Bona's evil plan

Only when the familiar stars of realspace came back into view did everyone's taut nerves finally relax.

The Navigators hurried to determine their current position. At least they could take a breather for a while.

After discussing things with Visarch, Yvraine walked over.

"Human, thank you very much for your help, but I would still like to return to my homeworld first," Yvraine said, somewhat apprehensively.

Contrary to the sudden change in attitude she had expected, Bona still wore a friendly expression.

"Of course. Lord Guilliman specifically instructed me to treat you well. You're certainly free to leave."

"It's just that we're still out in the void. You can leave once we reach a star system. After all, we don't have any spare ships to take you home."

Visarch let out a long breath.

Thank goodness. He had been afraid these humans would forcibly drag Yvraine off to a human world. Then they really would have escaped the tiger's den only to enter the wolf's jaws.

But who exactly was that bastard called Guilliman? Why was he so good to Yvraine? This left Visarch decidedly unhappy-to the tune of nine out of ten.

"Please get some rest. I hope the food aboard the ship suits your tastes."

"Thank you."

Once the two Aeldari had left, Bona's expression immediately changed, and he hurried off to another part of the ship.

The Blood Angels who had just awakened were gathered there, their heads still buzzing.

"Noble warriors, you seem to be recovering quite well."

Captain Annoth's head still hurt, but at least the people around him no longer looked like Horus.

"Thank you. I feel better now."

The Black Rage.

The Red Thirst was a curse rooted in the genes of the Ninth Legion. As far back as the Unification Wars, the Blood Angels had been known as "Space Vampires" because they frequently failed to suppress their craving for blood in battle, often tearing into and devouring their enemies' corpses.

After the return of their Primarch, Sanguinius, the Space Vampires had been able to restrain their bloodlust through the great Primarch's power, transforming from savage monsters into noble, handsome "Blood Angels."

But during the Siege of Terra, after Horus beat Archangel Sanguinius into Sanguinius paste, the Blood Angels were afflicted with the curse of the "Black Rage."

Whenever battle grew intense, the Angel's sons would feel as though they had become Sanguinius in his battle against Horus. They saw everyone around them, friend and foe alike, as Horus, and poured the full force of their fury onto them without restraint.

These Angels who had lost their reason would become utterly ruled by rage and bloodlust, turning into mindless Space Vampires who knew nothing but slaughter.

Annoth looked around. Now that he thought about it, something was wrong.

The fighting in Commorragh had certainly been brutal, but surely not enough to send every last one of them into the Black Rage.

And that towering figure had felt very real. Annoth had sensed that noble, solid presence too.

"May I ask... did you see a very tall man back when we were in Commorragh?"

Bona looked utterly bewildered.

"No, my lord."

"You were ambushed by the Dark Elves. We lost quite a few people rescuing you."

"By the God-Emperor, may the souls of his valiant warriors return to the Golden Throne," Annoth said.

"My lord, may I ask why you were in Commorragh?"

"We were defending a world attacked by the Drukhari when they captured us. We only managed to escape amid the unrest in Commorragh."

"Could you take us back to Baal?"

Bona's expression shifted slightly before he spoke with a troubled look.

"I'm sorry, my lord. We're carrying out a secret mission for the Inquisition. We can only drop you off at the nearest Imperial World."

"That will do."

Annoth knew perfectly well what the Inquisition were like.

It was best not to provoke them if he could help it. If the Inquisition suddenly slapped them with an investigation order, it would only hold up his battle-brothers again.

After reassuring the Blood Angels, Bona prepared to put his evil plan into motion.

He quietly made his way to a secret chamber, where Horus and Teresa were already waiting.

"I can sense that Yvraine has fallen asleep. She sure took her time."

"If you were aboard an Aeldari warship, you probably wouldn't fall asleep that quickly either," Horus said.

"All right, let's get on with our plan."

"Damn it all."

Horus lay down on the bed and quickly fell asleep as well.

Meanwhile, Bona channeled his psyker power and began his evil plan.

Visarch was still sitting quietly in the cabin, guarding Yvraine against any unusual activity, unaware that the attack was coming through her dreams.

Yvraine walked across a lawn.

Seas of flowers surrounded her, while beautiful, soft Great Whales drifted leisurely through the distant sky. Soft emerald greenery carpeted the earth, so fresh it seemed water might drip from it. Colorful flowers dotted the grass, not blooming in stillness but swaying gently in the breeze, releasing a fragrance that could cleanse the soul.

Sprites could occasionally be seen darting among the flowers, with transparent wings and slender magic wands in their hands, bringing life and joy to the land.

This place was more beautiful than any world she remembered!

"Hello there, beautiful lady."

When Yvraine turned around, she saw an even more breathtaking sight.

A tall, handsome human stood not far away, dressed in a distinctly classical white robe. He was towering and packed with firm muscle, with beautiful golden hair beneath a green laurel wreath.

His blue eyes gazed at Yvraine with tender affection.

Even though Yvraine had never seen him before, she knew who he was.

He had to be Roboute Guilliman.

Heavens, how could this human be so handsome, so good-looking?

Although most humans looked to Yvraine like a pack of monkeys that had only just shed their fur, filled from head to toe with ignorance, violence, and evil, this oversized monkey was no monkey at all.

Even the Aeldari Warlocks Yvraine had previously found attractive were not one hundredth as handsome as he was.

"Are you... that fellow called Guilliman?" Yvraine asked.

"Of course. I hope my subordinates haven't hurt you, beautiful lady," Guilliman said with a kindly smile.

That smile pierced straight through Yvraine's heart, long buried beneath the dust of war. Her mind, famed for its calm and rationality, was thrown into utter turmoil.

Guilliman walked up to her and gently took her hand.

"Now that I've seen Lady Yvraine's face, I could die happy."

In the real world, a certain Visarch, who secretly harbored a crush on Yvraine and was being cuckolded right under his nose, kept feeling that something was wrong.

He looked around.

Was he overthinking things?

PS----

In the original, Yvraine and Guilliman's relationship went like this:

Guilliman: Thank you for your help, Aeldari. Now you can get lost.

Yvraine: Of course, foolish monkey. I only helped you so you could go draw Chaos's attention. Otherwise, we noble Aeldari would soon have another Craftworld sunk.