The Return of Rogal Dorn
Part 3: Revival of a Demigod
Where... am I? Grandfather? Is this Inwit? No... Not Inwit. Who am I? Father? Father, what is happening to me? Voices... outside. One is familiar... I must go there.
For days, Vulkan would stand in front of the tank, staring at his brother. The more time passed, the more Rogal began to look like his old self. His muscles were continuously stimulated so as not to risk the onset of atrophy so the massive physique Rogal had been known for would be preserved. He touched the tank and sighed. "How much longer, Cawl? How long must he remain like this?"
"Until we are certain he is stabilized, My Lord. We cannot risk damage to his cells by removing him too early. This is a delicate matter, Lord Vulkan."
Vulkan knew he was correct. But still... He wanted to see his brother. To embrace him as he did when he returned to Terra ten thousand years ago before the Siege of Terra. But on the other hand, he wondered if there was something Cawl was holding back from him. If that was true then he would have words for Cawl.
A sound behind him caused him to turn. He smiled at Tanau Aleya and an Elderly Nocturnian woman holding an infant. N'Bella, his child. He held out a massive hand and the woman passed the infant to him. He studied her breathing. She had acclimated to Terra's atmosphere and the artificial atmosphere here on the Phalanx and was breathing steadily. She looked up at the red-eyed giant and smiled. Vulkan remembered on Caldera when he had extended a hand to a child. The child had been frightened of him, but N'Bella showed no fear. That innocence of the Galaxy's true terror was inspiring in a way. He looked at the nursemaid and the Silent Sister.
"You have both taken good care of her. Thank you." He turned to the old woman. "Grandmother, thank you for making the journey from Nocturne."
The old woman, Verlane, bowed low. "It is my honor, Lord Vulkan. She is very well behaved. You should be proud."
"I am. Thank you." He turned Aleya who bowed her head and saluted with the sign of the Aquila. "Thank you as well, Tanau Aleya. You do your sisterhood proud."
Vulkan turned to the tank and held N'Bella so she could see Rogal. "This is your Uncle, my child. He will be awake soon. I hope you like him. He was strong in life. Blunt, but fair. A protector." He looked down to see N'Bella reaching out a tiny hand towards the tank. Vulkan held her forward and touched her hand to the tank. "Do you feel that beat, N'Bella? That is his life force. His energy. The life force of a Primarch. Remember that, my child."
I feel something. A touch on my shell. A hand. It is a light touch. A child's hand. No... an infant. I feel her. It's like I know her. Like I've always known her. My child? No, not my child. I have only sons. Something... someone else... Who am I?
Lenore Tyrone was almost late to her shift in engineering. She'd just had to spend the night with Carter and lose all track of time. The Fists prided punctuality in everything, including their serfs. To be late was frowned upon and her supervisor had warned her before about being late. Well, it wasn't going to happen today!
As she made it to her station with two minutes to spare, Lenore caught sight of Thomsky. He smiled and waved at her and mouthed "Carter?". She smiled and nodded back. He laughed and went back to work. Lenore went to work, checking the coolant systems and making sure they were regular. If even a few were offline, then The Phalanx would be in deep trouble. The Phalanx was a finely constructed wall with each piece acting as a keystone. If one piece came undone, then the whole wall would collapse. That could not happen.
As she checked the coolant systems, she scratched at an itch in her left armpit. It had been doing that since the night before when Carter had insisted on kissing her there. He'd said that he wanted to explore every inch of her. Unfortunately, that had been where things went wrong. Carter had seen something that had not been for anyone else to see. When the tattoo had been placed there, she'd told Filbern that such a thing was incredibly stupid. For ones such as them, remaining incognito was key for their work. But he'd insisted. That it was a mark of honor for their true masters. Carter had seen the mark of the three serpents. He'd had to disappear.
Carter was a menial and one whose work could be filled by another before he was noticed as missing. She'd called Filbern in to dispose of the body safely. It was a simple matter as it had been done before. The Phalanx was immense. It was a fortress monastery to eclipse all others. Things got lost. She'd really liked Carter. If he hadn't seen the mark then things would have been fine. Of course things would have ended between them when the signal was given, but to rush things didn't sit right with her.
She shook her head and went back to checking the coolant systems. All was normal for now. When the signal was given, it would be her job to make sure that they failed. The engines would more than likely overheat and either explode or cause the ship to fall out of orbit and into Terra itself. An infiltration of this undertaking had not been done in the history of the Legion, not since the days of the Great Heresy. They were everywhere now. They had infiltrated every Chapter of the Fists, among other Chapters, and when the undertaking to revive the Primarch had been called, many of their agents had come with the Companies. In every Company of Space Marines that had arrived, there were ten Astartes of the Legion. They had taken the places of many Sons of Dorn and had adopted their customs to blend in. It was the way of things. The way the Legion made war. It may have been cowardly to some, but it was effective. When the serpent struck, then the victim wouldn't know it until they were already dead. That was the way of the Alpha Legion.
