Operation Center, Null Tower
This is the most secure room in the building, protected by multiple layers of security. Not to keep the people inside away from harm: they don’t need it, since they’re the most powerful persons on the planet. But because what is usually discussed here is well past Top Secret.
The entire Vanguard is sitting at the round table, surrounded by multiple holograms. Some would be familiar to anyone, like the map of the planet or the news articles from around the globe. Some are more exotic, like the political map of the Olympian Galaxy or pictures from alien worlds.
Noriko Null is the last one to arrive. Before taking her seat, she gives a small box to each of her teammates and explains:
<Thank you for coming. We’ll be making this meeting a regular occurrence, so if something comes up and you can’t make it, tell me in advance and I’ll try to reschedule.>
<Why are we here, exactly? Is the Earth in danger again?> Vesta asks.
<No. I decided that Max was right> Noriko answers, her head nodding towards Max Black.
<So it is the Apocalypse after all> he jokes.
<You said you should all be more involved in the Vanguard’s actions, and I agree. I want you guys to be up to speed about what’s going on in the galaxy and give me your opinion.>
<No secrets? Sounds unlikely>– Torn comments.
<I guess I deserve that. I won’t lie to you, there are things about which you’ll have to trust my judgment. But I truly respect your thoughts and I want to…>
<Are you wearing nail polish!?> Kari interrupts her, changing the subject so abruptly that even Torn has to raise an eyebrow.
<Not now, Kari. So, ah, the first thing I wanted to show you guys is this> Noriko says opening the box, while everyone else is focused on her green nails.
<It looks good on you> Vesta comments, trying to be polite.
<Okay if this turns into a weekly discussion about fashion I’m outta here> Max jokes.
<Moving on> Noriko raises her voice, regaining control of the situation as she extracts a very small device from the box, barely half an inch thick.
<This is an expansion module for your Neural Transmitter. Well, this is actually the installer, the real module is too small for the naked eye. It will improve the range and security of the transmission, and it will interface with your optic nerve giving you the option of receiving or streaming footage directly to another user.>
<That’s cool! You mean I’ll be able to see through the eyes of my duplicates!?> Kari asks.
<If your duplicates install another NT after you’ve created them. I have some ideas to integrate this technology with your Battle Bracelets, as you call them, but I’m still working on it.>
<No offense, but I’m not so sure I’m okay with you guys seeing through my eyes> Max complains.
<I’m not a creep, Max, the user streaming the images is the only one who can initiate the transmission and can interrupt it at any time. But this’ll make coordination a lot easier for everyone.>
<It does sound like a very useful technology. Will you commercialize it?> Vesta asks.
<Hell no, I’d never trust the general public with something like this. Speaking of which, let’s move to something that must never leave this room.>
Noriko gestures to call one of the holograms to the center of the table, and Kari snaps her fingers.
<Oh I get it! It’s not nail polish, it’s some kind of remote control for the holograms right?>
<I said not now, Kari. During the past weeks, you guys have probably wondered why I haven’t talked about the invasion of North Korea.>
Suddenly, everyone seems to be very uncomfortable on their chair, as they stare at the holographic map of east Asia. They know Noriko can become very unpleasant when talking about her mother.
<The reason is very simple: Leiko has made a huge mistake, and I can’t let her discover that I’ve noticed before I’m ready to take advantage of it. That’s why this information can’t leave this room.>
<So wait, that’s why you ordered us to stay out of it? That’s cynical, even for you> Max says.
<I was no fan of North Korea’s former regime, believe me, but I would have ordered you to stop the invasion if it meant preventing a war. The official position is that I knew the regime would collapse as fast as it did and with so little casualties. What Leiko thinks is that her blackmail worked.>
<Blackmail?> Kari asks, already lost.
<Leiko has stolen the Palladium. The Drylon device that keeps Earth hidden from the rest of the galaxy> Vesta explains, having discovered this at the same time as Noriko.
<If she breaks it, or finds a way to shut it down, Earth will be an easy target for the gods. And it’ll mean complete chaos. So why aren’t we stealing it back?> Max asks.
<For two reasons. One, I believe that Leiko has developed some kind of mind control technology, and she’s been using it not only to take control of the regime, but of her allies as well. I can’t prove it yet, but all signs lead to the presidents of the United States and of Russia to be under her spell.>
<If we get close, we risk being controlled> Torn realizes.
<Exactly. But what Leiko doesn’t know, and she can’t know until I’m fully ready to take advantage of this, is that I have a second reason for not trying to steal the Palladium from her.>
<And what’s that?> Vesta asks, anxious to get to the bottom of this.
Noriko reacts by touching a hidden button, which opens a secret compartment at the center of the table. A small container is lifted from it, revealing its content: a small statue of Athena.
<Because I already have it. Leiko stole a fake.>
Noriko enjoys the moment: everyone is at a loss for words for the reveal. Except Torn, who seems impassible as always when he simply comments:
<Nice.>
<You had the Palladium this whole time!? Where did you get it!?> Vesta wonders.
<The same cave where you hid it. You’re hard to track when you fly at top speed, but not impossible. Not for my technology, at least.>
<But you weren’t even supposed to know that I had it!>
<You’re a terrible liar, Vesta, I knew you had it the moment you denied it. Now, I understand why you wouldn’t want me to have it, seeing as I’ve not… been myself… for a long time. But I also hope you’ll understand we can’t just keep Drylon technology laying around. It’s too dangerous.>
<I’m not sure I understand: if she can’t actually blackmail you, why aren’t we doing something to stop your mother?> Kari asks.
