Few people would call Noriko Null sentimental, but she does feel something every time she returns to her native solar system. But even if what she really wants to do is get back to Earth, there is something she needs to do before returning home.
She’s sitting on the captain’s chair on the bridge of the Ragnarok, looking at the main viewscreen: it’s showing nothing but stars.
<This is so freakin’ boring, how long is this gonna take?> Quantum complains; he’s sitting at one of the workstations, with his feet on the console.
<We can’t go faster than light in our solar system. Besides, we’re less than thirty light-minutes away from Earth, you can go ahead by yourself if you want.>
<I’m just waiting for the asteroid belt.>
<Max, we are inside the asteroid belt. We’ve been for the past hour, actually.>
<What are you talking about? There’s nothing here!> he protests, pointing at the screen.
<Of course there’s nothing, we’re in outer space.>
<But… aren’t there supposed to be a gajillion space rocks floating around?>
<You watch too many movies. There can be miles, sometimes hundreds or thousands of miles, between each individual asteroid. In other words, the perfect place to hide something in plain sight> she explains, timing her words to coincide with the appearance of a spaceship on the viewscreen.
The HDS Demosthenes is floating harmlessly, running on just enough reserve power to keep life support from failing.
<Let’s go meet our guests. L.O.K.I, energize> she orders, snapping her fingers.
The ship’s artificial intelligence activates the teleporter, and Noriko disappears in a flash of light.
HDS Demosthenes
Noriko appears on the bridge, feeling satisfied: the integration of Viper’s technology into the Ragnarok’s systems worked flawlessly. Quantum appears immediately after her.
<Now you get why I do this all the time, don’t you?> he asks.
<I’m just stress testing the system. I’m not doing this just because it’s fun.>
<Riiiight> he mocks her, the sound of his voice drowned by the bridge alarm.
<Oh cool, it’s a red alert!> he geeks out, looking excited at Noriko who answers with a stern look.
<I mean… oh no, red alert, they found us> he unconvincingly corrects himself.
A dozen Athenian officers arrive in the room, none of them looking particularly pleased; especially the massive minotaur whose steps sound like an elephant throwing a tantrum.
<Coming back to finish the job?> the minotaur asks, coming closer to Noriko; Quantum steps between the two of them. The alien could probably snap his spine without even trying, and that’s without the other officers pointing laser guns at the two members of the Vanguard.
<Captain Kamos. I trust this has been a pleasant vacation for you> Noriko tells him.
<This is a vessel of the Athenian Federation, Null. Stranding us in this system and blocking our communications could be considered a hostile act against a sovereign stellar empire.>
<Really. And what do you call blockading Earth to stop me from attacking Amaterasu? I understand you’re upset but…>
Kamos shoves Quantum aside and stares directly at Null; when he breathes through his nostrils, the minotaur’s breath is enough to almost throw her off balance. Her silver eyes stare back, shining.
<I think this will calm you down> she says, snapping her fingers.
N05-Kali Yuga
Captain Kamos is disoriented by the teleportation, frantically looking around like a cornered animal. It’s immediately clear that this isn’t an ambush, though, because Noriko is the only other person on the bridge. She sits on the command chair, crossing her legs while he inspects the ship.
<You brought me onto the Ragnarok?> he asks.
<Almost, but not quite. This is the Kali Yuga, one of the finest ships in the Galaxy: sure, it lacks the Negative Drive, the cloaking device and the artificial intelligence, but otherwise it’s a perfect replica of the Ragnarok. Tell Athena she can consider this my gift> Noriko explains.
<A most kind offer, but Lady Athena has hundreds of thousands of ships. I doubt that…>
<She will take it. In exchange, Captain, your ship will leave Earth’s system at once.>
<-We will not leave, Null. I have my orders.>
<And I have your goddess on speed dial> Noriko retorts, pulling a pendant out of her black T-shirt. It bears Athena’s symbol: a lightning bolt inside a cog.
<Shall I give her a call?>
<Earth needs our protection> Kamos objects.
<Do I look like I need protection?> Null asks, her silver eyes shining.
<The Ragnarok is a mighty ship, Lady Null, but this is a large Galaxy.>
<It’s alright, I have seven more. Besides, I never needed a ship to kill a god. Or a goddess. I wonder if Athena remembers that? Oh well, I’m sure you’ll remind her.>
<Indeed I will. I will take the Demosthenes out of Earth’s system and contact my superiors for instructions: it would seem you won’t give me any other options.>
<Of course: I am Null. I never play unless I hold all the cards> she boasts.
<What about Lieutenant Liosthenes?> Captain Kamos asks.
<What about him?>
<He is a traitor to the Federation. The Athenian High Command will want to punish him.>
<That’s not my problem. I don’t know where he is> she lies. The minotaur seems to notice it, leaning forward; suddenly she’s fully aware of just how massive he is, and her hand starts moving towards the Genius Gun.
<No traitor has ever escaped High Command in over three thousand years. My superiors will not be happy about this.>
<Remind me again why I should care about this, Captain?> she answers, taking care to place her hands in front of his face before snapping her fingers and activating the teleportation.
The Ragnarok
Noriko Null reappears in the cargo bay, looking at her hand a second after she snapped her fingers.
<Maybe I should tone down the teleportation. This could get addictive real fast> she comments.
<Null. Are you certain this is a good idea?> Torn asks her.
The bay is nearly empty. Together with Vesta, Null and Torn are the only people there… if one doesn’t consider the diamond statue of Amaterasu.
<I’ll admit I kind of agree with Torn this time. Don’t you want to take this into further consideration? I mean, she nearly killed all of us> Vesta reminds her, giving a very worried look at the statue.
<We should drop her into the nearest black hole> Torn suggests.
