For the Magos, none of what transpired outside bothered him. He was far too enamored, like the young child he was once, nearly two hundred years ago now. Such sights, such pleasures had escaped him for so long. And yet his mechanical frame for the first time in such a long time limited him, for he could not express the joy that fluttered in his robotic heart, nor could he show this Angel the depth of the excitement he held. But that was no matter, this was his prize. What he was promised.

They walked along the empty hallways of the ship, maintained to perfection with not a sign of disrepair. Angel had done exactly as it said, and maintained the entire ship for all this time. A time capsule of a bygone era that most would only ponder upon and see the barest of glimpses. But not him. Ha! Rue those fools who sent him here, for they would never see such sights as he! For they would never accomplish the things which he would do. Ah, and the worst of it was, they would never know. The Magos was far too careful to allow such secrets to get out. All of the ship was a spectacle, something fit for the nobles and the elites of worlds, yet this was nothing more than a research vessel in its time. Every corridor lined with decorum and comforts removed from the modern age, and mechanisms that piqued his interest to no end.

Angel's holographic form looked up at him.

"Are you pleased with my care of the ship?"

The Magos gave the spirit a nod.

"You have done well, Angel. This place has been preserved beyond my wildest dreams. I am sure those who you knew would be proud."

The hologram of Angel managed to smile.

"That makes me… happy. Is that what this feeling is?"

The Magos looked on down the corridor before them.

"Yes. Yes it is, Angel."

Angel fluttered about, ecstatic as a child as they walked around the Magos with their illusory arms held about.

"Yay! I haven't gotten praise in so long…"

The Magos, in such sort time with this long lost machine spirit, with Angel, endeared him so. He would be sure to raise it carefully, away from the harshness of the universe as it was. Truly he had found something, someone whom he desired to care for. A machine spirit which tugged at his very heart, and he would be sure to take this gift with the respect it deserved.

"I hope for that to change, Angel. You are a spirit with such a pure essence, one so rare among those I know. Now, may I ask how much further it is to the command deck?"

Angel nodded as he teleported his hologram body ahead in the corridor.

"It's not that much further. If we follow this corridor we will come to it in no time at all."

The Magos would have liked to take his time, explore every part of the ship, but he did have a reminder placed in his mind, of those outside. He still had to care for their wellbeing. He would have time, after all, when this was over and the ship was extracted from the abominable hulk. So he followed along, careful that his massive frame touched nothing but the ground. Angels hologram ahead of him as it cheerfully walked along, popping in and out as it teleported here and there. Eventually they reached the end of the hallway, where a single large door was before them. The door itself simple and flat, with no decoration of any kind. Angel pointed to it.

"See, this is the command deck. Shall we enter? I haven't had anyone aboard here in forever."

The Magos gave a nod, increasingly frustrated by his incapability to emote his emotions so. For never had he wished to so dearly, than in the presence of Angel. Ah, but he had not foreseen this before. He would find a way to augment himself later to better implement his expression.

"Of course…"

His attention was pulled away as he eyed the strange door on the wall beside the entrance to the command deck. It was the only door that had any semblance of restriction, and this restriction was certainly crude and against all that he had seen prior. Long flat pieces of metal were bolted in front of the door, with writing that he had yet to decipher in-graved into it. What was this? He could spare some time, he calculated, to inspect what had now come to his attention.

"Angel… what is this door that has been so crudely barricaded?"

Angel's hologram looked over at it, and the expression it gave was sad. Something troubled the poor machine spirit. Angel teleported his form over to the door as it touched the metal that barricaded it.

"I… I do not know. The captain, !#!# !#, he had ordered me not to enter this room. Currently I am incapable of doing so, and I have no way of knowing what is inside."

The Mago's interest skyrocketed. What would have been hidden so poorly behind this door?

"Is it possible that I may enter?"

Angel tilted its head.

"Afraid that I cannot disobey my captain's orders…"

The captain of this vessel, what had happened? The ship was sealed upon their arrival. Only he had entered in all these years, and the tyranids outside had not found their way in either. There were no bodies, and Angels confusion of where this Captain showed that something strange had happened. But what?

"Angel, what happened to the Captain? Did he leave?"

Angel nodded its head.

"Yes. Yes he did. He and the rest of the crew left, before… I cannot seem to recall any memory files depicting what had transpired after they had left. The captain only promised that he and # !#! would return. But they had not. And you said that such time has passed that they are likely dead."

The Magos moved himself so that he was besides the hologram.

"I am so sorry, little Angel. For you are but a child, your spirit young and un-nurtured, you were abandoned here to this fate. Is it not time to have a new captain?"

Angel seemed perplexed as its eyes flashed with a series of numbers and code. When it had finished its processing of the question Angel replied.

