-IX-

Julius was alone in the chapel. His thoughts was bitter. They were filled with his talk with Achagon. So many lost, so many.
He raised his head to look at the statue of Emperor. The altar was beautifully designed. The golden text of Codex Astartes adorned many places.
He turned to leave the chapel as its doors swung open. Two chapel servitors opened the giant doors for the morning prayers.
Several more servitors came in to start their cleaning detail. They were oblivious to Julius' presence and went about their work as mindless as ever.
He moved to leave but frozen solid as he realised the other figure at the doorway.
"Hello, brother." said Modius.
"Modius, I wasn't expecting you." replied Julius.
He continued "If you came for the morning prayer I would leave you at peace."
"No, sergeant, I came to see you." said Modius.
Julius was wrecked with shame and guilt.
Modius moved closer and into the chapel.
Now Julius could see his brother's condition fully. Modius was strapped into a moving contraption for his one leg and arm was missing.
Julius grasped "Brother, you..." he trailed off.
"Yeah, we had it pretty hard back there." Modius' voice was filled with grief.
"You were right." said Julius.
He continued when Julius didn't talk back. "We should never aid the bastion, we should just do as we were told."
"Brother, I didn't agree with you then and I don't agree with you now. But I come to believe that there might be some wisdom in every decision we had." stated Modius.
When Julius didn't reply Modius quoted "Emperor delivers retribution in mysterious ways" from the Lectitio Divinitatus.
"He indeed does." said Julius.
"I don't blame you brother, for what happened." said Modius.
Julius looked at Modius "I would expect you to be the first one to blame me."
"Even against the orders we managed to deliver those guardsmen from the Ork hands. We did our duty even at the cost of ourselves." said Modius.
"We lost many." stated Julius.
"Aye, we did, but they died in war, as heroes of the Emperor. Remember brother Julius 'We are bound by the blood of Martyrs'." quoted Modius once again from Divinitatus.
"Future is unclear to me brother." said Julius his voice heavy.
Modius moved closer "What do you mean? We serve again."
"Squad Tempes is disbanded, many died because of me." said Julius.
"We are Space Marines, brother, Emperor would reveal his designs to us. We just need patience" said Modius and added "At least now you don't need to ask for my reassignment."
Julius looked ashamed. "Brother, I am sorry for everything, I'm sorry for what I've put you through. I ask for your forgiveness."
"There is no need for such a thing brother. But I would accept your apology if you would accept mine. I never meant to call you a heretic."
"Thanks brother, for now a simple gesture of kindness means everything to me. I am lost."
"I hope you find yourself brother, come pray with me."
"Thanks but I've already did, I need time." Julius said and left the Modius alone with his prayers.

Julius visited Aegon several times during his healing period. The marine was heavily wounded and his condition was still grim. Aegon wouldn't regain conciousness and showed no signs of healing. He fell with the giant crane at the chasm but managed to survive by a miracle. He was grievously wounded and Apothecary Ioras called his condition dire. Aegon might be never leave the med-bay ever again. He would be crippled and even with his Astartes physiology, he would never recover fully.
A paralysed and crippled Astartes is the worst fate for one of Angels of Death. Ioras would decide if they put down Aegon for his own sake.
Julius couldn't even argue killing a fellow brother Astartes for it would be a mercy for Aegon.
Chaplain Galieo already visited and blessed the poor marine on his med-bed.
Julius sat next to his brother in solemn mood. His feeling of sadness was overwhelming and he didn't want to think any more.
He was a marine with no future. He failed himself but importantly he failed his brothers.
His certainty of the world was gone. His faith in the Emperor was ever solid but he started to question himself, his right to lead, his right to be a Space Marine.
He strayed from the path Codex Astartes set before them and it cost them lives of brother Astartes.
He was alone in a galaxy he didn't really understand, he hoped whatever would happen the galaxy would forget him.