Vesta and Athena share a sincere hug, while Hekate watches with disdain. They all look the same age, despite coming from three wildly different generations of gods.
<I’ve missed you, Aunt Vesta. I meant to visit you, but you know how it is.>
<You know I can’t stay mad at my favorite niece. Athena, these are…> Vesta tries to introduce her allies, but Athena interrupts her.
<Kari Zel of Myridia, yes I know. And your other friend here is called Torn.>
<How did you…>
<Goddess of wisdom, remember?>
<You mean you’ve been spying on us> Noriko says. The others are shocked to hear the harsh tone on her voice, since she’s talking to one of the most powerful gods in the galaxy.
<I’m sorry, but isn’t anyone gonna acknowledge the corpse and the big-ass invasion!?> Kari adds, pointing at the lifeless body of the Crone Hekate lying on the ground.
<You will pay for this, Athena> the other body of Hekate, the Maiden, threatens.
Athena recovers her spear from the Crone’s heart, pointing it instead at the Maiden’s throat; it’s still dripping divine blood.
<I’m also the goddess of war, in case you’ve forgotten. If you want to challenge me, you will discover that it’s not a honorary title.>
<As a matter of fact, we will. Since Demeter is dead, we claim her dominion by right of conquest.>
<You didn’t conquer anything. Right now you’re not holding a very strong hand, Hekate.>
<If we make our move to conquer Myridia and you stop us, her domain will be yours. Are you prepared to defend it against the forces of Hephaestus, Hermes and Persephone?>
<Dammit, Hekate> Athena says, removing her weapon from the enemy’s throat.
<You’re not seriously considering leaving Myridia to her, right?> Vesta asks.
<I have to. I can’t commit too many ships to this sector without weakening my border.>
<Then who will rule Myridia?> Kari asks.
<Whoever wins the war for the planet and is able to hold it against the other gods.>
<Hold on a second> Noriko intervenes <I may not be an expert on divine law, but shouldn’t something called “right of conquest” apply only to territories that were actually conquered?>
<Nori? Where are you going with this?> Vesta asks, but Noriko continues.
<I killed Demeter. By your logic, shouldn’t Myridia be mine by right of conquest?>
<Don’t be ridiculous. Mortals can’t invoke right of conquest!>
<Actually…there is no specific law against it. Nobody thought this would happen> Athena notes.
<This is madness. It goes against everything divine rule stands for.>
<Really? And who decides what is and what isn’t divine rule?>
Athena, Vesta and Hekate look at each other, then Athena answers Noriko’s question:
<Themis, Goddess of Divine Law. We need to go to trial.>
Earth, New York City
Max Black and a duplicate of Kari are walking the stairs to his apartment; he’s carrying two sport bags, she has four tennis rackets.
<I’m sorry, but what was I supposed to do? I didn’t bring enough clean clothes!> she complains.
<Next time just tell me and we’ll play one on one instead of couples, okay? Don’t make your duplicates disappear in the showers!>
<But I like playing against myself. Hey, what do you say next time we play ten versus ten?>
<How are you gonna explain nineteen twins playing tennis!?>
When they reach the door to the apartment, there’s a woman waiting for them. Caucasian, about Kari’s age, wearing glasses.
<Can I help you, miss?> he asks. Kari jumps in front of him, looking at her uncomfortably close.
<You’re not from the CIA, are you?> Kari asks.
<Don’t mind Kari, she’s Russian.>
<You’re Max Black, right? Kayla’s brother?> she asks with a British accent.
<Yes, it’s me. You’re a friend of Kayla’s?>
<Not exactly, I’m…this is going to sound awkward. My name is Erika. I’m Kayla’s girlfriend.>
The Aegis, in orbit above Myridia
Kari and Torn have decided to stay on the planet to meet Old Man Vor and Vesta volunteered to keep an eye on Elytra, but Noriko couldn’t resist the offer to visit Athena’s mothership.
Compared to Demeter’s ship, the Aegis is visibly more modern: the endless corridors are filled with displays at every corner, with blinking lights everywhere.
“Max would’ve loved this. This feels like an episode of Star Trek” Noriko thinks.
Everyone crossing them salutes Athena by placing the right fist over the heart; it looks like a military salute of some kind. The atmosphere is very cordial: they don’t look intimidated by Athena.
Noriko has to admit that she is intimidating. Still wearing the armor, the goddess looks even taller than six foot five, especially next to Noriko’s five feet.
Nike is also dressed in armor, with the breastplate leaving her back completely exposed to make room for her rather large angel wings. Both armors seem rather impractical, leaving a lot of flesh exposed (Noriko notices that Athena doesn’t have a navel); if they’re as powerful as Vesta and Demeter, the armor is probably for show. In fact, judging by Hekate’s reaction and recalling the extent of her dominion, Noriko suspects that Athena is far more powerful than them.
<The Hunters have retreated to the southern continent, ma’am. They have made an official claim for Myridia in the name of Artemis> Nike informs Athena.
<It figures that my step-sister would get involved somehow. What about Hekate?>
<The Child and the Maiden have retired into Hermes and Persephone space respectively; they will likely look for their assistance. The Crone corpse is under our custody.>
<And what about Talas Khanos?> Noriko asks.
