Beyond The Impossible

The Vulcan Forge, 2300 light-years from Earth

As if a mission to blow up a base built on the surface of a neutron star wasn’t weird enough.

Noriko Null is sitting in front of a female robot wearing a red evening dress, while a golden robot is serving her a drink in a golden cup.

<Are you sure this is safe?> Max asks her. He’s resumed his human form, although he’s starting to regret the decision.

<If she wanted to kill us I doubt she’d resort to poison> Noriko answers, wiping off the sweat from her forehead before accepting the drink. She took off her trademark leather jacket to pilot the Talos armor, which is standing behind her with its torso open, but it’s way too hot even for her tank top.

The female robot notices the discomfort of her guests, suggesting:

<I can lower the temperature even more, if the current level isn’t adequate.>

<110 degrees? Survivable, but not exactly comfortable. Who are you, exactly?> Noriko asks, sipping her drink; some sort of overly sweet tea.

Galatea crosses her legs, which reflect Noriko’s image on the shiny metal.

“Neutral matter. Same material of the Talos” – she communicates through the Neural Transmitter, heard only by Max who answers:

“I can feel she has a plasma reactor too. She’s not just a sex robot”

“Why would that be your first thought!?”

“Is there any other reason to build a robot with boobs and put her in a tight dress?”

“We’re dealing with the Greek gods, Max! They’re not just about sex!”

“…”

“Okay, maybe you’re right this time”

While the two argue telepathically, Galatea explains her origin. She doesn’t seem to notice the psychic discussion, and Noriko is able to focus on two conversations anyway.

<Fifty thousand years ago, Hephaestus grew tired of the infidelities of his wife Aphrodite. I guess he really did love her once, but he became distant and cold. Metaphorically speaking, of course. But he still longed for companionship and built the first Galatea. I am the seventh model of his mistress.>

<You know why we’re here, I suppose> Noriko speculates.

<Of course. I never leave the Forge, but I oversee the Talos in my lord’s name. I know who you are.>

<Then you know I have the means to kill Hephaestus if I have to.>

<Naturally. And if you try I will drench your world in blood. How is your tea, my dear?>

Max and Noriko exchange a quick look. Given what they’ve been through together, they don’t need to say anything to tell the other “be ready for anything”.

Noriko stands up, dropping the cup on the floor. It doesn’t break.

<I’m going to destroy this place now. Are you going to stop me?>

<Oh I’m not here to stop you, dear. I’m just waiting for my love to arrive.>

<Hephaestus is coming!?> Noriko asks, her heart jumping at the thought. The God Eraser is still on the ship, she’s in hostile territory, and she’s still recovering from the Abyss deal.

<Not quite> a new voice answers, introducing himself by throwing the unconscious body of Lysia.

He then proceeds to passionately kiss Galatea.

<What the f##k are you doing here, Hermes!?> Noriko asks, reaching for her Genius Gun. When she draws the weapon, however, it flies away into the hands of yet another arrival.

<For a supposedly smart girl, you fell into a rather obvious trap> Talas Khanos mocks her.

Max’s first reaction is to shoot a laser blast at him. The light changes its path unpredictably and is caught by Hermes, still busy kissing Galatea.

<There are no inhibitors. This was just a trick to get me to the Forge> Noriko understands.

<Not exactly, sunshine. I could’ve taken you here anytime, but that would’ve accomplished nothing. What I really needed was to give you an incentive to build something for me.>

Noriko turns pale at the realization of the gods’ plan and immediately gives her orders:

 

<Max, get back to the-> she begins to say, but her body is suddenly paralyzed and lifted off the ground by the telekinetic power of Talas Khanos.

<Put her down> Max orders, his fists glowing with enough power to level a small city and holding it back. Khanos is eager to start a rematch of their last fight, but Hermes has other plans.

<Galatea, would you do the honors please?>

<With pleasure, my love> the robot answers, running towards Max at a hundred miles per hour. He releases his blast at point blank, doing exactly nothing to her.

Only by turning his body into electricity he’s able to avoid certain death, but Galatea still soaks in his energy when she crashes through the wall.

<I have to say, Hephaestus may be just a little insane but he knows how to build a woman. Oh and don’t bother trying to contact your friends, sunshine, I’m isolating all transmissions coming out of that cute little head of yours> Hermes tells Noriko stroking her hair.

Her silver eyes are shining with hate. She can feel Abyss scratching her brain.

<You…won’t take…the God…Eraser> she struggles to say. Talas Khanos is pulling her limbs into opposite directions so hard she feels her muscles straining.

<I’m afraid we disagree on the subject, sunshine. But I hope I can change your mind with a little… alone time.>

 

Eleusis, 30 light-years from Earth

Forgotten by the gods for hundreds of years, Eleusis enjoys the closest thing to religious freedom possible in the Olympian Galaxy: everyone is entitled to choose which god is the most worthy of being worshipped. Very few people chose Hephaestus even before he showed up; after destroying half a city in a battle with Artemis, nobody does.

