Beyond The Impossible

Olympus, 26,000 light-years from Earth

Athena lands on the surface; she has done this countless times over the millennia, except Olympus wasn’t a planet during any previous visit.

She moves past the countless Nullbots that are busy taking care of the renovations: not only they are repairing the surprisingly limited damages, but they have started the constructions of several new buildings.

After passing by hundreds of mortals of various races, she finally reaches the chamber where the Twelve Gods of Olympus used to dictate the fate of humanity. They have been replaced, literally and figuratively, by Noriko Null.

<Lady Null.> Athena greets her, with a slight nod of her head; she’s not surprised to find the Co-Empress is not alone, but she didn’t expect to see a child with her.

<Aren’t you going to introduce me?> the child asks Noriko, pulling her green leather jacket.

<She’s Athena, she already knows who you are.> Noriko reassures her.

<Indeed I do, young lady. But I regret I am not been informed on what is supposed to be the formal way to address the sister of the Co-Empress; should I refer to you as Princess Nalani or as Princess Null?> Athena asks the child.

<She’s not a princess.> Noriko replies with the slightest hint of distaste for the title.

<Why not? Can I be a princess Nori? Please please please?> Nalani pleads. She might be far smarter than a regular human, but she’s still five years old.

<We’ll see when you’re older. Now go ask one of the Nullbots to take you back to the Ragnarok, I have some business to discuss with Athena and then we’ll fly back to Earth.>

<But you promised to show me around!>

<I didn’t say today. You’re still getting punished for sneaking into the mission.>

<Aww, that’s not fair. I didn’t even get to know Miss Athena!>

<There will be plenty of time for us to know each other, Nalani. I have an eye for exceptional people that show talents such as yours.> Athena reassures her.

The goddess looks at Nalani until the kid has left the room, after which Noriko tells her:

<Whatever you’re thinking, my sister is off the table. Don’t even try to involve her into one of your schemes, do I make myself clear?>

<I don’t know what I should be thinking, Noriko. What are you doing here?>

<Renovating. Gaea turning Olympus into an actual planet turned out to be an unexpected opportunity: now I can finally use it for something.>

<Yes, I can imagine that the palace sitting on the surface of a white dwarf star would’ve made it challenging to use it as your base of operations. You must be glad of moving your offices out of Megalopolis… that planet is simply dreadful.>

<Oh I’m not moving here. I’m setting up Earth as the political capital of the Empire, or more specifically Midgard City.>

Noriko has seen Athena being surprised before; she hides it well, but it’s still apparent. And few times it’s been as satisfying as it is now.

<Earth? Then what are you planning to use Olympus for?>

<I’m reserving some of the rooms for the ceremonial stuff that Hebe deals with as Divine Empress, but the rest of the palace is being turned into a museum.>

<A museum? This is the holiest building in the Galaxy!>

<Please, we both know most of the space was only used by Zeus to throw orgies.>

<Holy orgies. This place stands for something.> Athena replies, crossing her arms; she’s not even trying to hide the body language, she’s offended by how little Noriko respects the palace.

<Such as…?>

<Continuity, for one. Olympus has stood as the stable center of civilization for over five hundred thousand years.>

<And mortals will get to appreciate it now that they can finally see it.>

<If you say so. Still, Olympus hardly needed renovations.>

<Please, this palace didn’t even have internal plumbing. Besides, now that there’s an entire planet out there and not just this building, Olympus is going to serve other purposes as well.>

<I surely hope your idea of upgrading Olympus doesn’t consist solely of installing some toilets.>

<I’m also using it as the base of operations for a rapid response team for emergencies; if there’s a natural or astronomical disaster anywhere, we’ll be able to use my Portal Generator to send help immediately. Plus there’s land enough to house any potential refugees.>

<That makes sense.> Athena nods.

<And of course there’s the oceans where I’m relocating all the refugees from the Aegian Galaxy.>

<Noriko, you’re not seriously considering…>

<Protecting innocents from Poseidon’s persecution? I’m not just considering it, I’ve given my word. The city-ships from the Atlantis Uprising will be here within the day: I’ve used the Key of Heaven to transport them in a nearby solar system.>

<Poseidon will consider this a hostile move, Noriko. He considers them terrorists.>

<I was also considered a terrorist by Olympus, remember? I had your backing back then.>

<You still do, but…>

<Do I, Athena? Do I really have your backing?> Noriko asks, her silver eyes shining. The tone of her voice has suddenly changed to a more hostile one.

