Chapter 19
We march for Macragge and we shall know no fear.
Ultramarine battle chant. M 31 to M 42
Inquisition headquarters Forge of Dreams Tuesday afternoon.
Jeanne was nervous. She had been summoned to the Inquisition. She liked Akio. But his authority scared her. She was expecting to be questioned again. She touched her pendant. Her god reassuring her that this good.
The perpetual entered the office, and two storm troopers were guarding the first room. They both had the rosette. They were un helmed and both had smiled before returning to guard duty. Two men were working on computers one was extremely excited and was practically salivating at his work. The other man was simply happy. The second man saw Jeanne and nodded in greetings.
Jeanne entered the main office and was hit by a powerful hug from a familiar face. Jeanne let tears hit her eyes. It was Leo. Her adoptive brother cried out his relief at seeing her. Akio was sitting at his desk and had smiled at his sister getting her family back. Jeanne held Leo and just patted his back. She looked at Akio and was so happy.
"Thank you Akio. I did not know he was there. Leo were you treated well? You do not have to fear the Inquisition."
Leo blabbered about how he was treated and how he has a new friend in the captain of the storm troopers. Jeanne holds the younger boy and lets him release the fear he had long had. Akio had enjoyed the looks of happiness between them. He did, however, have to break it up.
"It is no problem Jea. I do need your help again. We found the thing and we found more hints of bases. I will need you both to help verify the findings. I understand that Leonardo wants to build things. If he wants I will second him to the new forge. The forge-mistress is looking for a student. Would you like that Leonardo?"
Leo lit up like a star. He had stopped crying and was now facing Akio nodding his head furiously.
"Please sir! I want to make things! I have seen the machines and want to learn! Please!"
Jeanne laughs at her brother and his eagerness. Akio just nodded.
"You are free Leonardo. Your future is your choice. You can even choose to leave this life behind. We will keep you supplied with batteries for free."
Leonardo had shaken his head.
"I want to serve! I want to see the Omnissiah! I want to build for man!"
"Then it is yours. I will have captain Fleur escort you to the forge today. But I need your help. I need to know everything about the hydra that you know of in the brigade. I need to know bases. We will purge this rotted plant from our world."
"Yes inquisitor! For the machine god and for the Emperor!"
The next two hours were spent making sure their intelligence was correct and then Leo was led out of the office by the captain. Jeanne stayed.
"I wish to help too. But not here. I want to serve in the light of the Emperor. Hower, I don't see myself with the guard."
Akio was still for a second before nodding.
"I have the perfect place for you."
Former Exorcist rest station Italy Tuesday.
The Aquilla flew over this former stronghold of the Catholic Church. Kan had done the deed and had imperial magicians change the ward scheme. Out of the support staff from the church only one had not joined the revolt. The exorcists who had stayed this long had finally joined the Emperor. They had heard the tales of the guard. They wanted that. To be valued.
Xenovia had her own pendant to the god Neoth now. She had been broken to know that the first God she had served was dead. She understands why that was hidden. Neoth was her new god now. She would form the Sisters of battle. Her dream.
The holy sword user had ten recruits. They were a mix of nuns and female exorcists. They had heard the call. Irina was helping her. It was a shock to learn her friend was immortal like the Emperor. That does not matter. The brown hair woman is still her sister.
They would train the sisters. They would make fury. They would show the world and then the galaxy the fury of humanity. A man bearing the sign of the Inquisition came into the room the sisters had claimed and was followed by a blonde haired woman. Irina had squealed happily drawing Xenovia over to the two. The blonde woman smiled and returned the hug to her kin.
"Xen! This is Jeanne! She is going to be joining us! Jeanne this is my sister! Her name is Xenovia!"
Xenovia nodded in welcome to the other. She focused on the Inquisitor.
"I swear to honor the first and place our order at the Inquisition's call. We will serve with faith and honor in the secret war. This I as the first cannoness swear."
The man takes the oath.
"I accept this oath given in good faith. Your order will serve as the Millitant arm of our future Ordo Xenos. I currently lead the Ordo Investigation. I will have a second soon and they will lead that Ordo. Give them the oath again when they are ready."
Xenovia salutes with the Aquilla.
"We the sisters of battle will never break this oath. I will make it again to the new Inquisitor. We will need time to recruit and train our warriors."
"I understand. I will have troops of my own until we form the arbites and we begin handing over more power to them. Keep up the good work. Jea. This what your looking for?"
The blonde smiles.
"Yes Akio. I will be there for our club tomorrow. Thank you again for helping Leo. He will be much happier there then with those curs. Just transfer him to a peace section eventually. I know that we need guns."
"He will. He is going to eventually get his own forge."
Across Europe.
The remaining Exorcist way stations joined the rebellion against the rot. Angels in charge of them had been like Kan funneling warriors to the Guard. The news of the first station now openly rebelling had prompted them to do the same. Church dogs were thrown out of the stations by cheering crowds of Exorcists and other members of the church's who wanted to serve the Emperor. The Aquilla was now flying over these stations.
The members of the church's who had true faith resigning on mass now would bring themselves and many retired exorcists to the Aquilla.
Vatican City the Pope's inner sanctum.
Pope Benedict the XVI was shaking in rage. The church was now nearing a very real possibility of death. He was getting reports of every single rest station that the Catholic's had were now in open revolt. Calls from the Orthodox Church patriarch and the elected head of the Protestant faiths were both claiming that their stations were doing the same.
This was really bad. Benedict had requested a meeting with Michael. Requested, not demanding like he usually would have.
Michael had come, he was joined by Gabriel. The Arch Angel was so incredibly happy now. His sister had told him and the others why the system had not failed. Michal had reevaluated the system and now saw that it was actually stronger than it had been last month. It was in fact growing stronger every minute. Michal had been crying tears of joy.
Their father's dream would not die. He now had a successor. Michal and the other seraphs had gazed in amazement at Gabriel's wings. Pure and utter gold. The conclave of heaven was called, and more and more angels showed their wings of gold. They were not just from Gabriel's cadre. This had been it.
