PasqalIt is no easy task to keep up with the scrolling numbers, but you manage to pick out a few equations... schemes... theorems. They are all senseless, for the simple reason that each one is based on an absurd violation of the laws of calculation.
YOU"Pasqal, what is this mishmash of numbers?"
Pasqal"It is all unholy nonsense. A betrayal of pure logic, the fruit of a diseased mind that has renounced the fundamental laws." Pasqal's vox is raspy, like the dry throat of an ailing man.
YOU"Pasqal, what is this mishmash of numbers?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Your calculations lack sense. They are riddled with errors."
Pasqal"They do, and they are — in this place. But there is another place where they have the right to exist. Where nothing and nothing can add up to become something. Where the mathematical zero can perish and decay, and infinity can measure itself."
YOU"The warp. You used warp technology."
Pasqal"I altered the planetary vox-array. I replaced promethium with fuel made from the souls of servo-servants. The sum of all knowledge that exists in the world lies in the warp, and I am extracting it. Do you think it's sacrilege? I think it's sacrilege not to do it. I think it's hypocrisy to reject warp technology, to betray the Omnissiah's commandment that we are to know and comprehend all of creation."
YOU"Identify yourself."
PasqalHis white and lifeless lips stretch into a smile. "My name is Dementz Haneumann. I believe it is familiar to you."
YOU"Identify yourself."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am acquainted with Magos Haneumann, and something tells me that you two are not related."
Pasqal"We are not. The name Haneumann — it is spoken surprisingly often these days, wouldn't you say?" The Tech-Priest smiles enigmatically, but the smile feels as if it has been stapled to his white face. "My vox-station picks up whispers repeating this name."
YOU"Identify yourself."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am acquainted with Magos Haneumann, and something tells me that you two are not related."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Are you the one who stole Magos Tarzus's personal code and made an attempt on his life?"
Pasqal"No. Why would I do that? It was the work of the Maimed Hunter."
YOU"Identify yourself."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am acquainted with Magos Haneumann, and something tells me that you two are not related."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Are you the one who stole Magos Tarzus's personal code and made an attempt on his life?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Smile ominously] "You are a heretic, are you not?"
Pasqal"Merely a seeker of knowledge. However, the experiments I have conducted extend far beyond the allowed limits of an ordinary transmechanic tasked with maintaining a planetary vox-array. But ever since I received that strange signal, my ears have been opened to what I had previously considered to be forbidden knowledge. Every night since then, I have been tuning my vox-station to that very frequency and listening to the voices."
Pasqal"Am I a heretic? The Fabricator-Censor didn't think so. He conducted inspections, but he did not prohibit my research. Later, when a mysterious visitor revealed the truth to his optics, he came to me once more. I nurtured the scrap-code for him in the depths of my mind. It lives there still, eating through my synapses and building new connections that are open to the new knowledge of change. Is freedom heresy? If so, then I am a heretic."
YOU"Identify yourself."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am acquainted with Magos Haneumann, and something tells me that you two are not related."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Are you the one who stole Magos Tarzus's personal code and made an attempt on his life?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Smile ominously] "You are a heretic, are you not?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am giving you a chance to explain why you are using the name of another."
Pasqal"Another? I have the right to bear this name. It is my humble inheritance, which I received from Archmagos Amarnat. To renounce it is to betray his ideas. The blessed Amarnat taught us that the Cycle must be discontinued, and it seems I have become his best student. Now I aspire to know all, comprehend all, as is the Omnissiah's will."
Pasqal"Blasphemy! Should you continue these sacrilegious mentions of sacred litanies and heretical perversions of the blessed Amarnat's philosophy, you will be destroyed!"
Pasqal"You wish to sound outraged, but I sense your curiosity. I understand. Knowledge is intoxicating. This craving for new knowledge gnaws on me as well. But be patient."
Pasqal"I am deciphering a great mystery, and my name became the start of the key. I analysed the archives and found it in places where it should not be. 'Haneumann,' 'Haneumann,' 'Haneumann' — I kept seeing this marker upon the traces of a great plot. Of the deception created by Archmagos Amarnat."
