Dark Galaxy, 10 billion light-years from Earth
Bridge of the HDS Polymetis
Noriko Null is trying to make sense of the ship’s sensors, but even her Nexus-enhanced intelligence isn’t up to the task.
The screen shows the Ekronian Demons surrounding the ship drop by the thousands every second, but they can’t discern what is killing them.
Of course she knows… she just saw Torn jump into the fight wielding a scythe made of a weird energy that used to be Quantum… but she doesn’t understand how.
<Whatever power Torn is tapping into, it’s completely untraceable.> she realizes.
<Not to everyone, or these guys wouldn’t have found us.> Kari points out.
Noriko would have made the same connection a moment later, when three separate hexagram portals open up inside the bridge to deliver two Ekronians each.
They’re all armed with weapons made of Ichor; that would normally be troublesome on its own, considering Ichor is just as deadly as the Blood in addition to being incredibly toxic.
It’s far worse today, considering Noriko has no technology on her body to defend her.
<SHADOW BREAKER!!!> Kari shouts, her body engulfed in energy similar to what she taps into with her 10K Rise technique.
A Kari duplicate appears in front of each of the intruders, punching them in the face with such strength that their skulls explode into a fountain of bone fragments and brain pulp sprayed all over the bridge.
<Jesus Christ!!!> Noriko exclaims, shocked by the gore spectacle.
<Eww. Now I know why Vesta doesn’t punch with all her strength.> the original Kari comments, making the duplicates disappear and shaking her right arm to get the bloody remains off her.
<What was that!?>
<Let’s just say Torn and Quantum weren’t the only ones to survive their imprisonment without getting a power-up in return.> Kari answers, not hiding her pride.
<You’re not getting off with something vague like that, Kari, I need to know about these things.>
<I absorbed the shadow duplicates Baal threw at me. When I tap into the Shadow Breaker, I can boost my strength up to divine levels… even splitting it between duplicates, it’s really hard to control.>
<Is that why you were a lot more… brutal than how you usually handle things?>
<These are fanatics dedicated to their god, Noriko. You can’t hesitate with people like these: it’s either them or us. You’ll never find me shedding tears for collaborators.>
<I see.> Noriko says, trying to stay as noncommittal as possible to Kari’s stance.
<I’m surprised we’re not dealing with more of these guys sneaking in, if they can bypass the shields so easily.> Kari goes back to business.
<They would if there were more of them. Torn has successfully repealed the Ekronian army.>
<Already!? That was half a million Demons!> Kari exclaims.
A triangular portal opens up on the bridge, made of the same white energy burning over a black core that they saw Torn use in battle. In fact, their teammate steps out of that portal.
<Four hundred thousand. And I only killed a tenth of that; the rest fled.> he explains.
The energy scythe he’s holding transforms back into a human, a very excited Quantum.
<Did you see that!? That was AWESOME!!!>
<Indeed.> Torn nods.
<I have to admit, that was quite impressive. Torn, that new energy you discovered?> Noriko says.
<Aether.> he clarifies.
<The ship’s sensors couldn’t even see it, but the Ekronians knew exactly where we were. Can they track us now?>
<I do not believe so. Aether is not like the Blood or Ichor, it does not seek to contact a soul: it has to be searched. And there is no record of another Demon reaching it.> Torn explains.
<Wait, your people have been using the Blood for a billion years, right?> Kari asks.
<We have.>
<And nobody has ever figured out how to use this Aether thing until you and Max came along!?> Kari exclaims incredulously, gesturing towards the unlikely couple.
<Yes. We are, indeed, just that awesome.> Torn answers in his usual deadpan tone, remaining expressionless as he lifts up a hand that Quantum high-fives.
<Gods. I think Max has rubbed off on you.> Kari rolls her eyes.
<He has not. I believe he is only interested to physical contact with females.>
<Dude, don’t ruin the moment with your usual weirdness.> Quantum chastises him.
<If you guys are done goofing around, I need confirmation that we’re not going to be ambushed again the second we leave this system.> Noriko insists.
<We can leave. I believe the Ekronians were attracted to our position when they noticed the Quantum Resonance necessary to access the Aether: they won’t find us again until the next time we need to fight them.> Torn reassures them.
<Just what I wanted to hear. We better get some distance from the rest of the Ekronian army until we have a plan for what to do next.>
<And go where? We don’t have any idea of what’s in this Galaxy!> Quantum objects.
<Well then, it’s a good thing I scouted it for you, Sunshine.> a voice behind Noriko says, caressing her hair. She recoils away, and the only reason Hermes isn’t facing an attack from the other Vanguard members is that they know he’s with them for now.
<Hermes. Nice of you to not lend a hand when we could’ve used it!> Noriko criticizes him.
<That is a poor choice of words, Sunshine, considering your current predicament. There must be many inconveniences with having one of your hands amputated, but as you know my own hands are always at your… ow!> Hermes complains, once Vesta slaps him on the back of the head.
<Seriously?> she says disapprovingly.
<I knew I should’ve come alone.> Hermes mumbles.
Kari is already hugging her teammate, while Noriko completes the preparations for putting the Negative Drive back in operation while commenting:
<Anyone else would like to bypass the shields, before we leave?>
<Actually, we brought a few allies.> Vesta says.
An hour later, in the mess hall
While the ship is traveling to a secure location, an unusual alliance is assembling where Athenian soldiers used to gather for their meals. Or rather, in the recreation of that provided by Siduri.
Vesta is catching up with Kari and Quantum, while Torn is keeping an eye on both Hermes and the god lurking in the shadows wearing a blindfold.
