Beyond The Impossible

Moscow, Russia

The limousine stops in front of Spaso House, the residence of the U.S. ambassador to Russia. The motorcade that preceded it and the number of journalists suggest a state visit, even though the ambassador isn’t in the car. Two women step out of the vehicle: one is Noriko Null, uncharacteristically wearing a formal business suit. The other is wearing what is unmistakably a superhero costume. White, blue and red, in the order of the flag of Russia.

The journalists take hundreds of pictures. Noriko is ready to declare her usual “no comment”, but the costumed woman immediately talks to the crowd in Russian:

<<I am sure miss Null will be pleased to answer all your questions in due time.>>

<<Thank you, Red Star>> Noriko answers, still in Russian <<The President and I enjoyed a very productive meeting.>>

<<The Air Force looks forward to working again with Null Technologies>> the woman adds, heartily shaking Noriko’s hand.

<Smile for the cameras> she whispers in English.

<Touch me again and I’ll shoot you> Noriko answers through her teeth, while they both smile.

Then Red Star takes a step back, does a military salute, and finally presses her belt. Her costume is surrounded by a field of energy; her boots emit a powerful blast, and Red Star is smoothly lifted off the ground. She flies off, followed by all cameras, while Noriko quietly returns to the embassy.

 

A few minutes later, after brushing off the ambassador’s smalltalk, Noriko retreats to her room where she violently slams the door.

<That man is the most irritating person I’ve ever met!!!>

Todd Slate was expecting this. He quietly shuts down the holographic tablet he’s holding, while she kicks off her shoes and undoes an expensive hairdo.

<I take it you didn’t enjoy your visit to the Kremlin> he jokes.

<He won’t support the Washington Protocol. Just because he has his own personal super-heroine, he thinks he doesn’t need my protection!>

<How dangerous do you think she is?>

<She’s wearing a redesign of the Excess suit, no doubt recovered after it was stolen by Abyss. It’s powered by a micro-fusion generator: it can fly, protect itself with a force field, shoot kinetic and thermal blasts… she’s a one-woman army now. Luckily it’s too far advanced for them to replicate.>

<You think he’ll try to use her against you?>

<Unlikely. He knows the suit is not at the same level of Quantum, Vesta or Torn; but I’m worried about Russia’s involvement with Japan, now that Leiko is the Defense Minister there.>

<Because she has the Overkill suit> Todd nods.

<And with the knowledge she gathered from the Core and the Mortal Liberation Front, she might be able to replicate the suit. The last thing I need now is a superhuman arms race.>

<Well, if it makes you feel any better, you’re extremely popular in both Russia and Japan. Adding to the economic ties both have with Null Technologies, you could push for both countries to sign the Washington Protocol. Especially now that China practically worships you for rebuilding Beijing.>

<It seems I’m popular everywhere except America now> Noriko comments, jumping on the bed and looking at the ceiling. She sighs.

<Do you want me to leave?> Todd asks awkwardly.

<I think the Mist may be right.>

<About what?>

<Leaving Earth. The fate of the galaxy is at stake, but we waste time bickering for a single planet.>

<You can’t follow him on the other side of the galaxy to fight cyborgs. You don’t know anything about that man.>

<I know that he saved my life. And that he wears a cape.>

<He sneaked into your house and injured Laceration.>

<Are you jealous?>

<I’m worried. You have a tendency to rush into trouble.>

<I also have a tendency to know better than anybody else.>

<On Earth. What do you really know about the rest of the universe?>

Noriko doesn’t get to answer, interrupted by the sound of her N-Phone. Her silver eyes shine when she sees she has received a message, and clarifies smiling:

<It’s from him!>

<How did he get your personal number!?> Todd wonders. The president himself doesn’t have it.

<He’s the Mist> she shrugs, ignoring Todd to read the message.

Her smile quickly fades. Judging by the look on her face, it’s extremely bad news.

<Pack your things. We’re going back to New York.>

<Why? What happened?>

<Old Man Vor is dead.>

 

New York City

Kari Zel lives in a high rise apartment, overlooking the construction site of the new Null Tower. Technically it’s owned by Noriko: officially, Kari doesn’t exist. She has duplicates all over the world, but this apartment is where the original Kari lives.

<Oh my gods> she reacts, covering her mouth with her hand and sitting down on the couch. Two duplicates appear by her side, hugging her.

<I am truly sorry> Noriko says, then giving her friend time to react to the news. Yet she keeps her distance, unsure how to react herself.

<How did it happen?> Kari asks, her voice broken, while wiping off the tears.

