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(AN: Personally perhaps one of my favourite chapters to write up till now.)
-Terra-
As the Emperor had promised after a year of his own experiments with the gene-seed of the 2nd Primarch, He had found out the way to make Astartes with it and gained quite a few surprises.
Discoveries he shared with Malcador and the Chief gene-smiths responsible for making Astartes.
Malcador and the Gene-smiths were surprised to find out that 2nd's genetic material's current state after genetic processing was indeed viable to proceed with the procedure.
In fact the Vial of red liquid could be called the "gene-seed" of the 2nd Legion.
Amazingly enough unlike the other gene-seeds the 2nd's gene-seed did not have to be processed into subsequent synthetic organs in fact there was no need for any surgery as well.
They only needed to inject the Vial of red liquid into the chosen base-line humans in particular and the genetic material would begin latching on to the host's very gene structure and start the process of Astarte ascension.
But what shocked Malcador, the gene-smiths and even the Emperor when he discovered it was that unlike the other Primarch gene-seed that needed certain compatibility with the chosen base line human to have a chance of succeeding the subsequent surgeries.
The 2nd's Gene-seed on the other hand had a staggering 99.9% compatible with every single human they had tested it on.
It was almost as if the gene-seed was "alive" in a way that it would automatically adapts itself to match the Host's genetic material when injected into their bodies.
Sadly the good news had ended there since despite the very promising discoveries each and every candidate that was injected with the 2nd's gene-seed died soon after.
And the cause of the death was also very strange.
As soon as a human candidate was injected they would soon after start convulsing.
After a certain time passes they die on the operating table; as soon as they breath their last, bright yellow and orange flames would appear from their bodies and cover them, leaving behind only a few ashes.
The other Gene-smiths might have had theories and conjunctures on why this would happen but Malcador and the Emperor had noticed something that caused them to pause.
Specifically those flames....They weren't normal.
As two perpetuals who had been alive for a VERY long time, there was not much they had not seen or witnessed especially the Emperor who had lived for over 30,000 years.
But they could say without a shadow of a doubt that they have never seen "flames" like that and knew for a fact that they were in fact not a type of Warp fire or even remotely connected to the Warp.
Not to mention the flames did not just burn away the bodies but had also completely burned away the souls of the humans.
"What in the name of Terra is this contradiction!? we've already went beyond the 10 thousandth candidate and not one had succeeded in becoming an Astarte?"
Malcador said with a frown seeing the death toll but he was even more frustrated with the nature of this gene-seed.
It had no mutations, It was extremely stable, It was adaptable and had no Warp fluctuations! All in all it should have been the most safest and stable of the gene-lines yet it was proving the contrary instead!?
"At ease old friend, I think I know why this is." The Emperor had a thoughtful and intrigued look as he looked at the now empty operating table.
"Well what is it?"
"The problem is not physical requirements but rather mental, Hmmm No I think it's best to refer to it as connected to the very soul."
"What? my friend can you please not talk in riddles and just bluntly say what it is!"
Malcador looked at his golden giant of a friend with a twitching eyebrow, knowing full well his penchant for mindfuckery in fact he was the one of the very VERY few who knew it was one of the Emperor's guilty pleasures watching others run in circles trying to decipher his cryptic words.
The Emperor's lips twitched in amusement for a moment before he composed himself.
"It is what I said Malcador, once the gene-seed was inserted aside from it's core structure it adapted to match it's Host without fail if anything physical requirements and compatibility are perhaps the things we have to have the least worries on."
The Emperor waved his hand and controlled the console in front of him seamlessly as it's Hololithic tech displayed what he wanted while Malcador frowned in concentration but remained silent.
"My conjecture is that the 2nd's gene-seed needs a certain type of mentality and willpower."
"The reason I say this is because it's what's possible after all other impossibilities are removed and because the flames we see are Psychic in nature even if they aren't any we have seen before."
Malcador stood silent for a minute as his mind worked on the new information, knowing how skilled his friend was not only in Warp sorcery but also his skills as a scientist he mostly believed he was right.
