WH 40k. Ksun Bakir . The First Humans

[Intro — quiet mechanical hum, distant choir] I remember that day. Above the dead planet, strange ships appeared for the very first time. Small. Noisy. Ridiculous. And inside them were creatures who called themselves… humans. [Verse I] They descended through the dust of my ancient tombs, With beams from their lamps and prayers in the gloom. Weapons in their hands, fear close behind, While I watched from the darkness of endless time. Their hearts were beating — I heard every sound, So strangely alive where only stone lay around. One of them whispered: — Is anybody here? And I smiled: — NOW THERE IS. [Pre-Chorus] They raised their bolters. I raised my eyes. They expected a monster. Instead, they saw me. And for several long seconds… nobody fired. [Chorus] **FOR THE FIRST TIME, I MET HUMANS, SUCH BRIEF AND BRILLIANT LIVES!** They were afraid of me, yet stood side by side, As though death itself could be faced with their heads held high. I had lived for millions of years, watched empires and planets disappear, But for the first time I wondered: **HOW STRANGELY BEAUTIFUL IT IS TO TRULY BE MORTAL.** [Verse II] Their captain slowly stepped forward: — Xenos, identify yourself. What a charmingly insolent creature. I answered: —Ksun Bakhir . He looked at my throne, at the legions all around, And quietly asked: — All of this is yours? I looked toward the horizon. — No. The galaxy is still resisting. He exhaled. [Verse III] One young human lowered his weapon, Though his officer shouted: — Soldier! He stared at me without the usual hatred, As though he truly wanted to understand what we were. — Do you really never die? I looked into his young eyes. — Yes. He smiled. — Must be nice. … I said nothing. [Chorus] **FOR THE FIRST TIME, I MET HUMANS, SUCH BRIEF AND BRILLIANT LIVES!** They argue, they laugh, they fear and they love, Knowing perfectly well their tomorrow will end. And still they march through fire and war, For a tiny world, for their friends, for their families. I had lived through eternity, and suddenly understood: **THEY DIE. THAT IS WHY THEY LIVE.** [Bridge — music fades] Then came a gunshot. Of course. There is always someone who becomes afraid before the rest. My warriors raised their Gauss weapons. The humans prepared to die. I could have destroyed them all with a single movement of my hand. But that young soldier stepped in front of his wounded comrade. Useless. Illogical. Stupid. … Beautiful. I raised my hand. — Necrons. Do not fire. [Verse IV] The captain stared at me, unable to believe what he had heard. — Why? I answered: — I… don’t know. He said: — We will meet again, Ksun Bakir. I smirked. — You? Unlikely. He frowned. Then he laughed. And for the first time in millions of years, inside my throne hall… A HUMAN LAUGHED. [Final Chorus] **THAT WAS HOW I FIRST CAME TO KNOW HUMANS — MAD CHILDREN BENEATH DEADENED STARS!** They build their palaces although they know they will fall. They love all the stronger because they cannot live forever. They look toward the stars and believe in the dawn, Though a century from now they themselves will be gone. And if one day someone asks me: — What do you think of humanity? … Too noisy. Too stubborn. Too mortal. … **AND THAT IS WHY THEY ARE EXTRAORDINARY.** [Outro — Ksun Bakir’s voice] Centuries have passed. That captain is long gone. So is that soldier. Their ship became dust. Their names are almost forgotten. But sometimes, when another human fleet enters my domain, I remember that first day. And I give the order: — Do not fire immediately. — I want to see what they are like this time.