Null City Spaceport, planet Myridia
Growing up in Chicago, Max Black a.k.a. Quantum is used to a diverse city. Even though he’s spent a few days on Myridia, several months ago, he still finds the place upsetting.
Not just because he’s currently the only African-American on the planet. Or because he’s seen a much larger variety of hair colors than it should be humanly possible. But because he keeps seeing the same faces over and over again… a constant déjà vu every time he looks at someone, thanks to the thousand of duplicates of the same few people.
He looks at his watch, nervously: he’s been standing in the designated place, a newly built gift shop that’s not open to customers yet, for several minutes now.
<What are you doing here?> someone asks from behind his back.
<Gahh! Don’t do that!> Quantum shouts, for once being the one startled by a sudden arrival.
The Mist has appeared without warning, as usual wearing his white mask and white cape.
<I asked for Null to come here, not to send one of her pawns.>
<She’s busy. You want to talk to the Vanguard, you talk to me.>
<Very well. I think the Guild wants to take her alive.>
<Seriously? They have a weird way to show it. They tried to kill her twice, remember?>
<The first assassin could’ve easily poisoned her, and the second passed on the chance to blow up your ship. Null is an easy target for the Guild; if they wanted her dead, she would be.>
<Whatever. Is that all?>
<It’s all I can discuss with you. The rest is for Null only.>
<And you seriously expect us to trust you with an attitude like that?>
<It worked for Torn. You don’t know the terms on which he agreed to work for Null.>
<And you do?>
The Mist doesn’t answer, and with the white mask completely covering his face it’s hard to get a read on him. If he’s bluffing, he’s very good at it.
<Give us something, man. Before joining the team, Torn helped us overthrow Demeter.>
<For all the good that made> the Mist comments under his breath, looking away.
<What’s that supposed to mean!?>
<You just replaced a god with another. Demeter and Hephaestus are out of the picture, yes, but other gods have taken their place. And you’re giving the Guild a chance to expand their influence.>
<There was no way we could’ve known that would happen.>
<Exactly. Earth has been isolated from the rest of the galaxy for thousands of years, yet Null acts like she has all the answers.>
<Then share some information with us. How do you know the location of Earth?>
The Mist hesitates. He clearly doesn’t want to show all his cards, but Quantum doesn’t seem eager to get into an alliance… probably as a result of what happened with Hermes.
<Remember when your friend Kari escaped from the outpost of the Hunters? I followed her.>
<You’re a space pirate!?>
<I was undercover, investigating Elytra’s operation before Hekate’s invasion of Myridia.>
<Working for who? The Mortal Liberation Front?>
<I’m an independent agent, just like the Vanguard. Strangely enough, I ran into some technical trouble when I entered your solar system: I couldn’t go faster than light. And I think you know why.>
<I don’t know what you’re talking about> Quantum lies. Unfortunately, unlike the Mist he’s a terrible liar. The Mist doesn’t get to call him out, because the roof suddenly collapses burrowing the entire room under tons of rubble.
The Myridian Palace
Todd Slate has grown accustomed to Noriko’s insane working schedule, but he’s come to realize that she’s just an amateur on Myridia. The speed at which they’re rebuilding their civilization is astounding: Demeter forced most of the technological development back to the 19th century, but in less than a year Myridia has restored its former glory.
As he’s reading the report the Myridian authorities provided him, slower than usual since he needs the N-Phone to translate every word into English first, he’s distracted by Noriko throwing a book against the window.
<I take it you didn’t like it> he comments.
<How do they come up with this bulls##t!?>
As her public relations manager, Todd has seen a fair share of horrible things written about Noriko… that’s to be expected for a public figure. But he’s never seen her so upset about it.
<It can’t be that bad.>
<Really? According to “the Book of Null”, which apparently I dictated to some prophet in a dream, my father is Zeus in human form and I gave birth to myself… somehow. These people believe I’m some sort of cosmic force that will save their souls or some crap like that!>
<Look at it from their perspective: you showed up out of nowhere and killed a god that terrorized them for centuries… twice… and helped them get back on their feet.>
<I know, I know, I expected some hero worship. I’m not gonna lie, it feels good to be appreciated. And if they have to worship someone, I’m a good choice. After all, I am pretty awesome.>
<Is there a chapter about the modesty of The Goddess Null?> he jokes.
<That’s “The Great Goddess Null” to you, mister Slate.>
The discussion is cut short by someone opening the door, without knocking; privacy is not a high priority on Myridia. It’s a woman with two duplicates, carrying various types of fabric.
<Please forgive our interruption, Lady Null, but you need to choose your attire for the εκπηορα.>
<What’s wrong with the way I’m dressed?> Noriko complains. Todd rolls his eyes: it’s always the same story every time she has to wear something different from her t-shirt and green jacket.
