If there is one activity capable of effecting Nyx's complete post-combat relaxation, it is, without reservation, the prosecution of rigorous biological experimentation.
To assuage his gustatory nostalgia, he had assayed numerous methodologies for the reconstitution of 2nd Millennium culinary preparations. He had, on one occasion, even contemplated the expedition of Nostramo's wilderness sectors in search of formicary colonies.
At this present juncture, however, he was constrained to acknowledge the existence of preoccupations considerably more exigent than the procurement of insectivorous delicacies.
"So these two specimens constitute the prospective inductees you have identified?"
Ralph and Crite — the two 'unfortunate' acquisitions repatriated by Chestnut — had, shortly after their enrolment in the Resistance, attracted Curze's discriminative regard.
"Did I possess any alternative cohort from which to discriminate?!" Curze's vocalisation was saturated with existential despair.
"The Resistance's established complement is disposed exclusively towards you. Their allegiance is unreservedly concentrated upon your person. As for me..."
He had been constrained to commence his recruitment initiative with these recently-inducted specimens.
(He had, at the threshold of this utterance, contemplated articulating the observation that he had not yet been 'seduced' by Nyx's inexplicable charismatic effluence. He had, however, prudently withheld this formulation. Nyx's charismatic effluence was, after all, indisputable.)
"...What is your assessment of this circumstance...?"
Ralph and Crite exchanged regards. Both parties registered, within the other's ocular organs, evidence of profound cognitivedissonance.
Astartes recruitment was, by its essentialnature, a fastidious discriminative protocol.
The overwhelming majority of the Resistance's combat-capable complement satisfied the baseline physiological criteria for transhuman transfiguration.
The sole impediment was this:
No individual entertained any aspirationwhatsoever towards enrolment under Curze'scommand.
Curze could not, however, compel conscription through coercive expedients. The existentialtrajectories of his fraternal associates' gene-seed transferees furnished an instructiveprecedent:
Such compulsion would, in all probability, generate only an additional cohort of pre-eminent atmospheric projectiles.
He had no aspiration to replicate the Emperor's paternal methodologies.
(His elder fraternal associates had, after all, collectively presented the Emperor with a 'grand filial commemoration'. The Emperor was, at present, immobilised upon a 'GoldenSanitary Appliance'.)
"Since you have exercised your discriminationupon these specimens, I shall, naturally, register no objection."
Nyx gestured towards Chestnut, directing him to conduct the two 'fortunate' specimens to the experimental receptacles.
"I am, however, constrained to observe that these two fortunate specimens are unlikely to replicate Sevatar's exceptional existentialcontinuity."
His tonal modulation was relaxed. His substantive communication, however, was sufficient to induce comprehensivepiloerection in his auditors.
"In the event of procedural aberration — you shall, indisputably, expire."
This declaration descended upon Ralph and Crite — who were, at this juncture, alreadysecured within their experimental receptacles— with the irresistible momentum of a tectonic event.
Their sensorium was immediately saturatedwith comprehensive existential apprehension.
They commenced desperate, futile strugglesagainst their adamantine restraints.
(They were, in this respect, replicatingSevatar's precedential conduct.)
"Physiological indices confirm both specimens as autochthonous Nostraman stock... Their baseline somatic configurationis barely sufficient to satisfy the minimumtransfiguration criteria."
Nyx, delivering this assessment, withdrewfrom his pocket dimension a cryogenicreceptacle containing Curze's haematologicaleffluence.
He extracted the requisite volumetric quantumwith meticulous precision and commencedpreparations for the Saint Egg implantationprotocol.
KNOCK——!
KNOCK——!
An importunate percussive enquiry at the laboratory's egress aperture.
Chestnut approached the aperture to authenticate the supplicant. He then reported:
"It is Lord Sevatar."
Sevatar's attendance at this proceduralconvocation was not, in any respect, unanticipated.
As the prospective First Captain of the VIIILegion, it was his designated function to supervise the gestation of newly-inductedrecruits.
With the acquisition of this terminal spectator, Nyx formally commenced the 'ovularfabrication' protocol.
Under the collective regard of the assembled convocation, he activated two [Saint EggTransformation Engine No. 1] apparatuses.
Every spectator present — with the soleexception of Nyx and Chestnut — involuntarilyregistered pronounced somatic trepidation.
(Sevatar's trepidation was, it should be acknowledged, considerably more pronounced than that of his associates.)
"In deference to humanitarian considerations, this transfiguration iteration shall be conducted under comprehensive anaestheticsedation."
Nyx acquired the anaesthetic administrativeinstrument and prepared to introduce its contents into Ralph and Crite's vascularinfrastructure.
He was, however, intercepted.
"Ny— Lord Nyx! I submit that anaestheticintervention is entirely unnecessary!"
Sevatar's remonstration was delivered with uncompromising conviction.
"The implantation of the Saint Egg should, in its essential nature, constitute a trial! A warrior must not be deprived of this opportunity to temper his volitional faculty!"
His ocular organs radiated solicitous regardfor the prospective inductees.
Nyx and Curze, however, were cognisant of Sevatar's authentic motivation:
This specimen had, on a prior occasion, sustained comprehensive expressivecompromise under comparablecircumstances. He was manifestly disposedto ensure that his successors experiencedcommensurate distress.
Notwithstanding Sevatar's impure motivationalsubstrate, Nyx elected to accede to his proposition.
(A transfiguration protocol denuded of expressive vocalisation was, after all, considerably depleted of its customaryspectatorial gratification.)
"Apprehension is unwarranted, my juvenile associates. A modest discomfort at the inaugural iteration is entirely normative."
