>>112767261Too bad the Emperor has literally spoken to an Inquisitor in a canonical novel.
"WE ARE CURIOUS," came a mighty anguished thought which itself transcended time. "WE HAVE FOLLOWED YOUR INTRUSION INTO OUR SANCTUARY, OUR ANTRUM AND ADYTUM.
"My lord." Jaq sank to his knees. "I beg to report to you before I am destroyed. I may have uncovered a major conspiracy-"
"THEN WE WILL STRIP YOUR SOUL BARE. RELAX, MORTAL MAN, OR YOU WILL SURELY DIE IN SUCH PAIN AS WE ALWAYS ENDURE."
-Jaq is subsequently soul-stripped and then restored-
"WE HAVE PUT BACK WHAT WE TOOK AND TASTED, INQUISITOR"
"WE ARE MANY, INQUISITOR"
"HOW ELSE COULD WE ADMINISTER OUR IMPERIUM-"
"AS WELL AS WINNOW THE WARP-"
"HOW ELSE?"
"SO DOES THE HYDRA THREATEN US?"
"IMPERILLING OUR GREAT AND AWFUL PLAN TO STEER HUMANITY?"
"DID WE OURSELVES DEVISE THE HYDRA?"
"PERHAPS IN A PART OF US, SINCE THE HYDRA PROMISES A PATH?"
"SURELY A MALEVOLENT PATH; FOR HOW COULD HUMANITY EVER FREE ITSELF?"
"THEN WE MUST BE MALEVOLENT TOO. FOR WE HAVE EXPELLED OUR SENTIMENTALITY LONG AGO. HOW ELSE COULD WE HAVE ENDURED? HOW ELSE COULD WE HAVE IMPOSED OUR RULE?"
"YET BY VIRTUE OF THAT WE ARE PURE AND UNCONTAMINATED BY WEAKNESS. WE ARE GRIM SALVATION."
"NOTHING THAT SAFEGUARDS HUMANITY CAN BE EVIL, NOT EVEN THE MOST STRENUOUS INHUMANITY. IF THE HUMAN RACE FAILS IT HAS FAILED FOREVER."