Hark the Blood Angels sing

“With child?!” Rafen was taken aback by Daiaxis’ words, even Sachiel beside him appeared than shocked. “That cannot be actually possible. The Emperor and Sanguinius would not allow anything of this sort happen to one that is faithful to them both.” He sat up to get his feet and leave before a wave of nausea passed over him once more, forcing him to lay back down so he didn’t risk vomiting again. Daiaxis handed Rafen a glass filled with a green viscous liquid. “Drink this to quell any sickness you feel in your stomachs for now.” The apothecary left the medical area, leaving the two other men alone with this new information. He sighed in defeat as he sat in the large bed with Sachiel close by. The priest seemed at war with any words he could possibly say for the situation that was present. Men could not get pregnant, so for any Blood Angel to be carrying his child, it had to be a mistake or some cruel joke. Sachiel’s green eyes drifted back to the dirty blonde sitting in the bed, they had been rivals back when they had all travelled to gain the chance of being Blood Angels. The priest gave a heavy sigh before he leaned in to grant the warrior a gentle kiss. “Rafen, be it the will of the Emperor or a false truth of Chaos, I shall remain loyal to you and you alone.” His words made Rafen feel a bit better, safer almost as his hand rested slightly against his stomach, not able to feel anything yet, but making him feel more reassured.
Over the weeks to come, Rafen had been visiting Daiaxis often as the apothecary made certain that both he and his child were healthy throughout this sudden pregnancy. Today was the same as the rest as Daiaxis began his tests; this time he took blood, but had also mentioned something interesting. “I contacted those on Baal about your condition, Rafen. What I had been told was interesting.” The vial in the syringe slowly filled with the rich sanguine fluid for some of the apothecary’s blood tests, both men easily catching the scent of the metallic liquid. “There had been a suggestion at one point by the Imperium discussing with the Chapter heads on possibly breeding Space Marines in order to create a new breed strain of our gene seeds for each respective chapter. I checked the various rosters of those who had been chosen for this and you are the only one here on the ship that was given the genetic alterations for this experiment. It has become my orders to report back to Baal regularly on the status of both you and your child as you are the first known individual of this breeding program.” Daiaxis removed the syringe from the warriors arm, a medical servitor taking it and heading off to perform that were required.
Rafen laid back on the examination table while the apothecary poked and prodded at his abdomen, waiting to see if any of it cause discomfort to the Blood Angel. Soon afterwards a cool clear gel was poured onto the well muscled stomach of Rafen, Daiaxis learning what he could from the machine that rubbed the clear lubricant around the slightly tanned and heavily scarred flesh, picking up the faint form of the fetus in Rafen’s body. “From what I can deduce currently brother Rafen, things are going well and your child is developing at a healthy rate. Perhaps it is due to you being so close to the Blessed. You are the brother of Arkio and everyone truly believes him to be Sanguinius Reborn.” Rafen ignored the apothecary’s mention of his brother as he pulled on his crimson robe as he got up from the exam table, able to see a slight bulge to his stomach that was soon hidden by the robes that was caused by the child within him. Daiaxis remained silent about Rafen’s condition to everyone else on the Bellus, but he knew there was always a chance of someone listening in. He sent out a communication to those on Baal, explaining his update on Rafen’s condition, making certain that he did not use an astropath so that there wasn’t a chance of ears that shouldn’t be listening could catch it.
Stele had been meditating, biding his time as they headed to the Forge World of Shenlong where Iskaven had been hiding since their defeat on Cybele. His higher up in the Warp were becoming more and more insistent that his plans be sped up and completed soon. Of course his own personal astropath Ulan spoke into his mind. ~Lord Stele, there is a message being sent to Baal. An astropath was not used. I shall try to find out the contents of the message. It was sent be Apothecary Daiaxis.~ Stele began to wonder why Daiaxis would be contacting Baal, they were in no need of supplies or men so it certainly seemed odd. He was working to destroy the Blood Angels and ever since Arkio laid his hands upon the Spear of Telesto, the Space Marines have been whispering of the idea Arkio being Sanguinius Reborn. Everything was going according to plan perfectly thanks to the Adeptus Astartes believing such an easily made lie.
