Chapter 21: So Similar
Both the Emperor and Wayne held their own trust and love for humanity. Both had contemplated humanity's future existence.
Wayne disliked how the Emperor kept everything hidden.
What were the Primarchs born for? To conquer the galaxy, and then what?
The Primarchs were templates created by the Emperor to lead humanity's reconquest and spawn the Legiones Astartes, weapons of war. However, Wayne suspected their true purpose ran deeper than mere conquest. Yet the Primarchs deserved to know the truth.
Of course, Wayne wouldn't confront the Emperor over this. Both men were cut from the same cloth, keepers of secrets, tellers of selective truths.
Just as Konrad had no idea his foster father had created artificial intelligence, Horus at the Emperor's side remained ignorant that the Primarchs existed to repair humanity's genetic future.
They both held trust and hope for humanity. They both deeply loved their species, albeit in their own twisted way.
One should understand, they were the same. Either could save this dying civilization, this species that by all rights should have been utterly destroyed.
The ancient prophecies of the Eldar, the fantasies of the Necrons, the turbulent tides of the Warp, none had foreseen humanity's second chance. No, this was humanity's own choice.
But they were also humanity's curse. Those who save humanity can just as easily destroy it. This is the price.
Wayne and the Emperor both abhorred and distrusted xenos and detested Chaos. One more than the other.
Though their chosen methods differed completely, their essence and starting point were identical; both acted for humanity's future. Moreover, both harbored endless secrets and plans, preferring to conceal them until revelation became necessary or unavoidable.
Few people could be so similar. They were kindred spirits. So similar, in fact, that they disliked each other.
Secrets are their curse. Secrets are the price.
Look, fate's change has begun.
The Dark King met the one who laughed wildly. Both could fall when they abandoned their sense of responsibility for humanity, and both could ascend to become distant, terrible gods, the end of all things. But precisely because of that responsibility, they would not claim victory.
In the Warp, the two faced each other. The Emperor gazed at the man before him. "Abominable intelligence is not to be trusted. There shall be dire consequences for this foolishery."
"Don't give me that." Wayne's voice carried an edge. "Your creations, the Thunder Warriors, you could have saved if you tried, but you didn't? And one wonders how badly you handle sons and the Astrtes. One of them might question your role in their predecessors' massacres, and what fate will fall on themselves."
A rare flicker of sadness, overshadowed by cold, passed through the Emperor's eyes. He opened his mouth to respond, but Wayne cut him off.
"You care deeply about Erda. The name of a sinner, you placed it upon her, hoping humanity would remember her. You concealed their sins and those of the Thunder Warriors, then shaped tragic endings for them all, solely to preserve their reputations. You care for so many people, yet have you ever considered expressing it?"
Wayne pressed on. "You did. You wrote hollow apologies. You arranged protection for those who betrayed you. You even tacitly allowed surviving Thunder Warriors to operate on Terra, simply because you cared for them. Yet have you ever thought of just speaking the truth?"
"How have I not thought of it?" The Emperor had never before encountered someone who was so blunt and understood him so thoroughly. Even Malcador and his past companion had never been this direct.
"I told the Pepetuals the truth. I spoke of humanity's doomsday. They thought I was mad. I have experienced far more than you, Wayne. You don't understand, the truth leads to betrayal."
"And lies won't?"
"You are like me, Wayne, far shallower than I." The Emperor's tone shifted. "You haven't made the AI public because AI has wounded humanity's concept. They genuinely fear it. Even you cannot change this; it's a collective consciousness of fear, a species-wide trauma."
Wayne and the Emperor fell silent. The Warp currents shifted around them. They looked at each other, like a foster father and a biological father, both refusing to concede ground.
They dug into each other's shortcomings, yet both understood that, though their choices seemed different, they were fundamentally on the same boat.
