Chapter 80: THE FIRST AND THE LAST
Passing through the iconic Lion's Gate, the massive double-headed eagle emblem dominated the approach.
Ahead lay the Imperial Palace. The entire complex was built into a massive mountain range, its grandeur enhanced by the majesty of the peaks themselves. Snowflakes atop the summits lent everything a sacred, pristine aura.
At this moment, atop a magnificent palace tower, the Sigillite Malcador stood alone by a window, grey-robed and leaning upon his scepter, quietly watching the beautiful swirling snowflakes outside.
Behind him stretched a dimly lit hall with enormous white jade pillars standing in the emptiness like a temple.
Suddenly, a two-and-a-half-meter-tall Space Marine in blue-green power armor appeared behind him. Sunlight from the window illuminated the utterly silent warrior.
Malcador, without turning, slightly raised his head.
"Your brother has been found. The last Primarch has finally returned."
"I know," Alpharius said calmly, with a hint of something unreadable in his tone, like an extremely obedient child.
Malcador turned and looked at Alpharius standing in the dim light, then took a few steps forward.
After a closer look, Malcador coughed and sighed.
"The Great Crusade has lasted nearly two hundred years, and you have remained hidden throughout, aiding the Emperor without complaint. I am sorry to have wronged you, my child."
His voice carried genuine warmth. "The Emperor has decided to bring you forward with Alpharius Omega. This is a rare and joyous occasion for the entire Imperium, the first in decades. Let us make it grand and celebratory."
Seeing Malcador's delighted expression, Alpharius asked casually, "You've lived for thousands of years, and you still have such interest in this sort of thing?"
"That's your concern, too."
Alpharius said calmly, "My return was personally arranged by the Emperor and you over two hundred years ago. I remember it, but you have forgotten. Now, there is only one person who must return: Alpharius Omega."
Malcador looked shocked, his gaze lifting to Alpharius, who stood in the shadows. He hadn't expected the boy to care so deeply about being first.
But the truth known throughout the entire Imperium was that Horus, Primarch of the Luna Wolves, was the first Primarch recovered, the Emperor's most beloved son.
Alpharius's refusal to attend the return banquet with Omega stemmed from his unwillingness to accept the revised narrative that placed Horus before him.
What should have been a joyous occasion turned somber as Malcador regarded Alpharius in his full power armor.
"Is this truly so important to you?" Malcador asked again.
Alpharius looked up in silence. Why ask? He would never admit that Horus was the first Primarch to return. He was the first, that was a fact.
At least he knew it, the Emperor knew it, and Malcador knew it. That was enough.
After a moment of silence, knowing he couldn't change Alpharius's will, Malcador asked instead, "When did you find that child? How long have you been hiding this from me?"
"Does it matter? It's normal for the Alpha Legion to have secrets. This is a secret between me and my brother," Alpharius said decisively, refusing to answer.
Omega had returned under the name Alpharius Omega. Both Emperor and Malcador knew that Omega had already met with Alpharius; otherwise, he wouldn't have used the Alpharius name.
To Malcador's genuine surprise, the Primarch refused elaboration.
Malcador stared at Alpharius for a while, sensing that communication was proving difficult.
What should have been a joyous occasion had been soured. Malcador was at a loss.
"Disrupting an old man's enjoyment is probably what you want right now. I won't pry into your secrets any further child, but you owe me an explanation for what exactly is happening in the Medias Sector."
His tone sharpened. "If you need people, you can transport civilians from other star sectors directly. Why transport criminals and refugees? Hasn't your Legion been affected in the Calaxis Sector?"
Alpharius was silent regarding the mess Omega had created. Though the sector was indeed developing rapidly, he simply didn't know how to explain the methodology.
After a moment, he said coldly, "You can send Assassins to the Medias Sector to investigate. Firsthand intelligence is most accurate."
"I have," Malcador said, tapping the floor with his scepter when Alpharius still didn't elaborate further. He was clearly displeased.
...
On the other side, just as the Luna Wolves' flagship Vengeful Spirit docked at the starport, a squadron of gunships launched straight into orbit.
As the gunboat docked on the warship's landing platform, squads of Legio Custodes, clad in golden armor and wielding guardian spears, formed the honor guard. A tall Custodian commander led them to welcome Omega's return.
