Chương 7: A Miracle of Flesh

Zerbe stood behind a specially armored glass pane. He observed the results of the boy's medical examination. Saviy was a genius scientist in multiple fields simultaneously. He had earned the title of Magos Biologis by right. Although he barely resembled a human, Zerbe knew perfectly well what lay beneath. Inside the mechanical bulk was heavily modified flesh. It consisted primarily of enhanced neural circuitry and a brain several times larger than the human standard.

If the upper echelons of the Martian priesthood knew of all his discoveries, he would have been branded a heretic long ago. They would have sent him to the pyre without hesitation. But Zerbe monitored his ward closely. He knew Saviy was far too intelligent to sell his soul to the ruinous powers. The Dark Mechanicum had become increasingly something of a joke with every passing century. The traitors to humanity, even without any restrictions, often achieved far less than their former cult brethren.

The damned tech-priests realized far too late that Chaos is not very good at organizing industrial pipelines. It is even worse at unifying knowledge. Not to mention the fact that the laws of physics are not exactly stable in the presence of Chaos. This severely hindered any attempts to systematize knowledge or simply replicate an experiment. Yes, they were better versed in manipulating the Warp and Abominable Intelligence. But what were these discoveries worth if they could kill their creator on any given day?

What good was it if they destroyed all his work in the blink of an eye? What is the point of new technology if there are no manufacturing lines or resource extraction operations to distribute it to the masses? Zerbe turned his head slightly. He looked at his Acolytes, specifically the mercenary and one very unwilling companion. Although Inquisitors were incredibly influential, there were organizations even they would not trifle with.

They possessed the ability to do practically whatever they wanted, but lines had to be drawn. And fate had once again mocked the aging man. It had brought individuals into his retinue who were each insanely dangerous, even to him. Worst of all, the two organizations these Acolytes belonged to severely disliked each other. This fact was clearly evident from his companions' behavior. Not even Zerbe knew about Khoron's past. There was no information about him in any archives.

The only dossier likely resided in the deepest dungeons of the Officio Assassinorum. Perhaps a handful of individuals in the entire galaxy even knew of his existence. It was a secretive and isolated organization that supplied high-class assassins. Practically, they answered to no one. They were connected to the Imperium only through their representative on the High Lords of Terra. But even so, no one knew anything about them.

And even the Inquisitors themselves knew the heavy price of securing an agent from one of the Temples. It required immense effort. And even then, the agents were only loaned out for a limited time before returning to their bases. But the perfect killers were worth it. They could handle practically any threat that stood in their way. And Khoron, as a representative of the Culexus Temple, was a professional worth any price. It was the most terrifying temple of them all.

His tally included Chaos Space Marines and even Radical Inquisitors who had gone too far. But there was one target that even he might not be able to eliminate. Atreus had come to him eight years ago. Clad in a simple robe, the warrior before him had managed to surprise even the experienced Inquisitor. Space Marines were the elite of the Imperium's armies, known to some worlds only in legends. It was not unusual for Inquisitors to collaborate with them.

Zerbe himself had managed to secure the support of the Blood Angels Chapter. They were painfully effective. Usually, members of the Ordo Hereticus enlisted the Sisters of Battle or the Black Templars. But Zerbe disliked their fanatical faith and their refusal to deviate from dogma even a single step. It was an overly impractical approach that did not suit a pragmatic Inquisitor. Therefore, he navigated the circles of the Emperor's Angels.

He became well-acquainted with many Chapters in the sector, elevating his knowledge of the Astartes above other Inquisitors. But even he was surprised when he met a member of the Emperor's own golden guard. The Adeptus Custodes. The defenders of the Imperial Palace and the bodyguards of the Master of Mankind Himself. Such a role, of course, was not given to just anyone. It belonged only to the absolute best of the best. The difference between a member of the Golden Legion and a Space Marine is vast.

It is almost as great as the difference between an Astartes and a baseline human. Their armor and weapons are true masterpieces, the absolute zenith of Imperial craftsmanship. Their experience is measured in millennia. The instances where they have left the Palace to wander the galaxy can be counted on one hand. And encountering one as old as Atreus was an outright miracle. Following the Horus Heresy, practically all the original Custodes perished. But not all, it seemed.