The Sigilite's mind went through the profiles of all the past candidates that went through the 2nd legion's gene-ascension.
Most of them were from Noble Terran bloodlines or had robust human genetics which would be considered good foundation for future Astartes in the other legions.
But since those same features weren't even considered important for the 2nd legion's gene-seed, he instead started mentally looking through their Psyche evaluations with his own powerful mind.
His frown deepened when he finished with his mental catalogue and found out that in reference to the failed attempts a vast majority of viable candidates had to be removed.
"That is not good news since if we consider the previous candidates psyches and personalities we will have a low pool to draw from---!"
Malcador froze mid-sentence as his mind went to a certain someone and he realized that "his" psyche might be viable for it.
"I think I might have a viable candidate, but it will be a gamble if he survives or not especially since we don't know the type of Psyche requirements needed."
The Emperor was slightly curious about who his friend had in mind and gave him a nod, as Malcador sent away one of his agents to retrieve someone.
After some time the agent came back with a child.
The boy looked at most 10 years old with black hair, dark brown eyes and fair skin but that's where his childish features ended.
His face was stoic to the point of coldness and the Emperor felt great amount of anger, hate and determination from the boy using a subtle psychic probe.
The boy walked in front of them and gave them a bow.
"Your majesty, master." The boy greeted them respectfully and the Emperor found the young man's spirit very noteworthy since he was able to mostly keep his composure in front of him.
He knew due to his immense Psychic powers he had a passive aura that caused many fellow humans to feel awe, respect and devotion regarding him.
Yet the boy in front of him was able to mostly keep his composure showing his powerful spirit.
Malcador came beside the boy and patted his shoulder.
"This is Connor, someone I met by chance and took under my wing."
The Emperor acknowledged that with a nod as Malcador looked down on his apprentice with a serious look.
"Connor this chamber's purpose was for the creation of the Astartes needed for the 2nd Legion, I won't lie there has been more than 10,000 people that have already gone through the gene process and not one of them survived or even had their bodies left."
Malcador gestured to the few scattered ashes on the operating tables.
Truth be told Malcador did not want to have his newest apprentice go through it, the boy was brilliant and his original plan was to train him to be the eventual next Grand master of the assassin temples.
In short his successor.
But Malcador long since knew the costs for human survival especially with the Great Crusade drawing more and more near as the Astronomican was being built.
He, the Emperor and too many people to count had sacrificed much when it came to humanity and this was one gamble he knew he had to make.
"So despite me telling you that, will you go through the procedure to become a 2nd legion Astarte?"
"I will be honoured master."
Malcador gave the boy a bitter but proud smile as Connor was taken to the operating table by some Gene-smiths.
He should have expected his immediate agreement considering the boy's past, Connor had long since grown almost numb to the possibility of death if it would help him on his goal.
"I didn't know you took an apprentice?" The Emperor questioned Malcador after Connor and the others were out of earshot.
"I found him 3 years ago in the Eurasian union lands (Europe) after completing some business with the ruling Nobles there."
"Haha would you believe me if I told you that boy despite being seven in that time successfully tailed me and my guard without any of them knowing? I was so impressed that I kept quiet to see how good he was."
"And?" The Emperor asked.
"Nothing, they didn't notice him at all even better the boy wanted to steal from me thinking I was some old Noble and almost passed undetected to me, that's when I finally confronted him."
"He was skinny and malnourished yet despite hanging upside down by the air due to me his gaze barely changed as he looked for escapes despite seeing Psychic power for the first time."
"Next thing I knew, I brought him back to my temporary residence while there, had him fed and after a long talk convinced him to come with me back here as my apprentice."
The Emperor quirked an eyebrow at Malcador hearing of his little adventure, he also felt his opinion of Connor increase.
A seven year old malnourished boy without education, formal training had tailed his right hand man without his elite guard noticing and almost slipped past them only to be caught by Malcador himself.
The genius, instinct, street smarts and strategic thinking needed for such a thing.....
