Last Bastion
Chapter 2: Paths
Iserena entered the prisoner-holding cells and made her now familiar route toward her target. As she walked past the cells, the standing guards saluted her with a brief stomp of their feet or tails. The prisoners inside, drukhari, were agitated, screaming at the top of their lungs and begging to be released.
She couldn't listen to their cries and curses as the cells were entirely sound-proof, but she knew why they were so desperate beside the fact that they couldn't move. It had been two months since her husband, Epirus, led the rescue of the felinids, and the subsequent trap laid for the dark eldar raiding fleet. She didn't expect Lelith herself to be the one leading the assault since she rarely bothered to leave Comorragh, but in a strike of luck and circumstances, she was now under their captivity.
There was no satisfaction to be had as she watched wyches, warriors, and several more of the myriad and confounding rank systems her dark cousins used to put each other on a power structure suffer silently. There was nothing worse for a drukhari than being unable to experience anything but boredom for an extended period of time. Some had even died already, their souls drained from their bodies leaving only lifeless husks.
Reaching the cell holding her objective, she stopped in front of it and watched the woman inside. Her clothes were rags now, her armor removed after her defeat and was now basically naked except for the thong covering her crotch. A dozen different neutrino clamps and shackles kept her from moving a single finger more than a millimeter. Her long hair now only reached just past her shoulders after being cut by Epiru's sword during their duel. She could still move her head and eyes, but any hope of escape was a foregone conclusion.
Despite two months of captivity, Iserena had to admit Lelith wasn't nearly as drained as most of her followers. Her skin no longer shimmered, there were heavy bags under her eyes, her lips were dry and cracked, and her hair was oily and unkempt.
"Lelith," she said suddenly and her vacant eyes, so filled with defiance at the start of her visits, looked up at her, life returning to them. With a sigh, she undid the energy barrier separating them and entered the cell. "Are you ready to hear me speak?"
"I am ready… for you to kill me, abomination," Lelith rasped angrily. "You mate with Mon-Keigh and I am the depraved one? Don't m-make me laugh," she struggled to insult.
Iserena frowned. "In that case, I will leave and-"
"NO! W-Wait… I'll… I'll hear your pathetic words just so I can… l-laugh at them," Lelith said with a tone that displayed only a shadow of her former arrogance.
For her part, the pristine eldar with luscious long brown hair stepped forward as she smiled internally. She knew Lelith was now craving to experience anything whatsoever: a conversation, pain, outrage, violence, pleasure. Whatever came her way. She didn't care as long as the boredom stopped if only for a few moments.
"I will humor you, then, Lelith. Tell me, are you aware of what will happen to you if you stop indulging in your murderous, debaucherous, bloodshedding ways?" Iserena asked her the same question she had asked of Lelith the first day she came to visit. Only this time, the dark eldar didn't have the strength nor humor to curse at her for five minutes.
"She-Who-Thirsts will take my soul," Lelith admitted with fear flashing in front of her eyes. "But so what? Even if my soul wasn't as stake… I would still be me. The pleasures and the thrill, the joy and the dangers, the cheer of the crowds and the beauty of murder, blood, and pain. I know greater pleasure than that," Lelith said with a predatory yet faint smile.
Iserena sighed tiredly. "You know, drukhari are like a broken record. Same excuses, same rationale, same senselessness. But it's not your fault. Not really. We were created in such a way to be weapons capable of using the Warp," she scoffed angrily. "And for what?"
"To dominate!" Lelith retorted.
"Dominate? We were a rushed project gone wrong. Just like the Krorks became Orks, we Aeldari became something else, something… putrid," Iserena argued.
"Perhaps you, exile, the weak Crafworlders or the naive Exodites, but not the Drukhari! We are the apex of our species: perfect and magnificent!"
"Yes, a species so perfect that literally gave birth to Slaanesh through an Empire-wide orgy of mutilation, blood, depravity, and insanity. Magnificent my ass," she said, shaking her head. "Our species was never meant to rule past the War in Heaven. But the Old Ones died and so, here we are: a broken, fractured species so arrogant and self-centered that cannot see their own faults except for a few individuals."
Lelith's eyes were burning with anger. "You talk like one of those pathetic Mon-Keigh. You fuck with one, so it doesn't surprise me. Why should we not take what is rightfully ours?"
Iserena raised a hand as Lelith's lips curled into a sneering smirk. "Spare me the tired speech Vect loves so much: 'We are the masters of despair, pain and agony are our meat and wine and they are plentiful indeed! We sit at the height of virtue and existence itself. We are perfect. We are Masters and everything else is meant to be used by us as slaves or materials, nothing more!'" She said, spitting at the end and making Lelith recoil with disgust. "Lelith, how can you say that when Slaanesh is eating your damn soul? Perfect? Masters? Those that stand above all?" She chuckled. "Next you're going to tell me that the universe is cruel and uncaring and that's why you're justified in doing whatever you want?"
"...why are you here, then?" Lelith asked, glaring at her captor. "You're not gloating… how can you not be gloating? And you've spoken the Thing's name twice without fear. How? Even with your precious Soulstones, you aren't free from it," she said, staring at the small gem encrusted on the necklace-like armor piece Iserena was wearing.
"Because Slaanesh can't touch me. I'm not some naive Craftworlder or a renegade Raider. Lelith, I was there when the Eldar fell. I was one of the few voices that spoke against the debauchery. I was there to see all of it crumble to dust. Both our end and that of so many others including the burgeoning Federation the humans created."
Despite the usual rhetoric that Lelith loathed to hear that blamed the eldar for creating Slaanesh, another claim caught her attention and her disbelief. "No… it shouldn't be possible. You… you do not rejuvenate yourself. You can't! Your bones should be crystal by now! It is impossible for you to be as old as the oldest haemonculi!"
"But I am, Lelith. While you may exalt yourself in your exploits and shrug off any sense of responsibility or logic away by indulging and diving deeper into your pool of depravity, I know the truth. I can see the fear in your eyes. How long has it been since the last time you felt yourself wither away and hear Slaanesh's laughter at the back of your mind?" Iserena asked coldly, taking four steps forth until she was less than a meter in front of her prisoner.
"..." Lelith found herself without anything to say back at her captor. But there had been something odd in the way she moved, smelled, and portrayed herself. After her confession and boasting, it was clear that something wasn't quite right with her, but what was it? She was Eldar, but she seemed… diminished, in a sense. Not like the Exodites or the accursed abominations that eventually became Mandrakes. No, there something just lacking in her presence. But as she looked into her eyes, Lelith couldn't find anything that would indicate Iserena was lying or boasting for the sake of boasting.