Atreus was a living legend who had seen Him with his own eyes. His experience was also evident in his demeanor toward others. He spoke only of necessary matters. He stated his mission was to find and protect a certain child born in this sub-sector. And that was precisely why he had joined the Inquisitor's retinue. Formally, Atreus obeyed all of Zerbe's orders. But it was clear he would kill Zerbe the moment he suspected any attempt to hinder his mission.

Thus, the presence of Khoron and Atreus was an incredibly dangerous mixture. One was an assassin specializing in the liquidation of psykers. The other was the bodyguard of the Emperor Himself. Initially, upon meeting Gabriel, Zerbe did not think this was the one the legendary warrior sought. But the more surprises the boy delivered, the more questions arose. Incredible psychic abilities, the manifestation of which looked suspiciously similar to the powers of living saints.

This was why Maria had begun to consider him a newly Chosen of the Emperor. She was an incredible warrior, capable of holding her own alongside the Astartes. That was the only reason Zerbe tolerated her fanaticism. However, this had now escalated from an unpleasant misunderstanding to an actual problem. Zerbe sensed that she was ready to kill the Inquisitor himself if someone tried to eliminate the boy. And given Atreus's silent support, few would be able to stop her.

But killing this child would be an incredible waste of resources anyway. Gabriel's unique ability to sense the influence of the ruinous powers had been discovered. He could see the taint in the souls of heretics instantly. This was a feat the Inquisition could only replicate using powerful, specialized psykers. It usually required extensive mutation screenings and loyalty tests. If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

Such a power alone made it worth keeping the boy alive, despite all the dangers. But the information he had revealed... Inquisitors could be many things, but they were not negligent idiots. Therefore, every bearer of the rosette knew exactly what to do upon uncovering information about an STC. The Ordo Machinum was a minor Ordo, but incredibly important nonetheless. They monitored Mars and the Tech-Priests. The Adeptus Mechanicus controlled the vast majority of industry and the production of goods.

They essentially possessed a monopoly on technology. Yes, they were not the only ones with developed industry. But the most precise and complex work was performed exclusively on their Forge Worlds. Therefore, should they secede from the Imperium, it would spell the end for humanity. And they only maintain their loyalty so long as it is profitable. Obtaining a complete STC would render the Imperium obsolete to them. They would become entirely self-sufficient.

Hence, the oversight over them was subtle, but no less vigilant than that of the Major Ordos. Of course, Zerbe did not take the boy's word for it. He would verify the information. He was already preparing a report to transmit through his mentor directly to Terra itself. Even if it wasn't a complete system, concealing such a treasure was the highest heresy. And if Gabriel truly could find other specimens of ancient technology, the Custodian's interest made perfect sense.

It was no wonder the living legend was drawn to him. Such knowledge could genuinely alter the fate of humanity and save countless lives. However, the path to this bright future would clearly not be a straight one. Right now, Zerbe was doing what he had been forced to do for the last hundred years. Trying to keep a group of highly powerful individuals from slaughtering each other.

"You feel the light emanating from him as well, do you not?" Maria asked.

"This aura of majesty, where His influence cannot go unnoticed." Maria held an almost legendary status within her Order. She had endured a century and a half of battles against humanity's most terrifying enemies. Through it all, she maintained her unbreakable faith in the Emperor. She had slain the leaders of Ork hordes and could even hold her own against powerful daemons. She had formerly been a Sister Superior of the Order of the Golden Hand.

This meant she was the foremost among the holy warriors and led them in countless crusades. Therefore, such softness on her part seemed entirely surprising. But that was only at first glance. Dig a little deeper, and you would see a fanatical believer. She was ready to drown in blood anyone who went against the will of her god.

"I see only a dangerous and powerful psyker who is an actual threat." Khoron spoke to the others for the first time in a long while. His words were sharp and full of bile. They carried an overt threat. His short sentence instantly chilled the atmosphere in the room. Maria scowled and shot him a cold glare. The Space Marine in crimson armor looked slightly bewildered.

"Of course, powerful psykers can be a threat, but Gabriel is obviously an unusual case." The voice of the Blood Angels Chapter member was beautiful.

"His powers are directly linked to the Emperor Himself..." He sounded more like a musician or artist than a warrior. This tied back to the traditions established by Sanguinius himself. The Primarch had ordered his sons to cultivate not only martial skills but also poetry and other arts. This approach made his sons some of the most noble and worthy defenders of humanity. They could resolve conflicts even without bloodshed.

"... and therefore, any attempt to harm him will lead to active countermeasures." Atreus spoke rarely, but when he did, he commanded absolute attention. His voice was deep and authoritative. It was exactly how a true demigod who had endured thousands of battles should sound.

