Chapter 83: Official Return
The fortress hall blazed with light. A large gathering stood assembled, watching his arrival.
Omega surveyed the interior. All the company commanders of the Legion stood present, along with Alpharius. Every eye was fixed upon the Primarch who had just returned. The atmosphere felt strange...expectant.
He caught Alpharius's enigmatic smile and saw the affection in the company commanders' faces. Omega raised his hand and smiled gently.
"You are the company commanders of the Alpha Legion. A pleasure to meet you all. My name is Alpharius Omega, and I will be with you as your Primarch from this day forward!"
Company Commander Skol stepped forward in alarm, examining Omega hurriedly. "Sir, have you lost your memory? Don't you recognize us?"
Norton and the other company commanders stood speechless. 'He actually believed it.'
Omega patted Skol on the shoulder and smiled. "Ah, Company Commander Skol. I don't know why, but seeing you stirs something familiar, as if we've spent considerable time together. It brings back memories!"
Company Commander Skol caught on and chuckled. "Hehe..."
From among the crowd, Alpharius's voice rang out. "You're never serious, joking about something like this. Have you already forgotten your own brothers?"
Omega clapped Skol on the shoulder once more with a broad smile, then moved toward Alpharius to examine his twin's appearance and physique. The company commanders murmured among themselves. Omega clapped his hands in mock surprise.
"Let me think... I seem to remember something about you. I remember my name is Alpharius. What's yours?"
"My name is A—get lost!" Alpharius started to answer, then realized what was happening and shoved Omega away.
Omega chuckled warmly. "Ahem, it's been six or seven years since we last saw each other. Let me have a little fun!"
Company Commander Dillion stepped forward, happiness evident in his voice. "Sir, welcome back! Now that you've officially rejoined the Alpha Legion, you no longer need to hide your identity. Our Legion finally has a Primarch!"
Company Commander Norton corrected him. "The Primarch has always been with us!" The other company commanders smiled broadly.
Company Commander Dillion was right, though. There was a difference between concealment and public acknowledgment. The Alpha Legion maintained secrecy as a core principle, yet it remained human nature for everyone to want their Primarch known openly and honestly.
From company commanders down to the most ordinary Space Marines, all were created through gene-seed combined with nineteen modification surgeries. The Primarch served as the source of that gene-seed.
Each Primarch was unique, like a father to all Astartes in his Legion. The Legion members were his sons.
This genetic bond ran deep. Legion warriors experienced a visceral reaction upon encountering their progenitor. No exchange of warriors between different Legions ever occurred. Each remained independent, not subordinate to the others.
Omega had always shown care for his sons. That explained why the company commanders held him in such high regard.
Overjoyed at their reunion, Omega insisted on hosting a grand feast. Alpharius watched helplessly as his sons departed, celebrating with infectious enthusiasm.
When the two were finally alone, Omega mentioned he hadn't seen Alpharius at the palace. He asked why his twin hadn't returned with him for the official ceremony.
Alpharius replied after a long pause. "I'm the first to return!"
Omega laughed. "Can't we be more relaxed about this? The order of return doesn't matter. I haven't heard any of our brothers making an issue of it. What matters is that we're together again!"
Alpharius said with a more genuine smile, "This is what makes me happiest, that you could return on your own this time!"
As Alpharius departed, Omega felt at a loss.
He couldn't understand why any Primarch would be so desperate to earn more of the Emperor's favor. Why would they strive so intensely to prove their worth before Him?
Imperial families were the most ruthless. To Omega's mind, expecting genuine kinship from the Emperor was foolish. One might as well embrace cold stone and hope for warmth.
Based on nearly eighty years of observation, Omega knew with certainty that the Emperor's favor toward Horus far exceeded anything Alpharius received. Between Alpharius and the Emperor existed merely a superior-subordinate relationship, nothing more.
...
An hour later, a joyous feast commenced in the fortress.
Omega and his company commanders reveled together, eating, drinking, and celebrating without restraint. From the sidelines, Alpharius observed. He jokingly lamented inwardly how his once mysterious and disciplined Legion had transformed into... this.
The following day, Omega returned to the palace to spend time with the Emperor, working to strengthen their relationship and mutual understanding.
