On the bridge of the Law of Faith, Lorgar stood before the vast viewing window, his gaze piercing the transparent barrier to look out into the star-studded void.
His fingers swept rapidly across the communications terminal's control panel, entering a string of encrypted frequency codes.
Only he and one other person knew that code. It was the Emperor's private communications frequency, one that only a handful of people in the entire Imperium were entitled to use.
The call tone sounded through the speakers, once, twice, three times...
Then the screen lit up.
The Emperor's face appeared on the screen, his weathered features, as majestic as ancient mountains, standing out with exceptional clarity in the light.
His gaze fell on Lorgar through the screen, carrying a complicated mix of emotions, as though he were studying a child he had not seen in a long time.
He was just about to speak—
"Old geezer, old geezer, old geezer."
Lorgar's voice rang through the bridge, instantly shattering the seemingly solemn distance between them.
The Emperor's face stiffened slightly on the screen. The corner of his mouth twitched, and then he let out a helpless, indulgent sigh. "Well, Lorgar. Long time no see. You actually decided to contact me yourself. Not to borrow my power, my equipment, or my people. Now that is a rare occasion."
The smile on Lorgar's face froze the instant he heard the Emperor's words.
His expression darkened, and the corner of his mouth twitched several times before he protested with feigned indignation. "You old bastard, why do you always assume I only call to borrow things? Can't I simply miss you and want to see whether you're keeping well, eating properly, and sleeping soundly?"
"Isn't that why you call?" the Emperor asked, his voice knowing and teasing.
"Shall I