Beyond The Impossible

Boreas, 30,000 light years from Earth

The coronation of a new monarch is a big deal for the Lar people.

According to tradition they have the oldest government of any currently existing species. The historical record is anything but solid on whether they’ve always been independent or on how far back the royal family can trace its ancestors, but there’s some truth to the legend: the Lar civilization is indeed nearly a billion years old.

However the coronation of a new Lar monarch has not been a big deal since Kronos annexed the Lar Empire, at least outside of this planet.

But today the planet’s main spaceport is bursting with activity, with hundreds of ships moving throughout the system. Having both the Divine Co-Empress and the Mortal Co-Empress on the same planet is a nightmare for security, and that’s not even counting the various visitors.

One of them has just landed: Helen of Troy, Queen Regnant of her own sector and heir of the vast territories once controlled by Apollo and Ares, has just left her ship and is being greeted by Noriko Null in person.

The two women approach each other in a part of the spaceport that has been isolated from the rest of the building by a large security detail.

<Your Majesty. I didn’t expect you to be here already.> Helen greets her, with a subtle bow to show deference to her Empress.

<Helen. Sorry about the temperature, this is as high as a place designed for the Lar goes.> Noriko informs her. She has zipped up her green leather jacket, which at least provides heat on its own.

Helen on the other hand is wearing an elaborate white ceremonial gown and a short-sleeved fur coat that covers her shoulders and little else.

<The cold doesn’t bother me that much: being immortal is just one of the perks of being a demigoddess. You’re not wearing that thing at the ceremony, aren’t you?> she asks.

Noriko can’t see her face: it’s hidden by the marble mask designed by Hephaestus to control the effect her supernatural beauty has on mortals… but she can still tell that she just raised an eyebrow.

<I have an outfit for the ceremony. I’m just not wearing it until I absolutely have to.>

<You fixate on the weirdest things, Null. I assume you didn’t ask to see me in person to discuss fashion?>

<I wanted to know how your sector is doing.> Noriko answers, taking a walk with her vassal.

<I’m sure you receive enough information through all those reports my underlings regularly supply to your underlings.>

<The technical stuff, sure. But I’m sure there are things you wouldn’t put into writing. How’s the sector really doing, Helen?>

<It’s… not an easy transition. Harmonia might have ruled briefly, but she utterly destroyed the chain of command in the Ares systems. That’s not helping them transition to a new way of handling things. You have to understand, Null, that his soldiers spent millennia in a constant state of fighting where they had to fight to demonstrate their worth. Turning those planets into a stable society is not something that can be achieved in a single mortal lifespan… and not without the risk of igniting old flames.>

<You mean the people are just itching for a fight. You’re fearing a revolt?>

<Mortals who grew up under Ares respect strength, and they respect the fact that you killed him: they won’t turn their backs on you. No, it’s not the people you should fear, it’s the society. Ares built an entire civilization to fight, and as much damage as that system took…>

<The military-industry complex is still there.> Noriko nods.

<And they are afraid they will be replaced by the Athenian Federation, which of all of your vassal states is the only one to emerge unscathed from all conflicts since you emerged on galactic stage. You should resist the urge to completely dismantle what Ares has created, but you shouldn’t rely too much on it. They pledge allegiance to me and in return to you, but my control over it is not perfect.>

<It’s a balancing act, I get it. And what about the sectors you inherited from Apollo?>

<I was their Queen, so I have more control over it than on the Ares sectors. But unlike my deceased husband, I can’t make stars explode with a snap of my fingers. Should a rebellion arise, I would have to bluff my way into keeping control. Especially since those sectors share a border with Athena, who has been wanting to expand her territory for eons.>

<You think Athena is scheming to conquer the rest of the Galaxy, Helen?>

<I think she believes it’s her birthright, and it’s undeniable that she’s by far your most powerful vassal. My apologies if I sound insensitive, Null, but I believe she’s just waiting for you to die of old age to sit on the throne herself. And I’m fully convinced you know that.>

<Then you should also know I couldn’t possibly comment on that, Helen.>

<I know. A balancing act, as you said.>

<What about you, Helen? What future do you see for your role in the Empire?>

<Hopefully overseeing a much more stable and prosperous sector, perhaps surpassing Athena’s in two or three centuries. I’ve already accomplished more than I ever thought it would be possible for a mere demigoddess; I have no desire for conquest and I’ve already witnessed more wars than anyone should be subjected to.>

<I believe you. And really, Helen, you might be my favorite vassal.> Noriko admits.

