Mankind Protectors:

Azrael

I am not a monster. I have been looked upon as such by other Chapters, but the truth is that my position has me do things that require sacrifice of self and morality. I do what I do because I have to, not because I want to. I once saved an Adept of the Adeptus Mechanicus even when I did not have to. I could have left her to die, but I chose to save her life from the forces of the Black Legion. That is not the actions of a monster. If anyone is to be my judge, let it be the Emperor himself.

I was there with Asmodai when the Lion revived. His first word was the name of the First of the Fallen. Luther. When the Watchers in the Dark were certain he could move again, we appraised The Lion of our quest to find the Fallen. We informed him what was being done to the Fallen and the escape of Luther with the help of Marbas. The Lion listened before asking to see one of the Fallen we had captured.

We took him to the cell of Sark Andour, one of the few Fallen to not escape with Luther. He was still unrepentant in his treachery, but Asmodai was certain that The Lion would be what caused him to give repentance for his crimes.

After what felt like the better part of a day, The Lion emerged from the cell and turned to Asmodai. "Did you claim his confession, My Lord," Asmodai asked. "We have interrogated him for years and still have not gained his repentance. Shall I execute him myself?"

The Lion grabbed Asmodai by the neck and slammed him against the wall of the Rock, his teeth bared in fury. He leaned in to whisper, but I could still hear him. "If you touch anymore of my sons in such a manner, I will end your existence and purge you and your fellow Chaplains from the records of the Dark Angels," he hissed. "You would not be the first Chaplain I executed. Remember that. Do not think that just because you carry my genes that means you are exempt from my wrath." He dropped Asmodai to the ground and turned to me. "Sark Andour has confessed and repented to me. Release him and take him to the Apothecary." I stared at him in surprise. "Now," was all he said.

As Andour was lead from his cell, his body broken from years at Asmodai's hands, I was shocked to see that he was sobbing. An Astartes showing such weakness would normally cause me to feel even more disgust at the traitor. But as one who had spoken with the Primarch himself... I doubt I could hold back the weakness were I in Andour's position.

Later, I approached The Lion and laid the Lion's Helm at his feet. "My father... forgive us our failure. We only did what we thought was necessary to preserve the Chapter's honor. The Fallen are a blight that must be exterminated from the Galaxy. We only follow your example, My Lord. We do what must be done, as you did during the Horus Heresy."

His back was to me as he stared out into the Void. Finally, he spoke. "What have we become, Azrael?"

"We are the Dark Angels, Sire. The Unforgiven. We must redeem our name from Luther's betrayal of it. Do you not agree?"

"I do," The Lion said with a nod. "But what has it gotten us? I was used to keeping secrets, but only as to our capabilities and our weaponry. As the First Legion, we were privy to many of the Emperor's secrets and were given an arsenal that allowed us to do great and terrible things to our enemies. Now we are merely a shadow of that greatness. The Dark Angels must be redeemed, but only Luther and Marbas must die. The rest may repent, but only let their deaths be in combat. Never at the hands of one such as Asmodai again."

"Sire, many of the Fallen have turned to Chaos. Many have become Champions of Chaos and corrupted further by the Warp. They cannot be allowed back in our ranks."

"As I said... let their deaths be in combat. Let them die as the warriors they were in the days of the Great Crusade. Not as prisoners." He turned to me. "I am not as you imagined me, Supreme Grand Master. I know that. I have freed a traitor and threatened a loyal son. Not exactly what one would imagine their father to be. I am sorry."

"You have no reason to apolo-"

"I do. I wasn't without the ability to think during my long 10,000 year sleep, Azrael. I had time to think. I had nothing to do but think. I came to a conclusion not long ago: The Fallen must be redeemed, but we must do it a different way. We must expand the Circle."

"My Lord?"

"We need to bring in outside help for this. The First Legion was bigger than most of the original Legions during the Great Crusade. The Fallen's numbers are greater than one would expect. We are not talking about a warband. The Fallen's number's are the same size as that of one of the smaller Legions. We need influence. We need agents. We need help from... my brothers."

I was stunned. If word of this got out, the Inquisition would do what it could to destroy the Dark Angels. And I could tell El'Jonson knew this too.

"I know, my son. I know the risks, but we cannot live how we used to. The Dark Angels must regain the glory we had in the Great Crusade. I will do whatever it takes to get that back. Even breaking our oldest traditions of secrecy."

"Who... who will you trust?"

"I have someone in mind. We will also need the Astra Militarum's help in this. I need a list of the most trustworthy of commanding officers. Those that are independent enough from the chain of command, but are honorable enough that they won't break confidence."

"And if they do?"