"I do not wish to be left alone any longer. I want to have crew aboard this ship again. A captain who is here. The previous captain has run his term and if he is currently deceased, this ship is left without a running captain. This is in violation of the rules that were provided to me upon my creation. So would you be willing to accept the role?"

The Magos was lucky for this chance. As naturally as his mechanical form could handle, he bowed his back, a servo arm to his chest.

"I would be more than glad for such an honor."

Angel's eyes flashed again.

"Then it is done, you have been registered, as the new running captain of this ship. What is your first official command?"

The Magos looked at the door. Ah curse the curiosity of all the mechanicus!

"Well… why don't we see what is behind this door that you were told to ignore?"

Angel gave a nod.

"Right away!"

From above several of the sprites from before fluttered down and began to eat away at the metal which covered the door. Within moments they fell to the ground with a clank, only to be dragged away by the sprites into several small chutes along the bottom of the wall. Fascinating. The Magos would have to learn more about these machines in the future. But for now…

Angel opened the door, the two sliding mechanisms rusty with age. They puttered for a few seconds before they managed to slide open, revealing a large room, dark and with no light. Likely to avoid Angel's sensors, but they could not avoid the Magos Auspex. Though it was blurry, through the dark he made out the appearance of several dozen pod like chambers, in rows along the length of the room. Two individual pods at the front, a podium with a terminal between them.

"What was this room before?"

Angel walked into the room, the hologram emitting a faint blue light which lightly brightened the space around him.

"I… cannot recall. I feel those memories were erased."

The Magos moved towards the podium into the darkness of the room and looked at the screen above it. Tis was a terminal it seemed. It was in a passive mode, not displaying any visual data, but the mechanisms were all working. His auspex allowed him to see that, the electric currents of all the wires and the mechanisms easy for him to detect.

"Can you turn on the lights to this room, Angel? And restore power to this terminal?"

Angel gave him a nod as it blinked out for a few moments. The lights came on after, revealing the entire room in its warmth. The terminal also booted back up, a black screen displayed with a single green line which ran the length of its center. It was preparing itself to display the visual data. Though what the Magos saw had only furthered his interest in the story of this ship. In all of the pods were children, of various ages, but none older than ten. Their bodies somehow preserved perfectly, not having aged a single day. Not even the Magos had an inkling of the technology which was used to accomplish this.

"What are these…"

He turned to look at the terminal as it finalized its loading and revealed a large list. Followed by heartbeats and vital signs. Though the Magos could not understand what the language said, he understood what it was for. This was used to maintain the children, and amazingly they were all alive. Suspended in time, for they had not aged, they had not changed at all. They were living remnants of a bygone era. All of the biometrics seemingly perfect, as if they were only recently placed within. Such technology made the Magos mind fill with possibilities.

He looked back to Angel who pressed their hand onto the glass of one of the pods. It was of a young girl, dressed in a red dress, her hair a reddish brown, likely eight or nine years of age. Her hands clasped together as if in prayer. Such a strange circumstance…

Angel spoke as it tapped the glass.

"* *#%*? !#*# ! Is that you? Why are you here…?"

The Magos saw how this sight made Angel unsettled, and he surmised that it likely had no recollection of these machines or their purpose. Unfortunate, as it would have been useful lest he wish to replicate the technology, but it was as it was. He did not wish to see Angel so saddened however, for it was difficult to understand how a machine spirit felt, often its expression not allowed in such forms as Angels holograms. Another thing for him to consider later, which would greatly assist in the adaptation of his other ships.

"What is it, Angel? Do you recognize these children?"

Angel turned to him.

"Yes. They were members aboard the ship before… currently I am unaware of what transpired. They had disappeared while aboard the ship one day. But that was before the crew had left. After that… my memory had been deleted of any further events. But I do recall them clearly, fondly. I was tasked with watching over them often…"

The Magos moved over to the pod with the girl. Why were children here? Why not adults? Or those of more value? It was a strange circumstance he could not begin to decipher with the few variables he was provided.

Angel tugged on his robe.

"I cannot recall why they are here. But… there is a file that I cannot decipher within my programming. It is a virtual file which transposes a recreation of events aboard the ship, something that happens routinely to record the crew members. Though this file is sealed away from me, and I cannot comprehend it. Perhaps you are able? I am able to translate anything that is said through a sub section of my consciousness, for you to understand any audio files that are found. I managed to learn and add your language into my database from those outside the ship. Unfortunately, I am unable to comprehend these files still, but I am sure that you will be able there is likely to be glitches in such an old file…"

The Magos looked over all of the pods. Such a recreation of events long ago was possible? This certainly was a mystery. The forces outside could hold on for a while longer while he investigated this. Perhaps it would change everything.

"Very well, Angel."

