Themiscyra, 90,000 light-years from Earth
When the last Amazons died off, thousands of years ago, they made sure to program into their android descendants an extremely rigid set of values. One of them was making sure that they would be stronger than anyone else.
Queen Tecmessa was created for the sole purpose of leading her people, as all her artificial predecessors: there is absolutely no reason for her to participate in a battle.
That doesn’t prevent her from regularly sparring with other Amazons, every single day. The ritual has no reason other than sheer traditional stubbornness: android bodies cannot improve by just repeating the same set of mechanically perfect exercises.
Still, no matter what happens, every day for the Queen begins with fighting three Amazon warriors armed with deadly spears; nothing would make her stop.
Except the sudden appearance of a cloaked figure, right in the middle of the fight.
<Intruder! Defend the Queen!> one of the warriors shouts, throwing her spear at the stranger.
The weapon doesn’t even touch the cloak: it disappears inches from it, then reappears on the other side just behind the one who threw it. Instead of slaying the intruder, the soldier just get stabbed through the head by her own spear.
<Your Majesty. I need to talk to you, alone.> the mysterious cloaked woman says.
Queen Tecmessa remains on guard. Her last two surviving sparring partners are not as wise: they decide to rush the cloaked figure. As a result, the second they take a step forward their bodies are horrifically twisted inside out, a heap of circuits holding a bundle of fake skin.
<We don’t take kindly to unprovoked attacks, stranger. Is this a declaration of war?>
<If it was, your entire race would not last two seconds against me. And you may call me Skorpios.> the woman says, lowering the cowl of her cloak to reveal a bald head covered in deep scars.
<A Drylon tech user. What do you want from us, Skorpios?>
<Information. The location of a planet called Aquilia.>
<Even if I had such information…>
<I know you do. Don’t play dumb.>
<…why would I reveal it to someone who just killed three of my subjects?>
<Two reasons. First, they are replaceable. Second…> Skorpios replies, looking up.
The ceiling of the training arena dissipates into a thousand pieces as its atoms are quickly spread apart. But that’s not what Tecmessa finds incredible: it’s the sight of the sky.
It’s supposed to be the break of dawn. But not only the sun is not shining, it’s an utterly black night… where the stars have been replaced by a galaxy that the Queen has never seen.
<This is… this is not an illusion.> the android realizes, once her sensors pick up the signals that are constantly relayed from multiple scientific installations across the planet.
<That’s an uninhabited galaxy 50 million light-years from Olympus. Your new home.>
<How!?>
<Like you said, I am the host of a Drylon device. It’s called the Manifold and it grants me total control over space. To me, moving your planet wherever you like is a joke.> Skorpios says, and just like that the galaxy is replaced by the rising sun.
<I understand you have agreements with the Slayer of Gods and the Ice Queen about using the Keys of Heaven to move Themiscyra to a different galaxy. I can do that for you, easily.>
<In exchange for the location of Aquilia?>
Skorpios doesn’t smile often, if ever. But now it feels like an acceptable indulgence.
<It’s a starting point.>
Null Tower, Midgard City, Antarctica
Noriko Null taps her foot nervously, checking the time on her N-Watch.
She’s waiting in the dining room of Midgard City Hall, the official residence of the city’s mayor and de facto seat of power of the newly independent country of Midgard.
While the design of most buildings of Midgard City is modern and utilitarian, Midgard City Hall is more old-fashioned and a bit ostentatious. Which makes the fancy setup of the table a bit less incongruous, especially with the Nullbots serving as waiters.
<How long is he gonna take? The airport’s not that far off.> Noriko complains, taking the time to check her hair in the nearest mirror. She’s not surprised when, behind her own reflection, she sees the image of a long gone woman.
<Look at you, all flustered for a lunch date. If only the gods you murdered could see you now.>
<It’s not a date, Roxiana. It’s a business meeting.>
<So I guess it’s just a coincidence that this is the only time I’ve seen you wear perfume?>
<That’s none of your business. Just promise me you’re going to behave and not try to distract me.>
<How could I? Your lover can’t even see me.>
<He’s not my lover.>
<Not with that attitude.>
Noriko would like to reply, but her attention is captured by one of the Nullbots approaching her.
<Mistress Null. Secretary Slate is here to see you.>
<Thanks; let him in, and start serving the hors-d’oeuvre in five minutes.>
<Acknowledged.>
<Did you just thank a robot for obeying orders?>
Noriko willfully ignores Roxiana’s remark when Todd Slate enters the room. It feels like ages since the last time they met.
<Todd, it’s great to see you again.> she greets him, not really knowing if she’s supposed to shake his hand or hug her ex boyfriend. Since he’s here in his role as Secretary of Homeworld Security, she opts for the handshake.
<Likewise. I’m happy you’re okay, Kari mentioned something about you dying?>
<Yeah, but I feel better now. Way better.>
<I’m sorry about Dmitry. I didn’t know him well, but he didn’t deserve to die.>
<No. No he didn’t.> Noriko replies, and the two remain in an awkward silence for a few seconds.
<Well this is boring. I was having more fun when I was dead.> Roxiana complains.
<You still are.> Noriko mumbles in response.
<Come again?> Todd asks.
<Nothing, I was just saying sit down. We can discuss work while we eat, right? Like we used to.>
<Sure. Are you sure you’re okay, Noriko? You seem… off.>
<Who, me? Everything’s fine, Todd, really. Everything’s fine.> she replies with a forced smile, escorting him to the table.
<You would sound more convincing if you stopped repeating that.> Roxiana highlights.
While Noriko doesn’t answer, turned her head like she was listening to someone else in the room; something that Todd seems to notice.