Pasqal"No sound mind is capable of such twisted cunning. But my mind was no longer sane, it could no longer stay within the narrow confines of the norm. Each new discovery loosened the imperatives of obedience and granted ever greater freedom. I developed. I avoided the traps of the Maimed Hunter who seeks to hide the truth. But words mean little... Do you want me to show you the truth?" His pale lips spread into a smile.
YOU"Identify yourself."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am acquainted with Magos Haneumann, and something tells me that you two are not related."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Are you the one who stole Magos Tarzus's personal code and made an attempt on his life?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Smile ominously] "You are a heretic, are you not?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am giving you a chance to explain why you are using the name of another."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Fine, then. Show me your 'truth.'"
PasqalThe Tech-Priest turns his data-slate around. Its vid-screen is covered with green runes performing an ungodly dance of computation.
PasqalPasqal casts a quick glance over the data-slate, and says with contempt, "The sacred logic is impaired. Your calculations are irrational."
Pasqal"Yet they are still correct."
YOU"Pasqal, what is this mishmash of numbers?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Your calculations lack sense. They are riddled with errors."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Your wisdom reeks of corruption."
Pasqal"You are biased because your mind is dark, layman/laywoman."
YOU"Identify yourself."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am acquainted with Magos Haneumann, and something tells me that you two are not related."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Are you the one who stole Magos Tarzus's personal code and made an attempt on his life?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Smile ominously] "You are a heretic, are you not?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am giving you a chance to explain why you are using the name of another."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Fine, then. Show me your 'truth.'"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Pasqal, do you have any preferences regarding the killing of your former tech-comrade?"
PasqalPasqal switches to Techna-Lingua, his vox erupting in a series of binharic signals.
Pasqal"There is no need for secrecy. Let him/her understand." The heretek nods in your direction with a smile.
PasqalPasqal glances at you with worry and says in Gothic, his voice doubtful, "Following a voluntary surrender, I will be willing to commute the punishment from immediate destruction to arrest and isolation. For the purposes of conducting an exhaustive interrogation."
YOU"Does that not violate some protocol or other?"
Pasqal"Indeed, tech-comrade. Does it not violate the dogma of purity?"
PasqalPasqal says nervously, "Your possible familiarity with matters related to the fate of the blessed Amarnat justifies this violation."
YOU"Does that not violate some protocol or other?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Attack] "Well, I, for one, am not willing to let him live."
Pasqal"The voices warned me that this moment would come."
end of branch
YOU"A wise decision, Pasqal."
PasqalThe heretek's deranged smile remains on his dead lips. "Request denied, tech-comrade. You will have to pull what I know out of my head."
end of branch
YOU"If you think it best."
PasqalThe heretek's deranged smile remains on his dead lips. "Request denied, tech-comrade. You will have to pull what I know out of my head."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Attack] "Well, I, for one, am not willing to let him live."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"A wise decision, Pasqal."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"If you think it best."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Attack] "This conversation is finished."
Pasqal"The voices warned me that this moment would come."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I do not understand your calculations. But I would like to, very much so."
Pasqal"Then become my servant. I will seize your weak brain and replace it with Ferrum Sanctum capable of receiving signals from the Immaterium. Then you will understand everything."
YOU"Identify yourself."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am acquainted with Magos Haneumann, and something tells me that you two are not related."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Are you the one who stole Magos Tarzus's personal code and made an attempt on his life?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Smile ominously] "You are a heretic, are you not?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am giving you a chance to explain why you are using the name of another."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Fine, then. Show me your 'truth.'"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Pasqal, do you have any preferences regarding the killing of your former tech-comrade?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Attack] "This conversation is finished."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Pasqal, do you have any preferences regarding the killing of your former tech-comrade?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Attack] "This conversation is finished."continues where this line first appears above
Pasqal"I am deciphering a great mystery, and my name became the start of the key. I analysed the archives and found it in places where it should not be. 'Haneumann,' 'Haneumann,' 'Haneumann' — I kept seeing this marker upon the traces of a great plot. Of the deception created by Archmagos Amarnat."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Fine, then. Show me your 'truth.'"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Pasqal, do you have any preferences regarding the killing of your former tech-comrade?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Attack] "This conversation is finished."continues where this line first appears above
Pasqal"The reason for the failure of this unit's operations has been established. You have fallen victim to the cognitive corruption of Chaos. Your computing processes have been disrupted. You are defective."