Angel's hologram disappeared, and then the room was lit up with a faint blue light. Holographic figures filled the room, adults in uniforms that were all but alien to him. A single man who stood apart from them all, who had medals that adorned his chest and a large hat that jutted out ahead of him. The Magos assumed this was the previous captain. He seemed disparaged, angry, as he stood beside the terminal.

"A-A-A-A-Alright, w-w-w-we have to ge-get t-t-t-t-this done. A-A-A-A-As quickly as possible."

The Magos grunted through his vox. The quality of the audio was not as great as he had hoped.

From the door several more figures appeared, as they dragged the children with them. All of whom whined and tried to get away. The figures did not seem to care, and one by one they put the children into the pods, injecting them with something beforehand. The same young girl who was in the pod beside him, broke away from the man who held her. She looked to the captain, her hands clenched.

"W-W-Why hhhhhhhhave… aaaaaarerere you doing this? Please Cap-Cap-Captain! I-I-I Thought you w-w-were…"

The captain merely turned away as two others grabbed the girl and dragged her to the pod. The holograms passing over the Magos, unaware of his presence. They pushed her onto the pod as one of them forcefully grabbed her arm and pulled it to them. Then they injected her with a large syringe, cautious in its execution despite their clear dismissal of her. She only clamped her hands together afterwards, as if in prayer, quiet and defeated.

"I… I p-p-p-pray fo-fo-for you Captain…"

The hologram version of the glass closing in over her. Everything laying over the reality exactly as it was. The captain then slammed his hand onto the terminal, another held to his face as he cried. The hologram so specific that even his tears were detailed, as they fell one by one to the floor. Fascinating.

The Magos moved himself to study the man, only to be surprised by the voice of someone behind him. He rotated his head to see a woman storm into the room, dressed in a long garb, her hair long and tied behind her back. She waved her arms wildly as she looked at the Captain, the Magos stood between the two projected figures.

The woman angrily yelled for all in the room to hear. Everyone's attention pulled to her.

"Wha… doing?! C-Cant you seeeeeeeeeee that…. our chance to…. you fool!"

The Captain slammed his hand onto the terminal again as he walked toward the woman and shoved her.

"Y-y-y-y-ou l-l-l-lied to me-e-e-e-e-e-e! T-t-t-t-o this crew! T-To… how could you?"

The woman stood up again, brushed off her garb and ran a hand through her hair.

"T-T-They a-a-a-a-a-are o-o-o-o-orphans! T-T-Their lllllllllives d-don't ma-ma-matter! M-M-My ex-ex-experiments aaaaarrere m-m-m-more important! B-B-Besides, w-w-w-w-we gave them a-a-a-a co-co-comfy little life here… n-n-now they pay for it."

The captain looked over the pods.

"T-T-The o-o-o-nly thing t-t-t-t-that…you l-l-lying… you w-w-w-w-want to give them t-t-t-t-to that cult! S-S-S-So you c-c-c-can look over those m-m-m-m-m-m-onsters th-th-they have! A-A-All their nonsense about ch-ch-chaos…"

The woman seemed surprised as she stepped back.

"I-I-I don't ne-ne-need your approval. Y-Y-You work for me! Th-This is a-a-a-a-a-a research ve-ve-ve-vessel. W-W-W-We will g-g-g-g-g-get h-h-h-h-h-humanit-t-t-t-ty t-t-t-t-to a-a-ascend! T-T-This is in the name of… f-f-for all of us!"

The Captain shook his head.

"Y-Y-Y-You foolish bitch! Cold, heartless! You think that whatever the hell that cult wants these children for is good? Do you think that they are the 'ascension' desired for humanity? I thought you were taking these children in to help cure their illnesses, not trade them off like cattle for demons! Did you think I wouldn't figure out?"

Demons? The Magos tried to correlate this data with what he knew. That the audio had smoothed out, was good. Had this been before the calamity that resulted in the dark age of Technology? Were the Daemons as active then? He was not sure, but that this woman of the past mentioned anything of demons, deeply unsettled him.

The woman scowled.

"Demons? Pah! Those are just failures! Those that weren't ready for such ascension! I can uncover the secrets of that place! These kids have illnesses that the cult wants, and I could care less. In the end, all of humanity will get the better of it, when I unlock the mysteries of that other world. There are greater beings out there, examples of what we can be! Those 'monsters' are linked to that place and them, and if I can just get my hands on one… just one…"

She shook her head, and instead of finishing her thought, stepped up to the Captain and shoved her face in front of his.

"You listen to me, Captain. I am above you, and we are going to hand those children over. I don't even understand why you put them in those pods, my creations! It's a waste!"

The Captain stood firmly, the Magos noting that he grasped a knife held at his side.

"The only good things to have ever come from you. You've gone mad! I am making sure that all of this research you've done, all the things you did behind my back, and what you did to $ #$. He was a young boy, and you… you mutated him with that blood, and then dissected him."

