Null Tower, New York City, Earth
Kari Zel has seen her duplicates being hurt before, but not like this.
Her duplicate lies in a fetal position, her eyes staring a thousand miles away.
Doctor Catherine Kalama has moved to the infirmary, where state-of-the-art sensors are reading her vital signs and projecting a three-dimensional graph.
<What’s the diagnosis?> the original Kari asks.
<Severe stress reaction with sympathetic overactivity, stress-induced cardiomyopathy, hypertensive urgency and tachycardia.> the doctor responds.
<I’m not Noriko, what does that mean?>
<It means that something would have scared her to death if she were human. She’s lucky Myridian hearts are remarkably sturdy.>
<That’s absurd, doc… I’m not some frail old lady; nothing could scare me to death. Would it be possible to somehow trigger this state?>
<I scanned your duplicate’s brain: the amygdala and hypothalamus show extreme activity, and those parts of the brain are responsible for handling things like heart rate and adrenaline release. Although I haven’t identified any foreign substance in her body… with the kind of work the Vanguard does, Kari, I don’t exclude any possibility.>
<As a duplicate, she should have disintegrated automatically the moment she sustained a life-threatening injury. Any clue why she didn’t?>
<Sorry Kari, that’s above my pay grade; I don’t fully understand how your duplication powers work. But there are no foreign substances in her body, and that includes foreign particles according to Noriko’s scanners.>
<Then the only option is to re-absorb her, and learn through her memories.>
<Is that a good idea, Kari? Just because I can’t identify anything dangerous doesn’t mean there isn’t anything inside her.> the doctor reminds her.
<Come on doc, do you take me for an amateur? Of course I’ll use an intermediary!> Kari replies, creating another duplicate next to the bed.
<Yeah, if anything happens to me when I absorb her, I can just kill this body.> the new duplicate reassures her.
<I don’t think I’ll ever understand Myridian ethics.> Doctor Kalama admits.
The new duplicate places her hand on the shoulder on the one on the bed. Re-absorbing a duplicate is a very easy process, something that all Myridians learn in their early teens.
But it somehow triggers a flight-or-fight response, with the traumatized duplicate reacting much faster than anticipated. She grabs the other duplicate and throws her against the wall, with enough strength to cause it to vanish with a popping sound.
She then pushes the bed towards the doctor; the original Kari swiftly skips it, throwing herself at the opponent while also creating a couple of new duplicates as backup.
The doctor misses part of the fight, disoriented by having been hit by a bed that should have been too heavy for a human girl to throw like that; but she can see that even three Kari are having trouble keeping up with her patient, who is fighting like a caged animal.
Kari could end things easily by summoning her 10K Rise, but she’s hesitant throwing that much strength into close quarters fight with a civilian nearby… not to mention there’s the risk of this out-of-control duplicate to increase her own strength.
Even stranger, despite putting some effort into it, she’s simply unable to re-absorb this body.
<Max! Need you here, now!> Kari calls out through the Soul Relay installed in her brain.
A second later, Quantum appears from a ray of light right in the middle of the infirmary.
<What the…> he mutters, seeing a bunch of Karis fighting each other.
<Knock that one out!> the original Kari shouts, getting some distance from the others and pointing at the one in the middle of the fight.
Normally Quantum would need more to deliver a bolt of electricity, but he knows Kari wouldn’t sound so worried without a good reason.
The blast hits all duplicates; it should be enough to knock anyone unconscious, and indeed the other duplicates vanish because of it, but the rebellious one is still on her feet.
<Again.> she demands.
Quantum does shoot her again, but despite being visibly in pain the duplicate doesn’t disappear.
<Again. Please.> she asks, with tears flowing out of her eyes.
<If I hit you one more time, it’s gonna kill you.> Quantum clarifies.
<Please.> the duplicate pleads once more.
<How are you still standing!?> the original Kari wonders out loud.
<He doesn’t want us to die. He wants us to suffer. He’s around all of us, inside all of us; our pain gives him purpose. He will never, ever stop hurting us.> the duplicate Kari rants, looking around like a hunted animal trying to escape a predator.
<Calm down, Kari, nobody’s going to hurt you anymore.> the original reassures her.
The duplicate finally finds something. It’s innocuous enough: just a thermometer. Her eyes move from that, to the original Kari, and back to the thermometer again.
<Please don’t. Help us figure this out.> the original pleads, the only one present to understand what her other self is thinking.
<I am. He can’t kill us. But we can.> the duplicate explains, moving as fast as she can to grab the thermometer. Quantum could easily stop her, but he can’t imagine she could possibly use something like that as a weapon.
He’s wrong. Learning martial arts as a freedom fighter under an oppressive regime, Kari Zel knows very precisely how to kill a person.
She knows the exact angle at which the thermometer needs to be inserted into the eye socket, the exact amount of force with which it should be jammed into the skull. Even if it’s hers.
<Oh my God!> Quantum exclaims, watching the duplicate kill herself in an excruciatingly brutal way. The body doesn’t disintegrate instantly: it falls to ground, staying there for a few seconds.
Kari fights the instinct to look away and manages to catch a glimpse of her own corpse finally dissipating. Not vanishing in a moment like it should; first it decomposes into a pitch-black ooze that evaporates into a dark mist.
<What happened!? Why would she do that to herself!?> the doctor exclaims.
