(Chapter 22: Shadow Liberation: Part 1)
It would be quite a bit into the biting chill of December, as Ben had spent the past 2 weeks getting things in order, and making what gear he could to prepare for the upcoming mission that would be his first foray into the Great Crusade itself. Something that did have him with a bit of nerves given how it would be his first outting with one of the 18 Legions of the Adeptus Astartes proper, but it was something he felt ready for all the same in eagerness to be back into the mix of field-work once again.
(December 23rd, 950. M30, Holy Terra, 1:50 Pm)
It would be the day before Christmas as Ben was saying his last bit of farewells to Konstance before leaving, given that the nearly 10-foot-tall Matriarch was very much a reluctant hug-monster to let him go as he was making his departure to join with Branwen and her Legion.
"Don't worry, Konstance. I promise that I will be back in one piece." Ben told the Night Haunter
"You do…You mean it, when you say that you will come back to me?" Konstance Kurze asked still teary-eyed in her goodbyes
"Of course I do…I am not going anywhere, anytime soon Konstance. Unless Mr. Blood for the Blood God has one of his goons show up for a round 2, I'll be totally fine." Ben answered back
"Very well, I will leave you in Branwen's hands. However, I want you to contact me as soon as you can, Ben. I do not want anything to happen to you; because I was not there to prevent it. I do not think I could live with myself otherwise." Konstance Kurze requested of Ben as she tightened the hug between them again
"I will make sure to contact you when I get there and every other day during the campaign. Cross my heart and all that good stuff." Ben responded as he felt his bones starting to creak from her ironclad embrace
"That's great, Konstance…but can you let me go? I think my spine…is about meet my colon…if you squeeze any harder." Ben wheezed as unknown to Konstance Ben's lungs were currently struggling against her bear-hug
"I am so sorry, are you ok?" The Night Haunter apologized after seeing Ben turn bright-red from her 'very' tight hug
"I'm fine, I'll need to catch whatever you squeezed out of me…Other than that, I'll be great, which reminds me, I made you an early Christmas present." Ben said to the Night Haunter
"Y-You made me a present." Konstance Kurze spoke in surprise
"Yep, and sorry if you don't like it. Since I didn't know if you guys still celebrate Christmas in this time period, with it being 30 thousand years into the future...That being said, I figured it wouldn't hurt to do something nice for the holiday spirit before I leave." Ben told the pale-faced Matriarch
"I left it for you in your room, so you could have something to open up. I hope you like it by the way." Ben informed the Night Haunter
"I am sure that I will love it regardless. I am overjoyed that you would make me a present whatsoever." Konstance Kurze replied with a smile of genuine thankfulness on her pale scarred face
"Hey, it's the least I can do for you. I just wanted to make sure that you got a little something before I left, and to make sure that your in good spirits before I go." Ben said back
"Again, I cannot say thank you enough." Konstance Kurze said in refraining from breaking out into tears
"Not a problem at all, Konstance. Anyways, I gotta go…takeoff is in 10 minutes and I cannot be late." Ben spoke before giving her a kiss on the cheek as Ben left to board Branwen's flagship
Wherein it wouldn't be long before Konstance would soon see the Shadow of the Emperor lift off into the winter skies of the December day before making way into the starry void of space, with Konstance being joined by Lorna in seeing the Ultimatrix bearer off.