"How?" Lelith asked after several seconds of silence.
"By doing the unthinkable," Iserena put a hand on her chest, right above her Soul Gem. "I gave up what made us Eldar. I'm still a psyker, but not as powerful as I once was. I could see future paths like a Farseer, millennia ago, but I gave it up alongside many other abilities. I dulled my own senses and emotions to the point I am hardly Eldar anymore," she smiled widely and sincerely at what was a stunned and horrified Lelith Hesperax. "But in exchange, I am free of Slaanesh's grasp and our imperfect creation. You were halfway right about calling me an abomination, my dear Lelith."
"Y-You! W-WHY!? You would so easily throw away what makes us stand above the slave species!? You are not an abomination, you are a disgrace to all Aeldari!" Lelith exclaimed.
"Oh, Lelith. I threw away that parasitic connection we Eldar were cursed to have with the Warp long before the Fall. Instead of a roaring bonfire, now my soul looks bright in the Warp as that of a regular human psyker," she smirked. "If it showed, that is. As long as I have my Soul Gem," she caressed said gem, making sure Lelith got a good view at it, "I am nearly invisible to the eyes and influence of the four tumors and any other monstrosity spawned from nightmares and malice."
Lelith growled, almost snarling in fury. "No! NO! You… you wretched thing! I will not submit to your guile! I know what you're trying to do now! I rather-"
"Be swallowed up by Slaanesh and suffer for untold eons in such ways that every instant will be a lifetime of agony and torment, unshackled by that tainted grasp the Prince of Excess has over you?" Iserena cut her off, gently grabbing her jaw and leaning in to whisper in her ear. "Imagine it, Lelith. You'll finally be free, truly free. Free of the Drukhari's way of life, free of Vect's reach, free of Slaanesh, and free of the depravity you enjoy inflicting and feeding upon. Are you going to allow pride to get in the way of such freedom? Are that content to live a life leashed and chained whilst bragging about your own ego?"
"...I… l-leave my sight…," Lelith answered and her form slumped.
Iserena sighed and let go of her, stepping back until she exited her cell. "I'm not offering you anything less than salvation by paying the ultimate price. Or do you think anyone else offering a similar solution would ask for anything less of you? I've seen within you, Lelith Hesperax. You may be a monster, but you can be so much more than that and be without that constant, gnawing fear all of our kind share. Accept my offer or die, those are your options. Some of your lesser followers have accepted the offer and I wish to save as many of you as possible."
"...why?" Lelith asked, her voice a mere whisper.
"Because, as much as I despise the Drukhari, you are still Aeldari and you can be saved. I would never give this offer to Vect or Rakath. Think about that, Lelith," Iserena explained and with that, she was gone, leaving her prisoner by her lonesome once more.
As she left the cells, her communications unit burst to life with a single order: come to the bridge, now!
She was running towards a transport station a second later.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
-Minutes earlier on Epiru's personal ship's bridge, the Clever Girl-
Epirus observed with rapt attention the several dozens of orbital habitats spread around the system they were in. While not the heart of the Federation's territory, they were in one of the core systems, Landros. He was unable to hide his toothy grin as he saw the display on the holo screen depicting the hundreds of defenses, early warning stations, the Warp Dampening stations scattered around the system's planets and moons. There were also a few ships patrolling the area and several hundred more going back and forth across the system for trading purposes and supplying efforts.
His fleet and personnel were due for a short but deserved R setting up the trap for the drukhari and preparing everything to exterminate a splinter fleet of the damnable bugs of death had not been an easy task. Had they not intercepted communications weeks earlier about the Tyranids, they likely would've have never been in time to save the felinids. The rescued slaves -those that could be saved- of the drukhari were a nice bonus.
He sighed heavily a second after an orbital station on the display suddenly went green. "About damn time," he muttered. He then tapped a button on the console and spoke. "This is Epirus speaking to the refugee carriers. Begin unloading on station Gamma-3," he ordered and then cut off the transmission, not waiting to receive a reply. His troops, captains, and officers knew how much he hated proper conduct protocols and his preference to carry himself and treat others with an ordinary air that seemed tailored to infuriate prideful bastards full of themselves.
"You seem to be on edge," Alicia Dominica said, wearing her armor. A full white body suit that left very little to the imagination but didn't hinder her movements at all. Pieces of armor, expensive furs, clothing pieces, and other ornaments covered her body. The only other pieces that were part of her armor were her breastplate, the helmet hanging from her hip, the silver knee-high boots adorned with large knee cops that ran the length of her long legs, the gauntlets made of the same material covering her hands and arms up to her shoulders, and a single small and practical pauldron that served only to hold onto the cape that displayed her rank.
"I am on edge. I'm always on the edge, love," Epirus replied, turning his head just enough to see her approaching on his right, ending with a hum. His eyes lingered on her gorgeous form and especially on her legs and boots, his lips curling with each soft, delicate metallic cling her boots made with the floor.
"More so than normal, I mean," Alicia pressed on as she came to a halt next to her husband. "What happened? I've never seen you so… downer since I met you. Not even when Ciaphas Cain died."
"I will forever rue the day I had my chance to invite him into our cause but that fucking genestealer cult blew away that chance," the large man wearing a more ceremonial coat of blue, white, and gold trims alongside with furs running along his shoulders and a sword at his hip gave a deep, frustrated sigh. "We've managed to recruit some people of importance into our cause, show them the truth. Save a few billion lives over the years, some entire amicable alien species, too, and I couldn't be happier…"
"You don't sound happy, Epirus. Please, tell me what is bothering you?" Alicia asked, reaching to hold her husband's right hand tightly.
"It's a feeling I never thought I would feel again. This… sinking feeling that something terribly, terribly wrong is going to happen. That we've been fooling ourselves with promises and empty dreams," he chuckled. "Basically, that shit is about to hit the fan and I don't know where the fan nor the shit are."
Alicia nodded, frowning. She had only heard retellings and stories from Epirus, Iserena, and Alpha. Still, she knew her husband was talking about the fall of the Terran Federation and the subsequent Fall of the Aeldari. They had lived through it, seen it all, just like the Emperor and other long-lived individuals and other perpetuals had. She couldn't imagine a devastation so great, even though the reign of Goge Vandire was undoubtedly a close enough comparison. "And you're afraid that your work, our work, is going to crumble suddenly?"
