Beyond The Impossible

Null Tower, New York City

The building is known worldwide for being the headquarters of Earth’s most powerful company; pictures of its futuristic laboratories have been carefully leaked to the press in the past. What’s not generally known is that the building includes a gym large enough to work as a basketball court.

In fact there’s a very strange game going on, right now. One team includes Max Black, Noriko Null, Vesta and Torn, with the latter wearing his trademark leather duster instead of gym clothes. And the other team is entirely comprised of four duplicates of Kari Zel.

It’s just a friendly game, but everyone’s taking it seriously with every intention to win. With the exception of Torn, who is just standing several feet away from the action still trying to figure out why he accepted to play.

Kari is able to dribble Noriko and passes the ball to a duplicate, only to be intercepted by Max moving at the speed of light. He passes to Vesta, who tries to go for the hoop. She jumps to make the shot; another Kari tries to stop her, jumping higher despite being shorter than Vesta. The goddess however simply flies above her, shooting the ball through the hoop.

<Hey that’s not fair, we said no powers!> Kari complains.

<No we didn’t. Besides, you’re using yours> Vesta defends herself.

<Just to play fair. If I did use my power at my best, you’d be playing against a thousand me.>

<C’mon, we all suck at this game, and we’ve got Torn> Max adds, pointing at the Demon.

Torn is in fact several feet away, looking completely uninterested and frankly untouched by his teammate’s jab. Noriko, however, takes issue:

<Hey, I don’t suck at basket!>

<Yes you do. I can take you out anytime> Kari teases her.

Before the game can restart, however, Todd Slate enter the room. He seems rather angry, and ignoring everybody else he goes directly towards Max.

<What is this?> he asks, pointing at the holographic tablet that is showing a picture of a book.

It’s called “Under the mask”, Quantum’s face on the cover and signed Kristen Lynn.

<It’s a book> Max shrugs.

<You’re not supposed to give interviews without talking to me first!> Todd objects.

<Since when? You handle the company’s public relations, not mine.>

<You work for Noriko: what you do and say reflects on her.>

<Just relax, I didn’t say anything compromising. I think we can trust Kristen.>

<You’re not the one who should be making that call.>

<I thought that people needed some answers. There’s so many weird rumors about what we do, it’s about time we said something to set the record straight> Max insists.

<I had my doubts on her, but she’s clean. She’s not another Eris or anything> Kari vouches, but it’s clear from Todd’s expression that it makes things worse.

<So you knew about this?>

<Well I didn’t know she’d publish a book about it, but yeah, we talked. She’s really smart: she figured out Max’s identity and my powers, and I think she knows Vesta is immortal, and she believes Noriko keeps the Heart Of The Universe in Greenland.>

<Really> Noriko reacts, raising an eyebrow.

<I can’t believe this. Don’t talk to the press without talking to me first, is that so hard? Nori, back me up on this one!>

<Oh that reminds me, Kristen wants to speak to you as well> Max adds.

<That can be arranged> Noriko answers.

<Absolutely not> Todd says at the same time, and the two look at each other.

There’s an awkward silence, which Vesta decides to break.

<Well, that was a fun game! I think I’ll hit the shower now, if you don’t mind.>

<You don’t sweat> Todd reminds her, missing the point.

<C’mon, let’s get the lovebirds some privacy> Kari adds, practically shoving Max and Torn out of the room with the latter observing:

<I don’t see any birds.>

Noriko keeps quiet until everybody else has left, before asking Todd:

<I hope this has nothing to do with the fact that you used to date miss Lynn.>

<You mean you know!?> Todd asks, shocked by this fact. She chuckles at his naiveté.

<I am Null. I know everything, especially if you post pictures in your profile. Look, I’m not jealous or anything, I realize you had a life before you met me. I may be new to relationship stuff, but I’m used to deal with matters of planetary or even galactic importance. She’s way below my radar.>

<This has nothing to do with jealousy. I know Kristen, she doesn’t care who gets hurt as long as she gets her exclusive. I’ve learned that the hard way, believe me.>

<Max is right, though. The public needs a new point of view… we have too many secrets.>

Noriko’s wristwatch beeps insistently, interrupting Todd before he can reply. She explains:

<I have to go. It’s time for my daily work with Void.>

<It’s okay. We’ll continue the conversation when…>

<There’s nothing to discuss. Schedule a meeting with miss Lynn.>

<I don’t think it’s a good idea. As your public relations manager…>

<Schedule. A. Meeting> Noriko spells out, her silver eyes flashing as she gives the direct order.

Todd doesn’t appreciate when she does that, but he swallows his pride and nods.

