RWBY 40k – Salem, Mistress of Inquisition.

Ep 44: The Night of the Wolf.

921.M30.

The planet Ghenna was under turmoil because the XIIth Legion was attacking it. The XIIth Legion has discovered that this planet was entirely populated by Abominable Intelligences.

Angron has ordered to purge the planet on its entirety. Angron wanted to show its sons his contempt by decimate them if they can't purge the planet in the next 31 hours, a Nucerian Day. But for the first time in his life. He was doubting. And he has not the time to do this order.

While the XIIth Legion was purging and destroying Ghenna. Angron was alone, inside of his throne room inside the Conqueror, reading for the 109th time the diary of his mother. Like he was trying to find a response on this book.

But it was frustrating to his mind. He was frustrated against himself because this book reminds him of his errors. That Salem doesn't lie to him. It was full of details on the discovery on the Butcher Nails but also the personal thoughts of Salem who was clearly for Angron wellbeing and her regrets about the fact she cannot be there for him all the time.

But also, he couldn't forget the transformation that she has in front of him and the fact that she has lose her control before hurting him so much. And this transformation that he has seen, it terrified him at this moment. Even with the constant rage that he fuelled his spirit, he has felt this fear.

At this moment, Jochura arrived inside of the throne room.

Jochura: "Are you alright Angron. You don't seem right… and you are reading again this book."

Angron: "I don't want to hear your rants."

Jochura: "I am not ranting. This is worrying to say the least! Why are so distant since your return?"

Angron: "Don't anger me Jochura. This is not the time."

Jochura: "I am not stupid. This book is for the Butcher Nails. The very thing that Salem sought to remove from you. The very thing she has promised to you is now between your hands. Even if she has copy of this book."

Angron growled and turn a page, ignoring Jochura.

Jochura: "You have to meet Salem. You have to meet her again to make amends with her. If what happened to you it's true. She would do the same thing to you."

Angron: "Have you finished? Or you continue to bother me like that?!"

Jochura: "No I have finished. A last thing: you are not alone, Angron. You have me, the former gladiator group, the whole Legion, the Primarchs and your own mother."

Jochura leaves the throne room and Angron alone. Angron continues to reread. He reminds the gentleness of Salem on Nuceria and her inspection of his brain to try to find him a solution to end his suffering. And it reminds him he was stupid to refuse her. And it makes him angry against himself.

Angron after finished the last written page and gripped with his fist the throne and several cracks appeared on it. He poses the book aside. He could feel something rolling on his cheek. It touches and removes it to see it. It was… a tear.

In another sector. Leman Russ was livid after hearing what his mother said to him. She was crying inside of her handkerchief since she was so ashamed. Ilil on his side was giving her another handkerchief to her since the first was completely drown.

Leman Russ: "It's isn't true? Is it?"

Salem (between sobs): "Yes… It's true… This is so horrible…"

Leman Russ was still speechless and before his anger makes clenching his fists to the blood.

Leman Russ: "Angron has gone too far. He will pay for what he done!"

Salem: "What do you mean? I don't like the meaning of your words."

Leman Russ: "He his a complete madman. You scold me to be too stubborn but why are so forgiving about him?! He hurt you and insulted you! This is like I am treating like a whore!"

Salem feels a bit annoyed despite her shame but also worried.

Salem: "Please… Leman Russ… Don't do anything stupid that it could worsen the events!"

Leman Russ was about to respond more vehemently but a knock is heard.

Leman Russ: "You can enter."

A Space Wolf enter inside the room with a paper.

Space Wolf: "A message from the Emperor himself."

Leman Russ: "My father? Let me see it!"

He snatched the message and opens it before reading it. Salem was curious. He turned back to her, with an implacable look.

Leman Russ: "I have received a message from father. He wants me to bring him back for censure and judgement."

Salem widened.

Salem: "He cannot be serious…"

Leman Russ: "This is my occasion to confront this blood maddened idiot. And you cannot prevent me to do so!"

Salem: "Just… don't worsen the things. Please…"

Leman Russ doesn't respond and leave the room and closing the doors.

Ilil: "My guess that this encounter won't be good…"

Salem: "I have to go… I have to go to Magnus. I want to know what just happened to me… I cannot be left unchecked like that."