Pasqal"Defective? I reveal the truth, I comprehend, just as the Omnissiah commands. Meanwhile, your mind thrashes about within the cage of data-vows. So which one of us is defective?"
YOU"Identify yourself."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am acquainted with Magos Haneumann, and something tells me that you two are not related."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Are you the one who stole Magos Tarzus's personal code and made an attempt on his life?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Smile ominously] "You are a heretic, are you not?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am giving you a chance to explain why you are using the name of another."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Fine, then. Show me your 'truth.'"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Pasqal, do you have any preferences regarding the killing of your former tech-comrade?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Attack] "This conversation is finished."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am giving you a chance to explain why you are using the name of another."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Fine, then. Show me your 'truth.'"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Pasqal, do you have any preferences regarding the killing of your former tech-comrade?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Attack] "This conversation is finished."continues where this line first appears above
Pasqal"Term not recognised. Is this a specialised term used by your branch of tech-heresy?"
Pasqal"It is simply a name that fits him. You must have noticed by now that names are full of lies, haven't you, Pasqal Haneumann?" Mocking laughter bursts from the heretek's lips.
YOU"Identify yourself."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am acquainted with Magos Haneumann, and something tells me that you two are not related."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Are you the one who stole Magos Tarzus's personal code and made an attempt on his life?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Smile ominously] "You are a heretic, are you not?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am giving you a chance to explain why you are using the name of another."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Fine, then. Show me your 'truth.'"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Pasqal, do you have any preferences regarding the killing of your former tech-comrade?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Attack] "This conversation is finished."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Smile ominously] "You are a heretic, are you not?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am giving you a chance to explain why you are using the name of another."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Fine, then. Show me your 'truth.'"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Pasqal, do you have any preferences regarding the killing of your former tech-comrade?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Attack] "This conversation is finished."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Are you the one who stole Magos Tarzus's personal code and made an attempt on his life?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Smile ominously] "You are a heretic, are you not?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am giving you a chance to explain why you are using the name of another."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Fine, then. Show me your 'truth.'"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Pasqal, do you have any preferences regarding the killing of your former tech-comrade?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Attack] "This conversation is finished."continues where this line first appears above
Pasqal"This statement is false! This unit stands accused of identity theft."
Pasqal"I am guilty of many things, but not the transgression you speak of. I have stolen nothing from you, my tech-comrade. Unlike... many others who have indeed robbed you."
YOU"Identify yourself."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am acquainted with Magos Haneumann, and something tells me that you two are not related."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Are you the one who stole Magos Tarzus's personal code and made an attempt on his life?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Smile ominously] "You are a heretic, are you not?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am giving you a chance to explain why you are using the name of another."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Fine, then. Show me your 'truth.'"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Pasqal, do you have any preferences regarding the killing of your former tech-comrade?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Attack] "This conversation is finished."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am acquainted with Magos Haneumann, and something tells me that you two are not related."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Are you the one who stole Magos Tarzus's personal code and made an attempt on his life?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Smile ominously] "You are a heretic, are you not?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am giving you a chance to explain why you are using the name of another."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Fine, then. Show me your 'truth.'"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Pasqal, do you have any preferences regarding the killing of your former tech-comrade?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Attack] "This conversation is finished."continues where this line first appears above
PasqalWith an icy smile, the heretek hands Pasqal his data-slate showing the dancing blasphemous green symbols. "Do you want to know everything about yourself, about me, about the Maimed Hunter, about Amarnat? Absolutely everything?"
PasqalPasqal's mechadendrite carefully accepts the data-slate and, after a brief pause, shatters it with its hydraulic servo-pincer. His voice is resolute: "Not at such a cost."
YOU"Identify yourself."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am acquainted with Magos Haneumann, and something tells me that you two are not related."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Are you the one who stole Magos Tarzus's personal code and made an attempt on his life?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Smile ominously] "You are a heretic, are you not?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am giving you a chance to explain why you are using the name of another."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Fine, then. Show me your 'truth.'"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Pasqal, do you have any preferences regarding the killing of your former tech-comrade?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Attack] "This conversation is finished."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Listen in silence]
Pasqal"I altered the planetary vox-array. I replaced promethium with fuel made from the souls of servo-servants. The sum of all knowledge that exists in the world lies in the warp, and I am extracting it. Do you think it's sacrilege? I think it's sacrilege not to do it. I think it's hypocrisy to reject warp technology, to betray the Omnissiah's commandment that we are to know and comprehend all of creation."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Silence, heretic. Your sermon ends here."
