er, well, I usually beat Aqua."
Bell groaned and put his head in his hands. Dorn didn't look thrilled either, but then again, he never did.
"Fear not, goddess. We Imperial Fists shall construct decks of legend," Hagen promised.
The necron overseers offered no comment, merely picking their cards and passing them silently.
When they were done, Hestia looked forlornly at her pile of cards, uncertain what to cut, as they were all excellent. In the end, she managed to build what she hoped was a good enough green white goodstuff deck.
"What did you make?" Hestia asked Dorn.
"A deck," Dorn replied simply. "My sons, are you prepared for battle?"
"Yes, Primarch," the Fist officers agreed.
Due to some terrible luck, Hestia ended up paired against Trazyn. She offered a faint grin, and her spirits improved when she won the dice roll. "Um, OK. Plains, and pass."
"That's it?" Trazyn asked, grinning maliciously. "Well then. You might have noticed my Cube had a bit of a storm subtheme. I hope you're ready."
"Er-" Hestia could only watch as Trazyn played out a near perfect turn one for a storm based combo deck. Trazyn played out his entire hand using free spells and cheap draw, then played still more spells, before playing Empty the Warrens, which summoned two goblins for each card he'd played that turn, giving him a massive army before Hestia had cast a single spell.
"Pass to you," Trazyn said in a silky tone.
Hestia drew her card, played a Forest, and cast a single lone creature to stare down Trazyn's horde. "I think I lose…"
"You do," Trazyn agreed, and attacked with his army. Hestia looked at her hand, and conceded.
The second game, Trazyn wiffed spectacularly, failing to draw one of his wincons on his storm turn, and Hestia managed to land her angel, which rapidly closed out the game. However, on the third game, Trazyn went off on turn four, and a lethal Brain Freeze emptied Hestia's library, meaning she would lose on her next turn. She slumped in her seat, out on round one.
However, Dorn had bested Lysander, while Hagen had defeated one of the mostly silent overseers, while another had lost to its counterpart.
"Now we finish this, Xenos," Dorn growled as he sat across from Trazyn.
"We shall see," Trazyn laughed as he shuffled his deck carefully. He won the flip, but didn't manage to go off turn one, only casting a single spell to draw more cards.
"Deafening Silence," Dorn said when it was his turn. "There will be only one spell per turn from now on."
Trazyn grunted, but played a counterspell, picking up his Volcanic Island to stop the card that invalidated his entire deck.
"Force of Will," Dorn responded, using his own counterspell to deny Trazyn.
"Damnation," Trazyn snarled. "It resolves."
After that, Dorn began to assemble a Pillow Fort of legend. He played a number of enchantments that boxed Trazyn in, preventing him from doing much of anything. Just as Trazyn looked as though he could rally by getting rid of some of Dorn's defenses, Dorn played Balance, sweeping away most of Trazyn's cards in play and, leaving only one land on the necron's side. The next turn, Dorn played Karn Liberated, which would rapidly end the game, and Trazyn conceded.
"Not a bad deck at all. Do you have a Cube of your own, perchance?" Trazyn inquired.
"No," Dorn responded. "Draw or play?"
"Play," Trazyn declared, his tone jolly despite the loss.
The second game lasted even less time, as Dorn unleashed a combo of his own, sacrificing a cheap artifact to play a massive Blightsteel Colossus from his deck that would kill Trazyn in a single blow.
"Most impressive! I haven't seen someone make a deck that effective from my cube for far too long! If all thieves were as good at Cubing as you, my good sir, I would be far more inclined to host them!" Trazyn declared. Hagen was finishing up trouncing the overseer he faced, having built a Black/Green graveyard based deck that could power out an early game ending Eldrazi.
"Alright! That means we free all the humans in your vault!" Hestia laughed, flashing a V sign. "And especially Fulgrim!"
"Yes, yes, I shall be sad to see them go, but a deal is a deal," Trazyn said forlornly. He pointed to some of his necrons, who hurriedly began wheeling out the various displays featuring humanity. "Do take good care of them. Mortals are so prone to breaking, and they are in such good condition. I shall be most vexed if you break these exquisite pieces."
"Man is not meant to be stored in a box to be displayed," Lysander growled. "We should purge you and the rest of your filthy kind, xenos."
"No, I don't think so," Hestia said, shaking her head and looking at Trazyn contemplatively. "I don't think he's actually evil. Just alien."
"Evil? What, do you take me for one of those c'tan worshiping nutjobs, or worse, one of those maniac chaos cultists you're about to unleash?" Trazyn huffed.
Hestia's eyes went wide. "What!? You've got chaos worshipers here and you're going to just let them free?!"
"Of course, of course. They are human after all, and a deal's a deal," Trazyn said with a shrug.
"Er, you can keep the chaos tainted ones, aside from Fulgrim," Hestia told the overlord hastily. "We, um, well, they might be better off being imprisoned since we'd have to kill them as soon as you let them out."
"What? Absurd! I shall not let you kill off any of my collection! I shall be keeping them safe from you, madam," Trazyn huffed.
Hestia nodded, then held out the cards she'd 'borrowed' from Eris. "Here. Because you're freeing my children, I want you to have these, in thanks."
"That wasn't part of the deal you know. I'm not giving you anything else," Trazyn sniffed, but grabbed the cards greedily and began to sort through them, chuckling to himself.
