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Guilliman focused closely on his brother waiting for a response. The study of subtle inflictions, let it be through the eyes or the muscles that tensioned through the mouth. This would have been a practical practice when it came to normal humans, but the Primarch wondered if his brother was close enough to man anymore for anything to be gleaned from such study.
The assumption ended up being that no. All that Guilliman noticed was the ever subtle changes in the face as muscles spontaneously twitched from <span class="mu-i">something</span> that was crawling under his brother’s skin. These changes were not like an infliction or tell tale. They were instead permanent movements that if Guilliman did not see his brother before would never have been known.
Was it even now, while Guilliman was in the room, that TalOS was modifying his own body? Was he doing it because he thought Guilliman wouldn’t notice or maybe it was because these changes needed to happen now? That them being a time sensitive matter forced him to expose what might be a secret.
If TalOS knew what Guilliman thinks he knows, then it will be the latter. TalOS knows that his brother could see it but either does not care or cannot halt the transformation process during their time together. That was the Theoretical and it was sound.
“I can understand your reservations. By taking the manpower from you all possible outputs you have lost what they might have given to your civilization.” TalOS answered him with the cold calculation, “In return for the loss of manpower, it will be compensated at a one to one rate with additional arms as well as training for your Astartes in the Mysteries of Technology.”
That was a decent offer. The Practical was sound, the promise that Lucius will make up the loss in manpower with arms and armaments was the greatest of boons. To teach his Astartes as well, that would mean his men will have something above their brother Legions with the only exception being the 2nd itself.
But did Guilliman like the Practical? In his intellectual mind Guilliman took a step back and looked at the circumstances. The reason for this was simple, that he still felt a tinge of pain within his chest about considering these options. That he would validate them. Why? Why did he feel guilt?
Theoretical; it is because it does not set right with his creed.
His creed? Quickly he studied his memories and pulled up training in the ethics that both his Father and Mother both trained him in. The valuation of man and the loyal heart that one should have to their realm.
