Beyond The Impossible

Mortal Liberation Front Headquarters

Max Black a.k.a. Quantum phases through the door by turning his body into radio waves, then changes back to flesh and blood on the other side.

Noriko’s room is the same as Max’s: the Mortal Liberation Front didn’t have the comfort of its guests in mind when this station was built. Everything is impersonal and purely practical.

Since she was waiting for him, she’s not bothered by the fact that Max didn’t knock first.

<Hey Nori, sorry I’m late. I went outside to have a look; you’ll never guess where we are!>

<On the moon of a gas planet orbiting a blue star.>

<Come on, I never get to surprise you with anything! How did you know?>

<I asked Ulysses. I wouldn’t have made this place my temporary base of operations without some additional information.>

<And you trust this guy? I know he’s a legend, I mean literally a legend, but still…>

<I trust that we have the same goals, at least for now. Why are you wearing your mask> she asks, suddenly changing the subject.

<Well, y’know. Secret identity and everything.>

<On another planet!?>

<You never know.>

<Whatever. Max, I need your help to do something dangerous that could very easily backfire.>

<I don’t like where this is going.>

<Remember when I built the Negative Drive?>

<The thing that almost blew up New York?>

<That one. It caused a positive feedback loop that overclocked my brain; my head would’ve exploded if you hadn’t forced a reboot with a focused electromagnetic pulse.>

<Yeah, I remember. You said it almost killed you.>

<Exactly. I need to do it again.>

<What!?>

<I’ve learned how to reprogram my brain, but I need your help.>

<Please stop talking about your brain like it’s a computer. And why do you need to reprogram?>

Noriko hesitates before answering; it’s noticeable because it’s very unusual for her. Just a couple of seconds, but enough for Max to see her fingers fidgeting… she’s very nervous.

<I can’t do this.>

<You’re the one who asked me to!>

<No, I can’t do… this> she answers, raising her arms to indicate the whole room. That’s yet another unusual thing: she’s having trouble explaining herself.

<Working with the MLF is not enough. We will need everyone for this: the Blue Rose, the Hunter Pirates, the Guild. Maybe the Empire of Shadows. To play at this level I will have to push myself to the limit… I will have to be smarter than I’ve ever been. I can adjust the maximum amount of information my brain can process, but… it could kill me. So I’ve come up with a solution: to keep the computer analogy, I’ve created a new operating system that’s better equipped to deal with the increased brain activity.>

<You built yourself another personality!? Nori, that’s like the definition of insanity!>

<It’s not that simple. It’s more like… the absence of a personality. I will be locked away; when this is over, you’ll have to force another reboot to bring me back.>

<This must be the “could easily backfire” part.>

<There’s a possibility that Abyss might take advantage of the situation and take over again. I’ve programmed the new system to prevent it from overstaying its welcome, but since my new self will be smarter than me it’s possible she might overcome my defenses.>

<And I assume there’s no way to talk you out of this nonsense.>

<I wouldn’t do this if I had any other choice.>

Max isn’t convinced: there’s something she hasn’t told him. Is this a way to retake control of her own mind after Abyss? Is it a way to punish herself for losing to Eris and to Leiko?

<Alright, I’ll help you. But please don’t do anything evil, okay?>

<If I do, I can count of you to stop me. That’s what superheroes are for, isn’t it?>

Max and Noriko share an awkward smile, before a look of determination shows up on her face.

<Alright. Here we go> she says, taking a deep breath and closing her eyes.

Her fists clench. Static electricity flows around her, messing up her hair. Her muscles become tense: it’s obviously painful for her. She concentrates… waits… and finally screams.

Max steps back, all the way until he’s against the wall. Noriko’s body is engulfed in pure electricity, while she screams longer than it should be physically possible. Max has seen her absorbing information in the form of a lightning strike, and this is something similar: except the energy is originating from her body. She’s clearly in pain, but there’s not much he can do about it.

After what feels like an eternity, she stops. The energy evaporates, leaving only quick discharges of static around her. She’s breathing heavily, and her eyes are still closed.

<Are you alright? Did it work?> Max asks, approaching her.

Noriko raises a hand to stop him. Still with her eyes closed she straightens her back and slowly zips up her leather jacket, all the way to the neck.

<Noriko, say something, please> Max says.

She crosses her arms behind her back and finally opens her eyes. The iris is still silver, shinier than before, but the rest is now completely black.

<That name no longer describes me appropriately, Black. You will refrain from using it again.>

Max is stunned: it’s Noriko’s voice, but at the same time it’s different. It doesn’t have the inhuman booming sound of Abyss, but she’s enunciating every word. Her posture has also changed, more stiff and formal than before.

