Honolulu, Hawaii
Hospitals in the city have a lot to do, following the attack from Abyss. But Doctor Catherine Kalama is one of the most frustrated: not only because her patient is constantly under surveillance by the government, with military officers standing outside the door. But because she insists on being better qualified than anybody else to diagnose herself.
<Tachycardia, hypertension, sepsis, peptic ulcer and a broken nose. Did I leave anything out?>
<Lactose intolerance. When can I leave?> the patient answers with a question.
Noriko Null is in bed, while Dr. Kamala is looking at her medical clipboard. If all drug tests hadn’t turned out negative, she’d swear the girl was recovering from an overdose.
<When I’m sure you won’t die because of a light breeze.>
<It takes more than that to kill me, doctor> Noriko boasts, trying to get out of bed, before the woman grabs her by the arm to stop her.
<You were barely alive when you got here. You won’t step out of this room until I say so.>
Noriko tries to stare her down, but the doctor doesn’t budge even when her silver eyes shine.
<You know, I can’t help you if you don’t tell me what actually happened to you.>
<It’s classified.>
<Doctor-patient confidentiality. My lips are sealed.>
<I was possessed by an alternate personality who discharged solid evil into my body to fight gods.>
<I see. Should I add “schizophrenia” or “pathological liar” to the list?>
<Definitely schizophrenia.>
<…>
<That was a joke.>
<It wasn’t funny. You really should take your health more seriously, Noriko.>
<I have a lot of things to take seriously> she notes, resting her head on the pillow and looking at the ceiling, pensive. Doctor Kalama writes down something, then asks:
<What are your typical working hours?>
<Nine to five.>
<Noriko…>
<Fine, fine. 4 AM to 2 AM.>
<WHAT!? How do you even…>
<I can manage. In case you haven’t noticed, I pretty much run the world.>
<Not until you get better, you don’t. I’d say you’re overworked but that would be an understatement. We have a lot more tests to run; in the meantime, you need plenty of rest.>
<I can’t afford rest. The world needs me.>
<The world can survive without you for a few weeks> the doctor states, leaving the room.
As soon as the door closes, Noriko takes her N-Phone from under the pillow.
<Yeah, I wish…>
At the press of a button, the room is filled with holograms: charts, graphs, reports and maps detailing all major socio-economical issues around the globe. Her eyes shine again.
<Alright. Let’s see if we can clean up this mess.>
It’s bad. China took the worst hit: Beijing half destroyed, the Chinese economy on its knees, heavy losses on its military sources, its government collapsing. At least one million dead, many more without a home. The United States has its own problems, with Artemis obliterating half of its navy and with an entire state disappearing for days. The attack on the Russian plasma reactor led many countries to halt construction of new reactors; combined with her absence during such critical times, Null’s companies have taken heavy losses. The stock market is anemic at best.
Perfect recipe for global economic disaster. And of course, while the Empire of Shadows was dormant, other terrorist organizations weren’t idle.
Noriko closes her eyes, rubbing them. And this is just Earth!!! Who knows what Eris, Hephaestus and Hermes are doing. On top of everything else, she has to prepare for an interstellar war.
<Are you decent?> someone says in her head, talking through the Neural Transmitter.
<You can come in, Max> she answers out loud.
Quantum appears in the room, coming through as radio waves. When he’s back into human form he takes off his mask and sits in the chair next to Noriko’s bed.
<So. How are you feeling?>
<Apparently I’m going to live. What do you need?>
<I just wanted to see how you were doing.>
<Oh. Sorry, I’m just a little…you know. Under pressure.>
<Take it easy. Everything’s under control> he says smiling. His enthusiasm is contagious…usually.
But this time Noriko deactivates the holograms and looks away.
<No it’s not, Max. We’re as far away as possible from “under control”> she says, getting off the bed. Her voice is cracking, sounding pretty close to crying.
<If you want to be alone, I understand> Max responds, feeling uncomfortable. He’s used to consider Null his boss, but now that she’s wearing hospital clothes instead of a leather jacket he’s suddenly aware of how young she really is.
<I’m not alone anymore, Max. She’s still inside me.>
<Abyss> he realizes.
<You don’t know how it feels like. I have no memory of what she did while she was in control of my body but…I feel so violated and… and it’s all my fault. All the people who died…it’s my fault.>
<Nobody blames you for what Abyss did> Max tries to console her. Now she’s crying.
<I knew something was wrong with me, I should’ve been prepared! If only I had a chance to meet Artemis, we could have negotiated something and she wouldn’t have…>
<You shouldn’t blame yourself> he says, placing his hand on her shoulder. Noriko reacts by hugging him, crying over his shoulder.
<I should’ve been stronger! I should’ve stopped her!>
Max doesn’t say anything for a long time, allowing her to vent her frustration.
