Beyond The Impossible

Cape Town, South Africa

If there’s one thing that Daren Bekker loves more than everything else, it’s running. Whenever he has the opportunity, even when he’s not training for a specific race, he still takes the time for a quick run. When he returns to his house after his morning jog and he sees from a distance that someone is waiting for him, he expects to meet a reporter. Before volunteering for Null’s tests he was an extremely minor sports celebrity at best, but now he’s famous as the first person to ever re-grow a lost limb. But it’s no journalist waiting for him: it’s Noriko Null herself.

<Hey. I thought our date was tomorrow, what happened? Not that I’m complaining, but…>

<You have a call.> Noriko tells him, handing over an oversized phone; its bulky shape reminds Daren one of the very first satellite cellphones.

<Uhm, hello?>

<Hi, it’s Noriko. I’m afraid I’m gonna miss our date… something came up.> is the answer from the other end. It’s the voice of Noriko, despite the fact that there’s another Noriko in front of him.

<What the…>

<That is Sif, my robotic double. She’ll replace me in public appearances, so you may see her on TV or something, and I didn’t want you to think I’m ghosting you.>

<That’s… a lot to take in. Why did you call me with this weird thing? You have my number!>

<This is a tachyon relay, not a phone. Let’s just say this is a very, very distant call.>

<You’re in space, aren’t you?>

<Yup. Sorry I didn’t give you enough warning. I promise I’ll make it up to you.>

<I’ll keep you to it, Noriko. Please stay safe.>

<No promises, but I’ll try to stay alive. Null out.> are the last words relayed. Daren looks at the strange phone and gives it back to Sif, looking for any signal that she’s not human.

<Please don’t stare at me.> the android tells him.

<Sorry! It’s just… you’re the first human-looking robot I meet.>

<Are you sure about that?>

<I was until you asked. So… do you want to get something to, ah, do robots drink?>

<I am not programmed for fraternization.> Sif says, before disappearing in a flash of light.

<No, clearly you’re not.> Daren comments, before looking at the sky and wondering what Noriko got herself into this time.

 

Parthenos, 80.000 light-years from Earth

The city of Glaukos

The view from the bridge of the Ragnarok was spectacular, but to see the capital world of the Athenian Federation up close is truly something else. The pinnacle of civilization, a multicultural amalgamation of many species, in a melting pot of unparalleled peace and prosperity.
The whole Vanguard is impressed, looking at the city from the rooftop of the Athenian High Command, beneath a giant sculpture of an owl. Null is admiring the remarkable feats of engineering that present themselves at any corner. Quantum feels like he just stepped inside Star Wars, and Kari thinks how much fun she would have riding one of the many antigrav bikes she sees flying around. Even Vesta, who has visited her niece’s sector multiple times in the past, can barely recognize the place. Torn is the only one who isn’t looking at the city, but at his teammates: he finds their fascination far more interesting than the alien planet itself.

<I have to give it to you, Athena, you seem to know how to run a planet.> Vesta congratulates her.

<There’s more than spectacle to a world like this. For all we know it could be a nightmare for the common people.> Kari notes.

<My subjects are treated fairly, miss Zel. I understand your mistrust, given how Demeter ruled your world, but you are more than welcome to see for yourselves.> Athena responds.

<Maybe some other time. Don’t we have a war to stop?> Noriko says.

<We do. Please follow me.> Athena agrees, walking towards the roof access; all the members of the Vanguard follow her, but Quantum is the only one who voices his discomfort.

<This place is full of particles I’ve never seen before. What’s going on?>

<Your bodies are being scanned at a molecular level. No need to worry: it’s standard procedure for everyone approaching High Command, myself included.> Athena answers, right before reaching the door that leads inside… which is being opened by another Athena.

<Null, Vanguard. Welcome to Parthenos. You may enter standby mode, UXJW-4789.> the second Athena introduces herself.

<As you wish, Lady Athena.> the first Athena agrees, bowing respectfully and freezing in place.

<What the… is this a robot!?> Kari exclaims, tapping “Athena” on the head and then waving her hand in front of her eyes, without getting any sort of response.

<Unlike your fellow Myridians, I can’t be in two places at once. These remote units are extremely useful to micro-manage the worlds in my sector.>

<I did wonder how you managed to reach Earth so quickly; I assume your robot double has never left it?>

<You assume correctly.>

<But the Tower’s sensors didn’t distinguish the robot from a real goddess… very intriguing.> Noriko comments.

<You didn’t know it was a robot?> Torn asks.

<Don’t tell me you knew that already!> she protests.

<I did.>

<And you didn’t tell me because…>

<It seemed obvious. Robots don’t affect the Blood.>

<We need to work on your communication skills, Torn.> Noriko chastises him, as Athena leads the team inside the building.

 

War Room of the Athenian High Command

It’s immediately clear that the room was designed with the goal of impressing visitors. It’s accessed by an impractically long hallway decorated with flawlessly detailed paintings of spaceships and armadas, celebrating thousands of years of one military victory after the other.

The War Room itself has a comparatively minimal design, but it’s much larger that it needs to be.