<Alright. How should I call you then?>

<You will still call me Null in the presence of others; addressing me otherwise would draw unwarranted attention to my current status. That would be… counterproductive.>

<I was trying to understand whether you’re still Noriko or not.>

<I know. After Abyss, it is perfectly understandable for you to be suspicious of my state of being; you fear that, in her effort to stop an evil personality, Null might have created another one.>

<Pretty much. Speaking of yourself like you’re another person isn’t helping, like, at all.>

<Your concerns are predictable yet unnecessary. All emotional responses have been neutralized: I am not evil just as I am not good. As Null said, I am the absence of a personality. I am…>

She stops. While she thinks on how to continue, she’s completely still. Emotionless.

<I am Void. But you will not discuss this with anyone.>

<Even the Vanguard? Kari and Torn will want to know about this.>

<Yes, they will. Go explain the situation to them, then meet me in the Control Room in exactly 16 minutes and 47 seconds.>

And just like that, she walks away. Max watches her from a distance: arms crossed behind her back, with each step taking exactly the same time as the other.

“Nori, I really hope you know what you’re doing…”

 

The Control Room

They’re waiting for her. The giant screens are already showing the silhouettes of the Board of Directors, but there are other people present: low enough in the power structure to allow an outsider to see their faces, yet important enough to be present for such an occasion. A tall bearded man greets Void, escorting her to the big table; despite her different posture she still looks exactly like Noriko, hiding her new eyes behind a hologram.

<There you are. I almost thought you’d be fashionably late, Null.>

<Ulysses. You were scheduled for departure this morning.>

<I’m just curious about your plan. It’s about time you tell us what it is, don’t you think?>

<Yes, we’ve wasted enough time and resources. Our gratitude to your service to our cause only goes so far, Null> one of the screens says. It’s one of the Directors who don’t trust her.

Noriko would’ve made a snide remark. Void goes straight to business.

<Very well. Have you positioned your operatives like I have asked you to do?>

<Yes, we have people in key positions on former Demeter and Diana worlds.>

<Excellent. Demeter had a terrible image among her subjects and Artemis allowed them considerable freedom before her transformation into Diana. Adding the frustration over their lack of intervention during the so-called Vulcan War, these will be quick to revolt.>

<What do you need those people for? Diana and Hermes can kill them easily> Ulysses asks.

<But they will not. Hermes wants to rule the Galaxy, not exterminate mortals like Hephaestus: he will resort to genocide only as a last resort. Diana is more ruthless but, unlike Hermes, she needs these planets for her strategy.>

<How so? She’s a daughter of Zeus. She’s even powerful enough to fight Strife, isn’t she?>

<But she cannot move as fast as Hermes. With his speed he can attack from any direction: she must keep up her defenses as much as she can. At the same time, Hermes knows that he cannot attack her directly: she is simply too strong for him, but unlike Persephone she will not be tricked easily.>

<How about Strife? The last sighting was days ago, while it was still fighting Diana.>

<She will inevitably realize that Strife cannot be overpowered. In fact, it is likely that the fight has already ended with her retreat and that she is only buying time.>

<We should get better intelligence about them> Ulysses intervenes.

<I agree. Arrange a meeting with the Blue Rose and the Hunters, we will need their support> Void orders, before leaving the table without saying anything.

<Where are you going now?>

<Give the signal to your agents. We need an absolute minimum of 17 planetary coups within the next month. As for me…>

She takes the Genius Gun from its holster underneath the leather jacket.

<…I am going to get some reinforcements.>

 

The Dark Pyramid

The light of dozens of torches flicker in the room. A man sits on the floor, between the shadows of beautiful marble columns, with his legs crossed. He’s quietly reading a book.

A circle of light appears on the other side of the room, anticipating the arrival of three people: a red-skinned demon, a purple-haired young woman, and a girl with black and silver eyes.

<Intruder alert. Activating countermeasures> the Pyramids’ computer says with a blatantly artificial voice. The columns open up to reveal turrets, whose sound of laser beams and machine guns make the previous warning unnecessary.

<I told you this was a bad idea> the purple-haired woman complains, arming herself with two swords that appear in her hands. The demon does the same, but doesn’t say anything.

The man doesn’t react: he keeps reading his book. If only he’d make the effort to turn his head, he’d see Torn and Kari avoiding and deflecting blasts with ease. The girl leaves them behind, walking slowly towards the man: the defense grid becomes more aggressive the more she approaches, but nothing seems to be able to get past the Null Shield that protects her.

She comes close enough to cast her shadow over his back. The lasers bouncing against her shield are completely wrecking the room. He slowly turns a page.

<Scribe> she calls him, finally getting his attention.

<Impressive. You weren’t supposed to find this hideout for another six months.>

<I assume you have been monitoring the situation, so you know why I am here.>

<Of course. You’re here to hire the Guild> the man answers; his image slowly morphs into a different hologram, representing an eye inside an inverted triangle.

<A bold move which I admit I had not anticipated. Athena must be proud of you>

<Pride is irrelevant. Although Null’s distaste for you is considerable, I need your help.>

<You have it. I have no problem putting aside our differences; I can always kill you later>

<I would not expect anything less from you, Scribe. Welcome to the Alliance.>