"Secrets within secrets. We downplay the Fallen's threat enough to them so that they are merely disparate warbands. We tell enough, not everything."

"Still keeping secrets, my Lord?"

He picked up the Lion's Helm and looked at it like it was an old friend he had not seen in centuries. "Secrets are a weapon that can be used against anyone, Azrael. The trick is to disguise them just enough. This Crusade must be prepared. It will be the greatest endeavor in the history of the Dark Angels."

And that is how it began. The Circle grew to encompass Roboute Guilliman, Ciaphas Cain, and many other officers of the Militarum. Our Successor Chapters were brought into the Circle and sworn to secrecy. They all swore blood oaths to the Lion, forfeiting their lives if they were to break this confidence. The Fallen Crusade was underway and we gained many prisoners thanks to our expanded area of influence.

But change is not always welcome. Many, including Asmodai, were opposed to this.

"What have they done to him, Azrael," Asmodai asked me once.

"Who?"

"The Watchers! They clearly have tampered with the Primarch's mind! They have done something! The Lion we knew-"

"We never knew him, Brother," I said. "We knew a legend. A tale. Who truly has ever known Lion El'Jonson? Who?"

"The point is... he has changed so much of our mission. We are letting in outsiders and putting our existence at risk. He has gone soft!"

"The Primarch threatened your life, Asmodai," I pointed out. "That is not the mark of a soft man."

"No... but it is the mark of a traitor. How do we know Luther or Marbas did not tamper with his mind during the invasion? How do we know that is even the real Lion El'Jonson and not an Alpha Legion facsimile?! We cannot be sure!"

I grew worried the most I spoke with him. I had known Asmodai for years and had grown used to his way of speaking of others. This was the Primarch, however. Different as he may be from his legends, I knew the being we were following was Lion El'Jonson. I knew it in my soul. The way he spoke of him... it reeked of treachery.

"Watch your words, Brother Chaplain. The Lion has eyes everywhere and you do not want to be on his bad side."

"I already am. And if he is going to undo the work we've done, then I may have to do what it takes to save the Chapter. No matter what it takes."

Later, I talked with the Lion. He was not surprised.

"I heard from the Watchers."

I was surprised. "They talk to you, My Lord?"

"Only for information. I know that some of the Circle, mainly the Chaplaincy, are not happy with my changes. I will have to convince them or... remove them from positions of authority. In my opinion, zealots like Asmodai have risen too far. Especially those that revere my father as a God."

"My Lord?"

"The Church has gained too much power. That will have to be amended when I return from the Crusade. I will have to convince Vulkan, Dorn, and Guilliman to place me in a position where I can amend their areas of power and influence. Especially with the Adeptus Sororitas. That is a faction that must be expunged in the event of a Civil War."

"You suspect the Adeptus Ministorum may attempt a coup on Regent Vulkan?"

"After Roboute returned, former members of the Council of Terra and current members he appointed attempted a coup against him. Of course, Roboute being Roboute, he had planned for such an eventuality. It was stopped thanks to people he'd placed on the inside. However, I will do my best to be more subtle and more effective. I will make sure that we are never betrayed again. This is a second chance for us, Azrael. I will not waste it by becoming complacent."

"Very good indeed, Lord El'Jonson. Now... there is something else. Third Company has been-"

"Executing our allies, sacrificed or outright murdered Primaris Marines, and have had dealings with Xenos in the past. Yes... a shame that. I also know that a lot of my Firstborn sons are not happy with the Primaris. Do you count yourself among those, Azrael?"

I swallowed. There was truly nothing The Lion did not know about his Chapter. No secrets could be kept from him. So I decided to answer honestly. "To be honest... They make me uneasy. They are useful and they are true brothers, but they do not have the experience we have. They have not fought in the shadows to protect the Imperium and the Chapter as we have. They have not bled as we have. They are... Too new."

"And you envy that they are closer to me in genetics than you are."

I nodded. "Yes, Lord El'Jonson."

He smiled at me. It was... calming. "Do not worry. You are all my sons. I do not favor one over the other. The Primaris may be new, but you are the elder brother. It is the duty of the eldest to look after and guide his younger brothers. That is your task, Azrael. Who knows, one day a Primaris may be Supreme Grand Master."

That also made me uneasy. But I nodded. "I will inform the Company Masters. You are right, My Lord. We must prepare them for the wars ahead."

I bowed and turned to leave. "Azrael?" I turned back and faced him. His look had hardened. "I am not against keeping secrets. However, I expect honesty from my sons. If I ask a question, I want an honest answer. A kept secret is one thing, but a lie when the truth is plain... that is one of the worst crimes. Never. Lie. To me. Understand?" I bowed to him again.

