A/N- The layout of this chapter is deliberate. I have intentionally omitted names and even most actions such as movement, a change in tone of voice, facial expressions and character names have been excluded. I will come back to this chapter at a later point as it will be addressed later in the story. Those who read this chapter might get frustrated but please be patient as there is a plan behind it.

Interlude- Interrogations

(15 years ago-Island, Sea of Sorrows)

"You've been here fifteen years now; do you think that anyone you know will find you here?"

Breathing could be heard. A few taps on a table broke the tense silence.

"They'll figure it out eventually. They'll have to sooner or later."

"Why is that? Even if they think you're alive, what makes you think they'll come to get you?"

"They'll come for two reasons. One, a cataclysm is about to happen, and two, they'll figure out that he is here."

The sound of tapping feet could be heard.

"So, you speak of a cataclysm. Do you know what will happen or how it can be stopped?"

"No. Unless I knew the circumstances behind it or heard the rumours or legends about it, I would not know how to stop the cataclysm that befalls our world, assuming that there is indeed one coming."

"I know you and I know that you know about a great number of potential world ending events. You were even at the epicentre of a massive near disaster many years ago."

"You're of course referring to the Age of Sigmar event. Son, what if I told you it has already happened in another universe. One where we're not around and because me and him were not around to stop it, the end times finally happened. Of course, in that universe, James Jack Potter didn't trigger it but the heroes of old returned and the world fell into ruin."

"You stopped it happening in this one but what was the cost? Massive losses of life, the huge number of natural disasters that happened when the world expanded as a result..."

"The whole of this universe expanded, not just the world. Besides it was better that happened."

"You don't care about the people who died, do you?"

"Better they died that way than being killed in the destruction of the world. In any case Son, it is a universal fact of life that everyone dies. It doesn't matter if it's by the gun, the ravages of time or the unpredictable actions of Mother Nature."

"You've lived so long I question whether you can really die anymore."

"I'll die at some point. No resurrections, no regenerations, nothing! All I want to do to before that happens is make sure that the world is one and leave a legacy that people can look up to."

"You've done a lot of bad things over the course of your life. Where do I begin? The countless massacres of enemy civilians and combatants, the use of underage children to breed soldiers, the numerous unethical experiments..."

"That's the human in you. Name me a civilisation that hasn't massacred that of another at one point in its history. You'll find it is a universal way of life. As for the use of children in breeding more Greenskins, I don't consider that a crime. Just because they're children doesn't mean they can't help the war effort and I think that is the best way to get the most out of them. I made sure that they were kept as healthy as possible during the pregnancies."

"Why is it only Outer Heaven and its splinter factions and their allies that consider using children as young as two or three to be acceptable? Everyone else would not even contemplate the idea."

"It is the best use of them. War makes the most unpalatable of ideas palatable. I can also tie this to the point you raised about the experiments I carried out. War drives necessity, necessity drives progress, progress drives advancement, advancement drives evolution. Thanks to me, some humans have begun the next stage of evolution."

"It is abhorrent. It's not evolution, just a cruel and unusual torture."

"I would consider a number of other things unusual. Not because I'm against it but because I don't understand them. I've heard some say it is reclaiming their truth but could it be that they're really running away from their truth?"

"I assume you're referring to some of the things that humans have been doing for the last god-knows how many years?"

"I am. I am probably just ignorant but the way I see it is like this. I look human, I can act human, I can move like a human but I am most definitely not a human."

"You say you don't understand those people but maybe you understand them better than you realise."

Light breathing is heard alongside a finger tapping on a table.

"Maybe but the way I see it is this. I was born an Orc, was experimented on to look human but am I then a human myself? No, I am an Orc and it doesn't matter what I look like, I am still an Orc at the end of the day and nothing will change that."

"Maybe, maybe not. I reckon that with you, the point might be moot anyway."

"Explain?"

"You've been resurrected so many times and in so many ways that calling you an Greenskin at all might not be correct anymore, let alone a Orc." Silence reigned for a few moments. "Ultimately, it doesn't matter what you think of their truth, they know their truth and you know yours, regardless of whether you're correct or not."

"Do they? Do they know their truth?"

"Something tells me from the tone of your voice that you're either planning something or you've already done something in one of your past bodies."

"You're the interrogator, Son. I'm your prisoner, guest, whatever you want to call me. It would be 'your' truth after all and it's your job to find out."

"You don't think there's a cataclysm coming anytime soon, do you?"

"No. Neither does he. I'm sure you'll be wanting to speak with me, him or both of us later or tomorrow."

"You'd be correct." The scraping of a chair followed by footsteps and the sound of a door opening can be heard. "Father..."

"Yes?"

Silence reigned once more for another minute. "I find that some things don't make sense to me either."

"Good to know that I'm alone in being befuddled by some topics."

(30 years ago-Island, Sea of Sorrows)

"Who are you? Why did you come to this island?"

"Don't you recognise me?"

"No. Why should I? You're a total stranger."

"Well I recognise you. I also recognise your wife, sister and brother in law."