On the bridge, the golden-armored commander quickly locked his gaze on Omega in his power armor. Horus and the Mournival watched silently.
The Custodian commander bowed respectfully and said with solemn formality, "Your Excellency Alpharius, welcome to the Imperium. The Emperor has awaited this day for long years. Now, the Legio Custodes shall personally escort you to the Palace to meet our Master."
Omega agreed, and Horus chuckled beside him. "This is my brother's first visit to Terra. I'm accompanying the escort to the Palace. I believe our other brothers are already there."
"Please, follow us," the Custodian commander replied with finality.
The Legio Custodes escorted Omega, Horus, and the others out. The group boarded a gunship and headed straight for Terra's surface from orbit.
Because the Palace was built upon a massive mountain, on the great square at the highest step outside the Palace hall, the Primarchs, including Rogal Dorn and Roboute Guilliman, waited with barely concealed curiosity. They saw the fleet of gunships approaching from afar and couldn't help but feel anticipation rise.
The Custodian gunboats docked at the Lion's Gate Spaceport, a colossal structure that extended into the upper atmosphere, its massive docking bays capable of receiving even Gloriana-class battleships.
Here, Abaddon and the other Mournival members remained behind.
As Omega disembarked onto the spaceport's plaza, he paused to take in the sight before him.
The Lion's Gate itself, a towering gateway adorned with the double-headed eagle, opened onto the Via Principa. This grand processional highway stretched toward the heart of the Palace complex. Beyond it, the Imperial Palace rose into the mountain peaks, built into the mighty Himalaya range itself, its spires disappearing into clouds wreathed with snow.
The sheer scale was breathtaking. The processional route stretched for kilometers, ascending through terraced plazas, beneath triumphal arches, and past monuments to the Imperium's victories.
Each level rose higher into the mountains, the path itself a statement of power and ambition that dwarfed anything built by ancient Terra's dynastic kings. This was architecture befitting a ruler who governed a vast empire among the stars.
On several occasions when Omega had returned to Terra, standing at the Lion's Gate and gazing at the processional route ahead, he couldn't help but marvel at the Emperor's grandeur and vision.
"What's wrong?" Horus asked with a smile, seeing Omega pause to look ahead.
The Custodians halted without urging them on, simply waiting in patient silence. Omega spoke with genuine admiration.
"Judging from the grandeur of this monument to Unity, and having met such a brilliant and extraordinary son as Horus, even before meeting Him, one can sense the Emperor's greatness."
The Custodians were visibly pleased, and Horus was overjoyed, laughing heartily.
"Hahaha, brother, you're also the Emperor's son! Once you meet Him in person, you'll find He's even greater than you imagine."
His eyes gleamed with filial pride. "Walk!"
Omega strode forward with ease, his Primarch physiology making light work of the kilometers-long ascent through the terraced processional.
From the higher levels, one could see a squad of Custodians in golden armor escorting Omega and Horus along the impossibly wide Via Principa, ascending through each magnificent plaza.
Time passed as they made their way through the monumental approach.
When they finally arrived at the great square outside the Sanctum Imperialis, elevated high among the mountain peaks, more than a dozen Primarchs were present, all gazes turning to Omega.
The assembled Primarchs regarded him with mixtures of doubt and curiosity: Konrad Curze the Night Haunter, Jaghatai Khan of the White Scars, Roboute Guilliman of the Ultramarines, and Corvus Corax of the Raven Guard.
Among them, Lion El'Jonson stared suspiciously at Omega's physique and bearing, his memory returning to the meeting between their Legions at the Rangdan Xenocides.
The other Primarchs present formed an unprecedented gathering:
Fulgrim, the Phoenician; Perturabo of the Iron Warriors; Leman Russ of the Space Wolves; Rogal Dorn of the Imperial Fists; Sanguinius of the Blood Angels; Ferrus Manus of the Iron Hands; Angron of the World Eaters; Mortarion of the Death Guard; Magnus the Red of the Thousand Sons; Lorgar of the Word Bearers; and Vulkan of the Salamanders.
All the Primarchs of the Astartes Legions were present this day. Omega, seeing more than a dozen of these mighty demigods, strode forward with measured steps.
Both sides sized each other up in short breaths.
[End of Chapter]