Priam Tower, Troy
55,000 light-years from Earth
Situated at the crossroads between the Athenian Federation, the Helen Sector and the area administered directly by the Olympian Empire, this world has been a commercial hub for the entire Galaxy for hundreds of thousands of years.
Its strategic and economic importance, not to mention its status as one of the first planets to be settled by humans forcibly taken from Earth, is the reason why the ownership of Troy has been contested for the vast majority of its existence.
But in the past two thousand years, Troy enjoyed an unparalleled level of independence as part of the Hera Sector. In fact, Hera set foot on it only twice during her reign.
This has allowed Ilium Incorporated to grow into the largest interstellar corporation in the Galaxy: even when the gods were constantly at war with each other, Ilium still managed to do business in every single sector.
Shinobu Tanaka is aware of this as he patiently waits for the doors to the penthouse of the Priam Tower to open. They’re guarded by two heavily armed cyborgs; the Olympian government recently implemented strict regulations against cybernetic enhancements, but they’re still a common sight on the streets of Troy.
To pass the time, he’s been looking at the organizational chart of the various branches and subdivisions of Ilium Incorporated: it’s a complex maze that spans the entirety of commerce, from consumer products to weapons manufacturing.
<A most fascinating organization, yes?> is the question coming from a young woman approaching Shinobu. Scantily clad in a low-cut dress that shows off her curves and the metallic arms that have replaced her biological ones.
<Quite. Did you acquire all these companies? Quite an aggressive tactic.>
<Some of them are acquisitions, but we are still a family business. You are unfamiliar with our history, yes? Our founder and first CEO, Priam I of Troy, assigned a different branch of the company to each of his 68 sons and 18 daughters. Today, all branches are still headed by his direct descendants.> she explains, until a light behind her artificial right eye starts blinking.
<They are ready for you. Please follow me.> she instructs Shinobu, walking towards the steel door.
The two cyborg guards step aside; one of her arms changes shape to be inserted into the massive locking mechanism, and the door opens.
Shinobu keeps his usual stone face, but he’s impressed by the lavish opulence of the penthouse: there are gods who don’t live in this much luxury.
<Shinobu Tanaka of Earth. May I introduce you to Astynomus III of Troy, CEO of Ilium Incorporated, yes?>
<Please leave us, Pernemi. A pleasure to meet you, mister Tanaka.> the man greets him.
He’s wearing a purple satin toga with golden trimmings, and a crown of laurels made of Neutral Matter that costs more than the GDP of entire planets.
He’s not the only person in the room wearing a fancy dress: under the shade of tree of solid gold, the centerpiece of the room is a large round table made of diamond where the shareholders of Ilium Incorporated are sitting on platinum-coated chairs.
Twenty people are at the table, wearing the finest clothes and jewels, sporting the latest body augmentations that money can buy. Men and women in their seventies and nineties; wrinkles covered up by chromed strips of metal, fake muscles and breasts carefully sculpted in labs.
<Gaining entrance was not easy. Impressive security measures.>
<The cost of doing business in a Galaxy that no longer recognizes hard work, I’m afraid. Please, mister Tanaka, take a seat among us.> Astynomus tells him.
The CEO sits on what is effectively a diamond throne, with Shinobu only granted a bronze chair on the other side of the table. Ilium Incorporated excels at many things, but subtlety is not one of them.
<These are dark days for people like us, mister Tanaka. The Null regime keeps imposing nonsensical laws on our worlds; it’s chaos out there!>
<The gods didn’t have arbitrary demands from their subjects?>
<Yes, sure they did, but those were for poor people, not for royals and captains of industry! Null regards us as equal to the common rabble. Ilium Incorporated has weathered the storm so far, but things are increasingly unsustainable. Take Pernemi for example, my assistant and concubine? Just think, it’s now considered illegal for me to own her. And after I already paid for her food, provided her with state-of-the-art body modifications and implants, and educated her on how I like to be pleased, I’m now supposed to ask permission to use her? That’s just an insult to my investment.>
<The gods were harsh but understandable. Null’s idea of power is unnatural.> another member of the board comments; the disgust in her voice is unmistakable.
<I have heard similar complaints from other influential people in the past year. There is indeed a heightened resistance to the new regime. It’s now clear to me that the Galaxy will never embrace her vision for what government should be.> Shinobu replies.
<Exactly! I know that many more share our sentiment, but they are frightened to rise against the Slayer of Gods. The last mortals who tried to restrain her faced a harsh doom… the Guild was eliminated without mercy, Ulysses was wiped from existence, and I am fully convinced she commissioned the assassinations of both Alexer Syzar and Aura.> Astynomus recalls.
<They lacked a crucial advantage: the help of someone close to Null.> Shinobu notes.
<Indeed. Null’s court has been inaccessible to our lobbyists, and even our men in the Olympian Senate can’t get close to her. But you, mister Tanaka… you’re family to her. And we have studied you extensively in the last year: we believe you share our desire for a regime change.>
<I am family, yes, but Null doesn’t see us as cousins. She has repeatedly renounced her relationship towards her mother, my aunt Leiko. And she has lost interest in my native planet.>
<But she still trusts you?>
<She thinks I’m not a threat. She will let me get close before she realizes the danger.>
<So we believe. But I am curious, mister Tanaka… Null recently abdicated to her position as the Ice Queen to give the crown to her mother. Our intelligence on the Winter Kingdom is limited: we did extensive business with the Winter King, but Leiko nationalized all our branches in her sector and cut us off. Is she really working for Null now?>
<Her spirit was broken, possibly through mind control. Yet another crime against nature by Null, and the last insult to my family. If she didn’t want the crown, I should’ve been king.>
<And you will be king, mister Tanaka. Once Null is gone, the Winter Kingdom will be yours… plus Earth itself, as a bonus for your service. In return, Ilium Incorporated will gain full control over the territory administered directly by Null.>
<It’s a risky move. What about her vassals?>
<Ilium Incorporated is nothing but thorough, mister Tanaka. We have people in high positions both in the Helen sector and the Athenian Federation, ensuring they will remain neutral. And of course Aphrodite won’t really care. Once we have seized power, Ilium Incorporated will simply become the new vassal of Empress Hebe.> Astynomus reassures him.