They would now be free from the churches. The faith of Christianity would change forever. It would transform into something new. A faith that truly put words into action. A faith that would help build a new empire that would reach the stars. The new god had an avatar. The Emperor of Mankind in all who shared the human form.
The conclave had cheered so much at that decision to break with the parasitic fiends. Gabriel had then surprised them more. An angel had come forward. She had blue hair and had not been in heaven since her fall.
Kalawarna had rejoined the family she had lost. The conclave had cried tears of joy. They always wanted their fallen kin to return. To know that redemption was possible. So many angels swore immediately to the emperor. Their wings changed to gold. Kalawarna also told the others they could live full lives. They would never fall now. Angels chanting praise to the one who had given them this gift. To truly connect with the second children.
Many drew holy blades swearing the new oath of moment to their eventual new father. Neoth had appeared to them.
The angels had seen all of him. They saw the bad and ugly. But they saw he was also fighting for redemption. He was not perfect. But that had not mattered. Michael had knelt joined by the entire conclave.
"You are not my creator. But you will be one day. I see we would have betrayed humanity in terrible ways if we had made peace the way we wanted. You helped us with the system. You gave us the key. You are not a good man. But you are trying to be better. I Michael of the old greet the new. I am with you father. I am with your avatar of him on Terra."
That oath shook heaven. The others joined. Neoth had shocked them.
"Give your actions to my avatar. I just need faith. I will never deserve any of you. My gift to you all is for the first who saw me and despite his loner nature tried to be my friend. He saw what you all see. He was the best. He will come back partially. He will be my aspect for the cult of sacrifice. Let that be my first gift to you all for trying to accept me."
The conclave wept at that. He that was their maker would return.
Benedict glanced at the speaker of heaven. The blonde man was happy. Gabriel was happy too. The Pope made the plea.
"Archangel. Please help us get the way stations back under control. I and the others are prepared to make serious concessions and will begin to implement reforms on whatever you say we need to fix. Just help us please. We keep the system running."
Michael had just considered for but a moment before he spoke.
"No."
"No?"
"No. We have given you many chances to change. You never wanted to till now. No. I support the revolt. You lost the last chance when your cardinals excommunicated the user of twilight healing. You blindly followed them and supported the verdict. You will get no help from us. Nor the others."
The Pope was shocked to his core. He had been refused. The German man grew angry.
"You have to help us! The churches are what keep the system alive! You cannot do this to us! We who have supported you despite the lord almighty being dead! Help us!
Michael just shook his head.
"You and the others fucked us over too many times to count. You all enjoyed making us your slaves. You attempted to stop along with the others the movement that would have saved your institutions. No. I can finally say this to you. Fuck you and them! I declare that we in heaven do not need you anymore. We have hope now. We denounce you as the monster you and many of the cardinals have become. You are sundered from us and our father. Those who truly have faith will be welcomed to join with the new avatar of the god that has kept our makers system running despite the sabotage. You however can truly go and fuck yourselves on the pyre you and the others made."
The Pope was now enraged. Before smirking.
"You just fell dove. You get to suffer."
Michael and Gabriel laughed at that pathetic threat. They both unfold their wings. The Pope turns bone white. The wings are not black. But pure gold. Michael smirked so happily.
"We cannot fall anymore. Go fuck yourselves. We are done with you."
The Archangel summoned a holy spear and breaks the Pope's desk in glee. The pope backs off still bone white. The two seraphs leave.
Camp of Light China Tuesday afternoon.
Leonardo was asking a million questions to his new teachers. Cornelia and the now bodied Cawl answered them all. It is in that forge that another new convert to the cult mechanicus meets the future. Elon Musk sees the machines making the future. He sees the first tank of the guard being assembled by adepts and they sing and pray to this new vehicle of the future.
When Elon had asked what the tank was called the adepts had smiled and called it the Griffin pattern tank mark one.
It was the first truly green vehicle of humanity. A powerful mini plasma engine produced zero emissions and was more powerful than anything that had come before. Elon had knelt and whispered a prayer to the machine god.
He then cheered along with the adepts as the tank turned on and was rolled out of the forge. The tank made guardsmen cheer for the first vehicle of the guard. A female devil had along with three humans volunteered for the tank crew.
The griffin tank was modeled after the old Rogal tank but was severely modified to fight with better tech and its duo cannons were two las cannons and a heavy bolter for anti-infantry. When asked by the adept who would be the maintenance worker to the new tank commander the devil had smiled evilly.
"I will call it the Sicarius. Like the once great captain."
The tank crew had painted a slogan on the sides of the las cannon barrels.
We march for Terra and the Emperor.
The tank would not see action yet. More people were coming in. More and more people were hearing the call. Farmers from Asia. Tribesmen from Africa. From Russia came many people. From the Americas came all creeds and people. The new fighters were so very eager to serve the Emperor of Man. They knew no fear.
Just as many people had come to increase the hydra. Doctors for medical work. Engineers who were flocking to the Mechanicus. Dreamers for political change. None were turned away. Those sworn or swearing to the Aquilla could feel the ever-increasing hope. Many saw the tank slogan. All would remember it.
The political parties had taken that as their slogan too. We march for Terra. They would link up with more Alpharius's they would cooperate and coordinate their efforts to Unification. The stakes were too high for old grudges.
More of the supernatural were coming to the Aquilla. Hope was really happening. Sacred gear users were coming in droves. Angels with new wings of gold fallen and pure reuniting into one. Devils were slowly coming. Many did not even think it was possible to be free again.
Some did though. They came. They prayed. The system was now working to suppress the pieces so that they could wait longer before they were freed. The new strays felt the effects. Many wept and could see that the god of humanity loved them too. Their new comrades prayed for them too. Those who had not known of the other side had been supremely surprised, but they joined in the prayers.
Four new chapels formed on the camp grounds. Each led by true believers. They gave the sermons. The people came.