My son... I am angry with him. He has confessed to me that he disobeyed me due to love and the words of a so-called Saint. That if he wasn't with me, then I would die. Then Terra would fall. I denounce him as my son. I disown him. I say he is no longer my son. Just my soldier. I feel... pain inside now. He is gone. He's long dead. Did I apologize? Did I make amends? I cannot remember... I know his name... Sigismund. My most loyal son. My most beloved son... I miss you, my son.
Fabius felt his bonds after he was restrained. They were looser this time. Enough for him to wiggle loose if he wanted to. If he was correct then it was nearly time. In fact, he wouldn't be surprised if the attack would occur in the next few days. The process of resurrecting Rogal Dorn was all but complete. He wasn't needed anymore. Soon he would be transferred to a prison deep beneath Luna's surface and he would never see the light of Sol ever again. That is... if the Alpha Legion's plan went south. If it didn't, he would be free with hundreds of gene-samples to experiment with. And the full genes of Rogal Dorn himself combined with the regenerative genes of Vulkan.
Cawl had seen fit to treat him as an equal. That was a mistake. He should have treated him as a threat. Fabius was a threat to everyone on this ship. And he was proud of it. He was the Spider. All were flies in his web. All were his to experiment with. He grinned. Now it was a matter of playing the waiting game.
Thonius had served with Squad Maldus for fifty years. He was proud of his time in the Imperial Fists. When he had been chosen to become a son of Rogal Dorn fifty years ago on Inwit, it had been the proudest day of his life. His father had made him swear to honor their tribe. He hardly remembered his father anymore. But he remembered the promise.
"You alright, Thonius?" He turned to see Frasier with his helm off and maglocked to his side, smiling. Frasier liked to smile, quite often.
"Fine, Brother. Just remembering the past. What I can remember that is. Any word from Sergeant Maldus? Are we to guard the Primarch's chamber today?" He'd been hopeful it would be their turn someday. To be near their genesire was a dream that he hoped would come true someday.
Frasier's smile widened. "Are you certain you're not a Psyker, Brother? I swear you read my mind."
Thonius stood up, his helm in hand. "You're not fooling with me, are you Frasier?"
Frasier shook his head and disengaged his helm from his side and fixed it over his head. "You and I are guarding the door, Thonius."
Thonius smiled and slapped his brother's pauldron. "This may be the day, Brother. This is a sign. This is the day our genefather awakens!"
Balgus of the Black Templars placed a hand over his vox. He nodded his head and spread the same message to the nine other Templars that had joined him. It was time to alert the Legionnaires. It was time to move.
Across The Phalanx, Ten Firstborn Space Marines from each Chapter were alerted. They had been spread over different squads. No two were in the same one. That made it easier. It was time to move. It was time to retrieve the Primarch. Balgus turned to the Space Marine next to him. Perhaps Balgus had been a Space Marine at some point. Before he was replaced. It didn't matter. He turned to the Brother Space Marine next to him and lifted his bolt pistol to point straight at him. "I am sorry, Brother. It must be done."
"What is thi-" The Space Marine didn't have time to finish the sentence before he was shot in the head.
"I am Alpharius," Balgus said. He left to meet with the others. He was glad they had been alone. He didn't want to kill more than was necessary. Not yet.
I feel someone out there. The presence. The child. I can feel her light. She is kind. She will grow up to be kind. She will love others even if they. I can feel it. I have memories of two lives in me. Two childhoods. One on a planet of ice. An old man loves me as his own grandson. He has given me a cloak of fur. It is my most treasured possession. More than my sword. The other is on a planet of fire. A blacksmiter has taken me as his son. He teaches me to make things. I know he is not my father by blood, but I love him all the same. Even when my true father finds me, I will always see the blacksmiter as my father.
I feel... pain. Across the... vast ship I'm in, those that wear the armor of my sons are turning on those they have deceived. My brother is out there. The one whose memories I share. He is rallying those that have come to see me to stand against the infiltrators. I feel my sons. I feel their anger at this betrayal. They are forming the Wall. As they were trained to do. Good.
Thonius placed a hand to his vox. "Something is wrong, Brother. Lord Vulkan is saying that-"
"The Alpha Legion is here. Yes, I know, Brother." Frasier turned to him, bolt pistol in hand.
"What are you doing," Thonius cried, raising his bolter.
"I am Alpharius." Frasier fired.
I feel one of the guards outside the medicae is dead. He was betrayed by one who wore his brother's face. The serpents are here. They are here for me and the Spider. I feel the panic in the room. The Silent Sister is signaling to the old woman with the infant to take cover. Cawl and his assistant, Qvo-87, make ready to fight. Alpha Primus is not here. He is on Cawl's ship. They planned this well. Aside from Vulkan, he is their greatest threat. There are at least ten serpents outside the door. They are preparing to break in. They will kill everyone here to get to me and the gene-seed.
The door bursts open. Bolter fire comes forth. Cawl fires back with his own weapons. The Sister charges forth and slays at least two during the fighting. She is strong. Vulkan chose her well. But more are coming. She will not last long. I hear something... An infant's cries. The child. She is scared. She is frightened. I must... I must protect her.
My muscles tense up. I will myself to move. I move through the fluids. I have rested long enough. I am not one to be protected. I am the protector. I am the Praetorian of Terra. The father of the Fists. I am... I am...