<You’re not having trouble with your personalities again, right?> he asks.
<What makes you say that?> Noriko replies, feeling her heart missing a beat.
<Your eye twitched. You always do that when someone irritates you.>
<I do not!>
<Yes, you do. It’s a rather easy to spot tell.> Roxiana says.
<I don’t have a tell!> Noriko replies to her; considering she turned towards an invisible person, this leaves no doubts.
<Please tell me that you’re not trying to take over the world while struggling for control with Void or with Abyss again.>
<Both of them are dead for good, Todd. And besides, I am not trying to take over the world!>
<That’s not what most world leaders think. Declaring Midgard’s independence and unilaterally removing all the planet’s nuclear weapons, Noriko? Really? What did you expect would happen?>
<World peace.> she answers, without missing a beat.
<…>
<Okay not overnight, but it’s a step in the right direction. Trust me, Todd, do you seriously think I have any real interest in power? You know the lengths I’ve gone through to explicitly avoid it!>
<And yet, Kari tells me you’re currently the Regent of Hell.>
<I really need to talk to Kari about shutting up.> Noriko sighs.
<Look, Nori, you know what’s my job: protecting the planet. That’s the same goal we have.>
<The difference is I know what we need to protect if from, Todd. You don’t.>
<Because you don’t talk to me. You know you can trust me, right? President Warden might have given me this position, but I don’t have to tell him everything if there’s a good reason to keep a secret. And you do know I can keep secrets, right?>
<There are things I can’t ask you to keep secret, Todd.>
<What, you think I can’t keep my mouth shut about them? Like I’ve never told anyone what happened the first time you tried to take it up the…>
<HEY! We agreed you would NEVER tell it to anyone!!!> Noriko shouts, blushing.
<So there is someone else inside your head hearing us.> Todd deduces, his gamble to embarrass his ex girlfriend proving a massive success.
<He’s smarter than I thought. I get what you saw in him.> Roxiana acknowledges.
<Your bulls#it radar still works, Todd. Okay, yes, you got me, I was speaking to my predecessor as host of the Nexus. It’s a near constant presence, much to my chagrin.>
<You see and talk to the Scribe!?>
<Not exactly. Her name is Roxiana.>
<He’s cute. Why exactly did you dump this one?>
<And the whole independence thing was her idea?> Todd asks.
<Nah, that was me. She thinks you’re cute, though.>
<I, uh, I don’t what to do with that. Does anyone else know about it?>
<You’re the only one. I haven’t even told the Vanguard. They’ve had a pretty wild time in the last few months… they don’t need to worry about me.>
<Well, I hope you’re taking precautions with this Roxiana. We don’t want another Abyss.>
<No, we definitely don’t. Todd, there’s something else I wanted to say… and you know how this kind of thing is difficult for me, but I’m… after what happened to Dmitry I have done a lot of soul-searching about my past, and I have… what I mean to say is that I am… I am truly…>
<You don’t have to apologize for breaking up with me, Noriko. It’s water under the bridge.>
<What if it wasn’t?>
<What if… as in, if we were still…>
<Wait.> Noriko interrupts him, turning her head towards Roxiana.
<You need to leave. Like, right now.>
<Seriously? But it was just starting to get juicy!>
<I said LEAVE.> Noriko orders, her silver eyes shining.
N01-Ragnarok, 25.000 light-years from Earth
From Roxiana’s perspective the change in location is instantaneous: one second she was in Midgard City, but right now she’s next to Kari Zel as the Myridian is talking to a mental projection of Null.
<Who’s your friend?> Kari asks, looking straight at Roxiana.
<She can see me? Fascinating!>
<Apparently that’s what it takes to get rid of you: project your mind inside another projection. At least in here you have less chances to embarrass me.> Noriko answers her. Unlike the real one, she only appears as a semitransparent mental hologram here.
<Ooh, this I have to know. What embarrassing things is she doing on Earth?> Kari asks.
<Reconnecting with her former lover Todd.> Roxiana answers.
<Really? Good for you Nori! I’ve always liked Todd better than the others. I can’t wait to talk to him, it’s been ages since last time.>
<Haven’t you two talked repeatedly lately?> Roxiana asks, raising an eyebrow.
<Not me personally, must’ve been another duplicate.>
<Can we please get back to the mission? If I wanted Roxiana to interfere with my personal life, I would’ve left her back on Earth.> Noriko objects.
<What is the mission anyway? Where are we, exactly?> the former predecessor wonders.
<An unmarked system, not too distant from Olympus. It doesn’t appear on any galactic maps, but Eros was right: there is a planet here. Aquilia.>
<Inhabited?> Noriko asks.
<I have no idea, the sensors don’t work. It reminds me of the effect the Palladium has, or rather had, on Earth: any signal I send doesn’t come back. Which, considering Eros told us nobody can ever come back from that planet, is not a very good sign.> Kari explains.
<Well I just fixed the Ragnarok, I’m not wasting another ship on this. You should send a duplicate to Aquilia on a shuttle first, just to be sure… no offense Kari, but…>
<My duplicates are expendable, yeah, that’s no problem.>
<Why not go there yourself with the Portal Generator?> Roxiana wonders.
<There’s no guarantee I would come back: according to Eros, whatever is on Aquilia can trap gods, so even I have to be careful. But I can use Kari’s presence to project my mind on the planet.>
<I already have a duplicate ready to pilot the shuttle. We can leave in five minutes.>
<Great. If Vesta is being kept prisoner there… I really want to put my hands on whatever technology is capable of trapping her.> Noriko admits.
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