Camp of Light Tuesday night.
Issei and Sona had come. Sona wants to see the beginning of the ritual. She would also be there for her other and her future subjects.
Masori and the two former knights had brought five new strays to their building. The strays had been scared when they saw Sona, but Masori calmed them.
"She is with us. She wants you free too. She who will be with your Emperor as one of many Empresses believe. You made it this far. Do not doubt now."
A nekomata devil moved forward. She was here. She had escaped her abuse. She would believe.
Issei held out his hand. Sona joined with hers. They believe in each other. They place their hands on the first. Power comes from them both and the gray cat woman wants to scream. She does not. The four other strays see the piece a pawn fall to the floor and break into pieces. The strays weep openly.
The grey cat looks to her lord and lady. Sona earns a title.
"Empress of Light. Thank you for this gift."
The nekomata falls to her knees weeping. She is free! Sona sees the abuse. She had always accepted the system. But the pure joy from this former stray makes her question how many of the numerous strays that Cleria had her and Rias's peerages put down had run from that kind of abuse. She regrets the callous disregard for them she had. She will become the Empress of Light.
Another comes forward. This is a regular human man.
Again, they the rulers of humanity put their hands on his chest. He whimpered and tears came but his piece followed to the floor another pawn. These five were from the same peerage. The nekomata grabbed his hand; he gasped his first breath of freedom.
"Empress of Eternal Light."
It is his thanks. Sona feels true light fill her. She will help these people.
"When we are done. Tell me your names. I will remember this moment as the moment i become your Empress of Light."
The man and woman who were freed know now that despite the fact Sona was a pure blood devil she saw the reasons the reincarnated had fled. The light fills them too.
"Anything for you my Empress!"
That had come from the freed and the three remaining strays.
Three more pieces fall to the floor. The pawns break.
The five sang a song to their Empress they were free! Sona learns their names. She begins to see what they each want.
"If you wish to teach others you are welcome to serve me in my school. It will no longer teach the gladiators how to fight. It will teach the future students of humanity to build rather than destroy. This I swear to you who are freed!"
The new freed nod in clear gratitude. She was light incarnate.
This tale will spread to the reincarnated here at the camp. Many feel faith restored. To know that an Heiress of the Seventy two pillars sees why many will flee and will help them. Sona became the Empress of Light.
Sona feels like her soul is a lantern in the dark. She will come and help every single stray from this moment onwards. She will live up to her title. The one she had made herself. Not the ones she was given at birth. Issei sees her happiness. He kisses her cheek.
"Remember this. Show the galaxy this you. I love your new title. My Empress."
Sona smiles further the former strays crying their love to her.
Underworld same time.
Ravel clapped so much for Sona at that moment. Sona now had her first truly own title. Ravel saw hers. The Empress of Fire. Pretty on the nose but was so right. Riser is confused but Ruval understands and smiles for her. Ruven was here and had also been confused. As had everybody else. Ruval's queen was now on their side.
The matriarch of the family looks at her daughter with a smile. Ever since she had come back from the human world with Ruval her daughter had been happier. Her husband had seen it too. Ravel wanted to talk with her tonight with Ruval. Annel had nodded at the request.
Annel sat with her eldest and her youngest. Ravel was smiling. Ruval was ready to fight for his sister. Annel sees her daughter pull a scroll out of her pocket. The matriarch raises a single well maintained eyebrow.
"Mom. Please read this fully. Do not say anything until you are done. I will explain it to you."
Ruval backs up his sister.
"I approve of it mother. Ravel has a very complex story to tell you. It is all real."
The second eyebrow goes up.
"I will take your word for it Vel. I am guessing that it ties into your new happiness and your visit."
Annel takes the scroll and unfolds it. Her eyes widen immediately. But she reads on. She grows more worried and more concerned as she reads. This was crazy. It was a marriage contract. She did not recognize the other name. She keeps reading getting more and more confused.
When Annel finishes the contract she immediately looks at Ravel with her full attention.
"Explain. Now"
Ravel does. Annel does not believe it. Until Ravel blushes and tells her mother what she and her husband had done last night. The Lord and Lady of House Phenex have the same primary sin lust. Thus, the four children. Annel gapes and Ravel brings up more examples.
These finally sell the idea of the fact Ravel can read minds. And apparently much more. If she believes the rest.
It explains a lot. Annel continues to listen. Ravel could see timelines. It explains why Ravel always seemed to have amazing luck. When Ravel tells her mother about her other. The drill haired woman blushes deeply. Annel knows that look it is the look of one in true love.
The name of the unknown man is revealed. It shocks Annel to know that he is like her daughter. A psyker. He is fully human. He is a very good man. Ruval backs that up. Annel hates how much she likes the romance of it.
"Mother Issei can bring to the table so very many things. I want to be his wife. He truly is my other. Help me sell this to father. I promise you and he will be happy with him. The main dowry piece is being made now. You will get your deepest wish. Riser will lose. I see that. But he will be happier. Issei is a much better deal than Rias. I promise you it is the truth."
Annel looks at Ruval. Her son does not back down.
"It is truth mother. We will rise higher than ever before. Ravel will make us into a name that will command respect. We will become more powerful than the Satans. Support us. I am getting what I want too. Both things."
Annel looks at her two children like they have grown twelve heads. What was the hook? How could she just accept that Riser will lose? She did believe that he and Rias were a bad match. But her husband was stubborn and the contract favors them more. What could a human offer that the Gremory's couldn't?"
Ravel sees the question. She answered it.
"A fix for our fertility problems. It is real. You can have as many grandchildren as you want."
That makes Annel gasp. That was so very fucking good. Annel wants a dozen or more grandkids. And more now. If the human provided that. Their race would kiss his ass. Houses would throw anything he wanted to get this. The human would be beyond powerful. He would gain instant influence. The minor houses would abandon their lords and ladies for that hope. This human could demand anything he wanted. Devil women would beg to be his.
