Beyond The Impossible

Aquilia, 25.000 light-years from Earth

Kari’s duplicate is walking the streets of the city, receiving conflicting information about how technologically advanced this planet is.

There are no vehicles anywhere to be seen: they are still using horses and carriages. But she has seen people using mobile phones, or children playing with handheld videogames.

It’s hard to gather too much information when she’s at the center of attention thanks to her purple hair. She thought she would be used to it by now, considering how many people stare at her on Earth… but even there, the people have different hair colors.

Instead, everyone on Aquilia… men and women, children and elders… all have white hair. Even the horses and the dogs are completely white.

At least the woman accompanying him, the wife of the man who Kari befriended upon her arrival, doesn’t seem to be as judgmental as the rest of the Aquilians.

<Pay no attention to them. They rarely see worshippers of Aphrodite.>

<And you do?> Kari asks. Spending some time with the local family has worked miracles into better understanding the local dialect… it’s like speaking with someone from a thousand years ago.

<When I was younger, I wanted to become a priestess of Hestia like my big sister. I have met quite a few lost souls who used to worship other gods.>

<If I may ask, why didn’t you become a priestess?>

<I fell in love: taking the vow of chastity was not for me. Here we are.> the woman tells Kari once they reach their destination.

The Temple of Hestia is far more modest than any place of worship Kari has seen in the Galaxy: it’s just a small circular temple, nor much larger than a house on Earth.

Surrounded by twelve columns, the cauldron at the center houses the sacred fire that illuminates the structure from within. Some people have gathered around the fire, kneeling on the floor to pray.

<Excuse me, sister? May we have a moment?> Kari’s friend asks, raising her hand to attract the attention of a girl who doesn’t seem older than fifteen. She’s the first person Kari has seen on the planet to wear a red dress, and her hair is covered by a veil.

<Hestia be praised.> the teenager replies, with a tone that Kari interprets as a “yes”.

<I wish to talk to Prima Aquilia Arcavius. I am her younger sibling, Quarta Aquilia Bromidus.>

<One moment please.> the girl replies, taking what looks like a smartphone out of her cleavage. Electricity flows through her fingertips, and Kari can see several instructions appearing on the screen, along with a picture of the woman next to her… the priestess is verifying her identity.

<You are cleared to proceed. Is your friend here to convert?>

<Yeah, sure.> Kari lies.

<Hestia be praised. Your name, for the record?>

<Kari Zel.>

<Your full name, please: order of birth, place of birth, family name.> the girl corrects her.

<Prima Myridia Karizel.> Kari answers, hoping she successfully decoded this planet’s weird naming conventions. The teenage priestess puts the data in, and the smartphone beeps.

<How do you spell “Myridia”? It is not in the database.>

<μ-γ-ρ-η-δ-η-α. Is something wrong?> Kari asks, noticing the girl seems to be agitated.

<No, no, everything is under control, please stay calm.> she replies, nervously pressing the same button on the smartphone over and over.

She seems relieved when fire inside the cauldron creates an aperture: it’s now apparent that it houses some kind of elevator platform, which has allowed another woman dressed in red to access the temple. And she does not look pleased to be here.

<Hands in the air, no sudden moves.> she threatens, her arms and eyes crackling with electricity.

<What’s going on?> Kari asks; looking around, she notices that the teenager is also ready to unleash her electrical powers against her.

<Do you hail from Myridia? Domain of Secunda Olympia Demeter?> the older priestess asks.

<Hestia be praised, I did not know this!> Quarta confesses, falling to her knees to ask for mercy.

<I don’t worship Demeter and I never did, if that’s what you’re asking. I’m here to meet…>

An electrical blast from the teenager knocks Kari out before she has a chance to finish. Luckily for Kari she didn’t use lethal force, so the duplicate loses consciousness instead of disappearing.

<See if she is lying or if she was harboring other infidel. Report immediately if you find one.> the older priestess instructs the younger one; she then takes Kari in her arms and walks back to the platform, descending into what’s hidden beneath the sacred fire.

 

Midgard City, Earth

Noriko Null misses New York City. Even in her private skyscraper, she was always aware she was still living in the city where she grew up. And while she appreciates the privacy granted by the far more secluded laboratories of the Antarctic city, she misses that constant reminder of her humanity.

Unfortunately, her personal reasons are eclipsed by the other things she has to worry about.

She hasn’t technically renounced her American citizenship, but now that Midgard is recognized as a sovereign country by over 50 nations it makes her legal status a minefield… no matter how much she claims she isn’t Midgard’s ruler, making people believe it is seemingly impossible.

The second reason is more practical: even Null Tower doesn’t have all the equipment needed to properly study the third and final Key of Heaven she has recovered.

Noriko is focusing on the images provided by an electron microscope, but she can still hear the voice of Roxiana.

<I have to give it to Teraph. For a Lar with no discernable interest in history, he sure was able to incorporate a lot of ancient principles in his invention.> the former Nexus host comments.

<What do you mean?>

<Teraph fancied himself as the smartest host in history, but even he couldn’t build a device as complex as the Keys of Heaven without drawing upon earlier designs. You are looking at the culmination of the work of hundreds, if not thousands of Nexus users.>

<Makes sense; I’ve often thought that the Keys were a lot more advanced than anything else I’ve come across.> Noriko replies, recovering the Key from the microscope. Its complexity is well hidden by its simple device: it looks like a regular key from a century ago, even if it’s golden.

