Beyond The Impossible

Central Park, New York City

This may look like an ordinary spot, good for a picnic or a walk in the park. Most people don’t know that this is where Noriko Null received her power, but today something attracts some attention. A circle of light appears on the grass, rotates ninety degrees to turn perfectly vertical, and then delives several people.

<We did it! I was beginning to miss this place> Quantum exclaims. Luckily he remembered to put his mask back on, because tourists are already taking pictures.

He’s followed by fellow Vanguard members Vesta and Torn, taking three large robots with them. Then a girl with short purple hair, a much younger girl with red skin and a blue-skinned woman with bat wings on her back. It’s the latter that closes the portal behind them.

<This is Earth?> Lysia asks.

<Close enough: it’s New York City> Kari jokes.

<We should take the robots to the Tower and look for Null> Torn suggests.

<Guys, the Tower is still in the Null Zone, in case you’ve forgotten> Quantum reminds them.

<I’ve got a place> Vesta reveals.

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

It should be a sunny afternoon on the beach. But there’s a gigantic black cloud over the entire island, blocking out the sun as far as the eye can see.

<I don’t like the looks of this> Noriko comments, still possessing her mother’s body. Not only the beach is deserted, the entire city seems to have been abandoned.

<There was a fight here> Black Knight says, pointing at the pileup of police cars crushed beneath a tremendous weight. Other than that, the city is surprisingly undamaged.

<Abyss is here. Don’t you feel her presence?> she asks, looking around.

<She could be anywhere. Is she causing the storm?>

<I don’t think it’s a storm. I used to be able to gather all the information from the collective consciousness of mankind in the form of a lightning strike; these clouds seem to function in the same way, only… larger. Nastier.>

<Something is coming> Black Knight warns her, but his words are unnecessary when a twenty ton robot lands next to them. The concrete cracks under pressure; Noriko is caught unaware and falls on her back, while Black Knight draws his katana.

The Armageddon Armor is in front of him, undamaged by the landing. It doesn’t have a scratch.

<Don’t be stupid. It’s not here to kill us> she tells him, getting back up again and walking towards the giant red armor that could squash her like a bug.

<I must speak with Abyss> she declares.

 

Suffolk County, New York

Quantum takes off his mask once inside the building. Once Vesta opens the door, the fireplace lights up on its own revealing a completely empty room, with the exception of a couch and a dial phone resting on the floor.

<Make yourselves comfortable; I haven’t had the chance to decorate yet> Vesta says, piling up the robots in a corner.

<I didn’t know you were moving out of the Tower> Kari says.

<I’m not. After we got kicked out last time I figured we could use a place to stay if anything happened to the Tower again. So I recalled buying this house in the fifties and…>

<Hold on. You owned a house like this while working as a waitress in New York?> Quantum asks.

<Noriko had it restored a few weeks back. It was in ruins; I bought it in 1753.>

<As much as I enjoy local history, is there a reason for us being here?> Lysia asks.

<Yes, you’ll stay here with Laceration and the robots while we look for Noriko> Vesta explains, picking up the phone and starting to dial a number.

<Hey, I want to meet the Slayer of Gods too!> Laceration complaints.

<It’s too dangerous. You’re just a kid> Quantum reminds her. The teenager takes offence to the remark, crossing her arms and responding:

<Look who’s talking; what are you, thirty years old? I’m twice your age, human!>

<He’s right. You stay> Torn orders.

<But Dad…>

Then the phone rings. Nobody dares say a single word, until Vesta picks it up.

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

The building has been torn apart quickly and efficiently. It doesn’t look like a hospital anymore: not only the front wall has been demolished, but there are dozens upon dozens of people carrying various equipment in and out. Miles of cables and wires are intertwined into a labyrinth that connects the hospital to the city’s electrical grid.

Nobody looks at Noriko and Black Knight approaching, even if they are escorted by a giant robot.

Doctors, nurses, patients, relatives, everyone is completely silent and nobody wastes a second.

<Look at their eyes> Black Knight whispers, but she doesn’t need to. She has seen those black, soulless eyes once before. In the mirror.

<This is bad. On a scale of one to ten, this is like five hundred.>

Everything is linked to a makeshift throne, built out of operating tables and a PET scan machine.

Abyss is sitting on it, seemingly asleep. She’s still wearing her red clothes, much more revealing than Noriko used to wear: a cropped tank top exposing both navel and cleavage, hot pants and stiletto boots. Her skin is much paler and all the veins are blackened out. She’s resting her right hand on a sword, some mixture between a rapier and a lightsaber.

<On second thought, it may be five thousand> Noriko whispers.

Then Abyss opens her black eyes, and the world suddenly feels much darker.

<I can’t believe this. You stole Mom’s body? Very Freudian of you. Can you still understand big words, or should I dumb it down a little more for you?>

<I should introduce you to the Core. You’d get along just fine.>

<To be honest, I’m kinda glad you came back. What’s the use of taking over the world if you can’t gloat, just a little bit?>

<Yes, I can imagine the zombies aren’t great conversationalists> Noriko comments, pointing at the mind-controlled Hawaiians who are continuing their work.