The tank burst open as green fluid poured out. Cawl turned to see a naked Giant surge forward and leap into the air. He crashed into the disguised Alpha Legionnaires and tossed them aside in its fury. He grabbed a bolter and fired one handed, one shot into each Legionnaire's head he could see. One chopped into him in the back with a chainsword. Grabbing the chainsword by the blade, he turned and pulled the Alpha Legionnaire, who wore the colors of an Imperial Fist. He wrenched the impostor's neck, snapping it. The Giant turned towards the entrance to see if more were coming. When none could be seen, he threw the impostor down the hallway. He roared in anger. Cawl thought he was calling a name out. It sounded like... Alpharius.
The Giant turned towards them, still stark naked and dripping with fluid, as if he had burst fully formed from the womb. Which, Cawl supposed, he had. The Giant walked towards them, ignoring Aleya as she knelt before him. Cawl and Qvo-87 bowed their heads to him. He ignored them as well. Instead, grabbing a blanket and wrapping it around his waist, he stood before the old woman, who still hugged the infant to her. He gestured to her. Verlane hesitated at first before holding the infant out towards him.
He took her in his great hands, handling her with gentleness and care. The infant still cried as he did. He stroked her forehead gently. "It's alright, little one. Your uncle is here. I am here to protect you." Her cries subsided as she looked up at him with tear filled eyes. He handed her back to Verlane and turned to Cawl and the others. "I am Rogal Dorn. The Alpha Legion has come to The Phalanx. They have infiltrated and murdered my sons. Take me to the armory. I must be armored. I must have my blade."
As Vulkan stood behind the Wall the Imperial Fists and their Brother Chapters had made against the Alpha Legion, he fumed in rage. It wasn't just the Space Marines that had turned but almost half of the human crew. Across the ship, Impostors fought against True Sons in tight corridors. They had been planning this for a long time. They had studied The Phalanx inside and out before the attack. He would make them pay for this.
Just as he was about to make the command to move forward, a familiar voice behind him made the command. He slowly turned to see a white haired giant in golden armor, wielding a massive sword, striding forward. "FORWARD, SONS OF DORN! FORWARD IN THE EMPEROR'S NAME!" The firing on both sides ceased as Rogal Dorn, Primarch of the Imperial Fists, charged forwards to mete out vengeance upon the enemies of the Imperium.
Lenore had heard the signal. It was time. A few coolant systems to be taken down. The Serpents were striking. She had to get to engineering. It was time for The Phalanx to fall.
Author's Notes: ROGAL DORN IS BACK! Well, that's been obvious since the first chapter, but now you know how. Just as the Fists have never been my favorite Space Marine Chapter/Legion, Dorn has never been my favorite Primarch. He's always felt too steadfast, too unyielding. Plus, the indirect role he played in Perturabo's downward spiral to the Dark Side by pretty much framing the Iron Warriors as nothing more than destroyers rather than the equals of the Imperial Fists in terms of siegecraft and construction. However, I am of the belief that just because I'm not too big a fan of something, doesn't mean I should downplay or demean something. The Fists have been part of 40k history since the beginning along with the Ultramarines. They are important and thus deserve respect. Plus, after reading Fist of the Imperium, I consider myself invested in them and their Chapter.
When I wrote this, I had an idea of how things would go. The Alpha Legion would strike thanks to their agents and Dorn would break out. I just had to figure out how to get there. The parts with Dorn's thoughts in the tank was pretty much the key of how I would do that. If it wasn't clear, the part where Dorn shares Vulkan's childhood memories is due to the sharing of Vulkan's cells. And to squelch any questions, no. Dorn is not a Perpetual because of Vulkan's cells being integrated into his cell tissue. He just got a nice boost from it and some of Vulkan's memories. This is also how he was able to gain so close a connection with N'Bella before even meeting her.
I'd also like to take this time to talk about my thoughts on the Alpha Legion: They are among my favorite Traitor Marine Legions. I love the idea of Alpharius and Omegon as Twin Primarchs and I love the idea that the Alpha Legion are both Traitors and not Traitors. I know that people are confused about the true alliances of the Legion, but I have my own theory. The Alpha Legion are split down the middle like Alpharius and Omegon were. Alpharius was all for Horus while Omegon fought for the Imperium. However, after Alpharius died, the influences of both Primarchs. The Legion is split in two sides to the point where as a whole it is more True Neutral. Hell, the Alpha Legion may have always been on their own side since Alpharius came to the Imperium. I'm incredibly excited for the Alpharius Primarch book. I remember reading the Lion El'Jonson book and how they built up the Dark Angels as the end all be all. To me, the Alpha Legion are the ones you send when you want something done quickly and quietly to the point where you're not sure anything happened at all. Yeah, the Dark Angels may have so many super weapons that make things go boom, but the Alpha Legion are the guys who don't need things to go boom to solve a problem. Sorry for the rambling. Point is, love the Alpha Legion and they are gonna be big in the upcoming story arcs for this series. One more part to go as we close the book on the return of Rogal Dorn.