SHADES ON TWILIGHT

Nocteun: Bastian…

Bastian: Hello, Master. I see you have some new fools

Nocteun: They saw through your Joyous Choir easily enough.

Bastian: Just one of many testing grounds, I assure you. My work continues.

Nocteun: You should know better than most: that heresy always harms its perpetrators above all others.

Bastian: What right do you have to call anyone a heretic? You've thrown in with witches. At least I am on the side of humanity.

Nocteun: Bastian, if the Adranti were ever once human, they are no longer.

Bastian: A shame you won't live long enough to see how wrong you are. They will lead us to a new Golden Age.

Nocteun: Is that your purpose here, Bastian?

Bastian: Oh it's true, I think Adjorin's corpse might have something of use to me. But my purpose? My purpose is you. When my allies in the Cabal told me they'd found this hulk broadcasting her signal- I knew Adjorin was the one matter you'd be sure to attend to yourself. And now that you have obliged me in coming, I think it's time you oblige me at long last with your death.

And the warp gazed back...