Suddenly the Emperor also thought this would be a very big waste if Connor died, such talented humans were rare and even if Connor did not go through the Astarte procedure he could be a valuable asset for humanity.
The Gene-smiths took out a Vial of 2nd legion gene-seed after putting a shirtless Connor on the operating table wearing only shorts.
But just then the Vial of red liquid glowed as if the red liquid within contained the very same flames that had incinerated the other candidates after their deaths.
The Gene-smiths froze while Malcador and the Emperor whipped their heads to their direction seeing this new development.
Yet Connor had a very different reaction, as unknown to him his eyes glowed with a similar flame for a second as he looked at the vial as stoic expression finally broke.
He felt something deep within himself resonate with the vial or rather whatever it was within the liquid.
It was...comforting.
Unconsciously he relaxed on the table while the flames within the Vial's contents stopped glowing as well, the gene-smiths checked to see what the anomaly was but found nothing.
"That didn't happen before with the rest." Malcador seriously said as the Emperor nodded.
"....I know you would have investigated the boy before accepting him as your apprentice Malcador, who is he?"
"Connor is not his true name, it was the one his mother had given him, she was the servant of a Noble head within the Eurasian Union, Connor is that man's illegitimate son."
"From what my contacts had told me the boy and his mother despite not being recognized lived simple but well enough lives as Connor's mother worked while also caring for him."
"Sadly the man's legal wife had given birth twice and only birthed daughters who were in fact not eligible to inherit the family's name as is the traditional practice in Eurasia."
"The woman in simple words was a paranoid howler monkey of a bitch who had found out about Connor and his mother and had confronted her husband over them."
"Long story short, she threatened to leave and pull back any support her own house had given him if he didn't deal with his little problem."
"Considering the man mostly kept himself in power due to a large part cause of his wife's family he didn't hesitate to send some guards to dispose of Connor and his mother."
"His mother was able to escape mainly due to luck but she was very badly injured while protecting a her six year old son and had most likely collapsed after losing her pursuit."
"Connor then spent the next year surviving on his own, by listening, stealing and planning but he never forgot what had happened to him and his mother as he kept that anger contained until the day he could finally get his revenge."
The Emperor nodded understanding why he felt so much hate, anger and determination from the boy, as he and Malcador watched the gene-smiths insert the Vial in a syringe gun.
Before inserting it into his arm and dosing him with the gene-seed.
Connor aside from the sting of the injection didn't feel much for the next few moments before he finally felt a "warmth" go from his arm to his entire body.
Yet it wasn't painful or even uncomfortable if anything it was just as comfortable as the feeling he just had if not more so.
Like being wrapped within a warm blanket with your every worry being coaxed out, it was so similar to what he felt from his mother when she was alive that it almost brought tears to his eyes.
If not for the fact that he was being assaulted with a feeling of drowsiness but as his vision hazed, the vision in front of him changed from the cavernous chamber to field of fire.
And in the middle of the field was a giant of a man in in light grey and black knightly power armour, who's gaze even when under his helmet went towards him.
Connor felt a sense of awe, reverence, and instinctive loyalty towards the figure but most of all he felt an almost primal sense of "closeness" with him.
Not the type he had with his master but a different more recognizable "closeness" he remembered only feeling with his mother.
He wanted to go to him but the haze in his eyes was growing and he felt himself being lulled to sleep by the very same "warmth".
But he instinctually understood who this man was before sleep claimed him.
'....Father....'
Everyone watched closely to see what would happen only for minutes to pass and nothing happening.
"7 minutes 32 seconds....My lords he has exceeded the last noted maximum time after injection."
"I can see that! what is his condition?" Malcador ordered the lead gene-smith.
"No abnormalities noted Lord Malcador! Vitals are stable and gene-sequence as well, his body temperature has spiked to what is considered very dangerous levels yet strangely his condition is stable."
Even the gene expert was confused seeing this phenomenon, by all cases the boy should have been in some critical condition with the temperature reading they got yet everything was normal.
