Beyond The Impossible

Boreas, 30,000 light-years from Earth

Noriko Null looks at herself in the mirror, examining the ceremonial clothes she’s wearing.

<I look ridiculous.> she complains, even though this is what she was wearing at her own coronation as the Mortal Co-Empress… just a slightly fancier version of her regular clothes, with a tight-fit green leather coat replacing her usual jacket.

<You look fine, you just love complaining for the sake of it. Have you ever liked anything you’ve ever worn?> Hebe asks her.

By contrast, the Divine Co-Empress is wearing a very elaborate white evening gown.

<I don’t like being stared at.> Noriko says.

<Then you’ve definitely chosen the wrong line of work.> Hebe replies, checking herself in the mirror… something that takes half a second because of course she doesn’t have a single hair out of place… then goes back to talk to her co-ruler.

<You’re not having second thoughts about being Empress, I hope? Neither of us grew up wishing to sit on the throne, but it’s our responsibility now.>

<I know, I know. I was just blowing off some steam… attending the ceremony with all the vassals was my idea to give a signal of unity, but that doesn’t mean I have to like all this pomp. There’s a reason this stuff is your department, Hebe.>

<And there’s a reason why you’re the brains behind the throne, Noriko… but there is one thing I’m worried about.>

<Whas it it?>

<Athena. Like I said neither of us grew up thinking we’d ever rule, but she did. Everybody knows she’s the most powerful vassal and… well, since she was the one to give you the Nexus… there is doubt that, if she tries anything, you’ll be able to handle her.>

<Doubts from anyone in particular? Yourself maybe, Hebe?>

<Since the moment I inherited the crown from my father Zeus, Noriko, I’ve always known that one day I would leave it either to you or to Athena.> she admits.

<I can handle Athena.>

<I believe you. But forgive me for being blunt, Noriko… you’re not going to live forever and you’ve already died once. You better hurry up with her.>

Before Noriko can give her answer, someone knocks on the door: one of the palace’s attendants, who would never dare to actually set foot in the dressing room of an Empress.

<Please forgive me, Your Majesties, but the ceremony is about to start.>

<Let’s just get this over with.> Noriko says, more to give herself courage than anything else.

 

The Winter Castle

As much as she doesn’t like it, Noriko has to admit that the Lar really know how to stage a ceremony.

The already impressive Winter Castle looks even more majestic with all the various decorations that illustrate a deep history of a complex civilization. If she didn’t know any better, she’d think they’re trying to make this more of a spectacle than her own coronation.

Of course she knows that’s not the case: the soon-to-be king, Prince Keimon, is barely capable of coherent thought after the brain damage he suffered through his resurrection.

They still dressed him in a fancy armor that sports a white fur cape and made him sit on a throne that is surrounded by rows and rows of important visitors.

The two Empresses are there, along with their three vassals: Helen, Aphrodite and Athena.

The former two wearing civilian clothes, while Athena is in full battle armor.

Noriko hopes to use this occasion to showcase how much the Winter Kingdom matters to the Empire, and so she insisted on having as many representatives as possible.

Prime Minister Lyra Syzar sits right next to her, followed by Enyo in her role as Minister of Defense and Shaina as Minister of Galactic Security.

She made sure Shaina, being a former Oracle of Apollo, wouldn’t have to sit too close to Helen, and that Enyo wouldn’t share the spotlight with Athena… it’s wise to keep two Goddesses of War apart.

She opted to keep the Vanguard away: the only one who volunteered to attend was Vesta, in her role as Minister Of Foreign Affairs, but Noriko asked to stay home to avoid giving the impression that the Winter Kingdom is considered a foreign nation by the government.

Now Noriko is having second thoughts: the Lar are painfully slow when it comes to official protocol… perhaps a byproduct of their longer lifespan… and the coronation is scheduled to last several hours.

Thankfully she was successful in having the Lar add a couple bathroom breaks in the schedule.