"Tell me something, Lorna. Do you think that Ben will be alright on this campaign with Branwen?" Konstance asked the Urizen
"While Branwen and I do differ greatly in our views, I do hold faith in her abilities as a warrior and leader of her men. That is why, I believe wholeheartedly that he will not only survive what Branwen and the Raven Guard will encounter. I believe that he will help spur the 19th onto greater heights of heroism in their campaign." Lorna Aurellian answered back
"The only regret I have is that I will not be there to see him do great things there." Lorna Aurellian spoke
"I am sure that time will come, sister…He is a good man, with a great heart and fantastical abilities granted to him. Given enough time, we will soon have our days alongside him to be heroes in our own right. At the very least I hope so in regards to my wretched sons." Konstance Kurze replied with cautious optimism in what was to come
"I have no doubt that it will come to pass, Konstance. Give it time and I am sure that the 8th Legion will be true heroes of the Imperium yet…Ben has already ignited the spark of goodness and heroism within you, that much is clear as day. All that is needed is to spread the spark forward and raise it forth as a righteous inferno of bravery and nobility." Lorna Aurellian said back in putting a comforting hand on her sisters' shoulders
"That…That proves to be my greatest challenge yet. While I have hope even though it is a meager one at best, that my Legion can be better. In addition; too Furiosa having offered her aid to better my Legion and even improve Nostramo itself. Which is a daunting task to put it lightly, I-I cannot help but hold out hope that things can get better." Konstance Kurze spoke with a small smile that tugged at her lips
"It is thanks to my beloved that I can see a light at the end of the horrid darkness that has become my life. One where the Night Lords can stand proud as heroes of the Imperium, one where we can be known as protectors and arbiters of true justice." Konstance Kurze further spoke
"Would you mind if I lent my aid in the betterment of your Legion? I know that what you wish to do in improving the 8th, is a difficult task to undertake. Even with Furiosa's help, it will be incredibly difficult given the nature of your 'sons'. However, that does not mean it impossible." Lorna Aurellian offered
"You would really offer a hand to help me? I would not blame you if you chose to turn back, at least while you still have a chance." The Night Haunter asked knowing that she and her Legion were...difficult to deal with
"Why would I not? No matter what happens or what horrors lie ahead for us, I hold faith that things can and shall be better...That within all of us, lies the ability to be greater, and that is why I will lend a helping hand to you, my sister. Because I know that together we can become something to inspire faith and belief in the Imperium to all, this much I know." Lorna Aurellian answered back with a much broader smile of encouragement and hope in her sister
"Thank you, Lorna, and you have you have my word and my strength that you will not regret this. That I will make sure that both yours and Furiosa's trust is not misplaced in aiding me to reform and improve the Night Lords for the better." Konstance Kurze spoke her smile widening and her heart quickening in the excitement of being able to truly improve things for the 8th
"You are welcome, Konstance. There is never a doubt in my mind nor my heart; that you were capable of being a hero. All that anyone needed to do was believe you were capable of it…Now that someone has, and that more of our sisters can and WILL see it. I do not doubt that one day, that truly one day. The Night Haunter and the 8th Legion will be made synonymous with what it means to be a hero to all. That is simply the truth of what will become in the golden years of the Imperium." The Urizen replied with full faith and belief in the heroic qualities that lie deep within her fellow Matriarch
"Again, I thank you for your support, Lorna. I cannot stress it enough, how much your belief in me truly means." The Night Haunter responded
"There is no need to thank me at all. However, the one thing that you can do to repay me; is by doing the best that you can to become better. That no matter what you will do your absolute best to become better not just for yourself or your those in the 8th Legion. But to give those within that same Legion hope that there is a way to be a hero…You cannot expect them to become heroes, if they do not see you lead by example." Lorna Aurellian requested from her pale, scar-faced sister who nodded resolutely
"Otherwise, not only will things continue to further rot from within. But I fear that damnation will eventually follow suit...and then the 8th Legion will truly be lost." Lorna Aurellian further spoke in sensing that if change was not made soon enough that the Night Lords would face the same fate that the 2nd and 11th Legions had
"I will only promise to you an oath that my utmost will be given in that task. I cannot say for certain that I will not falter in leading the Night Lords flawlessly in what it means to be a just hero for all. Only that as I commit to this endeavor that I will be steadfast in all that I am, as a hero of justice and terror to the wicked." Konstance answered back
"That is all that I want and ask of you, Konstance." Lorna Aurellian said as she brought her sister in for a one-armed hug
"Now then, let us talk in all the ways that we can improve your home planet for the better. With our combined minds together, I am sure that we can transform it into a place where justice and order reigns supreme. But one where future heroes of the Imperium, and a place where faith and nobility is born." Lorna Aurellian furhter spoke as walked alongside her sister who held a hopeful look upon her face
'By the time, my beloved and I serve alongside one another in the Crusade. I hope that I will be something he can be truly proud of, both as a comrade and a lover.' Konstance Kurze said to herself while conversing alongside Lorna in their shared hopes for the improvement of Nostramo and the 8th Legion
(3 days later, December 26th, 950. M30, 2:10 Pm, ?, Shadow of the Emperor)
Meanwhile in the days to pass would Ben be alongside not only Branwen on the Shadow of the Emperor but alongside Agapito Nev and Gherith Arendi, as they were but a day away from making planetfall against their chosen enemy.