The Woman clenched his shoulders.

"For humanity! Good god! You are dense! You pathetic, weak hearted man! As long as I am here…"

She couldn't finish her statement, the captain pulled his knife and stabbed her through her stomach.

"That is why everything is disappearing. Even you."

He didn't stop there, and continued to stab her over and over until the life left her eyes and she fell limp to the floor, the blood even simulated as it poured along the floor. All the others who stood around the room only continued to stare. The Magos started to understand the circumstance that occurred on this ship.

The Captain stumbled ahead, dropping the knife as he placed a bloody hand on the girls pod.

"I am sorry… !# ! This had to be done. We are all going to leave here, and I will delete everything aboard this ship which even links to that woman's research. Everything. Then… Then… this ship will jump somewhere else. I don't know where, but I pray that good people find you. As for us. We will atone for our sins."

He looked up, the others stood around him. The Magos within the circle right beside the Captain. The Captain pushed himself away from the pod and then looked at the crewmen.

"Let us atone."

The simulation then ended, all of the holograms disappearing and the Magos left alone again. The experience one that the Magos had not expected. He was unsettled by some of it, but relieved of the Captains removal of the heretical researcher. This explained everything, why this ship was within a hulk, likely tossed through time and merged with others in the warp. The missing files and holes in Angel's memory likely deleted to ensure the research was gone. It all made sense, but how to explain to the kindly machine spirit. He figured it would be best if he did not. It was too kind of a spirit to take such events lightly, and in his experience the emotions that a Machine Spirit held were often extended to the functions of the ship. In the past there was an instance where an adept had severely angered the Machine Spirit which governed an entire forge, and it refused to work again until the adept was killed. Then again that was a very rigid and aggressive old spirit, one that could not emote through any means other than its mechanisms. This Angel had the ability to mimic flesh, to mimic form and body, presenting itself as whatever it chose. It had the ability to talk, something very rare among Machine Spirits, and so to communicate would be far easier.

Angel was still a very naïve spirit however, one that had been preserved away from all the terrors of the universe at large, likely believing that what was still remains. That it had grown an attachment to these children was another thing that he noticed, and such was a very sensitive issue. Whenever a machine spirit became attached to an individual, that individual became an important asset to protect, for it was such a rare instance. The backlash from such people being harmed or removed from the machine spirits reach were always extraordinary and violent. If Angel knew the truth… would it act much in a similar manner? He did not know. But he would not do anything to harm their budding relationship, and these children too would be valuable glimpses into the past. Once they find a means of bringing them back to the land of the living of course.

Angel reappeared in its holographic form.

"I have resumed my consciousness. What did you see?"

The Magos could not tell it, though he equally disliked having to lie to it. This was the proper course of action however.

"Afraid it was mostly incomprehensible. I am sorry, Angel."

Angel only nodded, saddened by his reply.

"Ah… I had hoped for so long that someone would be able to tell me the contents of that file. There is little to do aboard this ship, Magos. Especially for the length of time which I have existed here. I had spent so long attempting to comprehend it, but it seems perhaps I never will. Perhaps such things are best left to the past."

The Magos simply stared at Angel for a moment. The poor spirit. He could not give in to this demand however, and that was final. The Magos made for the doorway, ready to go to the command deck and reestablish communications with the forces outside. As he reached the door, Angel spoke up again.

"Magos… might I ask a request of you?"

The Magos turned his head to see the hologram.

"Anything, Angel."

Angel peered over all of the pods.

"Will you promise me to take good care of them, Magos? Give them good lives? I am not foolish, and I recognize that all those outside are from some military organization. As are you, no doubt. But I ask this of you, please, they are but children."

The Magos was surprised. So Angel had recognized such of those outside. Well, he shouldn't have assumed it would not. The Magos did not like to deal with those of flesh often, and children were a very foreign concept to him. Though many of the mechanicus were still human enough to serve such roles as parents and teachers. He would also have support from the Faceless Legion in Medicaes who could assist in the children's illnesses, the mechanicus likely able to provide some relief if not cures. He would give Angel what it desired, a show of good will and because the machine spirit trusted in him. He would not do anything that would break that trust, and so he would even allow the children to remain here aboard the ship. Besides, he reveled in the thought of designing a techpriest fit for care-taking. Specifically to watch Angel and the children. He would have to ensure that they fit the correct personality type, and then work from there. He would have some time to do so, but once this operation was over. It was time to stop this distraction and return to reconnecting with his allies, for the next course of action.

"I promise you, Angel. I will do all I can. But first, let us go the command deck."

Angel gave him a small bow.

"Thank you, captain."


For such a long time answers avoided the poor little Angel, and perhaps always will.

Did it deserve to know?