She suppresses a yawn while the elderly King’s Chief Librarian lists the neverending succession of historical sovereigns of the Winter Kingdom, when something finally interrupts the monotony.

The appearance of a dark portal right in the middle of the courtyard causes a cacophony of complaints to rise from all the audience.

<Sorry, sorry, I’m terribly sorry!> the figure emerging from the portal hurries to say.

It’s a skeleton with fire instead of eyes, wearing a dark robe.

<This is highly unusual. I would have submitted a formal request for entering this galaxy, but it is a matter of the utmost urgence.> he says, walking towards Noriko.

<What are you doing here, Charon?> she asks him.

<I have a message for the Empress.> he answers, taking a scroll from under his cloak: much to her surprise, he unfolds the scroll and reads it out loud while looking at Hebe.

<Lord Hades, son of Kronos and Rhea, Emperor Of The Stygian Galaxy, regrets to hereby notify Lady Hebe, daughter of Zeus and Hera, Empress of the Olympian Galaxy… I’m terribly sorry for the pace of this message, my king overuses his commas… where was I? Oh yes: that in view of the attitude of Her government, He cannot but consider that it is impossible to reach an agreement between our realms through negotiations. Consequently, He declares that, as from today, a state of war exists between the Underworld and the Olympian Galaxy.>

People start talking over each other, with Charon calmy putting the scroll back into his cloak.

He remains professional even when Enyo reaches out to grab him by his clothes and lift him off the ground with one hand.

<You’re declaring war on my sister!?> she shouts to his face.

<My lord is. I’m just the messenger!> he justifies himself.

<He can’t possibly be this stupid. The Underworld doesn’t even have an army, does he really think that he can even fight a war?> Helen wonders.

<Hades is anything but stupid. He wouldn’t issue a threat like this if he wasn’t…> Noriko reasons, stopping when her N-Watch starts beeping.

At the same exact time when both Prime Minister Lyra Syzar and Athena receive an urgent message, respectively through a watch and a bracelet.

<He’s not bluffing. I’m receiving reports of attacks against several of my planets.> Athena says.

<It’s worse than that. It’s happening everywhere.> Noriko adds, looking at a holographic map of the galaxy projected by her watch. It’s filled with red dots identifying the planets of the Olympian Galaxy, and they’re all blinking.

<All except here?> Hebe asks, looking around. The crowd has already dispersed and the Lar have taken the almost crowned new Winter King to safety, leaving only gods and government officials to decide the next course of action.

<Hades knows he can’t take us together. But forcing us to scatter our forces is a good strategy. Null, I recommend that…> Athena begins suggesting.

<You’re not calling the shots here, Athena! I’m the Minister of Defense, I’m in charge of the Imperial armed forces and I’ll decide how we fight the war!> Enyo protests, still holding onto Charon who gets shaken around when she gesticulates.

<May I suggest first letting me go?> he humbly says.

<Shut up you worm! If you had any skin left I would…>

Noriko stops her rambling, giving orders with a stern voice:

<Enyo, knock it off and order the fleet to stand ready. Athena, Lyra, you’re coming with me.>

<Ready for what? If we’re at war, let me lead your army into battle!> Enyo pleads.

<I’m not sending a single man into battle before I’ve exhausted all other options.>

<Null, do you mean that you’re ready to use the weapon?> Lyra asks.

<It’s what I built it for. Come on, we can’t waste time! Release Charon, Enyo.> Noriko says.

<Ooh, can I keep him? It’s been ages since I boned a skeleton!> Aphrodite exclaims.

<You can get me a pen and some paper.>

<You never let me have any fun.> Aphrodite complains, conjuring up a pink notepad and a frilly pen with a large peacock’s feather.

Noriko doesn’t comment on her choice, scribbling a message and then shoving the pad back into Charon’s skeletal hands.

<Get this to Hades. NOW.> she orders, her silver eyes shining.

The ferryman of the dead doesn’t have to be told twice, and he disappears in a pitch-black portal.

