Null Island, Pacific Ocean
To most of the world, this little island is a complete mystery. It’s nearly impossible to learn anything about it: even satellites are somehow prevented from taking pictures.
Some believe that Null purchased it to house her most dangerous experiments, others think it’s a vanity project, and some don’t even question the idea of a billionaire owning her own beach just because she can. In truth, they’re all correct.
The smartest girl in the world now is sitting in one of her laboratories, hunched over a small object that looks like a normal key but which has exposed circuitry.
<Fascinating.> she says to herself, analyzing the data recovered by her most advanced sensors.
<Are you even listening to me?> is the question she gets from the hologram of her physician, Doctor Catherine Kalama. She can’t see Noriko: the channel is working only in one direction, mostly because Noriko is only wearing a towel wrapped around her body.
<Sorry, Doc. I’ll drop by for more tests in a few days.>
<This is serious, Noriko. You have a brain tumor, we have to closely monitor it.>
<I know it’s serious. Believe me, I wouldn’t have agreed to a two week vacation otherwise.>
<I’m giving you the benefit of the doubt, Noriko. Don’t let me send your father over there to check if you’re telling the truth.>
<That’s a low blow. Look, I promise I’ll get plenty of rest and keep using my brain at minimum capacity for a while, okay?>
<I’ll hold you to it. Call me if you have any unusual symptoms.> the doctor concludes. Just as her hologram disappears, a South African man walks into the lab: he’s holding a cup of coffee and not unlike Noriko he’s only wearing a towel.
<Business call?> Darren Bekker asks her, coming closer and handing her the coffee.
<Sorry about that. I didn’t know when you’d wake up, so I kept myself busy.>
<What are you working on?> he asks her, not even trying to understand any of the equipment she’s using: he’s an athlete, not a scientist.
<It’s called the Iron Key of Heaven. I’m trying to repair it.>
<Fancy name for a key. What does it open?>
<I’m not sure yet. The universe, maybe. It’s the most advanced piece of technology I’ve ever had the chance to study properly. Excluding the Drylon stuff.>
<What’s a Drylon?> he asks.
<Nothing you should worry about. It would take too long to explain.> she replies.
<So I guess it’s going to take a long time to fix this key?>
<The last person who knew anything about this technology died hundreds of thousands of years ago and I have no clue how it’s supposed to work. It’s a challenge to say the least.>
<Well, I hope that’s not how you’re planning to spend your vacation.>
<Why, mister Bekker, do you have some other kind of activity in mind?> she replies with a smirk.
<You could say that.> he replies, coming closer to kiss her.
She pulls him closer, and just like last night she’s finally able to get her mind off the myriad threats that her team will soon need to face.
<But seriously, what’s a Drylon?> he wonders.
<Don’t ask so many questions.> she replies, going back to kissing him.
In a few moments later, a couple of towels are thrown on top of the Iron Key of Heaven.
The Throne Of The Universe
If there’s one thing that all gods respect, it’s power. Which means that whenever the Nine Gods Who Rule The Universe call for an official assembly of their members, it’s considered a big deal.
The true Throne Of The Universe is empty, and has been for the last million years after Kronos was deposed as the last Emperor Of The Universe. The nine slightly smaller thrones surrounding it are the supreme leaders of the three existing pantheons.
Marduk, Inanna and Ereshkigal represent the Sumerian pantheon, the oldest one; they’re considered by the others as the most unpredictable pantheon. The Greeks are represented by Poseidon and Hades; since Zeus is still absent, he’s represented by his wife and vassal Hera. Much to her annoyance, she’s not allowed to sit in his place.
Despite the power vacuum created by the disappearance of Zeus, it’s the Egyptians who are drawing the most attention today.
Ra has taken the form of the golden statue of a man with a falcon’s head. Considering he’s the oldest and possibly the most powerful of the Nine Gods, the fact that he took the effort to show up makes his presence noteworthy, although as usual he doesn’t move or talk.
Isis, queen and de facto leader of the Egyptians, looks quite unhappy. Probably because, for the first time, the last throne isn’t occupied by her sister Nephthys: the last representative of the Egyptians is a cybernetic hybrid between a god and a jackal, with pitch black fur and fierce red eyes.
<I nominate Anubis as the successor of his mother Nephthys at this assembly. All in favor?> Isis asks, raising her hand. Marduk, Inanna and Ereshkigal do the same; Poseidon and Hades shake their heads.
Ra doesn’t move.
<Four in favor, two against, Ra abstains, Zeus is absent. The Assembly Of The Nine Gods hereby recognizes Anubis as one of its own members.>
<I object!> Hera shouts.
<Of course you do.> Ereshkigal comments with a satisfied smirk on her face.
<The Olympian Galaxy must have a vote at this assembly! As the wife of Zeus, I demand to be recognized as his regent during his absence!>
<You have no standing at this assembly. Allowing your presence is simply a courtesy.> Marduk adds.
<I second her nomination. Shall Hera replace Zeus at this assembly during his absence?> Poseidon asks, raising his hand. Hades does the same, albeit reluctantly: he doesn’t trust his sister, but leaving his brother’s seat vacant for too long is dangerous.
