As I entered the room, I felt the darkness become solid, as if it was alive. And maybe it was.

Books and scrolls showed moving letters, as if someone was perusing the books, all of them at once.

So I took out my Emperor-signed Warrant and just set it on the book stand, proof of my allegiance and trustworthiness. The darkness drew back, as if in pain.

After I moment, I heard Canis growl in warning, so I stored the Warrant back in its Null Box.

"Canis, don't hurt him." I said softly, and gestured towards my wolf. Canis sat down, and moved his eyes from side to side, as if he could see something inside the shadows.

"...!" something was surprised inside the darkness, and a pair of ravens flew out and perched on a book stand, looking at me with doubt.

"I didn't come here to reveal you, Corax. I just wanted to offer some help, if you need any. A nice Phase sword, or Phase claws. Maybe repair your equipment, or offer you armor and weapons. You should know I have a lot of good things." I proposed with a shrug, and lit up my claw then made it blur. Canis raised his own paw and extended his Phase Claw just to show he was armed as well.

"...Not afraid?" an old and wary voice asked from inside the darkness.

"I killed Slaanesh, you know? Khorne is also dead, and Nurgle is shattered into small bits, as weak as a Great Daemon. You can carry on to fight in the dark, but soon enough you'll remain without targets..." I said with a sad laugh.

The darkness gathered into the shape of an old and frail man, wearing bits of armor and broken adamantium claws on his left hand. "I don't want my sons to see this! Nobody should see what sad shape I am." the old Primarch muttered and gently caressed Canis on his head, sounding quite worn down.

"You fought on, for millennia. By yourself. I can respect that. And I also approve." I answered with a nod, and offered him a bottle of expensive Dammasine.

"Ha! You approve? Why?" He asked and took a long gulp of my booze.

I took out another bottle and sat down, then drink a bit myself. "They killed Vulkan. Some kind of cabal of xenos and humans, that try to destroy humanity. Alpha Legion is part of it too, and you know what they did to your sons. To your gene project. I was planning to bring the House Raven Knights here, perhaps boost your defenses. But if you're out in the open..."

"A Chaos Invasion...like they always do." Corax completed my line with a tired voice.

"Come, there are two people eager to meet you." I proposed and shifted us into the labyrinth, then back on board the Black Lament.

Anzion and M stared at me, then at the decrepit Primarch with wide eyes. "Corax! At least you're alive." Anzion exclaimed in a glad voice and tried to hug his step-brother, only for the man to vanish and re-appear at my side.

Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

"Don't hug an old man with your hammer hands, Anzion. You would break something!" I shouted in outrage, making Corax chuckle.

"Where is this? Looks like a Necron ship?" he asked curious.

"Similar yes. The walls are made of blackstone. It is my Chapter's flying fortress, called Black Lament." I explained politely and took another gulp of wine.

"I saw it, shooting at those Ork Hulks. Xeno tech." Corax said with a wise voice, then sat down on a blackstone dais, while shadows gathered around him as if he felt in danger.

"Anzion, medical scans and blood samples. M, you build him some new items. Armor and weapons, the good stuff! Corax, don't hurt the clones, they are too young to die." I demanded with a wry voice, then stepped away.

I surely didn't expect to find another living Primarch, even one as battered as Corax. Something bad must have happened to Corvus Corax to bring him in this state, but maybe Anzion could fix him.

Surely, the Primarch would want to speak with his half-brothers alone. I did the introductions, the rest should be easy.

Now it was time for more bloody work, rebuilding the entire star system in my image, even using some of my saved up asteroids for forts and minefields, then move the ice comets...lots of work!

Plus, a Forge World would need a lot more than more minerals. Factories, production lines, management advice...Something a Primarch should do, instead of drowning his sorrows in a wine bottle!

Damn it!

Stay strong, Pef. You chose this task for yourself. Don't complain when it gets a bit hard.

I also visited Valeyne on her medical bed, to find out some vital organs were now missing. No more kids, unless some divine healer regrew a womb and other stuff.

"We can always have kinky sex..." the Inquisitor proposed with a groggy voice, possibly from the painkillers.

"Just rest. I'll ask Stern to take a look, when she flies home. Good news though. I found a crow." I spoke in a low voice.

"...Alive, I hope." she whispered back, sounding worried.

"Mostly alive, yes. Anzion should fix him. Or maybe Stern, if he doesn't burst into flames. He is really damaged. Warp stuff." I explained in a secretive tone.

"Oh? Damaged, not turned. Or you would have killed him already." the Inquisitor concluded in a harsh voice.

"I try not to kill them, good or bad. It's not like I can't restrain a single man. If they are turned, the Emperor can re-turn them. Or he can kill them, if he so wants. Not my call, right?" I asked rhetorically.

My harsh Inquisitor wife stared at me for a second, then nodded slowly. "I see. They are still a part of Him, and important. No wonder the Emperor trusts you with so much power." she whispered in a low tone, then closed her eyes to rest.

I nodded to myself, and moved away, finding Stern still on top of the Ravenspire, staring at the sky.

"Hey sister! Why the long face?" I asked in a friendly voice.

"...I saw him. A shadow of his former self. If I try a bit, I could simply end him." Sister Stern said with a far-away voice.

"... We don't act monstrous, even if we have the power. It is the restraint that makes one good, not the power itself. Anyways, there are still plenty enemies to kill, and for a good cause." I explained with my lamenting voice, and drew her into a hug.

"And when there are no more? When we finish with Tyranids and Orks and Chaos?" she asked almost afraid. She never knew what peace was, being born in this hellhole.

"There are trillions of galaxies after this, then more alternate dimensions and timelines...it will take us a bit to run out of targets." I said with a laugh.

"Hah! Always the right words to cheer me up! I guess I was worried for nothing." Stern muttered in a more relaxed tone.

"Come, Valeyne needs you. Or I will lack a fertile wife in my sex life..." I demanded with a wry voice.

"...Silly Lancefire." the Demonifuge whispered to herself, then warped away into the medical wing, breaching the Black Lament's Void Shields and Gellar Ramparts like they were not there at all.

A minute later, Valeyne was already up on her feet, and patting her belly with a giant grin. I guess I should go and fill her womb now.