He sits on a makeshift throne made of vehicle carcasses in an abandoned city. Eleusians have nuclear weapons, but they know better than wasting them on a god. Instead they preferred to evacuate the city and leave the irascible god alone.

Hephaestus has little interest for the mortals on the planet and hasn’t made any attempt to attack them since his arrival. He’s been sitting there for a week, immobile.

<I remember this fu##ing place. The Old C#nt wanted to give me this planet as a present for my half-million birthday or some s##t like that.>

Hephaestus turns his head to look at the green haired young woman dressed in leather and chains.

<<Go away, Persephone. Hephaestus has no quarrel with you>>

<You still talk in the third person? That’s annoying as fu##.>

<<You came a long way from your kingdom just to annoy Hephaestus?>>

<You know me, I never miss a chance to fu## with my family. Must’ve taken it from my father. Although I seem to remember we’re supposed to be at war with each other, don’t we?>

<<I have ordered the death of billions of mortals to fight you>>

<Sure, whatever, I’m fu##ing bored now. What are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be at the Forge sc###ing tin w##res? Or did they grow tired of your lava c###?>

<<Enough!!! Hephaestus shall not be mocked!!!>> the god protests, lifting his war hammer and striking Persephone. The hammer has the mass of a mountain and every time he moves it the ground shakes.

Persephone blocks it with one hand. It’s not as easy as she makes it look: Hephaestus is not exactly a lightweight, but despite her much smaller frame she manages to hold her ground.

<About time you grew a pair, hunchc###. But I’m not here to fight you. You came here because you received information that after your last fight Artemis found a Drylon device on this planet.>

<<How can you possibly know that?>>

<It doesn’t matter. What’s really fu##ing important is your answer to one simple question: how much do you hate Hermes?>

 

The Vulcan Forge

Lysia is an experienced agent of the Mortal Liberation Front, or at least as experienced as a Lampyrian can get. This is the first time she’s ever been captured, and despite all her training she can’t help being absolutely terrified. She’s tied to a medical bed with arms, legs and wings stretched wide. While she struggles to break free, one Talos is holding steady her right arm while a second robot is activating a saw.

<Wait, please! You don’t have to kill me! The Infinity Key doesn’t work without me!> she pleads.

<Irrelevant. Biological material surrounding the device creates undesired variables.>

<Let me talk to your leader! Please!!!> she begs.

Just then, something crashes through the wall. It’s not a common thing inside the Forge: not every single wall is made of neutral matter, of course, but nobody ever visits this place.

Lysia rejoices at the chance of being rescued, but is horrified to see that it’s another robot.

<Lady Galatea. Do you require assistance?> one of the robot asks.

Galatea gets back on her feet, struggling to keep her balance. Her red dress has been burned away, and she clumsily covers herself with the first random device she can reach.

<No I’m fine, I’m fine. So…what are you guys doing over here?>

<Vivisection of the organic intruder.>

<What!? Who told you to do that!?>

<We are following your orders, Lady Galatea.>

<Really? I mean, of course. You have to follow me, not Hermes right?>

<Correct. Until the return of Hephaestus, the Talos follow your orders in his name.>

<That’s great. So, in his name, I’d like both of you to, uhm, deactivate yourselves.>

Without question, the two Talos robots become completely still. The light of the plasma reactor doesn’t shine through their eyes and torso anymore.

<Wow. That was easier than I thought> Galatea comments, rescuing Lysia by breaking her restrains with just one hand. The Lampyrian crawls away from her in fear.

<It’s okay, it’s okay! It’s just me!> Galatea reassures her. Her body releases a shiny silhouette of pure light, that later changes back into Max Black…Quantum.

<See? When she absorbed my energy I was able to> he starts to explain but doesn’t have the time to finish, because the alien hugs him with both hands and wings.

<Thank you! I was sure I was going to die!>

<You’ll be fine now. Just find a place to hide while I kick major god butts.>

<Forget about it> Lysia answers, composing herself and showing the Ankh symbol glowing through her blue skin.

<We are going to kick Hermes somewhere more painful.>

 

The Supreme Scorpion, at the edge of the Forge solar system

Torn returns to the bridge of the spaceship, finding it full of Kari duplicates as expected. The Talos have managed to take a few lucky shots: they may be slower than the Scorpion, but they vastly outnumber their prey.

<What are you doing here? You’re supposed to guard the God Eraser!> the original Kari shouts.

<It’s gone> Torn reveals.

<What do you mean “it’s gone”?>

<It’s not there anymore.>

<How do you lose something like that?>

<Not lose, steal. Hermes.>

<ΣΗΙΤ, that son of a…what are we going to do now?> Kari complains, while a duplicate warns:

<Multiple Talos signatures, right in front of us. And above. And…below? What the…>

Her confusion is only enhanced by the Talos voice transmitting coming from the speakers:

<Don’t worry guys, I totally got it this time.>

Hundreds of robots fly by the Supreme Scorpion, joined by the models that were chasing them: like an enormous swarm, they all take a turn to head directly for the Vulcan Forge.