Beyond The Impossible

Null Tower, New York City

As Noriko Null’s former personal physician, Doctor Kalama is more than used to patients who don’t listen to her advice.

At least she’s reasonably sure that Ganos Lal is not going to risk her life on a regular basis, even if she did try to discourage the Supreme Pontiff of the Church of Null from attending this meeting.

<Just don’t overdo it, alright? You’re still extremely weak.> the doctor tries to reassure her.

<I have already rested enough, doctor.>

<You were in a coma!>

<More reasons why I need to catch up on my duties.>

<No wonder you worship Noriko, you’re just like her.>

<Why, thank you, that is the greatest compliment you could possibly give me.> the Pontiff replies sincerely, and the two women enter the Operations Room.

The round table at the center is typically reserved for the Vanguard, but only Null and a duplicate of Kari Zel are present: the other seats are taken by the goddess Athena and by the old Demon woman called Maim, who seems to be the most impatient of the bunch.

<Can we start now? Not all of us are going to live forever, and it’s freezing cold in here.> she complains, adjusting the thick coat she’s wearing.

<I’ve already turned the thermostat all the way up. This is as close to Hell’s environment as I can create.> Noriko replies; she’s taken off her leather jacket and is wearing her black T-shirt with her white Ø symbol.

<Do we really need this poor old woman to formulate a plan?> Athena is the next to complain.

<Can you read Primordial Demonic, missy?> the old Demon asks.

Athena’s legendary self-control slips for just a moment: she typically acts completely neutral towards anyone, but her distaste for this mortal is clear.

<I cannot. At least for the moment.> she admits.

<Then you need me. Listen up, children, because I’m too cold to explain this twice.> Maim says, pushing the thick leather-bound book she brought from Hell to the center of the table.

Its contents are scanned by Null’s technology and a hologram of its pages is projected above it, large enough to clearly see its letters… although for everyone except Maim, even for the Goddess of Wisdom, it’s completely undecipherable.

<Four billion years ago, Ereshkigal commissioned the creation of a new form of life that could be used to access the technology of the Drylon, which is forbidden to the gods.> Maim explains, reassuming a text older than most species on Earth.

<The Eden, yes I know. I learned that when I accessed their collective mind before destroying it from within.> Noriko recalls.

<When the Eden grew out of control, the gods of Sumer created new races to combat them. The Lar, the second incarnation of man, proved ineffective. But then Marduk created the Demons and infused them with the power of the Blood, which itself originated from the blood spilled by the energy dragons spawned by primordial goddess Tiamat.>

<Is there anything in that book that we don’t already know? We learned all of this the first time we landed on Hell, and that was ages ago!> Kari pushes her.

<This is common knowledge among all Demons, yes. But what has been kept secret by the Nameless Order for millions of years is that the Blood is not the only power that can be accessed by the Demons.> Maim explains.

<This is getting interesting.> Athena admits.

<According to this book, Ereshkigal visited Hell well after my people had lost control over the Nexus. She discovered that, while the Demons were created to control only the Blood, we had evolved the ability to access the power of other Primordials.>

<That might explain why Torn was able to tap into Gaea’s energy.> Noriko says.

<Ereshkigal taught the Demons how to access the Ichor. A bitter war was fought between those who still bound themselves to the Blood and those who were tempted by the Ichor’s power, a war that nearly destroyed Hell in the process. But eventually the Ichor was completely eradicated… or so we thought, apparently.> Maim concludes.

<I don’t want to sound insensitive, but what was bad about the Ichor? I know you guys are super into the Blood, but still…> Kari asks.

<The Blood is connected to organic life: it feeds off its intensity and responds to its emotions. While it can overwhelm a Demon, the Blood needs life to exist; it only bestows blessings upon those who know how to use it. It enhances life. The Ichor, on the contrary, comes from the vilest of Primordials. It exists to destroy life itself and impose its wicked goals into the user’s mind, ultimately destroying it.> Maim replies, the disgust for the entire process extremely clear in her choice of words.

<The Demons couldn’t sustain its use indefinitely.> Athena concludes.

<Wait. You mean both the Blood and its user have a beneficial relationship towards each other, while the Ichor only feeds off whoever is using it?> Doctor Kalama asks.

<You could put it that way.> Maim nods.

<The Blood is a symbiote and the Ichor is a parasite. Nice deduction, doctor.> Noriko congratulates her, much to Athena’s annoyance.

<I thought it was too obvious to point out.> the goddess complains.

<You said the Ichor “imposes its goals” on the user. Is it sentient?> Noriko asks.

<Not in a way you could understand. It’s chaotic and unpredictable, but always violent.>

<And I had this thing inside of me?> Ganos Lal asks, her voice trembling with dread.

<I cannot understand how you are still alive if the Ichor touched you. Even a Demon could withstand the Ichor for only a short amount of time: according to the book, any other form of life ever exposed to it died quickly and painfully.> Maim replies.

<Except we saw Sarelyn Yon use it extensively, and a scan of her body after our battle didn’t show any sign of physical damage… not beyond what Athena caused, at least.> Noriko says.

