Heaven Helps Those Who Help Themselves

"He didn't say what the mission was." Ten minutes after Horus left, Garviel Loken spoke, his voice echoing in the room.

Torgaddon noticed him trembling, something he could hardly believe, but it was indeed happening— Garviel Loken, a member of the Mournival and commander of the Legion's 10th Company, was trembling.

What's worse is that Torgaddon knows the reason; he even understands the reason.

But he refused to be afraid.

"He didn't need to say anything," Torgaddon told his brother. "He just came to test us, and he's got the answers he needed."

"A test." Garviel Loken turned to her. "I can't believe you'd use that word between him and us, and I haven't even objected. What is he trying to do?"

"If you think I have the answer, you're overestimating me."

"I still believe you'll have an answer, Torgaddon."

"Not this time," Tarik Torgaddon Torgaddon said. "I not only have no answer, I don't even understand it at all. His actions and his words contradict each other, Garviel Loken. I even doubt that he himself knows what he's doing. We must find out the truth."

How do I check?

"Erebus," Torgaddon uttered quietly. Garviel Loken's face contorted for a moment, a fury rising from suspicion, not yet turning into hatred.

"Back on Davin, it was he who told us that the local natives could heal Horus. In fact, if you think back carefully, you'll find his Shadow in every step from beginning to end. He was always there, Garviel Loken."

Torgaddon concluded that he had clenched his fists and hadn't uttered a single joke.

His nature was humorous, and anything he said had the potential to become a joke. But this moment was different; Tarik Torgaddon Torgaddon was a completely different person from his usual self.

He continued, "He's like a damn Shadow, always following us. His actions and words are all purposeful. I don't know what he's up to, but if I had to choose someone who might know the truth, I'd choose Erebus."

"How do we find him?" Garviel Loken pondered for a moment, agreeing with Torgaddon's deduction, but also raising a new question. The tenth company commander's expression was quite serious, because he had already begun to consider how to proceed.

He slowly and deliberately presented a serious opposing theory.

"Whether we like it or not, we are heading to Istvaan III to quell the rebellion. This is perfectly legal and justified. Vadus Prall, as the governor of the system, led the rebellion, and we cannot leave the Legion at this time."

Garviel Loken paused for a moment, then gave a bitter conclusion. "Without a legitimate reason, let alone mobilizing ships, we might not even be able to start a single shuttle."

"He will meet with the other Primarch." Torgaddon merely smiled at Garviel Loken's words. "This suppression involves far more than just our legion; Angron will come, and Kolus Corax will come too. They won't remain indifferent to this."

You mean...

"Yes," Torgaddon nodded. "The problems within the Legion have become too great to ignore, Garviel Loken. While the battle with Fulgrim could be simply explained as a misunderstanding, his actions against the Emperor's Children are crimes that cannot be erased."

"The Emperor will definitely hold someone accountable when he finds out. Just think about it: a Primarch nearly killed another Primarch, threw his legions into the arena to fight each other for amusement, and then claimed it was to heal him. What do you think the Emperor will do?"

Garviel Loken took a deep breath and did not answer.

"So we must find an opportunity to inform the other Primarch," Tarik Torgaddon Torgaddon said. "In other words, we must betray them, become informants. Think it over, Garviel Loken. I won't ask you to come with me, after all, this is truly—"

"--What are you saying?" Garviel Loken interrupted him. "Of course I'm in."

"."

Torgaddon silently reached out and patted Garviel Loken on the shoulder, saying softly, "But before that, there's one more thing we need to do."

"What?"

"We can't let our cousins kill each other like this anymore," Torgaddon said sadly but firmly. "I'll contact others who might be as lucid or insane as we are. You contact them. Seven days, brother, seven days. Make sure everything is done before then."

"I understand," Garviel Loken said, slowly exhaling the cold air as he walked to the door. In the final seconds before leaving, he turned back and nodded to Tarik Torgaddon Torgaddon.

"Be careful," Garviel Loken said.

"You too," Torgaddon replied.

--

Akurduana lowered his head, intently moving a small knife. It was provided by the Dreadnought elder Gurella, originally part of the golden Aquila on his right shoulder, now transformed into a very sharp knife at the broken edge.