'Again what do they feed these guys? I know their super-soldiers, but Jesus Christ their built like human refrigerators.' Were Ben's thoughts as he had to look up at the Astartes beside him before snapping out of his thoughts
"Are you alright, Tennyson? You were out of it for a few moments?" Agapito Nev asked the Ultimatrix wielder
"Yeah…Yeah, I'm good. It's just a lot for me to get back into action is all…So what exactly are we up against anyways? I know Branwen said that we were fighting aliens, but she never specified what kind we are fighting." Ben asked back as to what exactly they were upagainst
"What we are fighting is both worse; than what I thought we would be up against and works in our favor as well." Branwen Corax answered back
"It appears that we are fighting an Ork incursion that has invaded this world. Luckily, it is not an entire Ork Waggghhh, or this would be far, far more dire. But even still, this is nothing that cannot be handled." The leader of the 19th Legion informed the Ultimatrix wielder whilst Ben was struggling not to snicker at the idea of fighting an army of Shreks
"...I-I'm sorry, but what is so scary about Orks? I know that this should be treated as a serious threat, but this just sounds way too funny." Ben said in trying not to laugh at what he imagined were an army of Shrek's taking over a planet
"Trust us when we say they are far more of a menace than you would think. The greenskins are nothing but a blight on the Imperium…the fact that they keep coming back after we destroy them makes them a walking plauge all on their own…Personally, they are almost as bad if not worse than the Necrons." Agapito Nev spoke in disdain of the Orks
"I would argue that the Necrons are worse, Agapito. At least with the Orks it feels as though we're fighting actual living things. Meanwhile, those soulless hunks of metal are nothing but outright abominations, how things like that exist I will never know." Gherith Arendi said back
"But at least the Necrons don't make a game out of ripping good men and women apart…You never forget the sight of one of them using civilians and guardsman alike for target practice all so they can 'see whoz dakka can shootz da best' in their language." Agapito Nev responded before briefly speaking in a mocking parody of the Orks butchered version of a language
"Nevermind, these guys are super messed up…Is there even a solid reason why they're out here doing this? They have to have some reason for taking the planet, right? From what I'm getting, they just do this stuff for funsies." Ben wondered as to why the Orks were doing this
"To make it clear in the most concise manner possible, so that we can save time for brevity's sake and further plan how to destroy them. The Orks are a brutal, savage race of Xenos, who are nothing more than roving warbands of conquering monsters; that plague the broader galaxy at large as well as the Imperium." Branwen Corax told the Ultimatrix wielder
"They are led by a larger, stronger Ork known as their Warboss. Who leads them to planets to ransack, pillage, and conquer to expand as their own domain, hunting ground, or whatever else they desire from it. Which is why we were called to help aid in the planets' liberation, given how large the Ork invasion has become." Branwen Corax further informed him
"Alright, if they're just another race of alien conquerors, more or less. Then how many do we have to worry about and how far have they spread out?" Ben questioned
"As it stands we are dealing with a 'small' Ork tribe, which has overwhelmed the Planetary Defense Force of the planet. They have taken the planets' capital and are currently spreading out through the various Hive Cities, to cement their hold on the planet." Gherith Arendi answered back
"Just…Just so I have a reference for how large an Ork Tribe is, how big are we talking?" Ben inquired
