Beyond The Impossible

Null Tower, New York City

The city has seen more than one alien invasion over the past five years, so the sudden appearance of a second Sun has caused some awful flashbacks.

In contrast to the chaos in the streets, the Operations Room of Null Tower is eerily calm.

Kari and Quantum wait before trying to make a move: not only they are facing Apollo, but they are surrounded by his Oracles. And if the light spectacle that announced the arrival of the Sun God meant anything, Earth is currently surrounded by hundreds if not thousands of them.

And yet, Noriko Null doesn’t attack. Even stranger, she lowers her Genius Gun.

Kylon’s eyes shift from Null to Apollo: the Lar defector is completely lost here.

<How did you find Earth?> Noriko asks Apollo.

<Lord Apollo is a god. Gods are all-knowing.> is the answer of his chief oracle Shaina.

<I wasn’t talking to you.> Noriko points out. Considering that when they faced each other on Lampyria the Oracle almost killed her, there’s very little sympathy between the two.

<You are in no position to question me, Slayer. I order you to kill Ares; if you refuse, I will obliterate the star of this solar system.> Apollo threatens.

<And what exactly do I get out of it?> Noriko wonders.

<It seems that your legendary intelligence is wildly overstated. You have seen with your own eyes that I can destroy suns on a whim.>

<You mean when I saved your butt against Nephthys. By the way, you never thanked me for doing that. Or for rescuing your wife Helen from Ulysses, for that matter.>

<I owe you nothing.> Apollo replies, his eyes shining with sunlight.

<Then I guess we have that in common. You wanna blow up the Sun? Go ahead, by all means: be my guest, Apollo.> Noriko says, never breaking eye contact with him.

<Uhm, Nori? Are you sure about this?> Quantum whispers to her.

<I don’t need your planet, Slayer. You will serve me, even if it means the death of billions.>

<No no, Apollo, that’s what you don’t see: things don’t work that way. If Earth is destroyed or even just damaged, you don’t get my help. If you hurt any of my friends, you don’t get my help. And please, don’t start with your whole “I don’t need anyone’s help because I’m a god”, okay? You wouldn’t be here if you didn’t need me. So let’s cut your posturing and let’s get straight to the negotiations, alright? I don’t have time to waste on your bulls#it.>

<How DARE you talk that way to…> Shaina replies angrily, preparing to shoot Noriko with a laser blast when Apollo stops her by raising his hand.

<Oracles. Leave us alone.> he orders.

<But… my Lord…> Shaina hesitantly tries to interrupt. All it takes to convince her to stop talking is just a glimpse from her god.

<Yes my Lord. Your will shall be done.> Shaina agrees, bowing her head and then transforming her body into photons, beaming herself out of the window; the rest of the Oracles sheepishly follow her.

Kari and Quantum still keep their guard up, especially when Apollo walks towards Noriko; all he does, however, is simply stare at the city.

<You are the most irritating mortal I’ve ever met.> Apollo admits.

<I get that a lot. Come on, spit it out, what’s really going on?>

<I am planning a surprise attack on Ares, in conjunction with the forces of Athena.>

<It’s not really a surprise. If I heard about it, I’m pretty sure Ares is ready for you.>

<Indeed he is.>

There’s something in Apollo’s voice. Null is one of the few people in the Galaxy that can identify that inflection, because it’s the last thing they typically do before she kills them.

<You’re afraid.> she deduces.

<I have fought Ares before. For the longest time, he and Athena were the only siblings who could hope to match my power. But something has changed in Ares… has Vesta told you about their last fight? He lost to her, right before her exile.>

<You think he got stronger?>

<I can sense it. Losing to a lesser god, and a pacifistic goddess for that matter? Ares could never accept that. His obsession with being the strongest has only worsened.>

<And you don’t think that you can match him. Aren’t you both Class-2 gods?>

<Ares is inching closer and closer to becoming a Class-1. He will get there, perhaps in four of five thousand years, but certainly faster than me. You are the only mortal capable of killing a Class-1 god, as you showed with Tiamat.> Apollo explains, holding out his hands: in a flash of sunlight, he materializes a familiar sword… the Heaven-Slayer. Its blade of concentrated Neutral Matter glistens in the light emitted by Apollo.

<I thought you wanted to keep it as a trophy for almost defeating the Vanguard.> Noriko recalls, taking back the sword forged by Hephaestus that she used to kill Tiamat.

<I am in your debt for defeating Nephthys. This shall be your reward.>

<It’s very risky for you to trust me. Why not Athena? Don’t tell me you seriously think that Ares would be able to take on both of you at once!>

<I cannot trust Athena. She has a long history of stabbing her allies in the back when it’s most convenient for her, but you? You have shown that you can keep your word.>

<Flattery will get you nowhere with me, Apollo. I need some guarantee that you won’t blow up the Sun the second I take care of Ares. Besides, I don’t even know where to find him!>

<Leave that to me. I will provide detailed information about his forces and his sector.>

<Including how to find the Demons he kidnapped? My research on that went nowhere.>

<You have spied on Ares for months, Null, but Athena and I have done so for eighty thousand years. If you are still concerned about my proposal, as a show of good faith I will formally entitle you as Supreme Divine Commander of my forces.>

<Which means…?>

<It means that you will have direct control of the entire Oracle caste, not to mention of all the ships provided by Athena. As the highest ranking mortal of my sector, you will have complete and utter control over my army. Is that enough to convince you that Earth will be safe?>

<That’s… a lot more than I expected, to be honest. Giving me full control of your forces, really? You do know that I kill gods, right?>

<It’s only for life. You won’t live long enough to cause me trouble.> Apollo shrugs.

