Beyond The Impossible

Infirmary of the N01-Ragnarok

When Vector regains consciousness, the first thing he notices is that he doesn’t feel the feedback of his neural implants. The second thing is seeing Noriko Null in front of him.

<You’re a real piece of work, you know that?> she asks, looking at a holographic tablet that is projecting a scan of Vector’s body.

<Those implants of yours are quite impressive. It took me a couple of hours to figure out how to disable them without triggering any alarms.>

<I’ll take that as a compliment. I designed them myself.> he replies, trying to free himself to the restrains that tie him to the medical bed.

<I’m glad you’re in the mood to talk, because you have a lot to tell me.> Noriko says.

<Ah, of course: even a Nexus host can’t possibly understand my technology. But I take too much pride in my work, Null: I won’t reveal anything.>

<What? I don’t care about your stupid implants, Vector, I’ve already reverse engineered how they work. I want to know what Ulysses is planning and where can I find him.>

<Your bluff won’t work on me, Null: you don’t even understand what my invention does. Even your famed intellect can’t surpass the genius of the greatest cyberneticist in the…>

<It’s a neural bridge based on electron quantum entanglement. It allows an interface between the user’s brain and several kinds of exotic energies, such as the Blood or the aura of virtual particles of a Myridian duplicate.> she explains.

Vector doesn’t say anything, but he’s fuming with frustration.

<It took me about fifteen minutes to figure that out. I could modify it to forcibly extract information from your brain in a couple of hours. A couple of days if I decide to avoid turning you into a vegetable, but unfortunately for your genius I don’t have that much time. So, keeping all that in mind, you really don’t have anything to tell me?> Noriko asks.

Vector doesn’t answer immediately. It’s quite clear from his body language that he’s trying very hard to avoid showing it, but he’s terrified.

<He wants war. He knows that the Mortal Republic can survive a civil war, but it can’t survive Ares. Nobody can. So he’s redirecting him, away from this conflict.> Vector finally answers.

<And Ares won’t join the war? Seems kind of odd for the god of war.> she points out.

<Ulysses said he will be too busy to do it.>

<Busy with what? Is the Zenith planning something else?>

<I wouldn’t know. Ulysses only shares the information that he absolutely needs to share, and even then he only tells the truth when it’s convenient for him.>

<I noticed. But why not join forces with me to stop Ares? This makes no sense. And why did you join him if you’re not even sure about his mission!?>

<He gave me the opportunity to work on Nexus technology. I simply could not pass.>

<You don’t have any of my tech.>

<I didn’t say yours. You’re hardly the first Nexus host under his scrutiny.>

<Of course. Diomedes, the Scribe, the Monk and maybe others. He probably knows more than any other how…> Noriko pauses. Her silver eyes shine brightly: she just realized something.

<You’re the bait!> she exclaims, snapping her fingers.

<I’m what?>

<Ulysses must’ve known that getting around your tech would’ve been child’s play for a Nexus host, and that your implants would’ve been a way to extract information from your brain. His plans have been flawless so far, he shouldn’t have left you get anywhere near Quantum. Ulysses wanted you to get captured!>

<That is absurd! Ulysses knows and respects my role in the Zenith!>

<Shut up, I just figured out how to screw him over.> Noriko responds, then she abruptly storms out of the infirmary leaving Vector speechless.

 

Six hours later, the Ragnarok’s Operation Room

Vesta returns to the ship, finding most of her team sitting at the round table. Torn is doing nothing but stare at the wall; Quantum and Kari are sleeping with their heads resting on the table, something understandable since on Earth it’s the middle of the night. Three Kari duplicates are browsing through different holographic tablets, and much to Vesta’s surprise Tyche is also there.

<Hi everyone, I’m back. What did I miss and why is she here?> she asks, looking at the young goddess. One of the duplicates wakes up the main Kari by shaking her gently.

<Long story short, she’s helping us with the investigation. Noriko’s busy building something in her lab; how did things go with Athena?>

<Nothing to add to my last report… she won’t help either side of the civil war. Speaking of which, how are things going?>

<Really bad. Hundreds of planets itching for a fight.> one of the duplicates answers, pointing at the tablet: it’s showing videos of riots.

Just then Noriko Null joins the conversation: she’s carrying with her a small box, and judging by her looks she’s been been working hard the whole time.

<Sorry it took so long, topological phase realignment is a b#tch to program. Vesta, perfect timing, you’re arrived just in time.> she says, placing the box on the table.

<How lucky, uh? You’re welcome.> Tyche comments, taking credit as the goddess of luck.

Torn wakes up Quantum by lightly kicking his chair.

<You’re back. Is it time to kick some ass already?> he asks before yawning.

<Yep. And you have no idea how much this is gonna help. Everyone, put one of these inside your ear.> Noriko says, showing off the tiny devices the size of a grain of rice kept inside the box.

Kari and Torn proceed without hesitation; Quantum follows only after they have done it, while Vesta keeps it on her fingertip and stares at it.

<Uhm, Nori, not that I don’t trust you, but what exactly does this do? I prefer to be informed before I stick something inside my body.> she says, causing Kari and Quantum to snicker.

<I don’t get what’s funny.> Torn comments, looking at them.