Humanity feared the Warp and even more the Abominable Intelligence. The Emperor chose the power of the Warp to save humanity, though the Warp shattered humanity in the past, there were ways to overcome that. Wayne chose artificial intelligence to compensate for humanity's deficiencies, his reality as a transmigrater, and the belief that, while AI brought mankind to the brink of extinction, there was no power more trustworthy to propel mankind once again faster than ever.
Two apparent paths, but in reality, one.
"Won't artificial intelligence be corrupted?"
"Possibly. After all, there are cases of AI purifying Chaos corruption, and cases of AI being corrupted by Chaos without realizing it."
There were documented instances of AI being controlled by Chaos, production lines corrupted, churning out Chaos-tainted intelligences before they were destroyed. There were also cases of AI purging Chaos influence. It depended on the AI's strength, its countermeasures, and Chaos's methods. The two weren't mutually exclusive.
What was Wayne's original intention in designing AI? Why had he hidden his true nature? Nothing more than to counter Chaos. But with Chaos existing, artificial intelligence was not invincible.
Wayne understood that this standoff was pointless. The other party served humanity, as did he. Better to set aside disagreements and work together.
"It's pointless for us to argue further, Emperor. Should we talk about Cooperation?"
"Cooperation?"
"I can slow down AI production rates, in return you just send the Eighth Legion to support me."
"The Legions have their own campaigns. I can only arrange for them to launch an expedition in your direction."
"That would take decades. Since you cannot provide effective help, I will not abandon AI production. Do you understand?"
The Emperor had never encountered such a situation. Normally, wherever he went, mortals prostrated themselves before him. Even the Mechanicum had never challenged him like this. Now, this man understood his difficulties but remained firm.
The Emperor of Mankind found himself in an awkward position.
Clearly, the other party knew about the Warp and understood humanity's precarious future, yet their opinions remained highly inconsistent. Moreover, they preferred to hide secrets and avoid direct truths, while maintaining their own contingency plans.
The Emperor could sense that one day, a portion of humanity would prepare weapons to kill the Emperor according to his own will, preventing the Emperor of Mankind from harming humanity.
And the most powerful artificial intelligence on Nostramo existed not only to serve humanity but also as a safeguard against Wayne himself, preventing him from one day falling into corruption and becoming a danger to humanity.
They both knew their own fall would mean humanity's doomsday. Yet they were both stubborn individuals.
The Emperor stepped back. "If you and I had met ten thousand years earlier, perhaps we would be friends."
"Being friends with someone like you sounds exhausting. Since you have no objections, let's leave it at that. Next time you come to Nostramo, we'll talk again."
"Very well." The Emperor understood that some things could not be resolved in a single meeting; rather than prolonging it, it was better to end it now.
As the Emperor prepared to depart, Wayne suddenly spoke. "Horus will not like being Warmaster. Don't force him to choose his own destiny. Sometimes give your son a little freedom."
Warmaster, the Emperor's vision for Horus to become the firstborn figure, the supreme commander of all the Primarchs. Though Horus will dislike the role, the Primarch would strive to become what the Emperor desired. It was unfair to Horus. He needed room to breathe.
The Emperor's eyes widened. This was the first time anyone had pointed out that he was an inadequate father.
He could only reply, "I shall pay attention. The Primarchs' recovery rate will accelerate. I hope you can assign Konrad appropriate tasks to alleviate your own pressure."
Wayne watched the Emperor leave, then opened his eyes in the material universe and checked the time. Five o'clock in the afternoon.
He hadn't accomplished any work all afternoon. His psychic connection with the Emperor in realspace had exceeded three hours, an infinite amount of time from the Warp's perspective.
Wayne felt exhausted, his head swimming, utterly unsuited for work. He was in no state to handle business affairs, and he wouldn't force himself to try.
"Adelaine, have Konrad handle all Wayne Group affairs today, as well as the audit-related systems. The artificial intelligence matter can wait until tomorrow."
Adelaine, who had been standing guard, nodded. "Understood."
[End of Chapter]