Asgard Station, Null Zone
Gilgamesh opens the door leaving the room that houses the portal leading to his native universe, looking around impressed by the technology around him.
The windows offer a limited view of the dimension outside: an endless void illuminated by the frequent lightning bolts and by the artificially created suns that power the entire station.
<Glad you could make it.> Noriko Null greets him, extending her hand.
He shakes it reluctantly, not having grown accustomed yet to this foreign way of greeting people.
<I have nothing but time. Learning all I’ve missed for the past million years is taking a while.> he admits, continuing to shake her hand for an uncomfortable length of time.
<You can… let me go… now.> she instructs him. When he does, she massages her hand.
<A little lighter next time? You’re supposed to shake the hand, not break the bones.> she complains.
<I’m sorry, I’m also still adjusting to how fragile humans are. I imagine you didn’t call me in the middle of a war to give me the tour, so… what monster do you need me to kill?>
<I just need your opinion on something, Gilgamesh.>
<Oh. Usually people want me to kill monsters.> he shrugs.
<I can deal with monsters.>
<I thought you killed gods?>
<I’m a woman of many talents. Please, follow me.> she tells him, leading towards the nearest elevator. It’s a big station, so reaching the destination requires some time.
<How’s Earth handling things? I haven’t been able to catch up.> she asks, to kill the silence.
<I can only speak for Midgard City, I haven’t left except to come here. People seemed nervous when the dead rose, but they seem to have calmed down. Lots of speculation on what is going on other planets after the reports of space battles suddenly ended.>
<I’ll talk to Lyra about releasing a statement. Anything else going on?>
<I’ve been told there was an election of some kind in your realm of birth.>
<You know what’s funny? Technically I could have voted if I was on the planet, since I’ve never renounced my American citizenship and there’s no law against dual Olympian citizenship. And since I’m still adjusting to no longer receiving automatic updates from Earth’s collective consciousness, after my upgrade… who won, anyway?>
<I’m not sure. I still don’t quite get why your people elect their monarch without even checking if they can fight.>
<Yeah you still have a bit of learning to do.> Noriko chuckles, just as the elevator arrives at its destination.
A short walk from there is the access to the detention area, where multiple security doors have been melted away by something in the shape of a human.
<Someone escaped?> Gilgames asks.
<No, someone broke in. This was my mother’s holding cell until Siduri broke through; she didn’t let her escape, but she could have.>
<So where is your mother now?>
<I moved her to a new location. Just like Roxiana… not the same one, obviously. I had to relocate them just for safety, since the Null Zone isn’t as safe as it should be.>
<And where is Siduri now?>
<That’s what I need you for, Gilgamesh. You’re the person who knows her best: since you both passed the past million years locked in Heaven, I was hoping for a little insight.>
<Have you tried in Heaven? Or what’s left for it anyway.>
<You mean the Empyrean. Of course I tried there first! She’s not there. Both the Tablet of Destinies and the Soul of Kronos are still there, thank God.>
<Which one?>
<It’s just an expression. I couldn’t really get a read on Siduri, Gilgamesh… and not just because she doesn’t have a face, the woman is just an enigma. What would she want from my mother?>
<She carries the seed of a Drylon. Siduri’s people were enemies of the Drylon… possibly created by them. So she should want to destroy the seed, and yet, I assume your mother is unharmed?> Gilgamesh asks, pensively stroking his long beard.
<Yes. Even more bizarrely, Siduri didn’t show on the sensors. At all. What exactly is she, Gilgamesh? She was insistent about not being a goddess.>
<She’s always been vague. You must remember that she looks like an Ur woman because she pulled that image out of my mind. The way I understand, she’s some kind of energy creature from the Celestial Galaxy. A sort of ambassador to Heaven for her people. She wouldn’t leave her post on the Empyrean without reason.> he explains.
<Or without orders. I really don’t need this distraction in the final phase of the war, Gilgamesh: would Siduri have any reason whatsoever to interact with Ereshkigal?>
<None that I can think of. I have recounted my dealings with the goddess of death to Siduri multiple times, but she’s never shown any interest.>
<Then Siduri will have to wait. Ereshkigal is the last goddess at war with Olympus right now, and convincing her to sign a peace treaty takes priority.>
<So you’re not going to attack her?>
<The war has stretched our resources pretty thin, and Ereshkigal’s realm is a complete unknown: I’ve sent Hermes to explore it and he hasn’t returned yet. For all I know he could be dead or have switched sides, and going there without a plan would be suicide. Like you said you’ve dealt with her before, Gilgamesh, so I have to ask… any insight on what could convince her to stop the war?>
<Has she attacked you, recently?>
<Not after we stopped her “raise the dead” plan. I was expecting retaliation after both Hades and Poseidon were taken down, but she hasn’t done anything. I get the feeling that she’s just waiting for me to fall into a trap.>
<That does sound like Ereshkigal. She loves forcing her enemies in unwinnable situations.>
<You think she’s running down the clock? Keep the tension forever? Wouldn’t be the first god who decides to just wait for me to give up.>
<Has that ever worked?> Gilgamesh wonders.
<Not once. I also like to force gods in unwinnable situations and ask them to choose: either surrender or die.> she coldly remembers, her silver eyes shining.