The twelve High Generals are sitting behind desks positioned above a three feet tall block of shining marble, which shows an owl protecting the symbol of the Athenian Federation: a lightning bolt inside a cog. The arrangement helps the generals to literally look down at any guest.

The High Generals themselves are part of the theatrics. Wearing white uniforms with golden trims and way too many medals, they are quite diverse: in addition to men and women of different ethnicities, not all of them are human. Noriko recognizes the grey-skinned Lar and the minotaur-looking Aurochian, but not the woman with green skin and the reptilian humanoid with four arms.

Athena is the first one to speak, and her tone is far more formal than what she normally uses.

<Esteemed representatives of the Federation, let me introduce the Vanguard. Noriko Null, the Slayer of Gods. Vesta, Firstborn of Kronos. Kari Zel, Heroine of Myridia. Quantum, the last Strongest Under The Heavens. And Torn, Lone Demon of the Seventh Circle of Hell.>

<Hi!> Kari cheerfully greets the generals, awkwardly waving her hand.

<Noriko, this is High General Promachos, the current Supreme Commander.> Athena introduces her, looking at the black woman in her seventies sitting in the middle.

<Your reputation precedes you, Slayer of Gods. Although Lady Athena has been very reticent to our requests to arrange a meeting with you.> Promachos notes.

<She does make a habit of doing things in her own way. For example, she hasn’t told me why I needed to get to the other side of the Galaxy.>

<It’s rather simple. Are you familiar with our form of government?>

<She mentioned the Federation is a democracy, but that’s it.>

<Lady Athena is our commander-in-chief, but she is subject to mortal oversight: only the Athenian Senate can declare war. Without their consent, High Command is not authorized to carry out any military action outside of Federation territory.>

<We have something similar on Earth. What does this have to do with the Egyptian invasion? I understand you don’t need authorization to defend yourselves.>

<That is the problem. They are not attacking us.> Athena explains, projecting a hologram of the Olympian Galaxy. In addition to the current borders, it shows thousands of little red triangles.

<This is the position of the Egyptians. They are only attacking planets in the Hera and Zeus sectors, at least for the moment.>

<No wonder we haven’t heard anything, they’re avoiding the Mortal Republic.> Kari says.

<That’s odd, I figured that would be the first place to invade.> Noriko says.

<Maybe they know you live there.> Quantum suggests.

<As much as I’d like to think they’re that scared of me, it’s probably a personal attack on Hera. This looks like a very large invading force, would the Federation be able to repel them?>

<The Athenian Fleet is the largest and most technologically advanced one in the Galaxy. If we were talking only about the ships, they would not stand a chance.> Promachos boasts.

<You’re worried about the gods.> Vesta comments.

<Hera will fall, there’s no doubt about it. If the Egyptians establish a base of operation in our galaxy, they will launch a full scale assault against Apollo or Ares… or me.> Athena explains.

<Wouldn’t that be against the rules of the Nine Gods?> Vesta asks.

<Both Nephthys and Hera claim that the other one has already violated the treaty between our pantheons. Egypt has three Class-1 gods, including Nephthys herself. But with the disappearance of my father, we only have two. If we go to war now, we will lose.> Athena continues.

<So you want to end the war before it escalates. I assume this is when the Senate part comes in?>

<The Senate will vote against a military intervention outside of our borders. Trust me, I’ve been dealing with politicians since your species learned how to write. But there are… other ways.>

<From time to time, High Command hires specialists to carry out sensitive missions. While technically still under civilian oversight, we have considerable autonomy for this.> Promachos says.

<Wait wait wait. Your plan to save the Galaxy is to hire the Vanguard… as a military contractor!?>

<Effectively… yes.>

<You’ve got to be kidding me! There’s a war on your doorstep and you worry about politics?> Quantum asks, surprising his teammates with his reaction.

<I don’t know how things work on your world, young man, but in the Federation we hold civilian oversight of the military in extremely high regard.> Promachos chastises him.

<But not enough to stop you from bending the rules when it’s convenient, right?>

<Quantum.> Noriko calls him. Judging by her tone and the serious expression on her face, it’s immediately clear that the hero isn’t speaking for her.

<Noriko, we don’t know these people. We should be careful before we get involved; let’s not repeat the mistakes we made when we joined the Alliance.>

<The Alliance led to the creation of the Mortal Republic.> she reminds him.

<And it almost gave the Guild and the Winter Kingdom the chance to take it over. I’m with Max on this one, Noriko, we don’t need these people.> Kari adds.

Noriko doesn’t answer, but she looks at Vesta and Torn to get their opinion on the subject.

<It’s not my area of expertise, but Nephthys does have some heavy hitters.> Vesta says.

<The Egyptians are fierce warriors. We might need the help.> Torn notes.

Noriko’s silver eyes shine for several seconds as she carefully considers the options. Max and Kari are right: she doesn’t know anything about the politics of the Federation, and she certainly can’t trust Athena. But while they could bring down Nephthys on their own, it would probably take everything they have: with the Eden threat behind the corner, it’s a risk she can’t take.

<I will need ships.> she finally says.