The pure bloods celebrate any baby that comes from pure stock. Commoner or noble it did not matter. This was the chance of a lifetime. The Phenexs would become the second most powerful of the pillars by just having this human. No. The Phenexs could unseat the Baels.
Ruval goes for the kill.
"Ravel will become royalty. We will get power. Ravel will become an Empress."
Ravel speaks up adding more.
"I will be the Empress of Fire. Help us and we will be a name remembered for ten thousand years."
The knife in the jugular. Annel let her second sin take over fully. Greed. This will be the chance. Her daughter deserves the world. If this is possible. This is a deal that blows Riser and Rias's out of the ocean. Annel committed to this.
"I am in. The human will be gone in eighty years. We will become the greatest house of devils ever."
Annel looks at her children who are now laughing at her. Ravel tells the punchline.
"Mom. He is immortal."
Kuoh Academy lunch time Wednesday.
Rias told Issei the start of the game.
"It is starting at 11am Saturday. Riser tried to intimidate me today. He was very concerned that we were not cowed."
"I will tell him. His stuff is ready. He will meet you in your club room."
Rias and the others in the ORC were eager to end this fight. Their dreams were more important. Sona had squeezed her other. She was worried. She had been tired from last night but had shown the Imperium her might. Guardsmen on duty had after hearing what she had done with their lord now she becomes their lady. They were coming to love her too.
Sona had made her token of favor for Issei to wear on his armor. It was a simple bracelet with a symbol of their new house. Issei had been touched by it. Tsubaki and Momo had awed at that. Ruruko had been somewhat confused but was still happy for her senpai. The rest of the student council were happy too. Murayama and Katase had cheered for the king. They would be watching the game with the student council.
Ravel had also sent her own favor. It was a simple piece of cloth with an emblem of fire. Issei knew the meaning. He had chuckled. Sona chuckled too. Tonight, Issei was spoken for with the perpetual club so Sona would be busy with contracts tonight. They had been keeping up with them. Cleria had kept her peerage on guard. Still the school day ends with another regular day.
Forge of Dreams Wednesday night the club house.
The four perpetuals had started their night off by just showing off skills. Issei showed his psychic might. Akio showed his detective skills by doing a murder mystery game. Irina had shown off her sword work and Jeanne had bragged about her sacred gear. That was fun for everyone.
Issei had teased Akio about Akeno.
"She is very desperate to meet you. She pesters me whenever possible about you. I keep saying to wait. She almost throttled me today."
"You would have been fine. I heard you and Sona are officially together and that she has her new title. My storm troops are wishing that they can meet her. At least we can tease Irina about Jeanne getting her other soon."
"Fuck you too bastard!"
"My parents were happily married Irina. Besides Jeanne needs her girl toy sooner than you."
"Fuck you again!"
Jeanne blushed but was excited. She was going to watch the ratings game with the student council at Issei's home. She wanted to meet her other. Jeanne had spent time with Leo today and the boy was already wearing the red robes of Mars. He had been ultra happy and told how he had shown his first design of a farming machine to Cawl, and they had filed it away for future building.
Jeanne was enjoying her time with the sisters of battle. They were being prepared to serve the Inquisition. The sisters had been eager to serve. They knew about Xenos. Neoth had shown the second enemy. The species disgusted the sisters, and they were eager to build the Ordo who would fight them. Jeanne had become a third captain and she was to start helping new recruits when they began arriving.
The way station had been recipient of many people fleeing the churches. The Muslims were also close to open rebellion. They had been preparing for it since the first of them had joined the guard. Their leaders were gathering the warriors up and they would strike next month.
The club continued to play new games. Issei had introduced them to regicide and the chess equivalent had been a hit. Jeanne had crushed Akio and Irina had died to Issei. The two winners had then played Jeanne losing by just one move. They had enjoyed the fun and Jeanne had asked to have a place to smoke for when she needed her hit. They others had nodded and Issei saw why Jeanne smoked. It had been her only comfort on the streets of Paris.
"I am not going to preach Jea. But your other is not going to like that. You do you."
Jeanne understands. She had tried quitting before. She had been off the death stick for six months when she relapsed and had taken up the smoking again. The brigade had done that.
"I know Issei. But I need it a lot. It helps me with stress. I will just have to wean myself off them again. But for now, I smoke."
There was no condemning that. Issei had a very guilty pleasure for reading. Akio had his own guilty pleasure. Irina was the only good one. Jeanne appreciates the understanding. She would still pop her stick somewhere private. The four then began a debate about devil society. Irina knew extraordinarily little as did Akio. Jeanne knew some because a good friend of hers in the brigade had been open about his views on his people. Issei explains to Irina the true extent of the evil system.
"That is utterly barbaric. They really do that?"
"If you mean pass people like a chair around yes. It depends on context. Some kings do it to help their members find the right one to serve. Others just use it as a threat to keep their pieces in line. The really bad ones do it to break their pieces down and then abuse them by hanging the feeling of pain over their piece's heads like a sword. And no Sona has never done that. Nor the Woman she looks up too. Cleria is an exceptionally good king. Masori just was very unlucky that his former king had to use a back door in the system to forcefully calm him. I technically caused the pain."
"How?"
"I was in my aspect mask. The Eldar were bastards but that mask of theirs is useful. I do not remember most of my kills. But I turn it off on certain missions."
"You are going to have to teach me the trick. It sounds especially useful."
"It is a type of disassociate disorder. You should not use it too much. You can technically split your psyche and that is awfully bad. I can do it because the gecko and the old man are in me and can pick up the slack."
Jeanne did not understand that gecko comment. Issei smiled.
"I have gear too. It is a Longinus. It is incredibly famous."
Jeanne thought it out. As did Irina. The two snap when they know the gear.
"Ise you are the Red Dragon Emperor!"
"Ten points to the nun who will use guns. Yes Irina I am that."
Jeanne is gobsmacked. She has now been in the presence of both halves of the supernatural's best know grudge match. The fact Issei was a perpetual had in a way made the victor decided. Issei sees the thought.
