Fabius's teeth ground together with an audible rattle.
He, Fabius Bile, former Chief Apothecary of the Emperor's Children, the great pioneer of the "New Men," actually... wanted to kneel at that moment.
"Lord!!"
Just as Fabius's mental defenses teetered on the brink of collapse, the kneeling Noise Marine cried out in ecstasy.
Lion El'Jonson understood!
He understood the Phoenix's summons!
"Lord! Lord Fabius! Did you see?!" Lion El'Jonson crawled toward Fabius, tears and snot streaming down his face. "It's the Phoenix! It's our father! He... he's forgiven us!!"
"Lord... we... we can finally be redeemed!!"
Redemption?
That word pierced the last of Fabius's hesitation like a red-hot iron spike.
He snapped his head down.
He looked at his twisted, hideous body, bristling with tubes.
He remembered his hundreds of millions of "New Men" offspring.
He remembered his grand dream of "surpassing the Emperor."
And now...
"My 'future'..." Fabius's voice rasped like rusted iron in a tomb. "...needs this ghost of the 'past'... to redeem it?!"
"Ha ha..."
Fabius Bile laughed.
It was a laugh of utter contempt, utter cruelty, and endless sorrow.
"No..."
He slowly raised his foot.
"Lord...?" Lion El'Jonson looked at him in confusion.
Thud!
Fabius drove his foot viciously into Lion El'Jonson's chest!
"Aaagh!"
Lion El'Jonson flew backward like a rag doll and slammed into a metal pillar.
"Fool."
Fabius Bile slowly raised his head. Every trace of "warmth" and "belonging" had vanished from his clouded eyes.
"I, Fabius Bile!" He pointed at his own chest, roaring each word. "I don't need redemption!"
He spun around, his twisted old face turning toward baby Fulgrim, who was utterly stunned by this sudden turn of events.
"You!!" Fabius pointed his trembling mechanical finger at the infant.
"You ghost!!"
"You represent everything we've tried to escape!!"
**"Perfection?! Loyalty?! Those are