Year: 42nd Millennium
Within a secret vault of the Imperial Palace which has been tightly guarded by the custodes for millennia, gathered a number of high-ranking people which included the Adeptus Custodes, the Sisters of Silence, and Guilliman himself. They were all directed here by the will of the Emperor, but what they discovered was something else entirely.
Inside was the lost Primarch of the XI legion, Caelion Vechtar, preserved in a timeless stasis field, armored in relic-wrought plate unlike any seen since the Dark Age of Technology, kneeling in meditation, untouched by age. The gathered party watched as the stasis field lost its power and the body of the Primarch started to move. Most of the gathered party had kneeled in awe as Caelion stepped out forward. All except Guilliman himself who stepped forward to meet his brother.
"Brother, what is your name?" Guilliman asked, testing his brother to see if after all this time was he sane or not. This was one of the things that the Emperor had willed him to do.
Caelion looked his brother in the eye and replied with sheer conviction, "Brother, I am Caelion Vechtar. Primarch of the XI legion also known as 'The Penitent Blades' or the 'Oathbound'." Hearing his words and feeling the weight behind them, Guilliman knew that his brother was indeed sane.
Guilliman reached out his hand, causing Caelion to do the same as the two of them embraced each other as the Brothers they were. "Congratulations brother, It is nice to finally meet you again after so long."
"Indeed it has been a long time brother. If I am awakened then that means that our father needs me. Thought I may not know why, I will follow his will and help you as best I can." Caelion did not know how bad things were with the Imperium as he had spent his time training his powers and preparing for his eventual return for when the Imperium needed him. So what he was about to learn over the course of the next few days would come as a shock to him.
Hearing his words, Guilliman sighed as he remembered just how messed up the Imperium was at the moment. "Brother, I am glad that you are here with me. There are too many things that we are dealing with at the moment. The Imperium that you once knew is gone and if the Emperor alive right now, then I fear he would become filled with rage."
Hearing this, Caelion was a little shocked. "What do you mean brother?" he asked curious as to just what exactly was going on.
"Lets first get out of this vault brother then I will explain the rest." Caelion nodded as Guilliman turned around to face the others.
"Everyone, this is a momentous occasion. The Primarch of the XI legion Caelion Vechtar has returned to help fix the Imperium and wipe out all enemies that we face. He will be bestowed full honors, and the XI will once again walk amongst their peers. Spread the word to the necessary authorities." The Adeptus Custodes saluted to appearance of the new Primarch. The Sisters of Silence remained silent, unfazed, but Caelion could feel eagerness and a sense of worship from them.
Guilliman waved his brother forward as the two walked out of the vault and into the corridors of the Palace. They walked through the halls, allowing Caelion to eye the statues and tapestries, each a snapshot of an era where heroism had a face, or was a mask for calamity. Caelion was far more reserved than Guilliman remembered, which wasn't a bad thing.
The two of them entered a private room for the two of them to speak alone. It was quiet for a few seconds before Guilliman started: "How much do you recall, Caelion?"
"Enough of the past. Too little of the present," said Caelion folding his arms behind his back. "I remember the end. I remember the scouring, when I was sealed away in order to be brought back for a greater purpose. I remember the Warp and the voices that tried to teach me madness. But side by side with Father, I fought them back and managed to prevail, growing even stronger in this time that I was away. The rest, clearly, is a tapestry with holes."
"Apt," said Guilliman. "You'll find that the Imperium is much the same." he said with a subtle fake smile on his face.
Caelion studied his face, noticing this fake smile which stood out compared to his brother's famously inscrutable features. "What happened?" he asked.
Guilliman hesitated, thinking of where he should begin. "We have endured," he finally said. "Perhaps endured too well. There are more wars than ever, fought both in secret and in the open, and the gods of the galaxy lick their lips whenever we kill in their name. The Emperor…he is a god now, in the eyes of the people. Worse than a god. He is a rumor of a god. The bureaucracy has choked every artery of civilization. The Adeptus Terra, the Ministorum, the Inquisition, each has its own agenda, its own cabal of arch-manipulators."
Caelion nodded, not exactly pleased with this news as it went against everything his father wanted the Imperium to be. "So that's why I am here. The situation has gotten out of hand to the point that even I am needed. What about our other Brothers and Father?" he asked.
"Before I tell you about them, let me explain to you about what the events that happened within the last 10,000 years." Caelion sat in silence and listened to his brother explain every major detail, skipping over the small and insignificant ones to not take up too much time. At the end, Caelion was not exactly happy with how things turned out, but he knew how to save his anger for their enemies.