"Normally, a Ork Warband consists of anywhere from 300 to 3,000 Orks and a Ork Tribe can be composed of several at minimum; to a dozen or well over a dozen at the largest recorded. What we are dealing with is a Ork Tribe of 12 Warbands altogether is anywhere between 27 to possibly 32 thousand strong; from the reports." Agapito Nev answered back as to the sheer scale of the threat they would be up against when they made planet fall
"That…That is a literal to of Orks we have to get through. It isn't anything that I can't handle, but still almost 30,000 of them to deal with. That's a damn decent-sized army we're going to have cut our way through." Ben remarked in regards to the sheer scale of what they would have to deal with
"And it is why, you will be a part of our plans to make cutting through their hordes all the easier." Branwen Corax told him
"Alright, I'm your guys's secret weapon against them...I can work with that." Ben spoke in remembering his position in all of this
Our Matriarch has already informed of your own Xenos forms. Which I will say, are both unconventional from what we have been told and more than powerful enough to beat back the Greenskins. Especially, after how you defeated the Custodes of all people." Agapito Nev spoke with a grin over how the Emperor's prized golden guards were bested by a human
"By the way nice work in taking the Emperor's golden guards down a few pegs. It's about time someone knocked them off their high-horse...they are not going to live that down for decades." Gherith Arendi added in dry amusement of seeing the Custodes be humbled
"So as far as we're concerned, Tennyson. That alone has earned more than enough of our respect and good graces. By the way, I may pick your brains later for some ideas on how to mess with the greenskins." Agapito Nev told the Ultimatrix wielder
"You mean the Blood Games, and also set up a time and I will get to you on that… Second of all, and to be completely honest with you guys, I wasn't really trying to go all out during it. If anything, I held back by a lot, and I mean by a metric fuck-ton." Ben responded to the Raven Guard Captain
"I have to ask what more you could have done to embarass the Custodes? From what we saw, you had almost steamrolled through them." Gherenith Arendi inquired
"Their equipment is made out of metal from what I understand…I can turn into a Xenos that can manipulate metal like it's clay, and pretty much do whatever I wanted to them with it. I mean I'm good enough with Lodestar…the transformation by the way that if I really wanted to take the piss out of them, I could have used my magnetism powers to make them fight each other like puppets." Ben answered back with a casualness that unnerved even the leader of the Raptors
"You can do what?" Agapito Nev asked having to do a double-take at this information
"Oh no, I can do that no problem. I mean I if I really wanted to, I could have turned into him, and make them dance in their armor because it was funny…Ok now I have to do that if there's another Blood Game. Now I wonder if I could make them do the dance number to Bye-Bye-Bye?" Ben replied as he now imagined his using Lodestar to make the Custodes do the Beat it dance sequence
"It is times like these that make me glad that you are on our side, Ben." Branwen Corax spoke as even her implaccable visage was unnerved by such a thought
"Hey, it could always be worse…Anyways, other than the fact that a lot of my alien forms can be terrifying. Let's get back to planning how we are going to beat these Orks. We have a few more days of travel time until we reach planet-side, so let's make the most of it." Ben said back as Branwen Corax nodded in agreement before the agreed war council continued
'By the Emperor, what kind of powerhouse are you Ben Tennyson?' Gherith Arendi wondered as he watched the Ultimatrix wielder aid in the tactics and discussions of how they would destroy the Orks
(Universe 10, October 3rd, 2032, Andromeda System, Primaris Plumber Base, 2:40 Pm)
All the while, on the other side of the Omniverse had Gwen traveled to the Primaris Plumber Base to visit with her husband and see how her son was doing in his Plumber training.
