The Materialist Adeptus Mechanicus

In Segmentum Obscurus, north of the Imperium, the forces of the Adeptus Mechanicus and the Imperium had yet to move in on a large scale.

"What's your name?"

"My lord, I am Tech-Priest Herbert."

"I need to know the particulars of your branch of the Adeptus Mechanicus." Curze sat on the Archmagos's throne, looking at Herbert.

"Yes, my lord. We... we were actually driven out by the Adeptus Mechanicus of Mars. In their eyes, we're heretics."

Heretics?

"As long as you don't break the law, it's none of my concern whether you're a heretic."

"You... don't believe in gods?"

"If you're calling those things in the Warp gods, I suggest you scoop out your brain and eat it for breakfast."

Herbert's breathing quickened as he stared at Curze.

"May I ask, Lord Inquisitor, do you believe the Machine God exists? And do Machine Spirits exist?"

Tch, what's with this priest?

"Don't rush. Answer him first. We might find that this supposedly heretical branch of the Adeptus Mechanicus is surprisingly compatible with us."

Hearing the Night Haunter's advice, Curze gave it some serious thought before answering.

"The Warp truly exists, and given its unique properties, the Machine God and Machine Spirits exist as special energy entities of the Warp."

"If you're going to ask about the Omnissiah or the like, my answer is the same."

Herbert nodded. At the very least, this planet's new master could acknowledge the existence of those things in the Warp.

With the Imperial Truth so widespread, that was a rare understanding.

"Then what do you believe our relationship with the Machine God and Machine Spirits is?"

"I see what you mean. Then let me put it in terms you can understand."

"Machines work and they're useful. When they break, I repair them."

"If a machine is beyond repair, I salvage and recycle it."

"And what if, one day, the Machine God manifests and demands an accounting?" Herbert stared at Curze.

"You really are stubborn. If a god won't do his proper job, can't you just stop believing in him? If all else fails, you can tear down his temples and build warehouses."

"The veil of reality isn't a rag. It's not that fragile."

Herbert's gaze grew fanatically intense as he looked at Curze. Then the mechanical arms on his body began to move.

After a hiss of escaping steam, Curze and the Night Haunter were both somewhat surprised.

Aside from a few interfaces for operating his mechanical arms, the priest had nothing else on his body.

His body was covered in solid muscle, and it was clear he worked at a forge regularly.

Less than three percent of his entire body had been replaced with machinery.

"I offer my heartfelt praise to your reason, Lord Inquisitor!"

Praise reason?

Wait a minute?

There's something... off about this Tech-Priest.

"You... haven't had your body mechanically augmented?"

"Please, wherever and whenever you may be, hold fast to this belief: from ocean algae to fish, from fish to land creatures, from apes to us humans."

"Over hundreds of millions of years of evolution, life's choices may have led to evolutionary mistakes, but the world's choices are never wrong."

"We evolved to be this way, and that means we were always meant to reach the far end of evolution in bodies of flesh and blood."

Clap, clap, clap, clap!

In Curze's mind, the Night Haunter couldn't help applauding.

"If the Warp didn't clearly record that he'd never received Father's teachings, I'd think he was Father's student."

Even Curze was somewhat conflicted. This Tech-Priest was a little too much of a materialist.

"So, whether it was that Archmagos just now or the Magos in the Hive City before, I was wrong to kill them both?"

These are talented people!

Where else could I find materialist talent?

An opportunity like this is hard to come by.

"No, Lord Inquisitor. As for that mechanical freak, killing him was no loss. He desecrated his body and ruined the supreme achievement of biological evolution. He deserved to die."

"As for Magos Angrak, there's still a chance for him to live."

"Still a chance?" Curze's interest was piqued.

"Please follow me."

Herbert led Curze to a laboratory filled with clones.

"Consciousness transfer?"

"Yes. Our branch, the Evolutionist Sect, focuses on technological research and development, but we don't destroy the fruits of physical evolution."

"We strive to achieve the greatest possible results within our limited lifespans. So although our branch has the fewest members in the Adeptus Mechanicus, our strength is not to be underestimated."

"But the flesh can only live so long, so you thought of consciousness transfer?" Curze asked the muscular man.

"Yes, my lord, but even for that, we have rules."

More rules?

"Anyone in our branch may undergo consciousness transfer no more than five times, giving them a theoretical lifespan ranging from one hundred to six hundred years."

"Why is that?"

"My lord, if someone lives too long and lacks sufficient strength of will, they'll deny their identity as a human being. Then they'll undoubtedly become a monster."

Curze agreed wholeheartedly.

Never mind living so long that they stopped seeing other people as human. Give people a little money and power, and they wouldn't even see others of their kind as their equals.

The Hive City was a living example.

Herbert went to a cultivation chamber and took out a blue chip.

"Identity confirmed: Archmagos Angrak. First consciousness transfer."

Hum!

A system activated, and Archmagos Angrak, who had been killed, woke once more.

For now, though, only his consciousness had returned. His body's functions would take some time to activate.

But when he saw Curze, his brain waves became extremely abnormal.

"Relax, Archmagos. I admit I acted too hastily at first. I'm sorry."

Looking at the revived Archmagos, Curze suddenly felt a little embarrassed.

"Archmagos, perhaps this Lord Inquisitor is the person we've been looking for all along."

Herbert then told the Archmagos everything that had just happened.

His abnormal brain waves returned to normal, but he didn't look at Curze again.

Only when all his bodily functions had fully activated did he step out of the cultivation chamber.

"Bat, I don't care how you used sweet words and a pleasing manner to deceive my colleague. Please leave now. We'll leave as well and stay out of Nostramo's affairs from now on."

I'm screwed.

If Dad finds out I drove away members of the Adeptus Mechanicus who are this materialist, he'll beat lumps all over my head.

"Archmagos, I sincerely apologize for my recklessness. I hope you'll forgive my mistake."

"At the same time, I hope you'll meet my father, just once."

"If you still intend to leave after meeting him, not only will I not stop you, but I can offer you half the mineral resources currently extracted on the entire planet as an apology."

Half the mineral resources?

"All right. Given your attitude, I'll agree to meet your father, but just this once."

Old money-grubber.

The Night Haunter's sarcastic remark rang out in Curze's mind.