<Not zombies. Drones> Abyss clarifies, standing up from her throne by using the sword as a cane.

Black Knight takes the opportunity to draw his katana and charge at her. Abyss might be able to draw from the Nexus enough knowledge of fighting techniques to be his equal, yet the superior physical shape should give Black Knight a quick victory. But she just needs to say two words:

<Defense mode.>

The katana is deflected by a forcefield. Black Knight loses his balance, and Abyss gives another quick order to the sword:

<Agony mode.>

Her blade barely touches Black Knight, but the man screams and falls to the ground convulsing. Noriko runs to help him, without seeing any external sign of injury.

<What did you do to him!?>

<Neat, isn’t it? It can kill just about anything, or in this case torture. I think I’ll call it the Sword of Nightmares, but I’m open to suggestions.>

<Is that what you’re up to? You want to kill all these people!?>

<Kill them? I’m doing them a favor. I’m thinking their thoughts for them. This is what we were made to do. What the Nexus was created to do.>

<What are you talking about!?>

<Think, Noriko. Why would the Drylon create a device that makes humans super-smart?>

<They used to be like us. Maybe they wanted to help us.>

<How predictably naïve. But in a sense that’s what I’m about to do: uplift humanity into a higher form of life! Seven billion minds fused into one!>

<Let me guess: your mind?>

<Of course!!! You know what being us feels like!!! We think on a level that humans cannot even begin to understand!!! We are smarter than GODS!!!>

Noriko is speechless: she knew Abyss was insane, but now she’s just ranting. One of the drones hands her a cellphone, while Abyss continues her monologue:

<I am expanding my mind beyond this physical form; the entire world will bend to my will before the end of the day. But there’s still one thing I have to do while I’m still partially human.>

There are several seconds of pause while Abyss waits for the person on the other line to answer; she’s keeping Noriko at bay with the tip of her sword.

<Hello?> Vesta’s voice answers from the other line.

<Hi there. This is Abyss. I just wanted you to hear Noriko’s death. Kill mode.>

The sword becomes hot, so hot that the air surrounding it is steaming. Abyss prepares to stab Noriko in the heart, but someone grabs her wrist.

<Drop the sword. NOW> Quantum orders her with a stern voice. Abyss struggles to break free, even though the African-American has an advantage of ninety pounds on her. But he hesitates to use too much force for fear of hurting her.

<Stun her! Don’t let her…> Noriko tries to warn him, but it’s too late.

<Armageddon! Attack mode!!!>

The red giant robot steps forward, shaking the ground. Its arms glow ominously, preparing a plasma blast; Quantum pushes Abyss aside to get her to safety. She knew this would happen, because when Armageddon fires the ground beneath Quantum has been vaporized.

<Too slow> he taunts, standing behind the robot. He fires a powerful laser beam, with enough energy to melt just about anything. It doesn’t affect Armageddon in the slightest.

<Okay. A little tougher than I thought. Let’s see what you’ve got> he says, changing the energy to another form. Heat, electricity and hard radiation don’t work: the robot simply absorbs them.

<That’s…not what was supposed to happen> he notes, waiting for the next blast.

Something flies by faster than a speeding bullet. Vesta punches the robot so hard that every single window in the city shatters, but Armageddon is otherwise undamaged.

Vesta is taken by surprise, leaving herself open to the robot’s counterattack. Its punch is even stronger than hers, launching her in the air.

Abyss is watching the fight, laughing as the robot and Quantum fly off to continue the fight.

<I could watch this for hours! Wanna bet who will die first?> she asks Noriko.

<You> Black Knight says, attacking from behind and almost stabbing her in the back. Almost, because Abyss is fast enough to turn and parry with her own sword.

<You survived agony mode? I’m impressed. How about a one on one?>

<Cut of a thousand deaths!!!> a familiar voice shouts in the distance, announcing the arrival of a swarm of deadly energy daggers.

<Deflect mode> Abyss responds. Every single dagger is intercepted by a tiny energy shield.

<Demon sword> Torn continues, manifesting a single broadsword. He takes a fighting stance, right besides Black Knight who is eager to use his katana.

<A threesome? You make a girl blush. Alright, let’s do this! NIGHTMARE MODE!!!>

The sky breaks with roaring thunder. Abyss raises her sword, using as a conduit to channel the black lightning strike directly into her body. She runs towards Torn attacking with ferocity and speed that have no trace of humanity left; surprisingly, Torn seems barely able to keep up with her.

Even when one of Kari’s duplicates jumps at her from behind, the black aura surrounding Abyss is so strong that the duplicate vanishes as soon as they touch.

Just when everything seems hopeless, Noriko notices that the mind-controlled people have abandoned their work and are walking towards her, surrounding her on all sides.

<And I was SO hoping to get to five minutes of nobody trying to kill me. Guys? A little help here?>