Chapter 98: Smiles Can Only Be Transferred
Aboard the Abyss's Roar.
"Primarch, we've intercepted a vessel. The pilot is Fabius Bile. Do you wish to see him?" Sarpedon's voice came from outside the laboratory door.
"Hmm? Bring him in."
"Yes, my lord."
Francis frowned slightly. Why had Fabius fled Nuceria instead of remaining there? Had the Apothecary gotten cold feet and decided to defect?
As he pondered this, his hands continued their work without pause. He was even considering excavating some black stone for his experiments.
Sarpedon returned with Fabius, who carried an enormous container wrapped in black cloth on his back. He walked with an awkward, swaying gait, the tank clearly filled with liquid.
After delivering his charge, Sarpedon withdrew.
The moment Fabius spotted Francis, his eyes lit up, and he hurried closer.
"Hehehe~ My esteemed Primarch, I've finally found you!"
"Found me? Really?" Francis didn't mince words. "You're not planning to defect, are you?"
Fabius immediately shook his head vigorously, eager to prove himself. Then he ripped away the black cloth, revealing the figure suspended in the massive culture tank, Horus, in a dormant state.
"I've completed the clone! This is Horus, nearly identical to the original. Hehehe~"
He looked at Francis with keen anticipation, clearly hoping for shock or amazement.
Francis stepped closer to examine the tank.
"Unfortunately..." Francis's expression turned relieved. "Good. I knew you could do it."
Fabius deflated slightly at the underwhelming response.
"By the way, since you've abandoned your post, how's Angron? Did you 'resurrect' his family?"
At this, Fabius lifted his head proudly. "Everything has been accomplished according to your design. His adoptive father and gladiator brothers have been cloned using gene-tech. While not all their memories could be recovered, they remember the essentials."
"Furthermore, Angron truly did carve out territory for the orks. Many arenas now stand where humans and greenskins compete."
"Every day, orks and humans fight for gladiatorial glory!"
Fabius had to admire Francis's design, dividing the orks into small tribes and having the strongest from each participate in the blood sports. When an Ork warboss died, the greenskins quickly elected a replacement.
Moreover, having Angron himself officiate the gladiatorial games actually stabilized the entire arrangement.
Francis nodded with satisfaction, a planet where humans and orks coexisted peacefully.
Once the Heresy ended, they could promote this to the Five Hundred Worlds of Ultramar. Those nobles would surely enjoy watching human-ork combat spectacles.
Develop the tourism economy vigorously! Transform Nuceria into a tourism-driven world!
Soon, everyone would have books to read and fights to watch!
"Primarch? Primarch..."
Fabius's voice pulled Francis from his thoughts. "What?"
"Should we activate Clone Horus now?"
"Absolutely."
With confirmation, Fabius immediately began operating the awakening sequence.
Hisssss~
With a draining sound, the culture medium slowly emptied from the tank. Clone Horus's eyes snapped open.
"Where am I? Francis, what are you doing here?"
It wasn't apparent with his eyes closed, but now Francis could see it; Clone Horus truly carried something of the original's presence.
Francis was very satisfied. He tossed Fabius a piece of spirit bone and some new gene-tech data, which the Apothecary immediately began studying. Fabius retreated to a corner of the lab.
"This is my flagship, and you're currently in my laboratory," Francis said.
"And I regret to inform you, you're a clone of Horus, not the original."
Clone Horus showed little surprise. His memories ended at Isstvan V. Even so, he knew the original had already turned traitor.
"So what do you plan to do with me? Is the original dead?"
Francis was impressed by his calm tone. This was Horus before his corruption, unclouded, loyal.
"The original lives, and we're about to face him in battle. I'm hoping you can help us protect humanity."
Clone Horus didn't hesitate for even a moment. "Just tell me what needs to be done."
"I'll do anything to keep the Emperor and humanity safe."
"Even if it means facing the original!"
Looking into those eyes, Francis saw only unwavering loyalty.
After releasing him from the tank, Francis grasped his shoulder and spoke sincerely. "The Emperor will be very pleased to see you."
"Actually, I was hoping you could join this battle. Your presence might awaken the conscience of some of the traitors."
And even if you can't wake them up, you can still issue false commands to sow confusion, Francis thought.
Clone Horus nodded. Under Francis's direction, the Tech-Priests fashioned Horus-pattern Terminator armor for him.
Furthermore, Francis activated holographic projections to Guilliman, Sanguinius, the Lion, Vulkan, Ferrus, and Corax.
When they saw Horus standing there, confusion flashed across their faces.
"Francis, are you being held hostage? If so, blink twice."
"How did Horus get there? He should still be aboard the Vengeful Spirit!"
"Oh no! Francis, how were you captured?!"
The Primarchs descended into brief chaos, unable to comprehend how their brother's stronghold had been compromised.
Francis raised his hands placatingly.
"Uh... this is Clone Horus. He'll be a special asset for this operation, and he'll help us defeat the original."
Clone?!
"..."
The Primarchs fell silent. They couldn't imagine what Father would say if he found out.
Moreover, they felt somewhat offended. If Horus could be cloned today, wouldn't all the Primarchs be cloned tomorrow?
"Hehe~ Perfect. Vulkan and Corax can donate some blood."
Francis rubbed his hands together. He desperately wanted Vulkan's blood, a perpetual! Just thinking about it was incredible!
Vulkan and Corax, standing before their holographic projections, glanced at Horus, then at Francis.
Even if you want to clone us, you don't have to be this direct about it!
"How about next time? I'm not feeling well lately," Vulkan said.
"Yeah, me too," Corax added quickly.
Francis was surprised by the sudden reversal, having thought he could easily obtain Primarch blood samples. Then he noticed their gazes constantly flicking between him and Horus.
He understood.
Francis's face immediately flushed. He hurried to explain. "It's not what you think!"
"I have legitimate uses for this! You have to trust me."
"Brothers would never harm each other."
His protestations only made them more suspicious.
Francis suddenly felt that trust between people had vanished entirely!
"If you swear in Father's name that you won't use our blood to create clones of us, we'll provide samples," Vulkan said, conceding a step. After all, they were brothers.
Francis: "..."
Francis straightened and placed his hand over his chest.
"I swear! Unless there are extraordinary circumstances, I will never use the blood of Vulkan and Corax to clone Primarchs."
"If I violate this oath, may the Emperor forever disown me as His son!"
His voice rang out clearly.
Their expressions immediately turned solemn. That was truly ruthless. If the Emperor didn't recognize them, they might as well be dead.
Satisfied, the two finally agreed to provide Francis with blood samples.
After the meeting ended, Francis left the laboratory and found Soul Drinkers everywhere teaching Ogryn how to shoot.
"Grip the trigger first, then aim! Grip the trigger first!"
"Wot's a trigga?!"
The Soul Drinkers were like parents teaching math homework, repeatedly instructing the Ogryn on how to use bolters.
Fabius happened to witness this, and a smile began spreading across his face. He approached Francis.
"Hehehe~ Primarch, what do you think would happen if gene-seed were implanted in these Ogryn?"
Francis raised an eyebrow at the thought of being called "Father" by Ogryn Space Marines.
"If you dare use Soul Drinkers gene-seed for this, I'll have a womb installed in you and make you birth Astartes yourself."
Fabius's smile gradually faded.
But a slight smile appeared on Francis's lips instead.
[End of Chapter]