"I understand... Father."

It was over Korudai when things came to a head. For weeks, there had been rumblings in the ranks of the Militarum. Word had spread of Third Company's treachery and it had come to a boiling point. Conflict between allies was inevitable. The Lion knew, of course.

"This has to be fought. Let them battle it out. The treacherous elements will be weeded out and we will take action."

"Then we are not to reinforce the Company?"

"No. Gabrael and Zaeroph did this to themselves. I will deal with them in my own time, but for now... I have business on Korudai's moon with someone... Someone I have not seen in centuries."

My eyes widened. "Luther? Is he here?"

He shook his head. "No. But it is someone who has something of mine that... I have missed. The last piece of my past I have yet to regain."

After landfall was made, we made for the moon. The Lion, Sammael, Asmodai, Ezekiel, and myself. Armed and ready, we waited for the Lion's visitor. Finally, he arrived. A hooded figure wearing an ancient backpack from the days of the Heresy. Chained to his backpack was a massive broadsword. Too large a sword for even a Space Marine, but just big enough for a Primarch. We all pointed our weapons at him. This man was one of the Chapter's most wanted. One who had existed since the days of the Heresy. One whose name was never known to anyone except, possibly, the Lion himself. One of the few of the Fallen who had escaped capture more than any other prisoner of the Rock. Cypher. But the Lion spoken another name.

"Zahariel. Is that you?"

Cypher stared at the Lion from under the hood, his eyes hidden from view. "Zahariel is dead. There is only Cypher."

"Enough of this charade. Is that you, Zahariel?"

Cypher did not answer his question. Instead, he undid the chains holding the Lion Sword to his backpack and let it drop. It looked like work had been done to it. It looked... refined. Not that of an ancient blade, broken in battle with Luther. Cypher fell to one knee. "I hoped to present this to the Emperor to gain absolution and forgiveness, my Lord. But you... You will need this more than I."

"You do not have it. A sword cannot undo the betrayal you played a part in, Cypher. But I will not kill you this day. Now... where is Luther."

Cypher spoke in his flat monotone. "He is not here, My Lord. But he wishes to speak with you." He produced what looked like a miniature hololith projector from behind him and threw it in front of the Lion. Before we could do anything, the Lion held up a hand.

"Let it play."

The projector came to life and from it was a projection of a man. A man with gray hair, shaved close to the scalp. His face and, I knew for a fact that his entire body, was covered in scars. It was a face every Supreme Grand Master knew. I had spoken with this man many times since I became the Chapter Master of the Dark Angels. Luther. The betrayer. The First of the Fallen. He smiled at El'Jonson.

"My old friend. You live again. I am so happy to see you again."

"Luther. You have aged. But you look well for one who has endured 10,000 years of torture."

"Yes. I heard you put a stop to that. And you are not killing anymore of your lost sons. Mercy? Perhaps?"

"Not all of them. Only you and Marbas will die. You will die for betraying me and the Imperium and Marbas will die because he is an abomination."

Luther laughed. "I never betrayed the Imperium. You cannot betray that which you never believed in. I believed in you though. Even after you banished me as punishment for saving your life, a part of me always believed in you. Believed that one day you would see the light."

"And what light would that be?"

"That the Imperium was a mistake. That is should not have come to Caliban! Caliban never needed the Emperor or his Imperium! We were fine on our own! Because of the Imperium, Caliban was lost! And so were you..."

The Lion picked up the Lion Sword and tightened his grip on the hilt. Despite his calm demeanor, he was furious. "I did not banish you as punishment. I sent you home for the reason I told you: To prepare new soldiers for the First Legion! And the Imperium was and still is necessary. We need to stand together against the powers of the Warp! And Caliban was doomed either way. It could not be saved. It was too close to the Warp, too close to Chaos. The only one at fault was you for being so weak as to fall into its spell."

Luther laughed like a maniac. Millennia of torture can break even the strongest of minds. "Don't play the routine of the Noble Knight with me, El'Jonson. And don't act like you ever truly believed in the Imperium. I know why you truly left. You wanted it for yourself. That is why you delayed returning to Terra. You wanted to see who would win so you could take the winning side. Horus or the Emperor. Either one would be a suitable puppet for you to dispose of when you were ready. And don't act like you did not delay. I know what you are. I know you better than you know yourself. I named you! I was more your father than the EMPEROR EVER WAS!"

He was raving now, spittle flying from his mouth as he ranted at the Lion. El'Jonson, Emperor bless him, was not intimidated. "And what am I, Luther? What am I exactly?"

