40k: Midnight Blade.

Chapter 88 86. Between the Stars (4.5, [-]k)

The hatch of the transport ship slowly opened, and the fresh air of Macragge rushed in, accompanied by high-pitched string music.

A whole orchestra—or two—started playing with almost frantic enthusiasm.

Commoners cheered, clapped, and spontaneously offered their own poems, and along the red carpet, flower petals were sprinkled by shyly smiling teenage girls with garlands waiting in their baskets.

They had been informed of this as early as yesterday, and the first thing Robert Guilliman did upon his return was to announce to the whole of Macragge that his brother's Legion was coming - though he didn't say anything. There were many, but the inhabitants of Macragge thought they must not disgrace Robert Guilliman.

However, the people in the transport ship were not as excited as they thought.

Gloomy, quiet, and chilling—this obvious atmosphere slammed into the face of Robert Guilliman, who was walking forward quickly, and also made the smile on his face stagnant.

There is no doubt that this is not an appropriate attitude.However, before he had time to question, he was attracted by a giant standing at the front of the crowd.On that pale face, a pair of completely dark eyes were calmly watching him.

In just a split second, Robert Guilliman knew who it was.

and what he should do next.

He stretched out his right hand, stopped abruptly, and stopped his butler on the long red carpet.

Tarasa Euton let out a small exclamation and nearly fell, unable to keep up with her adopted son's reflexes, but that was not the most important thing.She quickly stood still, and when she looked up, she saw a familiar face that was so serious and terrifying.

The expression of the head of internal affairs suddenly fell into a kind of anxiety.

The bands are still going on, people are still waiting, but the Ultramarines have slowly gathered around.They could see what was going on here, and they could sense the change in the atmosphere on their Primarch's face.

"Do not."

Robert Guilliman expressed his attitude with a simple voice.Like a boulder parting the waves, he stood in the center of the surrounding Ultramarines, keeping his mother firmly behind him.

He stared intently at the pale giant—or rather, at the Astartes standing beside him.

The unique livery of the Eighth Legion, gloomy blue, black shoulder armor, MK1 type, which means that he has experienced the Unification War and is the old department of the Emperor—other than that?anything else?

Nothing, except a right hand resting on the shoulder armor.

It stayed there peacefully, as if it had existed since ancient times, with no force on its five fingers, but the owner of the shoulder armor was firmly bound in place.

Guilliman sensed it, as quickly as one of the hundreds of other details he caught in those two short minutes.

He loves to research, read, and compare repeatedly.Such was his nature, and so were his cultivated habits.

So he immediately realized how strange the standing posture of that Astartes was, how strange it was.
threatening.

Then, in his own imagination, he removed the hand that bound the Astartes.

After five seconds, he took a deep breath.

"Stand behind me." Robert Guilliman turned his head and said in a low voice. "Ask nothing, ma'am, don't ask anything. I swear I'll explain it to you, but now, please stand behind me."

If this is your wish.His adoptive mother answered him with a look that was determined and full of determination, the opposite of her emaciated image.

You need to know one thing - Tarasa Eudon is not respected for being Robert Guilliman's steward.

Therefore, she quietly stood behind her adopted son, letting him go away, completely covering her with his back.

Robert Guilliman started to walk towards the transport ship with vigorous strides. This was not the first time he had seen the soldiers of the Eighth Legion, however, this was the first time they seemed so disturbed.

He cast his eyes behind the pale giant, eyes so sharp that they seemed to be able to penetrate the helmet.After a dozen steps, his posture became less tense.After forty steps, he reached the edge of the red carpet and the tarmac where the ship was moored.

Behind him, his adoptive mother, and his sons -- began to wait anxiously.

"Nice meeting, good day," Robert Guilliman said to the giant. "But I didn't expect our first meeting to be like this."

"I think you need an apology," the giant replied quietly, his voice soft.

"No, I don't need an explanation," said Guilliman. "If there is no fault, there is no need for an apology."

"actually"

Khalil turned his head slowly and looked at the trembling company commander. "some."