<It’s an upgrade for the Neural Transmitter. Well, actually it’s going to dig inside your head and completely rebuild the NT from scratch, but that’s the general idea.> Noriko explains.

<That’s it? I don’t get why this such a big deal.> Vesta replies, hesitantly doing as she was told.

<Trust me, it’s like going from the telegram to FTL communication.> she reassures her.

After a few seconds, all members of the Vanguard can hear her voice say:

<If everybody can hear me, I’m going to assume the Soul Relay is working.>

<Judging from your expressions it’s something impressive, but I can’t hear a thing.> Tyche says.

<Yes, it should be utterly impossible to intercept this communication.> Noriko points out, heard only by her teammates.

<This is weird. It’s less like I’m hearing your words and more like I’m feeling them.> Kari says.

<You are broadcasting directly into our souls. Only a Demon should be able to do this!> Torn adds.

<It also has a ridiculously long range: it’s not infinite by any means, but it should allow us instant communication across the Galaxy. Maybe a little more.> Noriko adds.

<That’s pretty awesome, but how is this going to help us defeat Ulysses?> Kari asks.

<I’m glad you asked. Everyone, follow me to the infirmary… I’m gonna teach you a trick that’s going to blow your mind.> Noriko says excitedly.

 

The infirmary

Vector is still strapped to the bed, and he’s been trying to break free without any results. When he sees the entire Vanguard enter the room, he knows it’s not good news for him.

<Threatening me won’t do you any good, Null. I’ve already told you all I know.>

<Didn’t I tell you to shut up, Vector? I’m pretty sure your mind has been booby trapped to fry my brains the second I try to get information out of you.>

<I could extract the information from his soul.> Torn points out.

<I thought about it. But Ulysses is a guy who learned how to weaponize his own soul and he knows about you, so he’s prepared for it. Still, I’m willing to bet that even Ulysses is not ready for a Demon with the brain processing power of a Nexus host.> she says, reaching for Torn’s hand to hold it.

<You can’t use the Blood to the same extent that I can, and I can’t access the Nexus.>

<No, but now we can use our powers together. Soul Link!> she says.

They can both feel the command through the Soul Relay; her silver eyes shine as she raises her hand, forming a dagger made of electricity the same way Torn would do with the Blood.

<Cool, isn’t it?> she asks before shoving the blade into Vector’s head.

 

Nowhere

Torn and Noriko appear on the roof of a fortress overseeing the seashore; despite the fact that this is just a mental simulation, they are still holding hands.

<You were right, I would not have been able to overcome the defenses of Vector’s soul on my own: we are using the Blood and the Nexus at the same time. How is this possible?> he asks.

<Remember when Quantum and I did that Soul Fusion thing against the Eden? The Soul Link is a lesser version of that. Just think of the possibilities: you could link with Vesta and create flaming weapons, or link with Kari and create Blood duplicates of yourself… we’re barely scratched the surface of what the Vanguard can do!>

<And you and I can access another person’s memory.> Torn points out, looking at the person on the roof: he’s much younger, but they are clearly looking at Vector as Ulysses walks towards him. They are not alone: there’s a child clinging to Ulysses, a ten year old girl in tattered clothes who looks like she’s never had a decent meal her entire life.

<I hope you’re not going to suggest her as my next lab assistant.> Vector says.

<She’s the newest member of the Zenith. You’re going to follow me to our new base of operations and continue your work there.> Ulysses answers.

<That is out of the question. I’m too close to finishing my work to interrupt it!>

<You have been “close” for years. Face it, you’re going to need my help.>

<How dare you? Don’t you know what my family has accomplished already!?>

<Ulysses? Who is this man?> the child asks timidly. As usual, Vector doesn’t waste the chance to brag about himself.

<I am the great-great-grandson of the most dangerous mortal in the history of the universe, child: the last host of the Nexus.>

<The next-to-last host, Vector. The Nexus has just found a new host. Once it’s activated, it won’t take long before she makes your entire research obsolete. Unless you follow me, of course.> Ulysses calmly explains. Vector swallows his pride.

<I can’t just leave my laboratory here. I’m going to need it.>

<That’s not going to be a problem, we’ll just transfer it to the new base.> Ulysses responds, then turns towards the child and asks:

<Would you mind taking us to your playroom, Skorpios?>

<Okay.> the girl answers, looking away from Vector and to the sky. Then she raises her hands, her eyes turn completely black, and the sky vanishes.

There’s a sudden drop in temperature due to the disappearance of the Sun, and the child shivers.

<I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to take the whole planet! Please don’t be mad at me!>

<Don’t worry, Skorpios, you have nothing to fear from me. I’ll teach you how to use your powers.>

<What just happened!?> Vector laments.

<She is the new host of the Manifold. We’re in her pocket universe: I’ve already moved my entire base of operations there.> Ulysses explains, and the entire memory freezes.

<So that’s where he’s hiding. The same place where I was kept prisoner.> Noriko realizes.

<Isn’t that a parallel dimension? We don’t have a way to access it.> Torn replies.

<Between your pentagrams and my new portal technology? I don’t think so. It’s time to outsmart Ulysses at his own game.> she proclaims.