Epirus stood silent for several seconds before shaking his head. "Not us directly but rather… everything. The last three times this happened were during three great falls. Who is to say another is impossible? Maybe that's my special psyker power? To be captain obvious when something is about to hit the galaxy right in the balls?"
"You can't possibly be blaming yourself for said events, my love," Alicia commented, reaching with a hand to touch his arm, caressing it gently.
"I don't. The Federation was incredible but flawed. Steps were being taken to correct those mistakes when the uprising happened. It was bound to happen one way or another. All Empires fall in time," Epirus breathed out calmly. "The only real thing we can do is to find simple joys in life and strive for a better tomorrow. Believe that what comes next has to be better, for all those capable of embracing such a future."
"The Emperor sent me to be at your side, love. We will find a way to-" Alicia was cut off when the lights on the bridge suddenly turned into a deep green. She saw various technicians, menials present, helmsman, and more looked around not knowing what was happening until the primary comms officer, a puazi, turned to Epirus with urgency present across her features.
"Epirus! W-We're receiving a direct transmission from Arrshun! It is flagged as urgent and is sent by the Council and Lady Neftka herself!" The tall, slender, orange and blue alien woman exclaimed.
"Put her through!" Epirus commanded and Alicia let go of him, her military training kicking back as she strained her back. Within a moment, the holo-screen amplified itself to show what could be mistaken as a human at first glance with minor genetic mutations. Her otherwise stoic white face was marred with worry, her green eyes shone with a soulless light, and the rest of her body was that of a very attractive, curvy, and gorgeous human woman wearing only what would pass as bikini armor given those parts were of a darker tone than the rest of her metallic, liquid-metal body. Finally, her shoulders supported a set of royal pauldrons and a cape while synthetic, lush, long black hair flowed behind her body. Before he could ask what was happening, she spoke up with a royal authoritative tone that betrayed the softness and placid nature of her voice.
"Epirus, I've just confirmed a report sent by the Celestial Orrery! The planet of Cadia has been destroyed!" She said in a hurry. "Trazyn was there, apparently, trying to aid the Imperial forces from the assault of the Despoiler! Wait… I'm receiving new information…"
Epirus froze in that instant and he could barely make out the whispered murmurs of his crew in the chilling silence until Neftka continued speaking.
"The Eye of Terror is expanding!" Neftka said with a curse, her facial features turning into a frown of rage. "Warp Storms are enveloping whole sectors of the galaxy and a veritable shadow is splitting the galaxy in half!"
"DAMMIT!" Epirus shouted in pure anger. "How did this happen!? When did Abaddon get such strength to finally bring down Cadia and why is the damned Eye expanding!?"
"It is as my father told me, the Pylons were an abandoned attempt to cut off the influence of the Warp. A crude version of our Dampeners. Cadia was the key world connecting the vast majority of the pylon network," Neftka commented even as her features went pale, as impossible as it sounded. "Oh no… oh no no no no! According to the data we're receiving, this was always meant to be the product of Slaneeh's birth! The pylon network and Cadia froze it and was keeping it at bay for thousands of years."
"Oh, that's just WONDERFUL!" Epirus screamed, his voice dripping with dry sarcasm. "What about our systems? Is this… wound going to affect us directly, Neftka?"
"It is too early to conclude anything yet, Epirus. But everything indicates we will be left untouched by this malformity," she said with hatred. "Epirus, we-"
The connection was suddenly lost when a wave of energy shook the ship. Before anyone could say anything, miniature rifts manifested all over the bridge. Demons poured through, no more than half a dozen before the short-lived portal fizzled out. Bloorletters, deamonettes, nurglets, twisted horrors, and other minor demonic manifestations launched themselves at the members of his crew and the alarms blared to indicate that the ship was being boarded by Chaos.
The crewmembers on the bridge reacted a second later after the shock passed, but instead of panic and terror the demons enjoyed, they found a well-disciplined and armed crew that jumped to their feet to fight them.
Alicia unsheathed her sword as did Epirus and joined the fray. The battle lasted no more than a few seconds before every demon was purged and sent roiling back into the warp. There were no cheers of victory, only wariness and confusion. "Iserena," he half-shouted into his comms link, "get your ass over here now!"
A moment later, Neftka's transmission came back, though it was still sketchy. "What happened!? Why did the connection drop?"
"We got our asses invaded by demons. Minor ones, but they sprouted out of the fucking blue! This is the Warp Storms all over again!" Epirus complained. "What about there? Any demons popped up!?"
"No, but I have other bad news, Epirus," Neftka said, showing a general layout map of their territory safely hidden in the otherwise dangerous Ghoul Stars. Much to everyone's horror, their territory was swallowed behind the created rift, separating it from the 'lower' side of the galaxy. "We're trapped behind the rift. The dampeners on our main colonies are holding and we are getting reports of similar demonic incursions on a few ships and outposts. Thankfully, the Mindshields work as intended, and no cases of madness or corruption have been reported yet."
"Noted. What about our other ships? The habitats?" Epirus asked, not Neftka, but his communications specialist.
"No ship has been lost. No habitats either. Casualties mounting to over ten thousand across unprotected felinid refugees. Quarantine protocols enacted!" She shouted back.
"Dammit. Make sure the kitties are inspected and implanted with mindshields as soon as possible!" Epirus ordered. Much to his relief, a transport station was activated and a second later his first wife, Iserena, was teleported in.
"What's wrong, Epirus!? What's the-Neftka? What- oh by Isha, what is happening!?" Iserena asked in a panic as she saw her friend's transmission, the map display, and felt the tension in the air.
"Short version? Abaddon destroyed Cadia, the eye of terror is growing, and now we have a galaxy-wide rift to deal with. Oh, and we got briefly invaded by fucking demons," Epirus explained, taking his wife's hand as she arrived at his side. "We're still trying to figure out what's going on."
"The Despoiler finally did it… Epirus, should we retreat? Lockdown on our territories and wait for this calamity to pass?" She asked, looking at Alicia for support.
"I don't like the idea of hiding, but in this case? Perhaps it is for the best," Alicia proposed.
"What say you, Neftka? And the Council?" Epirus asked his necron friend.