Noriko and Gilgamesh distanced themselves from the rest, getting a moment to themselves.
They’ve both obviously gone through a lot, but Gilgamesh doesn’t look like himself at all: his muscles have nearly disappeared, and he’s so short his eyes only get to her chin.
<I wasn’t sure you’d recognize me.> he admits.
<As far as I know there’s only three people with bronze skin in this Galaxy, so it was an educated guess.> she jokes, trying to lighten up the mood. She’s never seen him this sad.
<You know what I mean.> he replies, averting her eyes. She touches his face to turn it towards her, looking at him straight in the eye.
<I was never into you just because of your muscles. Even without those, you’re still a hero right? Heck, you’re the original hero!>
<Some hero. Baal broke me so much that I needed to be rescued.>
<Hey, even I need rescuing sometime. A distressingly high number of times, actually. You can definitely still contribute something to the mission.> she reassures him.
<Like his manhood?> Aphrodite asks, joining the conversation by embracing the two lovers.
<Could you give us some privacy!?> Noriko complains, trying to squirm out of her arms.
<Of course! Let’s bring you to one of the bedchambers where you two can express your passion with only me and the ship watching you over!>
<I doubt the ship would like it.> Noriko protests, still trying to get away from the handsy goddess.
<I was in Heaven for a million years. I have seen everything flesh bodies are capable of.> Siduri’s voice comments from the room’s speakers.
<Is that a challenge? How kinky!> Aphrodite giggles.
<Lady Aphrodite. Is that the way to treat your Empress?> Prometheus asks, approaching her.
<Hmm, I think so? Daddy never complained when I rubbed my body off his.> she replies, letting Noriko go to scratch her head.
<That tracks with the Zeus I know. Also, eww.> Noriko says, taking a look at the god.
There’s something odd about him, and it’s not just the blindfold or the tattered robe he’s wearing. His body language is not what she’s seen before in a god: if she hadn’t been told his identity, she would have mistaken him for a mortal.
<Please, Lady Aphrodite, sit at the table. We shall join you shortly.> Prometheus tells her, and much to Noriko’s surprise the goddess actually listens to him and walks away.
<I didn’t think you could get her to behave without spraying her with a hose. So you’re Prometheus, uh? I’ve heard a lot about you.> she greets him.
<And I have dreamt of you, Slayer of Gods, long before you were born. You have suffered great hardship to save Olympus from itself, never asking for anything in return.> he tells her, moving forward to take her hand. Only to grab the stump of her severed right hand.
Thinking he couldn’t see her amputation, she politely hesitates pointing it out… at least until a second later the stump starts to itch like crazy, and she pulls her arm back.
<Do you mind!?> she exclaims.
<Not at all. I am very familiar with human bodies.>
Noriko realizes what he means once she realizes she’s no longer an amputee: her right completely regrew in a heartbeat.
<No way!!!> she exclaims, eagerly testing the hand by moving all fingers.
<During the reign of Kronos, I was tasked to sculpt your animal ancestors into an evolutionarily attractive species. I may not have eyes, but I know my efforts paid off.>
<Yeah, uhm, thanks, I guess? I sure could’ve used someone like you the first time I lost a limb!> Noriko tells him, patting him on the back before moving towards the center of the room.
<Can’t you fix me too?> Gilgames asks, hating how his voice cracks during that sentence.
<The curse imposed by Baal is too strong for my powers. Besides, I did not play a hand in the evolution of the Ur.> Prometheus dismisses him, joining the assembly while the Sumerian hero looks at him with disdain as the god sits next to Noriko.
<Alright people, you know why we’re gathered here.> she begins.
<Orgy?> Aphrodite excitedly asks.
<As if.> Hermes sighs.
<We need a plan for how to deal with Baal and Ekron. Suggestions?> she asks, ignoring the gods.
<Do we have to? Not to sound heartless, but we’re outnumbered and outpowered around here. Not to mention that, if Baal told us the truth, Athena has taken over the Galaxy right now.> Kari says.
<I could take us back to Olympus in a snap.> Hermes offers.
<As tempting as that sounds… we have a collective target on our backs now. Baal is stuck in a battle with Zeus that could potentially go on for years, but his worshippers on Ekron want us dead now. Going back home before dealing with them would just lead them there, and then we’d have to deal with Ekron and Athena at the same time.> Noriko replies.
<If that bothers you so much, Sunshine, I can just conquer Ekron on my own.> Hermes says.
<Do you think you could conquer Hell on your own?> Torn asks.
<No.> Hermes has to admit, lowering his voice as he says this.
<Ekron has a much larger population than Hell and its entire system is filled with Ichor, not just the planet itself. No single god in this room is powerful enough to take it.> Gilgamesh comments.
<Not even together?> Vesta suggests.
<Hey that gives me an idea! Baal is perfectly matched with Zeus, right? So we don’t actually have to defeat him ourselves, we just need to give Zeus the edge he needs to kick his ass. If they’re truly equal, we could pull this off by throwing all we have at Baal.> Quantum realizes.
<We could use Dionysus and Persephone, any chance we can turn them back? I mean they are the strongest gods here, right?> Kari asks, pointing at the two objects resting on one of the tables: a glass of water and a potted cactus.
<I’m not so sure about that.> Vesta says, looking at Aphrodite.
<Power will not win this fight. Baal is a Class-1 god: only gods of the same level could even hope to challenge him.> Prometheus says, shaking his head.
<Or a Class-1 mortal.> Noriko adds, her silver eyes shining in pride.
<That’s not a thing.> Prometheus corrects her.
<It wasn’t until I came around.> she boasts.
Discussion ¬