Midgard City, Antarctica
Sitting in her office in the Imperial Palace, Noriko Null is doing one of the things she hates the most in life: watching someone else’s presentation.
This is the rare occasion where she doesn’t find it boring, in fact she was the one to request it.
<These are the six major candidates.> Eunomia begins, looking at the holographic screen.
Right now it’s only showing new the symbol of the Olympian Empire: a stylized galaxy between two olive branches.
<That many people want to be Prime Minister?> Noriko asks.
<It is a big galaxy. You should’ve seen the primaries.>
<I’ve gone out of my way to stay as neutral as possible; I do recognize a couple of faces, though.>
<I thought you might wish to start with the candidates you are familiar with.> Eunomia acknowledges; as the goddess of good order and lawful conduct, her compulsion to have everything neatly organized can be an asset.
The screen first shows a man in his thirties, wearing a military uniform with Athena’s symbol.
<Liosthenes, former Admiral of the Athenian Fleet. He resigned from his position shortly after your coronation. He’s likely to receive an overwhelming majority from the Athenian sector, but he also has a high support from the former Ares systems.> Eunomia explains.
<Makes sense. I’ve worked with Liothenes a few years ago; he helped the Vanguard against Viper and I even recruited him for the Covenant. Last time I heard from him he was still doing undercover work against Ares; he sure rose through the ranks quickly.> Noriko comments.
<If I may be so bold, Lady Null, that almost sounded like an endorsement.>
<I’m not sure I’d like the idea of a Prime Minister that used to answer to Athena, but I could probably trust him. Which of course means it was Athena’s idea to have him in the election, but I can’t bar Athenian citizens from running… they’re part of the Empire too.>
<You will also recognize Senator Zenon> Eunomia says, as the screen switches to the picture of a much older man, probably in his eighties if not older.
Noriko reminds him as the last leader of the Mortal Liberation Front, before the organization was quietly disbanded following the consolidation of the Mortal Republic.
<Another potential pawn of Athena. I don’t know much about him, but I’m sure he was just a puppet and Ulysses was the one really pulling the strings. About that, are we sure these candidates are who they say they are, right? I don’t want to later find out one of these is Ulysses in disguise or a shapeshifting god.>
<All candidates are subject to intense scrutiny by Galactic Security, Lady Null.>
<I want to have a look at their reports, you can never be too cautions with this kind of thing. Does Zenon really stand a chance?>
<Unlikely, considering his age. Which is a weakness of another candidate: Senator Antiochos, former Speaker of the Mortal Senate.> Eunomia continues, switching the image to a picture of another very old man.
<He was the one mortal to seriously push me to accept being Empress. Probably the most politically experienced person I’ve ever met. Alright, that takes care of the people I know… who are the rest?>
The screen now doesn’t show just a picture, but a list of personal data as well. Starting with a dark-skinned woman wearing a simple white chiton.
<Euphemia Doron. Former Emissary Of The Light of Apollo. 32 years old, married to a flautist of the Voice Of The Sun God choir, two children.>
<An Oracle of Apollo? Seriously!?>
<No, an Emissary Of The Light. Before Helen dissolved the organization, they were in charge of spreading worship of Apollo to other sectors.>
<Like a missionary? She knows the Empire has freedom of religion, right?>
<According to her campaign speech, she refused to join the Oracles because she believed religion should not be forced on other people. And she has joined the Church of Null.>
<Hopefully she’s not a religious nutjob. Please tell me she’s not a frontrunner.>
<She has considerable support both in the Helen sector and, surprisingly, a strong following in the former Hera territory.>
<I might have to talk to Ganos Lal about her. So at least there’s one good thing about her living on Earth now.> Noriko notes with a sigh, then noticing that Eunomia looks surprised.
<What? You thought I didn’t know she came here?>
<I was not informed myself. My apologies, Lady Null, as Minister of Administration…>
<Don’t sweat it.>
<I’m incapable of that, Lady Null. I’m a goddess.>
<That’s not what… nevermind. There are people I keep multiple tabs on, you’ll have to get used to me knowing stuff you don’t. Who’s next on the… oh come on, really!?> Noriko exclaims when she sees the next candidate.
It’s a young woman with tanned skin, blond hair and a bustline that would make Vesta jealous, emphasized by a truly ridiculous amount of cleavage. Eunomia doesn’t miss a beat, staying completely professional as she continues.
<Cleora Kallimastoi, hetaira of the Temple Of Our Lady Of Beautiful Buttocks. 21 years old, daughter of the former Second Concubine of Labya and unknown father. She…>
<This is a joke, right? I thought we were discussing only the serious candidates!>
<She has supporters in all the major sectors, and she is the frontrunner both in the Aphrodite and the previous Zeus sector.>
<HOW!?>
<Her campaigns promises an amendment to enshrine the right to orgasm in the Empire’s constitution.>
<I’m surrounded by a galaxy of morons and horndogs.> Noriko sighs again, grabbing the bridge of her nose and shaking her head in utter disbelief.
