Early 36th Millennium, dawn of the Plague of Unbelief
The Abalatian Reach
High orbit over Abalus
Scholomance, Blackstone Fortress and the fabled nest of the Cosmic Serpent
After the battle had ended, Scholomance left its place of hiding in the Deep Reach and journeyed to each of the four worlds which had been a seat for the Ritual. And at each world, first at Maxell, followed by Ryazon and Voron, and ending with Abalus itself, the Blackstone structure released a giant lance strike of psychic energy at Basil's command. A strike that rained down upon the specially designed Astropathic Choir Chambers, destroying them utterly as it left a great crater, scores of kilometres across. After the lance strike against the Choir Chamber of Abalus, Scholomance proceeded to destroy each of the voidships remaining in orbit over the world. All save tow, the Artemis and Bellerophon's Fist. The Black Ship and Inquisitorial Cruiser each docked with the massive Blackstone structure.
Those who were called left their vessel and entered the ancient nest of the Cosmic Serpent. Attalus was called from the Artemis while Ansgar, Sirsay, and Draegoth received their psychic summons from Bellerophon's Fist. Gideon joined the latter when informed by Sirsay that his presence had been 'requested' also.
On they walked through the narrow maze of burrows, following the lead of the summons as if the way had been lit by fixtures just for that purpose. With each step, Sirsay grew more nervous until she could no longer keep her questions and emotions to herself. Did it happen? Sirsay psychically asked Draegoth. Did you feel the power? It was so immense. Is our work complete? Has He been reborn?
I do not know, Draegoth answered.
As the psychic thought from Draegoth entered Sirsay's mind they stepped out of a burrow and into an enormous chamber. Many Inquisitorial Stormtroopers were scattered about but Sirsay did not notice them. Her cybernetic eyes focused elsewhere. In the middle of the chamber a spire twisted down from the arched ceiling high above and ended just short of a Throne of similar black stone that sat upon a hexagonal dais. And on that Throne sat Basil. Only he barely resembled himself. Gone was the boy and in its place was a giant figure, easily four metres tall and with the build of a Space Marine. A figure dressed in a massive suit of armor emblazoned across its chest with a golden Inquisitorial Seal, the High Gothic numeral "I" crossed by three bars. Basil appearing before her in the form of a Primarch was shocking enough but she saw more for she was gifted with psychic sight. She saw his soul. It burned like a Sun and although she recognized his human features, Sirsay saw other features too. Aeldari features.
I believe the answer to your question is no, Draegoth psychically told her. He is not the Emperor reborn. But, more importantly, what now?
Sirsay said nothing as she stared at the being before her, instantly recognizing that he had heard Draegoth as if the Inquisitor had spoken aloud. She had a feeling that nothing they said, or thought, within the chamber would go unnoticed.
"We have much to do," Basil said aloud. He glanced at the Apothecary and then spoke to Ansgar and Attalus. "I have shown Fynn how to remove the Aeldari sequences from my genome and the facilities here are more than adequate. I can serve as an all but unlimited supply of genetic material for the rebuilding of the Void Spectres."
"Thank you, my Lord," the two Void Spectres reflexively answered in unison.
Sirsay stared at the Techmarine and Librarian. Matthias said the Inquisition ordered the Void Spectres be created from the geneseed of the XVI Legion so as to not have any interference in their control from a Primarch or Daemon Primarch, she reminded herself. And yet here we are anyway. But Basil Cadmus appears to be so much more than that. She laughed to herself. So much more than a Primarch. I could not ever have imagined thinking such words.
"Attalus," Basil said. "There is much to research here within Scholomance and on Ceg Y Neidr. The latter world contains both a considerable number of artefacts of technology from the Great Crusade as well as from a psychic species known as the Slann. Do you believe this Sergei will be able to aid you in restoring these items? Are you ready to drop those foolish strictures of the Mechanicus which are preventing mankind from advancing?"
"Yes, my Lord," the Techmarine answered.
"Sirsay, Draegoth," Basil snapped. "First, we must immediately raise Moneka Joku to full status as an Inquisitor and the fortress being built upon Cassius 6 will remain our seat of power…other than Scholomance, that is. Second, we must integrate the various settlements of the Reach. Ensure they answer to us. This will include Parm and Chudovo along with the many other settled planets of the Habalus cluster as well as the settled worlds of the Dacian Cluster. Eventually, we will settle throughout the vast network of the Webway which Scholomance has given us access to. And third, we will interact with the Aeldari of the Reach in a cooperative manner. This includes those of craftworld Rubha Àird Driseig, the Aelion corsairs, and the Exodite populations of the many maiden worlds scattered throughout the Reach. These three proclamations are non-negotiable. Have I made myself clear?"
"Yes, Inquisitor Cadmus," she answered and reflexively curtsied to her dismay. What will history say of our heresy? Sirsay asked herself. Her thoughts turned to Moneka Joku and her claims of having received visions while standing before the Emperor. Is it heresy?