"Not really. The White Dragon Empress is very skilled and has a good lineage to back them up. Just like how I am the strongest red dragon. She is the strongest white dragon. We will fight to an almost standstill in most lines. I triumph a bit more than she does but in some lines she kicks my ass. Not badly but more as in an incredibly lucky first blow fucks me over and she presses the attack. Valitina is a skilled warrior."
That shocked Akio.
"A stand still. Really? But you."
"Yes a stand still. But that was before the prick began giving me more power. Now I do win in most lines. But the world is a lesser place without the other. Plus, I would like a friendly rival rather than having to kill every incarnation of the white one."
Irina is surprised. Issei explains.
"We both have achieved balance break. We both have crazy health regen. Mine from being a perpetual and her from her lineage. We can fight in that stage for an exceptionally long time. I do not want to, however. The damage of our fights would be worse than ever before. I have no less than two dozen different plans to deal with her."
Akio had heard of the grudge match. He was now thankful that he was never born with gear. It sounds like a bitch and a half. Jeanne asks something.
"What does the red one do all day?"
"He sleeps mainly. Very much likes that I can kick ass on my own. He did not like most of his users. Mainly because they would go mad from trying to gain more power. He shares stuff with me and the old man when he wants to. He has been more awake lately. Usually when Sona is around. He really likes her."
That was weird.
"He also likes Asia. But that makes sense with her because she is a dragon tamer. Still do not know how they missed that. With Sona he likes something to do with her sister. Calls the other the Water Dragon Queen."
That made sense. Akio had seen the records from the civil war the devils had and Serafall was called the Water Dragon Queen of the sea. You really did not want her to use her wand. She could destroy Japan several times over.
"He sounds weird. I understand why you call him a gecko. But the old man? I know you have an exceptionally large chunk of the god in you but is this one ok?"
"The old man is all right. He is quite knowledgeable. Great devils advocate. He and I only really fight when we talk about the second and the eleventh. They both were good sons."
Irina had been getting psyker training from Issei and she tried to see the two sons. She could not see anything about them. Issei patted her shoulder.
"They are very well hidden. Nearly everything about them was destroyed. The sons did not mention or talk about their deeds. The second was a very weird one. He was a blank. His legion fought the warp a lot. They were good at it. Too good. He died to warp corrupted Astartes from his legion. The Wolves had to put them down."
That was incredibly sad. To be killed by your own sons. Akio asked about the other.
"And the eleventh? What about him?"
"The eleventh was ok. He was good at fighting Xenos. His legion was quite good at fighting hyper special Xenos. He and his legion died by fighting something called the Rangdon. Those things are beyond evil."
Jeanne was still getting used to the fact of the other tree. She had been awed by her first view of an Astartes. To think that was a warrior. She saw why they had been called the Angels of Death. They needed to be to fight the Xenos. And the warp. She was now ultra glad she was not a psyker.
Akio was now seeing a bit more of the tree. There were so many problems.
"We will never become that place. I will not ever let my Inquisitors do the things the others did. That was needed. But we will be better. Our secret war will never get that bad."
Irina saw the other sisters. They were kick ass but also crazy.
"I like their tanks. But not the mindless zeal. We will be better too."
Issei turned the conversation to the sisters of battle.
"Those warrior women are freaking badasses. The fact they dropped churches from low orbit onto the battlefield was funny. Even the old man thought that was cool. Plus, that tank with the pipe organ missile launcher. Fucking sweet."
Jeanne had started bouncing at the compliments.
"Let me see! I want to see the others!"
Issei touched her hand. Jeanne saw the kickass nuns. They were ultra cool.
"I do not think we will drop churches. But that tank is very kick ass!"
Irina nodded at the remark.
"They are. Let us be the better them."
"We will sister!"
Camp of Light China Thursday morning.
The Sicarius was practicing its movements and the tank commander had beamed. It was decently fast. The las cannon had punched through a golem that some new magicians had brought with them when they had defected from their guild.
The crew had whooped at that. The commander had too. She liked her tank. The commander was a rook from one of the reincarnated kings. She had volunteered because she liked being a devil but had not felt the call of the mobile magical artillery. The Sicarius purred under her and the crew.
Another griffin would be leaving the forge today and a new crew had stepped up led by a former tank commander from the United States. He was happy to serve the guard. He was a Native American. He had joined because his goddess had shown him the Aquilla. He had been ending his tour of duty with the army. He wanted to reenlist, but the dream had made him come to China and join the Guard.
His griffin was rolled out in the afternoon. His crew painted the slogan of the forming tank core. We march for Terra and the Emperor. This commander had a very eager driver and gunner in a destruction maniac youkai tiger man. The others were youkai too. They had felt the call. The commander rolled his griffin to where its sister tank was being housed. The devil and her crew mingling with the new crew.
Cawl was enjoying this body. He was also enjoying working with Cornelia. The woman was very much a pleasure to work with. Leonardo was still asking questions and had even seen how to make a small flaw in the production line of carapace armor disappear. The adepts liked him. Leo was more inclined towards peace. Cornelia had already been talking with Charles about getting Leo a forge of his own that was definitely inclined to peace projects.
Cawl had already endured two sessions of Daliea smothering him. His sister was scary. Cawl would defend the next ones from her. He would keep the virus of bro and sis cons out of his siblings. He understands why Daliea was like this.
Leonardo began showing Cawl a plan he had made with Elon. The other man was very wacky, but he was a very good ally. His companies were getting the stuff needed to them via Alpharius's in China. The Chinese Alpharius head had told Cawl and Jasper that he considered the camp as the first land of the Imperium. He would have the rest of his hydra keep the Chinese party off their backs.
The head was also sending true sons and daughters of Terra there to serve the Emperor. Many were taking up support roles. Others had started forming the next regiment of the guard.
Other countries heads were doing the same.
Forge of Dreams Akio's office Thursday.