More than normal Connor looked like he was peacefully sleeping without a care in the world and every few minutes that passed showed his condition was getting even better!?
The Emperor allowed himself a small smile since this was good news and he was almost certain it meant Connor was going through his legion's version of the Astarte transformation.
The scientist after a very long time felt a sense of fascination at this completely unknown and unique procedure.
The Emperor ordered for every other personnel aside from the Gene-smiths and medical personnel to leave the chamber before leaving himself with Malcador.
But not before leaving a Shield company of Custodes to stand guard and inform him when Connor awakens.
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It was days later that Connor awoke as he opened his eyes and rubbed them to get rid of any lingering haze.
But then he froze as he looked at his hand that he used to rub his eyes, then to the rest of his forearm.
It was MUCH larger and muscular than what he remembered.
"What in the name of Terra....?"
"Ah! you are up! That's good to see and even better the process was a success albeit....a little different."
Connor turned his head to the voice and saw it was a Custodian Shield Captain.
Now Connor wouldn't say he was an expert regarding the Emperor's bodyguards but the few times he did see them when he was around his master/mentor they all seemed Stoic and Dour.
So was it him or did this one seem actually cheerful?
"Do not worry, I can understand you might be confused, I am too since this is the first time an Astarte was made like you, but I have contacted the Emperor and Lord Malcador so they are on their way."
"If anyone can shed some light on your new condition it will be them, so no need to worry."
While the cheerful Custode tried to reassure him, Connor had gotten off the table and stood up as he looked at his body.
His shorts were still on and now fitted him almost perfectly, he had the typical height of an Astarte maybe on the taller side without the power armour.
But that was where the differences ended.
For one he had no implants or ports on his body additionally where other Astartes were massive, dense, and heavily muscled Connor's body was instead lean and muscular without losing it's lethal edge.
He looked less like an Astarte and more like a reborn demigod.
This was without mentioning the sheer strength he felt his body now possessed, how fast his mind seemed to work and how much stronger his senses were now to the point he had to take a moment to centre himself with the sensory overload.
But Connor knew this wasn't all, he instinctually knew there was more left to discover and master.
"Sorry about that.....I needed a moment to collect myself"
"It's not a problem, it's quite normal for those going through enhancements to need time to grow used to the changes, but I have to admit you are taking it far batter than most not to mention adapting to it far faster."
The Shield Captain gave him a mirror as Connor gave him a small thankful nod as he looked at his face.
Like he expected his face had also changed after his "growth" with strong, masculine facial features, his black hair was also a bit longer but what surprised him were his eyes.
They were not the dark brown he remembered instead they were now blue?
Connor gave the Shield Captain the mirror back as he sat back down on the table massaging his temple.
He looked at the Shield Captain and realized he did not know his name or even introduced himself despite the Custodian being nothing but polite and helpful towards him.
May as well make conversation with perhaps the only (he hoped not) friendly Custode he had met.
"Sorry for the late introductions; I'm Connor. First Born of the 2nd Legion, may I know your name Shield Captain?"
"Think nothing of it and likewise it's a pleasure to meet you as well Legion master."
"My name might be a bit too long to remember but you call can call me, Kaythen"
"Wait, Kitten?" Connor looked incredulous and wondered if he had misheard.
"KAYTHEN! IT'S KAYTHEN!! OH TERRA WHY DOES EVERYONE THINK IT'S KITTEN!? I SWEAR TO MUM EVEREST IT'S KAYTHEN!"
As if some switch was flipped Kitte-Kaythen became hysterical trying to convince Connor his name was not the same as the old name given to the baby off-spring of Cats.
And shocking enough failing as it soon turned into a rant about people getting his name wrong and something about Mum Everest?
Connor gave the weird, cheerful and oddly depressed Custode a deadpan look wondering how much more time it would take for the Emperor and Malcador to arrive as he reluctantly tried to calm the poor Golden banana boy down.
(A/N: Yup, I added Kitten from TTS.)
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