"What is this, Ana?"
I look at the glowing machine in front of me with a hum. We are currently alone in Star Explorer, taking a vacation just for the two of us.
After the Great Crusade ends, the Great Techno War begins. Just as my father predicted, the Mechanicus attacks the Imperium once the Crusade concludes and we lower our guard.
Well, we are not lowering our guard. At least not all of us. They think that we need to rebuild, and they are right. However, they underestimate Eternitus too much. They think we cannot keep up with them in industry or produce more weapons, tanks, mechs, and ships than they can.
They are wrong. You cannot best a construction worker who can turn any matter into a finished product, and we have millions of them. A thousand drones using technology from the Necrons can build three thousand tanks in thirty minutes, a Colossus-type ship in five days, and fifteen titan-class mechs in half an hour.
That is a thousand, and we can produce a billion of them when we are serious about upping our production.
The Mechanicus has a hard time countering that many ships, tanks, and mechs advancing on their so-called Holy Forge worlds. Sadly, a cornered animal will do something drastic and stupid. And they do something very stupid. They make a pact with the Chaos Gods; now we have a version of the Horus Heresy, but it is the Mechanicus who leads the Chaos-backed rebellion.
If only the Eternitus were fighting them, we would lose. As much as I want to mock them about their backwater beliefs, they have a lot of ancient knowledge hidden on Mars. Not only that, they are somehow able to use the Void Dragon on Mars as a weapon. Yeah, if Eternitus is fighting them alone, we will have a high chance of losing, especially when Chaos is involved. However, the Emperor is able to gather a massive fleet and lead a second force from Terra.
It takes a decade to kill all the Mechanicus, but we manage to do it. We do not even let them retreat to the Eye of Terror because I have deployed some of my forces to guard that area. They kill every Mechanicus who manages to reach that sector.
And so here we are. It has been two years, and the Imperium still needs to rebuild everything those bastards destroyed. Then there are the Orks. Those bastards keep coming like a green tide from the Northern Fringe of the Galaxy. It looks like the Great Techno War agitates the Greenskins.
The Beasts are already bad enough, and now there are trillions of Greenskins coming from the North. However, we have already created fortifications in that area. We will not fight fair. We create traps and automated defense platforms to hold them. When they are destroyed, they explode with a special cocktail that Petra and I created. It is a dark matter-based explosion that creates a ripple, destroying anything in its path.
For now, they are trapped in the Northern Fringe, and they will be trapped there forever by the fortifications we made. At least we hope so. Orks are unpredictable.
With that, we achieve peace.
"This is the result of my effort, Theo. This is the result of putting 35% of my computing power to work. Do you remember the Multiversal Tunnel?"
"No way. You manage to crack that?"
The Multiversal Tunnel is something we encounter when using our Subspace Diver to approach a Black Hole system. While inside the subspace, we see all kinds of energy coming from the black hole, and we see a kind of tunnel that connects the black hole and the subspace.
When we send a probe, we find that this tunnel is unique: it acts like a wormhole connecting one universe to another. It breaches the wall between universes, allowing us to enter another reality.
While the tunnel is fascinating, it is dangerous. Because this tunnel connects to countless universes, all kinds of exotic energies enter the tunnel and destroy most of the probes we send. These energies sometimes destroy the tunnel. Sometimes, it completely erases the probe we send.
Out of two thousand probes, only five survive.
"Yes. The drive will create a tunnel identical to the natural Multiverse Tunnel. However, just like the natural tunnel, it produces the same energy. Using the information from the probes, a combination of Auramite, Adamantium, and Necrodermis is able to survive the dangerous energy inside the tunnel."
"The percentage of each material?"
"40% Modified Auramite, 30% Adamantium, and 30% Necrodermis. Auramite and Adamantium act as an anti-energy shield that protects our ship from the energy swirling in the tunnel. At the same time, the Necrodermis repairs any damage that appears and adapts to the energy."
"Does that mean we can test them?"
"Yes. I've already put the drive in simulation using all the data we gathered from the probes, and it should be safe for us to test it. I've already placed a beacon here, so we are ready to go at any moment's notice."
