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Malin's Reach.
The Imperial loyalists had no idea what unspeakable horrors awaited them upon that system. It would have fared better had they been beset by a wandering band of khornate devotees. Instead, the people had to face the bloody wrath of Chaos on one hand, and the treacherous promises on the other- both extended by the self-styled Dark Apostle Erebus of the Wordbearers!
The traitor, responsible for twisting the Warmaster's decisions through deception some millennia ago, allied himself with the Despoiler for the sole purpose of spreading the teachings of the Ruinous Powers.
The world of Malin's Reach, a peaceful planet dedicated to the finest cathedrals and places of worship, had been under the protection of a detachment of Ultramarines Honour Guard- upon news reaching them of the appearance of the Dark Apostle. Alas, Erebus was craftier than anyone suspected, for the Dark Apostle staged an elaborate trap upon a neighboring planet, thereby luring the spacemarines out of Malin's Reach and leaving it to the wrath of the Wordbearers.
Yet, even in the chaos of the war upon the Gate, where billions of fervent prayers reached the Emperor upon his Golden Throne, the benevolent ruler heard one little girl's plea for salvation just as the nightmares of the Warp descended upon the minds of the faithful. Erebus favored letting dreams and portents herald his coming, which proved to be his one flaw- hubris, which had caused many a man—mighty or otherwise—to fall. In his case, the Emperor sent a vision to his son leading Battlegroup Imperatis.
"My son. The Dark Apostle approaches, go to Malin's Reach and save your people."
Horus smiled, feeling comforted that his father was with him. "I shall do as you ask, my Emperor." He rose up and headed for the bridge, intent on relaying his message to the captain so that they may head for the besieged world to save it. Upon arrival, however, he chanced upon Maranda engaged in conversation with the Lord Castellan of Cadia.
"My lord!" The captain exclaimed, "Ah, we were just talking about you."
"All good things, I hope?" Horus asked.
"But of course, lord! Why wouldn't it be?"
"Do not sugarcoat it, captain." Ursarkar Creed chided his daughter gruffly, "Sir, I don't know who you are or by what power you entitle yourself to command my forces. Though your work on Saint Josmane's Hope is to be congratulated, I must address also the recklessness of your actions here and now- for I have no patience for that sort of thing especially in a time such as this!"
Calmly, the Nameless Hero replied. "Forgive me if they seem so bold as actions, Lord Castellan. But I merely acted as any good servant of the Imperium would. I saw a chance to save your men, and I took it without hesitation. I see no wrong in what I have done, why should you be angry?"
Ursarkar scowled, "Let me put it this way- those were my troops to command! I would not have my forces endangered nor my orders belayed by some stranger with no Chapter to call his own and holds no rank whatsoever that states he is far more superior to the High Castellan! You may be an astartes, but that does not entitle you to everything- do I make myself clear?"
Horus understood the man's reaction, and most of it were actually true and justified. He could make the argument that by being the Emperor's scion, he had all the command power he needed. Then again, Horus also took into account that just about everyone says that these days. "Yes, Lord Castellan."
Satisfied that he got his point across, Ursarkar turned to the captain. "Good. Maranda, I expect your Battlegroup to rejoin the defense fleets on Cadia Prime within twenty-four hours. The Despoiler's Armada has been sighted in the Belis Corona. See to your ship's outfitting and repairs and be ready for further orders. Creed out."
Horus looked out the window to see bright flashes in the void of space, final throes of dying worlds shattered by Abaddon's flagship. They had a chance to deal a serious blow to Chaos by ridding them of Erebus, who had done mankind so much grief. Yet, Lord Castellan Creed was right in focusing all his efforts to halt the Despoiler's advance, blinding him to the other threats pressing from other ends. The work of a commander was hard- he knew it from experience.
"My lord, forgive my father for his harsh words." Maranda began.
"No, captain." Horus stopped her, "The Lord Castellan has his mind set in the right place. We cannot allow Abaddon to bring the war to Cadia Prime. You do not need my permission to obey his commands. You know your duty."
