Beyond The Impossible

Null Island, Pacific Ocean

Kari Zel has never been comfortable around medical equipment. Back on her planet Myridia, only the Oracles had access to its technology, and their use was often unethical to say the least.

<Are we done yet?> she asks anxiously from inside what resembles an MRI scanner.

<Almost. I just need another scan to calibrate the PVPC> Noriko Null answers.

<The what?>

<Portable Virtual Particle Capacitor. We’re done now, you can get dressed.>

Kari doesn’t waste time to jump out of the scanner, creating a duplicate that hands over her clothes. Since she didn’t wear them during the scan, the duplicate is stark naked like her; both are protected by holographic black bars censoring their private parts.

Once Kari would’ve teased Noriko about having to take the scan in the nude, but she desists due to her discomfort about all things medical and the fact that Noriko has made it abundantly clear that she’s not bisexual like her.

<I assume you want to try it out immediately> Noriko says, but from her tone it’s clear that she shares the curiosity. She’s handing to Kari what looks like a cheap pink bracelet.

<For someone who hates all things girly, it’s not that bad> Kari comments, wearing the bracelet.

<I don’t “hate” girly things. I just don’t share your obsession with pink> Noriko answer, looking at Kari’s pink shirt and shorts.

<Sure, sure. How does this thing work?> Kari asks, searching for a hidden switch.

<It absorbs your body’s virtual particles and stores them as…>

<Wait a second. My what?>

<Virtual particles. Don’t you know how your own powers work?>

<I think and duplicates appear.>

<Yes, but where is the mass coming from?>

<The Drylon monolith on my planet> Kari answers, surprised at the question. Only little children on Myridia ask such things.

<Well, yes and no. Somehow… I haven’t discovered all the details yet… the monolith converts virtual particles into muons and hadrons, interacting with the electrons in your brain to…>

<You had me until “yes and no”> Kari admits.

<Let me guess: you don’t know what a virtual particle is.>

<Other than it’s something you believe I should know, not really.>

<Okay. They’re subatomic particles that can exist for a short period of time, but whose continued existence would violate the principle of you’re not following a single word I’m saying, are you?>

<Sorry. I tried to keep up with Earth’s science, but this is waaay above my head.>

<Oh come on, it’s not quantum physics or anything.>

<…>

<Alright it is quantum physics, but it’s not important right now. What’s important is that the PVPC…>

<Which we’ll call something else, right?>

<…the PVPC will mix your virtual particles with those of specially treated items, allowing you to duplicate them as well.>

<Is this the same thing you used to make clothes that duplicate with me?>

<No, this is much better. It reacts to your thought, like the Neural Transmitter. Think “knife”.>

<Alright, but I don’t see how… HOLY ΣΗΙΤ!!!>

Without realizing it, Kari is now holding a knife in her hand. When she thinks it again, a second weapon appears next to the first. And again, other two times.

<Nori, this is incredible!!!>

<There’s a few limitations. The PVPC essentially tricks the monolith into thinking it’s duplicating you: the more weapons you use, the less you can duplicate. The objects share your same limitations: no more than ten thousand duplicates, and any hard impact will make them disappear.>

<This is amazing! Look at all this stuff!> Kari is overjoyed, juggling more and more daggers.

<It can also create clubs, throwing stars, ropes and other things. Oh and try this: think “Legion”.>

Kari obeys, and her civilian clothes are suddenly replaced with her purple skintight armor.

<Oh my Gods this is so awesome!!!>

<I thought you’d like it. I think the Mist used something similar during your last fight.>

<I am so kicking his sorry a## the next time I see him. I can’t wait to tell myself about this!!!>

Noriko smiles; as always, Kari’s enthusiasm is contagious. Despite the awkward turn of phrase, she knows she’s referring to her duplicate left on Myridia.

<It’s better to wait. It’s the equivalent to 10 PM there.>

<I know, I know. But I just can’t wait picking up the Space Phone and tell her…>

<The Tachion Interferometric Relay> she corrects her.

<Nori, you’re a genius and all, but you really suck at naming things.>

<Fine, “Space Phone” it is. But don’t get too excited, your duplicate can’t use the PVPC.>

<What about Blade Bracelet? Weapon Wristlet? Battle Bangle?>

<This is why I don’t let you name things> Noriko jokes.

Kari changes back into her civilian clothes with just a thought; while admiring the bracelet, she casually changes the topic of the conversation.

<So… this is the last day on Null Island, right? Tomorrow we go back to the Tower.>

<Yes. I’ll keep the island for my experiments, but the new Null Tower will be the base of operations.>

<Planning anything special for the occasion?>

<As much as I loathe the idea, Todd has convinced me to give a speech and a press conference.>

<You spend a lot of time with that guy.>

<He’s my public relations manager.>

<Hm-mm. Sure.>

<Now what?>

<Nothing, nothing. Listen, if you’re not busy tonight, the guys are throwing a party at the beach.>

<“The guys”.>

<The team. It was Max’s idea; Vesta’s gonna be there too. Torn said something that I think is a yes.>

<He agreed to a beach party. Torn> Noriko highlights, stressing the improbability of the situation.