"A beacon? What for?"
"It is an emergency device. If we are stranded in a new universe and our drive is broken, we can create a new one and retrace our path through it. As we travel to a new universe, the drive leaves behind an artificial tunnel connecting our universe to the new one. However, if the drive is destroyed, the tunnel will be destroyed as well. I cannot make a permanent and stable tunnel just yet."
"Will it become a problem? I don't want the Warp to enter the new universe."
"It will not be a problem, Theo. Even when we arrive in an alternate universe, the two dimensions cannot fuse. Our tunnel exploits the natural opening between universes. The Warp cannot even approach this opening because of its nature. It is tied to this universe and cannot go to another. An alternate universe is a different matter, however. There is a theory that the Warp itself is a multiversal phenomenon and can reach clusters of the same type of universe. However, if they want to breach the greater multiverse, they need to break through an unbreakable wall that separates multiverses. I call this wall: the Void Wall. Also, you don't need to worry about visiting an alternate universe; the drive will notify us if we visit an alternate universe."
"I see. That is good."
With a final command typed into the machine, I watch it come to life. Blue light emanates from the drive as Ana controls the Star Explorer, connecting the new drive to itself. Through my neural link to the Star Explorer, I see that my ship receives the third Jump Drive.
With a massive grin, Ana looks at me and says.
"Are you ready for another adventure, Captain?" she asks with a grin.
I chuckle. She loves exploring the galaxy. She embodies the name of the ship, and I love her for it. We have already explored our galaxy and were preparing to explore another, but due to the sheer number of Tyranids between the galaxies, we decided not to proceed.
It turns out the previous captain of the Star Explorer already knew about the Tyranids because the probe sent to Andromeda returns with a bleak report. At least a quadrillion Tyranids leave Andromeda after consuming the last biomass in that galaxy.
We hope that it is only a quadrillion Tyranids, but we are preparing for at least a quintillion. We even create a contingency that will prevent them from growing. It is a device that wipes out the galaxy's biomass at once. It is a last-stand device, but with this drive, we can retreat to another universe while it clears the galaxy of all life.
Right. Let's not think about that. It is adventure time.
"Of course."
With a grin, we enter the bridge. There is no one here. I tell the others to take a vacation and let the Star Explorer rest. There are some people who need to be dragged away because they love their work, but at least I manage to keep the ship empty.
When we arrive at the bridge, Ana prepares the ship and sends a quick message to the others. It will create a problem later, but I will take care of it. For now, adventure.
"All systems online! Multiverse Tunneling Drive is online and ready for action! Jumping in 3! 2! 1!"
Light surrounds the ship as I watch a wormhole-like tunnel appear in front of the ship. As we enter the tunnel, something catches my attention. Images of other universes appear around us. I can see many alternate versions of our universe: a completely different universe where Earth does not exist, and Earth is fighting against countless alien invaders, among the countless other images. Because of the protective barrier around the ship, I do not receive the full brunt of the mental attack from looking into the void itself.
It does not take long before we arrive in the new universe. We leave the tunnel and see a planet not too far away from us. I take a deep breath and smile a little. I can feel there is no Warp in this place. That is good. At least I don't need to worry about the four cancers messing with this reality.
"Captain, you need to see this."
I snap from my thoughts and look at what Ana is viewing. I blink for a second at the familiar-looking planet. It is the Pale Blue Dot. It is Terra, or rather, Terra before it became what it is today. The planet is still blue.
"Earth?" I ask. "Yes," she replies. "According to the quick scan, Earth is on the brink of collapse. It reads a lot of radiation contamination on Earth's surface. Should I send a scouting unit there?"
"Yes."
She sends the scouting unit, and the live feed appears before us. We watch as the unit flies through the atmosphere and arrives in Paris, France. However, the entire city is devastated. There is nothing but rubble and radiation.
"Ana, what is happening here?!"
