RWBY 40k fanfiction – Salem, mistress of Inquisition.
Ep 5: My babies, the Primarchs.
Salem watched the machines inside the fairly empty room.
These incubators contained small embryos.
Salem looked at the incubators her babies were in.
She knew their numbers: The 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 7th, 9th, 13th, 15th, 16th, and 20th.
She could sense their latent magic as well as their Pariah gene.
The witch loved her babies more and more. They did not come from her womb but she gave of herself to bring them life.
But there is something that bothers her and it is their father, the Emperor himself.
Indeed, he speaks of the Primarchs as his heirs and yet builds infrastructures only intended for normal humans instead of sons who will surely have inherited part of his abilities.
Salem sees that unlike her, the Emperor is truly uninterested in his own family and only has eyes for the people of Terra.
The blond woman knew that the Emperor was not a cold and insensitive man, quite the contrary. But he lacked the bit of selfishness that everyone has.
Despite everything, she would do everything to accompany her future children even if the Emperor was not going to treat them like the father he should be.
Erda agreed with her but her opinion diverged more and more and the arguments between the brunette and the monarch were more and more frequent.
Erda was starting to really despise the Emperor who really didn't care about his own sons. Seeing his activities towards the Imperium, she feared the worst for the Primarchs.
One day, however, was the first of a painful change.
Salem arrived in the hall of the Sanctum and saw the Emperor.
Salem: "Did you call me?"
Emperor: "Sit down. This is a very important subject."
The witch sits in front of him.
Emperor: "I can't thank you enough for your contribution to the Thunder Warriors."
Salem: "I know..."
Emperor: "But unfortunately, the Thunder Warriors are no longer enough to conquer the Galaxy."
Salem: "But what is the alternative? A national army?"
Emperor: "No. Successors. Stronger and untouched by mutations. And I believe I have found their source."
Salem: "Where?"
Emperor: "The Primarchs."
Salem's eyes widened.
Salem: "I don't understand where you are coming from?"
Emperor: "It's simple: The increased genes of Primarchs can be injected into our new soldiers."
Salem raised his eyebrow.
Salem: "I see... But the babies are far from being formed. It can't be done now."
Emperor: "I know... We'll do it in due time. Besides, you were wondering what my sons will inherit. They will lead the Legions of these invincible warriors born of their blood. I need your help composing it with Amar."
Salem: "I know... And Erda in all this?"
Emperor: "Don't tell her anything."
Salem was surprised.
Salem: "Why?"
Emperor: "You know that Erda is afraid for the Primarchs because apparently I am putting them in danger. Imagine her reaction to this news."
Salem: "I don't dare... Especially since she's starting to despise you very much."
Emperor: "I trust you."
Salem: "I'll be mute as a carp."
Emperor: "Very well... You can go."
Salem leaves a living room before returning to his bedroom.
Once she was alone, she hit the wall with her fist, with an expression of annoyance.
Salem: "What are you thinking? Why do you want to do this to your sons? You will make them despise you and betray you! This is the last time I will accept this kind of madness!"
She looked around the room before finally sighing in exasperation and then her voice took on a tinge of sadness.
Salem: "My babies... what will become of you?"
Months passed and many things happened like the conquest of Urartu, the last Techno-barbarian kingdom but the fate that the Emperor reserved for the Thunder Warriors.
Salem was shocked at the massacre at Mt. Ararat orchestrated by the Emperor and Constantin Valdor, the captain of the Custodes Guard. The Emperor's close guard. Almost all of the Thunder Warriors who have served the Imperium for so long have disappeared under bolter fire.
In the first day of Space Marines genetic creation...
Salem arrived at the Sanctum laboratory. It was a very large laboratory, filled with geneticists from all over Terra.
She saw that Amar was here.
Salem: "You are there, Amar."
Amar: "I can't believe you're ready to do this..."
Salem: "I might as well give my future children something than nothing."
Amar: "Very well... Let's start."
The witch and the geneticist began to manufacture the genes of the future superhuman warriors in the months that followed. Then the first Legion began to be trained in the next years.
Salem saw these young men becoming even more powerful warriors than the Thunder Warriors. They were named Space Marines by the Emperor himself.
But she discovered that some of them had magical abilities directly derived from the Primarchs and herself.
One day she met the Emperor to discuss a very important subject. They were in a small reception hall.
Emperor: "What do you want Salem?"
Salem: "The Space Marines... They came from my children, didn't they?"
Emperor: "Yes."
Salem: "I felt their latent magic. I could feel it in my being. I ask you to let me train them."
The Emperor raised his eyebrow.
Emperor: "Why?"
Salem: "To make them more powerful. I know material magic more than anyone else. Let me teach them. I need it."
The Emperor remained silent but could see in Salem's mind that he genuinely wanted to deal with the Space Marines.
Emperor: "Very well... But Valdor will watch you."
Salem: "Thank you... Thank you very much... I won't disappoint you."
She left the room. The Emperor thought of the possibilities regarding magic.
Emperor: "I wonder how she's going to do it..."
So, Salem began secretly training magic-sensitive Space Marines.
Everything she knew, she passed on to her students. But Valdor meanwhile was suspicious.
At one point, he decided to talk privately with the witch.
Salem: "What did you want to talk to me about Valdor?"
Valdor: "Captain-General Valdor. Don't forget that."
Salem: "But why so much disdain on me?"
Valdor: "Know one thing Salem: I really didn't approve of your presence with the Emperor."
Salem: "Why?"
Valdor: "Because of who you are. Your powers and your affiliation with this world called Remnant is truly obscure. I don't know why you came to Terra but what is certain to me is that you wish to rule by being above the fray."