<Alright. My ex girlfriend interviewing the current one, what could possibly go wrong?>

<You worry too much. And to really set the record straight…>

Without taking aim, Noriko shoots the ball through the basket from the three-point line.

<…I don’t suck at basket!>

 

Once outside, Vesta stops Torn by holding his shoulder.

<Torn, wait a minute. We haven’t talked much since you came back from Hell…>

<I never talk much.>

<Yes, I know that. Is something wrong?>

<No. I talk when I have something to say. Do you want to know something?>

<Well… yes. Didn’t you stay in Hell because you wanted to become their ambassador on Earth?>

<Yes.>

Vesta graciously waits a few seconds before sighing. She is usually patient to an almost superhuman degree, but Torn’s obliviousness can really be bothersome.

<And? What happened? Did it work?>

<No. My request was denied, but I’ve been temporarily assigned to Earth as an observer.>

<“Temporarily”?>

<Twenty years. However I’ll have to report directly to the Lord Of All Demons once a year.>

<And after that?>

<I’ll be 160 years old. Too young to retire; I may ask to be reintegrated in the Seventh Circle. What about you? Do you ever think about going back to Olympus?>

<It’s not an option for me. I burned down that bridge a long time ago.>

<I didn’t know you could reach Olympus with a bridge, but maybe Null can build a new one.>

<Torn, sometimes I can’t decide if you’re very wise or very naïve.>

<I know.>

<Just proving my point> Vesta smiles, shaking her head.

 

A secret facility in North Korea

Leiko Tanaka looks at the dozens of North Koreans working tirelessly at her latest project. It took weeks to reconfigure a facility originally designed to enrich uranium; erasing its existence from every record was relatively easy. Then again, since all the key positions of the previous regime were equipped with a Neural Enslaver and are now subject to her will, it didn’t require much effort.

Suddenly the lights dim, and she doesn’t need to look at the hologram hidden in the shadows to know who caused it.

<You have a flair for the dramatic, Scribe.>

<How is the work proceeding?> the Scribe asks, approaching the massive device. Hundreds of cables are linked to a single chair, where an elderly Japanese woman is sitting with a blank expression while holding the Core in her hands.

<You have made progress. This will expand the capabilities of the Neural Enslaver, allowing you to extend your mind control to the entire planet. You won’t have to worry about Japan removing you from office because your invasion violated their constitution.>

<When we first met, you didn’t even know what Japan was> Leiko recalls.

<I’m a quick study. Will you be able to stall them for a few weeks?>

<Of course. Why the wait?>

<I have other matters that require my attention. The Guild has a significant military advantage over the Mortal Republic, but the constant skirmishes with the Winter Kingdom are drawing more resources that I can currently allocate. But I will deliver what I promised.>

<You should. Without a central processing unit, this device is useless. I need something that can process the information of seven billion brains simultaneously, something even the Core isn’t capable of. I need the Nexus, and you haven’t given me proof that you can get it from Noriko.>

<You know so much, Leiko, and yet so little. How did the Nexus get into your daughter’s brain?>

<The Mortal Liberation Front implanted it when I was pregnant.>

<And do you know how they got their hands on such a valuable Drylon device?>

<They either got it from Hermes or Ulysses, depending on who is lying.>

<Both and neither, as it is in their nature. Ulysses stole it from Hermes… who stole it from me.>

<What? You mean…>

<Yes. I am the original owner of the Nexus. And it’s about time I take it back. >

 

The Thinking Room

Usually, this place is dark. This time, however, the room is filled with dozens upon dozens of holograms, from charts to graphs to blueprints. Noriko is sitting on the only chair in the room, keeping her feet on the desk while flipping through holograms.

She’s not really alone. There’s the hologram of a girl looking exactly like her, except her image is a black and white negative.

<We are making rapid progress here. Project Seven is already at 50%> Void says.

<Hm-mm> Noriko mumbles, seemingly absent-minded.

<Since my contribution will help you complete this project in a matter of weeks instead of years, Null, I would appreciate your full attention.>

<I’m already devoting two personalities to Project Seven, what more do you want?>

<You seem to be upset by Lynn. Maybe I should release Eve, if you want to discuss romance.>

<Don’t even think about it. Why do you even care? Aren’t you supposed to be a cold engine of logic or something?>

<If your thoughts of sexual inadequacy interfere with the work, it is within my realm of interest.>

<What!? What are you talking about!?>

<You are worried Slate might consider Lynn a more suitable partner because she is more experienced and conventionally attractive than you.>

<I’m not even dignifying that with a response. What are you, my therapist now!?>

<Then I presume you wish to go back to work and pretend this talk never took place.>

<YES!>

<As you wish. But before we go back to work, there is one thing I wish to make clear.>

<Yeah? And what is that?>

<You do suck at basketball.>