<That would definitely kill her> Noriko nods.
<Sure. I mean, probably?> Vesta comments, clearly not sure about the correct answer.
<Come on, seriously? A black hole should kill anyone> Noriko objects.
<Well it would definitely kill me, but a Class-2 goddess? Who knows> Vesta shrugs.
<Oh for cryin’ out loud, would you stop with this Class-2 thing? You’ve never mentioned this stuff for five whole years, now you keep bringing it up!>
<Did you discuss with anyone recently how human females typically live longer than males?> Vesta asks, receiving a very confused look from Noriko.
<What the heck are you talking about? Of course not.>
<Why not?>
<Because it’s not something you bring up in a normal conversation? Besides, nobody likes to think about that and I just answered my own question, didn’t I?> Noriko realizes.
<What question?> Torn asks.
<You weren’t even listening> Vesta says, rolling her eyes.
<No. I’m just waiting to kill the fake goddess> Torn answers honestly.
<I already told you, Torn, we are not going to kill Amaterasu> Noriko reminds him sternly.
<We should. She’s dangerous> he insists.
Noriko gets closer to the statue, touching its cheek. The diamond is still warm.
<She’s a child. She didn’t ask to be born, or to have a crazy mother that only values her as a weapon, or to be abandoned once she’s no longer useful> she says.
Torn and Vesta exchange looks. It’s clear that Noriko is taking this very personally.
<Noriko… no matter what Viper said, Amaterasu isn’t really your daughter.>
<I know. But I’m still the closest thing she has to a family, and I won’t abandon her. Are you sure Nyx extracted Tiamat’s energy from her body?>
<The energy of a Primordial has a unique… something. There’s no equivalent sense for a mortal, but it feels different. I don’t sense Primordial energy, but I do still sense a goddess.>
<Then free her. That’s an order> Noriko says, making her eyes flash for emphasis.
Vesta engulfs the statue in a ring of fire, hot enough to liquefy diamond; Torn creates a red energy sword and uses it as a scalpel, slowly plunging it into the statue’s chest.
Then the statue explodes into a myriad of incandescent pieces; Vesta makes sure this doesn’t cause a fire in the cargo bay, while Torn uses an energy axe to deflect the pieces that would otherwise hit Noriko. In the middle of all this, Amaterasu’s body rebuilds itself: she’s on her knees, wearing her white kimono. Her body is still glowing a dim light.
<Where… where am I? And who are you?> she asks, looking around in a confused state. Noriko gets closer to her, looking at her in the eye; she seems completely lost.
<I am Null. We’ve met before, remember?>
<We have? Then could you please tell me who I am? I can’t remember.>
<Your name is Amaterasu. Does that ring any bells?>
<I don’t know. How can a name ring anything?> she wonders, tilting her head.
<She’s fine. That idiom is very confusing to me as well> Torn says.
<Is this my home? Are you my mother?> Amaterasu asks.
<No, your mother is…> Noriko begins to explain, then she chokes up. How do you tell a child that her mother was a monster? Suddenly she understands why her own father never told her anything about Leiko when she was a child.
<I’m not your mother, Amaterasu. But I still care about you, and I think I can give you a home if you promise me to be good.>
<Okay. Will you come home with me?>
<I… uhm… a little help here?> Noriko asks her friends. Vesta intervenes, patting Amaterasu’s head.
<You need a place where you can learn how to be a goddess, dear; it’s a tremendous gift and a great responsibility, but if you behave well then Noriko will visit you, won’t she?>
<Do I really have to ouch!> Noriko complains; Vesta just stepped on her toe. Even barefoot, the goddess almost broke one of the girl’s toes despite the combat boots.
<Sorry. We have to be very careful around mortals, Amaterasu, all the time.>
<Alright, I get the clue. We should probably get her to a safer place> Noriko says, looking at Torn.
As usual, he doesn’t pick up the visual clue. Only when Vesta gives him a look that even the Demon can understand as “come on, let’s go”, he crosses his arms and rolls his eyes.
<Fine, I won’t kill her. But you have to explain me how a name can ring a bell.>
Hell, 163.000 light-years from Earth
Amaterasu steps out of the pentagram, then looks up at the sky: instead of the stars, there are permanent clouds of fire. She’s standing on top of a mountain that overlooks one of the many oceans of lava on the planet, and two Demon women are waiting for her.
The youngest one looks at Torn and nods.
<Husband. I was worried about you> Agony says, without any perceivable emotion in her voice.
<Wife. I am glad Nyx restored this world; anyone who would take my wife and daughters should be prepared to taste my blade, even a Primordial> Torn says, similarly unemotional.
<As should any goddess who sets foot in Hell> the older woman says, walking towards Amaterasu. She doesn’t know her, but there’s something in the way she carries herself that demands respect. Amaterasu is taller, but as she walks towards her the old Demon woman creates energy swords that she uses as stairs to match her height and look at Amaterasu eye to eye.
<I am Vice, Lady Of All Demons. In recognition to Null’s service to this world, I grant you a special dispensation from your death. You are allowed to stay in Hell, Amaterasu-ōmikami, but you will obey my command, just as any Demon would. Do you agree to the terms?>
<I do, Lady Of All Demons.>
<Good. You will not harm any Demon, and you will not leave Hell or contact any other god without my permission. Do you swear to obey these commands?>
<I swear, yes.>
<Excellent. Aside from all that, you will not obey any other command, from anyone> Vice concludes, turning her back to Amaterasu and walking away.
<Is… is that really all? You won’t give me more orders?> the goddess asks, very confused.
<Demons are slaves to no one, child. Null was right to send you here: you have so much to learn from us> Vice says cryptically, stepping into a portal and disappearing into the ground.
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