Beyond The Impossible

Imperial Palace, Olympus

The damage caused by the invasion has yet to be fully repaired, but it’s serviceable enough to hold an emergency meeting to discuss the status of the war.

Noriko Null and Hebe are presiding it, naturally, with Enyo in her role as the Minister of Defense.

Her three main vassals are also here: Athena, Helen of Troy and Aphrodite.

Bringing in the new Winter King was deemed unnecessary, and the presence of the Prime Minister has been considered redundant.

<I can’t believe we lost Uncle Poseidon. What a loss.> Aphrodite sighs.

<He was our enemy. And he swore to usurp the throne of Olympus.> Helen reminds him.

<I know, I know. But still… I won’t get to have sex with him anymore.> she complains wistfully.

<Eww. He was our uncle.> Hebe reacts with disgust.

<So? Persephone married her uncle, Zeus married his sister, and both you and Helen married your half-brothers! I could never understand why our pantheon is so inconsistent about what is allowed and what is not.>

<I can’t believe I’m agreeing with Aphrodite.> Noriko comments.

<See? Even she wanted to sleep with Poseidon!>

<That’s not what I meant. AT ALL.> Noriko clarifies.

<If I can bring back the conversation to something serious…> Athena intervenes.

<You mean it wasn’t?> Aphrodite sincerely wonders.

<…this is certainly a tragedy for our family, but we can’t let emotions lead us astray.>

<Oh please, spare us your fake grief. You’ve been scheming the death of Poseidon since you came out of my father’s head. I bet this is the happiest moment of your life.> Helen calls her out.

<I resent the implication that I derive any sort of joy from the death of Poseidon.> Athena objects.

<Sure.> Enyo comments sarcastically. In fact, nobody in the room believes the statement.

<But objectively it is a benefit for the Empire. With the destruction of the Underworld, we have lost a significant amount of power in intergalactic politics: the annexation of the Aegian Galaxy will greatly boost our influence.> Athena continues.

<Annexation?> Noriko repeats, incredulous at the idea.

<Well, yes. I realize we have yet to defeat Ereshkigal before we can declare victory, but surely you agree that securing the stability of Poseidon’s former realm takes priority if we are to avoid the rise of a new hostile actor.> Athena replies.

<I agree with that, sure. But we’re not annexing Atlantis!>

The goddesses in the room stare at each other for a couple of seconds.

<But Poseidon is dead, is he not?> Helen then breaks the silence.

<Yes, of course.> Noriko confirms.

<As is his eldest son and designated heir to the throne, Triton.> Enyo adds.

<I’m sorry, is there a problem I’m not seeing?> Noriko asks.

<In the absence of an officially recognized heir, as the murderer of Poseidon, you have a legitimate claim to all his possessions.> Athena answers.

<And if I don’t press that claim?>

<Why wouldn’t you do that?> the goddess asks, raising an eyebrow.

<Just answer the damn question, Athena.>

<Poseidon’s vassals would have to agree on selecting a new ruler, most likely among themselves. Those who are still alive, at least.> she explains, creating a hologram of the Aegian Galaxy divided into its sectors. Above each one, a representation of its vassals.

<With the death of Poseidon, Triton and Proteus, there are only four remaining vassals: Calypso, Despoina, Rhodos and Thetis.>

<Isn’t Rhodos his only legitimate child left? Wouldn’t that make her the heir?> Enyo wonders.

<You’re thinking about the Olympian inheritance laws, Enyo. Under Atlantean laws… written without interference by Hera, I should highlight… the marriage status of the parents has no influence on who inherits what. The problem is that Poseidon has no living male heirs, and neither does Triton.>

<Which is apparently important because… why, exactly?>

<Women cannot inherit the throne of Atlantis.> Athena spells it out for Noriko.

<Atlantis has always been a real sausage fest. What a lovely place!> Aphrodite cheerfully recalls.

<I still can’t wrap my head around how much gods suck at coming up with inheritance laws.> Noriko comments, shaking her head.

<In our defense, death was not a pressing issue for us until you came along.> Athena shrugs.

<Where are said vassals right now?> Enyo asks.

<The Vanguard and Anubis are securing them, as well as Amphitrite. We’ll need them to formally surrender, before we can focus our attention on Ereshkigal.> Noriko reassures her.

<I see no problem. The former vassals will either swear allegiance to the Olympian Empire, or Null will kill them.> Helen proposes.

<Nobody’s annexing anything! I don’t want to take over Atlantis.> Noriko objects.

<But… you killed Poseidon.> Enyo repeats.

<Because he declared war on us. That doesn’t mean I have to take over!>

<Under Atlantean law…> Athena attempts to explain again, but she’s interrupted.

<You said the vassals can choose, right? Well, they can choose to support mortal rule. After all, that’s exactly what you guys did.>

<Atlantis does not have its own Null.> Enyo points out.

<And even if it did, we chose a Divine Empress and a Mortal Empress. We can’t ask another realm to fully cede authority to mortal rule.> Helen clarifies.

<You should also consider that the Aegian Galaxy was more strict than our own in how much liberty was given to its mortals. Widespread mortal rule is likely to receive more resistance from the locals than we encountered in our own realm.> Hebe intervenes, revealing that while she may be the quiet one she definitely listened to briefings.

<So you’re saying we need a god to be elected the next ruler of the Aegian Galaxy, and that it has to be a guy. Suggestions?> Noriko asks.

<Isn’t the answer obvious? Hades should take Poseidon’s place.> Helen proposes.

<Absolutely unacceptable.> Enyo says.

<Why not? He’s family, and he doesn’t have his own galaxy anymore.> Helen reminds her.

