Beyond The Impossible

Argos, 100 light-years from Earth

Time seems to have stopped on the capital world of the Mortal Republic.

The official reason for stopping most non-essential businesses is the mourning of the assassinated Acting President Aura, but in reality everyone is just preparing for war.

The streets are empty and silent, except around the various spaceports. The skies are filled with military ships guarding the planet: on the hemisphere where it’s currently night, the stars are less visible than the trails of lightspeed engines.

The sun has yet to rise on the Mortal Senate building, but the highest authorities of the parliament and of the government of the Mortal Republic are already at work.

Sitting at a large table with over two dozen other people, Noriko Null is flipping through various holographic screens.

<You’ve got to be kidding me. You guys repealed all the laws on presidential succession!?> she asks, incredulous at everything she sees in the recent work done by the most powerful political body in the Galaxy.

The only one with the courage to respond is Senator Antiochos, the current Speaker of the Senate:

<They proved ineffectual to handle the death of President Syzar, so President Aura pushed for a new law… we didn’t manage to agree on one before she was killed.> he explains.

<And you didn’t think that maybe you should’ve waited to have a new law in place before repealing the old one!?>

<I was personally against it, but Aura secured more votes. About the time she was forced to renounce the chance to run for a second term.> Antiochos replies.

Noriko already has a good idea of the kind of man he is: a shrewd politician with an eye for power and a talent for sucking up to powerful people. Still, she can’t exactly fault him… she did everything she could to reduce Aura’s influence over the Mortal Republic, but she should’ve paid more attention to what she was doing in the shadows.

<So you’re telling me that, officially, nobody is actually in charge right now?>

<Not exactly. There’s actually one law that is still in place, and it’s the one Aura didn’t repeal because it originally allowed her to stay in power: in times of war, if the President is unable to serve, the Secretary of War becomes Acting President.> Kylon explains.

<Which would be you.> Noriko highlights.

<If we were at war, yes, that would make me the new President. But nobody declared war on us.> the Lar clarifies.

<And, if I may be so bold, Secretary Kylon lacks the…> Antiochos pauses, weighing his words carefully. While it’s not public knowledge that Kylon is in a relationship with Null, there are rumors about it… and if there weren’t, it’s no secret that Null is the only reason he carries the position.

<Please, go ahead. I guess you mean to say that Kylon lacks enough recognition to be able to hold much power?>

<I mean no disrespect, Lady Null. But the Republic already doesn’t have much influence over its outer regions; there are talks of secession from many planets. And if the Republic is to extend its influence into the former Ares and Apollo sectors… to be blunt, the wrong choice of President would likely cause the end of the Republic itself.>

<I agree. That’s why I didn’t make any move to get the position… simply put, I’m not the right choice for the job.> Kylon admits.

<We don’t have that many options: it’s going to take months before we can hold an election, and it’s not like we can wait that long. Unless you happen to know someone who commands enough respect to hold the Galaxy together through name recognition alone.> Noriko says.

Everybody stares at her in silence. Except for a couple of nervous coughs.

<You’ve got to be kidding me.> she comments, rolling her eyes.

<Even the most independent worlds would hesitate to secede if the Slayer of Gods was…>

<I’m not going to be President! Forget it!> she immediately interrupts Antiochos.

<Noriko…> Kylon tries to calm her down.

<Seriously, how many times do I have to repeat that I have no interest in ruling!? I made a whole freaking speech to the Galaxy, remember? Am I supposed to tell the entire Church of Null that I changed my mind!?>

<It’s the privilege of a goddess.> Antiochos shrugs.

<I am not a goddess!!!> Noriko angrily replies, her silver eyes shining.

Antiochos used to be the ambassador to a Demeter world. He doesn’t budge.

<Your worshippers think otherwise. Have you kept track of how many people belong to some denomination of the Church of Null? According to the latest polls, 32% of citizens.>

<I don’t give a f#ck about polls!!!>

<Then it’s about time to start.> Kylon intervenes.

<You too, Kylon? You of all people should know…>

<That the Republic will crumble unless someone takes charge? Yes, Noriko, I do. I’m sorry but you don’t really know the Galaxy like I do… you spend most of your time on Earth, or at most on Myridia. You may not want to rule, but your hesitation is what gave both Syzar and Aura enough wiggle room to slowly drift towards authoritarianism.>

<I can’t believe we’re wasting time talking about this stuff when Hera could attack at any moment!!!>

<Noriko, nobody doubts you can kill her. But if you let this slip, whatever territory you liberate will have to go through someone like Syzar, Aura, Ulysses or…>

Kylon pauses, realizing he’s about to touch a nerve. But it’s too late, because Noriko knows exactly what he was going to say.

<Or Leiko Tanaka. You’re thinking she would never had become the Ice Queen if I kept a closer eye on the Winter Kingdom, isn’t it!?> she asks, raising her voice in anger.

<I’m not saying it was your fault, but…>

<This meeting is over. Call when the war starts.> Noriko interrupts him, angrily walking from the table. When Kylon tries to reach her, the intense light of her teleporter forces him to look away.

 

New York City, Earth

Max Black’s apartment

It’s still night on this side of the planet. Max Black a.k.a. Quantum is fast asleep; even the sound of his phone ringing is not enough to wake him up.