"Personally, we still know too little to take any immediate action besides declaring a state of emergency. The Council and I shall deliberate as soon as everyone is gathered," Neftka replied, but zoomed in on the map of the galaxy until it was showing the realm of Ultramar. "However, this may interest you, Epirus. I'm receiving several alarms and notifications that Webway archs have been activated on several worlds across Ultramar. It is too early to say what will come through, but the frequency matches Webway signatures used on Cadia moments ago. If I were to guess, I'd say that survivors have been extracted with the help of unknown eldar forces, probably Eldrad's doing or the Harlequins. Trazyn signatures have also departed the zone of conflict, I'm afraid. I've lost contact."
"Not a great loss there. We all know where that kleptomaniac chipmunk is going to end up," Epirus commented, narrowing his eyes. "But why all the way to Ultramar? I don't understand. Who in their right mind would tolerate that annoying chanting for long?"
"Desperation can make even the most migraine-inducing of things tolerable if death or worse are the other options," Alicia commented, shuddering as she could hardly stomach more than a few days, at best, being anywhere near the five-hundred worlds.
"Then we shall wait. Wait and see what must be done," Epirus said, eyes narrowing. He then looked at Iserena. "Any luck with Lelith?"
"More of the same, although I think she's going to crack soon. I told her what I did in order to survive. She was disgusted, no surprise there, but I think the temptation to escape the fate of Slaneesh will be too strong to ignore."
With that said, Epirus shifted his focus to handling his ship, his fleet, and the system as a whole, making sure there were no corrupted individuals, possessed, or the starting stages of cultists forming. It took two standard terran weeks for Epirus to get an update on the situation through a direct call from Neftka.
"Epirus," Neftka greeted while Epirus was in his quarters, with a very naked Alicia sleeping on the bed while he polished a pair of thigh-high boots. "Oh, could you please have some decency?"
"What? I'm clothed and Alicia is sleeping," Epirus said, not stopping polishing the boots.
"I will never understand your unnatural attraction for legwear, although I do see the appeal for them in practical senses," Neftka said before her expression turned more serious. "The Council has come to a conclusion."
"Which is?"
"We can't hide our heads in the sand, as humans would say, against this menace. We cannot simply wait it out and hope for the best, but we cannot act directly either. We will fortify the borders and keep an eye on nearby inhabited worlds that may need help," she explained. "Aside from that, a minor dynasty has expressed a desire to join us. Nothing relevant, they don't even have a Phaeron, just an Overlord."
"Neftka," Epirus said, setting aside the boots and leaning forth, "while I am happy that more of your people may come to join us, you wouldn't contact me in private just to tell me that, right? What did you find? Oh, and tell the Council I agree with their decision."
Neftka stopped for two whole seconds before continuing. "Yesterday, we detected a massive incursion across Ultramar. Minor warp storms and Chaos signatures were registered. Black Legion ones were the predominant ones, but several dozen other warbands were detected. A Harlequin was kind enough to parley with us some information regarding the survivors from Cadia and where they are headed. Epirus… they're going to Macragge."
Epirus stood up, instantly understanding why the Imperium's forces would try to reach Macragge and why so many Chaos forces were also invading the sector. After Cadia, and running high on their victory, there was only one way to further elevate their victory: by killing a Primarch. And since only one Primarch's location was known across the Imperium, reaching the most logical conclusion only took milliseconds.
"Guilliman?" He muttered, in shock and anger.
"According to our predictions, there is a 99.2% chance that the servants of those tumors are going to try and kill the Ultramarine's Primarch," Neftka said. "Epirus, I cannot stop you from going if you plan on going, but you can't take more than your flagship, The Clever Girl, if you wish to go to his aid."
"And you're damn right I will! If we leave as soon as possible, we'll make it to Macragge in two weeks, give or take. Even with the warp storms plaguing Ultramar, the bastards won't be able to reach it before I arrive to lend some support," Epirus said, reaching for his comm unit.
"There's something else you should know, Epirus," Neftka continued. "The Harlequin spoke three names and a plan set in motion. The first name is that of Yvraine, an eldar of great power who has, somehow awakened the Eldar God of Death and become his champion. She was the one who helped the survivors escape Cadia. Her plan and that of another individual is to bring forth the resurrection of Roboute Guilliman."
Epirus froze for a moment. "Ynnead has been awoken? Is the Rhana Dandra actually happening now? Fuck, fuck, fuck! I thought we had more time… no, it can't be that easy. It never is. Have you told Iserena yet?"
"No, but I plan on sending her a message once we are done here. Now, onto the second name. The demon known as Saint Celestine walks with them and supports Yvraine's plan. The third name is Belisarius Cawl."
Epirus froze for a second. "Cawl? That Cawl? The same bastard I've been trying to contact for over eight thousand damned years? The same Belisarius 'I am so much better than you' Cawl?" Neftka nodded. "How the fuck was he involved in all this? You know what, I don't want to know. What is he doing there?"
"He too wants to resurrect the Primarch, Epirus. It seems he even has the means to do so. Sadly, that is all we know."
"In that case," he raised his communicator, "this is Epirus speaking to all ship personnel. Gear up, man your posts, and get some earplugs, because we're going to Ultramar! We're departing in twelve hours! Get ready to fight the puppets of the tumors!" Turning to Neftka, he bowed his head slightly. "Thank you, my friend. As part of my thanks, you can take a pair of boots from my collection back home if you want."
"...you are insufferable, Epirus," she said, rolling her eyes before the connection ended.
"Wait for us, brother, wait for us. There ain't no way in this war-torn galaxy that I'm letting you die. Not when there's a chance to actually bring you back," Epirus said, his gaze finding an old, worn-out imperial Aquila resting on a wall.
"Epirus?"
The voice of Iserena cut through his attention coming through his communicator. "Yes, honey? Is something the matter?"
"Could you come as soon as you can? Lelith wishes to talk to you," she replied and Epirus didn't miss the jovial tone in her voice.
"I'll be there in a minute. Did you hear my little announcement?" He asked, standing up and heading to his suit-up chamber. Light and nano-machines weaved together across his body, suiting him up, just in case.
"Yes, and now the message Neftka sent me has lost all of its mystery. I'll read it and wait for you here, love," Iserena replied.
Epirus cut the connection as his armor was completed. He grabbed his swords, a dagger, and hidden wrist blade, forgoing the use of his stylish attire for once and leaving but not before kissing Alicia's cheek, making her stir in her sleep. With a smile on his lips, he made his way to the nearest transport station which was, thankfully, only a hundred meters from his personal chambers. He walked into the station fitted with a dozen blue circles on the ground and stepped on one.
"Destination?" The VI asked.
