Beyond The Impossible

Null Tower, New York City

Nalani Null knows she shouldn’t be in the Operations Room: in fact, she had to bypass three separate layers of security just to get on this floor.

Unfortunately, the only person smart enough to keep track of the child genius is on the other side of the Galaxy. And for a 5 year old with an immeasurably high IQ, the chance to visit the place where the team holds its most secret meetings… not to mention play with the high tech communications hub installed within it… is just impossible to resist.

Nalani has been rearranging optic wires and custom-made nanochips, trying to figure out how the system works, for the past half hour. Until her tablet warns her with an incessant beep.

A quick glance at the elevator that leads to the Operations Room confirms her worst fear: she’s about to get caught. She scrambles to hide as many wires as she can, then she slides beneath the round table at the center of the room and concentrates on making as little sound as she can.

She barely makes it on time: once the elevator arrives, Quantum and Kari Zel don’t notice she’s there. And neither does Jane Lane, or rather someone who looks like her.

<I expected someone with sweet Null’s technology would employ faster elevators.> “Jane” complains, echoed by Quantum:

<Tell me about it! If I didn’t have to babysit you, I would’ve been here ages ago.>

<You don’t need to worry about me in the slightest, my love.>

<Yeah, like I would ever allow a god to get here without extra supervision. No offense, Eros.> Kari quickly adds. Besides her natural distrust towards gods, it wouldn’t be a good start as the new leader of the team to botch such a delicate mission.

<None taken! Hopefully some day you will learn to relax around me.> the god of love adds, and with a glowing pink light his body transforms from Jane’s to an exact copy of Kiros, Kari’s blue haired husband.

<Stop doing shapeshifting tricks and we’ll see. Now let’s get started.> Kari says, taking her seat at the table between Eros and Quantum.

“I can’t believe I get to see a Vanguard meeting! This is so cool!” Nalani thinks, grateful that the table is large enough for her to avoid bumping against anyone’s legs.

While she can’t directly see what happens next, she can still sense a presence forming in the room.

If she could, she’d see Kari’s eyes lighting up before a three-dimensional projection of Noriko Null appears floating above the table.

<Guys. I assume nobody spotted you?> the projection asks.

<Nobody knows I am on this planet, Lady Null. How unfortunate that I can’t be in your lovely presence!> Eros says.

<From what Quantum told me, it’d raise too many questions… even using the Portal Generator to get back to Earth would be too much of a security risk. You do realize that if anyone finds out about this it could be disastrous for two entire galaxies, right?>

<Uhm, speaking of which, is this… “line” secure at all?> Quantum worries.

<There’s a Kari duplicate in the room with me, I’m using her mind as a relay to send my mental projection. There is no way this can be intercepted in any way.>

<Not even by Roxiana? She was the one to teach you this trick.> Kari recalls.

<True, but I believe I’ve taken enough precautions. Now… Eros, what can you tell me about this “Atlantis Uprising” organization?>

<I thought Quantum told you about our discussion on the subject.>

<He did, but you didn’t provide much details. If, and I’m heavily stressing IF, I agree to send the Vanguard to the Aegian Galaxy to make contact with these people, I have to be sure they can be trusted. I already have enough problems with the Olympian Galaxy to have another galaxy declare war on me.>

<Yes, sure. What do you know about the Aegian Galaxy?>

<Other than we call it the Andromeda Galaxy and that it’s ruled by Poseidon? Disappointingly little.>

<Well, to begin with, Poseidon is far less of a hands-off kind of ruler than Zeus…>

<That’s not hard to believe.> Kari quips.

<…but the system is far more decentralized there than in this galaxy. There are vassals and sectors, sure, but most planets are self-government… as long as they follow the rules established by Poseidon’s Oracles, which prevent any new power from rising. Made easier by keeping the level of technology below that of even your home planet!>

<Wait, if they’re so low tech, how did they even learn about me?>

<The Mortal Liberation Front. The technology needed to receive information from the Olympian Galaxy is illegal there, but it has been smuggled for centuries.>

<Let’s say these guys are legit. What are they after? It’s not like we have a spare Slayer of Gods that they can borrow.> Kari notes.

<My contacts didn’t go into so much detail. But they saw you overthrow Olympus; the thought of doing the same with Atlantis used to be unthinkable, but now they hope it could become reality.>

<About that, I’ve been meaning to ask… “Atlantis”? Is that what I think it is?> Quantum asks.

<If you think it’s the capital of Poseidon’s realm, then yes.>

<Please tell me it’s underwater!!!>

<Max, please…> Noriko says, with a tone that makes Nalani sure she’s rolling her eyes.

<Nori, I think it’s worth checking out. I know it’s politically risky, but…> Kari comments.

<But it’d be hypocritical for us to ignore it, yes, I agree. But every step must be taken to avoid connecting this to me in any way, understood? Not only it would make you targets, but the last thing we need is Poseidon attacking Olympus because we supported what he considers terrorists.>

<So getting there with a Portal Generator is out of the question?>

<I’m afraid so. Take the Ragnarok, its cloaking technology should keep you shielded. And take both Torn and Vesta with you, of course.>

<Isn’t that kind of dangerous, if we don’t want anyone to connect this to you?>

<Maybe so, but Torn’s pentagram portals will act as an escape route in case of emergency. Plus, he and Vesta have been in that galaxy before, so can act as guides.> Noriko explains.