"According to information I managed to gather from radio waves, this is an alternate Earth, Captain. Unlike our history, Germany managed to crack the code for the atomic bomb before the US did. Under attack from both East and West, Adolf Hitler decides to mass-produce the bomb and detonate it across Europe. It doesn't end there. It looks like Germany shares some of its bombs with Japan, and they manage to reach Hawaii, Washington, Oregon, and California using stealth ships and detonating forty bombs via suicide crew. Each yielded a third of the power of Little Boy and Fat Man in our history. Germany uses planes to detonate bombs across Europe and parts of Africa. Some fail to reach their targets, but the bombs still detonate and devastate the area."
"How many died?"
I already know the numbers, but it is better to hear them. With no Warp in this universe, their souls linger; when we get near Earth, they immediately enter my [Artificial Heaven]. Their souls are hurting, and my power is currently healing them. I can resurrect them.
"1.1 billion dead. What do you want to do with this planet, Captain? Shall we leave them be?"
"No,"
"Humanity needs to unite and explore the stars. This... this will not let them reach the heavens. I will do something. Ana, prepare the Chrono Manipulator."
"Do you want to resurrect them, Captain? It will weaken you considerably."
"It will, yes. However, it is a price I happily pay to let humanity reach for the stars."
"Very well, Captain. It will take five minutes to prepare the machine. Do you want me to teleport you there?"
"Yes. Send me somewhere where people are still alive. I will create a spectacle they will witness and make them at least unite enough to move forward. They will start another war, but at least, after this, they will think twice before doing something like this in the future."
"I understand."
= Line Break =
[3rd POV]
The situation in England is bleak. Dozens of atomic bombs scorch half of the country. The southern part of England is no longer fit for human civilization; anyone who enters receives a lethal dose of radiation. Everyone who attempts to do so dies in agony.
With London as the epicenter of nuclear fire, the remaining government of England moves the capital to Manchester to continue fighting with what remains.
However, even with the consensus that Germany must be stopped, the situation in England makes offensive action nearly impossible. Before the bombing, the food situation was already dire; afterward, it became catastrophic.
With a heavy heart, the government diverts all food to the military, leaving nothing for civilians. The effects are visible: people in Manchester look like walking corpses, thin and sickly. People beg for food, and some resort to crime just to feed their families. Manchester's crime rate skyrocketed, and with the news that even the military does not have enough food after taking all from civilians, it makes the others even more desperate.
It is a grim sight, the complete opposite of what once was.
A mother kneels in front of a statue of Jesus. Sitting next to her is her four-year-old daughter, who mimics her mother without fully understanding the gravity of their situation. The mother is crying and praying.
"O God... please answer our plea for salvation. Please wake us from this nightmare. Please give us a light to guide us to a better future. Please... please grant us a miracle."
"Granted."
She stops her prayer and slowly opens her eyes. Standing next to the statue is a man. He is massive, nearly four meters tall, and built like a tank. His golden hair flows to his shoulders, and his golden eyes look at her with kindness and sadness. It shines with otherworldly power that makes her feel safe and hopeful.
He walks toward her and her daughter and touches their heads. She prepares for the worst, but instead, she feels warmth coursing through her body and watches in awe as her health returns. The man pulls back his hands, and she looks up at him.
"W-Who are you?"
"I am just a human who foolishly believes that humanity will not destroy itself," he responds.
His words carry such sadness and disappointment that they make her cry. It is as if her own father is looking at her with disappointment, yet with deep understanding. He doesn't blame her; instead, he blames himself.
She wants to stop him and tell him it is not his fault, but it is too late. He has already left the church and walks into the street. She quickly follows and sees people looking at him in surprise and awe.
She is about to say something, but before she can, the man begins to float, releasing a golden light. As he rises into the sky, every human in the world receives a vision. Each stops what they are doing and looks toward the heavens.
Golden light is all they can see, and in the center is a giant of a man. This is Theodore, using his psychic power to its maximum prowess, a level he only used at the height of the Great Techno War against the Void Dragon with the help of his father.
Humanity watches him take a deep breath and sees him look at them. It is as if he sees each and every one of them directly.
"My dear humanity. It seems I underestimate your need for chaos, your lust for war. Yet… I never lose faith, not truly. For I see kindness as well. I see women and men putting their lives on the line for strangers. I see compassion where cruelty reigns. I see children even after the city is bombed. Good cannot exist without bad, and I will not blame all of you for the sins of the few."
