Chapter 124 - XIV Mortarion

Barbarus, Toxic Planet

A Planet That was covered in Poisonous Mist covering it's atmosphere where It was forgotten by the Age of Strife, Perhaps it was the only Good thing that prevented it from pillaged by Pirates and people that want to be Emperors in their own micro empires, Humans that lived there was divided by two people, One that became Necromancer Warlords that been blessed by the powers of the Warp that lived in the Mountaintops now corrupted and Intoxicated with their newfound powers, and the ones that were of normal descent, living as Farmers in Fear from the Necromancers and their twisted abominations that come to the valleys to "cull" their population for their witchcraft...

A Child Looked Across the Valley Below From his Tower window that was Given by his Foster Father, Several Years Ago he was Found by one of the High Overlords that lived in the Barbarus Mountaintop, Necare. And he was named Mortarion.

The Necromancer sought to make him his Heir, And Taught him everything, battle doctrine, to arcane secrets, from artifice to stratagem but never Love... He tortured Mortarion by making him inhale toxic gases making him think as a slave, but at the Same time he Feared Mortarion as he Grew Bigger. He Sent the Primach to the Tower guarded By Guards...

Necare later built a fortress higher than Mortarion Tower...Far Above his peers fortresses...

But the Primarch Could Care less as he was Curious of the Valleys Below...

While the Overlords Claimed that there were Animals that needed a Culling...

There is a Sense that he was being Called to the Valley bellow...After Not Getting the Answers from his Foster Father and His paranoia of Keeping the Primarch in the Dark, He Broke out from his Fortress and Killed the Guards that Observe him a Child named Typhon assisted him to the journey below. He Climbed down on the Mountain, past the Poisonous Mist that Separated the Two... He saw what they were...

Humans... That is what they Claimed as Animals?

He Vowed to Bring A Vengeance to the Overlords...

He travel in the Valley to ascertain the Lies that he was fed by the Overlord, His Father...

In his Journey, a Village nearby were under attacked by one of the Warlord Monsters and the Person that controlled them was Overseeing it, enjoying the Misery of the People that was slaughtered...

As He Took a Step towards the Village, a Burst of Golden Light Emanated from the Village and a Hooded Man With a Scythe rushed out the Village to Meet the Defenders...

"Frak YOU!" The Man Bellowed as He Cleaved one of the Undead into a Single Slice, His weapon was set ablaze with Golden Flames...

After Seeing the Actions of the Man, he Took a Farmer Scythe and Assisted him...

They Cleaved, Sliced and Smashed into the Undead Forces each of their attacks brought harmony and Symbiosis... The Warlock knew that his time was Up as he realized that his toys were destroyed. He Fled back to the Mist as he believed that no Fools would chase after him...

But he Met two Fools, as His Body was Sliced by two scythes...

After a while the Villagers was worried of the Two Saviors that enter the Poison Mist...

Their Silhouette was seen and they came back with the Head of the Warlord...

"He Is Dead!" The Man Shouted as He Raised up the Corpse Head of the Warlord.

The Villagers celebrated as the Man that Slaughter them was dead...

After a while the Stranger Help the People to Bury the Corpses... Mortarion Approached him...

"Who are you?" as he stared at the Hooded man as he buries the deceased with a shovel...

"Your Brother... Or Did you Forget my voice in that vat?" He Spoke with familiarity, Jolting a Faint Memory of a Red Hair man speaking to a vat....

"I don't trust you to be my brother..."

"Did that Warlock in the mountaintop lied to you? Heck you been Poisoned, and you haven't realized it?" The Man Reached out his hand and Golden Flames enveloped Mortarion and Cleansed some of the toxins accumulated in the primarch...

"What.." As Mortarion felt his Breath was much easier to breath...

"He never intended you to be his heir... only a Dog that obeys him..." Words that is Damaging what left of his image of his foster father...

"Tell me Brother...Are you a Man or are you a Slave?" His Brother Asked Mortarion.

He Stood Still as he ponder his brother thoughts...

"A Man Chooses but a Slave Obeys...I believe that you are the former than the latter... As you chose the Scythe to help me... instead of Staying by the Sidelines... Brother...Will you help me to get rid of the Monsters in the Mountaintop?" He held out his hand once more wanting confirmation of the Primarch.

Later.

Mortarion and his Brother Ventured forth raising Villages to be strongholds to defend against the Beast, Raising People not to live in fear but to stand up against the overlords...

