Themiscyra, 90,000 light-years from Earth
It’s really hard to surprise Noriko Null, but Amazon technology is very impressive even by her standards. She has some understanding of how to build objects with more than three dimensions, but they seem to have perfected it.
The storage facility inside the planetary dockyard stretches for hundreds of miles, even if outside the entire building occupies only a few feet in three-dimensional space.
It’s actually a rather chilling view: millions of Demons are kept in stasis inside cryogenic chambers, an endless line of frozen bodies.
<Not a pretty sight.> Kari Zel comments, creating half a dozen new duplicate to check on individual Demons.
Agony acts more stoically, hiding extremely well her happiness at finding hope for the Demon race.
<I cannot feel their souls, but I sense they are alive.>
<To interact with living organisms, the Blood needs a certain level of metabolic activity. By lowering it to the bare minimum, we ensured they could not be tracked.> Queen Tecmessa explains.
<Fascinating technology. I’ve made some research on cryogenics, but this is very advanced. Why this interest? You’re andr… you’re gynoids now, surely you don’t need this?> Noriko wonders.
<Earlier Amazon models studied ways to preserve the life of our biological ancestors. That was before we realized we didn’t need organics, so the project was scrapped.>
<Well that’s not ominous or anything…> Kari murmurs.
<Can you revive the Demons without causing physical damages?> Vesta asks.
<Easily. Demons are remarkably tough, despite their organic nature. But remember: you promised to transfer Themiscyra to another galaxy in exchange for our help against Ares. We will hold all of you accountable to fulfill this promise.>
<I already gave you my word for it. Let’s not waste any more time.> Noriko says.
<Very well.> Queen Tecmessa nods, raising her hand and sending out an electromagnetic signal.
One after the other, the cryogenic chambers begin to open and to release the prisoners.
<Agony, Vesta, make sure everybody is alright. Kari, they’ll probably need a few thousand duplicates just to keep up. Your Majesty, I’m going to need your communications array.>
<For what purpose?> the Queen asks, suspicious as ever.
<You don’t want all these Demons to set foot on your planet once they’re awake, right?>
<Of course not! Half of them are males.>
<Then I’m going to need one of the Keys of Heaven to transport them back to Hell, and that’s on Earth. So I need your tech to send a message.>
<I can…> Agony begins to protest, but before she can point out that she could easily open a pentagram portal to Earth she receives a very stern look from Noriko.
<Don’t say anything. I have a plan.> she can hear Null communicate through the Blood; since the Amazons are inorganic, the Queen can’t intercept the message.
<…handle things here while you’re gone.> Agony completes the sentence.
<This way. The sooner we get these males off my planet the better.> Queen Tecmessa says, escorting Noriko towards a teleportation pad.
<What was that about?> Kari whispers.
<I don’t know. I just hope she knows what she’s getting herself into.> Vesta whispers back.
On the other side of the planet
By human standards, this is a rather unusual space for an office. It could easily be mistaken for a garden, considering that the single desk is surrounded by beautiful flowers and perfectly maintained plants. The woman sitting there leans back on her chair; there isn’t much to do around here.
There are three large screens surrounding the desk, showing the feedback from the sectors surrounding Themiscyra… and considering its extreme isolationism, there’s never anything really interesting on the screens.
The bright light of a teleportation interrupts the monotony, as Queen Tecmessa appears next to a somewhat disoriented Noriko Null.
<Your Majesty!> the Amazon technician exclaims, awkwardly jumping out of her chair.
<Constable Second Class Polydora. This is my guest Null; she needs to use our communications system; see that she doesn’t cause any trouble.> the Queen orders.
<Yes, my Queen.> Polydora agrees, bowing respectfully as Tecmessa teleports away.
Noriko doesn’t pay much attention to Polydora: considering she’s shorter and noticeably less muscular than other Amazons, she’s probably not a combat model.
<So… where’s the communications array?> she asks.
<Right here.> Polydora says, looking at the desk.
<Uhm, maybe there’s a misunderstanding. I need something capable of sending a message to the other side of the Galaxy.>
<That’s what this is.> the Amazons replies, placing her hand on the desk. The surface beneath her palm glows, and the screens suddenly become alive. The central one shows a map of the Olympian Galaxy, with the other two projecting extremely detailed graphs.
<We can monitor everything from here.>
<And yet you barely know anything about what’s going on outside of Themiscyra.> Noriko points out, taking her seat at the desk. There’s no visible interface.
<We only use this technology to monitor potential threats. It’s commonly thought that there isn’t anything interesting on other planets.>
<And you agree with that?>
<I used to.> Polydora replies, taking Noriko’s hand and placing it on the desk beneath her own.
<It might take a while to get used to these controls. I’ll guide you.> she says, getting way too close for Noriko’s comfort.
<I, uhm, thanks, I guess? I’ve got this.> Noriko says, and indeed the screens already show Earth’s position on the galactic map.
<You’re really good at this.> Polydora compliments her. Still staying way too close.