<I would love to have both of them with us, but there’s no need for a guide! I’ll be there with the Vanguard the entire time.> Eros reassures her.

<No you’re not. No offense Eros, but you’re not the most focused god I know… I’d prefer if you stayed on Earth for a while, minimizing the risk of a security leak.>

<Your words hurt me, Lady Null… but I must admit, the possibility to explore this beautiful world is tantalizing. I’ll follow your lead, this time.>

<Glad to hear that. I’m sorry I won’t be able to be with you guys… this job is killing me, but I can’t leave the crown just yet.>

<You’re just jealous because I’m going to visit a new galaxy before you do… again. This is what, the third time this happens?> Kari mockingly taunts her friend.

<Hey last time doesn’t count, I was dead at the time!>

<You’re free to join us at any time.> Quantum suggests.

<You guys can handle it. But call me up if need help.> Noriko says, and her mental projection disappears.

<Oof. I’ll have to deal with a headache for the next couple hours.> Kari complains, rubbing her eyes to try to recover from the strain.

<I’ll prep the Ragnarok. Let me know when you’re ready for departure.> Quantum tells her, transforming into a beam of light and disappearing through the nearest window.

<C’mon, let’s go. I don’t like the idea of having anyone outside of the team spending too much time in this room.> Kari tells Eros, grabbing his arm and practically dragging him out.

Nalani waits patiently until she hears the elevator doors closing down, and only then gets out from under the table.

<You’re a clever little devil, aren’t you?>

Nalani lets out a scream of fear at the sound of the voice coming from behind her, and once she turns around to see who it belongs to, she’s left without words. It’s the voice of a man, but it’s from an androgynous body, with angelic wings and made of pink energy.

<Don’t be alarmed, love, I’m unable to do you any harm.>

<You’re… you’re Eros, aren’t you? But how…> Nalani wonders, looking at the elevator.

<Your half-sister is not the only one who can project her mind.>

<You… you knew I was here the whole time?>

<Of course I did, silly! And be glad I shielded your presence from Noriko, otherwise you would’ve been caught as soon as she projected her mind into this room.>

<Then… you’re not going to tell her I was here?>

<I don’t know. On one hand, I’m looking to get her to trust me… but on the other, like all gods I’m a creature of curiosity. Why did you spy on the Vanguard?>

<I guess I was just jealous. Noriko gets to go on all kinds of adventures and I’m always stuck at home! It gets sooooo boring around here.>

<Oh, don’t talk to me about boredom, child, it’s the bane of my existence. Tell you what, little devil, I won’t say anything to your sister if do me a little favor.>

<I’m listening.>

<I want to listen in when the Vanguard meets the Atlantis Uprising, but I can’t travel to the Aegian Galaxy. On the other hand, you want to go on an adventure. I’d say our interests coincide.>

<I can’t go with the Vanguard! My mom would never let me leave the planet!>

<Oh, really.> Eros replies amusingly, and his body changes again.

When the pink sparkles disappear, he has turned into an exact replica of Nalani.

<It’s a good thing she’ll never notice you’re gone, then.> the replica says.

<That’s so cool! This can definitely… no, wait, there’s still a problem: I know the Ragnarok security measures, there’s no way I can get past that without triggering the alarms.>

<No way? Even for a Null?>

<Well… I guess I kind of have an idea… but it’d only work if you could convince Kari to drop you on Myridia instead of staying on Earth. Can you do that, Eros?>

<Little devil… you’re a bit too young to understand why, but I can totally assure that I can be exceedingly persuasive when I have to.>

 

Imperial Palace

Megalopolis, 52,000 light-years from Earth

Noriko Null leans back on her chair, nursing the same headache the Kari is experiencing.

<Didn’t think you’d miss going on a mission. You were always complaining about something.> the Kari duplicate in the room teases her.

<I’d take fighting an army of Talos or the Eden over yet another meeting. Must be great being able to do everything you want. Even my mental projections can’t compete with Myridian powers.>

<Actually I did have to renounce to something. Before you became Co-Empress, I was planning to have another kid.> Kari reveals.

<What, another one!? You already have three!>

<So? I like kids. After three daughters, it’d be nice to have a boy or two.>

<You should’ve told me. I wouldn’t have given you so much work.>

<It’s okay, I’m still young. But, speaking of having kids…>

<Oh God, here we go again.> Noriko sighs.

<Nori, you have to think about this, now that you are royalty. Who’s gonna be Empress after you?>

<If everything goes to plan, nobody. Once I’ve fixed the system, I plan to turn this into a non-hereditary and elected position.>

<And how long is that going to take?>

<As much as it’s needed and not a second too much. But I’m still young.>

<Still, just in case, don’t you think you should… what’s that?> Kari asks, as the Imperial Palace is shaken by an earthquake.

<What the… this is one of the most geologically stable places on the planet. What’s causing this?> Noriko wonders, hurrying to check her computer… but Kari tugs her jacket to get her attention.

<Uhm, Nori, I think it has something to do with that.> she says, pointing at the window.

A gigantic beanstalk has just emerged from the ground, and it’s growing fast enough to reach the size of a skyscraper in a matter of seconds. As buildings and streets are pushed aside from the colossal plant, the beanstalk opens up to reveal a green and naked giantess.

<Empress Null. I shall have words with you.> Gaea announces.