Beyond The Impossible

The Aegis, Athena’s mothership

Noriko has already met several goddesses, but Hermes is the first male god she’s encountered.

And of course it has to happen when they are both naked. Hermes seems to be unconcerned by it, but he has the decency to lend Noriko a towel when she makes it very clear that she’s not.

<This Athena’s ship. How did you get in?> she asks, covering herself.

<Oh please. I come and go anywhere I want in the universe; even the goddess of wisdom can’t keep up with me.>

<So you’re the one who stole the Many from Demeter and send it to kill me.>

<Who, me? Your sense of humor rivals your beauty.>

<Drop the charm offensive, it doesn’t work on me. Now would you please put on some clothes!?>

<If you insist, sunshine> Hermes answers, disappearing for a fraction of a second. When he’s back he’s wearing a toga, and so is Noriko. She is not pleased with his initiative.

<Don’t. Do that. Again.>

<Since apparently you hate fun, let’s talk business. Are you really going to claim Myridia?>

<If it prevents Hekate or the Artemis Hunters from destroying it, yes. I did kill Demeter after all.>

<Yes, well, I can’t complain about that; Aunt Demeter was a heartless bi##h. But I’ve had my eyes on her domain for a looooong time, so I’m going to claim the planet too.>

<Of course you are> Noriko comments, massaging her temples. There’s a migraine coming up.

<I understand your concern: Hekate is a psycho and Artemis an anarchist. But you and I, sunshine, we could come to some sort of agreement. And nobody else needs to know about it.>

<Why would I make a secret deal with a creep who stalks me when I’m taking a bath?>

<You mean other than the whole “handsome god who rules a tenth of the galaxy and could kill everyone I know in their sleep if he wanted to” thing?>

Hermes moves again, too fast for the naked eye. Now he’s behind Noriko, touching her shoulders.

<Because if you hand me Myridia nobody will be killed. You have my word.>

<And how much is the word of the god of liars and thieves worth?> she asks, pushing him away.

Or at least she tries. Hermes has the body of a slim twenty-something but weighs like a brick house.

<Think it over, sunshine. I did enjoy our time together; try not to get yourself killed.>

Hermes vanishes a final time, leaving Noriko conflicted, embarrassed and tired.

“Great. There goes my chance to get some sleep” she thinks.

“I don’t know, I’m definitely dreaming. Did you see his…” the other voice in her head thinks.

“Shut up. Stupid sexy god” she complains, headed straight for the bed.

 

Earth, New York City

Erika Rhys is sitting on the couch; Max Black hands her a glass of water, before sitting down next to her. Kari stands beside him.

<Thanks for letting me in. I wanted to call before dropping by, but you’re not on the phonebook> she says with a British accent.

<It’s okay, any friend of Kayla is welcome. Although I understand you’re more than friends.>

<Yes, we’ve been together for a couple of months. I wasn’t sure you knew…>

<That my sister’s a lesbian? She doesn’t exactly keep it a secret.>

<Wait, you’re from Earth but your sister’s from Lesbo? How does that work?> Kari asks him.

Erika looks at her confused, then looks back at Max.

<Don’t mind Kari. She’s Russian> he answers. It’s become his default excuse for all of Kari’s quirk behaviors; Erika doesn’t seem to buy it completely, but doesn’t insist.

<About eight weeks ago she left her job as a security guard; said she received a better offer.>

“After we left for Myridia” he thinks, but actually says:

<Did she say anything about her new job?>

<Only that it wasn’t in Chicago, were we both used to live. She said I probably wouldn’t hear from her for a long time and that if I ran into trouble I should call you.>

<That’s odd. Didn’t you say she never called your parents?> Kari asks to Max.

<Yes, but it doesn’t surprise me. Mom and dad…let’s just say they’re not exactly progressive.>

<That explains why they yelled at me when I called them. I don’t like this, Max…it’s not like Kayla to abandon her loved ones without a good reason.>

<I know. I’ve been looking for her, but she’s dropped off the face of the Earth!>

<There was something else. She said if you weren’t able to help me I should contact Noriko Null, you know, the teenage billionaire?>

Max and Kari look at each other, then back at Erika.

<Why are you looking at me like that?> she asks.

 

Null Palace, Myridia

Two duplicates of Kari kiss Old Man Vor on each cheek; even the grumpy old man can’t hide the fact that he’s happy to see her again.

<You’ve definitely moved up, Old Man! Look at this place!> a third Kari exclaims. She’s been to the Palace before, but it was immediately after the revolution. Now that everything’s been restored, she can’t help but marvel at the luxury.

<I miss my old house. It’s drafty here> he complains. He’s still Old Man Vor after all.

Torn isn’t sharing Kari’s enthusiasm. He’s looking outside the window, where he can see fifty thousand Myridian guards gathered around the Palace.

<I’m surprised they made you Minister of War again. You worked for Demeter> he says.

<Ah, it’s just ceremonial crap. They know that if anyone invades we’re screwed without you guys.>

<How’s the Provisional Government holding up?> Kari asks.

<Pretty well, all things considered. There’s a few people who miss Demeter, but they mostly keep their mouths shut. We still haven’t figured out how to contact all the soldiers Demeter stationed outside Myridia, so for the most part we’re concentrating on rebuilding.>

<The Artemis Hunters. What can you tell us about them?> Torn asks, straight to the point.