<I don’t know. I got the news from the Mist, but he didn’t give much details. The message just said that the old man died yesterday.>

<Yesterday? Then there’s still time for the εκπηορα!>

<The what?>

<On the sixth day after death, when the sixth sun rises, people pay their respects to the deceased before cremation. It’s one of our most sacred rituals.>

<You don’t cremate the body until six days later?>

<Of course! Remember, a single Myridian may live in ten thousand places at once; when the original body dies, all the duplicates disappear. You have to give time to all the people who knew the duplicates to travel to the cremation site to give their respects.>

<Of course. I’ll understand if you want to send one of your duplicates.>

Kari reacts with horror, gasping as if Noriko had just spoken the most vile of insults.

<How can you say something like that!? The Old Man was like a father to me!!!>

<What? What did I say?>

<I can’t send a duplicate to a funeral! It would be… it’s just… disgusting!>

<I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to be disrespectful> Noriko apologizes, realizing she just committed the worst possible faux pas in Myridian etiquette.

Kari steps up, still visibly shaken, and walks towards the window. She looks at Noriko only through her reflection, but her mind is fifty light-years away.

<The Oracles told us that our purpose in life was serving Demeter’s will. But the Old Man taught me something different… that the value of one’s life is determined by how many people you help. When he was young he was a powerful man, but he gave up everything because he couldn’t stand Demeter’s rule anymore.>

<I know he trained you, but I didn’t know you were that close.>

<He saved my life when I was five, after my parents died. Since I was too young to have children and I couldn’t duplicate properly yet, the Oracles valued me worthless. The Old Man was already a fugitive from the Oracles, but he risked everything to raise me. I always felt I’d never get the chance to repay that debt.>

<I know how that feels like> Noriko answers, thinking of her father’s struggle to keep her custody.

<You gave me that chance, Nori. Thanks to you, the Old Man saw a free Myridia before he died. I know you barely knew him, but it would mean a lot to me if you could attend the εκπηορα with me.>

<Kari, look, I don’t want to be disrespectful but…>

Noriko stops when Kari turns. There’s something in her blue eyes… Noriko knows she will break her heart if she refuses.

There are many aspects to consider. The timing is suspect: there’s a chance the Guild assassinated the Old Man just to drive her to the open, Myridia’s status as a free planet is questionable now that her pact with Hermes has been broken, and Earth isn’t exactly stable at the moment. But her friend needs help: ten million reasons to refuse it wouldn’t be enough.

<Alright. We’re all going back to Myridia> she concedes.

 

Null Island, Pacific Ocean

It’s 4 A.M. in this time zone, so Doctor Catherine Kalama isn’t sure she heard correctly. She covers herself with the bed sheet, while her face is illuminated by Noriko’s hologram.

<We’re going where!?>

<Myridia. Known as Castor to Earth astronomers, it’s about 50 light-years away.>

<Isn’t that Kari’s home planet?> Bob Null asks, yawning. The doctor is slightly embarrassed talking to her patient when she shares her father’s bed, but she has a feeling both Noriko and Bob have gone through this kind of thing in the past.

<Yes, it is. Her mentor has passed away; I’m going to his funeral.>

<I’m sorry. Do you want me to come as well? I can understand if Kari wants some privacy.>

<That’s kind of an alien concept to Myridians, but it’s better if you stay on Earth; I don’t want you to become a target.>

<So why do you need me?> the doctor asks.

<As both my father and Todd are keen to remind me, I haven’t recovered from the Abyss affair. Better to err on the side of caution and have you there.>

<I’d very much prefer you staying on Earth.>

<Yes, you would. Vesta will be there in thirty minutes, be ready.>

Noriko’s hologram disappears, leaving the doctor no more time to protest. Instead it’s Bob who chastises her:

<What’s wrong with you? You’re going into space!>

<Didn’t you hear your daughter say it’s a dangerous place!?>

<She’s always been very independent> Bob shrugs, going back to sleep.

Doctor Kalama doesn’t seem to appreciate his dismissal:

<If she wasn’t super-smart, would you let her get away with stuff like this?>

<Probably not> he mumbles, either half-asleep or pretending to be just to avoid the conversation.

 

Over the pacific ocean

Kari has grown accustomed to piloting the Valkyrie, Noriko’s personal shuttlecraft: her duplicates have accumulated thousands of flying hours in the last few months.

While one of the duplicates is piloting, the original Kari sits next to Torn. As the only two aliens in the team they’ve formed a close relationship… or at least that’s how Kari views it. Only Torn usually knows what he’s thinking.

<You knew the Old Man pretty well, didn’t you?> she asks.

<We fought together> he answers concisely.

<You never told me how you two met, or why you were hiding in his house when we met.>

<I know> he nods. Kari waits a few seconds for another word, before giving up:

<Well, it’s always a pleasure to almost talk to you, Torn.>

<Likewise.>

As much as Kari can remember, that’s the warmest compliment she ever heard from her friend.