"But milord, what was it you wanted to talk to me about?" Maranda asked as the Nameless Hero turned to leave.
Horus obliges, sparing no detail- including his vision from the Emperor. The news worried the woman, and it showed in her weary face. "Throne of Terra! We cannot let the Dark Apostle visit his wrath upon those innocents!"
"Aye, we cannot." Horus nodded, "Yet you cannot abandon the defense fleets heading for Belis Corona either. That errand holds just as much weight, but is what your father commanded you to undertake."
Seeing the dilemma, Maranda felt powerless to decide which of the two choices was more noble than the other. Shall they endeavor to save one world, or a thousand? "My lord. I don't know what to do."
Horus chuckled softly, absent humor. "Yes, you do. Let not your heart be troubled, my friend. Allow me to shoulder that burden."
"What do you mean, milord?"
"Give me one of your ships." Horus suggested, "It doesn't have to be one of the large ones. Just one fast enough to get me to Malin's Reach. I shall handle the Dark Apostle, while you do battle alongside the defense fleets in Belis Corona. That way, we save one world and a thousand."
Maranda was amazed at the wisdom of the Nameless Hero, and she found herself feel deep admiration for her liege. Contrary to her father's opinion, here was a man born of leadership- regardless of his lack of identity. It caused her to wonder what grave transgression he committed against the Emperor could drive him to this level of self-flagellation. "Then, I guess this is where we part ways."
Horus nodded again, "We will see each other again, captain. Remember, the war does not end here."
"Of that, I am certain." Maranda reached out to grasp the taller man's forearm. Horus took the gesture of friendship well and extended his own, careful not to crush the woman's arm as he did so. "I wish you well on your journeys, my lord. Emperor keep you."
"Likewise, captain."
Yaasha trembled until her scrawny legs gave out from under her. The child dropped to the ground and hugged her Celestine doll close to her chest, weeping silent tears as the crimson giants stomped towards her.
Her father was killed an hour ago, body defiled and marked with strange runes before it was nailed to the door of the town cathedral. Along with the desecrated corpse were seven others, nailed in an odd circle that resembled an eight-pointed star.
The sight was most gruesome, and Yaasha could not bear to look.
"Mama! Mama!"
It was useless to call, she knew her mother was dead. Everyone she knew was dead and dying, butchered and sacrificed to these heathens. All the little girl could do now is pray for deliverance, and so pray she did.
"Emperor." She whispered softly, "Help me! Please!"
The bloodied sword of the Wordbearer traitor astartes was raised to strike the mewling child, but was stopped when a powerful voice spoke out.
"Hold!"
The spacemarine pauses, then follows as commanded, making way for the Dark Apostle as he strode towards the child. "Every soul is precious to the Dark Gods, brother, never forget that." The child cries piteously as large hands reached down to pick her up from the dirt. She squeaks, covering her eyes as a face- marred by centuries in the Warp and overlayed with daemonic runes- comes close to her own. "This one will prove useful as one of our witch neophytes."
"Please, don't hurt me!"
"Come now, little one." The giant's voice was surprisingly soothing, and it calmed the badly frightened toddler. "You are safe with us now. A pity we had to kill your family, but you must understand, they refused to heed the call of the Ruinous Powers. You won't make that mistake, am I right?"
Unable to give any answer other than affirmation, the young one bobs her head and dries her tears. Erebus smiled. This was by far the easiest task he had accomplished for his masters, turning an entire world into a sacrificial altar for the Dark Gods.
"Ibrium is ours!" He declared, flexing his forefinger and dipping it in blood. With this, he drew an eight-pointed star upon the girl's forehead, marking her as one of them. Upon seeing the Dark Apostle carrying a representation of the world they defiled, marked and obedient, they let loose a chorus of jubilant cries and howls in praise for their victory.
Suddenly, through the blood-red skies of the abandoned world, a ray of light shot out from the darkened clouds, slamming into the ground outside the blasphemous cathedral- now dedicated to the forces of Chaos. The Wordbearers rallied together around the crater it had formed, enslaved locals gathered at the edges of their cages to watch, and the newcomers emerged.