"Gwen, what are you doing here? I thought you had to teach a lecture at the college?" Kevin asked his significant other
"I already have that taken care of, I had one of my spare Simulacrums take over for me. My students won't notice the difference, and if it helps I bought lunch for you." Gwen spoke as she summoned their lunch in a flash of magenta light
"That's right, my wife is the Sorcerer Supreme…You think I would remember that you can do this stuff by now." Kevin replied as they went to the mess hall to eat together
"Also, thanks for getting me Pepperjax your the best!" Kevin cheered in seeing what his wife bought for him
"It's the least I can do for you, for being with me for so long. Besides I wanted to come and see how you and Devlin have been doing." Gwen told her husband as they eventually neared the cafeteria/mess hall
"Our son is smashing through records already and he's just now in his second year of officer training. I don't know how he's doing it, but he's crushing it nonstop!" Kevin said with fatherly pride in their son
"Between setting records with firearms training, combat drills, ship maintenance, and almost anything else they can put him through, Devlin has done nothing but excel in…Honestly, they're saying he might be better than Max was when he was training to be a Plumber." Kevin further spoke regarding how Devlin was proving to be an exceptional Plumber in the making
"Better than Grandpa? I knew that Devlin was going to be great, but I never thought I'd hear him be better than Grandpa Max. That isn't something you just throw around just cause." Gwen responded as she ate her lunch
"Trust me, if you had the chance to see Devlin in action, then you would say the say thing…I even heard that they're thinking of letting him graduate early, because he's lapping even the upperclassmen. You should see their faces every time they have to try and beat him in a combat drill. I didn't think it was possible to make an Appolexian and a Tetramand rage quit, but Devlin made it work." Kevin said back with a chuckle in his throat over that day in question
"He did what?...Out of everything Devlin could do, him making two of the most prideful alien races give up is just priceless." Gwen said snickering at the thought
"You should've seen our son in action, Gwen. He was doing trick shots so disrespectful, that it made some of the Magisters bust a gut laughing…He definitely got that from your side of the family." Kevin replied as he continued to eat his steak, chicken and rice bowl
"He does not, there is no way he gets that from my side of the family." Gwen shot back much to an unphased Kevin
"This coming from the person who used magic to stop time just so you could do your version of Dio's steamroller bit from Jojo's." Kevin brought up to the sorcerer
"Ok that was one time, and in my defense that Kryptonian dickhead had it coming." Gwen rebutted
"What about when you and Ben wailed on an Incursean fleet, because and I quote 'If that Incursean skank is going to ruin my birthday, then I am going to make sure that her entire fleet regrets living when I suplex her capital ship into the sun.'...How you managed to Batista Bomb an entire Incursean flagship into a sun, I will never know." Kevin reminded Gwen of the incident she pulled on her 28th birthday
"...I can't come up with a rebuttal for that one, I-I just did that one be petty." Gwen said back in not being able to deny that was one of her most petulant moments of outright immaturity
"The fact that you and Ben both took down an entire Incursean fleet as a flex, then televised it, to half the galaxy. then to top it off used your powers to make their ships spell out 'never come to my planet again, or I will planet my foot in your ass for eternity'...was a top 5 disrespectful moments in galactic history." Kevin said to his wife who groaned at the reminder
"Why did you and Ben let me televise that on the galactic holonet? Even now, some of my students ask me about that day. How do I tell them that I went on a 4-day rampage against a alien empire while I was high with my cousins on molly and who knows what else." Gwen asked in wondering what was going through her head at that time
"You were the one who wanted to do something special for her birthday weekend. Ben and I both double, triple, and quadruple checked with you on how bad you wanted to get fucked up…It was one of the rare times you were more of a jackass than Ben or myself…and that's saying something." Kevin answered back
Wherein Gwen's 21st, 25th, and 28th birthdays being ones where some of the most chaotic moments of not just her life but Ben and Kevin's as well, given that those were the rare events where the often mature and studious member of the trio cut loose and when she did…Suffice it to say it led to some of the most legendary moments in galactic history that ranged from the aforementioned the destruction of an Incursean fleet, bullying Vulkanus and Argit's crime syndicates' for an entire week just off a dare, and beating the strongest the Saiyans had in a 'friendly' 10V1 sparring match in their Senzu forms.
