Warhammer 40k: Shattered Steel Soul

"Stand here and don't move anything, Fabius Bayer. After giving the warning, Fulgrim began to walk around the laboratory.

This was the first time that his genetic father suddenly visited his laboratory. Fabius watched the purple phoenix silently stay in front of the jars storing organs, and lowered himself in front of the human tissues that had been processed by alchemy. head.

The pharmacist could not see Fulgrim's expression. From his perspective, he could only see the hair flowing like mercury on the Gene Father's back. If another genetic brother were to stand in his position, that person would be immersed in the perfection displayed by his father.

This is the paranoia, fanaticism and irrationality of the Astartes warriors. And the long time spent on the operating table, facing the decline and death of life, gradually pulled too many positive emotions away from Fabius Bayer as an individual.

Some things are not worthy of such obsessiveness, while other subjects are of greater importance.

For example, the study of genes.

He once told Fulgrim that this was the only way to correct the shortcomings of the Emperor's Children and to achieve perfection. Fulgrim respected his talent and admired his ideals. He allowed Fabius to carry out more of his own research, his radiant face glowing with warm encouragement.

But Fabius knows that his end will not stop at perfection.

And this is his sacred temple. It doesn't belong to losers and dead people, it belongs to a true biotech genius.

"What is this?" Fulgrim asked.

There is a wall with many life-support chambers, some of the slots are empty, and the liquid in some too old grooves has decayed and been covered with coagulated blood and mold, but it is still a backup sample for scientific research. purpose, sealed and preserved; those that are actually in use are covered by a dark baffle.

Phoenix tapped a storage tank covered by a flap with her fingernails.

"Open it." Fabius continued to stand and ordered his attendants. In the past, he had deliberately avoided exposing this squire to others. However, the parts that can show Lycaon's identity should have been completely changed. This reassured him.

Lycaon faithfully carried out his orders and went to control the console. The baffle was removed, and a group of creatures floating in the life-support cabin curled up, with pale and wrinkled skin, like a withered grass.

"This was my first research into the Blight," Fabius replied. "You know, on Terra, I began to try to solve the mysteries of life and death that plagued the Third Legion."

At that time, the boundaries between legions were not as clear as they are today. He had some companions from other legions, such as Garlan Sulak of the Twelfth Legion.

Fabius had heard that he was dead many years before. Fabius was happy about this. He doesn't need too many people to remember his past.

"You have been working hard for this, and I appreciate your pursuit of perfection." Fulgrim turned back, "We were created by the Emperor, and our flaws are an insult to the Emperor."

"But recently, something has started to make me reflect on where the boundary between imperfection and perfection lies. Since when and for what reason have we pursued perfection; on the road of this pursuit, what fruits have we gained, regardless of What factors caused what consequences?”

"Reflection makes the will clearer," Fabius said. "The end of life is to seek perfection in all things. This means that we cannot be limited by nominal humility."

Who could bring such sudden thoughts to the proud Fulgrim? Those brothers? Or is it Akulduna whom he values ​​the most?

Fulgrim looked at the sink in front of Fabius, "I always hope that you will go further, but not in the wrong direction. Although my expertise is not in scientific research, I still know, There are some living materials required for experiments that are impossible to obtain without violating ethics.”

When he mentioned the last sentence, Fulgrim glanced at Fabius.

His genetic father had grown tunnel vision. Fabius thought in surprise. That was his first reaction.

"Today, one of my descendants was found to have used the medicine you are researching." Phoenix said.

"Your Majesty, did he die?" Fabius asked, showing his concern for his comrade, "No, even if the research on this medicine is immature, he will not die in one day. I You can start researching ways to save him now, you just need to bring him to me..."

"No need." Fulgrim interrupted Fabius, without even asking if he did it. This is not a good sign.

Phoenix lowered his head and stared at him. In this closed space, Fabius felt so small for the first time.

"Tell me," he continued, "who else knows about this potion?"

Fabius hesitated.

"Hexakeris," he replied, "he gave me the recipe for this alchemical potion... Please tell me what happened, father."

"The Eighth Legion smelled the potion." Fulgrim sighed, sadness flashing in his eyes.

"Please believe me, father," Fabius bent down to hide his uneasiness. Deep in his body, the places that had once ached due to the signs of the blight began to twitch painfully again after many years. . It was as if a fatal cancer that had been dormant for many years was gradually finding its opportunity.

"I would not lay a hand on my comrades. I don't understand why Hexakeris would do this. I once trusted him."

"How do you prove it?" Fulgrim asked softly.

"Bring him to me and I will do my best to heal him."

"What would happen to him if you failed?" Fulgrim continued. "What would you do if he lay on your operating table and took his last breath?"

"If this is the regret of the world, I will give him a relief."

"Or make him into your experimental material?"

"I will never leave my battle brothers..."

"Shut up!" Phoenix suddenly shouted sharply, anger gathering in his crystal eyes, like a sharp knife, piercing through Fabius's mind, shocking him so much that he fell to his knees, the coldness of the cold floor The breath shot straight into his bones.

Fulgrim grabbed the squire who had just opened the shield for him and took off his helmet. Then, he grabbed the unrecognizable attendant and shouted: "Who is he?"

"A servant..."

"Who was he? Don't you dare tell another lie, Fabius Bayer!"

The original body's chest heaved violently, and terrifying anger flashed on his face, "Who else do you want to frame? Who else do you want to blame? Do you think you can hide it from me? Do you think I can't feel the blood? The transfer of genes? You have crossed the line!"

Fabius turned pale. He already foresees his own death on the path of discovery. This was definitely not a result he could accept. Even after this incident, he saved his life, but everything he owned was dying of necrosis at this moment...

He didn't want to give up, but there was no way he could plead for himself in the primarch's wrath.

The pharmacist bowed his head deeply. "Lycaon," he said dejectedly, and added: "He had already died of illness at that time."

When Fabius said that name, the supposedly dead soul moved the broken body, stretched out a stiff finger, and gently hooked Phoenix's sleeve.

Fulgrim trembled at this simple touch, and his anger instantly transformed into something even colder.

"How much I trusted you, Fabius. Even on the road I just walked..." He lowered his eyes, stopped talking, then pulled out his sword and paused next to Lycaon's neck. , a sudden stroke.

The former warrior fell to the ground, reaching the end of his liberation.

A handful of blood, which had turned brown and black during years of biological experiments, splashed onto the face of the purple-robed Phoenix, which was as clean as plaster. He didn't wipe it off immediately, leaving the scar-like stain in place.

"Akulduna, come in," Fulgrim said loudly.

The swordsman waiting outside the laboratory door responded and entered, placing his hand on the hilt of his sword and nodding to Fulgrim.

"Watch Fabius Bile," Fulgrim said, "and destroy it all."

"Okay, father," Akulduna said, drawing one of his two swords.

"Father! But my research..."

Fabius quickly shut his mouth and looked at the operating table and culture tank closest to him.

Then, as if he couldn't bear to watch the scene that was about to happen anymore, he closed his eyes in despair, knelt on the spot, and gave up resistance.

"I have some things to take care of." Fulgrim ordered, "Wait until I come back."

After saying that, Phoenix's rapid footsteps gradually moved away.

Under the gunshots of bombs and the slashes of long swords, the sound of shattering glass began to sound.