"I didn't know that spear can do that." Aggregius muttered quietly to his friend, readying his bolter. He eyed the traitor marines with indescribable contempt and fixed his finger upon the trigger.
"Neither did I." Horus acknowledged, "Seems like my...I mean, our father, has put everything I could possibly need for my quest."
Erebus blinked twice, then set the child down. "Finally, I was getting bored." With a wave of his hand to set the dogs of war loose, the Wordbearers descended upon the servants of the Imperium. Bolter and sword were set on each other, blood flowed like a raging river that greatly pleased the Blood God as the demigods battled upon Ibrium's ruined earth.
Horus slammed his spear down upon the crater's surface, channeling a powerful psionic shield that protected his battle-brothers from the hailstorm of bolter rounds. His eyes narrowed when it fell upon the Dark Apostle. The armor had changed from the long span of a millennia, but the face remained the same. The former chaplain of the Wordbearers, who had tricked him into falling to Chaos' hands, was here! His quest for redemption was made ever more sure, now that he would be rewarded with righteous vindication.
"Erebus!" Horus roared, dropping the shield in time to let his brothers advance from the pit. His booming voice surprised Aggregius, having grown accustomed to the Nameless Hero's quiet demeanor. Still waters run deep, apparently.
The Dark Apostle raised an eyebrow, hefting his eight-pointed mace in one hand and a chainsword in the other. "Who calls for me?" His amused smirk grew as the white-clad stranger challenges him to a duel amidst all the fighting. Yaasha cowers behind a fallen pillar, watching with fearful eyes as the vengeful giant met the Dark Apostle with a force enough to shake the mountains.
"You wounded me with your treachery!" Horus growled, bringing down Soulrender upon Erebus, who swiftly caught the weapon in between the mace and chainsword. Horus would reveal his identity for a moment, for the selfish satisfaction of seeing the recognition in the traitor's face before he destroys him forever.
"I have betrayed many in my lifetime." Erebus shrugged nonchalantly, "Should I remember you?"
Horus tackled the smaller marine down, swiping his spear in a clean sweep that bore through the Dark Apostle's greaves. The traitor grunted in pain, anger compelling him to strike back. Horus moved with blinding agility, the likes of which could not be foreseen given his tenacity. "I was the first!"
Erebus frowned at this as he parried and exchanged blows with the stranger. What could he mean by that?
Distracted by the Nameless Hero's words, the Dark Apostle did not move quickly enough to stop the enraged astartes from driving Soulrender upwards, catching his arm above the elbow and slicing it off!
Blood flowed from the stump, and Erebus staggered back, calling for his Wordbearers to his aid. "Protect me, brothers!" He limps back as the raptors descended from the spires atop the tainted cathedral, engaging the primarch in the melee while Erebus makes for the chapel.
Horus was not to be stopped. He destroys the assault marines with three powerful swings, denying the Warp its due as the souls burned away. Khorne watched from his throne of skulls as the Lupercal makes his way into the cathedral, vengeance burning bright in his righteous heart. He smiled, approving the blood shed in his name, whether the loyalists were aware or otherwise.
Horus followed the bloodtrail into the innermost sanctum of the cathedral, ignoring the revolting scenes of gore upon the altars and walls there. The mere presence of the hallowed primarch burned away the corruption upon the floor he stepped on, but the only corruption he wished to purge at the moment was the traitor chaplain. For too long had the man walked the galaxy. No more, not a single minute shall he be spared.
Erebus staggered into the sanctum, propping himself against the shattered altar in the center that used to be dedicated to the Great Anathema. The painted glass depicting the Emperor and his angels stared down in silence at the confrontation. Erebus refused to own his fate, arguing that he had so much more to offer- so much opportunities that will be wasted if his patrons would not save him now.
"Khorne! Slaanesh!" Erebus called upon his gods, a move ironically reminiscent of the child he sought to corrupt earlier. "Tzeentch! Nurgle! Help me, I pray! Deliver me from this stranger! I have given so much to you, I deserve this!"