In a Campfire Mortarion was Conversing with Alexander....

"Tell me... Are you just like those bastards in the mountaintop?" Mortarion Asked as He Witness his Brother to Fix his Scythe with Psyker Energy..

"You mean their Altitude of disregarding human life? hell no, Psyker probably?"

"What is the Difference between me and them, Mortarion is that they are intoxicated with power from a place known as the Warp...and I am Disciplined to handle the Effects of desires and temptation for more power..." Alexander raised out his hands and Emitted golden flames...

"Let me paraphrase this... You know Poison right?" The Primarch nodded as he was taught to know the poison under his foster father teachings....

"Poison can be used to kill and at the same time it could heal if given the correct dosage."

"What that got to do with being a psyker?"

"Brother... Poison is like a Psyker... If You are not disciplined enough to withstand the powers and Temptation of the Warp, you will see that foster father of yours being the failure, Me, I am the opposite side of the poison, I am the Cure. If you trained properly, you can use the warp to heal and to kill. Just as Medicine could heal, it could kill if applied inappropriately..." As Alexander Held up a Withered Flower and Imbued it to become vibrant once more...

"I will keep that in mind."

Few Year Later.

An Army was Formed By Mortarion... Death Guards that comprised most of the human that sought to defy the Overlords in the Mountain... They were equipped with Armor to withstand the Poisonous mist that cover the planet...And Weapons and Amulets that is Blessed by his brother that could slay the monsters in the depths of the poisonous mist...

They Almost Slaughter all the Warlords, saved for his Foster Father... Now the only one left in the Tallest Mountain that is Covered by the Toxins that was So Concentrated that you could See the Colors of the Warp surrounding it.

After a Campaign, he return to the village that serve as a temporary base.

His Brother was at the Village Entrance waiting for his Victory...

"Welcome Back Brother... how is the Skirmish?"

"The Witch in the South is Dead..." He whispered enough for his brother to hear it/.

"Good, that means one less evil cleanse from this planet." He smiled...

"Are you Sure you can handle this? Slaying your Foster Father?" Alexander asked.

Before Mortarion Could Respond

There was a Great Cheers in the Village...

"What happening in the Village?" Mortarion Asked.

"It would seem your actual "Father" is in the Village... About the time he Show up..." Alexander Frowned. And Handed Mortarion a charm.

The Duo entered the Village Square and a Man that was emitting Golden Light making people believing him to be a god more than a celebrity. He notices Mortarion and Swept past the crowd and Hugged Mortarion...

"Sorry I am Late Son...I have Come to Take you Home..." He Whispered beside Mortarion Ear...

Mortarion about to protest...

"Ahem, We Still have one last Job to do on here, Revelation." His Brother barged into the conversation...

"I have one last Evil to slay in this land..." Mortarion Spoke through his Gas Mask...

The Emperor Frowned and Agreed with Mortarion Decision...

"Then I will give you my blessings..." As The Emperor Gave a Aquila to Mortarion...

"Consider it a Good luck charm..."

"I am coming with you brother, I want to see that Bastard that made you like this, Dead and his Skull on a spike, I will not Support you, but to Record that you are the one who free this planet by your own hands, Not by your Actual Dad, Not by me, But by your Scythe...You will free us All!"

Mortarion Venture forth With his Brother to the Mountaintop where his Foster Father Stayed, With the Amulets that He Was Given by his brother, it Granted him some Immunity from the Toxins that entering his Armor... Making his Natural Healing as a Primarch to counteract the Effects... Giving his Body to produce a antibodies to help him further...

He Reached the Top, He could Barely see as the toxic Mist was concentrated that he could barely see Figure of the man that raised him...

"So it has Come to this... My Son... Child of Death have come to Claim my life?" Necare Mocked his Adopted son... As He Examine his Sword...looking disappointed.

"For all the Horrors you inflicted upon me, I will come to see to it that your head will be taken by My Blade..." Mortarion Ready His Scythe.

In a Brief Second... Sparks of Flash was seen in the Toxic mists... Where Scythe meets the Sword...

Necare Was Dumbfounded as he believes that the Toxin was Wearing Mortarion Down, But the Longer he Fought with his Warp infused body, Mortarion was Gaining the Advantage...

"Why won't you Die you Ingrate!" Necare Summoned Warp Hounds in the Warp and Proceeded to overwhelmed him with sheer numbers...

