Themiscyra system, 90,000 light-years from Earth
In the Olympian Galaxy, it’s pretty rare for a solar system to include a single planet, especially if it’s inhabited. But Themiscyra is the only world orbiting its sun.
<It’s beautiful.> Kari Zel has to admit once she sees it on the viewscreen of the N01-Ragnarok.
The planet is a stunning sight, with a pale white ring casting its reflection on vast blue oceans.
Noriko Null, sitting on the captain’s chair, has a different reaction as she concentrates on the small holographic monitor projected in front of her.
<I can’t scan the surface. It’s completely invisible to our scanners, but…> she pauses when the screen emits an incessant beep and a blinking light.
<We’re being scanned. I don’t think our cloaking device is fooling them.> Kari informs her.
Noriko bites her lower lip; she hates being at a technological disadvantage.
<Let’s slow down to 1% lightspeed. We don’t want to provoke them.> she orders.
<Uhm, I think we have a problem. The engine’s still working, but we’re not moving.> another Kari duplicate informs her.
Then the planet on the viewscreen changes dramatically, as the ring suddenly turns red.
<I knew coming here was a bad idea.> Vesta comments, nervously floating closer to the captain’s chair. The only other person on the bridge, Torn’s wife Agony, doesn’t say a single word.
<Try hailing them.> Noriko says.
<Communications are off. I don’t think we are…> Kari begins to reply, pausing when something appears on the bridge. It’s the hologram of a woman, a brunette with braided hair wearing a grey one shoulder dress.
<You are not authorized to be here. We will now delete your navigational data and reverse your direction; if you attempt to enter this system again, your ship will be destroyed.>
<We mean you no harm. We just wish to speak to your queen.> Noriko adds.
<Queen Tecmessa does not speak to outsiders.>
<How about her goddess?> Vesta adds.
The woman seems confused; she looks at something outside of the holographic projection, perhaps a sensor to confirm the identity of the intruders.
<I am Princess Hestia of the House of Kronos. Who am I speaking to?> Vesta continues.
<Subcommander Derinoe of the Amazon Defense Force.>
<It has been a long time since I last visited Themiscyra. Have the Amazons forgotten their oaths of loyalty?>
<Stand by.> the woman says in a hurry, with her hologram suddenly disappearing.
<It looks like we made an impression.> Kari comments cheerfully.
<If I know the Amazons, they should invite us to their…>
There’s a bright light flooding the bridge, and after it disappears there are no living beings on the ship.
An instant later
<…throne room.> Vesta concludes.
She’s not on the Ragnarok anymore: the entire crew has been teleported into a completely different room… a cell.
On the other side of a forcefield, several women are keeping guard, armed with spears that are very clearly more technologically advanced than they look. Their metallic corsets are secured by a single shoulder strap; even if their battle skirts don’t cover much, this is definitely some kind of military armor.
Kari is analyzing any possible weakness in their formation or exploitable defects in their armor, while Noriko is more worried about fixing her own clothes.
The usual attire of the Vanguard girls and even Agony’s leather clothes have been replaced with identical short dresses, and Null is desperately trying her best to pull down the skirt a little more.
<Okay, which one of you put me in a f##king DRESS!?> she asks angrily, her silver eyes flashing.
Two light-years away, interstellar space
Hiding in outer space is ridiculously easy: unless you’re giving off a lot of light or energy, it’s nearly impossible to be located.
The shuttle released from the Ragnarok is employing that strategy: it’s completely still, engine shut off, with the life support as the only system still running.
<Man, this sucks.> Quantum complains, crossing his arms.
He’s sitting in front of Torn: the shuttle has half a dozen passenger seats, but all the others are empty. The rest of the male crew of the Ragnarok, Dmitry Voron and Kylon, are actually sitting in the pilot’s cabin. When Torn doesn’t say anything, Quantum continues to fill the silence.
<The girls get to visit the Amazons and we’ve been stuck here for hours!>
<It’s been forty-seven minutes.> Torn points out.
<The girls are probably meeting Wonder Woman or whatever and we’re just sitting here with nothing to do!>
<Males are not allowed on Themiscyra.>
<I know, I know, but we never get to see any interesting place!>
<You have visited four different galaxies. That is three more galaxies and at least fifty more planets than most other humans.> Torn reminds him.
<Twenty-eight.> Quantum corrects him.
<You keep count of the number of planets you have visited?>
<You don’t!?!?>
<…>
<This is sooo boring. It looks like we’ll be here for a while… how about teaching me the same trick you showed Vesta? Y’know, that power-up thing?>
<You want to learn Soul Fusion to pass the time.> Torn says raising an eyebrow.
<Yeah. It’s either that or try to talk with those guys.> Quantum answers, glancing at the door leading to the pilot’s cabin.
