Boreas, 30.000 light-years from Earth
Things usually change very slowly in the Winter Kingdom, if they ever do. New kings and queens rule for centuries, or at the worst a couple of decades.
Now they’ve gone through three separate rulers in the span of a few years, two of them being from a different species, and it’s in the middle of a complete upheaval of the galactic status quo.
It’s not unprecedented in the history of the Lar people… when your civilization is a billion years old, basically everything has a precedent… but that doesn’t make it less confusing for those living in such uncertain times.
Noriko Null is painfully aware of this. She may have the support of the population because she liberated the Kingdom from the telepathic domination of Harmonia, but she can’t count on her popularity to stay intact. She’s an outsider who took power by deposing her own mother, herself an outsider who took power by murdering the latest legitimate Winter King.
Plus there’s the fact that Noriko positively hates being the new Ice Queen.
She’s currently in the living quarters that used to belong to her mother; it’s the only part of the Winter Palace where the environmental controls keep the ambient temperature to a level comfortable to a human, instead of the freezing coldness preferred by the Lar.
Still, as she washes her face in the sink, the water is almost painfully cold; even the environmental controls can do so much, as she notes watching her reflection on the mirror rapidly being obscured by the water droplets turning into ice.
<Everything okay in there?> she hears coming from the other side of the door.
She quickly dries herself and leaves the bathroom, finding Kylon on the other side. Her current boyfriend and confidant is not just the only Lar allowed to enter her quarters, he’s the only one who can withstand human temperature thanks to the gift he gained from Asclepius.
<Something’s off with the environmental controls; it’s still freezing in here.> she admits, rubbing her hands and blowing on them to warm them. The fact that her breath is visible is proof enough for a human, but it’s still considered a hot environment by a Lar.
<Is that why you’re wearing your jacket indoor?> he asks.
<Actually, I’m leaving for Megalopolis. I don’t know when I’ll be back.>
<Wait a second… you just took power and you’re already leaving?>
<We’re at war with Hera, in case you’ve forgotten. Dionysus took care of her fleet, but Hera is another matter entirely. I have to confront her personally.>
<zThen I’m coming with you.>
<That’s sweet, but I need you here. Someone has to keep an eye on my mother and you’re the only one I trust on that.>
<I’m on it. The moment Aphrodite lets her go, she’ll get what she deserves.>
<Yeah, uhm, you might want to sit down for this one.> Noriko hesitantly tells him, leading him to the bed and basically forcing him to sit.
<Do you trust me, Kylon?>
<You know I do. What’s wrong?>
<Please don’t kill my mother until I’m back.>
<What!?>
<Look, I know you two have history, okay? But this is not the right time to…>
<You know she’s an irredeemable monster! Stopping her is the reason I deserted the Kingdom, why I got myself imprisoned by Earth’s government, why I joined the Mortal Republic, why I…>
<Why we’re together?> she interrupts.
<That’s a low blow, Noriko. But in a way, yes, I thought we shared the same hatred for her! What reason could you possibly have to keep her alive at this point!?>
<The Zenith. She’s their weak point! I’ve done everything I could to find their new base of operation; I came up short, and that was before Roxiana took control of it. Leiko might be our best possible lead to…>
<I can’t believe this. You trust Leiko to give you reliable information!? That woman is a worse pathological liar than Hermes!!!>
<I don’t expect her to tell me: I can pry that information straight out of her mind, whether she wants it or not. It won’t be pleasurable, for sure, but I’m confident I can do it.>
<Then just do it so that we can get rid of her once and for all!>
<It’s going to take a huge toll on my mental energies: it wouldn’t leave me enough to face Hera. First I’ll deal with that crisis, then once I’ve recovered I will deal with…>
<You’re still letting her define who you are, don’t you get it? You don’t need her, Noriko, stop looking for excuses keep her alive.>
<This has nothing to do with…>
<I will do it myself.> Kylon decides, standing up and taking his gun out of the holster, checking it carries enough charge for a blast.
<What are you doing?> she asks, already knowing the answer.
<I’ll walk into Leiko’s cell and shoot her in the head. She won’t talk her way out of…>
<No.>
Kylon looks away from the gun to stare at Noriko; her silver eyes are glowing ominously.
<“No”?> he repeats.
<I’ve just deployed a dozen Nullbots to guard her cell, and access to the dungeon is restricted. Nobody is allowed to get anywhere near her.>
<You don’t really need anyone to find the Zenith, don’t you? You’re afraid that killing Leiko will make you just like her.>
<Don’t psychoanalyze me. I’ve made up my mind, Leiko stays under isolation until I say so.>
<This is insane. I’m going to shoot her whether you like it or…>
<Kylon. Don’t make me give you an order, please.>
The Lar stares at her, anger and resentment boiling beneath the disappointment towards her. She can feel he will not stand down easily.
<You are not allowed to be in the same room of Leiko Tanaka or to cause her harm.>
<Is this an official order from the Ice Queen?>
<Dammit, Kylon…>
<I repeat. Is. This. An. Order?> he asks through his teeth.
<Yes. This is an order from your Queen.>
There’s a moment of silence that seems to last forever. The room was already cold, but Noriko can practically feel the atmosphere freezing over.
<As you will. My Queen.> he eventually relents.
<We’ll talk about it once I’m back. You… you will still be here when I’m back, right?>
<Is that an order as well, Ice Queen?>
She doesn’t have the heart to answer, preferring to leave the room in silence.
Argos, 100 light-years from Earth
The mood on the capital world of the Mortal Empire is the exact opposite of the gloomy weariness of Boreas. Spontaneous celebrations over the defeat of the invaders have erupted all over the planet, even though the government has yet to make any kind of official statement.