Captain Fleur was standing at attention in the Inquisitor's office. With her was a man from Spain. He had arrived early today with several Spanish exorcists and the man had asked about the rosette. The man had been transferred here and Fleur had come with two stormtroopers.
The Spanish man had shrugged but followed. Now he was sitting and facing Akio. The Inquisitor had just stared back at the newcomer. The stare off had been broken by a laugh by Akio.
"So, you are the next. I did not think we would get a nutter for alien life as the next."
The Spanish man had not been offended. He was regarded as a nutter in his country. Fleur did not say anything. But the new man had just replied.
"I did not expect my boss would be a brat kid. But beggars cannot be choosers. I am Diego Cortez. I am here to serve the Emperor and the Inquisition. I wish to bring my mind to use against the Xenos. I was brought here by the new one. But this will be my family's redemption for our actions with the first Inquisition."
"I will take the help. But you will serve as my acolyte for a time before full status. I will have you granted access to what we have on file for the Xenos. Also, we do not preach here. Believe if you wish but do not force anyone to accept your faith. The new one does not like that."
Diego nodded.
"I know better than to do that. The new has shown me some of the first Xenos. I believe we can ferment a revolt among one of their client species. They still hold several small but defiant holdouts. When we reach the stars we can possibly link up with them."
That surprises Akio.
"They must be true survivors. How are they doing that?"
"The new god has shown me that the holdouts have been worshiping an almost dead god of theirs. Neoth did something with them and they now know of us. They will not rat us out. They want the freedom badly. They understand it will be a bit of time before we can help free them."
"I see. I will tell the Emperor. You will be preparing your Ordo to help the holdouts. The militant arm is being prepared for you. But we will be using my personal retinue of storm troopers until further notice. Here is your badge."
Akio slid a rosette over to Diego. The new acolyte took it and pined it to his chest.
"Thanks. I will share my plans with you. They are very strange."
"Nothing left on Terra should faze me. But I welcome you to try."
Kuoh Academy Thursday lunch time.
Issei and Sona had decided to sit by themselves today. The student council understands that their king wants time alone with her other. A few of the fan girls try to make a move but Sona scared them off. She was helped by the SoSeei club and several boys. Sona was enjoying the time with Issei.
She asked how his night was with the other perpetuals.
"Pretty good. We need to introduce people to each other for the game this Saturday. How was your night So?"
"Just normal contracts. Had a very weird one from a man who thinks he is a magic girl. He is nice however and I just told him stories of my sister. That made him happy. He offered to give me something but I said no. He needs a friend. I will be that for him."
Issei kissed her cheek. Sona blushed happily. Several SoSeei girls awe at that display of affection. Two fan girls weep openly. The two eat together and talk about several things.
"Ise. I know you are getting increasingly busy with your job. If you need to. You can resign from the council. I"
"I am staying So. I already am passing all my classes with straight As. I can technically play hooky with them. But I am staying for you. Even when I win against Riser I am staying. The house is really starting to feel like a home. You are there. Ravel will be there too. I have something for you tonight. I finished it after my meeting last night. I hope you love it as much as I do."
Sona was eager to see it. Her greed kicked into full gear. That it was caused by him giving her a gift. That made it better.
"I cannot wait. Please win against Riser. I want Rias to live this new dream. I want us to be happier. Saji has a pendant now. Your patron is spreading into my peerage. He is still an ass. But he is doing so much good for my people too. I want to be there every time we free the reincarnated. I will not disappoint them. I really did mean it when I said that I will teach to build. The ratings games are now more barbaric to me."
"They are barbaric. But they have helped your race a lot too. Keep a portion of your school for them. Those who want to stay will need them. I am honored that you want to be there for them."
"They deserve better. I will be the Empress of Light. They are my subjects. Let them see the real me. I will not back down. I will break chains instead of making them. I will question every stray we fight from now on. Learn why they ran. I will kill the bad ones. I will save those who are truly innocent."
That was Sona's first oath of moment. It felt so good. She would make more. Sona sees why the guard had embraced the tradition. Why they fight with more zeal. Why they do their grim deeds. She understands her army better too. They were hers.
"Three more have come to the camp."
Sona nodded.
"After school. They will be free."
City of Kuoh Issei's home after school Thursday.
Sona and her peerage have all been granted access to the wards. Sona and them are waiting for Issei to show their king her gift. Issei comes down the stairs and Sona gasped so loudly.
Issei is carrying a picture of the two of them and Roboute. Her son is older. He has her stern face, but he wears Issei's smile. The peerage gapes but Tsubaki starts clapping at the gift. The others join in.
The picture was done by a master painter. Sona touched her son's face. This was better than the vision. Their relationship was not built off this. It was strong before this picture. It is unbreakable now.
Sona gently sets the picture down. She runs to her true other and hugs him. She cries.
"I love it! He is so perfect! I will keep this and show him when he comes!"
"It is more certain now. He will be the best of the both of us. It is time to show everyone the forge."
Those who had not seen this forge blink. Tsubaki smiles. No more hiding this from the others. Momo sees bits. She gasps. Then begins to drag Saji to the stairs. Ruruko and the others sweat dropped but Sona giggled.
"Be prepared for dreams to become reality. Issei is the key to the lock. Tomoe I will show you something that will make you forever happy. Ruruko. You will see the wall. And everyone else will find their dreams there."
Sona led them down the stairs where Momo was bouncing with Saji at the bottom door. Sona opened the door. The group saw the Aquilla. Issei spoke the words. The wall pulls up and shows the back up base. The newcomers gasp and look at the signs. There are a few storm troopers who are guarding the teleporter. They salute their lord and lady.
"More for the cause I'm guessing milord?"
That had come from a trooper. Issei nodded.
"It's time to see the forge."
The troopers giggled evilly. They wanted photos. The men and women move out of the way and Sona moves forward. Her peerage watches as she touches the platform and disappears. The devils blink. Momo is next she dragged Saji forward. They disappear too.
