Aboard the Imperator Somnium, Operating Room.
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The operating room was simple and functional, with a surgical table placed in the center under bright white lights.
Surrounding the table were numerous precision instruments, some of which pumped rhythmically as various liquids circulated through them.
A researcher opened a small, sealed nutrient canister, revealing a set of vibrant, pulsating organs suspended in liquid.
Compared to the organs typically implanted in Space Marines, these were notably larger, stronger, and more vigorous.
These organs had been meticulously adjusted to suit Hades' current age and physical condition.
Moreover, the nutrient canister contained fragments of the Emperor's genetic material. This was done for two main reasons:
To enhance Hades' physical capabilities post-surgery, ensuring his body would be exceptionally resilient.
To develop organs specifically designed to suppress the alien physiology within Hades. However, as the organs settled into Hades' body, this suppression would gradually weaken, ultimately reducing to minimal levels.
This was precisely the outcome the Emperor desired.
Through genetic manipulation, Mortarion's blood had also been added to the mix, further strengthening the bond between Mortarion and Hades.
Typically, a Primarch exerts a hierarchical influence over those implanted with their genes.
This influence drives Space Marines to willingly submit to their Primarch, emulating their personality traits, and in some cases, even resembling them physically.
However, due to the Emperor's genetic fragments and Mortarion's blood present in Hades' new organs, this hierarchical influence would be diminished.
Instead of a master-servant relationship, it would be more of an equal partnership.
Of course, this was their concern, not the Emperor's.
He was not particularly interested in their dynamics; the addition of Mortarion's blood was simply an extra layer of assurance.
The Emperor was not personally present for this surgery, as he had more pressing matters to attend to.
The technicians on the Imperator Somnium were all elite personnel who had long served alongside him, ensuring that the risks associated with this operation were minimized.
With the machines now fully operational, the process of transforming Hades into a Space Marine began.
The Organs:
Gene-Seed: Typically implanted in adolescents, this organ modifies the body to prepare it for the subsequent series of augmentations.
Secondary Heart: A powerful pumping organ that supports the Space Marine's enhanced height and extreme strength. It also ensures survival if the primary heart is destroyed.
Ossmodula: This short, thick tubular organ accelerates bone growth and significantly increases bone density over two years. The rib cage eventually fuses into a solid bone plate, protecting vital organs.
Muscle Enhancer: Greatly increases muscle strength.
Biscopea: Alters blood composition, dramatically enhancing oxygen-carrying capacity and circulation efficiency.
Larraman’s Organ: Generates large blood platelets for rapid clotting.
Catalepsean Node: Regulates sleep, allowing different parts of the brain to rest in shifts if sleep-deprived.
Preomnor: Situated above the original stomach, this organ processes toxic or inedible substances.
Omophagea: Embedded within the spinal cord, this organ allows a Space Marine to gain information and memories by consuming organic material.
Multi-Lung: Filters toxins from the air, preventing gas poisoning.
Occulobe: Positioned in the brain, this organ enhances vision, enabling night vision.
Lyman’s Ear: Enhances hearing, expands the audible frequency range, and improves balance.
Sus-An Membrane: Induces a death-like state in near-fatal situations to increase survival chances.
Melanochrome: Regulates skin pigmentation to protect against varying levels of radiation.
Oolitic Kidney: Improves internal circulation, accelerates detoxification, and enhances blood flow.
Neuroglottis:
Betcher’s Gland: Alters sweat composition to act as a natural cleanser and provides a certain level of protection.
Progenoid Glands: Over time, these glands produce gene-seed, which can be harvested to grow new Space Marines.
Black Carapace: The final organ, implanted beneath the skin, gradually develops into a subdermal 'black shell.' This organ is essential for directly interfacing with Space Marine power armor.
All nineteen organs were meticulously implanted in sequence.
Typically, these implants would be inserted in stages, but due to the prolonged duration of this particular surgery, they were all implanted in a single session.
The reason was simple: the operation took far too long.
The surgery lasted several months due to Hades' natural resistance to the implants.
The integration of each organ required extreme caution and patience, with every blood vessel and nerve carefully connected.
Each time a connection was made, the alarm monitors attached to Hades would spike in response.
Despite the copious amounts of anesthesia administered, Hades' body reacted violently to the foreign organs.
Cold sweat streamed down his face, and his eyelids twitched uncontrollably.
When the final organ was safely implanted and the last stitch completed, the medical team sighed in relief.
The mission assigned by the Emperor had been successfully completed.
Hades now floated in darkness.
Initially, he only felt an excruciating pain in his skull, and he instinctively tried to reach up and rub his head but found himself paralyzed.
His left brain felt like it was on the verge of explosion, and his left eye ached unbearably.
Hades thought this was the peak of his suffering, but he was mistaken.
A tremendous force began to crush him.
Hades struggled to break free, but this force felt like an enormous, all-encompassing hand, leaving him with no escape.
Just as the crushing force was about to overwhelm him, it mercifully stopped.
Hades' brain trembled as if it were a bomb about to detonate, but he would never know when it might go off.
His internal organs began to burn as if they had grown limbs and were thrashing about inside him.
The agony felt like it lasted for an eternity—months? Years? Centuries? Or perhaps just an instant?
All Hades knew was that it lasted so long that he thought he was about to die—then, the pain vanished as suddenly as it had appeared.
Hades could no longer hold on, and his consciousness sank back into the depths of darkness.