<Because I’ve learned my lesson. I’ve played following her rules and where did that get us? She’s more powerful and influential than ever. I know I’m taking a big risk here…>
<Not just you. People died during the invasion; what were they, acceptable losses?> Max asks.
<Yes.>
Noriko’s silver eyes flash when she says that single word, her voice becoming colder.
<Don’t ever think I take this kind of decisions lightly. I went through seventeen million scenarios and chose the course of action leading to the lowest number of casualties.>
<You should’ve found one with zero> Max insists.
<I know. Maybe I’m not smart enough for that. Look, I know I let you guys down with the whole Selene thing, but you have to trust me.>
<Of course we do> Vesta intervenes, perhaps a little too quickly to sound convincing. The atmosphere is so tense that even Torn almost seems to notice it, before Noriko changes the subject.
<Alright. Moving on, let’s discuss the arrangements for Kari’s duplicates next week…>
Far away
The room is poorly lit by the candles surrounding the throne, leaving the face of the man sitting on it in darkness. There’s a woman in front of him, who on Earth would be considered of Arab descent.
She’s wearing a dark cloak that obscures her features, but the cybernetic implants are still visible.
<Report> the man orders, speaking softly.
The woman stands to attention and looks towards the screen that turned itself on. It shows a picture of a planet, a beautiful blue marble in space.
<Earth. Formerly known as Terra, Ithaca, and Lethe. Population 7.4 billion. No formal divine rule. No unified mortal government. No single language. No known treaty with other planets. Faster-than-light travel impossible due to presence of Drylon technology.>
<Tactical evaluation.>
<Class-7 technological advancement. Military personnel, including reserves, 64 million. High risk of guerrilla warfare. Planetary defenses and space weapons virtually nonexistent. Land, air and sea weaponry appears antiquated and obsolete, possibly ceremonial. Limited nuclear arsenal.>
<Estimated probability of surrender.>
<37% on the day of the attack. Additional 5% per day until a maximum of 57%.>
<Much lower than I expected. Evaluate effect of orbital antimatter bombardment.>
<6.9 billion casualties. 100% probability of surrender.>
<File the option for future reference. Show me the Vanguard file.>
The image on the screen changes, showing five wildly different people, each accompanied by charts of their physical stats and a full assessment of their abilities:
- Kari Zel, a.k.a. Legion. Myridian female. Abilities include self-duplication, enhanced strength, agility and reflexes, class-1 hand-to-hand fighter. Subject utilizes arsenal of special design melee weapons (see: Battle Bracelets). Threat level: low.
- Torn of the Seventh Circle. Demon male. Class-2 Blood user, superhuman strength and reflexes, class-3 hand-to-hand fighter. Threat level: medium.
- Max Black, a.k.a. Quantum. Human male mutated by exposure to Drylon technology. Has the ability to change into any kind of energy. Upper energy limits unknown. Threat level: high.
- Hestia, a.k.a. Vesta. Olympian female. Class-3 divinity. Abilities include flight, divine strength and invulnerability, high-level pyrokinesis, limited mind-over-matter powers. Threat level: high.
- Noriko Null, a.k.a. Abyss, a.k.a. Void. Human female mutated by exposure to Drylon technology. Class-1 mental abilities, class-4 hand-to-hand fighter, class-5 Blood user. Arsenal includes telekinetic weapons, sonic blaster, adaptive forcefield, gravity dampeners, gravity accelerators and more (see: Genius Gun, Null Shield, God Eraser, Gravity Gauntlets). Threat level: extreme.
The man in the shadows studies the images with care, in silence. The cyborg grows impatient, but she knows better than questioning the Scribe’s actions. Finally, he gives the order.
<Summon the Inner Circle and prepare the fleet. We invade Earth in three days.>
New York City, Earth
Todd Slate returns to the apartment he shares with Noriko, taking off his tie. He doesn’t expect to find her there, as she’s usually stuck in the lab until dinner, if not later. Instead she’s sitting on the couch, so focused on reading her holographic tablet that she barely acknowledges his arrival.
<Hey. Didn’t expect to see you so soon. How was your day?> he asks her, coming closer to kiss her on the forehead. She almost smiles, but her eyes don’t leave the screen.
<Fine. I figured out how to give my space station artificial gravity.>
<That sounds awesome. You’ll have to tell me everything over dinner… what’d you order?>
<Actually I’d like to cook today, if you don’t mind.>
It’s a perfectly normal thing to say, but hearing it coming from Null is something Todd wouldn’t expect. Especially when he notices the nail polish on the coffee table.
<Okay what is going on with you? I thought you hated cooking and, y’know, girly stuff.>
<I can be feminine when I want to be. Did you contact Lynn as I asked you to?>
<Your interview is three days from today. Are you sure this is a good idea?>
<Of course. Why wouldn’t it be?>
<Because you’re looking at pictures of my ex girlfriend and your face says “I want to murder someone”> Todd says, noting that the tablet is showing Kristen’s online profile.
<Don’t be ridiculous. I have nothing to be jealous of> she says, with her eyes filled with electricity.
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