CHAPTER 149 — Right of Crossing
The air in the Strategium felt calmer now, the tension that had surrounded them since Belisarius Cawl's arrival gone. The discussions had ended.
The decisions had been made. The invention was safe, secured, and accounted for. Gaius walked alongside Guilliman, each step measured, echoing softly against the polished floors. The Victrix Guard and Custodians were not needed here.
They had already ensured that all remained in order.
Guilliman glanced at Gaius as they walked. The Primarch's eyes were sharp, clear, and always calculating. But now there was something else in his expression—not command, not curiosity, but careful assessment.
He wasn't evaluating the invention. He was evaluating Gaius. The young captain had accomplished something significant, with consequences that reached far beyond the Strategium.
Guilliman considered the wider effects, the invention itself, the Mechanicus, and the balance of power across Terra and the Imperium.
They reached the main hall of the Strategium. Guilliman stopped, resting a hand lightly on the table's edge.
He looked at Gaius fully, as if seeing him for the first time since the meeting.
"Since all things are done," he said quietly, "where are you going now?"
Gaius paused. The question was simple, but unexpected. His life was measured in missions, objectives, and outcomes, fighting aliens, suppressing daemons, moving from one warfront to the next. There was always a task, a target, a problem to solve.
Here, there was none. The campaigns continued elsewhere. The galaxy remained in chaos. But in this room, at this moment, nothing demanded his attention.
He ran possibilities through his mind. Continue patrolling, respond to threats as they arose, predictable. Routine.
But for a moment, he allowed himself to acknowledge the question Guilliman had asked.
Guilliman watched him. He saw the hesitation, the quiet contemplation. There was no scolding in his gaze, only understanding. After all, they were his sons, and he understood them better than anyone else.
The Primarch's mind moved faster than anyone's could, but even he allowed a moment for reflection.
Then he spoke again, gently but with purpose. "Since you do not seem to have anything pressing to attend to,"
he said, "perhaps you can ask your friend, the one who gave us that invention, what he would want in return. He could request anything, and it would be granted."
Gaius blinked, the thought settling in his mind. Tony, from another world, had provided an invention of immense value. There had to be a way to repay him, a way to recognize the gift beyond simple words or thanks.
Guilliman was offering exactly that.
"I will talk to him," Gaius said simply, nodding.
Guilliman's face softened slightly. There was approval there, but also responsibility. "Then go and do your business," he said. "I have a great many things to attend to now. You have made my tasks far bigger than before. Just give me the list of what your friend wants, and I will approve it. That is all I ask."
Gaius nodded and turned, walking down the Strategium corridor. His steps were steady, deliberate. The halls were quiet. Servitors moved along their routines, custodians patrolled methodically, and no one interfered with his path.
Then he felt it, a brief discomfort, almost like a tug at the edge of his mind. It was subtle but insistent, and it made him pause. His eyes scanned the corridor, and there she was, a Sister of Silence.
Gaius's first thought was straightforward, he hadn't seen her before, surely? Or perhaps they were just crossing paths.
He nodded politely, expecting nothing more than a brief glance of acknowledgement as she passed. But the Sister of Silence did not move on. She stopped directly in front of him.
For a moment, she simply stood, still and deliberate, before lowering herself to a kneel. Each movement was controlled, measured, exactly as trained, precise in intent and execution.
Gaius watched, taken aback. The Sister's hands moved at incredible speed, signaling something with gestures far too fast for any normal human to follow. And yet, the message was clear, she would follow him, even to death.
"From Lord Guilliman?" Gaius asked, his voice calm but full of curiosity. After all, the Primarch commanded many, and perhaps this was an order.
The Sister shook her head gently. Her hands moved again, faster than before, spelling out a single, undeniable truth, she had come not by command but by certainty.
She had felt, deep in herself, that following Gaius was her purpose. That certainty had guided her to him.
Gaius felt his chest tighten, understanding dawning. "The Emperor?" he asked softly, almost as if seeking confirmation of the larger design.
The Sister said nothing. She simply rose and moved to his side, standing there with a silent authority. Her presence alone was confirmation enough.
Gaius nodded, a faint smile forming at the corner of his lips. This was new, unexpected, but he understood.
He activated his Shared Gate ability. A connection registered, six out of ten possible spaces were filled. Four remained. The Sister of Silence was now part of his inner circle, and the bond was instant, silent, and firm.
Gaius led the way to his private chambers, a space within the Imperial Palace reserved for guests of honor.
The Sister of Silence positioned herself at the door, guarding it without a word. Inside, Gaius settled at a workstation, allowing himself a rare moment of stillness. He opened the Multiversal Chat interface, expecting a few messages but finding it alive with activity.
Naruto, Mindy, and Saeko were already active. Mindy's message blinked first:
Mindy: Guys, my abilities are too powerful! I can hit everything so accurately!
Saeko responded immediately:
Saeko: Your ability, perfect accuracy, is indeed powerful.
Mindy replied almost instantly:
Mindy: Yours is powerful too. Your perception is scary, most sneak attacks are meaningless to you, and you can dodge easily and strike weak points.
Naruto chimed in with a laugh:
Naruto: I also told Granny my reward, and she tested it. She was extremely jealous. Hahaha.
Gaius smiled faintly, joining in:
Gaius: @Tony, my Gene Father has wanted to reward you for your invention.
The ping was immediate. Tony responded without hesitation:
Tony: Oh, no need. I gave it for you.
Gaius pressed, carefully, encouraging yet firm:
Gaius: Tony, take this opportunity to ask for something that will benefit you.
Tony considered it for a moment. He was practical, intelligent, and aware of the stakes. Then he sent his request:
Tony: Then give me some rare metals from your world.
Gaius accepted immediately, replying with confirmation:
Gaius: Then wait for my news. I will send the materials after I speak to my Gene Father.
For a month, Gaius and his small team remained in the Imperial Palace. They did little beyond their routines, though Gaius could not allow himself complete idleness.
He returned frequently to the machine that had produced the lasguns. Using its capabilities, he began mass production on a grand scale, creating melta guns, their ammunition, and melta bombs in enormous quantities. The hum of machinery and the meticulous organization of production filled his days.
In parallel, he ensured that Tony's request was fulfilled. He presented the list of materials to Guilliman, adamantium, ceramite, adamantine, precious metals in quantities that would have impressed even the most generous forge world.
Guilliman approved without hesitation, understanding the scale of the exchange. To the Primarch, the amount was insignificant compared to what Tony had contributed, but the gesture mattered.
Months passed. Days blurred together as Gaius worked, tested, and coordinated. Yet the Multiversal Chat remained active, providing a touch of connection to the worlds beyond. Each message was a reminder that the work they were doing had purpose, beyond even the vastness of the Imperium.
Finally, three months after returning from Diana's world, the system pinged. A notification appeared simultaneously to all members of the chat:
[Feature Unlocked: Right of Crossing]
Can now be used.
Reminder: Time now passes equally across all worlds. No more time dilation as before.
~~~
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