"So, the Emperor is laying half dead on the Golden Throne because the traitor Horus injured him. The Imperium has deteriorated into exactly what the Emperor didn't want and what he punished Lorgar for. We our beset by numerous enemies on multiple fronts, and our territory has been split in two by this Great Rift after the destruction of Cadia…." There was more, but Caelion had to stop as there were just too many things wrong with the current Imperium.
"That's why I'm glad that you are here brother. As far as I know, as of this moment we are the only living Primarchs to try and fix things. Our Brothers, I don't know if they will return as I did, but as of now, it's just me and you brother."
Caelion pressed two fingers against his temple as he prepared himself for what was about to happen over the next few centuries as they tried to put everything back together. "The worship of the Emperor as a God is a direct spit on his image that only we the Primarchs know and a few of the Adeptus Astartes who may still be alive. But if you were to allow me brother, I can deal with this problem and reform this fanatical belief to redirect it in a new way."
Guilliman didn't need to think about this decisions as he believed that his brother knew what he was doing. "I trust you brother, therefore, as the Lord Commander and Imperial Regent I will grant you a title." Guilliman thought for a few seconds as he came up with the perfect title and position to bestow upon Caelion.
"Caelion, I will create a new position called 'Imperator Custodius Aeternum' translation 'The Eternal Warden of the Imperium' A supra-political, military-religious position that I will have the High-Lords ratify by tomorrow. It will grant you near-equal authority to Guilliman in all matters of Imperial reform, Military intervention, Ecclesiastical correction, Excommunication of corrupt nobility, clergy, or commanders, and Oversight of Imperial institutions deemed 'faith-deficient' or compromised by heresy or cowardice."
"Thank you, brother. With us working together I know that we will raise the Imperium to new heights and restore it to its former glory. Also where are my armor and weapons?" Caelion asked.
"I had the Chapter Serfs look at your power armor and sword since it has been several millennium since they were last maintained and looked at. Thought knowing you, both that armor and weapon is probably in peak condition." Guilliman scoffed as he remembered that his brother was as powerful or probably more powerful than himself. He started to think that if he was still around, then he would have been the favorite son instead of Horus.
"You know me well brother," Caelion smiled with a bright smile on his face. "What about my subordinates who were put in stasis with me." Guilliman shook his head.
"I don't know brother, but if I had to guess then I would say that they are probably on your Chapter world of Karthax which is on the other side within the Imperium Nihilus."
"Well, if I want to start rebuilding the XI legion, then I need my subordinates with me."
Guilliman nodded his head. "I agree brother. I have already put aside some resources to help with the rebuilding of The Penitent Blades. In the meantime I can grant you a Chapter from my Legion while we rebuild your Legion."
Caelion nodded his head. "That will be very helpful brother, thank you." The two sat in silence for a while before Guilliman stood up, "In the meantime brother, lets go and make your title official and announce your awakening to the Imperium."
"Right to business, huh." replied Caelion as he stood up as well. "That's what I like, the more time we waste, the more lives are lost." Guilliman agreed as the two of them walked out of the room.
By the next day, Caelion, the XI Primarch was formerly introduced to the Imperium after being kept in stasis for so long. He was announced as the lost Primarch who was awakened by the Emperor's will to help Guilliman lead the Imperium. His appointment as the Imperator Custodius Aeternum was celebrated by many across the Imperium.
GUILIMAN'S PROCLAMATION:
"My brother having awakened to help me lead the Imperium is no stranger to us, his word are louder than any decree I have signed. Let the Imperium know: he is not my subordinate, nor my replacement. He is my equal, born of the same father, charged with the same burden. From this day forward, he is the Imperator Custodius Aeternum — the Warden of Our Father's Will."
However, this did cause a political fallout within the Imperium. The High Lords of Terra having to deal with Guilliman already was not pressured with two Primarchs. They were deeply concerned as they feared Caelion's moral absolutism would challenge their authorities.
The Imperial Cult was polarized as some hailed him as the Emperor's chosen blade to guide them to a new light, while others whispered of a false prophet. They wouldn't know just how much danger most of them were until Caelion started rolling out his reforms. The Ultramarines respected him as he acted they saw him acting as the Emperor's voice and not on personal ambition. Regardless of what the factions throughout the Imperium thought, there was nothing they could do to stop a Primarch.
As the next day rolled around, Caelion got straight to work starting with his reformation of the Imperial Cult.
(A/N: Hope everyone enjoyed the Chapter and will stay as I dip my toes in the Warhammer Universe. If you've read some of my other works you more or less know what to expect for the new people I hope you stick around for the story)