 

Atlantis

Aegian Galaxy, 2.5 million light-years from Earth

Hades is pleased with himself. Athena was right in her assessment of his goals: forcing his enemies to spread their resources across the entire Olympian Galaxy, keeping them far from the worlds they’re supposed to protect until it’s too late.

<My only regret is that we’re not seeing the look on the foolish mortal’s face as my ships surround and overwhelm her planets.> Poseidon gloats.

<Without a declaration of war. You should have issued one, like I did. I do not approve of this, brother.> Hades reprimands him.

<But you do appreciate my ships! How were you going to invade without an army of your own? Just keep those portals of yours open, my ships will handle the rest.>

<When will we start seeing some deaths?> Ereshkigal asks, nervously tapping her foot as she overlooks the two Greek gods.

<Shortly. First we attack the mortals, forcing their gods to defend them. Then we unleash the gods under our own command. This will keep the conflict localized in many smaller battles, avoiding the attention of Zeus: he won’t intervene until it’s too late.> Hades explains.

That’s when Charon returns to his lord’s palace, bowing before him.

<I did not ask you to return.> Hades dismisses him.

<I know, my Lord, but I have an answer to your declaration from the Empress.> Charon replies, handing over the pink notebook.

<Why would my niece write back to me in such a manner?> Hades wonders.

<Not Hebe, my lord. It’s from the other one.>

The message reads: “You have three minutes to call off the attack. I am Null: you do not want to pick up a fight with me”.

 

Olympus, 28,000 light-years from Earth

The sky of the Galaxy’s newest planet is the same of any other one in the Empire: dozens of ships are appearing in orbit every second, emerging from portals of pure darkness.

Noriko Null, Lyra Syzar and Athena are the only three people on Olympus that are not concentrating on that, after teleporting into the palace.

<I don’t believe I have ever been in this particular room.> Athena notes.

<You haven’t. It’s one of the command centers I commissioned shortly after I became Co-Empress: Lyra is the only other one who knows about it, and as Prime Minister the only one who can use it besides me.>

<I still can’t believe you managed to build such a thing on your own.> Lyra admits.

<You are being infuriatingly vague, Noriko. What is “it”, exactly? At first I thought you were going to use the Tablet of Destinies, but you mentioned a creation of yours.> Athena says.

<I did. I can only use the Tablet once, and if I do it to kill Hades that leaves out whoever is backing him, because we both know he’s not doing this alone. But before I knew about the Tablet, I already put in place something to protect the Galaxy from harm. As the Romans said: Si vis pacem, para bellum… “if you want peace, prepare for war”.>

The room is a very spartan control center, with multiple screens that connect to multiple installations. Athena is intrigued by it, and fascinated by not being able to understand its purpose.

<What do you know about Black Hole Generators, Athena?> Noriko asks.

<One of your most dangerous inventions, capable of creating an artificial miniature black holes. Your Ragnarok warship carries at least a dozen of them.>

<Exactly. But portal technology makes ships obsolete, so I built something that could deliver Black Hole Warheads anywhere. A decentralized hub that connects multiple stations from both the regular universe and the Null Zone… I call it Yggdrasil.>

Multiple screens are now showing the Stygian Galaxy, highlighting thousands of potential targets.

<I still find it odd that you insisted on that name.> Lyra comments.

<I wanted to find an acronym for it, but I came up short.> Noriko shrugs.

<And you built this in secret?> Athena asks, thoroughly impressed.

<I literally have more money than God, a limitless supply of robots, teleportation technology and access the Amazons’ dimensional forge… there’s no limit to what I can build in a couple of years.>

<You really think that attacking Hades with some black holes will convince him to back down, Noriko? Even if you built hundreds of them…>

<After all this time you still don’t know me, Athena? I said no limit. Yggdrasil, how many Black Hole Warheads do we have ready for deployment?>

A female electronic voice answers:

<23,368 warheads ready.>

<You have the coordinates for 1,000 primary targets in the Stygian Galaxy, and Hades is out of time. Fire when ready, Yggdrasil.>