"Don't remind me…at least we won't have to worry about Devlin doing anything half as crazy…At least I hope he won't." Gwen said hopeful that her son wouldn't replicate anything so astonishly wild
"He has both you and I in him, Gwen, plus he's getting the Omnitrix in 2 weeks for his birthday…The real question is, when are we going to start paying for damages the first time he starts trying to come up with combo moves for his alien forms?" Kevin responded much to the chagrin of the redheaded Tennyson
"...I will talk to Sunny and see if she can't have her people keep an eye on Devlin." Gwen said back
"I still don't get how you and Sunny are on speaking terms now. I figured you two hated each others guts." Kevin spoke still surprised every now and again to see and or hear Gwen being on positive terms with Sunny
"You know what they say, Kevin. Time heals all wounds and with Sunny, it turns out that time changes a lot about her…Even if she is a intergalactic crime lord, she is still leagues better than when we were kids." Gwen replied in regards to her other cousin
"Who would've thought being a crime boss would be what she needed...I still can't believe her turning into space Pablo Escobar would be the best thing to happen to her" Kevin said back on how Sunny's becoming a kingpin across more than a dozen star systems helped her to mature for the better
"At least she's less of a brat…Although now she has a mean streak strong enough to punk out Vulkanus." Gwen remarked at how Sunny was a frighteningly effective crime lord in her own little slice of the Andromeda Galaxy
"Which goes to show why she and Grandma Verdona haven't spoken to each other in 10 years. Especially after she caught Grandma in one of her sectors. I still can't believe Sunny nearly put a hole through her." Gwen remarked at how Sunny had out of spite ordered a bombardment with several gunships onto Verdona
"There is a reason why I choose not to go near her and that is one of them. She definitely has a temper problem, Gwen." Kevin said regarding the rather violent Anodite crime lord
"Sunny might have a vicious temper on her… I also know she can be trusted to make sure Devlin doesn't get in over his head. She is a lot of things, but there is a good heart that's there beyond the pomp, pride and pettiness." Gwen responded in full trust of Sunny to watch out for her son
"If you say so, I'm just happy that our kid is on his way toward being one of the greatest Plumbers." Kevin said back
"I am too, Kevin." Was Gwen's sole response
'I just hope that he doesn't get into half of the trouble Ben and I did; when we were kids. Otherwise, ace student or not; things are going to get crazier than ever and my blood pressure is going to skyrocket.' Were Gwen's thoughts as she and Kevin continued to have lunch together
(3 days later, December 29th, 950. M30, 2:10 Am, Ultima Segementum)
Meanwhile, on Branwen Corax's flagship was the resident Ultimatrix wieder in one of his rare nights that he found himself unable to sleep as they were mere hours from planetfall, his mind racing and wandering with a nigh infinity of possibilities in his head at his future within the 31st millennium.
"I will take a stab in the dark and say that you are unable to sleep?" Branwen Corax asked as Ben nearly jumped out of his skin at the sudden voice of the Lady of Ravens
"...Can you at least give me some kind of warning; before you pop out of nowhere?! I swear I was this close to peeing myself." Ben exclaimed feeling his heart almost launch itself out of his chest from being jumped scared by the 9 foot tall woman
"What would be the fun in that? Besides, the look on your face was priceless if I might add." Branwen Corax said back with an almost impish smile on her face
"I swear with how quiet and mysterious you pretend to be, you can be a gremlin when you want to…I respect that." Ben spoke as the Matriarch's smile widened
"When you have been forced to become a liberator in one aspect of your life, then go onto lead an entire legion of soldiers in another. All of whom look to you as their guiding hand, the cloth they are cut from as demigods of war, and most of all leading a Crusade to unify humanity when it has been scattered for centuries…I will take every moment I can to act immature." Branwen Corax responded
"I can kinda relate. Being an intergalactic superhero who has saved the galaxy; and then the universe who knows how many times over…All I can say is that I appreciated every single day I could get to goof off. Really makes you appreciate every lazy day when you can have it." Ben said back as the pale onyx eyed woman took a seat beside him
"What was it like in your time…being a superhero? Did you love it?" Branwen Corax inquired
"Of course I loved it. Every time I got to be out there going Hero, it was absolutely amazing, Branwen. The whole saving lives, kicking evil butt, protecting people from supervillains, monsters, evil aliens, and every other thing out in the galaxy. It was one of the greatest times of my life." Ben answered back with a proud smile of all that he accomplished as a superhero of his time for both the good and the bad