"Prison cells," he replied and a second later a blue light showered him for two seconds before a flash of light teleported him to his destination. He walked out of the station without issue, making the two guards on duty, a quarian and a lizarian, stand at attention. He walked past them, nodding at them, and entered the prison cell, quickly making his way to where Iserena was waiting for him. When he arrived, he saw her expression and knew she had read through Neftka's message already.
She looked at him grimly, almost not wishing to believe what she had just read. He nodded slowly, reaching her, only to hug her tightly. "Where nowhere near ready."
"I know. But we'll manage. This isn't definitive. Not yet," Epirus remarked. Iserena looked at him with those wonderful, radiant, beautiful eyes he had fallen in love with countless centuries ago and fell in love yet again. He kissed her briefly and then turned his attention to the haggard-looking Lelith Hesperax. She looked more like a skeleton or a ghoul than an Eldar. "Wow. You look terrible, Lelith. Do you need some beauty products? A day at a spa? A massage, maybe?"
"...I care not… for your… mockery, human," Lelith said, breathing weakly. "I-I felt the disturbance… heard about the attack of the demons… I… I wish not to be devoured by She-Who-Thirsts. I will not be your slave… but I… accept your… your s-salvation," she practically spat the next words, glaring at Epirus. "I will become… less than Eldar… if it means I get to live."
"Get this woman a PhD, because she finally used her brain!" Epirus joked, stepping into her holding cell and deactivating her shackles, catching her as she stumbled forth, too weak to try anything. "Ah, the Achilles Heel of the Eldar: your brittle bodies. A veritable glass cannon! Don't worry, we'll put some meat on those muscles so you'll actually won't die from a headbutt!"
"I'm standing right here, you know?" Iserena teased.
"Love you too, honey! Now, how about you convince some of your other friends? Your time is running short," Epirus said.
"...take me to them, human. However… not many will… agree. To what… conditions… must we agree?" Lelith asked, eyes narrowing.
"Geez, already planning on how to betray me?" He asked and Lelith froze for a split second, just long enough for Epirus to notice. "Oh, please, I would be insulted if you didn't try. Dark Eldar are scheming, backstabbing bastards as a general rule. Now, you'll know what you're in for, what you'll gain, and what you'll give up in order to save your souls from Never-Went-To-Rehab. But you, Lelith? Oh, you will be my personal secretary~"
"Fucking really, Epirus?" Iserena asked, sighing deeply.
"Hey, I'll need someone competent to be my secretary and aide in the coming storm, you're my XO, Alicia is my chief of security, and I rather not trust a mere VI with that role. Lelith will fill that role perfectly. Plus, I get to have some extra eye candy!"
"You are impossible," Iserena said, giggling at the end. "Fine with me, love. Just don't try to bed her without seducing her first, okay? Last time that ended badly, remember?"
"Last time I was too eager to get my hands on her… gear," Epirus said, grinning. "So, we have a deal, Lelith?"
"Demeaning… to work for… you? Hmph… I don't have… another choice, anyways. Do as you… will," Lelith said, half-glaring, half-groaning at the indignity of serving under a mere Mon-Keigh. "As long as I… live and my soul is secured… I shall accept the indignity… for now."
Epirus' grin couldn't be wider if he tried. "Then let's go talk with your friends."
As it turned out, of the surviving Dark Eldar, wyches and regular cult followers alike, the vast majority decided to follow their leader's steps, some more eagerly than others at the prospect of being saved from Slaanesh. The few that refused were put in stasis for later use and those that had died were, of course, lies, as they were put in stasis too before they could die.
Epirus watched as several guards dragged prisoners away and Iserena handled Lelith herself. The process would take two full months to complete, mainly due to the difficulty of dealing with Eldars in general. But in two months, they would be free, renewed. Oh, how he loved seeing Dark Eldar break down after the process was complete.
"No," he whispered to himself, "I must focus on Guilliman first and foremost," he said to himself before moving to the transport station again, reappearing on the deck. "Status report."
"Ship engines online. Null Drive engaged. All systems nominal," the Navigator informed. Unlike imperial Navigators, his Navigator merely oversaw the status of shields, engines, the drive core, the routes to be used for the Null Drive to operate, and, most importantly, the cloaking systems. "Ready to perform a micro-jump to the edge of the system, Sir. On your order."
"Engage, we have precious little time to lose," he said, sitting down on his command chair and watching as the space in front of him, filled with darkness and tiny dots of light suddenly shifted into an array of white and blue mixing and twisting. There was the telltale echoing 'thrumk' that resonated throughout the ship as it performed a faster-than-light jump that didn't require the use of the Warp whatsoever.
As moments passed, Epirus went deep in thought. Should he contact some of his allies and call in for help? Would they even answer with the state of the Galaxy? Was there even a point in what he was trying to do anymore? He had superior technology, the ears of certain Inquisitors, and even the trust of ten entire chapters of Astartes. While hidden, he was certainly a man with great power and influence.
He chuckled to himself. While it wasn't the same, he had basically reforged a miniature version of the Federation before it fell into that bullshit idea of diving humanity into casts, resulting in the all too predictable AI uprising thanks to that feathered bastard, Tzeentch.
All in all, he was doing pretty well for himself in his small corner of the galaxy. And that was precisely the problem. Superior technology meant nothing if you were outnumbered a quintillion to one. And that wasn't even taking into account the orks, renegade Necron Dynasties, like Imotek, and the fucking roaches of space. Quite simply, if anyone took notice of his isolated home, they'd be fucked. Or normally would be if not for the protection the Ghoul Stars provided. Against the mindfuckery and horrible things that inhabited that cursed section of the galaxy, their superior technology did the trick.
"Reentering real space. Reentry successful, Sir. Ready to jump to the next system," the Navigator informed.
"Proceed," he acknowledged. The same distortion began to occur, but this time the white and blue colors became like water, another 'thrumk' was heard, louder and more powerful, and then the ship was flung forth towards another star system.
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"They're encircling us!"
"Where are the Equites!?"
"Routed! Ran! Jupiter save us, we're doomed!"
Epirus could hear chaos happening all around him. He was taller than the rest of his brethren by at least a head, so he got a good look at the full encirclement Hannibal had so ingeniously baited them into. Dread. Fear. Horror. All of those emotions and more ran down his spine nearly making him soil his undergarments -much like what his fellow Romans around him were doing, his nose revealed-.
