Beyond The Impossible

The Myridian Palace, 50 light-years from Earth

The building is just a few months old, but it’s built to such perfection that it makes the White House look like a cheap motel. Noriko isn’t interested in the scenery, though, but in the people who have greeted her arrival: President Sil, a middle aged man with blue hair and beard, has a face she recognizes. He was part of the Provisional Government she set up after killing Demeter.

But Ganos Lal doesn’t look familiar. A beautiful woman in her mid-thirties, wearing an elaborate green robe. She’s one of the very few Myridian women with black hair, or so it would seem: on close inspection, her eyebrows are naturally orange.

<We are deeply honored to receive your visit, Lady Null. How long will you be staying?> President Sil asks, casually leaning against a wall; he doesn’t seem to be intimidated by Noriko’s presence.

<Please forgive our President. He doesn’t know how to properly address a goddess> Ganos Lal scolds him. Judging by the look she gives him, they share an uncomfortable relationship.

<We’re just here for Old Man Vor’s funeral… his εκπηορα, as you call it. Now, I appreciate the welcoming committee, but it’s been a very long trip. I’d like to rest, if you don’t mind.>

<Of course, Your Holiness Null> Ganos Lal bows, taking a step back.

<Please don’t call me that> Noriko groans; there’s something deeply unsettling in that woman, and it’s not just because she realized she cut her hair exactly with Null’s style and carries a silver pendant with her Ø symbol.

<So how safe is this place? In case you’ve forgotten, a robot just tried to kill you> Quantum recalls.

<Nothing short of an army could take the Palace> the President assures him.

<So how safe is this place?> Quantum repeats, not satisfied with the answer.

<I will take guard. Unlike all of you, I don’t need to rest> Vesta volunteers.

<That’s fine by me. Mister President, Todd, I’d like you to stay for a minute; everyone else, I’ll see you in a few hours. Would you mind showing my friends their rooms, Ganos Lal?> Noriko asks, hoping the menial task will show that woman that she’s not welcome. It doesn’t work.

<Thy will be done, Lady Null. This way please> she says cheerfully, creating a duplicate to show everyone the way out of the room.

 

Two of the President’s duplicates close and lock the door after everyone except Noriko and Todd has left, then the original shakes his head when he makes his copies disappear.

<Can you believe that woman?>

<I take it you don’t like her. And you don’t seem intimidated by me> Noriko acknowledges.

<Don’t get me wrong, Lady Null…>

<Just Null, please.>

<I’m grateful for what you’ve done for Myridia. But I don’t think you’re a goddess.>

<You seem to be in the minority around here> Todd notes, pointing at the window. The crowd outside the Palace is not as vast as the one inside the spaceport, but it’s still thousands of people trying their best to catch a glimpse of Noriko.

<It looks worse than it is, I assure you. Most on your worshippers are concentrated in the holy city, but the rest of the world hasn’t joined the Church.>

<And this woman, Ganos Lal… what’s she doing here? Your Constitution includes both freedom of religion and a strict separation of church and state> she recalls him.

<We amended the Constitution… now the government needs a vote of confidence from the Supreme Pontiff to stay in power. She said it was the only way you would approve a mortal ruling Myridia.>

<How the… I’m the one who wrote that damn Constitution!!!>

Noriko’s silver eyes flash in anger, and the President takes a step back. He may not believe she’s a goddess, but he’s fully aware she’s capable of killing one.

<We had Hermes troops stationed in orbit until last month. I did what I had to do to avoid a civil war between Demeter loyalists, Hermes worshippers and Null worshippers.>

<I do not need this right now> she says angrily, rubbing her eyes. There’s a migraine coming.

<I’m not sure this is the right moment, but… is it true you killed Hephaestus?> the President asks.

<Yes. I buried him inside a collapsing neutron star.>

<And that you’re fighting Diana for control of the Olympian Galaxy?>

There’s something in the President’s voice. Concern for his people mixed with sacred terror.

<I have no intention to fight her. Did she make any attempt to take Myridia?>

<Not directly, but her territory is less than five light-years away. We are officially a Hermes world.>

<I heard he was still prisoner of Persephone.>

<He is. Some of his territory has joined the Athenian Federation, some has been conquered by Hekate. We don’t have reliable information on the rest of the Hermes Hegemony.>

<Dammit, I hate being in the dark like this. I need more information.>

<Is that why you came back to Myridia? It’s a little hard to believe you came all the way here just to pay your respects to the Old Man.>

<Actually, I was hoping you would help me with this> Noriko answers, taking a sheet of paper from a pocket inside her leather jacket and handing it over to the President.

It’s her 20 billion Ω bounty on her head. The President’s face becomes visibly paler when he sees it.

<As I said, we’re grateful for what you’ve done… but we don’t have anywhere near enough money to pay the Guild to remove your bounty.>

<-I wasn’t going to ask you that. But you must have information about them.>

<You could say that. This is, uhm, this is awkward… we already pay them.>

<You do what!?>

<We kept it a secret from the public to avoid widespread panic, but Hephaestus sent sixteen Talos robots during the Vulcan War. With the Hermes forces busy fighting Persephone and Hekate, and without the means to contact you, we asked for protection.>

<But I thought the Guild was located on the other side of the… wait. Sixteen Talos robots!?>

<Yes. The Guild sent one of their operatives to take care of them; they never reached Myridia.>

<They sent one. To deal with sixteen Talos> Noriko repeats, thoroughly impressed.