<Eh, kind of. I asked him if he wanted to eat by the sea and he said he likes salt water. I don’t know what that means, but he’ll be there.>

<I’m… really not the beach party type either.>

<Oh come on, it’s just a small thing among friends! You can bring Todd if you want…>

<Why would that make me change my mind?>

<Oh come on, I’ve seen the way you look at him. You’re straight, not dead!>

<As I’ve told you a thousand times, I would very much prefer you to stay out of my sex life.>

<Or lack thereof.>

<Kari…>

<-Alright, I didn’t want to do this, but you leave me no choice. Noriko Null, I formally challenge you to not have fun at our beach party!> Kari jokingly declares with unnecessary flair.

<So all I have to do to win is not showing up> Noriko smugly points out the flaw in Kari’s logic.

<Dammit. I hate it when you’re smarter than me> Kari responds by sticking out her tongue.

Despite her best efforts, Noriko finds herself laughing at her antics.

<So, this party of yours… when does it start?>

 

Planet Myridia, 50 light-years from Earth

Null City is once again a thriving metropolis; the memory of the Guild’s assault is long gone, and people have gone back to enjoying the return to freedom after centuries of enslavement.

A human would mistake this for an expensive restaurant, but there’s really no such thing on Myridia: on a planet where everyone can create duplicates at will, there is no need or even concept of paying someone else to cook for you or to serve you dinner. But since most Myridian houses are not built for comfort, at least not in the city, wealthy people can rent a more refined dining room for special occasions.

Kari Zel is serving dinner to a table where her duplicate is sitting in front of another Myridian girl, roughly the same age. She also has natural purple hair, although with pink highlights.

<This is called “pizza” on Earth> Kari explains.

<Smells wonderful. I still can’t believe we can eat in a place like this> the other girl says.

<Well, y’know, you help save the planet a couple of times and a lot of people want to repay you in some way> Kari boasts; her duplicates disappears with a soft popping sound.

<Then I guess I’ll have to find a way to thank you for the dinner> the other girl adds; beneath the table, her foot is touching Kari’s leg.

Kari isn’t the least bit embarrassed, but she’s kind of surprised of her date’s openness. Despite Myridia’s population being nearly universally bisexual, Demeter’s rule was extremely repressive; things have radically changed over the last year and a half.

<Excuse me, are you Kari Zel?>

The voice came from behind Kari’s back. She instinctively reaches for the knife while simultaneously creating a duplicate facing the person who talked: Kari has become a celebrity on Myridia thanks to her association with Null, but the bounty on her head issued by the Guild is still in effect.

Kari expects to face an eager admirer or a mercenary; she doesn’t expect to come face to face with a woman with blue skin, no nose, and large bat wings on her back.

<And you’re a Lampyrian> she comments. She’d never met one on Myridia, with the exception of a space pirate she’d rather forget.

<It wasn’t easy finding you. I’m sorry to bother you during your meal, but this is really important.>

Kari’s date is the first to react, creating a duplicate to shake the alien’s hand, another one to touch her hair, and a third to caress her wings.

<Pleasure to meet you; do you work for Null too? You’re so beautiful!>

<Jana, maybe it’s better if you leave this to me> Kari intervenes, creating more duplicates to stop her date from harassing the Lampyrian.

Despite some minor protest, Kari is able to escort the blue alien into the next room

<Sorry about that. I don’t think Jana’s ever met a Lampyrian before> she apologizes.

<Don’t worry, I’m used to it. I’m the one who’s sorry for crashing your date.>

<I’m still on a date. I can do many things at once, remember?>

<Yes, of course. As you can tell, I’m not from around here… I arrived this morning.>

<I figured. You’re not here to kill me, right? Because the bounty is only for my original body, which is back on Earth; every me on Myridia is a duplicate.>

<No I’m… well I suppose I should start by introducing myself: I’m Elyla Syzar.>

<It doesn’t sound like a Lampyrian last name. Where are you from?>

<Eleusis. Have you ever been there?>

<I’ve heard of it. It’s in the Hephae… I mean former Hephaestus sector.>

<That’s right. I don’t suppose you’ve also heard of my father, Alexer Syzar.>

<I’ve been out of the loop for a while.>

<Then it’s time to put you back. He would like to talk to you, in person: in exchange, he’s offering to pay the Guild into retiring your 50 million Ω bounty.>

<It’s a lot of money> Kari notes, stating the obvious.

<Not to my father> Elyla answers, smiling innocently.

<How do I know this isn’t a trap?>

<You can’t. But what do you care? You’re just a duplicate: if anything happens to you, your other selves won’t be harmed in any way.>

Kari hesitates… there’s something weird about this. But the Lampyrian is right: duplicates exist to take risks. Sometimes unnecessary ones.

<Alright then, Eleusis it is. I’ve always wanted to live on three planets simultaneously…>