Galen stood silently to the side.
He had originally hoped that Odinson’s importance would make the Chapter Master abandon this risky experiment, but now it seemed to have only strengthened his resolve.
After their exchange, Galen finally spoke.
“Chapter Master, I will begin the implantation.
You may observe from outside.”
Huron nodded and stepped out, watching through the observation window.
Inside, Galen began the sacred rite.
First came disinfection, then injection of stabilizers to adjust Odinson’s metabolism and immune response, to increase the chance of acceptance.
When Odinson’s vitals reached their peak, Galen carefully opened the reliquary and retrieved the ancient Tiger Claws gene-seed.
It was old, almost 400 years, but preserved in stasis, it still pulsed faintly.
He implanted it into Odinson’s chest cavity.
After implantation, Galen’s mind was hyper-focused.
The first test was about to begin.
Once implanted, the gene-seed takes over hormonal regulation, secreting new compounds to prepare the body for further organs.
This process is safest with boys aged 10-16, still in puberty.
A subject like Odinson, at 19, already past the ideal age and fully grown, was unprecedented for Galen.
He did not know what complications might occur.
“I hope the Chapter Master truly received guidance.
Emperor, protect him.”
Galen prayed silently.
Since becoming Chief Apothecary, he had rarely felt so insecure.
After the gene-seed entered Odinson’s body, the 50 Political Power Huron had spent took effect.
In the Warp, that sliver of light that had been watching felt that unknown power again.
“So this is what you wanted.”
The Emperor’s sliver realized.
This force was guiding Him to channel power into Odinson, to help him survive.
He knew His own power.
Even the tiny amount He could control now was inherently violent.
This was not a high warp-concentration zone, so precise manipulation was almost impossible.
Direct infusion would likely kill the boy instantly.
But He still channeled power into that force, curious.
If this force was an enemy of mankind, understanding it was the key, just as He had once understood the Four Gods.
Under His gaze, the unknown force, now carrying psychic power, entered Odinson’s body.
Normally violent warp energy was now precisely controlled, gently influencing the gene-seed itself.
Under their combined influence, the gene-seed changed.
Its helixes rewrote themselves.
What was once 12% compatible now resonated at nearly 100%, as if it had been grown from Odinson himself.
At the same time, Odinson’s body, already past puberty, entered a forced secondary development.
His adaptability to the gene-seed’s hormones skyrocketed.
To Galen, this manifested as readings he had never seen.
Odinson’s rejection rate was falling, not rising.
His body was not fighting the seed.
It was accepting it.
“By the Emperor…
with compatibility so low, why is the implantation so…
perfect?”
Galen could only think of the word ‘perfect’.
Then he remembered the Chapter Master’s confident demeanor and his words about revelation.
“This must be the Emperor’s power!”
At this moment, Galen no longer doubted.
Only the Emperor’s blessing could explain this.
Outside, Huron spoke through the vox.
“Galen, how is he?
Can we proceed to Phase One?”
“…Yes, absolutely.
No problem.”
Galen opened his mouth, choosing to trust.
Normally, after gene-seed implantation, the neophyte must rest for months, letting the seed remake his biology before any further organs are added.
But Galen believed that if the Chapter Master truly had the Emperor’s guidance, he would know more than any Apothecary.
Even the Astartes and Primarchs were created by the Emperor.
So he began Phase One.
Three storage tanks were wheeled forward.
The Second Heart.
The Ossmodula – the bone enhancer.
The Biscopea – the muscle enhancer.
In theory, all Astartes receive 19 superhuman organs.
In reality, most Chapters have lost some.
The Imperial Fists lack the Betcher’s Gland and Sus-an Membrane.
The Blood Angels struggle with their own flaws.
Only the Black Carapace, essential for linking with Power Armour, is universal.
Without it, a Chapter dies.
But the Astral Claws, a proud Second Founding Chapter of the Ultramarines, still possessed all 19.
The three organs were implanted.
Once inside Odinson, they began to work immediately, cooperating with the gene-seed to reshape him.
Before long, his readings reached Phase Two thresholds.
This would normally take a year.
It took hours.
Galen was in awe, even having a blasphemous thought.
If the Chapter Master had received this blessing earlier, perhaps the Chapter would have already returned to full strength, not reduced to barely 700 brothers.
Haemastamen.
Larraman’s Organ.
Catalepsean Node.
Preomnor.
Omophagea.
Multi-lung.
One after another, organs that should have been implanted over years were now accepted in days.
It was a miracle.
What should have been a torturous process taking years was compressed into weeks with the system’s help.
After final suturing, Galen opened the door, respect in his eyes.
“Chapter Master, Phase One and Two are complete.
Far ahead of schedule.
Everything went smoothly.
More than smoothly.”
“Neophyte Odinson now shows full compatibility.
He will need one year of growth and hypno-indoctrination to become a full battle-brother, but his body has accepted the seed.”
Huron looked at Odinson on the table, already taller, his chest rising powerfully, and was overjoyed.
He forced a calm smile and nodded to Galen.
“Well done.
Even with the Emperor’s blessing, your skill is indispensable, brother.”
It was not just politeness.
If it were Huron holding the scalpel, he would have just cut and stuffed organs in.
Whether the Emperor’s light would still protect him then was questionable.
“It is my honor,” Galen said, chest out, eyes resolute.
Now, in his eyes, Huron was either the Emperor’s chosen or not.
This surgery overturned everything he knew.
What else could it be but the Emperor’s blessing?