<I didn’t ask for any more details; the less we know, the better. I’m sure you understand.>

<I understand I got myself into a big mess…>

 

In another room of the Palace

One of the duplicates of Ganos Lal leads Doctor Kalama to her room. The latter is still so amazed by the thought of being on another planet that she’s barely said a word.

<Please forgive my indiscretion, my lady, but I wish to ask you a question> the Myridian says.

<Not as many as I’d like to ask you, but go ahead.>

<What do you call your species?>

<My what!?>

<There are many kinds of humans, but I’ve never seen one with your face and skin.>

The doctor feels offended for a second, until she recalls that Myridia is uniformly white; Quantum said he was probably the first black person they’d ever seen. And then there’s the translation issue: the translator that Noriko gave her is almost perfect, but Lal is still speaking Myridian.

<On Earth we don’t call them “species”, we call them “ethnicities”. I’m Native Hawaiian.>

<I see. Is Native-Hawaii another planet ruled by Null?>

<It’s a state, not a… wait, you think Noriko rules Earth?>

<She doesn’t?> Lal asks back, deeply confused.

<Of course not!>

<I assumed… Please forgive my ignorance in the ways of Null. She must have given free will to the people of Earth, like she did on Myridia.>

<Now you’re just making up stuff. How do you base a religion on someone you barely know?>

<I don’t understand the question.>

“And that’s the scariest part” the doctor thinks.

 

Private chambers of the Supreme Pontiff

Ganos Lal shows Kari Zel her room: it’s dominated by a large painting showing Noriko impaling Demeter with a stylized lightning bolt, right next to a statue of Noriko sitting on a throne with her symbol in one hand and a globe in the other.

<I hope you will find the accommodation satisfactory, Oracle Zel. These are my chambers.>

<You have a strange taste in art… wait, what did you just call me!?>

<Oracle. As Null’s mortal follower, I assumed…>

<I am not an Oracle> Kari says, stressing every world – The Oracles killed my parents. For twenty years of my life they tried to rape me or kill me on sight. Never call me that.

<I meant no disrespect; those Oracles worshipped the false goddess Demeter, while the Church follows Null. How should we call those who carry out her will?>

<Nothing! Noriko doesn’t want be worshipped! Who told you she’s a goddess?>

<Is this a test of faith? Null all-wise and all-powerful. How else could she be called?>

<Didn’t you see her? She’s just a girl!>

<An avatar of her true form. Just as we create duplicates for small tasks, Null created a mortal body to interact with us lesser beings unworthy of her true nature.>

<You disgust me> Kari says shoving her aside, storming out of the room.

<Where are you going?> Ganos Lal asks her.

<Anywhere but here!> she yells back.

The Supreme Pontiff of the Church of Null considers following her, but rapidly changes her mind: it’s not her place to question those who walk with the gods. She goes back to the statue, kneels in front of her and starts praying.

<Please forgive your humble servant, Our Lady and Savior, for no mortal should question Your will.>

 

Yet another room

Torn looks at his room, with a duplicate of Ganos Lal standing behind him. She waits politely for him to say anything, until she loses patience and asks:

<Can I do anything for you?>

<Leave> he answers, concise as always.

<As the Oracle wishes> she replies, although with decidedly less deference that she showed to the rest of the guests, before taking her leave and closing the door behind her.

Quantum appears as soon as Torn is alone in the room, taking off his mask.

<I don’t like that woman.>

<You are not alone. Can everybody hear me?> Noriko asks through the Neural Transmitter, receiving a “yes” from Quantum, Vesta, Torn and Kari.

<Good. We have two days before the εκπηορα, let’s make the most of it. Kari, I need you to find out more about the Church; talk to the people, infiltrate one of their congregations, that sort of stuff. You should also check out the Old Man’s house to find out what happened to him.>

<I should follow her. I know the place> Torn volunteers.

<Good idea. I’ll also check the body with Doctor Kalama, maybe we can find something. Keep your real body in the Palace and just send duplicates, Kari, remember the Guild considers you a target.>

<What about you?> Quantum asks.

<I should be safe as long as I stay in the Palace; I have reasons to believe the Guild will not risk a direct attack until I’m out in the open. I don’t want the Guild to know this, however, so I will need Vesta to keep watching the Palace just in case. Meanwhile, Todd and I will dig through the records to get an idea of what’s going on around the galaxy.>

<And I should find the Mist, right? I mean, he’s the one who wanted us here>

Quantum recalls.

<Actually, no. I just received a message from him… he’s requesting a meeting at the spaceport.>

<Yeah, that doesn’t sound suspicious at all. Am I the only one who doesn’t trust him?>

<No> Torn immediately answers.

<He has his own agenda, but he may be our only ally. I leave this to you, Max. Don’t disappoint me.>

<You enjoy being dramatic a little too much> Quantum complains, before transforming into light.