Under Mephiston's explanation, the seven Weepers finally understood what had happened and temporarily accepted their current situation.
However, Tahier still didn't show Luka much kindness, as such a transformation was truly difficult for ordinary Space Marines to accept.
Luka wasn't surprised by this. When Guilliman promoted the Primaris reform, there were still many Chapters that were extremely resistant to the Primaris Space Marines. The most severe case, the Black Templars, even slaughtered a Custodes. Expecting these 'cans' to readily accept change was harder than ascending to heaven.
Not to mention that 'toilet paper' they held as their guiding principle; even Guilliman himself, when trying to make changes, was criticized for not understanding the Codex Astartes.
One can only say that the Imperium's abstract nature is not without reason.
For an Imperium that has existed for ten thousand years, too many things have become chronic and incurable. To do anything, one can only exploit loopholes, or wait for Guilliman to wake up and let this only politically adept Primarch handle it himself.
For Luka, he only sought to do well with the task at hand.
"Lord Luka, thank you again for saving them," Mephiston's gratitude towards Luka was evident.
From any perspective, Luka had bestowed an immense favor upon their line of Space Marines.
"It's nothing. The contributions the Weepers have made for the people of the Imperium are admirable, and I am happy to help them," Luka waved his hand, indicating he didn't care much about it, but he did remind Mephiston: "However, their bodies have undergone tremendous changes after the Primaris transformation. Besides adapting as quickly as possible, they also need to conceal themselves within a short period and not reveal their identities.
Currently, the Primaris transformation has not yet received official Imperial approval. While I can ensure they won't be held accountable, the Weepers themselves are a Chapter still on a penitent crusade. If they were to be discovered, the subsequent trouble would be quite severe."
"Please rest assured, Lord Luka, I will remind them to be careful," Mephiston expressed his understanding, as the Weepers indeed faced many problems.
However, after saying this, Mephiston's expression changed slightly, as if he was hesitating, but then he made a decision and quietly asked Luka again: "Lord Luka, will their Gene-Seed change after the Primaris transformation?"
"You're asking if the Primaris transformation can be inherited through the Gene-Seed, and if it affects the Blood Thirst and Black Rage, aren't you?" Luka saw through Mephiston's thoughts and replied with a smile: "After the Primaris transformation, their newly implanted special organs will, like the original artificial organs, be able to be inherited through the Gene-Seed glands and passed on to new Space Marines.
As for whether the Primaris transformation can solve the Blood Thirst and Black Rage, my answer is yes, but only to a small extent.
The Primaris transformation can address your Blood Thirst issue, but the Blood Thirst itself is a genetic trait specifically retained by the Emperor when designing the Blood Angels, and not a flaw of yours.
The Adeptus Mechanicus Sage responsible for researching the Primaris transformation once considered solving this problem, but he felt it might have been intentional on the Emperor's part, so he did not modify it.
As for the Black Rage, Lord Mephiston, you should know more about this than I do."
After listening to Luka's explanation, Mephiston fell silent.
What the Black Rage was, he indeed knew the details better than anyone.
The idea that the Blood Thirst was intentional on the Emperor's part was something Mephiston had heard for the first time.
Both pieces of news were astonishing information for him, and he needed time to digest and understand their hidden meanings.
"It seems I do need time to properly digest the information you've revealed, Lord Luka," Mephiston did not question the truthfulness of Luka's words. Some information did not need to be verified to know its authenticity; Mephiston was simply unable to accept it at the moment.
"I understand. Some secrets are indeed a burden for those who know them," Luka said no more, comforting Mephiston before turning and leaving.
Watching Luka's departing figure, Mephiston also fell into deep thought.
The next time Luka saw the Weepers, these seven unfortunate individuals had already changed into black Power Armor.
Black is the Deathwatch's livery. The only thing on them that indicated their original Chapter identity was the shoulder pad on their right shoulder, which retained their original Chapter's livery, while the left shoulder bore the silver shoulder pad representing the Inquisition.
Normally, Deathwatch members would be proud to join this special unit. In the Space Marine 2 game, Titus's little fanboy greatly admired the Deathwatch.
To serve in the Deathwatch was an honor worth boasting about for any Astartes.
Unless you joined this special unit as a Blackshield.
A Blackshield is someone who conceals their original Chapter identity to join the Deathwatch. These individuals usually paint over the shoulder pad that identifies their original Chapter or cover it with a cloth.
This is because they do not wish for anyone to know which Chapter they once belonged to.
They might have joined the Deathwatch with a special purpose, but at the same time, they might have committed some misdeeds and do not wish to tarnish the honor of their original Chapter.
For example, according to Titus's experience in Space Marine 2, he became disheartened after being left in the Deathwatch for a long time with no one coming to retrieve him, coupled with the fact that he was forced to join the Deathwatch under suspicion of being a traitor.
So later, he not only changed his name but also covered his Chapter's emblem with a cloth, abandoning his Ultramarines identity, and simultaneously not wishing for anyone to know he once belonged to the Ultramarines.
The shoulder pads of the seven Weepers before him, which indicated their original Chapter, were also covered by a cloth.
"Because Primaris technology is still a secret, you temporarily need to conceal your identities," Luka looked at the seven Primaris Weepers, instructing them on precautions: "Your status in the Deathwatch is temporary. Once the Gene-Seed Primarch returns to the Imperium, or your original Chapter completes its penitent crusade and returns, you can resume your identities as Weepers.
Before that, you can only operate as Deathwatch Blackshields.
I imagine you also wouldn't want others to know that members of the Weepers have undergone special body modifications, would you?"
"Isn't that your responsibility? If you hadn't transformed us..." one of the Weepers said to Luka, displeased.
"While that's true, if I hadn't saved you, you would all be dead," Luka said, then presented a fact that the Weepers found unacceptable: "If you all died, then the Weepers Chapter might truly be annihilated, after all, you yourselves know very well what state your Chapter is in."
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