Throughout the entire month, Omega felt he'd made significant progress in communicating with the Emperor. Against the Emperor's superior wisdom, Omega had to acknowledge the apparent improvement in their rapport.
By now, countless souls across Terra knew of the Twentieth Legion's Primarch's return. They'd been preparing for the celebration throughout the past month.
This marked the return of the final Primarch. Excitement ran so high that many Imperial Army generals and officers stationed on distant frontiers had traveled back to Terra to participate.
Everywhere bore festive decorations. Banners and streamers transformed the cityscape. Countless citizens set aside their burdens and joined the celebrations.
Alone atop a towering building, Alpharius stood watching the howling wind. In the distance, Omega ascended red-carpeted stairs, the celebration swelling around him.
Beyond the Lion's Gate, countless Imperial officers and government officials raised their voices in the Emperor's name. The return of the last Primarch represented perfection itself.
In the grand plaza atop the massive stairway, over a dozen Primarchs already waited. Custodians in golden armor and the Silent Sisters flanked them, maintaining flawless order. Pure white snowflakes drifted down from above.
Witnessing the extraordinary spectacle below, as though the entire planet had assembled to welcome them, Konrad Curze of the Night Lords couldn't suppress a laugh.
"Ha-Ha-HA"
"What are you laughing about?" Corax, beside him, asked.
Konrad looked at him, smiling and spoke, "Well, Corax, Alpharius's return has drawn more excitement than yours ever did, hehe!"
Corax remained unruffled, speaking in his characteristic low voice. "The return of the last Primarch is naturally different. This is something everyone has eagerly anticipated. I'm genuinely pleased by today's celebration."
Roboute Guilliman added warmly, "Regardless, we've gained another brother. A joyous occasion indeed!"
Guilliman felt relief that Alpharius was rational and communicative, unlike some of their more difficult brothers.
Horus understood that the Imperium was now vast and populous, vastly changed from two hundred years prior.
With the Imperium at the height of its power and Alpharius being the final Primarch, the celebration of his return naturally took on extravagant proportions. It even surpassed the scale of Horus's own homecoming.
Horus smiled wryly, even nostalgically, noting that even Malcador the Sigillite had involved himself in the arrangements. "This year's reunification celebration is truly magnificent!"
After considerable time ascending the grand stairway, Omega finally emerged from the tumult below. He arrived at the Imperial Palace plaza amid the celebrations. Upon seeing over a dozen of his brothers assembled, he approached each in turn to offer proper greetings.
Sanguinius, his magnificent wings spread behind him, smiled as he observed Omega greeting even Angron and Perturabo with such courtesy. "Our brother is remarkably diplomatic. Quite well-mannered, I say!"
The palace gates swung wide then. The Emperor, three meters tall in resplendent golden armor, strode forth. Malcador the Sigillite, in his gray robes and numerous Custodians, followed in procession.
All the Primarchs turned as Omega stepped forward for the Emperor to perform the return ceremony.
Before countless witnesses, the Emperor solemnly announced the official return of Alpharius Omegon as Primarch of the Twentieth Legion.
Several days later, after the exceptionally spirited celebrations finally concluded, Omega breathed a sigh of relief.
During this period, he'd met with representatives from numerous Imperial factions. The Mechanicum. The Silent Sisterhood. The Choir Telepathica. The Adeptus Custodes. Generals from the Imperial Navy.
Beyond these, countless high-ranking officials from the Imperial administration had also sought an audience. Primarily to familiarize themselves with him. To formalize his integration into the Imperial hierarchy.
Following the return celebrations, high-ranking Imperial Army officers and the Primarchs would gradually return to the battlefield. To lead their Legions in continued operations.
This celebration had provided a rare respite from years of constant warfare. The Imperium's wars of expansion continued on every front. Omega would now officially lead the Alpha Legion in the Great Crusade.
In the fortress's strategy chamber, Alpharius studied Omega's calm expression before speaking.
"At this stage of the war, joint operations between different Legions have become increasingly common. Our Legion is rather specialized, however." He paused. "I suspect we'll find cooperation with other Legions... challenging."
[End of Chapter]
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