He was going to die. He could see it, the banners, the pikes, the swords, and hear the noises of battle getting closer to where he was being squeezed into. His strength was meaningless against a mass of humanity equally focused on killing their foes and those trying to escape the slaughter.
He tried to fight, he tried to push against the ever-closing Carthageneas, but all his attempts were futile. Only death or surrender -if Hannibal was feeling particularly merciful, that is- were his only options.
Time passed and by the time a spear and a sword finally reached him, he was almost exhausted. Still, refusing to give up, he fought on. One, two, five enemy soldiers fell by his blade before his brethren around him fell and three spears punctured his belly, shattering his armor and a sword cut his throat, his blood flowing freely from his wounds, adding his red vitae to that of thousand other soldiers.
Darkness overtook him and he fell on the ground, trampled by the enemy as they pushed on the few remaining Legionnaires still standing.
A sharp pain, a deep inhale of air, and a fit of choking coughs awoke him from what felt like a restful sleep, although it was anything but. He stood up and the smell of death hit him like a truck. It was morning- "Morning? How… why?" he asked, horrified and confused, as he touched his body, searching for the wounds that had killed him. He had died. He was sure of it. So why was he alive? Had the Gods spared him? Sent him back to seek vengeance upon Hannibal and Carthage? If so, where was their message? Why hadn't he met them?
As he looked around the decomposing bodies of his brethren, still too early to form worms but tender enough for the crows to have a feast, he felt… sadness. He was happy to be alive, sure. He even felt rage against those that had killed him and his comrades. But the sadness was greater. Why was this bloodshed necessary? So many lives could've been spared or at least more could've survived… right? Maybe… maybe if he prayed to the Gods-
"They won't help you."
Epirus turned around only to find a man towering above him wearing a cloak. He couldn't see his face well, but his eyes, those golden eyes were filled with sorrow and love, grief and hope so intense it nearly brought him to his knees. Still, he found his voice. "B-But Jupiter or wise Mercury should be able to answer my questions."
"They won't answer, for your Gods, all Gods, are false. An illusion. There are those that fancy themselves as Gods, but are nothing more than parasites. Come, Epirus, let us leave this place."
"W-Wait! W-What is- who are you!?" Epirus asked, confused, but already his feet had moved to follow the giant man. "Are you Dis, come to take my soul into the underworld?"
"I am but a mere human and yet more than that. You too are more than a normal human, Epirus. In time, you will understand, my son," the man spoke as he walked away.
Epirus followed, beguiled by the cloaked figure. "May I… at least know your name?"
"Certainly. My name is-"
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Epirus stirred from his slumber, waking up on his command chair while Iserena and Alicia sat at his sides. Looking at the holo-display, he saw that they were nearing Macragge and, as the early scans had demonstrated, a fierce space battle was happening all over the system, although most of that battle was happening in Macragge's orbit.
"Bad dream?" Iserena asked softly.
"Not a dream. A memory. It's been decades since I last went over it again," Epirus replied more seriously than usual, though it was broken a second later. "Being stabbed and nearly decapitated is a hell of a way to find out you're a Perpetual!"
"I admire your boundless childlessness, love," Alicia remarked, then turned her focus to her first lieutenant, a human. "How are our forces holding?"
"Ready and eager to fight. As per your instructions, only human and aeldari elements have been chosen for the initial operation. The rest of our ground forces shall assist if needed."
"The last thing we need is having the people we came to assist shoot us just for being surrounded by many 'xeno' species," Alicia sighed. Then, she turned to Epirus. "Love, why don't we perform a minor jump? Despite our best efforts, we're going to be detected sooner or later. A surprise swoop should ensure a competent first strike, no?"
"That is indeed true, honey. But I don't want to risk the lives of my crew, yours, or my ship unless it is absolutely necessary. The battle is raging all over Macragge already, I'm sure they can handle themselves for two hours without our intervention," he sighed, clenching his hands into fists. "Besides, we're not here to join the battle, but to rescue my Primarch brother, Papa Smurf himself."
"I detest war," Iserena spat with ire, sharing her husband's disdain.
"In that case-"
"Alert!" The primary comms officer suddenly exclaimed. "A small fleet of Chaos ships have entered realspace five-hundred-thousand kilometers, coordinates K-799024786, T-344K88Y90. Their Fleet is composed of a battle cruiser-sized vessel, three light cruisers, and twelve escorts. Sir, their Augur Arrays will detect us in less than two minutes if we continue our heading."
"And we can't divert or we'll give us away to their sensors anyway and if we fire upon them, we're also shit out of luck, huh?" Epirus let out a groan of frustration. "Never expect a plan to survive first contact with the enemy, huh? Well, since we still have the element of surprise on our side, ready to fire upon the enemy, aim for their escorts with kill strikes. Ignore the cruisers, they won't be able to catch up with us. After firing on the escorts, bring us out of stealth and bring the engines to full sub-light. Bring us up to speed."
"SIR!" The entire bridge chanted simultaneously as general quarters were called and the lance turrets quickly rotated to take fire, aiming carefully.
Epirus smiled with satisfaction when he watched the holo-map change into a tactical display in time to show the collection of twelve lance strikes traversing the space between them and the enemy fleet. While relatively close, the streams of exalted energy took three seconds to reach their targets. A second later, the twelve escorts were removed from the tactical display, the strikes destroying their reactors instantly, causing them to become small stars for a brief moment.
The Clever Girl then accelerated, easily putting itself well outside the range of enemy lance weapons.
"We shall be within Macragge's orbit in one hour at current heading, Sir," the Navigator informed. "Enemy ships won't be able to catch us and we'll be outside their effective weapon's range until we reach the planet's gravitic influence."
"You better not die before we arrive, Roboute," Epirus whispered more seriously as the tactical display gave a more vivid depiction of the battle raging all around the system. The destruction of the escorts had caused the remaining ships to launch an Augur wide scan and the blaring of their engines gave them away. He could see dots moving to face this lone, undetected enemy. But they wouldn't reach him, ever. Not at the speed they were moving. He had a single objective in mind and he wasn't going to let anyone get between his goal and him. "I'm coming."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
-Macragge -Primarch Guilliman's Stasis Chamber, Temple of Correction-
Marneus Calgar was not a happy man at the moment. He was the furthest thing from happy right now. First, he got news that Cadia had fallen at the same time the Devastation of Baal had happened, cursing himself for being unable to assist in any of those events. He wished the best to Dante and the Blood Angels, but Abaddon and the forces of Chaos were his highest priority at the moment. They had invaded shortly after the arrival of the survivors of Cadia appeared at the doorstep of the Silver Skulls Chapter, no less.