"I was created to deal with threats like him," Khoron countered.

"I know perfectly well what a psyker with this kind of potential can unleash."

"He might seem innocent and harmless now, but believe me."

"Tomorrow he will start summoning hordes of daemons and..."

"I suggest you shut your mouth right now if you wish to keep your head attached to your neck." Reaching over his shoulder, Atreus drew a meter-long golden blade. He currently kept it pointed toward the floor. Everyone in the room instantly tensed. But Zerbe reacted first, trying to halt the bloodshed.

"Lower your weapons. Gabriel will live. Period."

"We are conducting this examination to determine whether his psychic abilities have affected his body."

"We need to know if there are any unwanted mutations."

"Should the need arise, Saviy can rectify them." The Inquisitor immediately turned to the Magos. Saviy was currently jacked into the cogitator. All data was being fed directly into the Magos's brain via hardlines. Entoptic projectors were also active nearby, creating streams of information hovering in the air. He required a few more minutes to continue analyzing the data. After that, he returned to reality and surveyed the people gathered in the room.

"The subject's health is far above all baseline metrics."

"I would even say it is anomalously high."

"In what sense?" The Inquisitor sighed tiredly. He braced himself for another dose of unpleasant information. The Magos waved a hand. A hololith displaying all the medical data appeared before him.

"During the examination, a quantity of mutations was discovered."

"It is so vast that it calls into question whether the subject can even be classified as human."

"What is fascinating is that they can all be considered beneficial."

"Neural circuitry enhanced by orders of magnitude."

"An incredible immune system, increased density in bone structure and muscle fibers."

"There are also unknown internal organs whose purpose is currently beyond my comprehension." Saviy paused for a moment.

"The total number of modifications surpasses even the total number of alterations in the Astartes."

"However, I also require more time to verify the data."

"According to the analysis, there are more organs inside him than can physically fit into a body of his size." The reaction of everyone in the room varied. The Inquisitor merely grunted slightly, saying nothing yet. Khoron scowled and twitched his fingers almost imperceptibly. The crimson-clad Space Marine raised his eyebrows in surprise. Maria initially frowned upon hearing about mutations. But upon learning the details, she offered a slight smile.

"It is a true miracle, bestowed by the Emperor Himself."

"In our hour of need, He has sent us a new hero to save humanity..." She spoke in a near whisper. But everyone in the room heard her anyway, as they all possessed enhanced auditory augmetics or genetics.

"A powerful psyker who is also a mutant." Khoron sneered.

"He is as far removed from anything human as some xenos. Doesn't exactly sound like a saint." Khoron's latest remark only worsened everyone's opinion of him. But the assassin clearly didn't care. Atreus, meanwhile, silently studied the examination results. He seemed to be calmly analyzing them. Therefore, it was the other transhuman who spoke up.

"I came here intending to offer him recruitment into our Chapter, but it seems that is impossible."

"And a pity too. I have never before met anyone who so strongly resembles the Father." The Space Marine sounded disappointed, yet a smile played on his face at the same time. Although few knew it, he was actually one of Zerbe's closest Acolytes. He had collaborated with the Inquisitor for over a century.

"Judging by these modifications, he wouldn't even need gene-seed to reach your level and surpass it." Saviy noted.

"I must admit, I have never seen a phenomenon like this before."

"This level is beyond anything Warp mutations or quirks of nature could produce." Saviy connected four mechadendrites from his back into the machine. He began to analyze the information more thoroughly.

"This looks more akin to..."

"The Primarchs, isn't that right?" Everyone shifted their gaze to Atreus. He had already sheathed his sword and was instead flexing his hands. And for the first time in all the years he had spent in the Inquisitor's retinue, a smile graced his face.

"That's absolute nonsense." Khoron sounded stunned.

"The Emperor's sons were all born a hundred centuries ago..." It was his first reaction of this kind during his entire tenure in Zerbe's retinue.

"His will is peerless, and His ways are inscrutable," Atreus replied.

"Who knows how far He is capable of seeing into the future? Perhaps He knew what the Imperium would become. And what prevents Him from forging another warrior to guide humanity through these dark times?" Everyone in the room fell silent, pondering Atreus's words. Zerbe, however, was only thinking about the sheer scale of the problems all this would bring. And he knew exactly who would have to work the hardest to manage it all. The answer to that question is always the same.