Quoted By:
Imo what separates a Son and Father, from Creator and Created? Is it merely genetic lineage? The galaxy is full of bastards and orphans, they were sired by their parents but never once had felt the touch of their love and care. Likewise, there are many who adopt, both common and noble, taking them to be part of their family, their legacy, to show them affection and care. That is the difference.
Trig and Vera are our children, because we choose them to be and show them our love. They may not be of our geneline or stock, but they will one day bear the name Davis, and will be nobles of both the Lucian House of Davis and of the Imperial Household. We call T3L5A, ED150N and our other Acillians sons too. We are glad when they succeed and prosper, and saddened if any of our sons are lost. We let them know they have a father in us as much as a commander or a genemaker.
To be a father is to love your children as sons, whoever and whomever they are, as C4R did to us. If the Emperor wants a son, all he need do is be honest and ask. And if he just wants tools, there is no problem in that. We would even praise and be pleased at his honesty of heart. We do not need to be deceived to obtain our loyalty. There are very many who serve under us as tools and servants of the Machine God in his great work, whom we would fight for and consider ally and partner all the same. We may even create many servitors and constructs of our own, whom we do not call son, but expect reliability from. But to be a son and a father, that requires honesty and care.
I feel kinda bad for Perturabo's adopted father. He would have loved having a son like us. Our view is likely the exact opposite of Pert, he couldn't abide any lesser beings to be his kin or to grow close to his heart. Not even his own "sons".
Also I'm unsure how much the Emperor really wants sons either, given how many sensei and lovers he abandoned. I'm not sure the TTS joke explanation of him leaving women in a bloody mess is any better.