Both apparatuses were prepared.
Under Nyx's direction, he and Chestnut simultaneously depressed their respective actuation mechanisms.
"HYAAAAAGH——!!* "*
"GYAAAAAAAGH——!!* "*
The familiar vocalisations. The familiarmaxillofacial distortions.
Both specimens simultaneously exhibitedthese customary transfiguration phenomena.
Sevatar, however, registered this spectaclewith pronounced dissatisfaction.
Why am I experiencing such acute empathicresonance with these specimens?!
The formidable aspirative force extracted the 'gene-seed' from its proprietary somaticcontext.
The gestation of the Saint Egg then commenced — a protracted interval.
Throughout this interval, the two specimens'desperate regards and their inexhaustiblestertorous vocalisations occasioned Sevatar considerable psychological distress.
He further registered that this 'canine' Nyx was deliberately administering'cardiopulmonary reanimation' through electrical discharge, and simultaneouslyimprovising an unfamiliar melodicconfiguration using the two inductees'expressive vocalisations as tonalcomponents.
Where did this DAEMON acquire such methodologies?!
Had Nyx not been demonstrably deficient in certain secondary sexual characteristics, Curze — who was, by this juncture, alsoexperiencing considerable discomfort as a spectator — would have formally denouncedhis fraternal associate.
You have, I am convinced, alreadysuccumbed to Chaotic corruption, Nyx!
These formulations, however, were constrained to circulate exclusively within the confines of their proprietary crania.
Nyx had, on this occasion, exhibitedexceptional fraternal consideration. He had abstained from extracting additionalvolumetric quanta of Curze's haematologicaleffluence.
"Do not despond..."
"Ah. Would you entertain a narrativerecounting the Emperor's illustrious exploits?"
Nyx's affect was one of animated anticipation.
He had, for a protracted interval, suppressedhis impulse to disseminate these uncivilanecdotes concerning the Emperor.
"Ah... Lord Nyx! I submit that such narrativesare inappropriate for my auditory faculties!"
Sevatar, observing Nyx's characteristic pre-narrative affect, immediately apprehendedthat nothing beneficial could result from this discursive initiative.
The Emperor's personal affairs — these are not appropriate subject matter for casualdiscourse!
"Apprehension is unwarranted, unwarranted."Nyx administered a reassuring manualgesture upon Sevatar's scapular region. His tonal modulation descended to a conspiratorial register.
"In the unfavourable scenario of Imperialretribution — Curze and I shall, at worst, sustain moderate corporal correction. You, however, shall be expeditiously euthanised."
Under Sevatar's apprehensive regard, Nyx commenced his narrative with unhurrieddeliberation:
"It is recounted that, in the primordial epochof humanity's most profound existential crisis, the Emperor intervened on its behalf..."
Hmm. This commencement appears reasonably orthodox?
"At that chronological juncture, the Emperor commanded no military assets. He was, however, endowed with an exceptionalphysiognomy. Through reliance upon this exceptional physiognomy, he procured... successive acquisitions through 'commercialtransactions involving piscatorial captureimplements'...
...'Commercial transactions involving piscatorial capture implements'...?
This formulation diverges somewhat from my recollection of canonical narratives. It is not, however, intrinsically objectionable...
"...Through this methodology, he successively recovered... one Primarch after another..."
Sevatar's respiratory apparatus experiencedacute compromise.
"...and the subsequent stage of this narrativeconcerns the Emperor's employment of these 'piscatorial capture implements' to procureMalk— "
Sevatar did not complete this enunciation.
A prehensile extremity had materialised from the ambient atmosphere and firmly occludedhis oral aperture.
Curze's maxillofacial configuration was denuded of all affective investment.
Brother. I shall anticipate our reunion in the subsequent existential iteration.
A golden manual extremity of considerablemagnitude — whose provenance was incapable of erroneous identification — descended upon Nyx's cephalic extremitywith catastrophic velocity.
Its prehensile investment was sufficient to induce acute cranial distress even in a Primarch's transhuman corpus.
"PROCEED. Why have you DISCONTINUEDyour narrative?!"
The vocalisation emanating from behind Nyx's dorsal configuration was august, oppressive, and saturated with homicidal intent.
Every occupant of the laboratory immediatelyassumed a genuflective posture.
Every occupant — with the sole exception of Nyx.
Nyx, gambling upon his fraternal associationwith the manifested entity, attempted to reorient his cephalic extremity for visualauthentication.
"Heh heh. I had originally intended to commend your Saint Egg transfigurationprotocol. This current circumstance, however..."
"FATHER! I implore you to EXERCISERESTRAINT—! "
"INSOLENT** OFFSPRING! You enunciate'FATHER' exclusively as an expedient for existential CONTINUITY?!"**
Psychic energy rotation: ONE MILLION HORSEPOWER!
FILICIDAL INTENT: ABSOLUTE. UNRESERVED.
The comprehensive magnitude of the Emperor's 'paternal affection' was transmittedto Nyx's corporeal configuration with catastrophic impact.
Nyx's entire corporeal mass was propelledthrough the laboratory's substratum with the velocity of heavy ordnance.
He descended, with accelerating momentum, towards Nostramo's planetary core.
Following the Emperor's resolution of his rebellious offspring's insubordination, his august regard traversed the residualoccupants of the laboratory.
"Today's** incident... You are cognisant of the requisite procedural disposition, I trust?"**
Curze. Sevatar. Chestnut.
These three individuals, profoundly affectedby Nyx's abrupt departure from their proximity, immediately coalesced into a unified discursive front.
They swore, with unanimous conviction, to defend the Emperor's reputation with their existential continuity.