"You have done no wrong to me, or to anyone on Macragge," said Robert Guilliman firmly. "So I'm asking for an explanation now, Mr. Khalil, my brother's adoptive father, the instructor of the Eighth Legion, I really need an explanation."

"Five minutes," Khalil said quietly. "Give me 5 minutes - Siani, you go down first."

Guilliman frowned, seeing a warrior stepping out of the formation and stepping off the transport ship.He lowered his head, not as if he was visiting, but as if he was a prisoner.He didn't straighten his back until he was reminded by one of his brothers.

Robert Guilliman turned around and put on a smile. He could sense his adoptive mother watching him, and he knew that his adoptive mother could see the worry he was hiding now but it didn't matter.

As long as she's safe and sound.

Smiling and waving his hands, Robert Guilliman turned around, but saw two flashes of blue light.

what.?

He had no answer, only that the Astartes trapped under the right hand of Khalil Rohars slowly lowered his head amidst the piercing metallic twist.His shoulder armor shattered with it, as easily as glass.
-
where am i

There was no answer in the dark.

where am i

There was no answer in the dark.This is normal, the darkness will not answer me, how can the darkness answer my words?

No, no, who am I?

The long silence was as disturbing as death.A smell broke into my nostrils, and it was a long, long time before I realized what it was. It was the smell of death.

I've sniffed it countless times, I've smelled it in the underground labs of the Seragon enclave, I've smelled it in Europa, I've smelled it in Croix, I've smelled it in countless places that need me I've heard it on the battlefield.

In fact, I saw it when I was very young.

The first thing I remember is my father's death.

He's the son of a criminal, and so am I.It was a dark underground cave. My mother killed my father, and weeping sadly with the blood on her hands.

Isn't it ironic?The offspring of criminals also have feelings, my mother was pale and strong, my father was equally pale and strong, they were also fierce, but their fierceness was to protect themselves
Then my father died.

Then, my mother died too.

Then, I became a member of the Eighth Legion.

The Emperor himself came and took us away, I met him, and I can say it with pride, even though seeing him with my own eyes blinded me for four and a half weeks.My shoulder armor can prove it for me.I fought in the Unification War and have been lucky enough to survive until now.

I was reborn by war and lost many things in successive wars, some of which I didn't care about, and some of which I cared a lot.

But, no matter what, I'm already inseparable from my armor.Although I can still take it off, I can no longer leave my duties.

I can not.Just like I can't leave our Primarch.

Primarch?

Conrad Koz?
what do i want to say
My words seem to be out of order.Just like my consciousness.What am I asking in the first place?
Yes, yes, I remembered.

who am I?
who am I?
No answer, no answer.

I'm a little angry, I don't understand why I don't get an answer.But I actually want to know where this is, why can't I see anything?
Why can't I get an answer?

There are so many voices whispering in my ear, but I can only hear it.
No, not right.

who is talking?
Is that you, Siani?Or Leonard?

I'm sorry to kick you out of the company, I'm sorry, Leonard.But I can't help it, you have to leave.I can still take off my armor, but you have become one with it.You have forgotten what we are fighting for.I'm so sad about this, but I have to do it, we all have to do it.

we?

who are we?

Father, mother, Legion, Primarch, Emperor?

Who are you all?
where are you?
Is anyone here?Please answer me, anyone is fine, anyone is fine, please, who am I?
"You are VanCleef," said a voice. "You are the First Captain of the Eighth Legion, and you are standing on the ground of Macragge. You are going to kill Tarasa Eudon."

Who?
"Tarasha Udon, a mortal."

I only kill sinners, I am the judge.
"She is the sinner, VanCleef. She and her adopted son have committed a crime against your Legion, as well as your Primarch."

really?
"Of course it's true, can't you see her?"

I saw it.

Through the eyepiece, I saw it.At the far end of the red carpet, there was a woman standing there.I also heard some things, and I also saw some things.

Why can I see again?
I heard the sound of the engine of the transport ship being cut off, the jet of air made the petals fly, and the woman stood in the middle of this beautiful scene.what is she doingis she smilingWait, what about the others?Why can I only see her alone?

