We return to the Star Explorer once Furina is secure. She looks around curiously, and I smile as she never stops holding my hand. I can feel her innate warp talent flaring, sensing my distress.
Why? Because those cancerous creatures have decided to take action.
After we rescue Furina, I feel the Warp turn even more chaotic. Not only is Khorne throwing a tantrum after I rescued my sister, but the other three are also protecting their chosen ones. They are protecting my other sisters from my gaze.
I attempt to scry the location of my other sisters, but I encounter a massive, impenetrable wall. I sense rot and a cloying, fake sweetness emanating from it. Beyond the barrier lies a vast labyrinth designed to trap me if I attempt to delve deeper.
The other three block my path, and one of them constructs a labyrinth to ensnare me within the Warp. While they cannot harm me directly, they can lure me into their realms and trap me there. I am powerful, but I am not arrogant enough to test my limits inside the Chaos Gods' own domains.
Even with the power of the Null, it remains a very risky endeavor.
I grit my teeth at the thought of abandoning my sisters to those creatures. They are out there somewhere, yet I cannot reach them. I search for a way to locate the planets where they live using the canon knowledge stored in my head.
I search the Star Explorer's systems, but there is no data for any of the planets. Chemos, Barbarus, and Prospero are missing from the database. All the records in the Star Explorer are outdated; every planet's name has been changed by its inhabitants over time.
I snap out of my thoughts when I feel tiny hands around my leg. I look down to see Furina watching me with concern. The others share her look; our connection ensures they feel my anger.
I kneel beside her and pat her head.
"I am sorry. I am just frustrated that some creatures are shielding our sisters' locations."
"We will find them."
Furina looks at me with eyes full of determination. I smile and hug her, then pull the others into the embrace as well. After a few seconds, I release them.
"Thank you, all of you. You are right. We will find them, and we will make sure they have a good life!"
I may not be able to locate them through the Warp at the moment, but I still have technology and my sons. I can search for them manually. The Warp is not the only tool at my disposal.
With a renewed sense of purpose, I take a deep breath and pick up my sisters. I chuckle at the surprised sounds they make as I lift them. Aurelia sits on my shoulders, Kassandra on my head, Petra on my left arm, and Furina on my right.
Seeing them smile so brightly makes my heart feel lighter.
== Line Break ==
I sit in the captain's seat and hug Ana, who is perched on my lap. I feel her warmth and let out a sigh. After a few seconds of silence, she speaks.
"What will we do now, Theo?"
"We are returning to Helum and the Eternitus Empire. We will consolidate our growth and deploy probes and scanners across the galaxy to find my sisters. Despite the interference from the parasites, we can still search for planets with high concentrations of psychic energy."
"Then I shall add that to our to-do list."
"Please do so."
I sigh and glance at the terminal in front of me, reviewing the list of planets before closing the window.
"Ana, be a dear and prepare to perform the Subspace Dive, will you?"
"Of course, Captain. Activating the Stardrive… Subspace jump will activate in 5… 4… 3… 2… 1… Activate."
Since we no longer need to search for my sisters via the Warp, I decide to use the Subspace Diver FTL Drive for a faster and safer journey. I feel the entire ship shudder before we enter subspace, a dimension between the Immaterium and Realspace.
We skim through the dimension for a few hours before arriving near Helum. As the Star Explorer arrives, the drive cools down and powers off.
"Captain, Hannah is on the comms. Her ship is currently on guard duty over Helum."
"Put her through, Ana."
"Of course, Captain."
A hologram of Hannah appears before me. She offers a bright smile, and I return it with my own bright smile.
"Welcome home, Your Majesty. How was your trip?"
"It went smoothly, Hannah. I managed to rescue four of my sisters."
"Sisters? I thought you were rescuing your brothers."
"There were some complications and a bit of misinformation. It turns out I have sisters instead of brothers."
"I see. I am eager to meet them, Your Majesty. Regardless, the others are already preparing for your landing. Landing Zone 001 is ready for use."
"Thank you for your hard work, Hannah."
"It is my pleasure, Your Majesty! You gave us a second chance; this is the least we can do."
I pick Ana up and set her down, chuckling at her pout.
"Right. I need to tell my sisters that we are home."
"Ah, you don't need to do that, Theo. They already know. In fact, they are already here."
True to her word, I see my sisters standing at the bridge entrance. All of them are wearing their armor as if we are heading into a fight. Even Furian wears armor she didn't have when she first arrived on the ship. I look at them in confusion.
"Why are all of you wearing armor? We aren't going into battle; we are home."
Aurelia and Furina glance at Petra. Kassandra maintains her usual blank expression. Petra nods and explains.
"We need to look our best. We cannot return home and ruin your image, Brother."
I chuckle a little and say.
"In that case, I shall wear my armor as well."
"Good. Everyone needs to respect you."
== Line Break ==
[Vanessa Nur-Kalles – Documentarist Remembrancer]
A massive project is underway in the star system under the 2nd Legion. When Eternal Light returns home, I see a vast number of machines floating in the void, constructing something on the edge of the system.
It is enormous. Currently, the size of a small asteroid, it seems, it will only continue to grow. I turn to my caretaker, Sergeant Andros Vilum-Tyn, and say.
"May I ask what that is? I don't think I saw that the last time we were home, Sergeant."
The man removes his helmet and smiles slightly.
"That is the Gateway. It is a device that allows travel between two points, even across the galaxy."
"Truly? Where is the other half? Is it at Terra, Sergeant?"
"No. The other half will be at Helum."
"Helum? Where is that?"
"It is the name of the planet where our Father stays, Vannesa."
I look at the sergeant in shock and watch him grin at me. I can feel his eagerness rolling out of him. It is like watching someone who is eager to test their new weapons. However, it is deeper and stronger.
"In three years, we will reunite with our Father. The Void Stalker is coming home."
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