Rafen had been making his way back to his room, thankful that he hadn’t met with any of his battle brothers along the way. His one hand remained pressed against his slowly swelling abdomen and all he could think about was this being a cruel joke played upon him. As he thought this, his two stomachs revolted as he vomited upon the metal floor, food, bile, and stomach acid coating the floor around his sandaled feet. Soon they were to arrive above Shenlong, soon to attack the Word Bearers where they rested from their battle against the Blood Angels on Cybele earlier. He wiped the puke from his mouth and continued on his way to his room to rest and hope that his feelings of sickness would go away by the time they reached the Forge World.
Everyone readied themselves for the battles to come once they reached to space above Shenlong; Rafen was still able to hide his ever growing stomach under his scarlet ceramite armour, but honestly didn’t know how much longer that would be as time progressed. He could recall how large some of the women in his tribe back on Secundus were when they were close to giving birth. He puffed a sigh past his lips, barely registering on his vox in his helmet while his hand gripped the molded handle of his bolter; his trusted battle companion. Koris had been forced into the Death Company due to succumbing to the Red Thirst, leaving the young Space Marine alone as not even his own brother Arkio was close by. Sachiel remained close to Arkio’s side, as well, openly praising Arkio as the true primarch of their chapter, the fact that Sachiel was a Sanguinary High Priest and being seen with another man could raise many suspicious questions that were not needed nor wanted.
The battles upon the Forge World were vicious and deadly, many Blood Angels lost their lives and many more Word Bearers perished in the attack. The more Arkio fought, the more he was believed to be the reincarnation of their primarch, Sanguinius. The people of Shenlong truly believed his brother to be their savior, making Rafen so disgusted with those who would turn away from the true light of the Emperor. Whenever Rafen even got near his brother or Inquisitor Stele, who was never far from the Blessed Arkio, the warrior could feel the child growing inside him revolting in some sort of fear or hatred for either man.
As time passed and more people began to follow Arkio even Sachiel was one to fully believe that his younger brother was the reincarnation of their chapter’s progenitor. He was there when Arkio saved his life against Iskaven, when the younger Space Marine sprouted wings that made him look so much like Sanguinius, but it was obvious to him that it was a lie, his brother seeming so full of himself.
The bulge of his stomach was near impossible to hide under his armour any longer, hard as well to the sight under the thick blood red robes he wore when not wearing his battle suit, though it had been broken beyond repair in the battle against Iskaven. During that fight, Rafen could remember being frightened at the chance of his unborn child being injured or killed.
Ulan had been able to find out who sent the transmission to Baal. One had been sent by brother sergeant Koris, but the one that had first been questioned was sent by Apothecary Daiaxis, the contents being what interested the Inquisitor, Rafen the Ready was pregnant. A cruel grin spread over the lips of the member of the Ordo Hereticus as he considered the advantage of this new information.
Rafen sighed as he waited and waited, Sahciel still not showing up as he had been told by the Sanguinary High Priest. His hand smoothed the sanguine robes over his bulging abdomen, the Blood Angel taking to hiding away from everyone that was loyal to his brother that remained in the Ikari fortress that they had taken from the Word Bearers in the attack on Shenlong. Rafen spent time in old abandoned buildings and sewers to have a way to meditate and pray to those he was still faithful to. With his regular visits to brother Daiaxis, he learned that he was having a son, a son he already planned to name Axan in honour of his father. There was a small bit of movement in his stomach accompanied with a small kick. Such a tiny action had such a big effect on the Blood Angel, vowing to put an end to this corruption that surrounded Arkio and his fooled followers. Rafen wanted to be able to raise his son without this war of the Blood Angels with his brother believing a false truth. Rafen gave another prayer to the Emperor and Sanguinius before he headed out of his private escape to return to Daiaxis and another check-up to make certain everything was still okay.
“I don’t see anything wrong with your blood tests this time either, everything is healthy. We shall do a quick feel test and then an ultrasound to confirm everything.” He nodded as he lay down upon the exam table, soon feeling those hands that trailed over his abdomen and made sure the nothing was out of place. The cool clear gel was poured on afterwards, the ultrasound picking up everything until the apothecary’s voice caught in his ears. “This is rather intriguing…”
“What is?” Rafen tried craning his neck to see what exactly was the apothecary surprised by. Daiaxis moved the screen on the ultrasound so that the Blood Angel could see the two distinct shapes on the screen; two children within his body. The other distinct surprise was the sight of multiple sets of small wings upon their backs. There were sounds of four separate and steady heartbeats while the twins shifted in their current home. Rafen gave a contented sigh as he realized that he was to have two children, two children he would vow to protect and cherish.