<I need proof of this. I am placing my life on the line for this plan.> Shinobu reminds him.
<Like I said: we are thorough. This is a list of names of the people working for us.> Astynomus replies, taking a sheet of paper out of a fold in his toga.
<This is chemically treated to vanish within the next minutes, or if any attempt to scan of photograph it is taken.> he clarifies as he hands it over to Shinobu.
<I appreciate the trust you have in me.> he replies, impressed by how they even took the effort to write the names using katakana instead of the Olympian alphabet.
<It’s not just trust, mister Tanaka. It’s the result of months of study of your life; we’ve been trying to recruit you even before you learned of our existence.>
<That’s only technically true.> Shinobu objects.
<Really? How so?> Astynomus asks; it’s the first time he’s been really surprised in this conversation.
<You began studying me before I knew, that’s true. But not before SHE knew.> Shinobu says, his eyes suddenly shining with electricity.
<What? What are you…> Astynomus worries, just like the rest of the board. Especially when the penthouse is bathed in the red light of the alarm.
<Warning. Anti-teleportation field is offline.> the defense system of Priam Tower informs them.
A moment later, a dozen agents of Galactic Security appear in the room wielding stun guns.
<Nobody move! Hands where we can see them!> one of them yells.
<This is outrageous! This is private property, you can’t barge in this!> Astynomus yells.
But like everyone else at the table, he’s quickly put in handcuffs… everyone except Shinobu, who remains the only person in the room to keep his cool.
<The coast’s clear, Null.> he says, the light in his eyes disappearing just as another teleportation delivers the Mortal Co-Empress in the room.
<Excellent work, Shinobu. Can I see that?> Noriko Null asks, receiving the sheet of paper. Her silver eyes shine for a second, then she takes out her N-Phone and begins texting.
<Thanks for the list of your co-conspirators, Astynomus. You’ll be glad to know they’ll get a fair trial just like you will, instead of being executed on the spot.>
<You were listening to our conversation!? Impossible! I have the finest jamming technology!>
<Impressive stuff. And before Roxiana taught me how to project my mind outside of my body through a host mind, it might’ve taken me a couple of hours to come up with a workaround.>
<This isn’t over, Null! My lawyers…>
<Dude, if I had a dollar for every person who threatened to destroy me in court, I wouldn’t have needed to invent anything to get rich. Take them away, boys.>
Tokyo, Japan, Earth
The following day, Noriko Null finds herself sitting on a cushion in front of a Chabudai table, opposite to Shinobu. He’s wearing a very formal kimono, while she reluctantly accepted to wear a much simpler green yukata.
He’s calmly pouring tea, while she’s nervously tapping her finger on her knee.
<A year in an undercover mission and this is the first thing you wanted to do!?> she complains.
<You have no respect for tradition.> he replies.
<Come on, you can’t expect me to believe you just wanted to offer me some tea. I even bought a dress for this stupid thing, and you know I hate dresses!>
<It’s not a dress. It’s a yukata.> he corrects her.
<If it doesn’t have pants, it’s a dress. Okay, if you’re not ready to talk, I will: thanks for your help in uncovering Ilium’s conspiracy. I learned they were up to something back when I took control of the Winter Kingdom, but I couldn’t find any direct evidence. And I couldn’t send any of the Vanguard to investigate, nobody would’ve believed they wanted to backstab me.>
<But a relative who has tried to kill you in the past was plausible. A cunning strategy.> he congratulates her, offering one of the two cups of tea.
She stares at it.
<It’s not poisoned.> he reassures her.
<What you said about being offended by the fact I didn’t offer you the crown. Was it true?>
<No. I was raised to serve the Tanaka family, yes, but I don’t share your mother’s lust for power. I am content to lead her estate, but interests remain on Earth.>
<So what’s this all about?>
<Your mother. She is still alive, but she now serves you. I find that… hard… to believe.>
<She’s no longer the Leiko you know. I erased her memories: she’s fundamentally a new person. Does this trouble you?>
<The real question, Null, is whether it troubles you.>
<Uh? I’m not sure I follow.> Noriko admits.
<We both have our grievances with Leiko Tanaka. But even if she’s a new person, without memories of her past life… she is still a member of your family. You can’t abandon her.>
<I left her in charge of a whole freaking interstellar kingdom. I hardly call that “abandon”.>
<So that is the role you wish for her? A servant? You should not throw away a change to start things over with her.>
<That’s what this is all about? What, you’re working for her again or something?> Noriko replies, raising her voice and standing up.
<Noriko. You are not the only person who grew up without a mother. If I had the chance to…>
<Your mother wasn’t Leiko, Shinobu! She’s lucky I left her alive… she’s a monster!>
<Was a monster. She’s a new person. I think you should get to know the new Leiko.>
<Why, so that she can disappoint me again?>
<So that she doesn’t grow up to be a monster again. You brought a new person into the world: don’t make the same mistake your mother did and abandon her when she’s not useful anymore.>
Noriko’s rage is boiling beneath the surface, but after a few deep breaths, she concedes:
<She’s my vassal. I should at least make sure she doesn’t stab me in the back for the hundredth time. God, having responsibilities suck, doesn’t it?>
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