Quantum goes to check on Kari, who is equally horrified and motivated as she looks at the black silhouette left behind by her duplicate.
<You recognize that, don’t you?> she asks.
Quantum nods. He sensed a familiar energy during the death:
<Ichor.>
Hell, 163,000 light-years from Earth
Noriko has never really loved her role as Regent of Hell, like most of her titles, but at least the Demons don’t ask her to be too involved in her affairs.
In fact, despite being the head of state, there are some things for which Noriko can’t decide on her own. She’s here in front of the current Lady Of All Demons, Agony, who sits on her throne next to her husband Torn.
<You are asking much, Regent.> Agony points out.
<I know. But the Dark Galaxy is 10 billion light-years away: even the Ragnarok at full speed would need 25 years to get there. But I have access to Hell’s intelligence, which tells me that you have a portal that leads directly to Baal’s realm.> Noriko points out.
<True. But opening the Oblivion Gate requires a complex procedure; it can only be opened from Hell’s side when the Lord or Lady of Hell calls for a vote in the Parliament of Hell, and even that should be unanimous.>
<I’m sure there’s a way to get around it.> Noriko suggests.
<If there was, I would not want to use it. Even my father-in-law wasn’t reckless enough to open the Oblivion Gate without consent.> Agony replies.
If Torn is upset at the mention of his father, he certainly doesn’t give outwards signs.
<I ask you to reconsider, Lady Of All Demons.>
<I have pondered your request, Regent Of Hell. My decision stays: I will not ask for a vote.>
<I understand it’s dangerous, Agony, but…>
<Do you? The Dark Galaxy is the source of all Ichor, which would consume our realm if allowed to infect us. Your own Galaxy was recently threatened by Ichor; you of all people should understand why I cannot risk the security of Hell for this.> Agony insists.
<I’ve dealt with Ichor before; it doesn’t scare me. I will get to the Dark Galaxy, Agony, one way or the other.> Noriko insists, her silver eyes shining.
The Lady Of All Demons does not blink when staring back.
<Attempt to pass through the Oblivion Gate and you will have to fight your way through Hell.>
<You forget I’m the head of state around here. Technically, your armed forces report to me.> Noriko reminds her, staring at Torn now.
<You’re backing me on this, aren’t you?> she asks him.
<I have pledged loyalty to you for the good of Hell, its allies and my friends. But you are no Empress in Hell: you will find no blind obedience here.> Torn reminds her.
<I am truly sorry, Regent. You have saved the lives of my husband and of my daughters; Hell owes you a debt it can never repay. But Hell cannot be guilt tripped.>
<Disappointing, but not unexpected. I will find allies elsewhere.> Noriko has to admit defeat.
She could realistically overpower the Demons, but it would be a betrayal of their trust.
<I ask permission to follow you to the Dark Galaxy.> Torn immediately says.
<But I thought…> Noriko says, confused by his attitude.
<My father serves Baal: I believe I will be able to take you to him. My only request is to be the one to kill my father.> Torn says.
Presidential Palace, Midgard City, Antarctica
Shortly after returning from Hell, Noriko has called for an emergency meeting.
Athena and Vesta are there, as well as Enyo in her capacity as Minister of Defense.
Noriko is standing in front of a holographic presentation, which shows the Dark Galaxy and an assorted group of potential players.
<First of all, this is a covert operation. I don’t want this to turn into another intergalactic war, so we’re doing this off the books okay?>
<Understood.> Enyo replies, still standing at attention.
<I’m taking the whole Vanguard with me for this one; that’s not negotiable, I need someone I can trust with my eyes closed. Unfortunately, since we can’t use the Oblivion Gate, we’ll have to involve Hermes in this.> Noriko explains, pointing at the symbol of Hermes on the hologram.
<That will make it the third time he helps us after your takeover. He’ll likely ask for something in return; he’s restless under planet arrest.> Vesta points out.
<He’s still alive after trying to murder the Slayer of Gods half a dozen times, and he expects to dictate conditions?> Enyo says.
<You also made several attempts at her life. And by my calculations, you are responsible for a much higher number of mortal deaths.> Athena reminds her.
<Knock it off you two, I’ve had enough of your war goddess rivalry. Athena, I know it’s unusual to ask for a vassal to join me in a mission, but…>
<I object. As Minister of Defense, it should be my job.> Enyo interrupts her.
<I have experience dealing with Ichor. You don’t. Noriko’s choice is wise.> Athena says.
<We’ll obviously need to bring Zeus along. But I wanted to discuss the mission with you, Athena, because I know you will object to the other gods I’m asking to help us.> Noriko says, showing three other gods next to those she mentioned.
It’s unusual for the Goddess of Wisdom to show surprise, but she didn’t expect this.
<Persephone, Dionysus and Aphrodite!? Please forgive my boldness, Noriko, but have you gone mad!? A brat, a drunkard and a strumpet!?> Athena exclaims.
<What’s the logic behind this, Noriko? I thought you’d be recruiting some heavy hitters, like my mother or Gaea…> Vesta says.
<According to Zeus, you can’t beat Baal with strength alone. I’m betting even he will have trouble taming those three.> Noriko explains.
<You said Baal reminds you of Satan. You do realize you’re going to fight the Devil…> Vesta says.
<…by recruiting the gods of sex, drugs and violence? Yeah, the irony isn’t lost on me.>
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