Long story short, they had to maintain a tentative truce with the aeldari witch, Yvraine, as the situation had become so dire that they couldn't refuse the blades of the eldar. Not when the life of his Primarch was at stake. Belisarius Cawl claimed that he was here at his Primarch's behest, but why now? Why not sooner? And why was he refusing to further elaborate on his purpose except that he was here to save his life?
All had been clear when the witch said that to save Roboute Guilliman… he must first have to die and allow her to use her xenos witchcraft to revive him. Was she taking him for a fool to believe such an obvious lie? Or was it the truth? Damn eldar, always speaking in lies, half-truths and riddles. What was worse, Cawl supported her action. And so did the Saint herself, Celestine!
What heresy!
But now he could hardly think about it as he punched another chaos marine, turning his head into chunky salsa before swatting seven cultists just as easily. All around him, the surviving Black Templars, Imperial Fists, Imperial Guard, Sororitas, Skitarii, his Ultramarines, and even Eldar were giving their all to protect the sanctum of his Primarch.
Terminators and Honorguard were eviscerating traitors left and right, bolter fire roared in all directions, the clash of chainswords and power weapons filled the air, the screams of death, defiance, rage, and war echoed the chambers of his Primarch's resting place for the first time in millennia. Madness, everything was madness. No matter how many they killed, ten took their place and their reinforcements were naught. Each step back they took was purchased at a high price, but one that the traitors were all too happy to pay just to see his Primarch die once and for all.
Suddenly, the ceiling burst open to reveal drop pods falling. For a moment, he felt relief. But that relief turned to rage when he saw the marks of Khorne on the sides. World Eaters. Berserkers. And as if that wasn't enough, the screeching of Raptors followed the thundering landing of the pods.
"BLOOD FOR-" The demented cry of a Khornite Berseker died when Yvraine beheaded him, moving with the grace that only an Eldar could achieve.
Curses be with the xenos witch, but as long as she protected his Primarch, he would tolerate her existence. Minutes passed in a blur of slaughter as one by one the defenders died and were driven back by the forces of Chaos.
"NO!" He heard Greyfax shout and he turned his attention to her only to see she was looking at the altar where his Primarch rested. He found Cawl and Yvraine there, waiting for something while the accursed tech-priest worked on the package he had brought with him. Tigurius was there, protecting the two for some unknown reason.
"Stop!" He shouted, realizing what they were about to do. When had she moved away from the battle? When did Cawl arrive at the sanctum itself!? "By the God-Emperor, stop your actions! Brother Tigurius, stop them!"
"...Do it. And may the Emperor protect you if you play me for a fool, xenos witch," Tigurius replied before making three Black Legion Terminators implode inside their armor.
Calgar couldn't even scream in rage when he saw the stasis field around his Primarch vanish only for Yvraine to cut the life support system. He could only focus on his Primarch's last, weak exhale that marked his death.
"GUILLIMAN!"
A new voice called forth from the heavens and he turned his gaze upward to see more enemies… no… not enemies. Reinforcements of some sort? Were they also survivors only now making their way into battle? It didn't matter. They opened fire upon the traitor forces, now desperate to reclaim the body of the Primarch. By the Emperor, he would not allow it!
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Had he arrived too late? His forces teleported right on top of the deluded servants of Chaos, taking them by surprise and ready to give the overrun defenders some much-needed breathing room. But he had seen the so-called Yvraine cut off his life support keeping Roboute Guilliman alive in a state of stasis and he heard his brother's last breath as he died. For a moment he felt rage, pure and blinding and nearly lashed out against the eldar and anyone else foolish enough to stand in his way. But then remembered Cawl was there. He knew Guilliman had tasked Cawl with important missions, though he had only speculated the magnitude of the such things. If Cawl was there, waiting to do something, then that meant he had a plan. His fury relented and careful contemplation followed even as he removed the head of a distracted Black Legionare.
A plan that manifested itself in the form of a sarcophagus being placed upon Guilliman's body by Cawl. It then began molding and adjusting itself around Guilliman's body, enclosing him just as Yvraine performed an eldar ritual that resuscitated him. The battle itself came to a halt as Guilliman, his brother, rose slowly from the coffin that had been the stasis pod he had spent millennia inside. Even as he crushed the head of a psyker, he couldn't stop watching his brother's enraged face that screamed he was about to shove tax reforms up the ass of any traitor stupid enough to be within a hundred light years near him until they tasted the ink.
"RRRRAAAAAAGHHHHHHHHHHHH!" A scream of bloodlust escaped a Khornite Berserker as he charged at Guilliman.
Epirus watched his brother move his right arm in a flurry of motion and, a moment later, the traitor was split in half from groin to head, both halves catching fire as they fell. His eyes went wide when he saw the Emperor's Sword on Guilliman's right hand. How could that be? The Sword was supposed to be back on Earth unless… "GUILLIMAN!" He shouted again and the fighting was retaken. The beaten defenders were reinvigorated, Celestine began to fly around, cutting traitors with reckless abandon, and his forces also pushed themselves to beat the shit out of as many Chaos followers as they could.
Two hours later, the battle for Macragge was over; the traitors repelled and their glory snuffed out. They had gone and he had arrived just in the nick of time to provide whatever aid he ended up giving. His rescue mission had turned into a supporting action, but he was more than happy to see his brother alive once more. Only when the remaining battle left on the planet could be handled by the Imperial Guard, did Guilliman call for him and him alone to talk in private. Protests and suspicion abound, but in the end, none dared defy the order of the Primarch. Only Yvraine showed her dissatisfaction at having to wait to talk with the Primarch herself, but she nevertheless agreed only when Iserena expressed a desire to talk with the chosen champion of Ynnead.
Now alone, Epirus and Guilliman stood silently for several moments until the Primarch sat down on a marble throne made for Calgar that, while still a bit small for him, was the best thing available at the moment.
"Epirus…"
"Roboute…"
"...Brother… I did not expect to see you ever again after," Guilliman shook his head. "It doesn't matter now. Thank you, for your assistance."
Epirus chuckled, shrugging. "I ended up doing nothing. But I couldn't let Bitchbaddon parade your corpse around, you know?"
"Ah, Abaddon… Calw informed me of what has happened and the current situation, brother. Father would be most infuriated, wouldn't he? The Imperium has become everything he despised and what we worked so hard to eradicate."