No, no, no.Who is she?

"She's Tarasa Euton, your target, VanCleef. Kill her, and then it's all over. Kill her, and stop the whispers in your ears, I know you don't like them, don't you?" You want to be quiet, you need to be alone."

I only kill sinners.

"She is a sinner."

What crime did she commit?

"She and her adopted son, Robert Guilliman, attempted to infiltrate your Legion and your future homeworld. She attempted to harm your Primarch."

She is just a mortal.

"Sometimes, wanting to do something has nothing to do with status. She's a mortal, but she's also Robert Guilliman's head of house. You know that, right? You've met her a long time ago."

have i met her
"Of course you have, VanCleef. You have seen her plotting in her own mansion, and you have seen her and her son Robert Guilliman smiling sinisterly."

"Macragge, a state within a state of the Empire. The Ultramarines, a group of freaks who have taken on more political responsibilities and identities than fighters. What does Robert Guilliman want to do? overthrow."

"He was your Primarch's brother, but he is not now, his mind has been infested with the venom of Tarasa Eudon. Your Primarch's brother is now an ambitious conspiracy Teramo sent five hundred Ultramarines, why should he do this when he shouldn't?"

"Five hundred Ultramarines, what does he want to do? Couldn't some mortal consul serve the same role? Robert Guilliman deserves to die, but his death is not up to you, Van Cleef, my lord to him useful."

"And you only need to judge Tarasa Eudon. So, break free from the shackles of Khalil Rohars, who foolishly rejected his own essence, and even sent part of it."

"I'll help you, Van Cleef. With my help, you'll only need a second to kill that woman. Khalil Rohars has figured it out, but it doesn't matter, You just have to judge her, and you can do that if you give your life."

who I am?
"*sigh* damn it, the veil blocked my power, otherwise you should have been completely controlled by me in the first place"

Why are you sighing?

"You're VanCleef, you're the First Captain of the Eighth Legion, and you're going to kill—"

"--To shut up."

who is it?

Wait, this is the second voice, this is not the first voice, who is speaking?I hear something screaming in the dark
"Van Cleef."

Who?
"Talk to me in your voice, VanCleef, not in the voice they gave you," the second voice said to me in a voice as hard as steel.

He seemed to be fighting, and I don't know where that feeling came from, but I could sense his anger, that anger.
Tyra, who the hell is he?No, no, who am I?
"I am Khalil Rohars, Instructor of the Eighth Legion, and you are Van Cleef, First Captain of the Eighth Legion. Wake up, Van Cleef."

Something is emerging before my eyes.

I saw a golden giant walking between us, weeping in pity for what had happened to us.

After that, he became my lord. He used his son's blood to reshape my body. He wore armor and held a weapon to fight with us at the forefront of the battle line. He had his personal guards beside him.

I saw a group of sinners who turned human beings into monsters. They shivered in the darkness, terrified of the coming judgment.

But I only have anger in my heart. I don't understand why they dare to do this, why they dare to open the gate of the abyss and start researching dangerous psionic energy with a little knowledge.

I killed them, feeling furious as I killed them, and my rage seemed unending when Leonard stopped me.

Never forget what we are fighting for, he said.

Leonard, Leonard.

I remember now.

Leonard who forgot what he fought for, I remember, Siani of Terra, I remember, I—

Primarch, Primarch.

I am VanCleef, Primarch.I am your First Captain, I swear allegiance to the Emperor, I swear allegiance to you till death.

I--

I hear a sigh.

"VanCleef." A second voice spoke to me in a low, weeping voice I had never seen before. "Are you really going to do this?"

"Yes, instructor." I replied in a low voice. "It cost me my life, it left a mark in my heart and I can see it. So I'm going to destroy it."

I already know who I am.

I am First Captain of the Emperor's Eighth Legion, I am the son of Primarch Konrad Curze, and I am VanCleef of Terra.
I will die.

　Also, more points today, I know everyone is uncomfortable.

　　By the way, do you want to guess if the Captain will die?
　　
　
(End of this chapter)