Beyond The Impossible

Null Tower, New York City

It’s become a familiar sight, sadly. Noriko is unconscious and Dr. Kalama is taking care of her, but this time it’s worse. It’s not just a cardiac arrest: she has a punctured lung, rib and shoulder fractures, she’s covered in glass shards, and she’s lost a lot of blood.

Quantum appears in the room, handing medical equipment to Dr. Kalama: she has to stabilize Noriko before she can be moved. Vesta is holding Noriko’s hand, tears falling on her cheeks: she was able to stop the bleeding just by touching her. The doctor doesn’t question how.

The rest of the Vanguard is watching: with all their power, it’s all they can do.

Quantum’s mask hides his tears just fine, but Kari wears her emotions on her sleeve: she’s covering her mouth with both hands, occasionally wiping away the tears.

Torn is unreadable as always. He awkwardly puts his hand on Kari’s shoulder, hesitating.

<If anyone can make it, it’s her> he consoles her. With his deep monotone voice, it’s impossible to say if he’s just trying to make her feel better or if he really thinks it.

The only other person in the room is dead, or really, it was never alive to begin with. Noriko’s clone, looking like she just started puberty, is laying naked on the floor. Her body is also covered in blood and glass and weird chemicals.

Dr. Kalama places a small device on Noriko’s chest and sets the controls: she’s practiced this.

<You may want to let her go> she warns Vesta.

<It’s okay. It won’t hurt me> the goddess reassures her.

The device releases an electric discharge into Noriko’s heart, artificially restarting it. Or at least that’s what it’s supposed to do: Noriko doesn’t move an inch.

<Come on, girl, come on> the doctor says, increasing the power.

Still no reaction. Except there’s a flash of light in the next room, with a ring of energy floating in the air. When it descends to the floor, something appears: a woman with blue skin and wings.

Quantum clenches his fists, which shine of bright light. Torn is suddenly holding two red energy swords that weren’t there a second before.

<You are NOT fighting here> Dr. Kalama orders them. Null herself couldn’t be more authoritative.

<It’s okay, guys, I called her> Kari intervenes, putting herself between her teammates and the winged woman. Most Lampyrians look alike, but they know this one.

<Stand aside; I will take her to the Mortal Liberation Front> Lysia announces.

<Forget it, we won’t let you get her> Vesta answers.

<It was not a request> Lysia clarifies, showing the golden Ankh tattooed on her left forearm.

It glows, summoning another ring of light. When it disappears, all the people in the room are gone.

Even the clone.

 

An undisclosed location in the Olympian Galaxy

It’s hard to tell where they are. No windows, no pictures, no furniture that isn’t strictly utilitarian.

Everyone is wearing the Mortal Liberation Front unofficial uniform, a black jumpsuit with a white fist drawn on the chest: the organization’s logo. Many are wearing masks or even cloaks.

Despite Dr. Kalama’s protests, they put Noriko inside some kind of stasis tube, not unlike what she used to grow her own clone. The clone is in another container, right next to Noriko’s.

They didn’t give her a respirator: she seems to be able to breathe the liquid inside the tube just fine.

Whatever the stuff is, it’s also disinfecting her wounds. There’s a few drops of blood floating freely inside it, but they’re quickly grabbed by the tiny robots that swim around her.

<Excuse me, are you the patient’s physician?> someone asks.

Dr. Kalama turns around, finding herself facing a man’s stomach. She has to back up and move her head drastically to look him in the eye: he must be at least eight feet tall.

<Yes, I’m Dr. Catherine Kalama. Are you in charge of this facility?>

<No, just the medical staff. We managed to stabilize the patients, but before we can proceed we need some information about what happened.>

<I don’t know, the security cameras went offline. Whatever hit her, it was fast.>

<And deadly. Any ungifted human would’ve died hours ago: she suffered a major shock and her brain was without oxygen for an extended period of time> the giant notes.

<Have you seen other… cases like her?>

<It’s a rare condition. Benign Cerebral Hypergrowth. It happens when the human brain is interfaced with Drylon technology, but I’ve never seen it in such an advanced stage.>

<I was talking about her wounds. What’s her prognosis?>

<We repaired the bones and reconstructed the left lung. We removed microscopic traces of carbon fossils from her respiratory tract… has she been exposed to a toxic atmosphere?>

<She lived in New York City most of her life, so yes.>

<We also removed a pouch-like structure of her colon, between the small and the large intestines.>

<It was her appendix. Everyone on Earth is born with one.>

<Yes, I noticed she lacks any sort of genetic therapy. Basically we have everything under control…>

<Except her heart?> Dr. Kalama suggests.

<Exactly. It sustained too much damage to be salvageable; normally I would’ve opted for organ replication surgery, but it seems the patient already thought of that> the giant doctor explains, looking at the clone.

<What? You can’t do that!>

<I realize we’re forced to use antiquated medical equipment at this facility, but…>

<Look, even if this were ethical, and I’m still not sure that it is, the clone died before we got here!>

<We resurrected it. The clone has Benign Cerebral Hypergrowth but no Drylon device; it’s brain dead. But the rest of the body is in perfect physical health.>

<Just look at her, she’s 14 years old! You can’t put a 14 year old heart inside a 19 year old body!>

<Actually, we estimate its age at about 27 days at most. It’s already aging at an accelerated rate, we can just regulate its growth once it’s inside the patient’s body.>

<That sounds incredibly dangerous. I can’t allow something like that.>

<Look, Dr. Kalama, this discussion is just professional courtesy> the giant doctor explains calmly.