"Pray all you want, you are wasting your breath." The Nameless Hero entered the chapel, gleaming spear in hand and ready to dispense justice. "The Chaos Gods are not here to help you. You're just a speck of dust, inconsequential to them. If they wanted to aid you, they would have done so by now. Believe me, I know."
"Who are you?!" Erebus cried out in despair, denying that his end was near.
"I am Horus Lupercal!"
The Dark Apostle's eyes widened in fear. All of time seemed to slow to a crawl as his mind digested this revelation. He could see the Soulrender drive ever closely to his chest, he could see behind the helm- the face of the Wolf of Terra. Then, he felt the burn, that agonizing sensation of body and soul being wiped clean from reality. Erebus screamed, falling backwards into the altar as the force of the strike drives him off balance. He falls with a loud crash as his body collides with the shattered pedestal, and his pain doubled- tripled even! Horus willed the weapon to make the punishment as slow as possible, venting a thousand years worth of treacheries upon the Dark Apostle.
"Please...noooo..." The voice fades as the flames ate away the fallen one.
Horus stepped back from the ceramite shell that housed ashes and plucked the spear from the Dark Apostle's remains. His chest heaved from an unseen burden, and his eyes still burned with the same fury that sustained him all day. He had his revenge for one of the traitors, and saved Ibrium. There were more to liberate, he knew it, the war was not over.
As he turned to leave the chapel, he froze upon seeing Sgt. Aggregius standing atop the steps leading to the doors. His helmet was gone, perhaps shattered in the fighting outside, face revealed to display the absolute horror in his countenance. His mouth was open, but the words refused to come.
He had heard the exchange, there was no doubt about it. There were two things on the sergeant's mind as he absorbed all this; how could Horus Lupercal be alive, and if so- how the hell does anyone know of his allegiances if he strikes with holy fire and bearing the Emperor's Will?
Horus was the first to break the silence, "Ibrium is saved. Our work here is done."
As he approached the sergeant, the bolter was suddenly raised to meet the primarch's face. Aggregius was torn between duty and passion. On one hand; duty compels him to gauge the situation properly before acting, on the other; his passion drove him to attacking the Archtraitor there and then!
"Stay back, traitor!"
Horus knew it was a matter of time before this confrontation would happen. But regardless how the sergeant reacts, Horus would not allow anything to stop him from carrying out his quest. Too much hung in the balance, "Sergeant, put that weapon down. I do not stand as an enemy."
"You are the enemy!" Aggregius roared, feeling betrayed over the deception.
"Am I?" Horus reached up and took of his helm, showing his youthful face to the livid spacemarine. "Look into my eyes, brother. Do you see them as those belonging to a servant of the Ruinous Powers?"
"Looks can be deceiving, of that I am most certain!" Aggregius became more and more convinced it was better to pull the trigger now and be done with it. Yet, some voice in the back of his head told him not to. "Why should I trust you after the lies you spouted!? Did you think so little of our friendship that you would cast all honesty aside!?"
Horus shook his head, calmly reminding the sergeant. "I did not lie to you, Aggregius. I simply with-held my name, but my intentions were all benevolent- I assure you. Think about it, have I not done all in the service of the Imperium- just as I said? I forsook my name for I had to redeem myself. Whether that is for a short time or eternity, I don't know or care. But please, don't do this. Permit me to lead you, so I may save Cadia from the Despoiler."
There was a long silence shared between the two.
Soon, Aggregius makes his decision, and lowers his gun. Horus sighed with relief, "Thank you, my frie-
In a flash, the bolter strikes the primarch across the face, breaking his nose and spilling droplets of blood all over the floor. Horus shakes of the pain and looks up in surprise. Aggregius' scowl was still there, but he accepted the penitent primarch's apology, opting to follow duty over passion. "I just needed to see if you bleed. What bleeds may die. Remember this moment, Horus, even a lesser astartes can kill you."
Horus nodded and followed the sergeant out.
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Updates are going to be a little slower now that my PC's unavailable. I'll try to write as much as I can from my phone ( very inconvenient, but necessary ). As always, thank you so much for the continued support of this fic.