"Magnus, stop! That was only a future I dreamed about! It hasn't happened yet!"
Francis shouted over the storm, again and again.
"Prophecies can't be changed! I'm destined to become a sinner. I've failed the Emperor!" Magnus was on the verge of collapse.
The more he learned about psychic powers, the more Magnus believed that prophecies were real and unchangeable.
Francis: "..."
Francis and Leman Russ tried to talk him around, but Magnus was as stubborn as a mule and refused to listen!
The powerful psychic storm even blew the two of them straight into a wall.
"Sixth Brother, sit tight. I'm going to buy you two oranges." Francis tensed every muscle in his body and roared, "Waaagh!"
Leman Russ: "???"
A green energy field appeared around Francis. The instant the powerful psychic storm touched it, it became a gentle breeze.
Then Francis lunged at Magnus and tackled him to the ground in a bear hug.
"You still say you're not an Ork! What's this, then? Leman Russ, you've betrayed the Imperium!" The moment his psychic powers failed, the horrified Magnus roared furiously.
"Orks, huh!"
"Psychic powers, huh!"
"Betrayal, huh!"
Francis straddled Magnus and punched him in the face again and again, even tearing apart the pharaoh headdress on his head.
"Don't... Don't... Stop hitting me! I believe you. I believe you, all right?" Magnus covered his swollen face with both hands, his words slurred.
Just then, Francis leaned down and whispered in Magnus's ear, "You wouldn't want Father to find out you made a deal with Chaos, would you?"
At once,
Magnus stopped resisting and stared at Francis in disbelief.
After all, he had never told anyone that he'd sacrificed one eye to make a deal with Chaos and ease the Flesh Change afflicting the Thousand Sons.
Especially not the Emperor. He knew his brother had been purged because the Flesh Change had grown too severe.
"Ahem, Sixth Brother. The kid and I need to talk about something. Maybe you could...?"
Leman Russ wasn't too happy to hear that he was being asked to leave. "What can't I hear? We're brothers!"
"You said it. I'm going to tell him, so don't regret it. And don't come blaming me if something happens." Francis spread his hands, wearing a shameless expression.
Seeing that Leman Russ wasn't budging, Francis had no choice but to say it.
"Kid, listen to your big brother. You can't handle knowledge of the Warp."
Magnus: "..."
"In the prophecy, after you received the prophecy of Horus's betrayal, you contacted Father directly with your psychic powers."
"Then some mysterious force amplified your psychic might, and you blew up the Webway Father was still working on."
Boom!
The moment Magnus heard the word Webway, a chill shot straight through him.
With his mastery of advanced Warp technology, Magnus immediately understood the Emperor's purpose.
Compared to the destruction of the Webway, Horus's rebellion didn't seem quite so dangerous.
"Francis, why don't you tell Father all of this?" Leman Russ couldn't understand.
"...How am I supposed to explain it?" Francis said, rubbing his temples. "Father sealed me away over some unsavory issues."
"Now I've suddenly popped out of my own coffin and told the revered Emperor that his favorite son, Horus, is going to rebel against him?"
"Do you think you'll still see me after I've said all that?"
Leman Russ: "..."
Magnus: "..."
Seeing that both of them were stunned, Francis cleared his throat and continued. "That's why I can only tell you two. I don't really trust the others, even our brothers."
"I only trust you, brothers!"
Hearing Francis say that, the two felt a touch of warmth in their hearts. Now that was a real brother.
"Besides, kid, as the saying goes, if you keep walking by the river, you're bound to get your shoes wet."
"You've already caught the attention of things in the Warp. Good thing I spotted those sneaky little bastards' telltale feet this time."
Magnus understood the first part, but he really didn't get what Francis meant by "sneaky little bastards' telltale feet."
As for Leman Russ, the moment anyone mentioned things in the Warp, he got sleepy. He hadn't understood a thing.
"And don't think they're so powerful. Just think about it: if they're really that powerful, why can't they even cure the Flesh Change?"