<Well she is… unconventional, but we can be certain she is not working for Athena.>
<We should’ve established a minimum age for the candidates. I’m not sure I’m ready to have a Prime Minister who’s younger than me!>
<That would have excluded the last major candidate.> Eunomia notes, as the last image is a picture of a blue-skinned Lampyrian.
<Lyra Syzar. Two years old, former analyst for the Karun Bank Group and…>
<Wait a second. “Syzar” as in…>
<She is the great-granddaughter of Alexer Syzar, yes, through his adoptive daughter Elyla.>
<I know Lampyrians mature and learn crazy fast, but still, she can’t have risen so much on her own; I’m guessing she has what’s left of the Syzar family fortune?>
<It’s not all she inherited. In addition to Alexer’s political connections, she also gained a following among many planets that used to be in the Aphrodite sector… she’s not related by blood to Alexer’s late wife Aura, but she can count on the pirates she used to command. Information on Lyra’s personal life is scarce, but we believe she’s had very limited contact with both Alexer and Aura.>
<Still, that’s one heck of a political dynasty… I’ll definitely keep an eye on her.>
<She is also the only candidate who has requested a personal meeting with you before the election.>
<I thought I made it very clear that I’ll be strictly neutral.> Noriko reminds her.
<Lampyrians can be extremely persistent, Lady Null.>
<I’ll think about it. I can’t be seen with any candidate without influencing the election, but it might be helpful to talk to this one in secret.>
<If I may be so bold, Lady Null… is something troubling you about her?>
<Why do you ask?>
<After a few centuries, one learns how to pick up some biological signals. I noticed your heart beating irregularly as soon as I said the name Syzar, and once again as soon as I mentioned Aura. Any particular reason?>
<You know I haven’t had a great relationship with either Alexer or Aura. Both tried to murder me, more than once.>
<I understand. My apologies for overstepping my role. Do you wish me to provide additional information about the candidates?>
<I think I’ve heard enough. You can leave now.>
<As you wish, Lady Null.> Eunomia answers, bowing respectfully and leaving the room without too much fuss.
Noriko stands up from her desk and walks towards the window overlooking Midgard City.
“I’m never gonna be free from Syzar’s legacy, am I?” she thinks, trying her best to avoid speculating on whether Lyra has deduced that Noriko was the one to orchestrate Aura’s assassination. And how such a revelation could cause her empire to crumble.
St. Patrick’s Cathedral, New York City
On Earth, the neo-Gothic cathedral would be considered a large church, but Ganos Lal considers it rather small when compared to the much larger cathedrals of Myridia.
She definitely appreciates the beauty and the atmosphere, and she’s been lucky enough to visit the building when there are relatively few visitors.
She’s been staring at a statue of Jesus Christ being mourned by the Virgin Mary for several minutes when she’s approached by a man that she doesn’t recognize as being a priest.
<First time on Earth?> he asks her.
<How do you know I’m not from here?> Ganos Lal asks back.
<I’ve met a few Myridians lately. It’s not that hard.> the priest replies, looking around: there are other five exact duplicates of the same woman exploring other parts of the church. Not to mention that, while she’s dyed her hair black to honor her goddess, her eyebrows are still her natural orange.
<Even if I’m not a follower of your god, I was wondering if you could tell me…> Ganos begins, being interrupted by the priest who recites the questions that every Myridian seems to have.
<That’s not Prometheus, it’s Jesus Christ and no, he wasn’t the son of Zeus and the Holy Trinity doesn’t mean he was actually from Myridia.>
<Actually, I wanted to ask you a few questions about Lady Null. Was she born here?>
<That’s… a new one. Children are not born in churches on this planet, they’re born in hospitals. And Noriko Null isn’t even Catholic.>
<I was told she was Asian. I thought it was the same thing.>
<You don’t know much about Earth, do you?>
<It’s a very confusing planet.> she shrugs.
As the two were talking, another man has approached them in silence; seemingly another tourist, but he gently pushes the priest aside to ask:
<Ganos Lal?>
<Yes, it’s me. Are you a follower of Lady Null?> she asks innocently, only to tense up when the man pulls out a weapon from his pocket.
<The darkness shall rise again!> he shouts, pulling the trigger.
Ganos reacts as fast as she can: she creates a duplicate to shove the priest aside and a second one to push away the gunman’s arm, making him miss. The laser blast hits the statue instead of the Supreme Pontiff of the Church of Null.
She creates two more duplicates to immobilize the would-be assassin, and they manage to make him drop his weapon. Unfortunately she’s not the only Myridian: the man creates a duplicate of his own, who draws a knife and stabs her in the stomach.
<Tell your goddess she shouldn’t have killed Eris.> he says, before both of his duplicates vanish with a popping sound.
Ganos Lal collapses on the church’s floor, with the priest and her duplicates rushing to stop her from bleeding to death.
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