A few weeks later… inside the Hrafnkel Fate. Leman Russ was gripping his sword on the hilt 'The Kraken's Mouth'. It was itching to him for drawing out. He was waiting that his fleet arrive to Ghenna.

The atmosphere inside the room was almost suffocating. While the Space Wolves are nervous, Leman Russ was impatient. And this waiting was almost unbearable to him.

At least, the ship and the rest of the fleet exited the Warp.

Space Wolf: "We have arrived."

Leman Russ stands up quickly.

Leman Russ: "Finally. Angron, I am coming for you. And make you learn respect."

Angron on his side.

Angron was now on the planet. Seeing if the Abominable Intelligences have been correctly and completely destroyed. Angron was truly disgusted to see that these androids have troubling and similar appearance as a normal human.

Angron: "Why some things can't just die?"

Jochura: "I don't know."

Angron: "Tch… Disgusting."

A World Eater comes to Angron.

World Eater: "The VIth Legion has arrived to us."

Angron: "What? What Leman Russ want from us?"

World Eater: "A message said that he wants to talk to you. Alone."

Angron: "Hm… No, if he had to talk to me. He has to be here and now."

World Eater: "Okay. I will tell him."

The World Eater leaves the place and Angron see in the sky the flagship of the VIth Legion.

After a few moments.

Leman Russ arrived on his personal barge along hundreds of more barge and arrived on the Malkoya fields, in front of the now annihilated city of the same name.

He could see the assembled army of Angron in front of him.

He exited his ship, along with his sons who exited the others barges. The VIth Legion arrived in front of the XIIth. While the Space Wolves were assembled in perfect lines, with Leman Russ accompanied by his closest advisors in the front. The XIIth Legion, after the difficult campaign against the Abominable Intelligence barely managed to form approximative lines.

Leman Russ was trembling in anger but tried his very best to be the one in charge. After he has always thought he was better than his brother Angron.

Leman Russ (coldly): "Hello, brother…"

Angron: "What do you want. Leman Russ?"

Leman Russ: "You know very well why I am here. But I will remind you. You assaulted our mother in a savage planet in addition to abandon your Legion. And I can see you have devastated a compliant planet just right in front of me. All of this makes me wonder if you do it on purpose."

Angron clenches his fists.

Angron: "What do you want?"

Leman Russ: "Father has sent me to bring you back in Terra to be judged to your deeds. Your actions are inexcusable. Especially for me… And now, you have to stand down for the time being."

Angron: "Shut up! I don't want to hear your rants! This Crusade is only a means of submission and slavery! Unity is stupid and peace is impossible! I swear that if the Emperor to do something against me. I will slice his throat to shut him up!"

Leman Russ was taken back by the speech of Angron and he reaches the breaking point of his patience by these insults.

Leman Russ: "YOU WILL REGRET YOUR WORDS!"

He launched himself to Angron to a great speed, the Nucerian just managed to protect himself. The two legions engaged almost immediately a battle between one another. Without preparation and with a ruthless might and rage to win.

Angron has usual was the mad warrior of his kind when the force Leman Russ was as legendary as the legends and his anger against Angron makes him much more fearsome than he has already his.

The two was fighting in a ruthless way in a ruthless fight.

Leman Russ: "I cannot imagine how much I despise you for what you done to our mother! You irremediable killer!"

Angron: "Can't you see how much she hurts me in our fight?! Why are you so oblivious?!"

Leman Russ: "You are the one who is oblivious. She tried to help you many times before and even after that, she still tries to help you! You have ungrateful and insulting to her all the time! You deserve more than a slap on the cheek! You deserve to be beaten up and I will finish the punishment that our mother began to inflict on you!"

He smashes Angron on the gut with his sword but the XIIth Primarch responded by a strike in the face. The two observed each other in the eyes while struggling each other with their weapons.

Angron: "Why you considered yourself better?"

Leman Russ: "Because I pay back the kindness of our mother. We have passed good times together. Drinking hydromel, training each other, etc. Even if we have argued several times. It was sometimes not than serious, except the incident of Dulan of course… But you, you repaid nothing to our mother! NOTHING! Only disrespect and insult! And while I know your suffering about the Butcher Nails. This doesn't excuse what you done and I will gladly beat your ass before bringing you back to Terra for the Emperor!"