<He has requested asylum to the Hunters.>
<That would be all, Nike; please transmit your report to the Senate and inform them that I will be pleased to answer their questions tomorrow.>
<Yes ma’am> Nike says; she bows respectfully and walks away.
<“The Senate”?> Noriko repeats.
<My approach to divine rule is somewhat…different from the rest of my family> Athena admits, opening the door to her quarters. As she does, the armor disappears to be replaced with civilian clothes. It’s really strange to see Athena wearing a feminine dress that wouldn’t look out of place on a manager, even though it has the same colors of her armor…bronze and gold…and her symbol over the left breast: a lightning bolt on a cog. It’s the same symbol of her golden earrings.
<You see, the Athenian Federation includes over eight hundred worlds, spanning almost ten percent of the Olympian Galaxy. Every world is free to leave if they want to and I don’t force them to worship me, although many do.>
<So you’re a democratic goddess? Sounds a little too good to be true. What’s in it for you?>
As they talk, Noriko can’t help by admire Athena’s private quarters: they are on a spaceship, but she couldn’t tell it from here. It looks like the Hall of Mirrors from the Palace of Versailles.
<I am genuinely loved by my subjects. Nobody else in my family can say the same.>
<And you get to rub it on their faces.>
<Great minds think alike.>
They have now reached the table, where a lavish meal is awaiting them.
<I wasn’t joking earlier: you need to put on some weight. You’re too skinny for a warrior.>
<Athena, I want to talk about the Nexus.>
<And you can’t do it over lunch?>
<I know what you’re trying to do. You’re playing up your role as the mother figure I never had growing up. It’s not going to work.>
<Seriously? I grew up without a mother too, but I would’ve liked to have one> Athena answers, taking her seat.
Reluctantly, joins her…and while she doesn’t want to admit it, shares the best lunch she ever had.
<You knew all along that my mother placed the Nexus inside my head and decided to activate it.>
<Yes. I have to admit, when I intercepted Leiko’s first message to the Mortal Liberation Front I wasn’t overly fond of Earth. I was ready to kill you myself if it meant destroying the Nexus.>
<Why is it so important?>
<Drylon technology is always important. But the Nexus…I believe it’s what the Drylon used to become smart enough to create technology so advanced we can’t understand it even now, five billion years after they disappeared. I even tried to use one on myself, as you can see by my silver eyes, but it didn’t work. I’ve used other Nexus on a number of mortals over the years but…power corrupts, you know. Slowly, inevitably, mortals go insane. But before they do, they create amazing things…things that can hurt the gods. You’ve done it yourself. Eventually, Zeus decreed that every Nexus should be destroyed.>
<So there are no other Nexus? I’m the only one?>
<As far as I know, yes. I thought they’d all been destroyed, but Ulysses managed to hid one. What a fascinating mortal, that one. A real shame he couldn’t live forever.>
<I understand why you wouldn’t want Leiko have something like that. But why risk angering Zeus to activate the Nexus inside me?>
<Oh, Zeus won’t lift a finger against his most loyal and beloved daughter. As for the “why”…I have to admit I saw a little bit of myself in you. No mother, a womanizing father without a clue, little interest for feminine things…you’re still a virgin, right?>
Noriko almost chokes on her food on the question, quickly turning red for the embarrassment.
<It’s okay if you’re not anymore. I really don’t care about these things.>
<Are you the only Olympian who knows where Earth is?> Noriko quickly changes the subject.
<There is at least another one. I don’t know who, but I didn’t send the Many to your planet.> Someone else must have intercepted Leiko’s messages, stolen the Many from Demeter and sent them after you. I do have some theories, but no proof.
<I saw the galaxy map. Earth is in the worst possible place. Can’t you defend it?>
<I have responsibilities to the Federation. That’s why I made you the Nexus: I’d hate to see Earth gone now. If mankind manages to survive, I’d like it to join the Federation someday.>
<Wow. This really does feel like Star Trek after all.>
They talk for what feel like hours. Despite her best efforts, Noriko can’t help but feel a bond between them. And she has no doubts that Athena knows it too.
She retires to the guest room for the night; of course, it’s far bigger and fancier than she’d imagined.
The other gods will arrive tomorrow. Since there’s no chance to get anything done without Athena watching over her shoulder, she decides to indulge in her new stepmother’s generosity.
She can’t remember the last time she’s had a relaxing bath. There’s always something to build, someone to fight, the fate of the world on her shoulders. This is the first chance to unwind she’s had in a long time; she just soaks in a tub the size of a pool, allowing her brain to rest.
Then someone touches her tight, and Noriko lets out a high-pitched scream.
<I have to say, Athena’s choice in protégés is admirable.>
Noriko tries to slap the boy’s face before even seeing him, but ends up missing: he has teleported from her right to her left at the speed of thought.
<Now now, is this the way to greet a god?>
<WHAT THE F##K ARE YOU DOING HERE!?!?> she screams, trying to cover herself.
The boy teleports on the side of the pool and bows. He looks in his very early twenties, has curly hair and is completely naked. Noriko does her best to be as discreet as possible when she looks.
<Hermes, god of travelers, traders, thieves, trespassers, tricksters and many other things, at your service.>
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