"Honestly, I wouldn't change a thing about what I went through. Everything from when I first found the Omnitrix, all the mistakes I made learning how to be a superhero, up until recently. All of it has been some of the most wonderful parts of my life." Ben further spoke in having loved all the misadventures that came from being a superhero
"That is good to know…I will admit that is encouraging to hear that during your time, that the age of heroes was truly a thing. It gives me hope that the Great Crusade will see another age of heroes rise again." Branwen Corax responded with an almost idealistic hope in her voice for such a thing where righteous liberators and virtuous defenders of innocent would rise forth
"I'm sure it will, Branwen. It is going to take time to happen and I mean a LOT of time….That said, I know it can happen, what needs to make that possible is to give the people in your Imperium something to inspire them to take that first step." Ben told the Lady of Ravens
"I understand, It is just a matter of how to reach that possibility…my sisters and I were not taught to be heroes. Unlike you, many of us were not afforded the luxury of having someone to mentor us on what it takes to be a hero." Branwen Corax responded knowing that fact full well for most if not all of her sisters
"Hey, that is completely fine. Besides, being a superhero isn't about where you start, it is all about making the consistent effort to do the right thing. If you can make that effort to try to be a good person for others, defending people from bad guys, aliens, monsters or what have you. On top of a laundry list of so many other things, then you could can pretty much be on the fast-track to being a superhero in no time." Ben said to the leader of the 19th in knowing full well that it was more about making a consistent effort than anything else
"Hopefully, the Great Crusade will bring heroics out of not just myself and the Raven Guard. I hope that it will do the same for others regardless of if they are Astartes, Guardsmen, or my sisters." Branwen Corax replied
"I'm sure it can happen. I mean look at Konstance, she's working her way towards figuring out how to be one…It isn't going to be easy, but between me, Lorna, Furiosa, and Fulgrim. I'm pretty sure we can get her on the right track." Ben said back in full hopes that the Night Haunter could and would be a hero yet
"While I do not doubt it that Konstance has the capability to become a hero. The path for her to be one and one to a standard that she holds herself to will be incredibly difficult." Branwen Corax noted at how her counterpart would have a long, long journey towards becoming a hero
"That's why I am going to give her as much support as she needs. I know she hasn't had a lot of people to support her, or keep her head above water, so why not make sure she has that someone in her life…She's got a good heart on her, she just needs someone to believe she can be better." Ben said knowing that all the Night Haunter needed was someone to believe that she could make it as a hero if she had the proper support
"Then you are far better than most…I wish you the best in helping her get to much less stay on that path." Branwen Corax replied
"Thanks, Branwen." Was Ben's only reply
"Now then, onto another question I have for you. Why are you awake at this hour? Have you had more nightmares of the Chaos Gods?" Branwen Corax asked
"No, not really. For the most part that's stopped happening for a solid month or two." Ben answered back
"Then what is it?" Branwen Corax asked once again
"This is the first time I'm getting back into fighting in war again. So it..it has me wired, you know." Ben told her
"I didn't think that getting back into it would be such a big deal. I've handled 3 of them just 'fine' for the most part…Now for some reason, I can't sleep, my mind is all over the place more times than I'd like. Then to top it off, every time that I do go to sleep, I have to worry about if I'll get another visit from Khorne or another one of these Chaos jerks." Ben further spoke hating that after everything he had gone through it was now that his mind decided to start going to pieces on him
"Perhaps, it would do you some good to talk about it. From what I understand, you have been through more than any human has had to endure…I may not be the best at comforting people, but I am more than willing to do so for you." The Raven Guard Matriarch offered to the Ultimatrix wielder
"Maybe later, I don't want to bother you with what's nagging at me. Besides, we're a few more hours away from planetfall and I don't want to keep you up too late." Ben said back
"If you do not want to talk about these things, I will not pressure you. However, I will stay up with you; to keep you company. I am a near-ageless demigod, I can afford to go a few hours without rest." Branwen Corax spoke with a small smile
