The [Entity] pair paused above a world.
It was a region of existence their kind had long learned to… be wary of.
Unwary [Entities] had entered the region, and never reappeared.
What this meant was clear.
[Data]
In some form or another.
Either the [Entities] found something that was capable of unmaking them, which could provide valuable [Data] to an observer, or they encountered such a source of [Data] to remain in the region.
Either meant there was a valuable source of [Data] within.
Even if they weren't likely to gather that much from quick trips through the region.
But this planet, it had potential.
Only one [Version] possessed any kind of life, which would normally be a downside, but here meant it was likely the safest place to [Experiment]. A single [Version] possessing life doubtless meant an isolated incident, some kind of marooning.
Which suggested a capability for space travel, normally warranting [Sterilisation] rather than [Experiment, but here was different.
The [Conflict] upon the world was too… tempting.
Any attempt to reach space without natural abilities required some level of cooperation, something this species was clearly unsuited for.
The groups that formed upon the world sought only [Conflict] with each other, and even within the same group.
It was as though some unknown force had decided to grant [Thinker] and [Warrior] the perfect, blood-soaked, testing grounds.
And [Thinker] saw no reason not to take advantage.
{}
It was five generations since Gork and Mork had started to pass their blessings upon their people, according to the tales passed from Nob to Boy, and finally Grurg had been chosen.
It was as though he had jumped from Boy to Boss overnight, his strength beyond previous hopes!
And Mork had blessed him with Kunnin' too, which was good and all, but best left for Kommandos and such.
All he needed now was some Boyz and a tribe to take over.
He stomped over to the closest of the lads he could trust to fight with him, rather than fight with him.
"Geddup Zog," he ordered, kicking him awake. "Is time."
Zog rolled a while before stopping himself and getting to his feet.
"Wazzat-" he paused as he saw Grurg. "Boss Zargit?"
"No, Grurg."
Zogs eyes widened. "Blessed of Gork," he declared, all but throwing himself before Grurg.
"Blessed?"
The question came from behind Grurg, who turned to see a Mekboy who looked particularly festooned with weapons.
"Sharkey woz looking for Blessed to stand with," the Mekboy declared. "Haz much Dakka."
"Dakka always good. More Dakka always better."
Sharkey grinned, revealing more Teef than Grurg'd expect from a Mekboy with so much weaponry. "Blessed won't be disappointed…"
{}
[Thinker] could only watch as the planet was blown to pieces less than a century after the [Experiment] began.
And for once, not at the hands of an [Entity].
[Failure, [Warrior] posited.
[Data, [Thinker] countered weakly.
It was true they managed to gather some new [Data, but not as much as had been hoped.
The race, Orks as they called themselves, had been too warlike.
Even adding a [Thinker] package to each Shard they donated hadn't been enough to keep them cautious enough to survive and build [Data].
About all they had was some new, highly dangerous, technology which woujd be assigned to a heavily restricted [Shard].
And a new protocol that would restrict technology enough to prevent reverse engineering and non-[Shard] based development in future [Experiments].
[More, [Warrior] asserted smugly.
[Query].
[Hunt. Results.]
[Thinker] once again wondered on the apparent lack of self preservation in [Warrior].
Wandering the [Region] without alerting [Thinker] was a bad idea even at the best of times.
And even if it had uncovered twenty entities they could attempt to insert into future [Experiments] for [Data] that didn't change the fact that [Warrior] had gone too far for its own good this time.
[Thinker] would have to inspect its [Shards].
And if some high level functions would place more reliance on [Thinker] after?
Such a coincidence could only improve their expected operational period.
Besides the entities didn't seem precisely alive.
More likely concepts given semi-corporeal form.
One of fur and ice, one of shadows and obfuscated self, one of scales and fire, one of secrets of past and future alike…
Well, with work they could become useful.
[Thinker] would assign [Shards] to managing these… [Conflict Engines].
These… projections of Primarchs.