Much to the annoyance of his girlfriend Jane Blake, she’s the one who has to take the call.

<For God’s sake Noriko, it’s 3 A.M. Don’t you ever sleep? I know, I know. Yes he’s here, look can’t this wait until morning? You’re where? You know that’s weird, right? Yeah yeah, I’ll wake him up. Just wait.> she answers, putting down the phone and yawning.

<Max, wake up. You have to save the universe or something.> she tells him, shaking him not particularly gently.

<I’m up, I’m up. What’s the emergency?>

<Noriko’s waiting in the hallway. Go save the world, I’m going back to sleep.> Jane answers, and true to her word she lays down.

<Wasn’t it the universe?> he asks, recovering the nearest pair of pants.

<I’m sleepy.> Jane shrugs, not in the mood for such details.

Max is just as tired as she is, but he’s aware that he can’t forget his superhero duties.

He turns into radio waves to move instantaneously to the other room, then opens the door to the hallway to reveal Noriko Null just waiting for him.

<Hey. What’s the emergency? Usually you ask me to get to the Tower or…>

<Should I take over the Galaxy?> she interrupts him.

Something clicks in Max’s head. This is not a mission for the Vanguard: it’s a crisis of conscience.

<I’ll get some coffee. Want some?> he asks.

<Right now, more than anything else in the universe.> she admits.

 

Zenith base, undisclosed location in a pocket dimension

A human-sized capsule opens, and Leiko Tanaka slowly emerges from the thick fog entirely composed of a swarm of nanites.

To her embarrassment, Skorpios is waiting for her holding her robe. Leiko quickly snatches it from her hands to cover her naked body: she’s not wearing anything, except the choker holding the Vial of Destiny close to her throat.

<I asked for privacy. This is none of your…> Leiko complains, pausing when only now she notices something different in Skorpios: the scars that used to cover her face and her bald head are gone.

<What happened to your scars?>

<Roxiana’s technology healed them. Just as it regenerated your heart and your powers.>

To test her words, Leiko raises a hand to create a ball of ice in her palm: she can feel the energy flow through the device inside her chest.

<Yes. I am the Ice Queen again.> she proudly declares.

<Almost. You’ve been summoned.> Skorpios replies, unceremoniously moving both women into another location by using her Manifold device. Leiko is well accustomed to teleportation at this point, but the ease with which Skorpios uses her Drylon powers to manipulate space still leaves her astonished.

They are now in Roxiana’s laboratory. Compared to Noriko’s laboratory, though, it looks far more like a library: there are books and scrolls of all sorts scattered all over the place.

<Good, you’re up. Let me run a diagnostic… yes, the Infinite Winter works fine.> Roxiana says, needing to consult a holographic interface for just an instant to get the information.

<You mean the Endless Winter.> Leiko corrects her.

<No, that’s the device you used to have. I’ve built a passable imitation, but full disclosure: this kind of stuff is not my forte. You’re not as powerful as the Winter King used to be.>

<I thought you were as smart as your predecessors.> Leiko comments.

<We all have our specialties. And while yes, I’m probably the smartest person currently alive, I don’t have access to the Nexus. That makes a difference.>

<So you’re smarter than my daughter?> Leiko wonders, raising an eyebrow.

<In some ways yes, in others no. People concerning themselves with absolute rankings are not typically very smart themselves. The important thing, Leiko, is that you’re back in action.>

<About time. With Harmonia out of the picture, I can finally retake the Winter Kingdom.>

<Yeah, about that…>

<Don’t try your tricks on me, Roxiana. You agreed to restore my position.>

<So you want to fight Hera on your own instead of counting on the assistance of literally the rest of the Galaxy? I thought you were smarter than that, Leiko.>

<Hera is an ally of mine. She would not fight me; and even if she tried, the Vial of Destiny makes immune to all divine powers.> she boasts.

<I told you we couldn’t trust a god sympathizer.> Skorpios comments.

<Leiko… Hera is finished. The entire Galaxy knows that: if you side with her, you’ll fall with her. But join the alliance against Hera and you’ll have your place at the negotiation table.>

<Just as I did at the time of the Alliance? The Guild, the Winter King, Syzar, Aura and Tyche all did the same exact thing. They are all dead now.> Leiko reminds her.

<And what did they all have in common? Their downfall was the direct consequence of standing in Null’s way. You have to understand, Leiko, that your daughter is no ordinary girl… she’s a force of nature. You don’t oppose those things, you guide them in the direction that best serves you.>

<And restoring me to power serves your interests, Roxiana?>

<Having you at the head of the Mortal Republic does. Just trust me on this one, Leiko, and I’ll make you the Queen of Mortals.>

<I’ll think about it.>

<I’m sure you will. Call me when you realize I’m right.> Roxiana replies, gesturing towards Skorpios; the latter teleports Leiko away.

<I don’t like this.> Skorpio admits.

<You don’t like anything. But Leiko’s sheer lust for power makes her surprisingly easy to manipulate.>

<You know she’ll betray you, right? She always does.>

<My dear Skorpios… that is exactly what I’m counting on.> Roxiana answers, smiling.