Magnus suddenly thought that made sense. But when he thought of his sons, who were suffering from the Flesh Change, bitterness filled his mouth. "There's no way around it. Even the best Apothecaries can't treat the Flesh Change. I really don't know what else to do."
"Anyway, just don't trust them. Leave the Flesh Change to me." Francis patted his green chest.
Magnus said nothing, instead turning to look at Leman Russ.
"Of course! Francis has already cured a lot of his Legion. It's incredible." Leman Russ started, then hurriedly explained.
"How is that possible?" Magnus looked astonished.
Even the Emperor couldn't solve this.
"What's so strange about that? Sixth Brother's better at eating than Father. It makes perfect sense that my genetic engineering is better than Father's."
Francis understood why Magnus doubted him, but Leman Russ didn't understand why Francis had to bring him into it.
Magnus: "That makes sense!"
"So, we came to bring you back to Terra. Whatever's going on, you can just tell Father yourself."
"We'll also send others to hold this place. Once construction of the Webway is complete, the job will be done."
After all that buildup, Francis finally revealed the purpose of their visit.
"No problem! I'll have the Thousand Sons return with me right away. Let's go!"
Magnus was extremely excited. No matter what, the Emperor still needed him.
"Uh, we can't leave just yet." Francis rubbed his nose.
Magnus: "Why not?"
"Ahem, we came in a hurry, so our ship took some damage. It'll need a little time to repair."
"We couldn't help it. We were just so eager to see you."
Hearing Francis say he'd wanted to see him, Magnus's eyes grew faintly red.
His brother wasn't dead—and he'd even grown stronger. Magnus had been deeply worried about the fate of the Astartes after the Great Crusade.
He'd feared that they might be purged like the Second and Eleventh Legions. Now, at least, he felt a little more at ease.
The three embraced and headed outside.
"Francis, can you save my sons? They're in a lot of pain, too."
"No problem, kid. But listen: if you give in to Chaos, your understanding of psychic powers will always be beneath theirs. Your future will be ruined! Do you understand?"
"I understand, Francis. How much longer are you going to keep that Ork shape?"
"Uh... I don't know either. How about you two give me some blood? Maybe a couple of swigs will change me back."
"..."
"Haha, I was just joking."
"Should we send a message to Terra about Horus's rebellion?"
"No rush. We'll talk about it when we get back. Did you forget what I just said? If you call them now, Dad will probably issue an Exterminatus."
"Too reckless!"
"...When are we eating?"
Their voices grew quieter as they left the pyramid and started toward the monastery.
Bang!
Leman Russ kicked the door open and saw that half the Astartes inside were naked, while the other half were groping them.
As everyone stared in shock, the three numbly backed out and closed the door.
Only then did the Astartes inside realize how heretical their behavior had been. Their faces flushed, and they hurriedly shouted,
"Primarch, listen to us! We really aren't what you think!"
"Primarch, you have to believe me! I absolutely don't have those kinds of thoughts! We only care about exploring knowledge of the Warp!"
"Primarch! Primarch! Please believe that we're innocent!"
Quite some time later,
The three went back inside. All the warriors had gotten dressed.
The Soul Drinkers and the Thousand Sons each sent a representative to explain what had happened.
"So you were just curious about the bodies of the Soul Drinkers, now completely cured of the Flesh Change?" Magnus asked sternly.
The Thousand Sons' representative: "Yes."
"And you took your clothes off so your brothers could get a good look?" Francis asked just as sternly.
"Yes." Sarpedon awkwardly scratched his bald head.
Only then did the two finally breathe a sigh of relief.
If word got out, they'd never hear the end of it!
The two looked at Leman Russ at the same time. He felt a little uncomfortable under their gaze.
"Why are you looking at me? I'm really busy, Wolf King. I'm going to check on the battleship repairs." As soon as Leman Russ finished speaking, he turned and ran.
With Leman Russ gone, the two got down to business.
"From this moment on, I'll treat the Flesh Change in the Thousand Sons."
"Everyone who needs treatment, line up. We'll get started now! Sarpedon, you get ready too. I'll have you handle some of the simpler procedures."
"First..."
Before you continue