Found a wild omake for the omake throne

Canon!Cain meets Guilliman. Predictable Caining ensues.

The world I had chosen to retire on had managed to hold out quite well during the calamitous expansion of the eye of terror but been cut off from the wider imperium for a good decade. Despite the manifold issues this brought with it, a lack of contact had meant that, at least, nobody was likely to come by and ruin my retirement by dragging me unwillingly toward another dozen opportunities for getting myself killed. That was, of course, until contact with the wider Imperium was re-established by the planets much-diminished astropathic choir. And what a contact it was:

The message had spread across the schola like a wildfire, sparking elation, and spontaneous displays of religious fervour and ecstasy unlike any I had witnessed before. The Primarch has risen, and he comes, the god-emperors holy son, the avenging blade! Up and down the corridors, scholam tutors and pupils alike were in tumult, and I found myself wishing to have Jurgen by my side. I had never quite missed his distinct odour, nor his psoriasis, but his unique presence would have been of great aid in clearing a path for me as I retreated back to my quarters.

I must confess that I was worried. I had little illusions of what the Primarch's arrival meant, for his intentions preceded him: War; a crusade unlike any the Imperium had seen in living memory. And if my past experiences with such campaigns were anything to go by, if I was not careful, I might find myself swept up in the crusades business more directly than I had any wish to, owing mostly to my wholly undeserved reputation for heroism.

Yet, there was a decidedly more important reason for worry still, the risk of being found out at last for the coward I was. I had, against all odds, and against my own expectations, survived long enough to retire, and been able to hide my true motivations from anyone around me, besides perhaps Amberley...

However, I had no doubt that, were I to face Roboute Guilliman in the flesh, the game would be up. Resolving not to lose what benefits my retirement and reputation had permitted me, yet aware that I could not simply remain absent, I planned to be in the very back of the crowd upon his arrival…

Afterward, I succeeded in making my way back to my quarters, for the corridors were nearly deserted, teachers and pupils alike swept up in ecstatic festivities on the streets. Small enough to affect an air of modesty towards the occasional visitor, the rooms I now dwelled in were nevertheless more spacious than many I had seen the insides of before, and I confess I was glad to return there. More importantly, I had, to the best of my knowledge, avoided the Primarchs attention.

He had descended upon the planet, no doubt to raise morale in the face of the galactic calamity that had befallen us and held an admittedly stirring speech. Now that his fleet was refuelling, I expected he would soon return to the void. In truth, this world was a backwater in galactic terms, the very reason why I had arranged to spend my retirement here; and I could not imagine the Primarch wasting any more time than necessary on this mudball. This was a glorified logistics stop, a short pause to allow the fleet and its personnel to rest and rearm, and to recruit more fodder for the ever-hungry imperial war machine. Well, not me, not this time!

As I neared my quarters, my palms began to itch, a sure sign of trouble that had saved my cowardly hide on more occasions than I cared to remember, and I slowed my steps. Yet something, like a fearful, nervous curiosity, drew me onwards.

I rounded the final corner and froze, staring dumbfounded at a duo of golden giants. I confess that for a moment, I was tempted to run. I had scarcely ever felt such terror, not even when facing down a horde of slavering Tyranids, or an Ork Waagh, both things I had been regrettably forced to do on numerous occasions. I blinked rapidly, struggling to countenance what I saw: Custodes. I had only ever seen statues of them and propagandistic renditions, but there was no doubt about it. Two of the Emperors own guardians, bedecked in enough ornamentation and finery as to almost be dazzling, flanked the doors to my quarters.

I sank to my knees, I confess. There was no other option, no question about it. Guardians of the Emperor Himself. Beings that had been in His very presence. I am not a pious man, but this…it was all a bit much, I suppose.

"Ciaphas Cain" one of them intoned, his voice a deep baritone "Rise. The Lord regent awaits you." The Custodians stepped aside; the message clear:

The primarch. The primarch was in my quarters! Frak.

I swallowed, hard. This was not the kind of invitation that anyone could refuse, and so I rose, and began to walk once more, throat dry, and with beads of sweat beginning to form upon my face.

