Parthenos, 80,000 light-years from Earth
The city of Glaukos
The capital planet of the Athenian Federation naturally gets a lot of interstellar traffic, but down on the surface security is relatively low. Not only reaching the system requires going through the lines of defense of the most technologically advanced sector in the Olympian Galaxy, but the planetary shield has never been breached.
Which means that Noriko Null can easily appear in the middle of Pandora Square without attracting too much attention. Even the light of the Portal Generator is not very impressive to a civilization that is used to teleportation technology.
She’s not alone: Kylon and a duplicate of Kari Zel have accompanied her in the journey.
<Wow. This place makes Times Square look like a Myridian farm!> Kari exclaims. She’s been on the planet before, but never with the chance to mingle with the locals.
The city of Glaukos is one of the most cosmopolitan places in the known universe: she can spot in the crowd humans of all ethnicities, several Lar protected by refrigeration suits, an impressive number of the minotaur-like Aurochians and snake-legged Naga, and there are even some Lampyrians flying above them.
<Do you think Athena already knows we’re here?> Kylon asks; he expected to get some attention by being the only Lar able to walk among humans in such a warm climate, but everyone ignores him. Noriko, on the other hand, has already noticed the high percentage of people carrying around a silver pendant with the Ø symbol… she has worshippers even here.
<I’m sure she does. I wouldn’t be surprised if she was constantly monitoring her own people.>
<You think she’s that paranoid?> Kari wonders.
<I know she’s that smart. I would do the same thing if I could get away with it. Please don’t mention it in the records, though.> Noriko responds, adding the second part addressing Kylon.
<I’m not sure bringing the Secretary of War of the Mortal Republic was a wise choice if what you’re looking for are diplomatic niceties.> the Lar replies.
<He’s got a point. No offense, but shouldn’t this be a thing for a diplomat or the Secretary of Foreign Affairs?> Kari asks.
<I haven’t found a candidate that could get approval from both President Aura and the Mortal Senate. Can we maybe not talk about it in a place where we’re surely being recorded?> Noriko pleads, looking around. She seems to be the only one worried: people are just walking by, minding their own business.
<Hm. Maybe this is like Times Square after all.>
<We better get going. I assume Athena’s office is that way.> Kylon says, turning towards the largest building in the city: a massive governmental installation topped by a colossal owl statue.
<No, that’s actually the Athenian High Command. We need to go to the Presidential Palace.> Noriko clarifies, looking at a much smaller building: a skyscraper with a temple built upon its roof.
<That’s relatively modest for a goddess. Kari, why don’t you run some reconnaissance in the city while we talk with Athena?> Kylon suggests.
<Why not do both?> the Myridian asks, creating a duplicate that wanders into the crowd, while the other one still remains with her friends.
<I don’t think I’ll ever get used to that.> Kylon admits.
<Welcome to the club. Come on, let’s go see the goddess.> Noriko says.
Aquilia, 25,000 light-years from Earth
Like her daughter, Leiko Tanaka also arrives at her destination without attracting attention.
She steps out of the wormhole created by Skorpios, stepping into one of the planet’s numerous forest, too distant from any settlement to be noticed.
Leiko is very grateful for that: not because she’s afraid… the Vial of Destiny she carries protects her from any divine or Drylon powers… but because her clothes start to disappear the moment her feet touch the ground.
The effect is not instantaneous, as if whatever is causing this has trouble counteracting the effects of the Vial of Destiny. But within a few seconds, the choker holding the vial is the only thing she is still wearing.
Her first priority is not covering herself but checking her artificial heart. Fortunately for her it’s still there: every piece of technology that allows her to stay alive is working, but everything else has disappeared completely.
“So I’m protected from harm but not from everything else. It should still be enough.” she tells herself, looking around to assess the situation.
It’s not long before she notices some white eagles flying around carrying with them a minor electrical storm, but she doesn’t care about them. She focuses on the position of the Sun.
“Skorpios was supposed to deliver me twenty kilometers north of the target. I should have asked Ulysses which way the sun rises on this planet.” she reasons.
Things would be much easier if she still had access to the Endless Winter… she could use its power to create a pillar of ice and survey the land. But thanks to her daughter she’ll have to improvise.
Wandering in a random direction is too dangerous: she may have gained eternal youth thanks to Hera, but she’s still mortal… and even if the forest seems peaceful, it’s far too risky.
Her attention is captured by the sound of thunder, followed by that of a tree falling down. As her only possible lead, she has no chance but to follow it.
It takes a while to get there, but she finally spots some locals. They have white hair despite being in their prime, and one of them is cutting down a tree in a very peculiar manner… he emits a lightning bolt from the palm of his hand. A second man holds something that Leiko can identify as a chainsaw: it doesn’t make the characteristic sound, but as electricity flows from the man to its metal frame it cuts the tree into smaller pieces just the same.
“Lumberjacks” she realizes. It would be undignified of her to approach them in her current state of undress, but she’s left with little choice once she sees one of the lumberjacks ready a new bolt directly at a tree near her.
<Don’t shoot!> she yells. It’s enough to give the men pause… but not for the reason she thinks.
<Ησ σομεονε τχερε?> one of the lumberjacks replies.
“Olympian. Isn’t the translator working?” Leiko thinks, still hiding herself between trees.
<Cομε οουτ wχερε wε cαν σεε γοου!> is the reply, still mostly unintelligible for her.
