An undisclosed location in the Olympian Galaxy
These are the headquarters of the Mortal Liberation Front, but you could never tell from the inside. Everything is so impersonal and down to business; the passion one would expect from a terrorist organization just isn’t there. Maybe that’s why they’ve been around for so long: according to Ulysses, the MLF is about 1200 years old. Then again, Noriko knows mythology well enough to suspect an exaggeration or an outright lie.
He’s led her to the largest room in the complex, surrounded by thirteen screens, each of one has to be at least twenty feet tall. One of them shows a map of the Olympian Galaxy, far more detailed than any other Noriko’s ever seen: she absorbs every part of it, filing it away in her mind for later.
The other twelve screens only show dark silhouettes against a white background. One of them talks:
<We are glad our operatives managed to save your life, Lady Null.>
<Just Null, please. Who are you people? What is this place?>
<You are in one of our secret bases. We are the Board of Directors of the Mortal Liberation Front.>
The voice is completely artificial. It could belong to a man or a woman, young or old. It’s already talking in English, even though by now Noriko is fluent in Modern Olympian.
<I thought your boss was Ulysses> she says, pointing at the man besides her.
<I founded the MLF, but I don’t have an official role. I’m the kind of guy who can’t stay in one place for long> he says, taking his seat at the conference table.
<Yeah. I think I’ve read that somewhere> she comments, taking the chair next to him.
<Hermes has taken over the entire Persephone sector> a different screen says.
<Straight to business, I see. Wasn’t she keeping him as a prisoner? How did he escape?>
<Every prison has a way out, if you’re clever enough> Ulysses answers. Something in his voice tells her that he’s talking by experience.
<Is it wise to share information with her? She and Hermes have history> another screen asks.
<Excuse me!? He tried to kill me!!!> Noriko shouts, her silver eyes shining in anger.
<Giving you an alibi. She and Hermes have worked together more than once; we should question her loyalty to mortals.>
<How paranoid can you get!? I killed a god! Twice!> she objects, punching the table.
<This is not the time for accusations. We have also arranged deals with Hermes in the past, when it suited us; we should not hold Null responsible for the same mistake> the first screen intervenes, trying to calm the situation. It’s clear that, despite trying to look monolithic from the outside, there’s still considerable disagreement inside the MLF.
<Okay, fine. Hermes mentioned unleashing Strife against Persephone; I assume he pretended to save her, then sent her back to her galaxy after tricking her to surrender her own territory, right?> Null asks, causing the screens to whisper among themselves.
<I told you she was good> Ulysses comments, smiling.
<You are correct, Null. He was able to regain full control of his former territory; Hekate is giving him some limited opposition, while Athena has not intervened.>
<That’s strange. Her Federation is quite close> Noriko notes, pointing at the map. Hekate’s territory has shrunk from the last time she saw a map like this.
<Federation law prevents them from declaring war unless they’re attacked first, and Hermes has not made any steps towards that direction. He’s concentrating on Diana at this moment.>
Noriko bites her lower lip at the mention of the name. “Diana” is actually the body of Artemis controlled by the mind of Eris, and Noriko has unfinished business with both.
<He’s moving fast, even for Hermes: he’s taken back control of the Vulcan Forge. Do you think he’s trying to steal some of his technology?> Ulysses asks.
<Unlikely. I turned the Forge into a black hole> Noriko answers.
<What, a sweet girl like you? Remind me to stay on your good side.>
Noriko knows that he’s probably lying: it’s hard to imagine the news of the death of Hephaestus never reached him. But with the way he winks at her when he says it, she finds herself blushing.
<Our operatives tell us that Diana and Strife are already fighting each other. We are not sure if Hermes set this up because he thinks Strife can defeat her, or because he wants to take advantage of the distraction to finish gathering his forces.>
<All we know is that, with both Demeter and Hephaestus dead, either Diana or Hermes will emerge from this conflict as a major galactic superpower.>
<Won’t any other major god intervene? I’m sure Dionysus and Aphrodite won’t give much of a fight, but sooner or later Athena will have to step in> Ulysses notes.
<Not necessarily. Athena, Apollo and Ares are in a perfect balance: if only one of them attacks, the other two will exploit the new weakness. They will wait for either Hermes or Diana to reach the peak of their power before forming an alliance to stop him, or her.>
<Why don’t we do that right now?>
Noriko’s question is met with silence. The screens don’t show the reaction of the Board of Directors, but even the silhouettes show their disbelief.
<Are you suggesting we ally ourselves with gods!?>
<Let’s just hear her out> Ulysses says, giving Noriko some time to respond. He noticed she’s no longer looking at the silhouettes: her eyes are fixed on the map. And they’re shining.
She’s holding her breath. Her eyes are jumping frantically from point to point, her fingers are twitching, and her mouth is quivering as if she’s trying to say something.
<Is she alright?> one of the Directors finally has the courage to say.
Even Ulysses seems worried: Noriko seems a million miles away.
<Null? Are you still with us?> he asks.
<Shut up. I’m about to win this war> she answers abruptly, standing up dramatically.