Up close, the Custodians were, if anything, more imposing still, behemoths in baroque plate, each surface bedecked by a plethora of rubies and innumerable intricate carvings, some too small for my aging eyes to make out, all rendered with impossible finesse.

I reluctantly grabbed the door handle, and pulled…

And there he was. Guilliman. A primarch, in the flesh.

His presence had been overwhelming even from afar, drawing gazes, commanding the attention of anyone present. The stories, the paintings, all the religious scripture; the statues that I had seen, nothing did him justice, doubly so up close.

He was standing, for what furniture was there to sit on that would have borne his frame? I knelt, without thinking.

"My Lord" I stammered "To what do I owe the honour of your visit?"

Guilliman turned to regard me, his massive armour purring, and I felt myself shrink beneath his gaze:

"Come now, Ciaphas, you do not need to play this role in front of me. Let us speak honestly."

Practiced dissembler that I was, placed before the observational acumen of the one of the Emperors own sons, my mask had evidently ceased its function. I admit to stumbling over my words, trying to formulate an answer, caught between full admittance and desperate denial. Finally, I merely nodded meekly:

"As you wish, Lord."

Guilliman smiled, not without warmth, and I could feel the encouragement he incited with the gesture alone, seeping through me like a sump-fall into the lower levels of a hive, and warming me like a whole mug of tanna leaf brew. I found that I could not lie, not to him, not like this. It was time for the truth, after all those centuries:

"I think I ought to be ashamed." I finally managed to utter "Not only did I build such an undeserved reputation, and drew my profits from it, but I tried to uphold the charade when faced with a son of the Emperor himself. I can only Imagine what you must feel towards me…" I hung my head. Admitting it had felt strangely…freeing, as if a weight had been lifted from my aging shoulders at last, yet I judged my position as dismal, nonetheless. Now, after two centuries, my selfish cowardice had been revealed, like I always knew it would be. Before I could continue however, Guilliman spoke up, effortlessly drawing my attention to him as he did so:

"What I feel towards you?" he chuckled "Approval I would say, esteem...and bemusement, I admit."

I stared at him as if his father had suddenly appeared by his shoulders offering fresh tanna. I could feel my mouth working, like an aquatic creature caught on land, but words escaped me.

Guilliman laughed, a twinkle of mischief in his eyes: "You are too hard on yourself, Ciaphas." No doubt noticing the persistence of my dumbfounded impression, he elaborated:

"I have read many things about you, both the official materials, and your own writings." I inhaled sharply as I saw that he, or whoever had swept the room before his arrival, had found my personal memoirs. Guilliman chuckled

"Forget, for a moment, your motivations and think instead about your achievements. You have done more than most for my father's realm, something He is no doubt grateful for. You have faced a multitude of foes that beset the Imperium and bested all of them. Your courageous leadership has inspired those around you, and tales of your actions are still bolstering the morale of billions across the Imperium. There are few who can match your deeds in their effect, and fewer among those are unmodified humans."

I will admit freely that I was dumbstruck, elation and denial warring in my chest: "B…but my Lord Guilliman" I finally managed, the very act of countermanding him requiring intense effort "I am a coward."

Guilliman chuckled: "Are you? It was once said that true bravery is not found in the absence of fear, but in one's reaction to it. You have felt fear, aye, and why would you not, considering the things you faced?" He raised a finger, no doubt seeing my expression and sensing the coming protest: "But face them you did. You overcame your fear, Ciaphas, time and again. That is what counts."

As undeserved as his praise felt, I found I could not reject it outright, though I remained distinctly unconvinced "I am certainly no shining example of the Imperial spirit as it is taught…" I interjected, meekly. The Primarch cocked an eyebrow:

"Blind adherence to dogma makes for inflexible minds. Such behaviour is widespread in this Imperium, as I have discovered to my great lament." he scowled, and his disapproval, though not directed at me, sent a shiver of unease through me. Guilliman went on:

"I will always prefer a pragmatist with selfish goals who contributes to the struggle for mankind's survival over a stubborn idealist, or worse, a religious fanatic, inflexible or reckless due to their adherence to one belief or another. Those kinds of characters often aid the foe through their actions, however inadvertent."