<I still can’t believe I’ve had this thing hidden inside the base of the Palladium for years without even noticing. Whoever built the statue that housed the controls did a fantastic job at making scanning it incredibly difficult.> Noriko says, looking at the schematics of the small statue of Athena that used to be the largest part of the Palladium.

<“Whoever built”? I think the signs that Athena did it are blatantly obvious.>

<Not as much as you’d think. I’ve studied Athena’s tech before… this isn’t it. Either she didn’t want anyone to figure out it was her… which wouldn’t make sense since it was literally a statue of her… or somebody else created it. Still, now I have better knowledge on how to control the Key.>

<About that, Noriko. What are your plans for it?>

<I’m still giving it some thought. I’d like to keep it, but I know for a fact that Nyx is bound to come get it back any day now.>

<I have a suggestion. Between my knowledge of previous designs, your brilliance and your newfound access to the higher functions of the Nexus… we have an unprecedented chance of realizing the dream of countless Nexus hosts.>

<What are you talking about?>

<The Genesis Armor. During our journey through the Mindscape, I recovered the schematics saved by Diomedes. Much like the Key of Heaven, it is the culmination of the efforts from several hosts; we will never have a better chance of actually building it.>

<This isn’t the first time you bring up the subject. What’s so special about this armor?>

<If it works the way it’s supposed to… even a Primordial God would not be able to stop you.>

<That’s never been a problem for me.> Noriko boasts, her silver eyes shining.

<Because you killed Tiamat? Careful about that ego of yours, dear. You have yet to face a Primordial in a real battle.>

Noriko considers asking Roxiana if she’s referring to a specific incident, but she’s distracted by the sudden appearance of a holographic raven right before her.

<Apologies for the interruption, mistress Null, but you have a call.> O.D.I.N. informs her.

<It’s not the Pope again, right? Tell him it’s not the right time to send missionaries to Myridia.>

<It’s Secretary Slate. I thought you might want to answer.>

<Ooh, this should be interesting. When are you going to invite Todd for a sleepover?>

<Shut up, Roxiana. This is just a business call!>

<Beautification Filters are active as per your instructions, mistress Null.>

<Yes, uhm, thank you for that. I’ll take the call right now.>

The hologram changes from O.D.I.N’s avatar to the image of Todd Slate, current Secretary of Homeworld Security and Noriko’s ex-boyfriend.

<Todd! What a surprise. I didn’t expect to hear back from you so soon.>

<If this is a joke, Noriko, it’s not a funny one. When were you planning on telling me?>

<Tell you what?>

<You want the list? Declaring independence, forcing Earth to interact with the Galaxy…>

<You’re still on about that? We’ve discussed it last time and you were okay with everything!>

<What last time? When you gave me the remote for the planetary shield?>

<That was months ago! I was talking about our lunch at the mayor’s residence!>

When the call started, Todd had a very angry expression on his face. It’s already melted away, replaced by the look of someone who is extremely worried.

<Noriko… I’ve never been to the mayor’s residence. Is everything okay?> Todd asks, noticing even through the hologram that she has become visibly pale.

<O.D.I.N, when was the last time I accepted a call from Todd?>

<Five months and six days ago, mistress Null.>

<No no no, that’s not… it can’t…>

<Noriko, talk to me. What’s going on?>

<We had lunch together. We talked for like three hours! I can’t have imagined everything!>

<Nori, calm down. Are you saying that someone is impersonating me or…>

<Todd… I know it’s a lot to ask, but… could you…>

<If you still have your teleporter, I can be there in a second.>

<Thank you, Todd. But it’s better if we talk at your place.>

<What’s going on, Nori?>

<I don’t trust it in here.> Noriko answers, turning away to face the image of Roxiana.

<What?> the ghost of the former host wonders.

<I didn’t get hallucinations this severe until you showed up. Is this your doing somehow?>

<Be reasonable, Noriko: if I was, I would do a much better job at keeping it a secret.>

 

Aquilia, 25.000 light-years from Earth

Kari has a lot of experience being knocked out; being electrocuted is one of her least favorites.

She expected waking up in a prison or a dungeon, but instead laying on a bed with silk sheets, warmed by a cozy fireplace.

<I am so sorry about what happened, dear. The kids are a bit too harsh, how do you feel?>

Kari recognizes the voice of the buxom redhead goddess; nearly anyone else would mistake her for Vesta, but the orange dress she’s wearing exposes her stomach to reveal she has no bellybutton.

<You’re Vesta’s mother, Rhea.> Kari recognizes her.

<They call me Septima Gaia Rhea around here. I heard someone from Demeter’s realm was here, but if I knew it was one of Hestia’s friends I would’ve told them to go easy on you!>

<No big deal. Is Vesta here? I’d like to talk to her, if that’s possible.> Kari says. Rhea has a reputation for being unpredictable: it’s better to stay on her good side.

<Of course! She will be SO happy to meet one of her friends… I’m sure she loves being here, but she’s taking a little while to adjust.>

<If you don’t mind me asking, Rhea… how long is Vesta going to stay on Aquilia?>

<Mortals can be so silly! My daughter is staying here forever, my dear.>