Angron: "SHUUTTT UUUUUUP!"

The fight comes back with more violence. And then, Leman Russ cut the blade of the axe of Angron. But Angron replicated by breaking the blade of the Leman Russ sword.

Despite this, the two continues to fight by wrestling against each other on the mud.

But in this wrestling Angron has the upper hand and smacked the face of Leman Russ again and again.

Leman Russ doesn't want to do this but he has no other choice if he doesn't want his face to be tear apart.

Leman Russ smacked the face of Angron, full of magic blast. Angron was catch off and was knocked out by the shock. Leman Russ stands up and turned to the XIIth Legion.

Leman Russ: "XIIth Legion of the Imperium. Your Primarch is knocked out! Stand down immediately!"

The battlefield went silent and all looked to Leman Russ and the fainted Angron. But even there, hundreds of Astartes were dead from each side.

At this moment, Jochura arrived.

Jochura: "My brothers of the XIIth Legion. Cease this useless fight immediately! We have been soaking the blood of the Astartes and bring shame to us!"

The XIIth Legion was hesitant but by seeing the situation. They backed up to the opposite direction.

Leman Russ: "Bring him with us in the Hrafnkel Fate and treat him with respect."

The Space Wolves takes the unconscious body of Angron in their arms and bring him the barge.

Meanwhile… on Prospero.

Salem was worried about herself and requested to know what happens with her right now. Magnus accepted to help her.

Salem was sited in front of Magnus, meditating with him.

Magnus was inside the mind of Salem. It was some kind of rock labyrinth with many doors. The white doors presenting the good memories while the black ones the bad memories.

After walking a little, he could see some kind of cell with a dark silhouette behind it.

Magnus: "Hm? Someone is there?"

He approached the cell and see that the shadow has a feminine figure, with red glowing eyes. It saw him and run to the bars, extending its hand to Magnus between the bars, trying to grab him.

Magnus: "I cannot imagine it. This is worse than I have anticipated…"

And so, Magnus exited the mind of Salem. He opened his eyes, followed by Salem who wakes up groggily. She is shivering like she was cold.

Salem: "Magnus… What happened to me? Why I am feeling… so cold?"

Magnus: "Mother. I have saw your dark sub-personality and it was pretty terrifying. It's very aggressive."

Salem widened.

Salem: "This is horrible. How I can get rid of it."

Magnus: "You can't because this is an actual part of your personality. If you don't have it, your soul will become dull. I have also learned to deal with my shadow."

Salem: "But why it takes hold of me? Why?"

Magnus: "I have a theory but don't get angry, okay?"

Salem: "I am all hears…"

Magnus: "This is because you have changed dramatically over the course of the decades. You have become much more ruthless and brutal against the enemies of the Imperium. And so, the darkness is closer to you. And I have seen you use a lot of dark magic. The combination of two reinforces the presence inside your head and it had begun to influence you. But for now, it still a formless shadow."

Salem: "Oh no… I cannot imagine it could be like this… And wait, you said that it 'still a formless shadow'. Are you implying that it could be so much worse?"

Magnus: "More you let yourself controlled without any restrain by your emotions. More you alter will try to gain the upper hand on you. I saw in the Astartes who are suffered the corruption of darkness that more they were short-tempered and used the dark magic, more their alter takes form and becomes a full persona inside of your own head. And it a first occasion. It will try to convert you to darkness to be united and only one once again."

Salem looks at her hands, in complete disbelief. She sees herself as the monster she always sought to avoid. The exact same monster that she managed to tame while she was recovering from the loss of Ozma after being welcomed by Malcador.

Salem: "What do I do? I don't want to be a monster…"

Magnus: "Try to control your emotions but also, don't let the terror getting the better of you because the shadow will exploit it to reinforce itself."

Salem: "Okay… I will try… Thanks Magnus…"

At this moment, a knock is heard.

Magnus: "You can enter."

The door open and a Thousand Son arrived inside the room.

Magnus: "What's happening?"