Akurduana had to admit that he was now thankful that not all parts of the Dreadnought were so robust.

The blade gently sliced into his skin and muscle, leaving a new name on his left wrist. Blood seeped out, then quickly congealed. He examined the wound for a moment, realizing it was too shallow to leave a scar.

So he had to insert the blade again and repeat the process. After the fifth repetition, the damage to the skin and muscle by the blade finally reached a satisfactory level.

He put down the knife and handed it to Vespasian, who was waiting nearby. Vespasian took it; his bare chest already bore nearly forty names. Unlike Akurduana, he had chosen to have the names written on his chest.

Sol Tavitz also had his chest, while Abdemon had his right hand. They had been doing this for several days, and the only person in the cell who hadn't participated was Gurella.

The elder did not participate in the battle; the Sons of Horus awakened him but somehow restricted his movement and firing. It is said that Horus Dreadnought to reserve this rare battle between two Dreadnought for later.

Akurduana couldn't imagine how torturous this prolonged, immobile state must have been for Gurella, but Gurella never showed the slightest sign of pain. He would even comment on the beauty of their respective handwriting, which was quite amusing.

They passed the knife around, one person carving the other's name before handing it to the next. This cycle continued, like an endless spiral. It had been soaked in blood; the cut end was even a dark red.

However, as long as Fulgrim did not recover, the color would continue to deepen. They did this in silence but in perfect unison, and then footsteps sounded outside the cell.

"I guess it's the Sons of Horus," Abdemon said. "But didn't we already fight today?"

"Perhaps their bloodthirsty master wants an extra meal; he wants to eat his dinner with our blood." Sol Tavitz laughed cruelly, telling a not-so-funny joke. There was not a trace of respect in his words for Horus Lupercal and his sons.

"It certainly won't be Fabius Bile Bile," Akurduana said softly. "He's already disabled."

"Why don't you kill him?" Vespasian.

"Because we still need him to treat Fulgrim," Akurduana said—offering a partial truth.

He didn't tell anyone what he'd heard from Fabius Bile, not a single word. Bile's words sounded somewhat credible, but upon closer inspection, Akurduana still found flaws.

If the Emperor truly needed them to disappear, he wouldn't have needed to go to such lengths to arrange this contingency plan.

Although it may sound disrespectful to say this, judging from the two missing legions, if the Emperor decided to do such a thing, he would have simply sent Leman Russ Russ or Lion Eljonsson.

The Lord Commander looked at him for a moment, then shook his head, offering no objection to Akurduana's words. This relieved the chief swordsman slightly, and then the door opened. An Astartes dressed in the black and white uniform of Luna Wolves walked in and closed the door.

In the dim light, Akurduana could make out his face.

Garviel Loken

The man nodded. "It's me, Akurduana."

"What?" Akurduana asked with a smile. "Honest Garviel Loken, what brings you here?"

Garviel Loken remained silent for a few seconds, unperturbed by Akurduana's mocking tone and address. In fact, a strange melancholy lingered on his face. In the dim light, he looked more like a prisoner.

"I just wanted to check on your situation," he said after a moment of silence.

"You've confirmed it, Garviel Loken Locken, we're all alive," Vespasian. "But we're only alive. Nobody knows if we'll be dead tomorrow. What do you think? Did you, like your brothers, place your bets on us?"

"What?" Garviel Loken stared at him in astonishment, Akurduana noticed that he suddenly clenched his fist. "What are they doing?"

"Don't you know?" Sol Tavitz stared into his eyes and retorted. "You're betting on us, wagering. Dear cousin, I thought we were brothers, but you don't seem to think so."

Garviel Loken lowered his head, and everyone heard his heavy breathing at that moment.

The Emperor's Children stared at him silently, not uttering a word. It was the ancient sage Rylanor who broke the silence, his voice coming through the loudspeaker with a calm utter disdain for pain. "Let's allow this company commander to speak first; he seems to be suffering."

"The elder has spoken," Akurduana said. "Then tell me, Garviel Loken, what brings you here?"

Garviel Loken took a deep breath and spoke slowly.

There's also a 4K one.