She closes her eyes, accessing the worldmind. She does this very rarely: she allows the collective consciousness of all the people on Earth to take over her thoughts and drive her decision.
She hates it. It puts an enormous strain on her brain, especially when she’s not on Earth, and sometimes it’s hard to get out of it. It’s very easy to feel lost among seven billion voices.
But this time she feels something calling her. The voice of every soldier that ever won a battle, of every general that ended a war, of every strategist that took over a kingdom or an empire.
Every military genius that dreamt of taking over the world but died with his dreams shattered by reality is now reaching his hand into the future to write the ultimate strategy.
<I have it> she declares, opening her eyes. So bright that even Ulysses has to look away.
When the light decreases, Noriko’s holographic generator has modified the image of the map to show how to position what has to be half of the galaxy’s mortal military forces.
<Yes, this will do.>
<What are you talking about?> one of the screens asks.
<Ulysses will explain it to you; in the meantime, position your forces following my instructions. Do you have a device that can hold 1724 pages of text?>
<Sure. I’m very curious to see where you’re going with this> Ulysses answers, handing her something resembling a futuristic tablet. She studies it for a few seconds, then she switches on the Neural Transmitter: her eyes shine, and by the time she blinks a surprising amount of information has been written on the device.
<Read this and follow my instructions to the letter. Now I have some business to take care of on Earth, would you have Lysia send me back?>
<Hold on a minute, Null, don’t you think we deserve an explanation about your plan?>
Noriko is visibly bothered by the screen’s question, while Ulysses seems amused.
<You don’t need me to tell you that they’re right> he says.
<Alright. You’re worried about the gods forming an alliance among themselves, right? I think we should do it first, with everything we’ve got.>
<Bravado won’t do us any favor, Null. Even the Vanguard doesn’t have enough power to do this.>
<I’m not talking about the Vanguard. Hermes and Diana want a fight? Fine. I say we throw the entire galaxy at them.>
Null Tower, New York City
It’s been only a few days since Todd Slate moved here, and he has yet to see all the building has to offer. This is the first time he goes to the skyscraper’s rooftop, but he feels a particularly bad case of déjà vu when he sees Noriko Null waiting for him.
She’s standing on the edge of the roof, her hands inside the pockets of her green leather jacket. It’s chilly; it could start raining at any moment. The cold hair is blowing through her short dark hair.
He’s about to scold her from being outside with such weather so soon after heart surgery, but she anticipates him saying something Todd didn’t expect.
<I wish everyone could see it like I do.>
Todd approaches her, walking very carefully. He’s not really afraid of heights, but looking down would be a very bad idea at the moment.
<Uh, see what exactly?>
<The city. The world. When I look at it… so powerful and so fragile at the same time. Compared to the entire universe, a single person is insignificant. But together, we are invincible. It’s… lovely.>
<Why do I get the feeling this is not going to end well?>
Noriko turns around, handing two objects to Todd: a holographic tablet and an expensive watch.
<You’re not firing me, are you?>
<The watch gives you complete access to my network, as well as the command codes for the Tower and the Nullbots; as long as you’re wearing it, you are Null. The tablet includes detailed information about the Seven Projects and instructions on how to react to 827 scenarios.>
<I… uh… what the… why!?>
<I will be away from Earth from at least three months and I need someone I trust to take my place.>
<You’ve got to be kidding me! How can I take your place!?>
<I’m a well-known recluse, a sudden drop of my public appearances will go unnoticed. If I absolutely have to show up somewhere, I left you holograms and robots to fake it.>
<I can’t believe this. Is the Vanguard coming with you?>
<Quantum and Torn have already left; Vesta will join us when I need her, so Earth won’t be completely defenseless. And of course Kari will be both here and with me at the same time. You can reach me with the Space Phone, but it may take me a while to answer your call.>
<This can’t be real…>
<Todd. You are the only person I trust enough for this> Noriko says, placing her hands on his shoulders. A calming gesture, made somewhat less effective by her being shorter.
<Have you told your father?>
The question causes Noriko’s eyes to light up for a second, even though her expression doesn’t change in the slightest.
<If I get back, I’ll apologize for leaving without telling him.>
<What do you mean “if”? It’s not like you doubting yourself.>
<This is different. Without wanting to sound overly dramatic, the fate of the Galaxy is at stake.>
<How is that not overly dramatic!?>
<Todd, listen to me. I’ve erased my command codes and replaced them with yours; when I get back, do not give me back my technology without making sure I’m acting like myself.>
<I’m not even sure you’re acting like yourself right now, Noriko, but I’ll do as you ask.>
<I knew you would. There’s one last thing you can do for me, Todd.>
Todd is about to ask another question, when Noriko pulls him closer and kisses him.
Time stops. When their lips touch, the sky rumbles as thunder and lightning rage above the city. It’s a long, passionate kiss, like only people who think they won’t ever see their loved ones again kiss.
Eventually, it has to end. The two separate awkwardly; Noriko touches her lips, still processing what’s going on inside her new heart.
<Keep the world safe for me, Todd. Lysia, this is Null: I’m ready for the transport.>
A circle of light makes Noriko Null disappear, leaving behind only the taste of her kiss.
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