<Not in a trillion years.> Inanna replies, showing her middle finger. Marduk crosses his arms and Ereshkigal shakes her head, leaving Hera with no Sumerian votes.
Isis is the only Egyptian to raise her hand; Anubis looks away to show his disrespect.
Ra doesn’t move.
<Three in favor, four against, Ra abstains, Zeus is absent. I am sorry, dear sister, but the Assembly Of The Nine Gods does not recognize you as one of its own.> Poseidon summarizes.
<I also have a proposal.> Anubis says. All the other gods listen carefully: as the first proposal he brings to the Assembly, it could represent his true goals.
<Should Zeus be expelled from this Assembly and his galaxy considered fair game for the armies of the other eight galaxies?>
It’s a tense moment. Not only it’s as disrespectful to the Greek pantheon as it could possibly be, but Anubis is very close to declaring open war on them. It also shows his lack of experience in politics, as Isis clarifies when she’s the first to speak:
<Those are two separate votes, dear. All in favor of expelling Zeus?> Isis asks.
Unsurprisingly, Poseidon and Hades shake their heads. Anubis is the only Egyptian to raise his hand: Isis prefers to abstain, and Ra doesn’t move. Marduk and Ereshkigal also prefer to keep their mouths shut, avoiding defending Zeus but also wary of declaring their hostility. Only Inanna speaks:
<Oh what the kur, I wouldn’t mind some action! I vote yes!> the goddess of sex and violence says.
<Two in favor, two against, four abstentions, Zeus is absent. The Assembly Of The Nine Gods votes against expelling Zeus from its members. As such, we cannot vote to allow an invasion of Olympus.>
Several gods breathe a sigh of relief, with Marduk being the only one to speak.
<Sorry, Anubis, you’ll get your war some other time. I do agree on one thing: we cannot allow the seat of Zeus to remain vacant forever. Until he returns, or until his death is confirmed, we must vote to recognize a regent. Are there any other volunteers?>
<Poseidon and I could serve as temporary regents in his absence.> Hades proposes.
<And share my power with you? Never! I would rather propose one of my children!> Poseidon shouts.
<They lack the experience. My wife Persephone, on the other hand…>
<Persephone? Are you insane? You want the entire universe to declare war on us!?> Hera intervenes, and the discussion between the Greeks devolves into a shouting match.
<This is why I love those Greeks. Never a dull moment with them.> Inanna whispers to Ereshkigal.
A new voice interrupts the discussion, coming from behind the empty Throne Of The Universe.
<Esteemed divinities, if I may approach the Assembly…>
A goddess with purple hair comes out of the shadows, wearing a revealing dress and live snakes coiled around her forearms, repeatedly throwing in the air a golden apple and catching it as it falls.
<…I have a proposal that should make everyone happy.>
<Eris. Who allowed you to enter this place?> Hades asks.
<I let myself in. But I have more allies than you realize, uncle.>
<I sponsor her presence. She has my permission to present a motion to the Assembly.> Ereshkigal says.
<Thank you, Ereshkigal. Allow me to introduce myself. Some of you may know me as Eris, the Goddess of Discord, the Unrelenting Strife, the daughter of Zeus and Nyx. But now that I am the one wielding the power of the Great Beast Apophis, I am so much more than that.> she says, approaching the throne of Zeus; she throws the apple in the air one last time: instead of catching it, she lets one of the snakes devour it.
<Call me Lilith. Just something I’ve picked up on Earth during my exile there.>
<Like the Lilin, the Sumerian spirits of the night.> Ereshkigal adds.
<Yeah, sure, let’s go with that. Anyway, since you just let Anubis join your little club, it’s clear that being a Class-1 god is not a prerequisite for being here.>
<You want us to recognize you as the regent of Zeus, after you stole my sister’s power?> Isis asks.
<Oh I would never dream of taking my father’s throne, Queen Isis. I simply propose to the Assembly to nominate me and Hera as co-regents.>
<And recognize a bastard as my equal!?> Hera shouts.
<Not exactly. You see, my dear step-mother, the other pantheons don’t like you but they also don’t want to get involved into the very messy politics of Olympus. And most of my family hates my guts. So here’s my deal: you’ll take care of the internal affairs, and I’ll be in charge of our foreign policy.>
<You will plunge the universe into chaos.> Hades comments.
<Let us vote. All in favor of recognizing Hera and Lilith as co-regents of the Olympian Galaxy?> Ereshkigal asks, raising her hand. Inanna and Marduk do the same, and so does Anubis.
Poseidon hesitates, considering his distaste for Eris and his alliance with Hera, but he finally does raise his hand. Only Hades and Isis shake their heads, with the latter showing disgust on her face.
Ra doesn’t move.
<Five in favor, two against, Ra abstains, Zeus is absent. The Assembly Of The Nine Gods recognizes Queen Hera and Lady Lilith as co-regents of the Olympian Galaxy until the return of Zeus. As the regent in charge of foreign policy, only Lilith shall have a vote in this Assembly.>
<We shall see about that.> Hera comments.
<Smile, my queen, smile. Isn’t this what we all wanted?> Lilith asks, taking her seat on the throne belonging to Zeus. And her red eyes shine with visions of chaos.
<A happy ending.>
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