The Thousand Son extended a letter to Magnus. He takes it and opens it. After reading it, Magnus was quite worried.

Salem: "What's happening this time?"

Magnus: "I just received by the Astropaths that Angron is captured now. He is currently bringing back to Terra."

Salem widened and was worried.

Salem: "I have to go now. I shouldn't miss it."

Magnus: "I doubt you will arrive in time. They are operating long jumps in the warp to come more rapidly."

Salem: "I don't care. I will come to Terra to see him. If I don't assist at this judgement. The punishment from your father and the Senatorum Imperialis will be ruthless. And the Emperor wants always to do the things quickly…"

Magnus: "Okay…"

A few weeks later…

Salem has come in urgency in Terra to try to catch up on the judgement of Angron. But as she arrived to the Sanctum Imperialis. Leman Russ was there, alone.

Leman Russ: "Mom? You are there?"

Salem: "Yes, it's me Leman Russ?! Where is the room of the judgement?"

Leman Russ: "You are too late."

Salem: "What?!"

Leman Russ: "Yes, you are too late. The Emperor has make his judgement. He ordered that some of the Custodes accompany the XIIth Legion to Angron next crusades. And he will be only allowed to fight against Xenos, it's forbidden to him to conquer human planets."

Salem was shocked but next her anger gets the better of her. A cold anger.

Salem: "I cannot believe it… He is doing it to him and he makes him even more resentful to the Imperium. To the point of actually betraying the Imperium! Where is Angron?"

Leman Russ: "He is about to leave."

Salem without saying another world, rushed in the exterior of the Sanctum. She could see that in the other side of the Sanctum. Angron was accompanied to his ship by four Custodes and Jochura.

Salem: "Wait! Wait!"

The others turn back.

Angron: "What do you want?"

Salem: "Please. Hear me out. I am begging you… Angron."

Angron stay silent for a moment.

Angron: "Go ahead."

Salem looks at Angron pleadingly.

Salem: "I am so sorry for what I done to you. I cannot describe why I do this. I am so sorry. Please understand me."

Angron looks at Salem for one moment. He thinks back about this fight. This loss of control from Salem and the fact he was beaten up like this has opened his eyes about the true suffering he has inflicted. Because Salem has the same problem of a dark influence, despite the fact she has not Butcher Nails.

Angron: "This is not need to forgive. I understand. Because… you are like me."

Salem: "What do you mean?"

Angron: "Something is forcing to do acts that you don't want. Making you violent with almost no recollection from it? Yes, I saw it. And feeling the pain makes open my eyes one thing."

Salem: "I don't like this at all…"

Angron: "We are two monsters. If one of us is clearly seen as such. You are not. You are still behind the image of a respectable woman. But I can guess the hidden rage and hatred inside of you. Because don't believe I am a fool. You brutally destroyed Xenos with the same rage and hatred that I displayed."

Salem was speechless.

Angron: "I hope you get the help you need. I hope I get the help I need…"

Before Salem could respond, Angron tossed to her a book that she catches up. Angron then turned his back and enter the barge with the four Custodes. The barge closed its doors and goes to the sky.

Salem was still in shock and she could see it was the book of the research of the Butcher Nails that Angron has taken from her. She has believed he had destroyed it.

Salem looks to the flagship of the XIIth Legion in the sky.

Salem: "Me too Angron… Me too…"

To be continued… Corvus Corax.

The XIXth Primarch is raised by the prisoners on the mine-moon of Lycaeus composed exclusively of exiled and political prisoners. He grows with the desire to free his brothers and sisters from the tyranny of Kiavahr. His name is Corvus Corax.

Next episode… Zorai, the Fire Lord.

On the world of Yitài. Wars is always happening. The Psykers are fighting mercilessly for the control of the world by their different discipline of the Warp. But their link to the warp is safe compared to the rest of the growing Imperium. But as the war continues, the capsule of the XIth Primarch crashed right to the palace of the Fire Lord Zoron. The Fire Lord seeing the potential of the child decided to adopt him. And so, Zorai will grow in force and ambition. Soon, the brutal conquest Yitài began and Zorai accompanied by his cruel daughter Asuka, will bring to his knees the world and makes them obey him.