Forge of Dreams Thursday evening.
Tomoe feels complete. She is with those who see the machine god. The new leader of this chapel upon seeing Tomoe let us out a cheer and the adepts look in surprise. The sermon giver makes them weep.
"The first of the Knights that will serve the Omnissiah and the machine god. She who will be its pilot! She has finally come!"
The adepts see the vision. They cheer and then chant.
"Knight! Knight! Knight!"
Tomoe sees her walker. Her knight. It is sworn to Mars. The greatest of the new forge worlds. The cog is in her new knight house's heraldic coat. She weeps to know that this is her reward. The machine god hugs her. She has utter faith now.
Ruruko sees the guard here. She sees the las guns. She hears the chainswords. Righteous wrath against the enemies of man. She sees her fate. To become a general of the guard. A lord of the wall of guns and tanks. She wants this so much. She catches a glimpse of a figure. Her other. He is a man of peace. She is a woman of war.
They calm the other half. Ruruko wants this. She wants him. She will show her worthless grandparents that she rose past their emotional abuse. She will make her parents cry in pride for her achievements and the glory she will win for the Emperor that is now revealed to be her senpai.
Saji and Momo see the medical wing. Momo greets Asia and they talk like siblings. Saji sees the medicine and the devices. He feels hope for his grandfather. A new doctor tells him they can help his guardian's condition. Saji touched his pendant.
The pawn weeps openly at the drug he is given for free. Momo hugs him. She whispered that Issei was the angel. That does not matter anymore. Issei is an exceptionally good man. The two men had bonded. Issei was his forever lord. Sona would get to be an Empress of the stars. Saji wants to fight in their name and for the glory of man. He will not leave his gift of being a devil. He will never leave the light.
Tsubusa and Reya see the magicians and the admin clerks joking in a cantina. Tsubusa moved to speak with a trio of clerks talking about the small issue they have run into. Tsubusa sees the solution. She says to them without fear the fix. The trio are stunned and then they drag another chair to the table and make the rook sit before talking with them.
Reya joins two magicians wearing the symbol of the Solar Bears. They get along great. Reya shares some of her knowledge. The two magicians smile and share theirs. They all click. One of the magicians says that Reya is welcome to join their imperial guild. The bishop agrees.
Tsubaki sees what Sona and Issei are doing. The last stray is whimpering but stays steady. His piece drops to the floor. A destroyed bishop. The man and the two other former strays weep and chant along with more reincarnated.
"Breaker of Chains! Empress of light! To you we swear oaths eternal!"
More reincarnated touch pendants they wear. The strays must come first. They need it more than they do. Tsubaki does not regret her choice. She regrets killing strays without knowing why they ran. She wants to help the enslaved. Tsubaki catches a glimpse of a woman with long blonde hair.
The blonde is watching the chanting with a smile. Tsubaki does not understand why she moved towards the other. Their eyes meet. Tsubaki connects with the other. The blonde does too. They stare at each other. Tsubaki knows no fear.
"Hello. I am Tsubaki Shinra."
The blonde smiled she touched her own pendant of the Aquilla.
"Hi. I am Jeanne. It is nice to meet you. Issei is in trouble with me now."
Tsubaki looks to a weeping nymph devil as she tries to give the emperor anything he wants. Issei gently tells her that he wants her to stand strong. That is all. The nymph looks at him and Sona. She had almost done something that she would have regretted. Sona touched the nymph and said something in her ear.
The nymph weeps in gratitude for the forgiveness.
"Anything you ask of me Empress of Light. It is yours. Please remove this shame and let me be reborn again in yours and his light. Please!"
The two see the plea. They nodded. The nymph wants to scream as the hands of the rulers of humanity touch her chest. A queen piece falls to the ground and breaks. The reincarnated cheer again. Even the nymph's former king.
The nymph had been near death. Her king loved her. He had saved her life. He knew it would not be good. But that man loved her and saved her because there had been no other choice. The nymph ran to her former king and pulled him into a kiss making the reincarnated cheer to know that the pure blood devil wanted her free too. The nymph whispered something into the king's ear.
"I never held a grudge. You who was so wonderful to me. But I needed this. I will stay with you. Do not think less of me."
The room stills. The pure blood devil who was a rare third son returned the kiss and made more cheers come forth.
"I know. But I could not lose you. You who made my life have light. I know you wanted this."
The devil man has little to give the Emperor and Empress. Sona sees that.
"Give everything you can do to Unification. We do not want glory. Give glory and deeds to the Imperium. That which shall be eternal."
The devil king nodded.
"Everything I have is yours. For the one you freed. I have a few commoners sworn to me. I will talk with them and if they want to I will commit them to the guard. I will spread this tale. I will join the hydra. So, this I swear!"
The devils cheer again. The nymph kisses her lover.
Tsubaki and Jeanne just watch.
"Do not be mad with him. He makes everyone he touches better. I do want to try with you. I am not a believer. But I do not consider you lesser. I see that there is something here. Between us. I do not know what. But I am open minded."
Jeanne smiles. That is good. She takes the plunge. This could be her other.
"Then let us try. Do you want to grab food this weekend after the ratings game that Issei will be in?"
Tsubaki smiled. The other was nice.
"Sure. I am partial to Korean food. I look forward to getting to know you."
All of Sona's peerage understand now. They are cogs in the great machine of the great work of Unification. They make oaths to Issei. The Emperor and the Red Angel. They renewed their oaths to Sona. The Empress of Light. They were fighting for something greater than themselves. They knew no fear and march for Terra and for the Emperor.
Underworld Serafall's office. Thursday night.
Serafall really liked this human. The information had exposed how much the GKF was a very weak paper tiger. They had many weak points. Very well hidden but that was exposed now.
Serafall had summoned her two closest pieces. Marie had been snacking on a particularly expensive pastry. Behemoth was writing his first chapter of Sona's story. Both had been impressed by the intelligence provided.