<Well, your words, not mine. I’m in.> Noriko answers, extending her hand.

Apollo reluctantly shakes it, as if it was something he only witnessed mortals do.

<You have three days. My Oracles will contact you.> Apollo says, dematerializing in a bright show of lights. Noriko watches her own hand for a couple of seconds before shrugging.

<Uhm. That went well.> Kylon comments.

<What the f#ck just happened!?> Quantum wonders.

<ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR FREAKIN’ MIND!?> Kari shouts at Noriko.

<What are you upset about?>

<You just accepted to work for Apollo!!!>

<No, I just got full control over one of the most valuable assets in the Galaxy. For free.>

<Apollo’s Oracles are a bunch of religious zealots responsible for who knows how many war crimes, and you want them to work for you!?>

<They won’t commit any war crimes if their new Supreme Divine Commander works her #ss off to stop them and change the system from within, causing the entire Apollo sector to collapse.>

<That’s one hell of a risky move, even for you!> Quantum points out.

<Didn’t you also recently promise to your worshippers that you wouldn’t take a leadership role?> Kylon reminds her.

<That’s different.>

<HOW!?> Kari shouts again.

<This has nothing to do with the Church of Null, and it’s only a temporary thing.> Noriko replies.

<Yeah, hmm, I don’t know Nori, that kinda sounds like you’re looking for an excuse.> Quantum reluctantly highlights.

<What’s done is done. If you want to exploit this opportunity, Null, you don’t have much time to make the necessary steps.> Kylon adds.

<I know, I know. Keep this one for me, Max.> Noriko tells Quantum, handing over the Heaven-Slayer sword.

<I have a feeling you’ll get to use this soon enough.> she says, her silver eyes shining.

 

Boreas, 3.000 light-years from Earth

For thousands of years, the Winter Palace didn’t get many visitors. The last bastion of the Lar civilization has been isolated from the rest of the Galaxy for ages, and its freezing temperature were not a great incentive for humans.

Ever since Leiko Tanaka took over as Ice Queen and expanded the Winter Kingdom, however, there have been at list a dozen official state visits, most frequently by gods.

Aphrodite is the latest one to walk into the throne room. She even dressed up for the occasion… in her own way: beneath the pink fur coat, the only thing she’s wearing is a loincloth.

<Ooh, I love this place! It’s been ages since I laid with a Lar!> she exclaims excitedly.

<You slept with my ship’s commander on our way here.> the Ice Queen reminds her; the Winter Armor opens up, allowing Leiko to move more freely in what resembles the kind of business suit she would wear on Earth.

<I know! They can be a very passionate people if you give them a chance. You know, we could have a little fun if only you took that ridiculous thing off.> Aphrodite teases her, getting close enough to tap on the Vial of Destiny that Leiko is wearing on a choker… or at least trying: its effect is so powerful that the goddess literally can’t bring herself to touch it.

<Focus, Aphrodite, focus. You agreed to work together to take down Hera; we have to discuss our plans to do so.>

<Ooh, I have one, I have one! You could…> Aphrodite says, clapping her hands excitedly.

<I am not going to have sex with Hera.> Leiko interrupts.

<Oh. Okay. Then how about…>

<Null won’t either.>

<You’re just no fun!> Aphrodite replies, playfully sticking out her tongue.

<Do you have any plans that don’t involve Hera having sex with someone?>

<Hmmm no, I’ve got nothing. Hey, you know what we could do to get some inspiration?>

<Let me guess.> one of the other guests comments as she walks into the throne room: Tyche, goddess of luck and destiny, closely followed by Amaterasu who despite being taller tries her very best to disappear behind the youngest goddess.

<You haven’t been able to get her to focus on anything, right?> Tyche asks rhetorically. Aphrodite completely ignores her daughter and goes straight to Amaterasu, touching her in ways that make the child-minded goddess immensely uncomfortable.

<You didn’t tell me you had such a sweet and innocent little thing to play with…>

<H-hi, I’m… I’m Amaterasu. Aren’t you cold dressed like that?> she replies, trying her hardest to force Aphrodite to pull her hands out of her kimono.

<Only when I need another warm body. Has anyone told you that you’re very hot?>

<Well I, uhm, I am the goddess of the Sun. Your Majesty, a little help here?>

<Cool off, mom, she’s just a kid. Even you won’t sink that low… I hope.> Tyche reminds her, rolling her eyes at her mother’s antics.

<Alright, alright. Call me when you’ve grown up a little.> Aphrodite tells Amaterasu, blowing her a kiss as she finally gets to keep her hands to herself.

<I don’t know how you can stand her.> Leiko admits to Tyche.

<I don’t. Mom, we’re planning an assault on Hera, and we need you to provide a distraction.>

<Why didn’t you say it sooner!? I absolutely love to be distracted!!!>

<This will take longer than expected.> Leiko sighs.