"I still don't like you," Hestia said, making a face. "I'm a goddess of humanity. I can tolerate near human species like elves and dwarves, but you're just too different. I think, though, that with time, perhaps my children and your own race could learn to live alongside one another, as neighbors."
"Really? Well, I must say, that's a refreshing change of attitude for one of you humans," Trazyn laughed.
"She is not human. She is a goddess," Dorn corrected, watching as his brother within the display case was rolled out. Fulgrim was posed with a microphone and a band of pink armored space marines kitted out to ROCK with finely crafted instruments (including a vintage Les Paul guitar) frozen in time.
"Oh, it's OK. I almost became human, you know. That's how I got exiled from Orario: I wanted to marry Bell," Hestia giggled. "It would have been worth it, but I'm glad I went to Earth with Athena instead. Thanks again, Trazyn. Maybe we'll come by to draft again and check out your collection."
"If you bring me such fine things as these, I will happily agree. Perhaps we can come to a mutually beneficial arrangement. And, if you happen to need somewhere to store a stray primarch or two...let me know. I've always got room in my collection for more fine pieces. Now, if you'll excuse me, I can't miss this."
Hestia turned as the Immortals carrying Fulgrim's display case stopped, lowering the massive shadow box. One pressed a button on the side, and the band suddenly sprang into motion, and sound blasted forth.
TURN UP, THE RADIO
I NEED THE MUSIC, GIVE ME SOME MORE!
TURN UP, THE RADIO
I NEED THE MUSIC, GIVE ME SOME MORE!
Fulgrim's voice was that of an angel, and his band was in perfect condition. He spotted Dorn, and winked at his brother, pointing and smiling as he and the Emperor's children continued to jam.
"Brother, enough of this, I have-" Dorn began, but the cloned primarch kept right on playing and singing. The Imperial Fists looked uncomfortable and unsure of what to do, but Hestia started to cheer and jump up and down, throwing up rock on horns. Bell laughed and clapped along, as Trazyn and the necrons eagerly recorded the music for his personal collection.
After a few minutes, Fulgrim finished the song, and swept his long hair back out of his face, his dazzling smile catching the stage lights. "It's so good to be back, and to see you all here! Brother, have you come for my concert? It shall be LEGENDARY!"
"I have come to free you and return you to our mother," Dorn replied. "Cease this noise making and come with me."
"Ha! You never could enjoy my music!" Fulgrim laughed, tossing his head as his marines shook their heads. "Well, I've found an adoring audience and- did you say mother?"
"Yes. Mother is alive again, and is now a woman. I have high hopes this will improve our familial relations," Dorn stated.
"Does she like music? Father was always on about crusading this, and purging that. But I was never a warrior. No, my calling is to ROCK!" Flames shot out of pyrotechnic displays, and one of the Emperor's Children played a riff on his guitar. "And besides, the last time I tried to fight I became a nasty demon. We're not doing that again, oh no. This time, I shall pursue my dream, and become the galaxy's greatest musician!"
"I see. You are quite mad. Perhaps I should leave you with the xenos," Dorn stated.
"Oh no we're not! I had to trade Eris's Expeditions AND her Alpha Lotus for him!" Hestia declared. "Come on! We're getting out of here."
"What if I don't want to leave?" Fulgrim sniffed petulantly, sticking his nose in the air and looking away from his brother. "Trazyn appreciates my music. He even found these uncorrupted sons of mine to play in my band. Why should I go with you?"
"If you come with us, I'll introduce you to the Goddess Aqua, who is a muse of the arts," Hestia offered. Fulgrim looked at her, somewhat intrigued, and Hestia added, "And we'll find a way to let you go on tour. People here could use a party to lift their spirits."
"Who is this woman? At least she has good taste. But I'm not falling for the goddess thing again. I saw what happened to other me when he gave into Slaanesh, and it is not pretty," Fulgrim said, folding his arms over his chest.
"They are different. And they are how I found you. Very well. We shall take you to mother," Dorn said.
"Yeah, you can play for her and Madoka, I'm sure they'd love it!" Hestia agreed, and raised her hands. "Come on, we'll stop by Aqua first, she can help you with your act!"
"Very well. I shall awe her with my stunning performance. We can practice as we-"
The Fists and Fulgrim and his children vanished from Trazyn's lair with a pop, reappearing some distance away. Fulgrim was taken aback to find himself on a far distant world, but rallied quickly.
"Alright boys, let's take it from the top. And,
DOMO ARIGATO MR- ROBOUTE?!"
Roboute Guilliman, primarch of the Ultramarines, casually disemboweled the Emperor's Children noise marine he'd been fighting with his lightning claws, then tossed aside the corpse as battle raged around him. The Ultramarines were battling against the forces of Chaos, storming forward against the warband of Slaanesh and the Daemon Prince Fulgrim himself.
"Brother. Fancy seeing you here."
"Hi Hesita!" Aqua called, waving as she resurrected several slain Ultramarines. "We're slaying the Devil King Fulgrim!"
"Oh shit," Clonegrim breathed, as Roboute Guilliman turned toward him, a vicious smile on his face.
"Um, oops," Hestia said, shrugging slightly. "Eh heh. Guess I should have looked at where Aqua was…"