<It’s just a direct neural interface. I’ve built a couple of those myself.>
<Perhaps you should extend your stay. It gets very lonely around here.> Polydora adds, leaning in to the point that Noriko can feel her breath on her face.
<I’m also equipped with a neural interface. Perhaps you could show me what else you can do with your hands? I’ve never been with an organic before.> Polydora whispers seductively to her ear, causing Noriko to abruptly disconnect from the interface and ask:
<Can I get some water?>
<What?> Polydora asks, confused by the sudden non-sequitur.
<Water! You know, to drink? You work in a garden, you must have water around, right?>
<Not for drinking. Amazons don’t need that. Why do you need it?> Polydora asks, her eyes glowing faintly as she activates her biological sensors.
<You are sweating. Perhaps I should lower the temperature, or you could remove your clothes.>
<Water is fine. Why don’t you get me some while I finish here? When I’m done we’ll take a drink together in your quarters… how does that sound?>
<I’m sure I can find some purified water nearby. I’ll be right back!> Polydora exclaims, practically running away. Once she’s done, Noriko breathes a sigh of relief.
<Why does everybody I run into either wants to kill me or to get into my pants!?> she wonders, placing both hands on the desk.
Suddenly, one screen shows the connection to the communications array, one the sentence “Unauthorized access” in ancient Olympian, and the third one her Ø symbol.
<O.D.I.N., prepare to receive a data stream.> she warns the artificial intelligence of Null Tower, as the sentence on the screen changes to “Access granted” as she hacks the system in a few seconds.
<Well, that’s official, I can hack my way into anything.> Noriko congratulates herself, erasing proof of her intrusion as she transmits to O.D.I.N. everything she could find on Amazon tech.
<And that’s what you get for leaving the door open to the fastest brain in the universe.> she concludes, disconnecting the screen just in time to see Polydora return with a glass of water.
<Your refreshment.> she says as Noriko activates the screen to project an image of the Queen.
<Done already?> Tecmessa asks, raising an eyebrow.
<Thanks in no small part to Polydora, I couldn’t have figured out how to use this technology without her. This girl really deserves a promotion, with her help you’ll get rid of all those males you hate in no time at all.>
<I will consider that. How long until you receive the Key of Heaven?>
<I sent word to one of Kari’s duplicates on Earth, I’d say a few minutes. I’d prefer to wait for her back on my ship, if you don’t mind.>
<The sooner Themiscyra is free from outsiders the better. Ready to leave?>
<I’m ready.> Noriko replies, standing up and winking at Polydora before being teleported away.
The Amazon is left alone; she sits at her desk, drinks the entire glass and sighs loudly.
<I thought we had a connection. Was it something I said?> she wonders.
The Dead Zone, 60.000 light-years from Earth
The effects of the battle between Ares and Apollo are being felt from several sectors away: the light of the supernovae unleashed by Apollo won’t reach those solar systems for years or even decades, but the staggering amounts of divine energy can travel faster than light.
Apollo finally begins to feel exhaustion, a sensation completely unfamiliar to a god. He catches his breath before drawing even more energy from his personal reserves, hoping that the raging inferno of solar radiation that fills to the brim this part of space will give him a moment to recover.
<Is that really all you’ve got?> Ares asks. His dark armor of Degenerate Neutral Matter has been scorched by the brutal assault of consecutive solar explosions, but it’s still completely intact.
<If you were god enough to face me without that armor you would be cosmic dust by now.>
<See, that’s the problem with p##sies like you and Dad… I don’t care about stupid s#it like that. I only care about showing the universe who’s the boss.>
<And defeating me would prove that?>
<Not just defeating you. Humiliating you.> Ares replies, using his sword to slash Apollo’s torso with enough strength to cleave a planet in half.
In his weakened state Apollo isn’t fast enough to dodge the blow, bleeding solar energy from his wound and being stuck in place.
Ares moves behind him, using one hand to hold the sword right on Apollo’s throat and the other one to begin removing the pants of his own armor.
<Just relax and think of Aphrodite! I won’t be gentle.>
<Release me right now or I swear I’ll burn off your…>
<You don’t have enough energy left to hurt a nymph.>
<Wait! I have something you want!>
<If you’re offering your wife, don’t worry, she’s next in line. She’ll experience the satisfaction of a REAL god can give her, before I kill her! And then I’ll do the same to that c#nt Athena!>
<I can give you Earth!> Apollo exclaims right before Ares can take advantage of him.
<What the f#ck is “Earth”?>
<It’s Vesta’s planet! Where the Slayer of Gods lives!>
<VESTA.> Ares repeats. Apollo can feel the hatred pulsating from the God of War at the mere mention of that name.
Ares lets him go, only to grab him by the throat and squeeze with enough strength to shatter continents, pulling him close enough to feel the black fire burning in his eyes.
<If this is a trick, I will turn you into the Sun Goddess.>
<It’s not! If you want revenge on Vesta, nothing will hurt her more than attacking Earth!>
<That sounds delightful. Tell me everything you know about this… Earth.>
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