<He’s the enemy. We can’t end the war by rewarding the god who attacked us with a new realm to rule as his own!> the war goddess protests.

<I agree. Let me remind you that Hades is responsible for the death of thousands of people, he can’t get out of that without being punished.> Noriko concurs.

<Enyo has the blood of billions of mortals on her hands, and yet you allow her to serve in your government because it suits your needs.> Helen insists.

<I swore I will never sit on a throne ever again. That is my atonement, and serving under Null’s command is my punishment.> Enyo proclaims.

<I am sure that is of great comfort to the families of those you slain. You were mocking the hypocrisy of gods before, Null? Believe the words of someone who has parentage both mortal and divine: neither can claim moral superiority.> Helen pontificates.

<This is going nowhere, and Atlantis must be secured so that we may continue the war. I propose we put its galaxy under military occupation until a new ruler is agreed upon.> Athena suggests.

<You do realize we don’t have the resources for an occupation of that scale, right?> Noriko asks.

<We have allies. We should use them.> Athena answers.

Right then, a beep coming from Noriko’s N-Watch interrupts them.

<Perfect timing. Go ahead Anubis, we’re waiting on you.> Noriko says, lowering the anti-teleportation scrambling field.

The cybernetic god teleports into the room. Helen seems nervous in his presence, not used to his frightening appearance. Aphrodite seductively winks at him.

<So this is where you rule? Even more primitive than I imagined it.> he complains, dismissive of the very utilitarian decor of the place.

<I don’t remember asking for your opinion. Since you’re back, I assume the operation was a success?>

<Naturally. Calypso and Thetis surrendered without fighting. Despoina and Rhodos offered some resistance, but were ultimately no match for the true God of Death.> he boasts.

<So they are all secured?>

<Your Vanguard is keeping watch.>

<What about their armies and fleets?> Enyo asks.

<Standing down. Word of your triumph over Poseidon has spread rapidly, and they are unwilling to rise up. I don’t believe summoning my vassals will be necessary.>

<Speaking of which: you attacked Poseidon on your own, while I specifically asked you to bring your vassals. What were they doing while we were fighting?> Noriko asks, crossing her arms.

She knows she can trust Anubis only so far.

<I am stronger than all my vassals combined. Had they perished, the Naqada Galaxy would have been left unprotected during my absence.> Anubis excuses himself.

<Uh-uh. You didn’t purposefully keep them ready to invade Olympus in case I couldn’t defeat Poseidon, didn’t you?> Noriko asks, knowing Anubis must lie in his answer.

<Of course not. You are the Slayer of Eighteen Gods, it was your destiny to triumph.>

<I’ll take your word for it. Gather the vassals you arrested, we’ll make them agree to sign their surrender and on how to administer their galaxy going forward.> Noriko orders.

<The same should be done about Hades and Persephone.> Helen adds.

<Hopefully they will provide enough information to develop a plan for dealing with Ereshkigal. Has Hermes returned from his exploration of her galaxy?> Athena asks.

<He hasn’t, which has me worried. One step at a time, okay? I really don’t need a new headache on top of all this mess.> Noriko says.

 

Themyscira, edge of the Olympian Galaxy

After just a few days under the start of its new management, the planet is almost unrecognizable.

The Amazons have worked day and night to reconfigure innumerable systems spread across the planet: their android bodies have been reprogrammed to dedicate every moment of their sleepless days into the reconstructions.

This has left General Zel with little to do, once she satisfied her urges with the most beautiful concubines she could find. All of which have already returned to work on construction.

She yawns as she enters the throne room, which might as well be a completely different place given how much it has changed.

The throne itself is the only constant. It’s been wired to the new machines that the Amazons have built around the building, which themselves are connected to the planetary core that provides boundless energy to all of Themyscira.

Rei Null sits on the throne, adjusting the parameters on the holographic screen in front of her. Considering she has the petite body of Noriko and is sitting on a throne literally built for an Amazon, she almost looks like a child sitting on an adult’s chair… but the General knows better than to show amusement in her presence.

<You called, boss?>

<I hope you are sufficiently rested, General. It is time to have our own war.>

<Finally! I can’t wait for a rematch with our copies.> General Zel boasts, cracking her knuckles.

<We are not attacking the Olympus.>

<Uh? Why not? We have control of the most technologically advanced planet in the galaxy!>

<And they have a Null. She’s not me, but she’s not to be underestimated. No, when I face her again, I will need the proper weapon.>

<Is that what you’ve been building all this time?>

<No. I just needed a ride: in war, the importance of a grand entrance cannot be overstated.> Rei says, activating something from the holographic screen.

The entire planet hums a low frequency, which the General can feel in her bones.

<Universal Shift Drive engaged. Let’s go shopping for an empire.>

Seen from orbit, the entire planet seems to emit a golden ring growing from its equator… and when the ring separates in two, the whole world disappears with it.

 

Anubis Throne World

Naqada Galaxy, 17 million light-years from Earth

Themyscira appears in orbit above the highly industrialized planet, bypassing the fleets guarding this sector’s borders. Its gravity dampeners prevent it from receiving damage from the massive tidal forces unleashed by its presence, but the same can’t be said about the Throne World.

A message coming from the planet is transmitted on all frequencies.

<YOU ARE TRESPASSING ON THE REALM OF LORD ANUBIS. IN THE NAME OF THE GOD OF DEATH, PREPARE TO ~~~~~~> the transmission cuts off, overridden by a different message being broadcasted from Themyscira.

<I am Rei Null, future Empress Of The Universe. I claim this galaxy under the right of conquest. If any of you is god enough to stop me… bring it on.>