"Fucking Lorgar won. Bet the bastard is having a proper laugh in whatever pissing hole he's hiding," Epirus said, agreeing with his brother's assessment.
"Then stay with me and let us go to Terra, brother. We must push back against the traitors and the enemies of the Imperium."
"I'm sorry, G-man-"
"G-man?"
"-but my path doesn't involve the Imperium itself. Only humanity and much more than that. Do your best and try to not cause a civil war when you come head to head with the Ecclesiarchy. And the Inquisition. Aaaaand I better shut up now about that," Epirus shook his head slowly, mournfully. "We will keep in contact, brother. Here," he said and tossed the Primarch a blue cube. When the Primarch caught it, it rapidly turned itself into a snake and slithered inside his armor until it reformed itself into a bracelet within the Primarch's armor. "It's an Omnicommunicator. We'll be able to keep in touch that way and we can contact each other if something were to happen. Careful, though, you'll only be able to use it about five minutes per day if you so desire and only if you ask it if I'm available for conversation. Bitchy, I know, but we'll likely be too far away from each other while you decide what to do next and I… continue on my work, Guilliman."
"I see… thank you, brother. I really wish you could join me. I fear what I will encounter in the very near future. Alas, I shall respect your decision, First Great Lord Rogue Trader," replied the Primarch using Epirus' full title. "You shall receive full access to Ultramar whenever you need it and," he smirked, "a decree to lower the volume of the chanting speakers?"
"HAHA!" Epirus laughed loudly. "Roboute Guilliman, master comedian, everyone!"
A moment of awkward silence followed. Guilliman broke it with a single question. "What do you plan on doing now?"
"I plan on visiting a friend first and either get answers or a piece of technology I've been looking for and I'm sure he has it. After that? I haven't planned beyond the first step. You know me, G-man. I tend to make my plans on the go," Epirus replied.
"Please stop calling me that."
"Do you prefer Papa Smurf?"
"...point taken. I shall allow it," Guilliman let out a mirthful chuckle. "Do you know where any of our other brothers are?"
"Not the slightest idea. I don't even know if Dorn was really killed or not. But I'm sure he's alive, just hiding… somewhere, waiting. Lion is either brooding or dealing with depression. The Khan? Somewhere in the Webway. Good luck finding him. Leman and Corax entered the Warp. Vulkan? No clue. As for the others? Surely in their little realms."
"I guess it was too much to hope for," Guilliman hummed deeply. "What do you think of Yvraine?"
"Gorgeous, tall, juicy ass and hips, big breasts-"
"Her claims and actions, you perverted imbecile," Guilliman groaned, but couldn't hide the shadow of a smirk after hearing his brother. "You haven't changed at all."
"Hey, I know who and what I am, haha! Short version? I would take everything she says with a mountain of salt but I would try to build bridges with her. Who knows? Maybe you could achieve a true alliance between at least a group of eldar willing to fight against Chaos. And, I know this sounds crazy, I would also listen to their advice when given the chance. They can be arrogant, self-righteous cunts, but they know their shit, too."
"In that case, I shall give more credit to whatever Yvraine tells me, if only slightly. Do you require any assistance?"
"At the moment, no. But now that we can keep a line between us open, who knows? I know it isn't much, but if disaster comes to Ultramar and no salvation is at hand, I shall do my best to save as many innocent souls as I can possibly carry. I'm sorry your big brother can only do so much, G-man," Epirus finished with a playful grin.
"You may be older, but you're weaker than any of us, brother," Guilliman chuckled. "I would never call you 'older brother' no matter what. None would believe it either. A son of the Emperor that isn't a Primarch?"
"Hey, I wasn't the only child our father sired over the years. I just so happen to be a Perpetual like a lucky few. Besides, do you think Big E ever saw any of us as his actual children?"
"Perhaps, at one point in time," Guilliman replied, nodding sadly. "I hope to see you again soon, brother."
"Likewise, brother," standing up, Epirus engaged his comms unit. "Teleport me up. Take care, Avenging Son." Before Guilliman could reply, he was gone from his office and appeared at the Teleporting Station on his ship. His forces were accounted for, taking only minimal losses, their souls safely back home, and no equipment was missing. Iserena was back on the ship already and was both relieved and worried. Alicia was likely waiting on the bridge, certainly repulsed by Celestine's existence but accepting it out of principle.
He boarded a transport station and went to the bridge deck, ready to leave Ultramar with a single destination in mind. He truly wished Guilliman the best, but he couldn't stay. It wasn't his place. His fight and purpose were elsewhere.
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-Solemnace, six months later-
"Forty-seven thousand Dark Eldar kept in stasis, an original copy of Pokemon Sun and Moon, and a genuine first edition book of I, Robot. That is what I offer in exchange for a dimension-veil matrix, Trazyn. What do you say, deal?" Epirus offered the Master of Solemnace, waiting for his answer.
"Oh, Epirus, what a delightful trade you offer! But so unbalanced, so desperate. I gain too much for something barely worth half of what you promised me. I must admit, I've been searching for more aeldari for my collection and, of course, as personal objects of entertainment. Seeing a Drukhari wither and turn into a husk is always a fun experience. Nevertheless, I am surprised that you've come all the way to my home after what transpired. You're not, perish the thought, here to reclaim some of my justly-gained mementos?"
"We're… almost friends, Trazyn. Whatever you took from Cadia was well deserved despite the victory of Failbaddon. In these times, one has few friends, and I seek something I need for something I have in excess. So, deal?" Epirus insisted.
"Hmmmm, not quite~ As a matter of fact, I have something else that I believe will interest you," with a single flicker of a finger, the chambers shifted and they were suddenly in another section of the great planet-sized museum. "You can have that if you can give me something I desire more than anything at this moment."
Epirus watched, slacked-jawed, at a figure trapped in stasis. No matter how he looked at it, there was no denying what he was seeing. White glowing hair, perfect, sculptured figure, perfect proportions, gorgeous black eyes with a hint of purple and silver to them. He was seeing… Fulgrim.
A female version of Fulgrim.
"What… is that? Is this a joke, Trazyn?"
"Hardly. It was a gift left by Fabius Bile. Good exchange. But I do believe you will give it a better use, Epirus. Interested?"
Without even thinking, Epirus answered. "What do you want?"
If Trazyn could smile, he would've spread the widest shit-eating grin ever. "A promise~"
Chapter 2 End.