Mortarion Calmly Dispatch each and Every one of them.

His Training against the Corrupted Warlords made him aware of the Armies they could Conjure up in the Warp... and His Scythe Training with Alexander Is more than enough to befuddle his Forster Father, Making Feints and Parry that he pressured Necare corner until a Sword was Flung in the air with Necare Head flying with it...

Mortarion heaved and breathed out the air he inhaled...signifying the end of the tyranny of the Overworlders...

The Head of his Foster Father... Dead by his Hands...

He Let out a Roar of Defiance that he already defeated his Father that tortured him for so long as he raised his Scythe that was covered in blood of his dead Foster Parent as a symbol of his might...

A Path was shown to him...

He noticed that the toxic air was Suddenly cleared and showing Alexander was next to his "Supposedly" Father stood by and appreciated his moment of victory...

What was in Canon he was Saved by the Emperor at the moment of his weakness as the toxin crippled his actions and his foster father was just readying his sword until the emperor intervene and Killing him in the process, his Grudge against the Emperor fester in his heart as Emperor Stole his Kill is over... But Defying Fate has its consequences...

Nurgle who had his mind on his Chosen champion was furious as his voice was Blocked out by a entity he doesn't know... His garden of plague and rot went into a Frenzy of seeking out the Interloper....but they paused... and Nurgle had a Great Grin...

A Plan was Made for the Shard that was Beside Mortarion....

As Per Canon, Mortarion was Given his Astartes legion and rebrand it as the Death Guard... He Left the old Death Guard to Alexander to manage which he named the Mist Lamps for being the People that clean up the injured both Astartes and Humans... Through the Planets the Death guards Swept the lands and Brought it under the Imperium Compliance... 

The Mist will follow and Healed the Lands...

In a Battlefield in a Nameless planet across the stars, two people was Walking in the Trenches as one was a Aged Alexander and a Death Guard accompanied him...

He Check the Wounded of the Guardsmen and Consulted the Apothecaries what was needed to achieve...

"Brother Hyde! you shouldn't go far from here!" The Astartes spoke 

"Brother Sleous, You know I have people to attend to my Patients and as well your Brothers that need aid you know?"

"My Genefather have specifically ordered me to guard you while you do your work." the Giant Calmly Spoked through his Vox Grills..

"Well then, Brother Sleous, Accompany me so that I will not be in harm's way... You were one of the most Trusted and reliable by Mortarion of his Standards to guard me... I will place My life on your hands." Chuckle Alexander as he headed to another trench to heal...

Later Alexander Asked a Question to Sleous that made him ponder...

"Brother Sleous...Tell me...What will you do after the great Crusade is over?" Alexander asked as he finalized the Healing of the soldiers in critical condition...

"Why do you say that?"

"Well, I heard from other legions that they are preparing for retirement... Like Ahriman already had a Orchard to tend to, the Ultramarines are wanting to do legislative work... I was wondering what kind of Path do you wish to follow?"

The Death Guard took a moment to contemplate.

"Perhaps...After this Crusade is over and I will be a Travelling Healer." Sleous spoke...

"Like Father, Like Son... Mortarion and I would be Planning to Make a Hospital World for those that could not afford it, perhaps when it is completed, I will call for your aid once more Brother Sleous .." Alexander Grinned...

Such a dream was Shattered...

As in the Treaty of Nikea, Mortarion was Still Stubborn of Removing the Psykers, But he gave a Leeway on how they will managed the problem... But the Emperor gave the Orders to Censured the Librarian and Chaplains was placed in charge to the legion librarians...

The Horus Shadows Crept into The Death Guard legion... 

There was Disagreement between Alexander that commands the Humans of the Original Death Guards and the First Captain of the Astartes Death Guard Typhon...On the Handling Horus Treachery... and Typhon who later become Typhus the Herald of Nurgle. refused to have any librarian and Chaplain in the death guard...

"Brother Typhus, Let me Speak to my Brother Mortarion...I wished to speak to him..." Alexander Attempted to Enter The Primarch Quarters...

The Sorcerer blocked his way...

"Mortarion gave orders to you, You are to deploy with the Must Lamps on Istvaan to assist the Healing of the Astartes below..."

"At least let me Speak to Him, why Brother Sleous and his brothers have been returned to the legion?"

"Motarion orders stated that Brother Sleous and his squad have been recalled as they needed elsewhere."