"Sure, why not…I might as well put on something to keep us going through the night." Ben said back as he went to grab his projector
"Do you mind if we watch that Afro Samurai show; that you had mentioned on our way to Terra? It sounded rather interesting." The Raven Guard Matriarch requested
"I don't see why not. Fair warning, Branwen, it is a bit…out there. Even for me this is one of those anime that goes nuts." Ben replied knowing full well of the zaniness of the mentioned anime
"It cannot be that out there, can it?" Was the Lady of Raven's question
"I'll let you decide for yourself…I'll be back in a few minutes, so sit tight." Ben answered as he went to retrieve his projector
'You are curious one, Ben Tennyson…I hope that you will make it through the Great Crusade intact. This long war takes more from those than it gives, and you seem to have lost more than you are willing to admit.' Were the pale Matriarch's face as she looked on at the Ultimatrix wielder with thoughtful eyes
With Ben now making his way alongside Branwen and the Raven Guard to liberate an Imperial world from an Ork invasion, in his first stint in the Great Crusade. We also see a bit of Gwen as she now gets used to the fact that not only is her son going to be a Plumber operative soon enough, but with the advent of gaining his own Omnitrix, getting into all sorts of trouble like Ben and herself would during their younger years. As such with our intrepid hero readying to encounter his 1st battle in the Great Crusade wholesale, how will things go for Ben as he continues to adapt to his new role in things? Find out in the all-new chapters of, Ultimate Alien: Primarch Force!
Alright, that'll do it for this one, as I hope that you will have enjoyed this chapter and everything that went into it, as we begin Ben's first battle in the Great Crusade with the Raven Guard; which should be a ton of fun. In the meantime, I will also say thank you guys for continuing to stick with the story overall, as it does mean a lot to see that you guys want more from it, and as long as that's happening; then I will continue to put more of it out.
So with all that being said, this is Pravus666 signing off until next time. Wherein next chapter will be getting into Ben helping the Raven Guard fight against the Ork invasion in question, so stay tuned for all of that good stuff.
Part 1 Theme Song: Black out the Sun by Sevendust
Random End Song: Poem by Taproot
Now then onto the reviews from the prior chapter.
Skull Flame: I'm glad you liked those bits with Ben talking shop with Forrix and Hestia; with this not being the last we'll see of Forrix, since I actually have plans for Ben, Forrix and the Iron Warriors to team up to defend the Olympia system from either the Drukhari or the Necrons who have taken advantage of Perturabo's absence and the chaos that caused. Also, yes Ben is pretty much setting up what is to become the Deathwatch with Big E, since there is no way that he wouldn't make the case for it the moment he got the chance...Lastly, I love where your going for the potentially new Space Marine armor pattern especially for their Terminators, since it will be thanks to what I have planned for Ben and the Iron Warriors that will inform his creating the next pattern in Terminator armor going forward as well as the prototype to the Gravis Armor for Space Marines going forward.
KharaBELLA: That's something that I plan to cover down the line and while I think it will have positive to mixed results, I do believe that the majority of them will vibe with it. And as for Luther this will help him to stay loyal, but with his upcoming glow-up it will be a positive to mixed bag for Leona given how she and Ben are really not on the best of terms, and the fact that this will cause Leona and Luther to but heads in a different way that may see him join the Deathwatch rather than going renegade. Also speaking of Typhus I have something special planned for how he and Ben's relationship is gonna shake up in the future, as let's just say that Ben's gonna force Typhus to take a hard look at the nature of who he is is all. Also, we will be getting a dedicated date chapter for Ben and Konstance in the future, its just that I have 2 follow up arcs after this in-progress before I get around to that.
ex555: The jetpack idea is something I will be holding onto for the future, as I am going to save that for an upcoming arc that will be after Ben's current team-up with the Raven Guard. Also, I magine Swampfire's powers will also be ideal to a lot of other places, since Sanguinius may want to borrow Ben to help breath some life back into Baal and its moons being a radioactive nightmare.
smallszay106: I am still coming through all of the Warframes that can work for this (which I underestimated the sheer number of), also it's gonna be funny seeing Ben's eventual locking horns with the Adeptus Mechanicus...since he has some words about their not being for innovation for technology.