<Where were you when I was facing Gaea, Athena? Sure, your Federation did provide some technical assistance to deal with Gaea’s attack on the plant life of my worlds, but I didn’t get a single call from you.>

<If you needed my help, all you had to do was…>

<Call you? So that all the other gods could see I couldn’t protect Olympus without your help? That would’ve been quite convenient for you, isn’t it? My other vassals did try to offer their services, and none of them are the g##damn Goddess of War!>

<Your anger is unwarranted. My intervention would’ve escalated the…>

<Gaea was ready to blow up the galaxy, how much more couldn’t it have escalated!?>

<An all-out war between gods would be much worse.>

<Funny you should mention that. Need I remind you that Hades wanted to attack you in retaliation of you sponsoring the Zenith? You don’t get to lecture me about causing trouble with other galaxies; Hades would’ve come for your head if I hadn’t convinced him you’d stop interfering!>

<That is some serious accusation, Noriko. As I have told Hades, Ulysses and his followers acted without my consent.>

<Athena, let’s be clear about one thing. If I have to pretend in front of Hades that I’m buying your bulls##t in order to preventing war, I’ll do it. But as long as you’re a vassal of the Empire, I expect you to be honest and direct with me. Either the Athenian Federation starts to pull its weight or we might have to revise the terms of its vassalage. Is that clear!?>

<Absolutely.>

<Good. Now I have two questions for you: first of all, why didn’t you offer help?>

<Gaea had hostile intentions only towards you. If you failed, the gods would’ve needed to take back control of Olympus. And there was no point in attacking a Primordial Goddess.>

<Except I proved I have the means to fight a Primordial to a standstill. That will probably keep Poseidon from getting any ideas of launching an attack, right?>

<For the moment. Since you asked me to be honest, this incident also showed your reluctance to commit mortal resources and your tendency to get entangled in more alliances. Your plan was a gamble: the Empire came within close distance of complete annihilation, something that could’ve been avoided if you simply disposed of the Key much earlier.>

<See, was being honest that difficult?>

<I assume this is not the second question.>

<No, the second question is about the Book of Mnemosyne. What is it?>

<Obviously a book written by the Titan goddess of memory, elder sister to Kronos and mother of the Muses. The only book of the Library of Olympus I have never read. Why do you ask?>

<It’s been stolen before the fight. Why haven’t you read it?>

<It’s written in a language I’ve never been able to translate.>

<I want to see a transcript. I assume you have photographic memory?>

<You’re lucky I’m a goddess, otherwise I would’ve found the question offensive.> Athena comments, holding out her hand: she conjures up a perfect replica of the book, built atom by atom.

<Nice. Any chance you know where I can find Mnemosyne?>

<Nobody has seen her since the last Trojan War, but I can investigate further.>

<See that you do. Now if you excuse me, I have to take care of some family matters.>

<Of course. But before you do, Noriko, I also have two questions for you, which I assume you will answer with the same level of honesty.>

<Shoot.>

<Should the Empire face a threat that cannot be overcome solely by the Vanguard and its allies, will you be willing to involve the military forces under your command even if it could entail the loss of mortal lives?>

<Exclusively as a last resort, but yes. What’s the second question?>

<Did you really get rid of the Key of Heaven without a plan to retrieve it?>

<I really did teleport it to a random location. I haven’t figured out a way to track it yet, but I do intend to study a way to retrieve it… eventually, it’s very far down my list of priorities right now. Does that answer your question?>

Athena stares at her for an uncomfortably long period before reacting.

<It does. Have a safe trip back home, but let’s not wait so long again before another meeting… I do enjoy our little chats, Noriko.> Athena tells her, patronizingly patting her on the head before leaving. Noriko takes a breath of relief once she’s gone.

<That was close. I’m sure she could tell I wasn’t lying about being unable to find the Key. I wonder if she figured out I omitted to say I knew someone who can tell me where it is?> she thinks.

 

New York City, Earth

Nalani Null is sitting on her bed, constantly flipping between channels on her TV. When the room is illuminated by the sudden light of a teleportation device, it’s to herald the arrival of a second Nalani and of her older sister. And as soon as the real Nalani appears, the other one transforms into an exact copy of Kylon, Noriko’s Lar boyfriend.

<I can explain, honestly!>

<Sorry Eros, my sister found out about us switching places.> Nalani admits.

<Oh, that’s too bad. Did you at least have fun in your adventure?>

<Did I!? We met mermaids! And I got to hack the Ragnarok and visit Olympus and…> Nalani excitedly narrates, only to stop when receiving a death glare by her sister.

<And I should’ve stayed home because I’m too young to have fun.> she pouts.

<Oh but you can! Did you know you have access to countless hours of dramas on this marvelous device?> Eros asks, pointing at the TV that he’s staring at in amazement.

<You’ve been watching TV all this time?> Noriko asks, raising an eyebrow.

<It’s fascinating! I think I’m addicted to those things you call soap operas, though I couldn’t understand why since they don’t involve soap and nobody sings. And something called “reality TV” which I suspect is not entirely real.>

<Oh, so mom and dad didn’t discover you took my place?> Nalani excitedly asks.

<No they did right away. But they wanted to call your sister so I threw a love spell at them and they haven’t left their room in days. You should probably check up on them.> Eros suggests.

<You better not. It’s never a good move to get in my father’s bedroom without being ready for what you might see… I learned that the hard way when I was your age.> Noriko says.