“I should’ve paid more attention to the stupid language” Leiko chastises herself, working up the courage to step into the light. As much as she enjoys being 25 again, she’s not exactly thrilled.
Once they see the naked woman trying her best to cover herself with her hands, it doesn’t take long for them to realize she’s not a threat.
<Jουστ ανοτχερ vησητορ. Wε γετ α λοτ οφ τχοσε λατελγ.> one of the lumberjacks reassures his colleagues, gesturing to throw him something. All the men are just wearing a skirt, so the only thing they can offer Leiko is a bunch of rags used to clean their electrical equipment.
<Thank you.> she replies, still speaking Japanese: she does know a few words of Modern Olympian, but “thanks” is not one of them… she’s never allowed herself to thank anyone.
<Wχατ ησ τχατ τχηνγ?> the lumberjack asks, his hand getting closer to touch the cybernetic parts accessing the artificial heart.
Since that’s between her breasts, Leiko’s instincts take over. She grabs his wrists and very painfully twists his arm behind his back. His first reaction would be to electrocute her… but thanks to the Vial of Destiny, his body doesn’t obey that command.
<How dare you!? Learn your place!!!> she shouts angrily. The other lumberjacks can’t understand her, but they rush to defend their colleague.
Their bolts of electricity, far less powerful than those used to cut down trees but enough to incapacitate any human, flow in her direction… and then scatter everywhere before touching her, leaving Leiko completely unscathed.
They initially looked at her with lustful eyes, but now they are terrified of her presence. They fall to their knees and whisper a single word. She may speak the language, but she does recognize it.
“Goddess”.
<Yes, I am. Now take me to your leader, or as you peasants would say: τακε με το γοουρ λεαδερ.>
She never bothered to learn how to say “thank you”, but that’s the first sentence she memorized.
Parthenos, 80,000 light-years from Earth
The personnel of the Presidential Palace was not expecting to receive a VIP today, but they are well trained to expect the unexpected.
Null and her allies Kari and Kylon are soon escorted to the roof, where the modern and utilitarian look of the skyscraper changes into a circular temple surrounded by white marble columns.
Athena is waiting for them. She’s in her civilian clothes, closely resembling a yellow business suit.
She sits on a simple wooden chair; her war helmet is resting on a small table, guarded by an owl perched on it.
<Noriko, how wonderful to see you. Miss Zel, mister Kylon, please make yourselves at home.> the grey-eyed goddess greets them.
<I was hoping Nike would be here. I miss reminding her that I beat her.> Kari comments.
<Nike is occupied with a different assignment at the moment.>
<Really? By the way she’s always around you I figured she was glued to your…>
<Kari.> Noriko reprimands her. She should’ve known her disdain for the gods would cause trouble.
<There was no need to travel all the way to my domain, Noriko. Don’t you still own the medallion I gifted you to contact me at any time?>
<I thought it might be broken. Considering that, you know, you didn’t bother trying to call me when I was dead.> Noriko reminds her.
<What good would it have been? I am not Hades. I don’t speak to the dead.>
<You could’ve called when I came back to life!>
<Would you have answered my call?>
<Nobody likes people who think they know everything.> Noriko says, causing both Kari and Kylon clearing up their throats.
<What?> she asks innocently.
<Since you recently brought the Ragnarok to the Aquilia system, I assume you want to ask something about the planet… but there isn’t much I can divulge that you don’t already know.>
<I beg to differ. There’s a Drylon device on the planet, isn’t it?>
<That is my deduction as well, but it has never been proven. With Gaea decreeing nobody can leave it, there is little way to investigate.>
<See, that’s where you’re wrong. I know how to confirm it… let me have a look at the Grimoire Of Drylon Weapons.>
<Noriko, you know you can always count on my assistance, but this is too much. I must refuse.>
<Considering the extreme measures taken to hide the device, finding more about it would be in best interest of both our governments.> Kylon intervenes.
<I agree, it is a potential treat. But still not as much as giving her access to the Grimoire.>
<You let Vesta read it!> Noriko objects.
<Vesta is not the Slayer of Gods and she doesn’t have perfect memory. The secrecy of the Grimoire is of extreme strategic importance to my Federation.>
<I’m reading that book, Athena. I’m not going to abandon Vesta like that.>
<My word on the matter is final. Nobody can open the Grimoire without my permission.>
<I could fight you for it.> Noriko says, her silver eyes shining.
<You won’t.> Athena answers. It’s not a response to a threat: she’s just stating a fact.
It’s a tense moment: Athena might seem harmless at the moment, but she’s still a powerhouse and this is her world.
<I could read it in her place. I don’t have a perfect memory.> Kari suggests.
<Still too risky.> Athena dismisses her.
<We could use one of Null’s robots.> Kylon proposes.
<A being with enough storage capacity to memorize the entire Grimoire? How would that be any better, mr. Kylon?>
<Once the robot has found the clue she’s looking for, you can scan its memory and wipe out any information you don’t want Null to keep for herself.>
Athena ponders the option. Noriko is impressed by Kylon’s idea… it won’t be easy to program a Nullbot to find the right clues, but they might be onto something.
<Very well. I will allow it.> Athena concedes.
<I knew that you would eventually see reason.>
<I will, of course, ask for something in return. Have you heard about a goddess called Harmonia, dear Noriko?>
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