<Anyone can win a fight when the odds are easy. It’s when the going’s tough, when there seems to be no chance, that’s when…>
She giggles. He never heard her make that sound.
<You’re quoting Spider-Man.>
<You have to respect the classics. You’re stronger than you give yourself credit for, Noriko. I know you can’t change the past, but maybe you can fix the future.>
<Yes. Yes, that could work> she says, leaving Max and wiping off the tears. Her eyes are shining.
<I know that look. Please tell me you’re not thinking about building a time machine.>
<What? No, I already have enough headaches. But you gave me an idea.>
<You’re welcome. So, are we good?>
<We’re getting there. Thank you for being here for me, Max.>
<Just don’t tell your dad. That dude scares the crap out of me every time I get within ten feet.>
<He means well but he can be a little overprotective. For a moment I thought Doctor Kalama was going to sedate him just to get him out of the room.>
<Speaking of the Hawaiian hottie, do you think she’s into super-heroes?>
<I can get you her number if you convince her to let me drink coffee again.>
<Deal. We make a great team, genius girl> Max answers, fist bumping his boss.
Doctor Kalama can’t believe her eyes. The parking lot is crawling with Nullbots carrying various equipment. She spots Noriko, still in her pajamas: she’s talking to someone while a girl with purple hair fixes her makeup. When the doctor tries to get close, one of the robots halts her.
<Restricted area. Null authorization required> it says with an ominous robotic voice.
<That’s my patient over there!!!>
Noriko answers off-hand, while continuing her discussion with Todd Slate.
<Authorization granted, model N-2481. What do you mean “leave out the aliens”?>
<It gives the wrong message. Just focus on the super-power aspect> her head of public relations suggests, before being pushed aside by Doctor Kalama.
<What do you think you’re doing, young lady!?>
<A public statement. Activate holographic program> she orders. The image of her clothes is replaced by her familiar attire: a grey T-shirt with black Ø symbol, blue jeans, even her hair is fixed and the bandages on her nose disappears on the projection.
<Absolutely not! What part of “you have a life-threatening condition” isn’t clear!?>
<Doctor. I appreciate your concern, but you have one patient. I have seven billion> she says, wearing her trademark leather jacket of a horrible shade of green. It’s the only part of her attire that’s actually real, the only thing that anchors her to reality.
<Alright people, we’re live in fifteen seconds> Noriko announces.
<Now? You’re giving a public statement at nine AM?> the doctor wonders.
<Only in this time zone. I’m giving a speech to the world.>
It happens everywhere. Across all continents, in all countries. All TVs show her image, all radios transmit her voice. She speaks in over fifty languages, fluently and with conviction.
<Greetings, planet Earth. I am Null. I apologize for the interruption of regular broadcasts, but it’s time we talked. The last days have brought tragedy to our lives: whether you were hit directly by the debris of a space station or indirectly by the market crash, the attack of two unregistered super-powered beings known as Abyss and Artemis have significantly impacted our way of life. I was incapacitated for several days, along with the Vanguard, and unable to intervene until the last second. I am glad to report that both Abyss and Artemis have been defeated and will not be a threat again. But that is not what I wanted to talk to you about, not entirely.>
<I didn’t know they actually caught Artemis> the doctor whispers to Todd.
<They don’t want to talk about it> he answers. It was his idea to lie about it, as well as keep the true identity of Abyss a secret. Knowing what’s out there, the world needs Null too much.
<The fight is over, but the greatest challenge is ahead of us. It would be easy to surrender to fear and paranoia in a world where a single person can destroy a city. I refuse to do that. I refuse to believe that humanity is defined by its worst aspects. I refuse to believe that the only thing we have to look forward to is to rebuild what was lost. I know the future is a scary place, but I know we can fix it. And to prove these are not just empty promises, here are the six projects that will change the future.>
<Six? We only discussed five> Todd protests, but his voice isn’t picked up by the microphone.
<One, I will assist the People’s Republic of China to rebuild their cities and get back on their feet. Two, I will share defense technology to all countries willing to negotiate with me. Three, I will develop and distribute vaccines against major infectious diseases, for free. Four, fusion technology will replace fossil fuel within the next two years. Five, I will build the first commercially operated space station, also within the next two years.>
<No way she will top number five> Kari comments.
<Six, I pledge to build the first inhabitable city on the Moon within the next five years.>
Across the world, you could hear a pin drop as billions of people are left speechless.
<I know times have been rough. But hearing your cries, I have found my own voice. The world is ready to change: what are you going to do about it?>
She signals the end of the transmission, and the Nullbots oblige. She immediately deactivates the hologram and takes off the leather jacket, handing it to Kari Zel who is at a loss of words like everyone else. By contrast, Noriko is unusually relaxed.
<Let’s see if they have the courage to nominate somebody else Person of the Year after that> she says with a cocky smile.
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