<Noriko…>
<Ugh, fine> she sighs, taking off her jacket and handing it over to Todd <Be careful with it.>
<I know you really like this jacket, but come on…>
<I made a few changes. Now the Null Shield projectors are embedded inside the…>
<The what?>
<The Null Shield. The force field you saw me use when we got here> she explains, taking off the shoulder holster of the Genius Gun. Before she has a chance to give it to Todd, the handmaiden snatches it in one swift motion.
<What the> is all Noriko has the time to say, before avoiding a punch to the face thanks to her reflexes. Her assailant is much faster, catching her by surprise with a kick to her stomach.
<Noriko, run!> Todd shouts, trying to restrain the handmaiden; a brave yet completely useless action since the woman proves to be stronger than she looks, throwing him across the room without any effort. Which provides vital information to Noriko: Myridians are stronger than regular humans, but not by that much.
<Null does not run. Denji parusu.>
The Genius Gun emits a high pitched sound, causing the three handmaidens to shake uncontrollably and lose consciousness while spewing sparks from their mouths.
<What was that!?> Todd asks getting back up; a little bruised but otherwise unharmed.
<“Electromagnetic pulse” in Japanese. I didn’t want to activate the voice command by mistake.>
As she explains this, she moves with her foot the unconscious body of the handmaiden: the face has been damaged to the point of exposing the circuitry underneath.
<Another robot. At least the Guild is consistent.>
New Rhetra
Not counting duplicates, Myridia has a population of just 150 million; scattered across a land area similar to Earth, it means the planet has a population density of about 1 person per square mile.
Most towns are built as a rite of passage, once a young Myridian has left the household: thousands of duplicates build a few houses for a single original body. On Earth it would be little more than a ghost town, but on Myridia it’s a wonderful work of art.
Kari Zel’s duplicates are rummaging through the Old Man’s house, while the original watches the nearby garden with a sad expression on her face. So many memories are coming to the surface… she used to train for hours in there, even before she knew how to duplicate.
<What should I do with the place? When the Old Man left everything to me, he probably thought I’d retire here or something> she wonders out loud.
<Do you plan to live on Earth until you die?> Torn asks.
<I never really thought about it. Maybe I should leave a few duplicates on Myridia to take care of…>
<Hey look what I found> one of the duplicates says to get her attention. The trunk contains the Old Man’s personal belongings. Kari recovers a large book full of pictures, then flips through the pages.
<These were taken during his time in the military. He was quite the looker when he was young> she admits, right before reaching the first picture of a naked woman. The first of many: they make up the vast majority of the book. Kari seems to find this very funny.
<I thought you’d be embarrassed> Torn notes.
<Why? I’m not from Earth; this is perfectly normal to me. Aww, look, there’s a picture of me!>
The picture shows a twelve year old girl with short purple hair, smiling cheerfully in front of a man who’s been beaten half to death with his own spear.
<I remember that guy! He came here to take me to the Oracles because I was “of breeding age”, as he called it. The Old Man wanted to handle things by himself, but I…>
<That idiot> Torn suddenly snaps, taking the book from Kari’s hands and closing it.
<What? He got what he deserved! You know what they did to girls in breeding camps!?>
<Didn’t you see what was written under the picture?>
<It’s a bunch of coordinates. What does it matter?>
<We need to get rid of this book. It’s the reason the Old Man was killed.>
<Killed? There’s no reason to think he was> Kari protests, but doesn’t have the time to finish the sentence: someone shoots at her from the window. The duplicate disappears upon impact, while several shots by a machine gun follow soon. The original Kari dives to safety, while Torn doesn’t leave his place: a red energy sword appears in his hands, and he rotates it fast enough to deflect all bullets before they can hit him.
<I hate it when you’re right!> Kari protests.
The Myridian Palace
An assassination attempt within the planet’s capital is no laughing matter, and the Palace is swarming with guards. Doctor Kalama knows that something is up when Noriko first shows up followed by thirty guards and then has to argue to be left alone with the doctor.
<What happened?>
<Nothing, a robot just tried to kill me. Did you find out anything about the Old Man?>
The two women approach the medical table where the body of Old Man Vor lays covered by a white sheet. The Palace houses a fully staffed medical facility, but Doctor Kalama is the first physician to have touched the body… the word “autopsy” doesn’t even exist in Myridian.
<For a 97 year old man, he was in perfect physical condition. You told me that Myridians have been genetically altered, so at first I thought this was due to his physiology. But when I looked closer…>
<This body is less than a month old> Noriko interrupts her.
<Yes, I… I was about to explain how I found out. Did you deduce it just by looking at him!?>
<I’m a genius. Talas Khanos performed genetic experiments on Myridia; someone must’ve taken over one of his facilities. This is obviously a clone.>
<But why? If it was just to get you here, wouldn’t it be easier to just kill the real Vor?>
<He has something the Guild wants. I’m just a bonus for them…the real targets are Kari and Torn> she realizes.
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