<Then Ereshkigal must have found a way to lessen the harmful effects of the Ichor on her new soldiers. It doesn’t even affect the powers of a Myridian.> Athena adds.

<Or the Ichor has mutated somehow? A parasite that kills its host is not very efficient; it would have the most interest in feeding off its host for as long as possible, and to infect as many new hosts as it can. It’s simple evolution.> Doctor Kalama suggests.

<The Ichor is of divine origin. Gods do not “evolve”.> Athena objects.

<Ereshkigal created the Eden and is a Class-1 goddess: she could have enough knowledge to manipulate the Ichor herself. Could she do it?> Noriko asks.

<The book doesn’t say. Gods can use the Blood to enhance their own power, so it’s possible, but Ereshkigal is likely wise enough to avoid personally using the Ichor unless she wants to mix up with its creator.> Maim theorizes.

<You mentioned the Ichor was created by “the vilest of Primordials”. Any reason why you are not giving its name?> Athena asks.

Maim hunches over a little and keeps her voice as low as she can to respond.

<It is considered bad luck to utter the name of Baal.>

<We are done.> Athena abruptly declares, standing up from her chair in a hurry.

<What? What’s gotten into you?> Noriko asks.

<The best possible strategy available is crystal clear: surrender the Vial of Destiny to Ereshkigal, and in exchange she will honor her vow.> the goddess says.

<You’ve got to be kidding me!> Noriko protests.

<Gods can’t use the Vial and the Sumerians, while otherwise unpredictable, are known to religiously honor their word. Ereshkigal promised peace in exchange for the Vial, so there is little reason to discuss other possibilities.>

<What’s gotten into you!?>

<Fighting Ereshkigal means more Ichor flows into the Olympian Galaxy. More Ichor means we attract Baal’s attention. And avoiding that is the most important thing you could possibly achieve in your tenure as Mortal Empress.> Athena explains in a hurry, bowing respectfully towards her Empress and rapidly teleporting away.

<I didn’t say “dismissed”.> Noriko mumbles in disappointment.

<Okay what the Hades was that about!?> Kari asks, verbalizing the question on everyone’s mind… except Null’s.

<Something I don’t quite have time for right now. Needless to say, but both surrendering the Vial of Destiny and fighting Ereshkigal are not options I’m willing to entertain.>

<I don’t see what other options you have, youngling.> Maim replies.

<Except studying this Ichor stuff and figure out its weakness. Then I’ll wipe this stuff off the face of the galaxy.>

<The Demons have dealt with it for millions of years. You expect to do better in a shorter time?>

Noriko allows herself a smile.

<You clearly don’t know me enough, old lady.>

 

Fort Hamilton, New York

A different Kari Zel duplicate is waiting by a military vehicle, right next to Quantum and Torn.

<I really don’t like this.> Quantum admits.

<You saw what she can do. The farthest she is from civilians, the better.> Kari reassures him.

<I know, I know, but… giving the authorities custody over supervillains? That never works!>

<“Supervillain”?> Torn repeats, unfamiliar with the term but ignored by his fellow Vanguards.

<Max, we work directly for the freaking Empress. We are the authorities now.> Kari reminds him, something that shouldn’t be necessary when a ship bearing the insignia of the Olympian Empire starts its descent towards their position.

Before it actually lands, it shoots a ray of light towards them, that transforms into a human: a woman with brown skin wearing a white military uniform with several medals on her chest.

<Lady Zel. Lord Torn. Quantum. I’m here to take custody of the prisoner.> she announces, taking extra care to stress her distaste for the human.

<Hey, Shaina. It’s been a while. How’s being a former Oracle of Apollo forced to work for the girl who killed your old god?> Quantum teases her, only to receive a light elbow strike from Kari.

<Please excuse him, Shaina. He’s still holding a grudge for when you, ehm…>

<Nearly killed Null and lead the charge to exterminate the population of Lampyria.> Torn finishes Kari’s sentence.

<I have sworn allegiance to the Mortal Co-Empress. And as Minister of Galactic Security, it is my duty to take care of the prisoner.> the former Oracle explains, backed up by one of the two women leaving the ship: Euphemia Doron, one of the leading candidates for Prime Minister.

<I have an official request of extradition to Myridia. You can follow us if you want.> she offers.

<I’m not sure that’s such a great idea.> the other woman adds, flying towards the human vehicle by using her natural blue wings.

<You have no authority over this case, Lyra Syzar, unlike my good friend Shaina here.> Euphemia stresses, placing her hand over Shaina’s shoulder.

<It’s not a matter of authority. It’s about knowing what is best for…> the Lampyrian zones out, freezing in place with her mouth left wide open.

<Well that certainly looks like someone ready to lead the Galaxy.> Euphemia snarks, crossing her arms defiantly. Shaina is not as amused.

<Something is off.> she says, looking around.

<She’s right. I can no longer feel the assassin’s soul.> Torn reveals.

<She belongs to the darkness now. As will all of you.> Lyra says, her voice becoming deeper just as her eyes turn completely black. Once she spreads her wings, darkness spreads from her position and she launches herself at the Vanguard, with talons of black Ichor emerging from her nails.