Beyond The Impossible

Pluto’s orbit, 4.5 light-hours from Earth

Bridge of the Talaria

Harmonia sits on the captain’s chair. It resembles a throne and it’s raised above every other position on the bridge, allowing the god in charge to literally look down on anyone.

The former capital ship of Hermes is the fastest divine ship in the Galaxy, capable of traveling millions of times faster than light, but right now it’s limiting itself to just ten times lightspeed.

It was at the suggestion of Tyche, the goddess of luck and destiny sitting right next to Harmonia: she knows that the Palladium has been destroyed and that faster than light travel is now possible in Earth’s solar system, but she doesn’t trust Null’s security measures… she doesn’t need to look into the future to know that little caution won’t hurt.

<Lady Harmonia, we are receiving an automated signal. It’s in Standard Olympian.> one of the officers informs her.

<Let me hear it. Perhaps those infidels are praying for my forgiveness.> Harmonia orders.

“Does she actually believe her own hype by that much?” Tyche wonders, keeping her thoughts to herself as the record plays.

<This is a message from the Department Of Primitive Affairs of the Mortal Republic. You are currently inside the Earth Reservation. In accordance to the Treaty Of Midgard City, local laws take precedence over the laws of the Mortal Republic, but your vessel might be inspected by officers of the Mortal Fleet and you might be denied planetary landing. Have a nice visit.>

<Doesn’t sound like a prayer.> Tyche comments, raising an eyebrow.

<The Mortal Republic, what a strange concept. And to think there are gods like Athena who sanction this sort of behavior!>

<It must’ve sounded like the best possible option at the time.> Tyche says, well aware of her own role in the establishment of the Republic. And under her breath she damns the name of Ares: if she hadn’t had a vision of him murdering Null, Tyche would never have betrayed her former ally.

<Lady Harmonia, we are being pursued.> one officer informs her.

The ship’s viewscreen shows a swarm of F.E.N.R.I.S. units, trying and failing to catch up to the incredible speed of the Talaria.

<Null’s attack dogs. If this is the best defense she can muster, her world has already fallen to my crusade of peace.>

<Our crusade.> Tyche tries to correct her, only to be completely ignored by her ally.

<It does not matter. This ship is too fast for those metallic hounds. Take me to the planet immediately, it is clear now that Null has no credible defenses.>

<I advise against it. Underestimating her is what got Ares killed, remember?>

<Did your precognitive abilities warn you of something, Tyche?>

 

<You know that’s not how it works. I can’t fully control when I have a vision or not.>

<Then I shall take control over my own destiny. Take us to planetary orbit, immediately.>

<Yes, Lady Harmonia.> is the swift response from the pilot. In a matter of seconds, the depths of the solar system are replaced by the sight of a bright blue planet.

<Is this an ocean world?> Harmonia asks, confused.

<No, but a lot of it is covered by water. Two thirds, I think. What you are looking at is called the Pacific Ocean.> Tyche clarifies.

<I like the name. Perhaps some things will be allowed to stay the same.>

<Lady Harmonia, we are receiving another recorded message. This is from an array of satellites orbiting the planet.>

The bridge’s loudspeaker relays the message, delivered both in English and Olympian.

<Attention, unidentified ship: you have reached planet Earth. Αττεντηον, ουνηδεντηφηεδ σχηπ: γοου χαvε ρεαcχεδ πλανετ Εαρτχ. This is the Global Defense Organization, please standby for clearance. Τχησ ησ τχε Γλοβαλ Δεφενσε Οργανηζατηον, πλεασε στανδβγ φορ cλεαρανcε.>

<I have little patience for bureaucracy. Tyche, let’s go.> Harmonia says, standing up from the captain’s chair and floating towards the nearest door.

<What? Where? I thought we were going to…> Tyche wonders, stopping when her mind is overwhelmed by a prophecy.

She sees Harmonia floating in front of the Statue of Liberty. She sees planes falling out of the sky. She hears the crashes of thousands, no, millions of cars colliding. Trains derailing. An entire world being held hostage as its population is reduced to a mass of mindless zombies.

And nobody opposing Harmonia. The planet at peace at last, no matter the cost.

<I seem to remember you’re old enough to fly.> Harmonia says, snapping her back to reality.

<Yes, I… I know how to fly. You want me to come with you?>

 

<Pacification will be easier if I start at the planet’s capital. You’ve spent time here, what is the best place to start?>

 

New York City, Null Tower

Noriko Null is standing on the rooftop, looking down at the city. When her N-Phone beeps, she immediately checks the message.

<She’s here. It’s time for the Vanguard to distract the rest of the fleet before it reaches Earth.> she says, sending the order via a simple text.

<And I believe it’s almost my time as well. Trust me Sunshine, you and I are going to make a fantastic team.> Hermes tells her, standing next to her and placing his hand on her lower back.

<Move that hand one inch lower than that and it’ll be the last thing you ever do.> she warns him, her silver eyes shining.

<Aw come on Sunshine, I’m about to save your whole world! Don’t I deserve an incentive?>

<I’m not shoving a black hole generator up your butt. How’s that for an incentive?>

<Very appreciated.> Hermes replies, swiftly removing his hand.

<Now make yourself scarce. I don’t want either Harmonia to see you; it’s already possible Tyche has sensed your presence, we better stay safe.>

<Your wish is my command.> he replies with a curtsy; before he can leave, however, he allows Noriko to grab his arm.