The trio of devils began laughing evilly. The peerage hated the GKF. This would cripple them badly. Marie wanted to buy the human an expensive dinner. Mostly for herself but the human deserves something nice too. Behemoth wants to meet the human. He needs the second POV for this book!
They were incredibly happy with Serafall. She was a wonderful king. They enjoyed their lives. All the Satan's peerages were good. Yes it was because of power but the Satans were good people.
The GKF were in trouble. And they did not even know it yet. The king and her pieces smiled and continued to laugh.
Forge of Dreams Freed's office Thursday night.
Heinz was happily serving his older brother as a clerk. The clone had been very eager to do so. His brother treated them all great. To know that he had once been crazy but had found redemption. That made Heinz touch his own Aquilla.
Lint was getting better slowly. She was focusing more. Agna had joined the Mechanicus. She was now being trained to work on the next forge. Heinz likes his work.
Freed was sitting with two of the first commanders of the regiments. The second commander was from the Muslims who were just like the exorcists now flooding the camp. More regiments could be formed. When Freed had asked the name of the second the commander grinned.
"We are the Terran Janissary's. We will march for Terra. We know no fear."
Freed liked the name. That regiment had no majority of either former faith. They had all decided that together. They would march. The first commander a woman from Greece had said they were still thinking of their name. The Janissary commander said he had five squads ready for service.
They would help in the next round of attacks on the brigade. The Inquisitor had forward five more bases to Freed today. They would strike this weekend on two. The tanks were to help with the bigger OSF base. The bears would support them. The guard would go after the smaller renegade magicians. They would have mobile artillery from a devil unit and air support from the first angels.
The commander had taken the order. The first commander had promised they would be ready soon. Freed assured her that there was no rush. Many guard wanted to watch their Emperor in the ratings game. Freed would be watching with Lint and his siblings. Lint was getting better. Freed never missed a visit with her.
He had family. Lint deserved to have it too. Heinz had also come more. Agna never missed either. Lint was the youngest at only fifteen. But she was the pride of the Sellzens. She was a hero to them. They would never abandon her.
Asia smiled as she healed another man. He injured himself on a machine and the other adepts immediately stopped production to get him help. His life had mattered more than the guns. The adept of the Mechcanicus had been so happy to know he wouldn't lose the finger.
"I appreciate it doc. I could have gotten a bionic, but I want to be truly flesh. You are a blessing of the Omnissiah. Thank you again!"
The adept had gotten up off the bed he had been resting on and Asia felt complete. She touched her Aquilla. Neoth had told her she deserved so much more. She had learnt that Big G was dead. Asia did not feel doubt. Neoth had told her he would live just a bit different.
Asia had never lost contact with her rescuers. They had shared emails and Caroline had taught Asia about computers. The two were now all but mother and daughter. The adoption form was still being approved. Caroline would take Asia's last name. Asia had wept to know that.
The new doctor had also met Gabriel. The angel had held Asia and reassured her that her old excommunication had never been approved by heaven. She was still in the light. But Asia had simply said.
"They are crashing because of what they did to me. I started a revolution. I will never forget or regret that. I gave people courage. I could have been a martyr. I became a point of pride for those who I learned were abused. I will be remembered for that deed. Like how I am remembered now for my actions of light. I will be remembered for future deeds to come. I have been blessed with this."
Gabriel had smiled at that. The child she had failed had become the greatest of saints. Asia had wings of her own now. Gold and beautiful. She was now an angel of Neoth. That had not changed how others saw her. The devils she healed had said that being in her presence was like being held by their parents again.
Asia had become what she had always deserved. An angel of light. She was the saint of healers. She would be remembered for her role in building the Imperium. And she was now Immortal just like how it would be.
An. Surprise for Asia fans. This is her very just and righteous reward. Neoth can reincarnate humans into angels. I saw this as I wrote it to be so heartwarming. Asia deserves the universe. She will get it. This I swear.
The revolt. I liked writing that. I am not a big fan of the last pope. He did so much wrong. I will admit that the church's being broken was long overdue. They are bad. Reform should be proactive. But it very rarely is. The fact angels can no longer fall is my way of giving them a chance to truly be a part of the human experience. They deserve happiness too.
The Empress of Light. Sona got a title! This is her first. I really like this Sona and her peerage. They are exceptionally good people here. The scene with Sona and Issei freeing the reincarnated. I will never not like those. That pure blood devil who was not upset with his queen wanting to be free. Their situation was unbelievably bad. The piece was the only option. He is a third son. He has literally nothing. He is a good devil. I might keep him around.
Elon Musk. Yes this tree version of him is still wacky. But he here is important. If you caught the hints of him from before. Here is a cookie. The inspiration for him being Mechanicus came from a YouTube channel who does great memes of Warhammer. Elon speaking the mechanicus slogan was extremely funny to me. So here he is.
The tank. It is very inspired off the Dorn. Reworked to be slightly more modern and less…. That first thing. But better than a Leman Russ tank. The Griffin will change as I get more information about tanks from my research and from a tanker friend.
The Janissary. They are mine! They are the second regiment. My last named one for now till I see your suggested names.
The painting. It is a tease. This has long been asked for and about. The sons. I am fifty/fifty. They do deserve peace. But the Astartes are looking more likely as time goes on. The primarchs will be different here if they return. Sona loves Rouboute. Ravel had hers already if I go down that path. The other three to four sigilites are different. There will be a mix of traitor and loyalists. But that is if I do not make my own primarchs.
Speaking of primarchs the second and eleventh are just my Fannon interpretation of them. They will never be named. Sorry unknown legion lovers. The fact I think the second was a blank. There is Vulken. There are psykers. Highly likely to my small smooth brain that there was a blank. The eleventh and the Rangdon. There were multiple cleansings of them. That speaks to me about how bad they must have been. Thus, why the eleventh might have kinda died. I blame the enormous number of ultramarines on Rouboute being the patron saint of logistics. Not him getting the last survivors of either legion.
Ann.