7NEVERMORE (I)

The Grand Inquisitor sailed alone through a sea of darkness.

The stars were distant, the void desolate. Worthless refuse cast out by several nearby Hive City worlds circled and echoed through more than a dozen asteroid belts. They waited without end, waiting only for the day they would finally be smashed to pieces and bring this endless torment to an end.

If they had been conscious, perhaps they would have begged this massive passing warship to warm up its guns and grant them one last mercy.

Unfortunately, this ship had another mission.

It had come here at the will of its sole master, not to end the futile suffering of a vast mass of abandoned synthetic materials—it had urgent business to attend to, and it was carrying a prisoner whose existence was almost unknown, yet of immense importance to the Imperium as it now stood.

"I've finished my book," Omegon told his jailer from within the cell. "When can you find me another two?"

The jailer looked up from her busy paperwork, gave him an impatient glance, and replied coldly, "I'm afraid I do not have that authority."

"Come now, Lady Saint Celestine."

Omegon sat on his bunk and spread his hands with an innocent smile.

"We've known each other for nearly a year now, haven't we?"

"Yes, and that means your life will soon come to an end." Saint Celestine's tone grew even colder, her brows drawing together. "Sooner or later, you will be escorted to Terra and publicly beheaded."

"That would be a fine ending for me. But if that's the case, then I ought to read a few more books, don't you think?"

Saint Celestine did not answer. With an irritated sigh, she set down her quill, rose, walked to the Hydra's Head's cell, and pulled open