The primarch sighed, and for a moment I had the impression that an enormous weight sat upon his shoulders, one that could never be removed. It was a silly idea, of course; what limits would there be for a son of the God-Emperor himself?

Guilliman continued speaking:

"If suicidal fanaticism and blind adherence to protocol and dogma were able to resolve the manifold issues plaguing this Imperium, I am certain they would have long since succeeded in doing so. Their failure is certainly not due to a lack of attempts."

What can I say? It certainly seemed to make sense what he said, yet, from any other, it would have been regarded as sedition, as heresy. Despite my own dislike for Imperial bureaucracy, and my personal propensity for avoiding combat whenever possible; adhering to orders, upholding dogma and dying in droves when ordered to, those were the pillars upon which the Imperium stood. Take them away, and what would be left?

But this was no malcontent menial, complaining about their lot, no greedy planetary noble seeking to expand their power. This was a son of the Emperor. If he claimed this was how it was, well… I would have rather grabbed a nearby butter knife and challenged the custodes outside to a duel than countermand him, so I simply nodded and croaked:

"Yes, lord."

And then, I did something so monumentally stupid that, looking back at it, I cannot countenance any reason for doing so, besides the primarchs own presence compelling me. For, moved by his praise as I admittedly was, I could not help but speak up where I should have kept my damned mouth shut:

"I thank you, Lord, for your words of kindness. If there is anything I can do…"

Guilliman looked at me, mock surprise on his face, and I realised a heartbeat too late the trap I had sprung:

"Hm? Oh, yes, well, my dear Ciaphas, if you are asking so directly…. I would of course never dream of denying an aging hero such as you his well-deserved rest, but since you are clearly itching to return to the fray, as befits your heroic reputation, I shall graciously offer you the opportunity to do so."

The primarch smiled: "The Indomitus crusade always has need of the inspiration and leadership that men and women of your calibre offer. There are many Imperial Guard regiments spread throughout the crusade fleets, among them more than a few Valhallan ones, if you wish to lead their kind once more." he shrugged "But I will leave that choice with you." he added, with the air of one granting a grand favour.

A distant part of me felt the urge to let loose a tirade of most creative swear words. Throne of Terra, he had played me, baited me right into his trap, that…

Guilliman stepped towards me, his massive frame towering above me, and placed a hand on my shoulder, his armoured gauntlet easily enveloping most of my upper torso in the process. I swallowed, though his smile was kind:

"I am glad to see you joining the ranks of my crusade, Ciaphas, truly, I am." and now I swear I could hear the mischief in his voice: "It is a welcome surprise, seeing how I only came to this scholam to converse with a true hero of the Imperium."

I blinked, taken aback. Had I just seen the Primarch wink, or was it a figment of my overeager imagination? I was tempted to ask, but Guilliman had already turned away, delicately gripping the ornate door handles, which looked comically tiny in his armoured grasp, and ducked out through the doorframe, striding away through the hallway, flanked by his Custodes retinue.

Rarely had I felt such a bewildering mixture of emotions; rapture, elation, terror, relief, all vying for my attention before I managed to settle on an all too familiar one: Apprehension.

Wearily accepting my fate, I began to trod towards the landing pad, where a transport would no doubt already be waiting for me. Valhallans among the crusade forces, huh? Well, at least there would be tanna, then.

This is a short piece of writing that I have been working on ever since I heard someone on Reddit wonder how Cain would have reacted to Guillimans return and I figured, with all the ways the Cicatrix Maledictum has messed with the Galaxy, time running slower on his retirement planet is not out of the question; and besides, its a fun what-if scenario, so what gives?

Anyway, I finally finished it, and decided to share it here. Feel free to let me know what you think of it!

Edit: First of all, thank you for all the kind words and feedback! I am thrilled to hear that people enjoy what I wrote! I appreciate that so many of you took the time to leave a kind comment or give feedback!

Since some of you asked about if I had written other things, i figured I would put a link to it here for anyone interested; it`s an ongoing story I am writing, a what-if scenario in which a C'tan becomes active again in the 40k galaxy, and the repercussions thereof.