<No surprises. No tricks. You do exactly as I say, understood?>

<We have a deal. Believe it or not, but even the god of liars knows how to keep an oath.>

<Good. If you try anything, anything, the deal is off.> she reiterates.

<I’m perfectly aware.> Hermes nods; the instant Noriko lets him go, he disappears.

She takes a deep breath. She’s not left alone for long, as Kylon also reaches the rooftop and walks towards her.

<What the hell am I doing?> she wonders.

<What you always to. You’re about to save everybody.> the Lar replies.

<If I don’t screw this up. Sometimes I wish people didn’t have so much faith in me… I’m just an ordinary girl.>

<You’re anything but.> Kylon reminds her, kissing her cheek. Then he takes her hand and they both stare into the distance.

<It means a lot you being here, but it’s not safe.> she tells him.

<If this doesn’t work, is there any place in the Galaxy that could be safe?>

<I guess. No pressure, right?> she jokes, but Kylon can feel she’s holding his hand much tighter.

 

Statue of Liberty, Liberty Island

The tourists in line to visit one of the most famous statues in the world have a front row seat to a different kind of spectacle.

Two people have descended from the sky and are floating in front of the statue’s torch: a woman wearing a simple purple dress, and a teenager with a flaming halo a few inches above her head.

A few panic, but after years of the Vanguard calling the city its home it’s not as strange a sight as it might otherwise be.

<So much violence on this world. Time to put an end to it.> Harmonia says. She spread her arms, and Tyche can feel the pressure on her soul as the goddess of harmony unleashes her power.

<Mortals of Earth, your goddess has arrived. Now BEHAVE.>

The tourists stop chatting and taking pictures. They stop doing anything: they just stand there doing nothing and thinking nothing. They are the lucky ones.

Because Harmonia’s power spreads at the speed of thought: every single person in New York City completely stops doing anything. People driving cars can’t use the breaks. People crossing the streets can’t move out of the way. Nobody can pilot a plane, a train or a ship anymore. Doctors can’t move a finger to continue operating.

And it’s not just New York. Almost eight billion people are subject to the same fate. Even if a sizeable number of them are currently asleep, it still means that humanity essentially just stops.

Tyche praises her entire pantheon for not being the target of Harmonia’s target, but witnessing her abilities still sends chills down her spine.

She didn’t spend a very long time on Earth, even by mortal standards, but she did like the place and she’s honestly sad to witness its complete demise. When she feels a vision of the future coming up, she hopes she won’t have to see too many deaths.

It’s the image of a train station. People are standing still, with blank expressions on their faces. Tyche concentrates on the vision; it seems a very random thing to witness. Until she notices the departure board is not showing any cities. Letters and numbers are replaced by Ø… Null’s symbol.

And she glimpses something else, at the very edge of her vision: something moving right past her.

She returns to reality more confused than before: what was that prophecy?

Tyche floats to a higher altitude, attempting to get a better view of the city. And everything seems fine, with all humans stopping doing anything. Except…

<Why isn’t anybody dying?> she wonders. By now there should be at least a few planes dropping out of the sky, and the streets should be littered with victims of car crashes. Instead all vehicles have safely stopped and she can’t see a single plane in the sky.

<Harmonia, something is wrong. I think somebody is putting the mortals to safety.>

<Yes, I am. By removing violence from their minds.>

<That’s not what I meant. It must be…> Tyche realizes, turning her head towards Null Tower… and as she expected, there’s a dark cloud gathering above the skyscraper.

<Follow me.> she tells Harmonia, with so much confidence that even the older goddess listens.

Sure enough, Noriko Null is waiting for them with her eyes shining golden. She doesn’t seem intimidated in the slightest, crossing her arms in defiance. Kylon is right by her side, frozen like the rest of the planet.

<Took you longer than I expected. Serves me right to overestimate your intelligence.>

<How are you doing it, Null? You can’t be teleporting people out of harm’s way, there’s too many and there’s not enough… time.> Tyche wonders, just as she realizes what’s happening.

<No, my tech is not fast enough. But you know who is, right?>

<My father.> Tyche says under her breath.

<This is my world. I’m currently connected to every single brain on the planet and I’m directing Hermes where to go and what to do to save each and every one of them. Thousands of people saved by each nanosecond.>

<Impressive… for a mortal. But I’m holding back thousands of world on my own; yours is no different from the rest, and it will fall just as easily.>

<Your mental powers are phenomenal, I can grant you that. But there’s one thing you didn’t account for.> Null replies. The sky turns black as her connection to the Cosmic Background Network evolves into something else, and the air is ripe with bolts of golden lightning.

<Everything is connected. Including the minds of all the planets you’re controlling… which I guess aren’t very happy about that.> Null continues, concentrating the electricity into something floating between her hands… a golden infinity symbol.

<Let’s see what happens if they start fighting you back. ETERNAL…>

Once again new images flash before Tyche’s eyes. Images of Harmonia screaming in agony. Images of a flaming halo vanishing into thin air. Of a sword emerging from Tyche’s breast.

Of a golden crown being placed on Null’s head.

<…ABYSS!!!> Null shouts, and every single mind on the planet shivers as an unfathomable amount of information is screamed right through Harmonia’s soul.