His voice is booming; he doesn’t need to do much to intimidate people, and he knows it.

<Your patient may be the most important person in the Galaxy. One way or the other I will put her back in action, even if I have to transplant her brain into the clone’s body.>

 

It would be a comical scene if the stakes weren’t so high. The Vanguard sitting in a waiting room, one next to the other. The Front didn’t bother with guards: they know these people can go wherever they please, at any time. Only Lysia is left there to watch them.

<I can’t believe you called the MLF> Vesta breaks the ice.

<I didn’t. I called the Blue Rose> Kari defends herself.

<The what?> Quantum asks.

<The Lampyrian resistance movement. They relayed the message> Lysia explains.

<I figured they’d be able to cut through the red tape before our regular channels could> Kari adds.

<I didn’t see any tape> Torn joins the discussion, completely missing the point.

<The Blue Rose contacted me some time ago. They asked me to join> Lysia adds.

<And you said no?>

<I didn’t say yes> the Lampyrian clarifies, looking away.

<How did you get to Earth anyway? I though Persephone stole the Stargate> Quantum asks.

<We stole it back. And for the hundredth time, it’s not called Stargate> Lysia explains once more.

<Now now, Lysia, don’t steal all the glory.>

Lysia stands at attention when she hears the voice, and so do all the MLF personnel within hearing distance. The man who talked is the only one who doesn’t wear any sort of uniform; he seems very relaxed, while his presence seems to make everyone nervous. He’s a very fit man in the prime of his life, with tanned skin and a thick unruly beard.

<I’m the one who recovered the Master Portal. Both times, I might add.>

<Sir, I… I didn’t know you were on the base> Lysia says nervously.

<It’s just for a few days.>

<And now who’s this guy?> Quantum asks.

<He’s the founder of the Mortal Liberation Front> Lysia answers, outraged at the question.

<You look familiar. Have we meet before, mister…?> Vesta asks.

<As a matter of fact, we have. The name’s Ulysses.>

Everyone is amazed… even Torn is so shocked to lift both eyebrows this time.

<You mean… Ulysses like…> Kari says.

<Like in the Odyssey, yes, I get that a lot. That’s me.>

<How are you still alive!?> Vesta asks; it must’ve been three thousand years since they met.

<The old-fashioned way: I’m immortal now. Good to see you’ve finally managed to escape your exile, by the way; how’s Ithaca these days?>

<It’s called Earth now.>

<Hm. Interesting. Hey there, you must be Torn right? You look just like Reaper; I miss that guy.>

<You knew my father?> the Demon asks.

<I get around. I heard you guys are having trouble with some sort of invincible monster, right?>

<Bad news travel fast, uh?> Kari says.

<I’d like to talk to your leader now.>

<Let me guess: you know Noriko as well> Quantum suggests. For some reason he doesn’t like him.

<Who do you think stole the Drylon device that her mother put inside her head?>

<Hermes told her it was him> Kari recalls.

<Of course he did. Well, I guess we’ll just have to see who is the better liar, right?>

An exchange of glances shows that Quantum isn’t the only one who doesn’t trust Ulysses.

 

Nowhere

The bitter cold wakes up Noriko. She adjusts her eyes to the darkness and she recognizes the place: it’s the prison cell where she was kept on Myridia. Which isn’t possible: she was present during the demolition, right after Demeter’s death.

She’s dangling from a wall, her hands and feet chained. She’s stuck in her current position, arms and legs spread as painfully as possible. She’s naked, and she’s not alone.

The other person in the room is facing the other way. Hidden under a red cloak.

<I don’t know who you are but you will LET. ME. OUT. NOW> Noriko orders.

<Out?>

That voice gives Noriko’s skin crawl. It’s her own voice but it’s cold, colder than all the ice in the world. The girl takes off the cloak to reveal a face identical to Noriko’s, except for the eyes. Completely black. Completely merciless. Completely evil.

<There is no “out”. You’re stuck here with me, inside our head.>

-Abyss! What are you doing here!?

<I never left. You set up mental barriers and you thought a prison could hold me. Bad idea.>

-There are… precautions in place. You… you won’t use my body again.

Despite her attempts to sound dangerous, there’s fear in her voice. She knows this is just in her mind, an extremely realistic nightmare. But it doesn’t make it any less scary.

<I’m as smart as you are, remember? Anything you can create, I can destroy. It’s that simple.>

<I would rather die than being you again. You know I’m not lying.>

<Oh I know. I know what keeps you up at night. I know about the Church of Null. I know about the Dragon Tomb. I know about Project Seven. I know your most intimate terrors.>

Abyss gets closer, uncomfortably closer. Caressing her with a rusty knife, licking her ear as she pulls her hair as painfully as possible.

<I know what you fear. I AM your fear. And if I can’t have your body…>

Abyss kisses her in the mouth as she plunges her knife inside Noriko’s chest, piercing her heart.

<…I will have my vengeance.>