Reunion in Medical Bay 101

The Past

"What?"

Karras laughed in fury. He stared at the primarch before him, then at the silent Vokes standing behind the primarch.

"You want me to stay behind?"

The Undying One raised the end of his sentence, striding forward several steps and fixing the primarch with a challenging stare.

"I'm not qualified to enter the garden with the Death Guard?"

Karras retorted.

...The Storm Nebula needs someone to watch over it.

Mortarion said slowly.

The young ones... cannot.

"Then why not him?"

Karras lifted his head and nodded toward Vokes behind Mortarion. Vokes said nothing; the two-faced man had long since grown accustomed to Karras's barbed remarks.

Mortarion blinked, glanced back at Vokes, then looked at Karras again.

One of us needs to remain behind.

The primarch said patiently. Karras did not know which "us" he meant, but he did not intend to press the matter any further. He gave a cold laugh and spread his arms.

"As you wish, great Primarch."

A smile curled across Karras's lips.

"I'll stay right here and build this, damn, whole, thing."

I only trust you. The rear cannot fall.

Mortarion walked over, bent down, and patted Karras's shoulder plate. The primarch drew a deep breath, as though considering how to phrase his next words.

Other than me, only you in the Death Guard are proficient in Psychic Power.

The primarch said.

We all know what that means...

The Death Guard's rear needed someone who understood how to deal with all manner of Chaos. He had to be resilient enough, powerful enough, and never betray them.

Vokes could do it too, but the primarch wanted it to be Karras. Enough time had passed to wash away everything, and he hoped Karras would stand forth once more.

Karras said nothing. The old veteran