Naqada Galaxy, 17 light-years from Earth
The Amazons and cybernetic mummies are restless, busy integrating two entirely different network separated by intergalactic space and thousands of years of technological progress.
With the entire Anubis network now completely under Rei Null’s control, the resources of an entire galaxy are now being reviewed by their new mistress… and even if she keeps her cold and detached demeanor, some admiration does slip through her voice.
<These are some of the most complex circuits and algorithms I have ever seen.> she admits, scrolling through the schematics projected on the holographic screen.
General Zel looks at her, without even attempting to understand the images: they’re being scrolled far too rapidly for a human mind to grasp.
While some of her duplicates are spread across Themyscira, most of them are now embarking on the stolen ships to explore the galaxy; however she keeps her original body close to Rei, who hasn’t left the Anubis throne room since she got here.
The throne itself is too large for the five feet tall empress, but the General is wise enough not to make fun of her.
<Didn’t you conquer this galaxy already, back in our reality?> she asks.
<Not quite. Heaven was based on my mother’s limited understanding of the universe, and she couldn’t even dream technology at this level. Anubis is coordinating a galaxy-wide network linking all necrobots in real time. Even the servers running the digital afterlife of his subjects can’t fully exploit all this computational power to its fullest.> Rei says.
<You mean Anubis is too dumb to realize what he’s got?>
<He’s a god, and as such limited in his horizons by his role. But it has served him well: even the Amazons and the Lar can’t match his understanding of how to integrate biological and technological systems; his affinity for the dead must have given him a head start.> she hypothesizes, when the holographic screen shuts down without warning.
<You should not be here.>
The comment comes from a man fully covered by white clothes, mask and cape… it almost looks like a shroud made of mummy wraps.
<Neither should you!> General Zel says while drawing her gun, or at least that’s the intention: before she can pull the trigger, the weapon is already in the man’s hands and being crushed like it was made of tissue paper.
She creates two duplicates behind him: even thought they appear at the speed of thought, they get hit with enough force to pop out of existence before they can even blink.
<A god.> the General realizes, looking at Rei waiting for instructions.
<I recognize you from the archives I have downloaded. Khonsu, god of the moon and travelers, and personal messenger of Anubis. You moved too fast for the defense systems to stop you, isn’t it?>
<You sit on the throne of Anubis, Lord Of The Dead, mortal. Such is a crime worthy of a fate worse than a thousand deaths. And yet, you do not seem scared. What madness ails you?>
<Cute. I head you Egyptian gods are big on formalities, Khonsu, so let’s clear up some things. The name is Rei Null, Empress of the Naqada Galaxy. And I will be accepting your eternal servitude as my vassal after you fetch for me that scrawny dog-thing you used to call your king.>
<You will see Anubis, mortal. But only after the legs that rested on his throne have been removed from your body.> Khonsu threatens, ready to rip her limbs to shred at the speed of thought… and then completely freezes in place, not moving a single inch.
<Did you think I would come unprepared?> Rei asks, calmly walking from the throne towards the still immobilized Khonsu.
<I studied you and the rest of the Anubis vassals, Khonsu. Did you know the Amazons had access to confidential information from the Vanguard, following their alliance? That includes reports about all the gods they faced. Incomplete information to be sure, but exploitable by the most advanced mind of this universe. Especially coupled with the industrial capabilities of both Themyscira and of your pitiful excuse for an empire… what, did you think I chose this galaxy to be conquered first by chance? Anubis put everything in place that I would ever need to take over. Including the means to build a targeted anti-kinetic multiphasic field to negate your powers of spatial manipulation… and I hope you appreciate the extra effort of making sure certain sound frequencies would not be affected, giving you the chance to hear my voice.>
Khonsu twitches slightly. All his divine strength barely manages to force the field to adjust itself.
<Don’t strain yourself. It’s important you follow my words. You see, where I come from, I slaughtered all the gods in my reality. I thought your kind was useless. But my counterpart… you know her as Noriko Null… has taught me that gods have value. Sentient or not you’re ultimately a product of technology and, as such, you are tools. You will either swear allegiance to me or be killed by my hand. You have the honor of being the first god I ask this, Khonsu…> Rei explains, pausing to snap her fingers.
Khonsu is finally able to move now. Millions of ways to kill her rush through his mind, watching her silver eyes shine.
<What do you choose: follow me or die?> she asks.
Khonsu is inscrutable behind the white mask covering his face, but he hesitates. In the millions of years of his life, only the most powerful gods have been able to restrict his power. He doesn’t believe Rei has the ability to stop him from killing her… but then again, for ages nobody thought a mortal would kill Nephthys and allow Anubis to succeed her.
If this is the age when lower ranking gods can rise to the throne, why not him? He can always kill this mortal once she’s no longer useful… if she does prove to be what she claims.
<Sitting on an empty throne is no feat worthy of a ruler. If you truly dethrone Anubis, Rei Null, I shall become your herald in ushering a new era.>
<You really have a death wish, don’t you?> General Zel taunts him.
<He does have a point. Never underestimate the diplomatic importance of a grand gesture, General, and his powers… while not particularly impressive… would certainly speed up my conquest. I accept your challenge, Khonsu, but be warned: I will keep you to your word.>
<And Egyptian’s word is his bond.>
<Cute. Now… bring me your god.> Rei Null demands, cracking her knuckles.
Discussion ¬