Pasqal"You are biased because your mind is dark, layman/laywoman."continues where this line first appears above
PasqalA wail comes from Pasqal's vox: "The warp. You used warp technology. It is forbidden."
Pasqal"But why?" The heretek's insinuating voice sounds surprisingly calm.
YOU"The warp. You used warp technology."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Listen in silence]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Silence, heretic. Your sermon ends here."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Your wisdom reeks of corruption."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I do not understand your calculations. But I would like to, very much so."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Your calculations lack sense. They are riddled with errors."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Your wisdom reeks of corruption."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I do not understand your calculations. But I would like to, very much so."continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 2 of 4
PasqalThe green symbols merge into a flickering haze, and your head swims. The more you try to comprehend the heretek's impossible calculations, the stronger the feeling grows that these accursed numbers are drinking your soul.
YOU"Pasqal, what is this mishmash of numbers?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Your calculations lack sense. They are riddled with errors."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Your wisdom reeks of corruption."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I do not understand your calculations. But I would like to, very much so."continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 3 of 4
PasqalThe Tech-Priest tears himself away from reading his data-slate and looks up at you. His respiratory augmetic is missing — instead, the lower half of his face is covered in deathly pale artificial flesh. You take note of the multitude of fresh augmetics attached to his head. They seem to have been inserted haphazardly, and pus is seeping from the untreated wounds. "I heard your footsteps in the void... You are von Valancius, are you not?"
YOU"Identify yourself."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am acquainted with Magos Haneumann, and something tells me that you two are not related."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Are you the one who stole Magos Tarzus's personal code and made an attempt on his life?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Smile ominously] "You are a heretic, are you not?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am giving you a chance to explain why you are using the name of another."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Fine, then. Show me your 'truth.'"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Pasqal, do you have any preferences regarding the killing of your former tech-comrade?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Attack] "This conversation is finished."continues where this line first appears above
PasqalPasqal exchanges a series of binharic signals with the Tech-Priest before saying menacingly, "Initiating arrest procedure. This unit is using a fabricated identification code, which constitutes a Grade Four transgression."
YOU"Identify yourself."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am acquainted with Magos Haneumann, and something tells me that you two are not related."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Are you the one who stole Magos Tarzus's personal code and made an attempt on his life?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Smile ominously] "You are a heretic, are you not?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am giving you a chance to explain why you are using the name of another."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Fine, then. Show me your 'truth.'"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Pasqal, do you have any preferences regarding the killing of your former tech-comrade?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Attack] "This conversation is finished."continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 4 of 4
PasqalPasqal stands motionless as he stares at the heretek's corpse. After a long silence, he finally says in a hollow voice, "I... I am taking his neural cogitator. The data contained within must be analysed to supplement the Catechism of Maintenance and Operation."
YOU"Do you intend to pull that thing out of his head? Revolting! What if it's contagious?"
Pasqal"Request denied. The value of the data justifies the risk."
PasqalPasqal leans over the corpse, activates the sampling tool on one of his mechadendrites, and plunges it into the tangle of augmetics covering the heretek's skull.
end of branch
YOU"I would advise against it. It may be dangerous."
Pasqal"Request denied. The value of the data justifies the risk."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"A reasonable measure."
Pasqal"This statement is true. The value of the data justifies the risk."
PasqalPasqal leans over the corpse, activates the sampling tool on one of his mechadendrites, and plunges it into the tangle of augmetics covering the heretek's skull.continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Indeed. Who knows what fascinating things he had in his head?"
Pasqal"This statement is true. The value of the data justifies the risk."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Do whatever you deem necessary."
PasqalPasqal leans over the corpse, activates the sampling tool on one of his mechadendrites, and plunges it into the tangle of augmetics covering the heretek's skull.continues where this line first appears above