With the Mortal Fleet busy taking care of the thousands of hostile vessels captured, the arrival of several diplomatic ships has been kept a secret.
Probably because it would be quite difficult to explain why, in the middle of a war, the office of the Speaker of the Senate is now hosting a meeting with the rulers of different typically hostile sectors.
<It is a honor to meet you, Queen Hebe.> the elderly Senator Antiochos, the current Speaker, tells the relatively young goddess while giving a respectful bow.
<Likewise. Although it always saddens me to meet an old mortal… would you like to be four or five decades younger?> the goddess of youth asks.
<That’s very gracious of you, but it could be interpreted as a bribe.>
<Verily, ‘tis a bore. Gods should not be bothered by mere politics!> is the comment of Hebe’s husband, the bare-chested and unbelievably muscular Herakles, already sitting at the table.
As Hebe takes her seat next to him, it’s his half-sister Helen to reply.
<Speak for yourself. Although I would’ve preferred to do this with Null.>
Her face is obscured by a marble mask, preventing her supernatural beauty to overcome the inhibitions of the mortals present, but her distaste for her relative is clear in her voice.
<Noriko is busy winning this war for you. I’m here as her official representative.> a Kari Zel duplicate intervenes.
<What about the rest of the Vanguard?> Helen wonders.
<Busy securing Lilith after her capture.>
<Who?> Herakles asks.
<That’s how Eris calls herself these days. Don’t you keep up with these things?> Hebe asks.
<Verily that’s not a…> Herakles begins to answer, but Hebe stops him.
<Can you stop doing that? It’s very distracting.>
<If you insist.> Herakles shrugs; his body glows pink for a few moments, and then he’s replaced by a completely different man with light blue hair.
<Who is this supposed to be now?> Helen asks.
<My husband Kiros, or at least his body. Can’t you just show up as yourself, Eros?> Kari asks.
<Sorry love, but that’s my burden: I have too much love to give to be limited to a permanent physical form.>
<I can’t believe I’m saying this, but having Aphrodite represent herself at this meeting would have been more productive.> Hebe sighs, rolling her eyes at the antics of Eros.
<Esteemed divinities, please, we are getting distracted from the reason for this meeting.> Antiochos tries to make them reason, but Eros easily dismisses him.
<Oh you’re just jealous because the love of your life is another boring old dude, and I’m not changing into your ugly husband. What about you, Helen? It’s quite fascinating that I can’t pinpoint a person you love.>
<This is a waste of time. I came here to secure a legacy to the kingdom of Apollo, not to endure the buffoonery of directionless hedonist.> Helen protests, standing up from her seat. A new Kari duplicate appears next to her.
<Look I know that Eros can be… a lot… but Noriko has a plan, and Eros is a vital part of it.>
<That’s ridiculous. How is he supposed to help, by turning into Zeus? She’ll see right trough him.>
<Noriko and the Vanguard will deal with Hera. Eros will take care of her mother Rhea.>
<Why would you help Null defeat my grandmother?> Hebe asks Eros.
<Because I love her, of course!>
<Null or Rhea?>
<Yes!>
<I guess I ran right into that one.> Hebe shrugs.
<Alright, let’s say this absurd plan succeeds and Hera is deposed. I still don’t understand why you’re letting Null call the shots here, Hebe, when you will be left as the ruler of Olympus.> Helen points out.
<That’s true, I’ve resigned myself to the idea that I will succeed my father Zeus. But even though I’ve never wished to rule, even I have realized that the Olympian Galaxy is too large and too diverse to be ruled in the old way. The past few years have been clear on that: the old system of vassals with absolute power is obsolete. We need a new system.>
<What kind of system?> Helen asks cautiously.
<It’s called constitutional monarchy, something invented on Null’s home planet. Very similar to how the Athenian Federation works.> Antiochos explains.
<You will still be a Queen and my vassal, taking over the former Apollo and Ares sectors, but only if your subjects are given certain freedoms and liberties.> Hebe adds.
<And you expect all of your vassals to accept such limitations?> Helen asks.
<Mom already accepted: the Aphrodite Queendom is going to have an elected Prime Minister instead of a personally selected Prime Concubine. It’s not like she cares about actual governing anyway!> Eros explains.
<But I do. So that’s going to be your vassals? Aphrodite, Athena and me?>
<The Winter Kingdom and the Mortal Republic as well.> Hebe answers.
<Except the Winter Kingdom is still an absolute monarchy.>
<Not for long. Not with Noriko as the new Ice Queen.> Kari points out.
<Wait, she intends to keep the throne? I though she just wanted to defeat the former ruler and give the crown to somebody else!> Helen replies, shocked at the idea.
<Well I’m sure she’ll eventually…> Kari tries to clarify, but Helen doesn’t want to listen.
<Null already has immense power over the Mortal Republic; if she’s the ruler of a different realm, it makes no sense to keep them separate. Giving control of the Republic to anyone else guarantees yet another civil war, and I’m thoroughly tired of those.>
<Helen, that’s not for us to decide.> Hebe comments.
<You and Null never wanted to rule, but I’ve been a princess my whole life. You’ve chosen me because you know I’m the only one capable of ruling the Apollo and Ares sectors without starting another war, isn’t it? Well, I will only do it if the Winter Kingdom and the Mortal Republic are merged into a single entity.>
<You can’t be serious!> Kari protests.
<“Mortal Kingdom” has a certain ring to it. Or perhaps… a Mortal Empire?>
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