"Everything decays, everything falls into ignorance, even some of my Adeptus Mechanicus brothers," Halifax said, a bitter edge to his voice.
The Biological Magos were a unique faction within the Adeptus Mechanicus, and Halifax was an anomaly even among them. He was a devout believer in the Machine God, yet held a deep disdain for the Imperium of Man and even his own colleagues, feeling a sense of belonging to neither.
"I'm glad we see eye to eye, techpriest," Marcus replied with a smile. "Perhaps you should consider a new ally."
"We are already allies," Halifax stated, the implication clear. If he hadn't considered Marcus an ally, he wouldn't have committed his warships to fight the Greenskins; he would have simply left.
"I'm talking about a deeper alliance, Magos Halifax ," Marcus said, slowly rising from his seat. He was on the verge of making his final proposal, but he hoped Halifax would grasp the meaning of his words on his own.
After a moment of silence, an intense thirst for knowledge finally drove Halifax to speak. "By the Machine God, if I can study the data you possess, I am willing to form a new alliance." For a follower of the Machine God, this was a solemn oath.
However, Marcus wasn't going to rely on a verbal oath. "I hope you'll consider this Psychic Contract carefully, Magos Halifax ."
Marcus drafted the contract and handed it to Halifax .
"Psychic power... is this from the Eldar?" Halifax' heavily modified body instantly detected the psychic energy within the contract.
"Rest assured, techpriest, this is not a conspiracy of xenos," Marcus shook his head. "It's simply to ensure the effectiveness of our alliance." The system panel indicated the contract came from the Warhammer Universe, but Marcus, the user, didn't know its exact origin.
The contract's terms were numerous but simple to summarize: Marcus would provide Halifax with research materials—including the planetary will "Eva" and various strange creatures and technologies—to satisfy his "Quest for Knowledge." In return, Halifax would formally ally with Marcus, using his mastery of technology to enhance Avarax's strength and agreeing to keep the alliance's existence a secret. The contract established a partnership of true allies, not a superior-subordinate relationship.
"A much broader 'world' awaits you, Magos Halifax ," Marcus said. "Perhaps you will witness sights that even the Emperor has never seen."
Whether it was his own consideration or Marcus's words that spurred him, Halifax hesitated for a moment before signing his name on the contract. "Machine God above, I hope I am not allying myself with xenos or heretics." The red light in his electronic eyes flickered.
"Alexia, have the Ishimura deploy Sanctuary," Marcus commanded.
"Are we leaving now?" Alexia asked.
"The parade is still a few hours away. It's enough time," Marcus shrugged. "Let's go, Magos Halifax . It's time to see a broader world."
They left the Academy of Immortality and boarded the newly landed Sanctuary, which then ascended into the atmosphere.
"This vessel doesn't seem to be an Imperial design," Halifax remarked, his curiosity piqued.
"You'll have a chance to study it later," Marcus replied, opening his system panel. Enveloped in a flash of white light, the Sanctuary vanished from the Warhammer Universe.
Upon regaining consciousness, a slight discomfort washed over Halifax, a side effect of his first transit, likely due to his extensive mechanical modifications. The discomfort quickly dissipated, replaced by a profound shock, even a hint of fear. His wisdom core was trembling—a sensation he hadn't felt in over a century.
"Where is the Great Rift?" Halifax pressed his face against the window, his instruments extending from his red robes to collect and analyze data.
"There is no Great Rift here, Magos Halifax. There is no power of Chaos," Marcus stated.
"No! That's impossible!" Halifax shrieked, a first in his long life. "Even the Necron's Pariah Nexus cannot completely block the influence of Chaos!"
Marcus shook his head. "This is no longer the world you know. This is another universe, a different world entirely."
"Another world? Other dimensions recorded by the Eldar?" Halifax's instruments, however, were corroborating Marcus's claim, despite his subconscious disbelief.
"Let's land first. You'll have plenty of time to study everything later," Marcus said with a smile.
The Sanctuary began its descent, landing on the planet Pandora.
"This planet is called Pandora," Marcus said, putting on a respirator. "The atmosphere is not suitable for human breathing." Halifax, however, no longer needed to breathe, having replaced his lungs with mechanical ones decades ago.
"Pandora? Is this the planet from the data?" Ever since the world-shift, Halifax had been firing off questions, a complete loss of his usual demeanor.
"That's right," Marcus nodded, stepping out of the ship. Halifax and his attendants followed closely.
Hell's Gate Base was mostly deserted, but the few remaining soldiers noticed the Sanctuary's sudden appearance and Marcus at the forefront. Marcus waved them away and led Halifax and his entourage toward the command tower.
"You should tell me everything now, my Governor-ally," Halifax said, his thirst for knowledge now uncontrollable as he observed the unfamiliar starry sky, the lush rainforests, and the strange surroundings.