The Outcast Dead

by Graham McNeill

The glorious arias of Kynska’s The Score of Heroes tells of each day the Emperor spent with his sons.’ ‘I’ll bet he wishes he’d spent longer,’ said Kai idly,

‘When a group has a plague-carrier in its midst do you only remove those who are sick or do you quarantine the entire group?’ asked Uttam. ‘Allow me to counter your example,’ said Atharva. ‘If a man develops a tumour, do you selectively destroy it with treatment or do you simply kill the man?’ ‘The tumour dies either way.’ ‘Then let us be thankful you are not a medicae, Praetorian Uttam Luna Hesh Udar,’ said Atharva.

Few of us are granted the privilege of being present for the beginning of events that shape our lives. One must look at the board one is presented with and make of it what one can.

‘Our genes were always flawed but I cannot decide whether that was deliberate or simply ignorance. I hope for the latter, but I suspect the former. This world’s master is careless with his creations, and I wonder if his primarchs know that when their task is done they will be cast aside in favour of the mortals in whose name they fight. Like the angels of old, I fear they will not take the idea of such rejection well.’

For the first time in his life, Kai saw the Imperium for what it was, a machine that could operate on such a vast scale only because its fuel of human life was in never-ending supply.

‘You brought the Argo from the warp,’ said Kai, moving a silver piece forward. ‘Are you asking me a question?’ Kai shook his head. ‘No. I don’t want to know. The truth only spoils things.’ ‘The truth is a moving target,’ said the figure, moving a Templar across the board.

The figure spread his hands in an empty gesture of apology. ‘I know some people think me omnipotent, but there is a catch with being all powerful and all knowing.’ ‘Which is?’ ‘You can’t be both at the same time,’ said the figure with a wry smile.