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Chapter 35: The Silent World
After delivering his instructions to Constantin Valdor, the Raven spread his wings and returned to the Emperor's side within the Throne Room.
The Master of Mankind barely acknowledged his return, His attention focused entirely upon the towering figure of His recovered son.
He held Horus's hand with a tenderness that seemed almost alien coming from one who commanded the stars themselves.
"You were wrought for greatness, my son," the Emperor said, His voice carrying the weight of absolute conviction.
"In My design, you would have learned at My side until you possessed the wisdom to lead the Sixteenth Legion in humanity's name."
"But the Ruinous Powers tore you from Me and cast you into the darkness of Cthonia." His golden eyes dimmed with what might have been regret.
"I know not what trials you endured, nor how you survived to become what you are now."
"I rejoice in your return, yet I cannot simply grant you command of twenty thousand gene-forged warriors. Such haste would be folly—dangerous to the Imperium and to humanity itself."
The Emperor's grip tightened almost imperceptibly. "You must prove yourself worthy of such trust. Learn what it means to be human. Understand why we fight, and for whom. Only then will you earn the right to lead My angels of death."
"If you find this burden distasteful, you may choose a different path. I will not compel you."
The acquisition of technologies from beyond the veil had given the Emperor new perspective.
If His sons rejected their destined roles, He would grant them the freedom to live as mortals.
Disappointment flickered across Horus's noble features, quickly replaced by something darker.
For a moment, hatred burned in his eyes—not for his father, but for the powers that had stolen him from his rightful place.
"I shall prove myself worthy of your trust, Father," he said, mastering his emotions with visible effort. "I will earn the right to stand at your side."
The Emperor nodded, satisfaction evident in His timeless features. "I await that day eagerly, my son.
When you are ready, we shall fight as one—sharing both triumph and burden in our crusade to restore humanity's birthright."
Under the Raven's counsel, the Emperor chose not to personally oversee Horus's education.
Instead, the Primarch was enrolled within the scholae aboard the expeditionary fleet—institutions established to educate the children born during the long years of void travel.
Even among the brilliant minds that served the Great Crusade, Horus's abilities were exceptional.
What required years of study for baseline humans, he mastered in mere days. His combination of intellect and natural charisma soon made him a figure of legend among his fellow students.
Yet this was but a brief interlude in the greater symphony of conquest. The galaxy awaited, and the Emperor's forces pressed ever outward, claiming world after world for the Imperium.
Resources flowed back to Terra in vast streams while Magnus Macado oversaw the construction of projects that would bind the growing empire together—astropathic relays, quantum communication arrays, and the great works that would make a true interstellar civilization possible.
It was during transit through the Warp that fate intervened. A spatial anomaly forced the expeditionary fleet from its planned course, the roiling tides of the Immaterium driving them toward an uncharted system.
Reality tore like parchment as the fleet breached the Mandeville Point, ethereal energies bleeding into normal space before the Geller fields could fully stabilize.
Emergency klaxons wailed throughout the massive vessels as thousands of crew members rushed to their stations.
"Raise void shields! All stations report status!"
"Plasma conduits in section Beta showing stress fractures—repair teams dispatched!"
"Augury sweeps initiated, scanning to one hundred sixty thousand kilometers!"
The organized chaos of a fleet emergency filled the command decks until order was restored.
When the reports reached the Emperor aboard His flagship, they painted a puzzling picture.
"The system is designated Arctis in our star charts," reported the fleet's Master of Vox. "Multiple human colonies detected, though most have devolved to feudal or early industrial states."
"The third planet maintains advanced technology—orbital platforms, space elevators, industrial complexes. They possess interstellar capability, yet..." The officer paused, consulting his data-slate.
"They have made no attempt to expand beyond their world. Most peculiar, my lord."
The Raven tilted his head thoughtfully. "Perhaps circumstances unique to their world have kept them bound to it. We should investigate."
The outlying colonies fell without resistance—their primitive weapons useless against the might of the Imperial war machine.
Each world was brought into compliance and integrated into the growing Imperium.
Only Arctis III remained.
Rather than resort to orbital bombardment, the Emperor chose the path of diplomacy.
A carefully crafted message was transmitted to the planet's surface, explaining the Imperium's origins and its grand vision of human unity.
The response was immediate and utterly mechanical.
"You are trespassing upon the private property of Citizen 13145209527. Withdraw immediately or face lawful retaliation under Article One of the Codex—Private Property is Sacred and Inviolable."
The Imperial diplomat tried again, speaking of peaceful intentions and mutual benefit. The same message repeated verbatim.
"We seek dialogue with your leadership," the negotiator persisted. "Surely we can reach an accord between our peoples."
"You are trespassing upon the private property of Citizen 13145209527. Withdraw immediately or face lawful retaliation under Article One of the Codex—Private Property is Sacred and Inviolable."
No matter what words were spoken, the response never varied.
A world of obvious technological sophistication continued to treat the mightiest fleet in human history as common trespassers, responding only with the cold voice of artificial logic.
"There are billions of human lives on that world," the Master of Vox reported with confusion.
"Yet only machines will speak with us."
"Then we must see for ourselves what manner of prison they have made of their world," the Emperor declared, His psychic might already reaching out to pierce the planet's mysteries.
The Emperor materialized within one of Arctis III's sprawling cities, accompanied by a squad of His Custodian Guard. The transition from void to surface was seamless—a testament to His mastery over the fundamental forces of reality.
What they found defied immediate comprehension.
Every citizen walked the pristine streets encased within transparent helmets, their faces hidden behind curved crystal.
The air itself showed no signs of contamination—indeed, atmospheric readings indicated perfect breathability. Yet none dared expose themselves to it.
"Curious," the Raven mused, perched upon the Emperor's shoulder. "They act as though the very air might poison them, yet our sensors detect no threat."
Before the Emperor could respond, alarm tones echoed through the city streets.
Spherical drones descended from hidden alcoves while the citizens fled in obvious terror.
Sleek automatons emerged from side passages, their photoreceptors fixed upon the Imperial interlopers.
"Warning: theft of Citizen 13145209527's private property detected. Cease and desist immediately."
"Warning: theft of Citizen 13145209527's private property detected. Cease and desist immediately."
The mechanical chorus continued without variation, dozens of artificial voices speaking in perfect unison.
The Emperor's eyes narrowed as He studied the approaching machines, His mind already calculating the true nature of this world's peculiar tyranny.
What manner of civilization had humanity wrought here? And who—or what—was Citizen 13145209527?
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From UmU Studios (Just Me)
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