The pilot’s cabin
Kylon is sitting on the pilot’s chair, next to Voron on the co-pilot’s. The occasional beeps from the instrumentation are the only source of sounds for most of the time until Voron breaks the ice.
<How does Lar transdimensional shift technology work? I haven’t figured it out.>
<I don’t know. I’m not a scientist.> Kylon answers.
<Your species has a long lifespan but the Lar planets have a limited population. How does that work? Population control? Low birth rate? Short breeding seasons?>
<We don’t have breeding seasons. We’re not animals.>
<But you do experience sexual attraction, unlike Demons, so there must be some…>
<Do you have anything to ask me that isn’t part of some scientific study on my race?> Kylon interrupts him, clearly annoyed by Voron’s curiosity.
<Are you close to Null?> the Russian scientist asks, changing the subject.
<We have an alliance. I have the utmost respect for her, if that’s what you are asking.>
<Is she seeing anyone?>
<I wouldn’t know. Why the sudden interest? I understand you are the one who left her.>
<It’s relevant to the mission. She doesn’t like to talk about it, but she works better when she’s sexually satisfied.>
<I didn’t need to know that. Listen, Voron… do we have to talk?>
<I suppose we don’t.> the scientist nods, and silence fills the cabin again. For about five seconds.
<What about other species? The Lar have advanced genetic engineering, so mingling with other races could’ve boosted your chances of survival. Are you sexually compatible with alien races?>
<I should’ve taken my chances with Themiscyra.> Kylon sighs.
Themiscyra’s dungeons
Vesta places her hand against the forcefield: it’s far more resistant than anything solid she’s ever touched on Earth. She could try breaking it, but since the Vanguard is here to ask for the Amazons’ help it would be bad diplomacy.
<This is outrageous! I demand to speak to your Queen!> Vesta protests.
The guards don’t seem all that impressed by her disappointment, and step aside to allow someone else to approach the cell: a statuesque woman with long blond hair, wearing the same simple uniform of Subcommander Derinoe but with a bejeweled tiara on her head.
<Your demands have no weight in the land of the Amazons, “Princess Hestia”.>
<Queen Tecmessa, I presume. Are you a descendant of Hippolyta?>
<She has fallen in battle a long time ago. I was built as an improvement over the models that slayed her in ritual combat.>
<She was an immortal demigoddess.> Vesta recalls.
<Not that immortal.> the Queen answers, with a prideful smirk on her face.
<So you’re all androids now?> Kari asks.
<Gynoids. Hestia, please instruct your cattle to refrain from insulting us with patriarchal slurs.>
<Are you calling me a cow!?> the Myridian responds, ready to activate her 10K Rise to smash through the forcefield before Noriko grabs her arm to stop her.
<We have committed no crime against your people, your majesty. Why are we in a prison?> Noriko asks the Queen, hoping to change the conversation.
<We can’t let outsiders know the location of Themiscyra. Your minds will be erased to preserve our secret and you will spend the rest of your lives as our guests.>
<That is not on the table. You swore loyalty to me and I order you to let my friends go.> Vesta insists, even making her eyes emit flames for emphasis. Queen Tecmessa doesn’t even blink.
<Under whose authority?>
<Mine!>
<Why, have you been reinstated into the House of Kronos?>
Vesta doesn’t have an answer for that, so the Amazon continues.
<Ares has informed us of your exile, Hestia. You no longer have any authority to command us.>
<But you’re still honoring your pledge to remain confined to this planet!> Vesta objects.
<We already have everything we need on this paradise planet. Why would we want to…>
<So you’re cowards then.> Noriko interrupts her.
This strikes a nerve, as Queen Tecmessa takes a step forward to face the forcefield up close.
<You have some nerve to address me with that tone, child. Who are you?>
<I am Null.>
There’s a moment of silence. The Queen looks at her subjects and then back to Noriko.
<Is that supposed to mean something to me?>
<Come on, seriously? You’ve never heard of me!?>
<Should I?>
<Noriko Null, the Slayer of Gods? Wielder of the Nexus, Executioner of the Celestial Dragon, Destroyer of Eden?>
<“Slayer of Gods”?> the Queen repeats, finding the title baffling.
<Yep, slayer of Demeter, Hephaestus, Selene, Tiamat, Phobos, Deimos, Artemis, Serket, Sobek and Nephthys, to be precise.> Kari answers, counting each god on her fingers.
<You have killed Artemis and Nephthys. You.> the Queen says, looking up and down Noriko with an expression of utter disbelief on her face.
<Hey! My eyes are up here!> Noriko scolds her, while still struggling to adjust a dress more revealing than what she’s used to.
<Such a formidable warrior would be worthy of joining the Amazons… if what you claim is true.> the Queen acknowledges, raising her hand. Following her signal, the forcefield is deactivated.
<Let us test your skills. Amazons! Attack!> Queen Tecmessa orders, and the guards charge towards the cell with their spears shooting energy beams.
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