"How? I remember every face at our weddings. We had them on neutral territories."

"I was at both the weddings. Yours... and your sister's."

"Who exactly are you? I might have you shot just so we can keep this place secret."

"So I've changed again. I wonder what he's like then?"

"You mean your companion? He's in a coma. Suffered serious body trauma although magic is keeping him stabilised."

"You didn't recognise him either?"

"No, His face was too bloody to see details. He's with the medics now."

"Well it's understandable considering that only about a day or two ago, we had been fighting in Kislev."

"What?!"

"Aren't you going to say hi to your old man?"

"That means...?"

"Yes, the man with the medics is your father in law."

"Why are the pair of you here?"

"A massive artillery barrage burst around us, imbedding shrapnel in the pair of us, I used the last of my strength and power reserves to get us out of there. I then used some of the energy from my regeneration to heal Harry as best as I could."

"Why would you allow an enemy you had been fighting to live?"

"Because it would have been a senseless waste to let him die. He still has a part to play yet."

"I should let the other three know who exactly we have here."

"Yes, you should. Now, I need to get to a bed. I am exhausted and I need to adjust to my new body."

(10 years ago- Island, Sea of Sorrows)

The sound of someone sitting down on a bench can be heard. Someone is already sitting on it.

"So it's been twenty years to the day since you arrived here. How does it feel to be away from Mum?"

"It's tough sometimes but it's nothing I haven't done before. I still remember a period when I didn't see her for close to two and a half thousand years thanks to lots of people."

"Including him?"

"Especially him. Despite all that though, I think I understand him in some ways. Without him, I would never have found out about some ways of fighting or found out about some legends. I almost certainly would never have started a mercenary army and would still probably be in the Ministry of Magic almost every day."

"You know he pranked some of the female patients earlier?"

"What happened?"

"He shrunk their underwear rendering them unwearable and cut some flaps so they'd show their breasts."

"I swear, ever since he rewatched all eight series of House, he has become a serial prankster."

"He'll tire out eventually. He is after all technically a prisoner so we can try and remove things from his part of your room."

"Good luck with that. He'll just push back even harder. None of you saw the other day but he kept annoying one of the nurses by throwing nuts down the front of her uniform."

"That explains why she was complaining about him but then kept becoming embarrassed when we pressed her for details."

"I think the thing we need to remember is that he and others have no concept of sexual harassment or ideas about what should or should not be done regarding sex. He regards it as just an activity that everyone does, especially to keep bloodlines going and to fuel the war effort."

"My Husband and my sister in law do."

"You forget my little princess that they're part human and had spent time with some charities before they married you and your brother."

A comfortable silence lingers for several minutes.

"Dad, do you know how many children you have now as a result of living in this combined universe?"

"Don't know to tell you the truth. The only ones I can remember consistently are James, Albus, Lily and Emma Rosetta. I sometime think should just start naming them as numbers because I don't remember all the names of my children. It's one of the worst things about living for a long time and having lots of children. They just start becoming another brick in the wall. I try to be the best father I can be but it just makes me feel terrible that I don't know their names."

The sound of a small giggle is heard.

"Well if you're having trouble with all of us, I think he has bigger problems, he's got more children than you do and he can only remember so much."

"You're probably right about that. I might just ask him about them and see if he can list them all."

"Tell me how that goes. I'd think I would get a kick out of it."

"Don't worry; you'll be the first to know."

A comfortable silence reigns once more for a few minutes.

"I must say, I've never seen the two of you get on so well."

"I think that's because we're both enjoying this... retirement as he likes to call it. I think we're going to need to head back into the world sooner or later and pick up where we left off though."

"If you do go back into the world, what's to say you'll be picking up where you left off? You could be forced to start over or made to see what the world is like when that time comes."

"If that happens, I'll take the situation as it comes. I'll persevere, I always do."

"So does he."

An uncomfortable silence lingered for a few moments before the silence was broken once more.

"I want to say something to you."

"Which is?"

"Just because he's here and away from his empire, doesn't mean he can't act. If I know him, and I do, he'll be a Cipher; he'll act without anyone knowing."

"We've got him under very close surveillance, He can't get away to do anything."

"I never said he had to leave here in order to act. He could still be found if someone looks hard enough."

"We would know about someone coming to meet him."

"I'm sure you would."

"That was so sarcastic Dad."

"I can't help it. You've never really been around him like I have."

"Want me to continue the interrogation or shall I leave it for now?"

"I didn't realise this was an interrogation."

"It's an interrogation when we decide that this was an interrogation."

"I'm guessing that this conversation has been recorded then?"

"Of course it has. All conversations with high ranking prisoners or officials are recorded. That includes interrogations."

A moment of silence broke out again before more talking broke out.

"I think we should leave it there. I want to think about things out here."

"Very well."

The conversation ended and a person can be heard walking away. The remaining person sighed as he began thinking about events gone by.

A/N- I hope you have enjoyed this chapter but I will completely understand if this chapter makes you frustrated or bemused. Please review.