<Ruthless bastards. Artemis keeps changing her mind whether pillaging and raping are illegal or not in her sector, so those who leave her domain are the scum of the galaxy…they’re no better than those junkheads from Dionysus space or the Mortal Liberation Front.>

Torn and Kari exchange looks. The Old Man notices, and after a fit of cough warns them:

<Don’t ever get involved with those guys. Believe me, you have no idea what they’re willing to do to achieve their goals.>

<Elytra seems to be equally ruthless> Kari says, recalling the last time they met.

<I don’t know about her, but her family’s been ruling the Hunters since I was a kid. Don’t make her good looks fool you, the Ghost Maker she inherited makes her damn near invincible.>

<“Ghost Maker”?> Kari repeats.

<She can turn intangible at will. Drylon technology.>

<Isn’t using Drylon technology punishable by death?> Torn asks.

<Artemis makes an exception for the Elater family. I don’t know if that’s because Lampyrians don’t live long enough for that technology to drive them nuts, or if Artemis enjoys their company a little too much…if you know what I mean, eh eh.>

<Which means Artemis will never allow Elytra to find a cure for their short lifespan> Kari says.

<I don’t think Talas Khanos cares about what Artemis allows. If I were you I’d keep an eye on that one…that guy’s not right in the head.>

 

On the other side of the planet

Thousands of ships are stationed in the vast swamp that covers most of this continent. Their weapons are targeting Vesta, who is floating above them with her arms crossed and a stern look on her face. She’s here to prevent them from getting any ideas. The Myridian Army would have little to no defense against an aerial attack, but the Hunters know better than to attack the flaming goddess whose fire is not extinguished by the heavy rain.

Elytra Elater returns to the base camp, saluted by her troops. She shakes her blue bat wings to dry them off, being careful not to touch any of the parts salvaged from the Twin Dragon.

<Have you had any success fixing it?> she asks to Talas Khanos.

<It’s late. You should get some sleep> he answer while telekinetically lifting another piece of equipment, attempting to connect it to the other fragments of the God Eraser he’s holding up.

<I’ll sleep when I’m dead. Can you fix it or not?>

<In time, maybe. We won’t be able to use it during the trial, unfortunately.>

<Damn. We better get rid of it before Artemis arrives tomorrow.>

<Already? I thought her hunting grounds were near the galactic core.>

<Hermes is here> Elytra answers.

<Ah, of course. The god who makes travel distances meaningless. Although I question how Athena was able to get here before him, seeing how her dear Federation is so far away.>

<She asked for a lift> someone answers.

Elytra quickly draws her gun and fires, but Hermes catches the shot mid-travel. Despite the fact that it’s a laser gun.

<Good reflexes. I like a woman who fires first and asks questions later. But you know what I like better? Winning a war without firing a single shot.>

<You’re the one who brought the girl with silver eyes to Myridia> Khanos guesses.

<I’m afraid I can’t take credit for that. But when Athena said she needed a quick trip to Earth I couldn’t help but peek at what she was doing over there, and the rest is history. Can you believe that her ship is so slow that it would’ve taken her a whole month to reach Earth?>

<What do you want?>– Elytra asks, still aiming her gun at Hermes.

<Demeter wouldn’t let me marry his daughter Persephone. So I’m going to steal everything she had and spit on her grave…wherever that is.>

<Why are you telling us this?>

<Because, my dear blue angel, I like the idea of Lampyrians with a longer lifespan. Humans have become quite boring lately…no offense.>

<None taken> Khanos answers.

<You know Asclepius? God of medicine, son of my dearest step-brother Apollo? If I ask him to create a cure for your people, I’m sure he would gladly do so out of the goodness of his heart. And not, of course, because a certain someone could accidentally let it slip that he’s been trying to poison his own father for the past two thousand years.>

<You’re lying> Elytra says.

<Pff. As if the god of tricksters needs to lie to achieve his goals. The very thought, seriously…>

<What do you want us to do?> Talas Khanos asks. He’s not overly fond of gods, but knows that having one as an ally is always a major asset.

<Renounce the claim to Myridia. It’s a pretty good offer, considering the alternative is not seeing your grandchildren grow and, what else? Oh yes, watching the Hunters slaughtered by Hephaestus.>

The mention of the name fills both Elytra and Khanos with dread.

<He’s…he’s coming here too?> she asks nervously.

<Demeter wasn’t more than a nuisance to Hephaestus; he’ll wait to see who gets her stuff before sending his army. I wonder if the Hunters can last more than a day against a legion of Talos robots.>

<I…I will talk Artemis into leaving Myridia to you> Elytra says, reluctantly.

<You do that, my sweet blue angel> Hermes says, kissing her delicately where her nose would be if she had one. Then he turns to Talas Khanos.

<And you. I’ve seen your work with the Many…you’ve got some talent. And yet, you betrayed your own goddess to seize power at the first opportunity.>

Hermes teleports in front of Khanos…or walks so fast that it’s impossible to see the steps, it’s hard to tell with him. For a moment, Khanos fears for his life…he knows just how powerful Hermes is.

But Hermes just extends his hand, waiting for Khanos to shake it.

<Would you like to become one of my Oracles?>