Salem: "But why? Why are you going to seek such conclusions? Can't you see what I'm doing with your brothers in arms?"
Valdor: "You remain a stranger to Terra: I remain on the lookout. The Emperor trusts you for the moment but if he gives me the order to finish you off. I will not hold back."
He pointed his spear at her while speaking is words.
Salem: "Good... captain-general."
Salem began to get nervous when she was around training the Space Marines.
Between all these very stressful activities.
She found only comfort in finding her babies.
Her sons had now grown well in their incubators. Real babies.
Salem could feel their magic. That magic in them gave her a feeling of bliss, that feeling made her feel like she was really pregnant. This increased her love for her babies.
When she was assured of being alone. She began to sing lullabies to her babies. A song so sweet that made babies react, they moved their feet or their arms.
(Note: I decided to cover Iroh's song from Avatar the Last Airbender as it may apply in this context).
Salem (singing): "Leaves from the vine… Falling so slow… Like fragile, tiny shells… Drifting in the foam… Little soldier boy… Come marching home… Brave soldier boy… Comes marching home."
This song makes babies react. The witch smiled seeing her babies reacting then she stood up.
Salem: "I'll sing to you more tomorrow. Be good."
She kissed the glass of each incubator before leaving.
But she only saw that someone was watching her from afar.
She then went to sleep in her bed.
But while she slept she ended up having a nightmare.
Nightmare:
Salem could see the Chaos Daemons ogling their claws at the incubators where his babies were present.
Salem: "No! Don't hurt them! Please!"
The demons swung their axes down on the incubators, destroying them and killing the Primarchs.
Salem: "NOOOOOOO!"
Salem woke up sweating. Then rushed to the Primarchs' chamber, fearing the worst.
But she saw someone inside who was about to disable the Geller Fields protecting the incubators.
Salem: "What?! Who are you?! And what are you doing here?!"
The person turned around and Salem was shocked: it was Erda.
Salem: "Erda? What are you doing?!"
Erda: "Salem... I save my sons and yours from the Emperor."
Salem: "By disabling the Gellers Fields?! You're going to send them all over the Warp!"
Erda: "Exactly. That way they can't be under the Emperor's influence. Look what he plans to do to them with his Legions!"
Salem: "I know... But we can find another way to change his mind! I'm sure there is!"
Erda: "I don't. My decision is made!"
She went to press the deactivation button but Salem aimed an energy ball at her. She was serious as death.
Salem (relentless): "Don't press. Otherwise you'll pay me dearly."
Footsteps are heard and the Emperor arrives.
Emperor: "Salem! But what are you doing?!"
Salem: "Ask Erda that!"
The Emperor saw Erda in front of the control panel.
Emperor: "Erda! You've lost your mind?!"
Erda: "My children and those of Salem will not suffer the dishonor you are about to inflict upon them!"
She pressed the button, deactivating the Gellers Fields and in that moment... the room exploded.
Salem: "NOOOOO!"
Salem was sent back as well as Erda, the Emperor covered his face with his arms.
When calm returned, Salem got up hastily.
Salem: "No! My babies!"
She rushed into the room to find it in ruins. The incubators were gone, leaving behind only a few wires and a few half computers.
Salem shed tears of shock and sadness.
Salem: "No... No... My babies... My Primarchs... Why? Whyyyyyyy!"
She cried hard and pouring cascades of tears, her pain that she thought was gone came back in full force and she wept for a long time.
Erda: "I did it for you and for me Salem. It's for your good."
Salem stopped crying. She heard Erda's words. The words she had heard many times on Remnant and they had only hurt. These words coming in addition to a friend she betrayed.
Her anger and hatred came to her heart. Intense anger dominating her spirit.
Salem: "You... How dare you... How dare you!"
She released her magic so powerfully that she sent Erda waltzing down the hall.
Salem ran out of the room in pursuit.
Emperor: "Wait Salem!"
She didn't listen to him, blinded by her rage.
Erda had the trouble to understand what just happened that Salem cocked his arm back, a very big ball of magic in his hand.
Salem: "DIE!"
She hit her with her ball and it exploded, shattering the hallway windows and cracking the walls.
Salem saw that Erda barely had a few scratches due to her Perpetual condition.
Salem: "RAAAHHH!"
Salem sent a flurry of fists at Erda, smashing the woman's bones, exploding her muscles. Salem paused for a moment gazing at his bloodied prey.
Salem (enraged voice): "I'm going to kill you...and when your body is fixed...I'll kill you again!"
She raised her fist but that fist was caught by the Emperor's hand.
Emperor: "Enough Salem."
Salem: "Let go of my hand!"
Emperor: "I understand your anger and Erda deserves retribution. But if you continue to hit Erda with such power. The Sanctum will shatter and hundreds of thousands of workers will die."
Salem stopped, realizing that her rage could destroy lives and important projects.
She relaxed and the Emperor let go of her fist. Salem broke down in sobs.
It was then that the Custodes rushed up.
Valdor: "My lord! What happened?"
Emperor: "Take Erda to prison. She committed an unforgivable crime."
Erda: "It's not a crime to protect your children from a man like you!"
Emperor: "For the father that I am, it is one. And I remind you that you are not the only mother."
Erda was taken away by the Custodes.
The Emperor turned to Salem.
Emperor: "We'll find the Primarchs. We'll find them."
To be continued... Ep 6: The Plot, the Fall and the beginning of the journey.
The betrayals on Terra are far from over. But also, the Presence in the Warp finally awakens, blowing out an empire like a candle.
The first conquests begin outside of Terra.