His expression grows even sadder, making even the toughest men want to cry and apologize. His Primarch's aura and powers are working overtime, making the others feel more from his words and actions.
"But… I've seen how far you've gone. I have seen cities burn. I have walked through the ashes of radioactive cities around the world. I've seen the charred corpses of children who once ran around, laughing and playing. I've realized that I cannot stop you from destroying yourselves, no matter how much I love you or how much I try to guide you."
People watch as Theodore's expression shifts to disappointment, with a small hint of pride. However, that hint of pride cannot outweigh the feeling of disappointment coming from him. It makes all of them feel ashamed.
"You've unlocked the power of the atom. It was supposed to help humanity reach for the stars, to spread, and finally stand on its own. Instead, this is how your story ends. Not by alien invasion or natural disaster, but by your own hands. I cannot fight that for you. I cannot take the Free Will given by the Heavenly Father. That is his ultimate gift, and no one can take it."
Theodore takes a deep breath, and his psychic power spikes. He reaches for all the souls inside him and sees that Ana is also ready to undo the damage. With a mental command, he prepares to release them and resurrect them. Their souls are healed and ready to be resurrected.
"So I will walk away. This is a farewell. This shall be the last time I walk among mortals and guide you. From now on, you are on your own, my dear humanity. It is a decree sent by Our Father in Heaven."
After he speaks, the entire sky rumbles as if in agreement, and his body releases even more golden light.
That declaration sends a ripple across the world. People shout in anger, sadness, and panic. The Pope kneels on the ground, praying as hard as he can, begging God not to abandon them. He is not alone; many do the same, tears streaming down their faces.
"The Time of Birth has come; I am the remedy of Eternity."
People look to the sky at the sound of Theo's voice and watch as he raises his hands in prayer. Ten orbs emerge from his hands and spin above him. For a moment, they catch a glimpse of his [Artificial Heaven], and it makes them gasp.
They see heaven with their own eyes, and now, no one will help guide them. They will be on their own to discover how to reach heaven, and it scares them. Just like a child left alone at school for the first time, they are scared.
"The Time of Coronation has come; I am the beginning of Eternity."
People around the world witness miracles. Destroyed cities are restored, rubble returns to its original shape, and the corpses that supposedly turn to ashes return to their original shape. The ghost is now littered with corpses of humans.
"The Time of Parting has come; I am he who surrenders the World."
Theodore releases all the souls within him, letting them return to their original bodies. He makes sure to stitch their souls correctly, and doing it for more than a billion souls at once takes a toll on him. After a few seconds, the dead return. One by one, their eyes open in confusion. They remember being dead, but they also remember what Theodore is saying. Their souls listen to his declaration, and now they immediately know the reason why they get resurrected.
People hugging their dead family members watch in surprise and awe as their loved ones open their eyes. Life returns to them. Not only that, but every human becomes healthy. Limbs regrow, diseases vanish, and all ailments are cured. It is a true miracle.
"O' Heavenly Father, I return to you your blessings. Thank you for granting my last wish and for letting humanity have a second chance. It is a shame they must walk alone, but I understand your decision. Humanity no longer needs us. I sacrificed my first life to clean the sins of their Mortal Father. In this life, I sacrifice my soul to give them a second chance. I regret none of it."
Theo then looks at humanity one last time and smiles.
"Good luck, my beloved humanity. Even though I will watch you from heaven, I will no longer guide you. There will be no more miracles. You are on your own, but you have each other. You will fall, and you will fail, but you will learn and return stronger than ever. This is my farewell. From now on, your story is yours to write. Write it well. Hope lies behind despair. Never forget what happened; learn from it. Live a peaceful and happy life. Lastly, the wider galaxy is the final frontier. Spread and make us proud."
After saying that, he teleports back to the Star Explorer, leaving behind the crying masses who plead for his return. Sadly, their cries go unanswered, and they are left with the feeling of being watched from afar, yet also feeling a void in their souls.
They experience salvation, and their souls already yearn for its return.
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