"A savage. You always were. You are just a good actor that pretends he is more than that. Just as Russ puts on the mask of a beast, you put on the mask of a knight. You pretend to be better when you are no better than me. A murderer of kin, a backstabber, and a secret keeper. You are no different than me and that is why I want you back, El'Jonson. Back with me and the Fallen Legion. Marbas and I are gathering your sons and with you by our side, we will be more feared than the Black Legion is! No more hiding in the shadows. We will show them what we always were! And you can have a place in it."

The Lion smiled at this. He chuckled. "10,000 years imprisonment have rotted your mind, Luther. I will never join you. I will kill you. I will redeem or end the threat of the Fallen once and for all. And you are wrong. I did not delay on purpose."

"Then you mean to tell me that you are not planning to usurp Vulkan?!"

"Unlike you, I do not betray family. We are nothing alike. I will impale you on this sword and present your head to my father. Only then will my mistakes be undone. I am coming for you, Luther. Remember that."

Luther stared at the Lion before replying. "I still know the real you, El'Jonson. You are and always will be a savage. Remember that." El'Jonson crushed the disc underfoot and turned to where Cypher had been, but the Fallen was gone. El'Jonson turned to us.

"We must return to Korudai. We need to end the conflict and the work of Third Company once and for all."

He called up to the Rock to have us teleported to the site of the battle and in seconds we stood among the combatants with the Lion towering over 3rd Company Master Gabrael. While I knew their names only sounded similar, the fact that a treacherous coward like Gabrael had a name similar to a hero like former Deathwing Grand Master Gabriel was something I could not countenance. I watched with satisfaction as he groveled before the Lion. I saw fear in his eyes and it sickened me.

"M-My Lord, I assure you... All we did, we did for the Chapter. We could not risk outsiders finding out the truth!"

"Is that why you had my sons killed, Gabrael? Is that why you worked with Xenos like the Tau? Yes, I knew all that you had done. That you did it is as grave a crime as lying to me. That you felt you could keep secrets from me in my own Chapter is arrogance I cannot abide. For your treachery, your existence will be expunged from Chapter Records. Your deeds and honors forgotten. Your life... gone. And the Primaris will have Third Company instead of your men. Remember that." And thus he brought down the Lion Sword and severed Gabrael's neck.

After that, the rest of the conspirators were pardoned and Third Company given to the Primaris as he said he would. He asked forgiveness from Commissar Cain and the others and they gave it. Even Asmodai begged forgiveness from the Lion for doubting him. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that El'Jonson had truly been playing a long game. The treacherous elements of our Chapter had been brought to light and purged or had repented to him. The Chapter was no longer The Circle's. It was truly his. Loyalty had been assured.

It was later when he called me into his chambers that I learned more about the Lion. "Luther was right about one thing, Azrael. There is still a savage part inside of me. Did I really have to kill Gabrael to insure the loyalty of zealots like Asmodai? I do not know. Though I am loathe to admit it, there is a part of me that is similar to Russ in that way. We are brothers after all."

"My Lord, you are not a savage. You may have started out that way, but you are the Lion. You are the first born of the Primarchs. The Emperor's oldest son. No one, no matter what titles they may hold, be it Regent or Lord Commander, can take that away from you."

He smiled at me and turned to face the Void as the fleet moved to the next planet. "Perhaps. But we will see."

As I said, I am not a monster. Though we may have to do terrible things to further our goals, I know in my soul that I am no monster. A monster cannot feel remorse as a man does. But as I am more than a man, I can fight past the remorse with the knowledge that what we do is for the good of the Chapter and the Imperium. A Dark Angel's strength is to take the burden of his sins and carry that for the rest of his days. I am not a monster. I am a Dark Angel and I can live with my sins with the knowledge that those sins are committed with the good of the Imperium in mind.

End log of Supreme Grand Master Azrael.

Author's note:

And thus concludes the Dark Angels story arc. I know I said I was going back to Ghosts of Istvaan V last time, but I decided I had to finish this up first. I hope you guys enjoyed it and my revenge against Phil Kelly for wasting my time with "War of Secrets" and its very unlikable characters. I'm sure others liked it, but I am definitely not one of them. I may have gotten some details from that book wrong, but I don't have the energy to go back to verify them. That is how little I really like "War of Secrets".

Lion El'Jonson is a character I have mixed feelings about in the same way I have mixed feelings about Batman. Sometimes a character can be "Too mysterious" or "Too prepared for anything" to the point where it feels like nothing can surprise them or affect them. But I do like the moral ambiguity that El'Jonson finds himself in and how he chooses to face it. So overall I hope I made a compelling story for you all, Dear Readers. Thank you for reading.