In low orbit above Olympia, Hogg waited for two full days. By his calculations, if the Emperor was traveling deep through the Warp, it would take him at least seven days to arrive. That left Hogg five days to do as he pleased.
Over those two days, Hogg adjusted his own form. Thanks to his ability to reshape his flesh at high speed, and with Candice Laza's help, he soon molded himself a nearly perfect female body.
After modeling it on Emilia and Ginny's behavior, he brought a new persona to life. Hogg named her Martha, since even Batman's mother was called Martha, after all.
At the palace banquet that evening, Dammekos watched the guest who had traveled from afar. The moment Calliphone had sent word, he had assumed it was a lie. But the arrival of Perturabo's "mother" had put that lie to rest.
The woman before him had the same distinctive bearing as his son, and stood over two meters tall. Dammekos had been about to mock the impostor, but the words died on his tongue.
"Greetings, esteemed ruler of Olympia. I am Perturabo's mother." Hogg, controlling Martha's body, gave the ruler of this land a graceful bow.
"Greetings, Lady Martha Menethil. I hope the banquet is to your liking."
Taking the seat beside Perturabo, Martha continued chatting with everyone. Her grace and beauty made her an instant hit with the guests.
"Pepe, why aren't you saying anything?"
"Ah!" The gentle words sent a shiver through Perturabo. "No, I just... I just can't quite take it in." His stammer was quiet, but everyone could still hear him.
A sob escaped Martha, and tears welled in her eyes.
"Son, I know you hate me. You think I abandoned you, don't you? But I had my reasons. Now you won't even call me 'Mother.'" A tear fell, dampening Perturabo's sleeve and stabbing at his heart.
"Mother!!!" The moment the words left his mouth, something seemed to shatter. Perturabo sat there stiffly.
[?No, not quite. Needs a little more.]
Martha squeezed out a few more tears, then threw herself onto Perturabo and wept loudly. Seeing this, the guests stopped watching the spectacle and hurried to comfort her.
"Ah! My child, I've missed you so much. After you disappeared, your father and I searched for you and your brothers for a long time. But your father was too busy, always occupied with that so-called Imperium of his. After a huge fight with him, I brought my guards and came here. Ahhhhh!" Tear after tear soaked the giant in her arms.
His stiff hands had nowhere to go. He could only offer his mother a soft word of comfort, his heart full of guilt. Perturabo, you bastard! And that stupid father of mine—how dare he leave Mother behind?
After a while, Martha seemed to have recovered. She continued explaining the meaning of the Imperium to the others. With Dammekos's approval, Stormbirds and transport ships began descending from orbit, touching down on Olympia. The enormous Blacklight hovered above the palace.
Everyone followed Hogg into the courtyard. Thanks to the advance notice, there was no panic.
Black-armored warriors stood in formation throughout the palace. A dark red triangle outlined in white was emblazoned on their shoulder guards, and the golden Imperial Aquila gleamed brightly. The sight left the locals, who still lived in a feudal society, utterly stunned.
Perturabo's gaze followed Martha's figure to the Blackwatch warriors. His Primarch's mind immediately assessed their strength. If he had a force like this, he could conquer the vastness of the universe, one step at a time—and solve the problem that had plagued him all his life.
"Pepe! Want them? Don't worry, your Legion is on its way. You'll see them soon." After overcoming his initial discomfort, Perturabo had accepted the nickname and even felt proud of it. [I'm Mother's favorite child.]
Even the usually composed Primarch couldn't stop the corners of his mouth from turning up. Perturabo had a mother!
After witnessing the Imperium's strength, Olympia smoothly joined the Imperium. Dammekos handed the throne to Calliphone; it was the best choice.
Calliphone, who doted on her younger brother, was the right leader to guide the people of Olympia toward a better future. And Perturabo, who still had ideals for this place, could help it prosper.
Hogg brought Calliphone, the others, and his dear eldest son aboard the Blacklight for a tour. Everyone marveled at the Imperium's might. Such a vast city could travel through space—and someday, they too might have the chance to join it.
The Blackwatch warriors all saluted Perturabo, shouting "Primarch!" as if he were their father. In the room Emilia had redecorated, two cups of newly developed Nuka-Cola sat on the table.
"Pepe, little Fenny, try Alicia's specialty: Nuka-Cola." Hogg kept playing the part of the gentle mother flawlessly to the very end.
"Mother, can you tell me about my father?"
"Ah, your father... There's not much to say. He's a bastard! You may have noticed you're different, my child. You were born knowing things, and possessed incredible strength. Even as a newborn, you could fight beasts. But I always believed that, in the end, you were still just a child.
Not long after you were born, you and your brothers went missing. The Imperium has enemies, too. Once the Great Crusade began, your brothers—my children—were found one by one. But you were the one I worried about most, my Perturabo."
As if something painful had come back to him, Hogg started sobbing again. Emilia hurried over to comfort him.
Hugging Emilia, Hogg continued, "Thanks to you, little Fenny, Pepe was able to grow up without picking up any bad habits."
He opened the photo album on the table, revealing a glamorous figure.
"Mother, what's this?" Perturabo picked up a photo between two fingers. Seeing the scantily clad, glamorous woman in it, he was overwhelmed with confusion.
"Pepe, that's your younger brother."
"My brother? That's my brother? But, Mother, that's a human woman!"
"Yes, my child, that's your brother. You can call him Arsha. He just grew up wrong, didn't learn to behave, and likes cross-dressing. Later, he secretly got gender-affirmation surgery without telling me. It's all your father's fault for failing to raise them properly."
"..."
"Mother, I'll correct my brothers' flaws. Don't worry. I won't let you cry again, I swear. If Father can't raise them properly, then I'll do it." With that, Perturabo returned to Olympia with his sister.
[Candice Laza, how was my acting?]
[My Primarch, is it too late for me to go back to Mars?]
[Don't even think about it, my Magos. You're bound to me now.]
Before you continue