Read Online Fulgrim by Graham McNeill - Free Book Online Page B

enlarged ocular cavities to better capture light, others had enhanced speech centres of the brain, while yet others had been designed for strength and endurance, perhaps to better function as labourers.’
    Fulgrim watched the data on the plates, absorbing the information at a speed beyond that of any mortal man. ‘They move towards their own perfection.’
    ‘Indeed, my lord,’ said Fabius. ‘To the Laer, altering their physical makeup is simply the first step on the road to perfection.’
    ‘You believe the Laer to be perfect, Fabius?’ asked Fulgrim, a note of warning in his voice. ‘Be careful what you say. To compare these xeno creatures to the work of the Emperor would be unwise.’
    ‘No, no,’ said Fabius hurriedly. ‘What the Emperor has made of us is incredible, but what if it was but the first step on a longer road? We are the Emperor’s Children, and like children, we must learn to walk on our own and take our own steps forward. What if we were to look upon our flesh and find new ways to improve upon it and bring it closer to perfection?’
    ‘Improve upon it!’ said Fulgrim, towering over Fabius. ‘I could have you killed for saying such things, Apothecary!’
    ‘My lord,’ said Fabius quickly, ‘our purpose for living is to find perfection in all things, and that means we must put aside any notions of squeamishness or reverence that limit us in finding it.’
    ‘What the Emperor crafted in us is perfect,’ stated Fulgrim.
    ‘Is it really?’ asked Fabius, amazed at his own hubris in questioning the miraculous work that had gone into his own enhancement. ‘Our beloved Legion was almost destroyed at its very birth, remember? An accident destroyed nearly all the gene-seed that went into our creation, but what if it was imperfection rather than an accident that brought about such a terrible thing?’
    ‘I remember my own history,’ snapped Fulgrim. ‘By the time my father first brought me to Terra, barely two hundred warriors were all the Legion could muster.’
    ‘And do you remember what the Emperor told you when you learned of the accident?’
    ‘I do, Apothecary,’ said Fulgrim. ‘My father said that it was best to have failure happen early in life, for it would awake the phoenix bird within me so that I would rise from the ashes.’
    Fulgrim stared at him, and he felt the power and anger in his lord’s eyes as he remembered the anguish of those long ago days, knowing that he played a dangerous game. He may very well have signed his death warrant by speaking so frankly, but the possibilities that might be opened up were worth any risk. To attempt to unlock the secrets of the Emperor’s work in creating the Astartes would be the greatest undertaking of his life. If such a thing was not worth a little risk, then what was?
    Fulgrim turned to the warriors of the Phoenix Guard and said, ‘Leave us. Wait outside for me and do not return until I summon you,’
    Even though their master was aboard his flagship, Fabius could see that the primarch’s bodyguards were uneasy about leaving their charge without their protection, but they nodded and made their way from the apothecarion.
    When they had gone and the door had shut behind them, Fulgrim turned to Fabius. The primarch’s eyes were thoughtful and he glanced between the corpses and Fabius, though what thoughts filled his head were as alien to Fabius as those of the Laer.
    ‘You believe you can enhance the gene-seed of the Astartes?’ asked Fulgrim.
    ‘I do not know for certain,’ said Fabius, struggling to contain his elation, ‘but I believe we have to at least try. It may be that it will prove to be fruitless, but if it is not…’
    ‘We would move closer to perfection,’ said Fulgrim.
    ‘And only by imperfection can we fail the Emperor,’ said Fabius.
    Fulgrim nodded and said, ‘You may proceed, Apothecary. Do what must be done.’
    T HE B ROTHERHOOD OF the Phoenix met by firelight in the Heliopolis, arriving in ones and