'He never sent me alone without a Astartes detachment for a important battle such as this?' Alexander went to ready his forces below, not knowing his original version of the knowledge what happen here would be a death sentence.. he went with the healers to assist the loyalist below... Typhus Grinned as he already accomplished a Task by Grandfather Nurgle...

As the land have been secured, He Treated the Wounds of the Loyalist... He was Shot by the Traitor Death Guards losing a arm in the process....

"Brother! Why!" as Alexander Shock as he look at the skies at Mortarion Flagship...

They were Boxed in... the more they felled under the Traitor Forces, Alexander tried to heal as much as possible...

He Stayed in the Frontlines with what's left of the Old Death Guards that were just Human...now Struggling to heal the Astartes ... After a While they rescinded their attacks and the loyalist was Baffled...

There was a encrypted warning that they were about to use virus Bomb...

"Brother Sleous...Thank you...The Traitors is readying a virus bombs, get to the Bunkers!"

Many managed to reached the Bunkers... but there was Some that Was Still out...

Some Stood in Defiance against the Onslaught...

The land was covered in toxins... to those Astartes that managed to be in the bunker they managed to avoid the majority of the effects... the humans.. they did not... they wore armor to make them survive to a Certain degree of toxicity... but not a full blown virus Bomb...

Many vomited blood and chunks of their Lungs... their own body was eating them alive, their DNA was erased from history...

Alexander struggling to keep his mind intact until the last Phase of the Virus bomb ended...

The Traitors outnumbered the loyalist 5-1...

They Walked on the dead planet already assuming that they were the winners... The bunker doors opened and the loyalist gave one last charge to divert the Traitors Attention from their own ships being Hijacked... to send a warning to the Imperium at large that the Half of the Legions is under Horus thrall...

Alexander fought on bravely... But nonetheless... they were on the losing side, one by one the loyalist fall, Leaving behind a squad of varied legion colors that is left...

Alexander already took down several the traitor marines with his Scythe... Until he was Gunned down by Typhus...

The Last thing he saw was a figure of Mortarion, Just as Mortarion saw his brother that accompany him is now dying ... Typhus Bolter Finally Ended his life...

"I have done your Task my lord! Grant me the power that you promised!" Typhus held his arm that held Alexander Skull toward to the skies... And his reward of destroying only Mortarion Consciousness and moral Compass he became a daemon lord for Nurgle... Mortarion was horrified about what he has done to dammned the Death Guard as a whole...

Typhus Fed him with a Toxin that was given by Nurgle. that was making the Primarch Complicit, but he fought of the effects that was more poisonous than the toxins of Barbarus... But Its effects was gone the moment Typhus Dammed the Legion into Nurgle Embrace as Typhus Ordered the Death Guard Fleet to Plunge into the Warpstorm and his followers sabotage the Gellar fields he silently killed off the Navigators...

The Primarch Turned into the Thing he hated the most to save his legion...

A Monster...

He Met his other self in the Warp and his soul was being contested, the version that lack the strength to kill his foster father... the version that had the Emperor saved him...

[Mortarion]: Who are you?

Mortarion Ready his Scythe towards the Figure of Himself of a Future that shouldn't come to pass.

[???]: Die.

Was all the Figure said as he Rushed forward in a blinding speed.

As They Clash, Memories Flooded between them...

The Memories of Alexander helping him and the one where he fought alone...

Contradictions, Denial was in the Mind of Mortarion...

Until a Scythe was swung.

Typhus Waited with bated breath as the Primarch Stood Still...

The Primarch Showed movement...

"My Lord Have you returned?" As Typhus Walked towards his primarch Knowing that the Traitor Version of him have won...

"Yes...Typhus..." as Mortarion Opened his eyes now his body emitted Flies and Decay...

"All Hail the Lord of Plague!" Typhus Celebrated with joy...

The Flickering light in the ship that shines upon the two,only shown the darkness held within the ship before it was destroyed, consume by the rotting flesh...

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A/n: Lately I been thinking, I being sent to another country for a Higher education in a Week and I been through a lot of Paperwork.... it hard for me to know that I have been sent to Asia (Which I will not named my total exact location.)

Truth is, I did expected to join my classmates in College but with the rising cost, My Savings was not enough... After being injured of my leg I was smacked by several issues in my life... all need ironing...I will still write... but now... I not even sure how will I keep my schedule consistent? I been Training my replacement to handle my old Part time Job and Tht stings a bit...