<I don’t typically get lavish praise while I’m wearing this mask. May I ask why?>

<There’s no bulls##t with you. There’s no double talk and you actually take your job seriously.>

<I also value our work together, Null. It’s so rare to meet mortals that are not intimidated by my beauty, my position or my immortality. Since we are so close, if I may, there is a personal favor I would ask you.>

<What’s that?>

<I have been informed that you resurrected the famous hero Gilgamesh.>

<I rescued him from Heaven, but close enough. What’s the favor?>

<Would you introduce me to him? I find his legends to be fascinating, and from the holograms I have seen… well, it is not proper for a Queen to be single forever, if you know what I mean.>

<Ehm, sure, I suppose. I did invite him to the coronation. Although you hardly need me to introduce yourself, Helen!>

<I’m sure a good word from the Mortal Empress, not to mention his personal savior, would go a long way into making a good impression.>

<Helen… you are literally the most beautiful girl in the universe. If you’re interested in Gilgamesh just for it, you definitely don’t need a wingman!>

<I know that if I took my mask off, my divine powers would make him grovel at my feet like any mortal. That takes all the fun out of it.>

<Speaking of fun!> is the sudden exclamation that accompanies an explosion of rose petals that are conjured up from thin air, heralding the appearance of Aphrodite.

The goddess of love and sex takes Noriko by surprise, not giving her enough time to react: before she knows it, she’s already put her arms around the Empress for a titanic hug.

<I’ve missed you SO much!!!> the goddess proclaims.

<Remember how we talked about personal space?> Noriko asks, her voice muffled by the fact that her face is pushed against Aphrodite’s breasts.

<Sorry! It’s just that you’re so cute when you’re embarrassed!> Aphrodite admits, finally letting her go. There’s no need to admit her embarrassment, considering how much Noriko is blushing.

<Sister. Aren’t you cold?> Helen asks.

<Not really. Do you think I’m overdressed?> Aphrodite asks, despite the fact that she’s only wearing a pink miniskirt and a pink sheet of fabric that is pretending to cover her chest.

<Aphrodite, I specifically asked you to wear actual clothes for the ceremony.> Noriko reminds her.

<You’re just sour because you haven’t had sex in months.> the goddess pouts.

<Aphrodite, clothes. Now.>

<Ugh. Daddy let me wear whatever I wanted when he was in charge, you know.> Aphrodite shrugs.

With but a thought and a distinct smell of roses, the little fabric on her body is replaced with a full set of clothes highly reminiscent of what Noriko normally wears.

Except of course everything is pink and an extremely pronounced cleavage.

<Close enough.> Noriko concedes.

 

Atlantis

Aegian Galaxy, 2.5 million light-years from Earth

It’s quite rare for three members of the Nine Gods to share the same room, let alone if they’re not from the same pantheon.

Poseidon has arranged a new room for this meeting, giving thrones to the allies sitting next to him; although of course his throne is noticeably positioned higher than the others.

Hades sits on his right, on a throne of rotten wood and charcoal. The room is filled with water, but it can’t seem to get anywhere near him. His body is so stiff he seems to be an extension of the throne.

Ereshkigal sits on his left, on a throne of skulls. Her legs are crossed and constantly twitching as if she was counting down the seconds before this meeting was over.

The three gods are staring at a projection representing the Olympian Galaxy, showing the separation between sectors and with multiple planets highlighted.

Poseidon in particular points at one of them, using his trident.

<This is Boreas, the world of the Lar. Null will be present at the coronation of their new ruler, along with all of her vassals. This is where we should strike.> he proposes.

<A decapitation strike. Effective, but are there no defenses in place?> Hades wonders.

<What defenses could stand up against our combined powers? I say we attack during the coronation with all of our might.>

<It looks like a trap. Null is too crafty to left herself so open for an attack.> Ereshkigal objects.

<I agree. We should not underestimate her.> Hades nods.

<She is the one underestimating us. What could she do against us?> Poseidon insists.

<Is Zeus going to be at the coronation?> Ereshkigal asks.

Poseidon takes a few seconds before answering, and by the look of his face he’s not liking what he is forced to say.

<He will not.>

<You do know that Hebe will be there as well, right? Together with Athena and Helen? That’s three daughters that he actually likes. He will absolutely retaliate.>

<You know a lot about the relationships within my family, Ereshkigal.> Hades notes.

<Well of course I do. It’s strategically important information. Zeus might be an oversexed idiot, but he is one of the two most powerful members of the Nine Gods.>

<Who’s the second?> Poseidon asks, raising his voice and stomping his trident on the floor.

Ereshkigal chuckles at his resentment.

<You want me to sing your praise saying it’s you? Please, the whole universe knows Zeus and Ra are the most powerful of all of us by a considerable margin. And you two are painfully aware that I am the third one, so be a good boy and put down that ridiculous toy of yours.>

Poseidon flares his nostrils, but with considerable effort he swallows his pride and doesn’t respond to the challenge.

<I have a different strategy from my brother’s. Instead of concentrating our forces in a single planet, let’s spread it over one of Null’s vassals.> Hades proposes.

<Then we should attack Athena and utterly obliterate her forces!> Poseidon overexcitedly exclaims.

<I knew you were going to say that. Will you ever let go of your grudge against her?>

<You are onto something, Hades, but none of you is looking at the big picture here.> Ereshkigal says, standing up and moving towards the projection.

<There are over seven thousand inhabited planets in the Olympian Galaxy. And if there’s one thing that distinguishes Null’s reign from our own, is that she values every single one of them.>

<So which ones are you suggesting we strike?> Poseidon asks, not getting it.

<Every. Single. One.> Ereshkigal coldly spells it out.